NEW MOON/NOCTURNE

( PERSONALS WILL BE BLOCKED )

[darkraise]

𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐄 is an independent & selective roleplay blog for a 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐑𝐀𝐈 oc with original, cosmic-horror inspired lore. Written by Norfair.

current plot-arcs: - -

𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐃. // 𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐏𝐒𝐀 // 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 // 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐀𝐆 // 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑

[recordmemes]

༘⋆｡ neveralways, volume 1.

all are lyrics from the album, NeverAlways [Volume 1] (2025) by the band CAMINO. songs are in order.

i think i need to sit down.

something just clicked, i'm about to be sick.

i've never felt this until now.

everything else was rehearsal, now you're the main stage.

the moment i met you, i changed my direction.

maybe this is what falling in love is.

i'm jealous of my friends who see the sunrise every day.

maybe next year, i'll outgrow these old clothes.

i'll keep myself in pieces.

if i get it together, i won't like what i see

wasted potential looks so good on me.

i don't have an explanation, so i run from expectations.

i don't have to go nowhere if i act too cool to care.

i just resort to humor, let my thoughts avoid the future.

we both know it's gonna change by tomorrow.

you got sober, but you text me when you're tipsy.

you wanna have me, you don't wanna be with me.

you only want me 'cause you want what you can't have.

you play the victim with your finger on the trigger.

i'll probably always wonder why i waste my time.

i can't take everything that you don't say.

we might need a little or a lot of space.

maybe we both just made mistakes.

maybe it's a lesson that we don't learn.

i need to hear you say "i'm yours."

no second thoughts, no hesitation.

it's been real, hey, by the way, we're over.

i can't see us from your point of view and i feel selfish.

is it enough for you?

i can't go back, no, i gave you my answer.

now you come back asking for second chances.

my heart's too heavy to take you home.

i've been gone for way too long.

i can't get back the time we've lost.

she laughs like she's gonna live to infinity.

i used to know her like nobody else.

we were so close, but no cigarette.

i wear a mask so you won't see what i hide.

put on an act of someone i hope you'll like.

i'm terrified for you to see behind the curtain, so i keep rehearsing.

if i showed you who i am, would you use it all against me?

do you want me for me or who do you want me to be?

i will open my book and let you read every page.

will i ever quit playing with matches?

can someone show me where the greener grass is?

will i waste another minute asking stupid questions?

i made second-guessin' my religion.

i say yes when i should've said no.

got high when i should've laid low.

why am i still pushing my luck?

does he love you better than i knew how?

do you ever think we could've worked out?

it'll always be you, even if we're out of time.

i'll find you in another life.

i'm about to say hello to the moon.

think i'm gonna live forever.

has it been a single second or a hundred days?

[darkraise]

finally some small npc-sketches...!! i said i would do them.

First, Sinistra, Alhazred's 'sister'. Her skirt looks like a mix of snowflake and crosses, like the cold faithful person she is. She has Extremely Long Claws because with her musical ties i wanted to reference the old myth that paganini had the devil's fingers for how long and easily they stretched across the violin when playing. also helpful for the piano if you ask her.

then there is the golden fr*ddy jumpscare himself in all his glory.

everything about Beelzebub is ew.

Very spindly limbs, very mandible-like and even his 'coat-tail' looks like a centipede somehow. before he lost both eyes, they were very thin and sharp... now there's nothing. the bad news is he exists. The good news is no one can see him like this in their nightmares since he usually makes the dreamer die upon witnessing him. It's very rare for him to appear in physical reality.

[wxlpurgxsnxcht]

So, get away Another way to feel what you didn't want yourself to know And let yourself go You know you didn't lose your self-control Let's start at the rainbow Turn away Another way to be where you didn't want yourself to go And let yourself go Is that a compromise?

[corrust]

Attention returned to his laptop; subsequently torn away before digits struck keys. The chill from before returns; in full force. All the more shocking that it wasn't any ol' sleep deprivation playing its tricks - IT'S REALITY. Flickering lights do not masquerade what's right in front of Corbeau : DARKRAI. Woven from thick shadow and nightmares suffered, it confronts him. Vivid imagery / scenarios concocted from life's trauma and stress, all too eager to RINSE/REPEAT near every time tired golden eyes slammed shut eventually vanish when Corbeau awakens. He'd almost wish it was said situation - it'd guarantee the eventual jolt of awakening and subsequent rise of his sweat drenched body while his breathing ran heavy / ragged and heart rate was sky - high. Reality, however, cannot be ignored for comfort ( and will weave itself into another dreadful retelling for his suffering when he's slipped back into slumber ).

He's arisen from his chair once again, adrenaline pumped despite aching eyes, eyes that wouldn't say no to any form of rest. Anger is largely absent, only slight irritation, yet enough to crinkle Corbeau's forehead. Darkrai's full present form remains still; he'd not be wise to poke and find himself engulfed in thick blankets of TERROR. Corbeau's temper mostly kept at bay allows the telepathic speech to process through his mind and be understood.

"Slow to the punch, huh? 'Course I'm seekin' answers! Nothin' too dangerous or too weird happening in this city that I'll turn my back on." Eyes glance at the Paldean Wooper sitting on his desk, two and two put together. "You brought Lil' Buddy here, yeah? She lost her Trainer or somethin'? I'll do what I can."

[darkraise]

The  entity's  gaze  briefly  flashed,  a  warning  to  not  get  too  casual  with  him.  It's  only  the  presence  of  the  young  Wooper  that  had  the  white-hot  flames  teeming  behind  the  dread-eye  die  down.  If  not  for  it,  there'd  already  been  a  consequence  drawn  for  this  flippant  reply.  (  There's  little  understanding  for  losing  composure  or  the  stress  Corbeau  endured,  even  whatever  his  own  presence  caused  and  added  to  his  mental  and  physical  strain.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  Darkrai  didn't  care.  )  The  pause  and  dagger  glared  gave  the  idea  of  a  deep  exhale,  even  if  the  breathless  being  did  no  such  thing.  "...THAT  CHILD  WAS  ABANDONED  BY  HER  TRAINER.  SHE  CANNOT  SURVIVE  IN  THE  WILD.  DO  WHAT  YOU  CAN."

Just  another  sacrifice  to  the  heartless  hobby  of  mankind.  Remove  a  fledgling  from  its  nest,  dump  it  some  hundreds  of  miles  elsewhere  when  tired  of  its  lacking  potential  for  combat  or  whatever  use  was  intended.  Was  there  more  that  needed  to  be  said?  Surely,  the  rest  could  be  inferred.  The  most  pressing  matter  -  the  safety  of  this  young  Pokémon  -  was  solved  already,  far  as  he  was  concerned.

Darkrai  wanted  to  press  his  own  personal  matter  now.  "ONE  ANSWER  I  CAN  REWARD  YOU  WITH  FOR  THIS:  ONE  OF  MY  KIN  IS  LINKED  TO  THE  DISTORTIONS."  At  that  point,  he  himself  had  not  figured  out  all  the  truths  of  the  hyperspace  phenomenon.  Something  of  this  scale  was  virtually  impossible  to  achieve  for  his  kind  and  the  truth  of  Ange  was  still  a  mystery  to  him...  only  the  reason  and  presence  of  another  shadow  was  certain  to  him.  "THEY  REACH  OUT  THROUGH  NIGHTMARES  FOR  AN  END  TO  THEIR  SUFFERING.  HAVE  YOU  NOT  HEARD  THEIR  CALL?"

[darkraise]

The  brightness  of  the  orb  reaches  a  zenith  and  three  bands  of  light  emerge,  glistening  like  the  cosmos  itself.  They  fan  out  like  wings,  existing  solely  to  cradle  this  wayward  dreamer.  As  the  radiance  shrunk,  the  crescent  moon  incarnate  emerged  before  Thea.  "I  am  so  glad  to  finally  meet  you...  but  forgive  me,  that  the  circumstances  under  which  we  do  are  grim."

Where  a  Darkrai's  'voice'  was  an  unbearable  cacophony,  crudely  merged  together  from  a  choir  of  fearful  memories,  Cresselia's  united  the  sound  of  all  the  heart  held  dear  into  a  pleasant,  calming  serenade-like  tone.  Even  when  the  envoy  of  dreams  sounded  downcast,  her  being  kept  all  other  darkness  from  pouring  in.  Her  hands  are  drawn  close  to  herself,  though  even  when  rested  it  seemed  like  they  were  kept  together  in  a  prayer.

"You  who  are  blessed  by  both  the  moon  and  its  shadow...  I  came  to  warn  you  of  the  danger  you  have  courted.  His  evil  powers  have  shielded  you  from  my  influence  for  so  long,  I  was  worried  that  I  could  never  reach  you  to  unveil  his  true  purpose."

"I  saw  that  you  are  being  enthralled  by  the  wicked  Darkrai you call  Alhazred..  You  cannot  fall  for  his  lies,  my  child.  I  have  foiled  and  undone  countless  of  his  plans  for  thousands  of  years  as  his  counterpart.  I  know  that  there  is  only  bottomless  malice  beneath  his  mask,  for  the means by which the  Original  One  created him were different from even all other of his kin.  As  Alhazred  isolated  you  in  your  dreams  from  me,  he  will  soon  do  so  in  the  waking  world  too  and  begin  to  strike  at  those  dearest  to  you...  I  fear  the  lengths  he  will  go  to  claim  your  soul  as  his.  You  must  expel  him."

( continued / @incalabria for Amalthea )

[darkraise]

i have obtained the most important icon on the blog yet.

thanks for everyone's patience, lately i've struggled and zero'd in on plots with multiple mutuals so nobody had to wait on me to be able to write their other threads. i'm always slow during the 'summer' months and trying to stave off burn-out but I still intend to write here with everyone for a while as long as I can.

[darkraise]

𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄: 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄

Neither  time  nor  space  had  hold  on  that  which  wasn't  real,  yet  the  intricate  ways  and  circumstances  that  gave  rise  to  Lumiose's  dream  reflection  made  it  inherit  these  attributes.  Alhazred  stepped  back  into  reality  and  took  note  of  time's  passage  since  his  sudden  departure.  It  was  still  in  the  dead  of  night,  likely  not  more  than  half  an  hour.  No  sight  of  Amethio  nor  Hamber  or  their  partners.  Hopefully,  a  sign  that  they  immediately  evacuated  and  sought  medical  attention.

Smoke  still  rose  from  the  damaged  surroundings  at  the  site  of  that  Metagross's  explosion.  That  Zygarde  had  obtained  its  complete  might  in  such  a  short  time-frame  since  their  last  ordeal  even  took  him  by  surprise,  yet  he's  glad  that  it  proved  useful  in  destabilizing  their  foe's  emotional  state.  Even  Hamber's  carefully  picked  taunt  contributed  to  this  outcome  in  a  way  worth  praising.

No  human  was  left-  except  their  enemy,  their  target.

The  night  breeze  rustled  against  the  clothes  and  hair  of  the  man  they  had  come  for,  his  body  laying  on  the  concrete  exactly  where  its  puppeteer  had  abandoned  him.  Alhazred  opened  a  dark  portal  beneath,  vanishing  Spinel's  figure  from  the  surface.  Before  he  followed,  instinct  compelled  him  to  cast  a  last  glance  at  the  night  sky  that  witnessed  it  all.  Then  another  circle  of  black  and  violet  energy-ribbons  was  conjured  around  his  own  person  to  take  him  to  his  secret  place.

---

To  think  that  months  ago,  these  catacombs  housed  stolen  Pokémon  destined  for  experimentation  and  the  black  market.  Now  the  one  who  may  have  received  the  got  to  experience  this  luxurious  lifestyle  himself.  It's  convenient  that  Darkrai  never  bothered  to  clean-up  after  the  smugglers  whose  den  he  raided  here,  he  thought  to  himself.  The  empty  boxes  were  still  propped  up  as  chairs  and  tables  and  the  sleeping  bags  in  the  corner  hadn't  been  touched  ever  since.  Now  that  he  knew  how  to  use  Charge-Beam  and  Will-O-Wisp,  he  could  charge  the  battery  for  a  pair  of  the  electronic  handcuffs  that  some  of  the  former  captive  'mons  wore  and  light  up  some  of  the  lamps  and  torches  that  hung  at  the  walls.  The  roomiest  cage  would  do  nicely  for  their  esteemed  VIP.  There's  a  little  fridge  connected  to  a  generator  meant  to  be  powered  by  a  Pokémon...  in  a  moment's  notice,  he  walked  through  another  portal  of  Phantom  Force  and  returned  to  place  some  bottles  of  Fresh  Water  in  it.  That's  all  the  amnesties  this  hole  can  offer  for  the  next  few  days  until  he  found  a  permanent  holding  place.  Sanitary  needs  were  reduced  to  a  bucket.  Nothing  he  could  do  about  that,  considering  the  location.

With  that,  he  propped  Spinel  inside  the  cage  on  the  boxes  that'd  serve  as  chair  and  table.  Alhazred  gave  him  a  look  over,  then  used  his  telekinetic  powers  to  remove  all  the  Pokéballs  and  possible  hidden  Strong  Spheres  from  the  other's  person.  With  this  secured,  the  shade  stepped  outside.  From  there  he  forcibly  mended  the  broken  bars  with  his  hands  and  Will-O-Wisp  melded  them  back  together.  The  cage  door  had  multiple  locks  still  in  place  since  he  and  the  other  Pokémon  had  broken  out  with  brute  strength  from  the  other  side.

Finally,  he  allowed  himself  a  pause  and  his  shoulders  to  droop  in  relief.  CEO  captured.  He  made  himself  a  mental  note  to  test  which  Pokéball  was  Umbreon's  to  release  it  later...  the  others  could  be  quickly  greeted  with  Dark  Void  and  put  back.  There  was  the  issue  that  Beheeyem  was  absent,  never  having  been  recalled  and  he'd  been  too  busy  following  the  battle  that  had  ensued  to  secure  it...  and  Metagross  was  still  outside,  since  he  didn't  know  which's  ball  was  its  own  to  try  recalling  it  himself.  Though  he  briefly  went  back  to  the  site  of  their  decisive  encounter,  it  had  already  disappeared  from  there.  The  thought  of  Spinel's  aces  in  the  hole  missing  was  somewhat  eating  at  his  need  to  have  his  schemes  proofed  against  tricky  variables  but  it  shouldn't  cause  any  issue  as  long  as  neither  of  them  could  find  him.

This  also  couldn't  be  a  permanent  hold,  even  if  it  was  secure.  Granted,  compared  to  the  jails  he'd  personally  known  this  was  quite  the  high  standard  but  humans  were  too  frail  and  high-maintenance  to  keep  under  such  circumstances.  Even  the  other  places  he  used  for  hideouts  were  ruins  without  the  necessities  humans  needed  to  live.  Was  there  no  choice  but  to  ask  another  human?  Amalthea,  Mable,  Amethio  and  Hamber  would  need  to  learn  of  this  outcome  anyway  and  they  all  could  be  trusted  with  spotting  a  secure  place  to  keep  someone  like  Spinel  hidden...  though  with  the  state  the  battle  likely  left  those  last  two  in,  approaching  Amalthea  with  this  may  be  the  wisest  even  if  it  was  for  him  personally  the  most  bitter  choice.  Spinel  was  still  unstable  and  dangerous  in  his  current  state,  the  real  ego  wouldn't  return  any  time  soon  and  Amethio  needed  time  to  recuperate.  They  needed  a  way  to  surveil  Spinel  beyond  just  using  Rotom,  a  way  to  intervene,  deter  and  control  him  before  they  could  let  him  go  lest  he  caused  more  trouble  for  everyone.  Decisions,  Decisions.  At  least  he  had  time  now.  A  lot  of  quiet,  peaceful  time  to  waste  on  brooding  as  he  pleased.

Last  thing  left  to  do  now  was  to  have  his  own  darkness  envelop  him  in  his  disguise  once  more.  To  monitor  his  captive's  state  and  pass  the  hours.  Alhazred  used  Rotom  to  send  Amethio  a  message  first,  then  to  Mable...  he  hesitated  with  the  final  message  to  Amalthea.  Rotom  had  to  erase  and  redo  these  texts  several  times  until  the  Darkrai  was  fine  with  sending  something  that  was  honest  and  direct.  She  likely  wouldn't  see  it  until  she  woke  up  anyway  with  how  late  at  night  it  was  now… 

MESSAGE  TO:  Amethio TXT:  We  succeeded. TXT:  Target  is  secured  in  the  catacombs  where  we  first  reunited.  TXT:  I'll  have  him  moved  elsewhere  soon.  I'll  keep  you  updated. TXT:  I  wish  you  a  swift  recovery.  I'm  not  sure  if  I  could  have  done  it  without  your  help. TXT:  The  end  was  chaotic  but  we  prevented  the  worst  case  scenario  and  put  a  stop  to  Spinel  and  the  mastermind  behind  him. TXT:  It's  not  over  with  Exceed  but  you  accomplished  something  great  today.  TXT:  Thanks  to  you  I'm  finally  free  to  roam  again..  TXT:  I  hope  I  can  meet  both  of  you  and  Hamber  in  person  in  the  near  future  again  so  I  can  express  my  gratitude  proper.    

MESSAGE  TO:  Mable TXT:  I'm  here  to  report  that  your  device's  deployment  was  a  success. TXT:  The  psychic-link  has  been  severed  immediately  and  Malamar  has  been  successfully  contained. TXT:  It  entered  Rogue  Mega-Evolution  and  tried  to  broadcast  its  mindcontrol  using  the  city's  radio-towers  this  night.  TXT:  I  had  to  isolate  it  in  Hyperspace  to  prevent  it  using  Teleport  and  subdue  it  in  combat  after  it  showed  itself.  TXT:  I'm  still  on  standby  to  observe  if  the  capsule  holds  up  against  it.    TXT:  I  will  follow-up  with  more  details  soon.  TXT:  For  now,  be  proud  that  yours  and  Thea's  work  saved  the  city  yet  again. 

MESSAGE  TO:  Amalthea TXT:  Thea,  I  will  not  be  coming  home  for  a  while.  TXT:  I'm  not  in  any  danger  but  I'm  in  a  situation  . TXT:  There's  no  need  to  worry,  I  didn't  kill  anyone TXT:  Nothing  big,  just  dealing  with  a  problem  that  needs  my  attention  TXT:  I  know  humans  consider  it  a  crime  but TXT:  I'm  stuck  in  the  catacombs  with  someone  I  kidnapped.  TXT:  Can  you  spot  a  secure  location  for  keeping  a  CEO  hostage?  TXT:  It's  who  you  think  it  is. TXT:  I  promise  I'll  explain  everything.

And  with  that  sent,  the  little  ghost  returned  into  the  dark  and  left  the  masqueraded  nightmare  and  his  victim  alone.  To  wait  more.  Wait,  wait  and  wait  until  Alhazred  could  personally  welcome  Spinel  back  to  his  new  reality.

A  reality  of  silence  between  storms.

( @velvet-voiced, @lxst-explorer, @incalabria, @heartsevolved )

[darkraise]

 A  band  of  light  trails  after  the  lunar  entity  as  she  flies  around  in  a  small  radius  around  Spinel,  seemingly  to  inspect  him.  Beady  pink-hued  eyes  widen,  a  shake  of  her  head  followed.  "Saved  you?  A  Darkrai  saved  you?"  She  stopped  in  place,  clearly  trying  to  process  this  unbelievable  information  as  she  blinked  in  complete  disbelief.

"That  can't  be.  I  know  this  weaving,  I  would  recognize  the  traces  of  these  threads  anywhere!  The  Darkrai  that  spun  this  nightmare  is  a  scheming  villain  who  has  brought  nothing  but  perdition  to  humanity  for  thousands  of  years.  He's  an  underhanded  mastermind  who  hates  humans  and  revels  in  causing  others  pain."  Quite  clearly,  she  was  familiar  with  the  being  had  dwelt  here  until  not  too  long  ago  to  the  point  her  arms  tensed  at  the  mere  imagination  of  it.

"I  have  been  trying  to  hunt  him  down  for  a  long  time  but  he's  always  hiding  and  moving.  I  sensed  that  he  was  here  and  must  have  done  something."  Not  unlike  Spinel  himself  had  been  not  too  long  ago.  Neat  parallels  are  drawn  to  illustrate  the  danger  and  the  shining  crescent  moon  radiated  an  aura  of  sincere  concern. Alhazred's  presence  was  her  reason  for  being  here,  she's  clear  that  they're  opponents  playing  cat  and  mouse.  "He  always  targets  vulnerable  souls...  He's  no  savior.  How  would  he  have  saved  you?  Are  you  sure  you're  not  being  exploited  for  one  of  his  schemes?"

( continued // @velvet-voiced )

[darkraise]

.

[strawberrycriisiis]

...hello??? This wasn't a person at all, that's for sure! A Pokèmon, then?! Fresa heard of some being able to talk, she had a good laugh everytime the famed 'team of criminals accompanied by a talking Meowth' reappeared on the news after getting blasted off by some kid on the other side of the world... but actually meeting one face to face was a new one!

Especially one whose presence alone made her stomach turn.

"I just, uhm.", she started, clearing her throat right after. Come on, girl, get a grip. It's just a talking Pokèmon. You dealt with worse and weirder stuff. "It's no biggie. I guess I'm just a little louder than most people, around here?"

...this sucks, Fresa. This absolutely sucked. Clearing her throat and sharing a quick glance with Miri, who seemed to still be quite worried for its Trainer, she still dared to take a step forward, squinting to try and get a better look to the figure in the darkness.

"Wha-- Who are you...?"

[darkraise]

In  response  to  her  advance,  he  shifted  further  back  into  the  night's  cloak.  Considering  her  company's  anxious  state,  it  was  best  to  keep  his  distance  until  he  had  at  least  a  vague  answer  of  his  own  for  who  this  trainer  and  her  bizarre  Pokemon  were.  Though  he  couldn't  help  teasing  Fresa  just  a  little,  with  how  startled  she  had  reacted  to  his  presence  and  words...  it  was  a  way  to  test  the  waters  for  her  reaction  too.  "DIDN'T  I  ALREADY  SAY?  A  SPECTATOR.  CALL  ME  WHAT  YOU  WANT.  LIKE  YOU,  I'VE  BEEN  DRAWN  TO  HERE  FROM  AFAR  TO  WITNESS  THE  BIZARRE  EVENTS  HERE.  THAT  MAKES  US  BOTH  STRANGERS  TO  THIS  PLACE."

The  shadow  canted  his  head  to  the  side,  gave  them  a  lazy  half-lidded  look  over  and  then  trailed  off  with  the  rest  of  his  answer.  "...IF  YOU  ASK  WHAT  I  AM...  DON'T  YOU  HAVE  THAT  DEX-GIZMO  TO  TELL  YOU  THAT?"  Of  course  he  knew  that  some  types  of  Pokédex  couldn't  scan  him  at  all.  Some  models  he  could  even  interfere  with.  Would  be  nice  to  get  it  straight  from  him?  But  he  was  in  a  mood  to  be  needlessly  cryptic.   

[darkraise]

fuck it we're catching a flying croissant(tm) the correct way at 3am

[darkraise]

YOU SON OF A BITCH WHAT WAS THAT FOR OH MY GOD

[darkraise]

safe pride month everyone. i'm acearo and my disaster creature is too. gender rambles under the cut bc i don't even

darkrai uses he/him almost exclusively but does not identify as male. he isn't wholly agender either, since he's fine with presenting as any gender necessary. he isn't genderfluid however since he never actually identifies with any gender. hence why i just put his gender as 'genderneutral', since he has wholly divorced his own identity and perception from presentation. i mean. he's a nightmare. well in any case he's nb.

and again, despite using he/him, he dislikes it immensely when you refer to him as a man... not even for the gendered as much as the human aspect of it. hence why he doesn't mind it (though might still react in an awkward way out of habit) when he's called a man while disguised. to him that's no different than pretending to be anyone else inside a nightmare.

other than that he's too old to care about the norms of humans and gender isn't an exception. the standards for their expressions change too fast to keep up with or care about beyond his duty. he's very shrug-emoji about it all.

some of his kin do care more than he does, with sinistra identifying as a female and beelzebub as a male darkrai. some of them care even less than he does with the ringmaster identifying 'as a joke'. they all have their own diverse views.

then there's ava'strae who as an arceus is beyond any norms... and that is why they let their creations address them with whatever they please, however they please and encourage it. their divine identity is too vast to label or quantify with anything so their creation trying to grasp them in whatever way they can is already a sign of caring in their eyes. in that way, alhazred takes somewhat after them, though from a different angle...

[darkraise]

As  their  enemy  wailed  and  writhed  in  the  madness  that  consumed  its  spirit,  the  living  nightmare  watched  quietly  by  the  original  ego's  side.  Malamar's  final  psychic  screech  did  not  faze  him  and  faded  into  the  void  of  their  surroundings.  As  it  escaped  into  the  safety  of  the  device  it  always  haunted,  Darkrai  conjured  the  capsule  meant  to  imprison  it  from  the  shadows.  With  a  small  feat  of  psychic  powers,  it  quickly  snaps  tight  around  the  Pokéball.  The  click  of  its  own  prison-key  turning  were  all  the  triumphant  horns  the  pair  needed  for  their  victory.

"...IT  DESERVED  SO  MUCH  MORE  BUT  I  COULDN'T  BRING  IT  TOO  CLOSE  TO  DEATH.  THAT  WAS  MERELY  THE  PRELUDE.  WHAT  A  COWARD.  SEVERING  THE  LINK  BETWEEN  YOU  IN  SUCH  A  DEADLY  FASHION  MIGHT  HAVE  BROUGHT  YOU  IRREVERSIBLE  HARM."  He  sounded  a  bit  wistful  about  the  torture  being  so  abruptly  called  off  but  either  way  their  goal  was  accomplished.  Better  to  cut  the  rope  cleanly  than  let  it  snap  and  fray,  or  something  like  that.  He  levitated  the  Pokéball  from  the  ground  into  the  air,  then  it  flashed  into  his  grasp.  How  much  control  it  needed  not  to  crush  it  would  remain  a  secret  consigned  to  the  void  here...  much  as  the  orb  itself,  briefly  vanishing  into  the  shadows  of  his  being  for  safekeeping.

"NOW  THAT  THE  MANIPULATOR  IS  GONE,  YOUR  TRUE  WORK  BEGINS.  YOU  WILL  HAVE  TO  REGAIN  YOUR  MIND  YOURSELF."  All  they  did  was  remove  the  parasite  that  influenced  and  molded  it  after  all.  Spinel's  self  needed  healing  and  healing  took  time,  that  much  was  already  clear  to  the  mythical.  "I  WILL  SEE  THAT  THE  YOU  IN  THE  REAL  WORLD  IS  KEPT  SOMEWHERE  WHERE  YOU  ARE  NEITHER  HURT  NOR  HURT  OTHERS  UNTIL  YOUR  TRUE  SELF  REFORMS."

A  portal  opened  back  up  with  the  same  pearlescent  shine  as  the  bands  tethering  at  the  edge  of  this  dream.  Beyond  it  was  reality.

"NOW,  BE  GONE  FROM  HERE.  THIS  GATE  WILL  SEE  YOU  RETURNED  TO  YOUR  BODY  IN  THE  REAL  WORLD.  UMBREON  HAS  BEEN  WAITING  FOR  YEARS  FOR  YOU  TO  COME  BACK.  IT'S  FINALLY  TIME."

Yet  before  they  parted  ways,  Alhazred  offered  his  hand  as  a  gesture  even  if  it  was  many  times  larger  than  a  human's.  "I  DECLARE  THIS  NIGHTMARE  OVER...  SEE  YOU  SOON,  SPINEL."

[velvet-voiced]

"... That device."

Spinel could barely get those words out before it was placed onto the Pokeball in which Malamar hid itself. The moment it did so, Spinel felt something shatter. The psychic link between them that had burdened him with a suffocating weight for years. It was gone. Sudden. Painless.

And his body recovered; no longer on the edge of vanishing into the abyss. He would be silent following this quick change, thoughts a struggle as this freed state proved to be disorientating.

"Is that what the other people you worked with helped create? It's... broken," he finally whispered before grinning.

"You've not simply interrupted our connection. You've removed it!"

"I can't feel it anymore. It's-been-years-since-I-have-felt-this-weightless."

And he's soon rambling...

"What an incredible device. You must work with some extremely talented people. To be able to create something that breaks the connection from within the Pokeball itself..."

"The wonders of science... No, of your bonds."

Spinel then let out a hum, nodding as Alhazred spoke. Indeed, that made perfect sense. The amount of people they went through within Exceed, likely due to them being reckless with their minds. He certainly appreciates the less risky approach. With how deep Malamar's strings dug into him, a rough removal may have also resulted in himself being ruined.

"... I also fear that it undertaking Rogue Mega Evolution, as we thought... Has also done irreversible harm."

He takes a look at his arm, it not longer intangible.

"Only time will allow us to see the results of that. It was a close call. But the danger has passed, and the city has been spared... Finally."

Though he can't help but look towards Alhazred with a slight side eye. Did he wish to torture Malamar further? Spinel can't blame him, after what happened within Levincia... But it did have him feeling a little uneasy paired with what he just witnessed.

"That will take some time. Much damage has been done. So many alterations undertook over months. But we've come this far, and without Malamar those changes will fade."

"I can not thank you enough. You, or those you have worked with... That does include Amethio, and Alhazred," he chuckled.

"Very kind of you. I never thought I would have a Darkrai as a warden. But that is one way to keep me out of trouble, I suppose. Certainly, Umbreon will be pleased."

Voice trailing off, Spinel turned to face the portal opened before him.

"... Three years. Umbreon has indeed been waiting a long time."

For mortals, at least.

A smile was given, as well as a pleased head shake. Spinel would meet Alhazred's hand with a simple fist bump. His grin widening after.

"You shall indeed see me again," he replied, features relaxing as he took a few steps towards the portal, looking back a moment before continuing back into reality.

[velvet-voiced]

[ I am ABOVE humans. I will never be equal to them. ]

How detestable to be compared to the creatures it so disliked. And to be in a place in which it can not fight back, can not punish. It's clear that this Darkrai does not intend to change his goals, even with the promise of command over Exceed.

[ I can grasp all minds. ]

Arrogant until the end. But this Malamar has been purposed for that. If it can not claim such, then it has no worth. Everything it was went into mental manipulation, at the cost of its' combat abilties. But it would pay for its' pride, in the form of yet another Shadow Ball striking it without warning.

One well hidden, thrown from behind Alhazred's back... And the Pokemon was once again sent to the ground. But this wouldn't be the end as before, as more would follow. Again, and again. Each strike threw the manipulation Pokemon back further, and further. As soon as it tried to lift itself up, it would instead feel the weight of Dark Pulse.

It did fear Alhazred.

[ The offer is not insulting! The company I control reaches deep! ]

The telepathy it uses slipped as Malamar became too weak to maintain it. And Just when it thought the suffering was over... Visions began. It saw all its' plans unravel. It saw itself subject to nothing but anguish. No success within its' goals. It saw Exceed gone. It saw no human falling under its' command. The logic it followed would state this should be fake. It knows what happened within the Nightmare Dome. But such a mindset did not stop the images forming.

Break.

There truly was no escape. It could no longer even see the fragment it wanted to drag down with it. It lashed out, Night Slash. Another. Psycho Cut. Useless. The shades among all its' flailing were still there even after it attacked them. There was nothing really there to strike, and it only wore itself out attempting.

Another screech covered the domain. The fragment of Spinel covering his ears as it rang out. The Malamar was making once last attempt to drag him down with it... But that would also fail. Humans are such stubborn creatures. Even as the remnant's figure faded further, he did not disappear.

It's over...

Only one action left to take. It was trapped within this nightmare world, and could no longer keep attacking...

It recalled itself into the Pokeball brought here with them.

Click.

The link of Destiny Bond has been broken!

What a marvelous display... Beautiful yet terrifying at the same time. Spinel is once again firmly reminded of who he made into his enemy. He saw nothing from his side of the events, but Malamar was clearly undergoing much suffering within its' own created nightmare... It reminded him of his own ordeal within Levincia.

"Your brutality is unmatched. You granted it exactly what it deserved."

"... In the end, it is a useless creature without a human to command. Such is why it latched onto me so desperately."

[darkraise]

As  their  enemy  wailed  and  writhed  in  the  madness  that  consumed  its  spirit,  the  living  nightmare  watched  quietly  by  the  original  ego's  side.  Malamar's  final  psychic  screech  did  not  faze  him  and  faded  into  the  void  of  their  surroundings.  As  it  escaped  into  the  safety  of  the  device  it  always  haunted,  Darkrai  conjured  the  capsule  meant  to  imprison  it  from  the  shadows.  With  a  small  feat  of  psychic  powers,  it  quickly  snaps  tight  around  the  Pokéball.  The  click  of  its  own  prison-key  turning  were  all  the  triumphant  horns  the  pair  needed  for  their  victory.

"...IT  DESERVED  SO  MUCH  MORE  BUT  I  COULDN'T  BRING  IT  TOO  CLOSE  TO  DEATH.  THAT  WAS  MERELY  THE  PRELUDE.  WHAT  A  COWARD.  SEVERING  THE  LINK  BETWEEN  YOU  IN  SUCH  A  DEADLY  FASHION  MIGHT  HAVE  BROUGHT  YOU  IRREVERSIBLE  HARM."  He  sounded  a  bit  wistful  about  the  torture  being  so  abruptly  called  off  but  either  way  their  goal  was  accomplished.  Better  to  cut  the  rope  cleanly  than  let  it  snap  and  fray,  or  something  like  that.  He  levitated  the  Pokéball  from  the  ground  into  the  air,  then  it  flashed  into  his  grasp.  How  much  control  it  needed  not  to  crush  it  would  remain  a  secret  consigned  to  the  void  here...  much  as  the  orb  itself,  briefly  vanishing  into  the  shadows  of  his  being  for  safekeeping.

"NOW  THAT  THE  MANIPULATOR  IS  GONE,  YOUR  TRUE  WORK  BEGINS.  YOU  WILL  HAVE  TO  REGAIN  YOUR  MIND  YOURSELF."  All  they  did  was  remove  the  parasite  that  influenced  and  molded  it  after  all.  Spinel's  self  needed  healing  and  healing  took  time,  that  much  was  already  clear  to  the  mythical.  "I  WILL  SEE  THAT  THE  YOU  IN  THE  REAL  WORLD  IS  KEPT  SOMEWHERE  WHERE  YOU  ARE  NEITHER  HURT  NOR  HURT  OTHERS  UNTIL  YOUR  TRUE  SELF  REFORMS."

A  portal  opened  back  up  with  the  same  pearlescent  shine  as  the  bands  tethering  at  the  edge  of  this  dream.  Beyond  it  was  reality.

"NOW,  BE  GONE  FROM  HERE.  THIS  GATE  WILL  SEE  YOU  RETURNED  TO  YOUR  BODY  IN  THE  REAL  WORLD.  UMBREON  HAS  BEEN  WAITING  FOR  YEARS  FOR  YOU  TO  COME  BACK.  IT'S  FINALLY  TIME."

Yet  before  they  parted  ways,  Alhazred  offered  his  hand  as  a  gesture  even  if  it  was  many  times  larger  than  a  human's.  "I  DECLARE  THIS  NIGHTMARE  OVER...  SEE  YOU  SOON,  SPINEL."

[darkraise]

...so this is how i find out tumblr deleted some of my drafts and i might need to do a draft-roundup and interest-check in a bit bc i've no idea how many i lost on top of replies i may have lost for real bc i didnt see them in the first place.

because goddammit i had this one ask drafted and half a reply to it done and now that i finally get to it i notice it's gone from both my asks and drafts. and this one i remember clearly. why

[darkraise]

𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐊 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐕𝐎𝐋. 𝟏𝟎

It's a thing that Darkrai prefers to refer to Pokémon with 'creatures', 'beings' or 'monsters'. He only uses the term Pokémon when speaking to humans or when it's clearer to use it but he has a dislike for it. It irks him that the vastness of Arceus' creation of sentient life is deemed 'something to stuff and fit into a human's pocket'.

Talking about Arceus- when he speaks to others about his maker, he is quite formal and distant, referring to them strictly with their revered titles and preferring to keep it genderneutral. When he's on his own or with others very close to him, he prefers to refer to them with 'mother' and use femme pronouns. It's a bit personal and embarrassing to do so since he's only one of hundreds as opposed to the greater legendaries. But Ava'strae himself encouraged him to view them as he wants.

Now here's something: moves that change types don't work on him either, it's not just Terastral-Energy. No matter what, he's a pure dark-type.

When he's in a dire state that won't let him use his telepathy properly, "vg'f abg hapbzzba sbe uvz gb fgneg fcrnxvat yvxr guvf." He briefly did so in Levincia all the way back. Which, btw, he did to try calling out his true name but fell short of it. That row of unspeakable keyboard smash is actually just a rot13 Caesarian cypher but it looks Cthulhu wgah'nagl fhtagn enough, right? He only slips into this when at the very edge though.

Its difficult for him to bend his stilts, even if they're just a bone-less appendage of shadows. They're not made for walking... he only uses them to rest or adjust himself. Theoretically he could and other Darkrai may do that but it's uncomfortable and absurdly inconvenient compared to levitation. While he never walks on them, he very rarely does kneel before other legendaries out of respect.

'Can he technically exist in the vacuum of space' yes he would thrive there if he can stay away enough from the moon's lit side and not die of boredom i guess.

Though he uses something like 'soulmate' to describe the pairing of his kind with his counterpart, Alhazred means it literally. A Cresselia and a Darkrai are halves of a soul which gives his trouble of not having a 'destined other' a completely different dimension. He still does not know whether he never met his specific counterpart for unknown reasons or if she never existed in the first place. He gave up finding out why he's the only one who is incomplete.

In the PMD AU where she definitely exists, at first his Cresselia partner seems to be the complete opposite to him in personality... but, since they share souls, their core personalities are actually completely the same except for experiences and events altering their surface personalities to match them. Their troubles as a pair are hence much closer in nature to someone's trouble with themselves.

Her real name is (redacted) but Alhazred calls her Rayhlaene. She's shiny!