there is nothing in the dark that isn't there in the light
@luminarydepths
Roleplay blog for canon characters from assorted media.
21+ and mutuals only.
Somewhat selective and somewhat public.
Blog is spoiler heavy and leak free.
featured
lohen
primary
tba!
secondary
tba!
available by request
chaos || hero x
𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲
portrayals || wishlist || memes
threads || open starters
𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥
luminarydepthsstudies ( character study & aesthetics )
starwardsojourn ( h: sr multimuse )
starwardsojournstudies ( character study & aesthetics )
𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
established: 4 / 24 / 2026
updated: 6 / 3 / 2026
activity: sporadic to low
currently writing up to genpact version: 6.0 / mondstadt quests that are post nod krai. hell: anything that's not related to nod krai's archon quest. IDGAF. i'm just not RPing around nod krai itself because i haven't played it.
currently writing up to nte version: 1.0
voice testing: none!
one touch from them sets you on fire. and it burns and burns and takes over everything in its path, including you. you don't care. they are worth it. they are worth every sacrifice and tear, every smile and laugh. as long as they are at your side, you will happily light that match and set everything aflame again. don't slip on the gasoline, my love.
nothing matters but this. not you. not them. this moment, this love that you've built, that is what matters. it is all that there is. you will do anything to keep it this way; no matter what line you have to cross, who you have to step over. the ends justify the means, after all; and for you, this is everything. they are everything.
i've had a few lovely mutuals ask about this. so i figured i'd make a dedicated post.
i do write sm.ut, but not here on tum.blr. that type of thing is dis.cord only.
we do not necessarily need to be writing a romantic ship for me to consider writing sm.ut with you. i'm open to writing it as a self contained interaction / scene for the fun of it.
to be clear: this isn't a guaranteed thing. we will need to hash out the fine details and our expectations and parameters. just same as any other RP scenario that needs that particular level of attention and dialogue.
and if it doesn't work / one of us declines that's not personal and it's no loss!
` 𖥔 ݁₊ 𐔌 . ⋮ it’s an older machine, letting the can drop and rattle at the bottom rather than be slowly descended , the metallic crash echoing . . . covered in graffiti and stickers, honestly it wasn’t a wonder why the thing decided to eat up a coin without reward. certainly there’s no doubt it will happen again, and again, probably only worsening over time. crystalline hues watch the man — taller than he is — crouch down and retrieve his reward. why he hadn’t relied on the god-like powers his fans swore he possessed to solve such a trivial inconvenience was beyond him, but whatever, nice's hum simple and sweet at the praise. though he’s more intrigued by watching the small repetitive ritual unfold, counting the tapping of a finger-tip against metal — five, six, s— ah, what a dreadful number to stop on, one that leaves an uncomfortable weight lingering at the back of his thoughts.
glancing away, choosing not to watch the man bring sugary garbage to his lips, he's rather surprised the street is so empty . . . the city feels strangely paused, suspended in a rare state of stillness. surely it won’t be long until they’re surrounded. the nameless hero able to fade into obscurity whilst nice is left trying to evade the attention.
❛❛ watermelon is much better as a fruit than it ever could be a carbonated drink . . . ❜❜ the verdict comes easily, accompanied by a faint wrinkle of distaste. mostly water, it was something you could have lots of when trying to keep calorie intake low. back when he was weighed weekly for ballet, every fluctuation scrutinised beneath a critical eye, these days though, the once dancer could probably eat whatever he pleased without his weight ever fluctuating. a bonus of trust, he supposed; perfection couldn't change, not without shaking the very foundation it was built upon.
❛❛ i’m not exactly interested ❜❜ and yet, gold materialises between elegant fingers, coin-shaped but certainly worth more than every drink within combined. ❛❛ though i did hear smile recently collaborated with a mango flavoured brand ❜❜ was it the same ? he didn’t know. lacking the time to keep up with the hero as he once did. still, he clicks the corresponding number, frowning ever so slightly as the can rattles its way down — how ineffective.
retrieving the ( ever-so-slightly dented ) can, he's momentarily thankful to be out of uniform, lest his cape have touched the filthy city streets in that swift movement. spinning the can until the pull tab sits perfectly in the middle, he stares at it for a fraction longer than necessary, ensuring every detail aligns just right. x wiped the top with his sleeve, disgustingly so, fabric fibres most certainly now in his mouth, but the chance someone with unwashed hands touched the lip while stocking it has his thumb wiping over the aluminium in a similar manner . . . tapping several times— it'd be childish to copy such a mannerism. but he'd already mimicked the first step, and now abandoning the process halfway through feels somehow worse. it felt disrespectful to not do the rest, like he was inviting something bad into both of their evenings. irrotational. he does it nonetheless, quick to lift the drink to his lips to distract from the action — forcing his smile to stay in place despite the displeasure. it tastes like sugar with a touch of mango— like when the television flicks to static. ❛❛ . . . i should have gotten pineapple ❜❜ a quiet admission, tinged with reluctant acceptance, though he wouldn’t call himself a ‘pineapple’ guy, that was childish ( and he much preferred lemon— ) but because that way he could easily pawn the thing off onto xiao yueqing.
Six. Six taps to the top of the can before pulling the tab. He thought nothing of the number of times he tapped, any more than pulling the tab itself.
If X had any idea that Nice has such a… preoccupation, then he would not mind continuing with his own ritual. If only to order to appease whatever ritual Nice practiced. The little ritual X practices on tapping the can is a little more in the realm of the vague and benign than any sort of compulsion.
The street is, blissfully, quiet. If only for now. The minutes ticking by are as fleeting as they are are precious.
X is more than ready to duck a crowd that may gather. To vanish into obscurity on a moment's notice. As is how these things usually go when X ends up collaborating with other heroes. He's gone from the scene just as discreetly as he arrives — leaving any other heroes to deal with the crowd of onlookers and fans as they pleased.
X feels no guilt for this action whatsoever. He gets out of the spotlight without much trouble. And he thinks of his escape as a chance to allow other heroes the opportunity to… bask in the justly deserved praise from civilians!
“You're right about that!” X agrees.
He leans to the side, resting his shoulder against the aged vending machine. X goes so far as to cross his legs at the ankle, body language quite casual and at ease. ( Yet another splash of humanity against the heavily ideated image of X curated by his fans. )
“I have found that the flavor of watermelon doesn't actually taste like watermelon. It's more like…" X pauses for another sip of his atrocious drink. As he does he makes a vague motion with his unoccupied hand. A rotation of his hand in a ‘going forward’ motion. Trying to jog his own mind for words. After the sip, he continues: "Watermelon flavor is what you'd think of if someone asked what you thought it tasted like? Something like that.”
X observes Nice with a passive curiosity. Seeing whether the younger man will consider a beverage of his own or not. Much to X's surprise, he does!
X nods. “I guess we can't be surprised with that brand collaboration, huh? Smile seems like a mango guy.”
( That's something X will have to ask Smile about next time they have the opportunity to meet up. If mango is his flavor of choice, then of course X wants to keep Smile's favorites stocked in his refrigerator at home! )
Nice performs his own mirror of X's ritual. With additional steps! ( Such as making sure the can is just so in hand before tapping. ) No sooner has Nice opened and tasted his own drink does he seem displeased. Dismayed, even!
X opts to take yet another sip of his own drink in order to hide the amused grin threatening to cross his face.
“Not your thing, huh?" X nods again in understanding. "Like I said: you seem like a pineapple guy! Well… you could always get the pineapple flavor to take home with you and try later.”
in these hard times
we'll work harder, harder
through these hard times
i'll work harder, harder
for resolution
show me some revolution
this battle will be won !!
lo.hen is 27. i do like to have the characters age as the years pass / the game goes on in real time. so, going on an expedition that was close to 5 years long, he came home 27.
x, as of the present in series 1, is 38-40. he's as much of a middling salary worker as sk.ott st.ar ra.il.
a discussion on the physical capabilities and limitations between x's forms.
There is a drastic difference in strength and capability between X's two forms.
Civilian X
For all intents and purposes, Civilian X is a very average guy. Nothing to write home about as far as strength and prowess go.
He is quite tall and incredibly lanky. And that's about all that really stands out about him. Otherwise: Civilian X is nondescript, gangly office guy. ...That bruises like a banana. If harmed, he will experience the same amount of pain from his injuries as the average person.
He's sharp and fast enough on his feet. But nowhere near as fast as he is in the heroic form. Throw something at him and X is only going to be able to dodge it if he sees what's coming, and has enough time to react.
He's got about average endurance for someone his age and assigned gender. ...Give or take that he's a smoker and drinker. Those do take their toll on his overall health, even if the effects aren't as bad as they could be for someone who indulges in these vices much more than he does.
He can book it up a couple of flights of stairs before he starts feeling the burn and doubling over, wheezing because he needs to take a break. Good job!
X is the slow and steady type. He won't be seem going anywhere very fast. But he can stay on his feet for long periods of time and walk pretty far uninterrupted.
His strength is... lacking. Definitely lacking. He can throw a punch, and it will hurt. Both him and the person he's punching. So, it's one more reason X would rather not get caught up in conflict in his civilian form.
Heroic X
Heroic X is far from invincible. But it does take more effort to truly harm him than in his civilian form.
If someone can catch X, they can certainly hurt him. His threshold for pain is higher than his civilian form, but he'll still feel it! Cuts still bleed and bones still break.
His ability to avoid harm primarily lies in his sharp reflexes and practiced ability to, almost reflexively, pivot when bending reality. Which he does both to get into and out of conflict.
In this form X's reflexes are considerably sharper. His perception is nothing short of supernatural.
His endurance is about the same as his civilian form. As such, he is more likely to fall back onto his reality bending abilities to keep himself in motion and not tire himself out too quickly.
There is a stark difference in strength between his forms. By no means does X's heroic form possess herculean strength. He's not going to be lifting cars or hurling rebar at anyone. But his punches will actually hurt. He can easily heft weight that would otherwise give him trouble / be entirely unmovable in his civilian form.
... He can actually swing a sword and not worry about pulling his muscles, or losing his grip.
i keep circling back to my other media interests, and the characters within that i love. all while trying to figure out what else i could feasibly and sustainably maintain on this blog.
the conclusions i come to are all media that is ancient to the modern RPer. and / or so obscure i think i would be the only person writing it. or, the secret third option, it's a cultural juggernaut. but i am obnoxiously hyperspecific in the one ( 1 ) block of time and version of it i will ever consider.
so at this point in time i might have to see if i feel into it enough for any characters that are gen.shin or tb.hx related i think. 😂
“That's what I thought!” X says, a smirk tugging at his lips. He makes a show of adjusting his cuff links and straightening his tie. “What was I going for? Practical and stylish! The best way to achieve that is, of course, a suit. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong.”
❝ hey, do you have any idea who you're talking to !? ❞ he can't help the outburst, the number on his wrist & the minds of believers tied to it causing an energy to thread through his veins he cannot simply deny. it's a rebuttal against words that were never meant to be a genuine attack, yet it riles him up anyways, makes him want to combat whatever the top hero has said through action or a waste of breath.
thankfully, he quickly fixates on the next bits, his mind always moving, almost seeking trouble against his will. something to occupy himself with.
hands shove into colorful coat's pockets, a brow crease in his handsome visage. ❝ it's not that i'm shy or anything, far from it ! it's just ... ❞ well, great ... now his friend's gone & made him all bashful over something normal though what's ❛ normal ❜ to a hero, nowadays ? even if the taller man before him is the enigma, nine's not quite the average hero that an agency's got their claws in either.
the hands exit from the clothing, the rebellious hero tossign them out in exclamation. ❝ i'm an extrovert ! i'd rather share the fun with someone, getted hyped ! or ... i don't know. something like that. & you know it's not fair, i can't ... really hang out with people like i used to. before this whole thing. ❞ he's able to maintain eye contact, but a hint of defeat shows in the rub to the back of his head.
The Sleight Against Fate visibly startles. Grey eyes widen behind tinted lenses. His entire slender form flinching. A soft gasp escapes his lips.
X can't say as he's surprised by the occurrence of the outburst. But he is caught off guard just the same.
X thought a flourish and a few sincere — but firm — words would be enough to redirect Nine to occupy himself with other goings on that bring him joy. Preferably goings on that don't require socialisation. ( More to the point: require X to socialise. )
Alas, his intentions backfire. ( Crash and burn, really. )
As Nine makes his case, X adjusts his stance. His weight shifting from one well polished shoe to the other. A hand raises to adjust his glasses, yellow tints catching the waning light of early evening.
This can go one of two ways.
One: X doubles down that he has “places to be”. He insists that requires going it alone. He takes his leave, and has the rest of the evening to himself to do as he pleases. This leaves Nine high and dry. …And no doubt more indignant than he already is at the prospect of being left to his own devices.
Two: X decides that these places he is so pressed to be can wait. And he takes up Nine on the invitation to hang out. There goes the chance for X to have time to himself! But Nine wouldn't be alone. And Nine's mood would, no doubt, drastically improve.
Shoulders sag slightly, a sigh passing through slightly parted lips. Resignation. Internal resignation. As if there is any deliberation required here. If there is any time wasted: it is X wasting his own time.
He knew the answer for himself the moment Nine dug his heels in.
“Alright. Fine. I've got some time." X tips his glasses up to rub his eyes. The opposite hand raises in a vague wave. "What're you thinking? What do you want to do that's… I dunno: hype but not too hype? I've only got so much energy. So choose wisely!”
` 𖥔 ݁₊ 𐔌 . ⋮ there's a soft buzz, the machines letting out a half - hearted groan as one reluctantly accepts a given coin but fails to produce the product, its internal mechanisms whining in protest, and then, without warning, the sharp smashing of a fist against glass that refuses to wane . . . the stubborn machine remaining unmoved despite the abuse it endures. it takes the actor quite a lot to bite back a laugh, the corners of his lips curling despite the concern woven through his spoken words. his heels click against the pavement before stopping beside the nameless hero, crystalline hues taking in the options such a man of power was seeking . . . all sugary crap, brightly packaged.
with a hum, his gaze travels up to the man, taller than he is, casual as if he hadn't been caught acting like a complete fool. for a man whose fans believe him all but a god, it was all rather human, almost endearing, in a way he doubted the public would ever expect ( or accept ). this time, nice couldn't help the soft laugh that bubbles past his lips, warm and unrestrained despite himself.
❛❛ b-three .ᐣ i have to be honest, i don't understand the appeal of these things . . . ❜❜ lifting an empty hand to the coin slot, it's effortless to create a gold piece that will register as such, the metal materialising between slender fingers before sliding in, its only announcement being the way his finger shifts, clicking the drink option. the second time seems to be the charm, a can actually falling to the bottom of the chute with a satisfying clatter — no violence required. ❛❛ day saved ❜❜ he declares lightly, a hint of amusement lingering in his voice as he gestures toward the victorious can.
The Sleight Against Fate is truly as unflappable as they come. To most anyone else, being caught having such a, frankly, boorish reaction to an otherwise benign inconvenience would be nothing short of embarrassing.
But X isn't anyone else. The every man who isn't like any other man.
One hand cradles the other still, knuckles massaged, and fingers experimentally flexed. Once the initial shock of impact passes, X's knuckles appear no worse for wear. Not that striking the thick glass of the vending machine's display case was particularly painful. ( Far from it, really; certainly in this form. )
As Nice approaches, X reflexively takes a step back. A courtesy to make room for his fellow hero.
Though he expresses concern for X's plight, Nice's expression is nonetheless amused. ( A smile as iconic as Smile's own. ) Nice still manages to find humor in X's current predicament.
Good.
The last thing X wants is anyone to be concerned on his behalf. Especially over something so trivial as a momentary lapse in judgment and composure.
The laugh is the icing on the cake, as it were. Very human of Nice in his own right. Also a good thing, from X's perspective. Every hero, regardless of who they are, should be allowed to stay grounded and stay human in every aspect.
“Everyone has their thing, I suppose.” X replies. “I just so happen to enjoy novelty flavors of fizzy drinks!”
As he speaks, X watches Nice go to task. Under Nice's, well, nice, guidance the vending machine cooperates this time. If X didn't know better, he would say that the machine was gracious for the benevolence of the younger hero compared to X's brutishness.
“Thanks!" X bends down to collect his beloved, questionable vice of choice. "You're the real hero here. Saving my day like this.”
The can is pleasantly chilly in his grasp. X uses the hem of his jacket to wipe the top of the can. And in a little ritual of his own, he taps the top several times with his calloused fingertips. Something about quelling the fizz inside after the shakeup in the vending machine. Finally: he pulls the tab. The can opens with a satisfying snap-hiss.
X raises the can to Nice in something adjacent to a toast. “To the man of the hour, the savior of drinks held hostage.”
X raises the fizzing beverage to his lips for a much-needed sip. The taste is, as expected, sweet. ( Almost cloyingly so. ) Just the way X likes it.
…Interesting. He'll need more time to decide how he actually feels about this flavor. And whether he'll be a repeat customer or not.
Usually he is not one to linger and make small talk with his fellow heroes much. ( If at all. ) But for Nice, X finds himself inclined to make a rare exception. However brief.
( Who knows how long it will be before civilians put together that these two are standing around beside a vending machine, carrying on like office employees by the water cooler. )
“It's not that bad. I can say this is one of the few times one of these drinks actually tastes like watermelon.” X motions to the vending machine with his unoccupied hand. “If you're interested, I'd say give it a try? There's also mango if that's more your speed. Or strawberry. Maybe pineapple? You seem like a pineapple guy."
i will make mention of this in a dedicated post either about romance / relationships in general, or note of it in my portrayal post when i can throw that together.
but i write x with the underpinnings of being a little bit in love with sm.ile. it's very much a "the feelings are there, but there is no inclination to act on them" and / or "the feelings are there, but the inclination won't be acted upon" type deal.
sm.ile is very easy for x to love. and it's hard not to fall for the guy. this would show in the exposition. the way that x is more comfortable around sm.ile. the little details that he notices about sm.ile that he may otherwise not think twice about in another person, etc.
as always there is never any pressure or expectations with that. i say this just to touch on the angle that i write x from / portray him with when it comes to sm.ile.
i also portray x as quite affectionate towards ni.ne and tar.ot lady.
i believe that they are both quite dear to him. they are people he'll make time for, even when he would rather be alone.
and i can say with confidence that my x is quite protective of them both. even if it is expressed in his relatively hands off and roundabout way.
a discussion on the jackrabbit knight and romance.
Romance is not something that will happen with my portrayal of Lo.hen. And I want to unpack why.
It's not for lack of romantic attraction or interest on his part. Lo.hen does experience romantic attraction. But the fact of the matter is: he's virtually impossible to appeal to. Let alone maintain a meaningful relationship with.
This is true regardless of the nature of the relationship. Platonic, romantic, and / or anywhere in the middle, Lo.hen is a very difficult person to form a meaningful connection with or maintain that meaningful connection.
Lo.hen is someone that other people certainly can rely on. But he is not going to necessarily reciprocate that trust. He will only let people so close to him. Even then he is keeping a close eye on them.
And in the off chance that Lo.hen does manage to form meaningful connections with other people, the way he expresses his care is very left of conventional.
For example: Lo.hen whole heartedly believes that poisoning someone close to him in small, nonlethal amounts is an act of care. He would do this to help them build a resistance and tolerance to poisons so they are at lower risk of dying to such methods.
Would he tell them that he's doing this? Not likely.
And if they found out? He would say that he's been helping them build a tolerance so no one can poison them. Their welcome!
Lo.hen is not someone who would do well with most people as a casual acquaintance, let alone as a friend and / or committed romantic partner.
some miscellaneous headcanons for my favorite hero.
as of the present in series 1, x is somewhere between 38-40 years old.
in his civilian form x has some grey hairs, and more coming in yearly. he doesn't particularly mind.
he's not sure if the greying due to stress, or if it's because he's at the age that his family generally starts greying. he'd like to know! if only to satiate his curiosity.
x is almost exclusively a social drinker. he has very little inclination to indulge in alcohol on his own.
when x drinks socially, it's pretty easy for him to get lost in the moment and drink more than he should. he is someone who gets sick and hungover very easily.
he is a smoker. classic tobacco cigarettes. filtered. nothing fancy.
x keeps nicotine gum on hand in the event that he can't excuse himself for a smoke break at any point. he's pretty firm on not doing so around anyone else that doesn't share in this vice. ( that, and, there are only so many places that a person can smoke these days. )
x doesn't really feel a significant connection to any labels for romantic or sexual orientation.
if asked: instead of giving a direct answer, he's more likely to shrug and make a noncommittal 'so-so' hand motion.
as the writer: i would say that he is panromantic / pansexual.
and x has a preference for people who present / identify as masculine. their gender isn't relevant to this preference.
...not that he has any inclination to act on romantic prospects. and even if he did, it's not like x would.
he has his reasons to decline romantic prospects.
the biggest two reasons are: probably the whole heroics thing. and his desire for privacy.
if x were to have a pet of any kind, it would probably be fish. the downside is that fish are a serious commitment and require as much ( if not more, in some cases ) attention and upkeep as a more conventional pet such as a dog or cat. it's for that reason that x won't bother with an aquarium.
...that and his heart really would not be able to handle the devastation of having his fish die because he wasn't able to give them the proper care and quality of life they deserve.
he might be so laid back he's horizontal, but x is a very gentle and sensitive person by nature. he would grieve for fish. he's the person that gets upset if he accidentally squishes a bug while trying to capture it to release outside.
he treats his birthday as a rather private affair. the only people that x is most likely to actually consider celebrating with are sm.ile, ni.ne, and tar.ot lady ( working with the idea that he also considers her a close friend. )
otherwise: x prefers to keep the day to himself and treat himself to some takeout that's a slight upgrade from the street vendor food he picks up on his way home after work.
he's absolutely the reason why there are no sugar packets or complementary biscotti available at the coffee machine at work. ( he swipes both and pockets them regularly. they're for his enjoyment! sorry, not sorry! )
x is the type to bring his own flavored coffee creamer and hide it in the most esoteric places in the office fridge. ( that is his and he is not sharing! )
he likes his coffee brewed hella strong with a generous amount of cream and sugar!
