this is how you get deathless

{{ affiliated with stella city }} Room 210, Hummingbird Hotel

[mythandwarning]

complexedstigma:

Well, Sephiroth had been a general for an army. So commanding presence was definitely there. “Commandin’ presence, yes. Not so good with words, though. Wasn’t exactly a people person.” He took a sip of his drink and leaned back against the kitchen counter.

“If it helps, he has bright green eyes. Kinda like acid. With slit pupils. He should be dead..but you mentioned my having a wing. He had one so I thought I’d ask.”

“Then it must be different people. The man I’m thinking of had golden eyes. It’s strange how we could have encountered such similar people. It may speak to the state of the universe.” He’d always been odd company, but it seemed the early morning hours made him even stranger. 

“For what it’s worth, I hope you don’t find him. He sounds ill-suited to company.”

[mythandwarning]

complexedstigma:

“’S fine. Doubt there’s another one of me,though…..A wing?” Cloud glanced over his shoulder then wiggled both of them. Nope. He definitely didn’t have a wing. There was only one man he knew who had a wing. But he was dead….right?

Cloud turned his attention back to the other. “Y’wouldn’t happen to know someone named Sephiroth, would you? Guy taller than me. Wears black leather. Has silver hair that almost drags on th’ ground. Has a long ass sword, too.”

“I don’t know anyone who calls themselves Sephiroth, but your description seems familiar.” Tall and silver-haired, wearing black leather could certainly fit The Superior, even if his hair was a little too short. Had Xemnas interfered with another world? It wouldn’t surprise Luxord if he had; interference was the Superior’s way. “This man, did he have a way about him, a sort of commanding presence? Uncomfortably good with words?” 

It was doubtful that Xemnas could be responsible for this Cloud’s lookalike, but not impossible. Vexen had, after all, proven himself capable of cloning. 

[mythandwarning]

@nxcturnalmelody

Port Royal was not Luxord’s home, inasmuch as he could have a home, but he’d spent so long moving in and around it that he’d become accustomed to a certain type of background noise. The sound of the sea, sailors singing shanties in the distance, the bustle of people either trying to pretend they weren’t in the ass end of their world, or that they weren’t surrounded by a hated nobility. 

In the wake of such a place, his room seemed too quiet, and he was beginning to be unnerved by it. So he’d come here, this shop that ostensibly sold music, to see if he could find something to liven up his new home. 

Life and luck, it seemed, was full of surprises. There, brazen as the day he was born, was Demyx. For a moment, Luxord considered walking out, leaving and saying nothing at all to the young man. He had never been like the rest of them, not so cold or hollow. He was bright, and warm, and full of laughter; Luxord had liked him- respected him, even. It was not easy to remain oneself in the life they lived, and yet somehow Demyx had managed it.

Curiosity overcame him, of course. “As I live and breathe. Demyx, it’s good to see you.” For this man alone, there was no pretense. Or at least, not so much. 

[mythandwarning]

@bookofretribution

[mythandwarning]

bookofretribution:

“Don’t you?”  Zexion looks to Luxord, head tilted.  “We all died once to be what we were.  And this,” a pause, accompanied by a gesture to their general surroundings, “is different.”

Not entirely truthful, as an answer.  He does not remember his first death– hardly remembers his first life, in point of fact.  Zexion breaks the eye contact after only a moment.  His eyes move to his hands, resting loose and open in his own lap.

In honesty, Zexion thinks this cannot be death if only because it is too pleasant a world.  Despite being taken there against his will, despite being under the whims of strange beings, despite all of it– it remains fact that Stella City is almost a utopia in his eyes.  Although, after residing in the World That Never Was for his formative years, it isn’t hard to seem idealistic in comparison.

“Besides, the concept of an afterlife is laughable, even after all I’ve seen.   We’re alive, somehow.  Whether that is a gift or not remains to be judged.”

“I don’t remember.” He spoke softly; the Nobodies had rarely spoken of their previous lives, and even more rarely spoken of their deaths. All of them, to the last man, had died before becoming what they now were, but few had seemed willing to talk about the event. It seemed even soulless beings could feel something too painful for idle discussion. 

It worried Luxord that Zexion now seemed willing to refer to the event directly. He knew Zexion must have been very young when it happened, trapped as he was in a teenager’s form. 

His attention shifted at the mention of the afterlife, and Zexion’s unsurprising mockery. “I don’t think it’s laughable at all. After everything that’s happened to us, the concept of life after death isn’t strange at all.”He’d always been an outlier among them; a religious man amongst those who had no faith in anything. It had rarely been an issue. For the most part, he kept himself to himself, and no one said anything if they knew. 

[mythandwarning]

complexedstigma:

Oh. It was an in-passing type of know then. That was understandable. Though he tended to keep out of whatever spotlight people wanted to put him in. It was easier that way. He didn’t like attention.

“…Traverse Town?” Cloud thought for a moment then shook his head. “Never heard of it. Sorry.”

He didn’t know it? Well, that didn’t make sense at all. “I’m sorry, I must have been confused.” If Cloud didn’t know a town which Luxord knew he lived in, perhaps this was not the correct Cloud. A copy, or he’d caught him too early in the timeline, mayhaps. 

“Forgive me for saying so, but I think there’s something odd going on here. There was-”. He stopped, pausing to rephrase before he said something too revealing. “I knew another Cloud who looked almost exactly like you, I mean. We resided in the same area. He, ah, had a wing though. ”

[memes4u]

☆ Headcanon Prompts ☆          Food Preferences

🍎 = Does your muse prefer fruits or vegetables?

🍐 = What is your muse’s favourite fruit?

🌽 = What is your muse’s favourite vegetable?

🍞 = What type of bread does your muse like the most, if any?

🍗 = What kind of meat does your muse like the most?

🍌 = Is your muse a vegetarian?

🍔 = Does your muse like eating greasy, fast foods?

🍝 = What is your muse’s favourite meal of all time?

🍳 = Does your muse eat three meals a day, every day?

🍫 = Does your muse enjoy sweets? If so, what is their favourite?

🍷 = What kind of beverage does your muse like the most?

🍺 = What is your muse’s favourite alcoholic beverage?

☕️ = What is your muse’s favourite non-alcoholic beverage?

🍵 = Does your muse prefer tea or coffee?

🍼 = What was your muse’s favourite food as a child? Is it still a favourite or have they found a liking for something else?

🍽 = Does your muse prefer to eat-in alone or eat out with friends/family?

🍛 = Does your muse prefer spicy hot food or mildly hot food?

🍖 = How does your muse like their meat cooked? Well done, rare, etc?

🍲 = Does your muse prefer their own cooking or someone else’s? Is there someone’s cooking who your muse enjoys most of all?

[sheriff--cait-deactivated201810]

“DAMN.” Questions for Muses.

BLOOD. -What types of injuries has your muse sustained? What was the worst? 

DNA. -What was your muses home life like?

YAH. -Something your muse agrees on 100% of the time.

ELEMENT. -What is your muse “made of”, what is their character like? Courageous, loving, scared, etc.

FEEL. -How does your character react to a persons touch? A random stranger’s? A loved one’s? A friend’s?

LOYALTY. -Does your character have any loyalty to any group?

PRIDE. -What is your muses biggest flaw?

HUMBLE. -How does your muse handle praise?

LUST. -Who does your muse find attractive?

LOVE. -Does your muse have a “special someone”

XXX. -What’s the raunchiest thing your muse has ever done?

FEAR. -What are your muses biggest fears?

GOD. -Does your muse believe in a god? If so, describe it.

DUCKWORTH. -Has your muse ever thought about committing or committed a crime?

[mythandwarning]

faciliheir:

Her eyes widened slightly as he began, then her expression softened, just slightly. “I get ya,” she nodded. “Seems to be a common thing here. I could do magic too, back where I was from.” At least, once she’d gotten into Auradon. What with the barrier keeping anyone on the Isle from using magic and all. “Wasn’t allowed to, since we were supposed to learn how to do stuff without relyin’ on it but still had it.” 

She folded her arms over her chest, a frown finding its way onto her face. “It seems like it’s something that happens here.” It was like being on the Isle all over again. “My readings are about the only things I can still do.” Even then, there was still room for error. 

“Dunno if it’ll help, but I tried to find an answer myself when I first got here. There’s something about this city, takes away abilities, or strips ‘em down to the bare minimum. I guess it means as long as we’re here, we’re basically…..normal.” 

What she said rang true, and Luxord had no reason to doubt her. Still, it was disappointing to hear; and he did not try to hide that. “Ah. Thank you; I appreciate your honesty.” 

It seemed this city had a price after all, one it would not bargain over. You could find peace here at the cost of your magic, or whatever else set you apart. He wasn’t sure it was a price he would have paid willingly. But then, also, it had made him human. Wasn’t that what he wanted? What they all wanted?

“What of you? What sort of magic did you have before?” She must be a seer of some kind to read fortunes, but aside from that he couldn’t guess. 

[mythandwarning]

lowtownchampion:

“You know, this city is quite amazing. I’d never thought I’d be in a situation where I’d say ‘yes’ to wanting to pet a fish, yet here we are.” Hawke laughed, gesturing for Lux to lead the way.

“It’s nice here. I’ve never been somewhere so calming. Everywhere I go is always so lively, even when I’m just playing cards with my friends. It’s pleasant  to be so relaxed.”

“I know the feeling. ‘Exciting’ could certainly describe my life until now. It’s nice to be bored, isn’t it?” He spoke as he walked, balancing his attention between Hawke and not walking into a wall. He’d hate to shame himself in front of someone he’d just met. 

“What is your world like?” The question was soft, an attempt to seem friendly. “I’ve seen many, but you don’t appear to be from any of them.”

[mythandwarning]

@bookofretribution

[mythandwarning]

bookofretribution:

“Yes, you must.  I never perceived you to be so graceless.”   Zexion allows himself to be assisted to his feet, amusement gracing his expression as Luxord simply remains on the ground.   He casts about for a place to sit that isn’t the dirt, and finds a large rock.  Not ideal, but good enough.  

And all the better to be at eye level with Luxord for what he means to say next.

“This,” Zexion starts, gaze unwavering on the other’s face, “is not what death looks like.”  He doesn’t mean to add so much gravity to the statement, but it’s hard to speak so frankly about death without some change in the air.  Especially when it’s his own death.

Luxord notes quietly that Zexion moves towards a seat where he’ll be higher than Luxord, even if functionally it only puts him at eye-level. Some things never change, he supposes. When the younger Nobody chides him in his snide way, he can’t help but smile. His acerbic wit is pleasantly familiar. 

Zexion speaks again, and the world goes slightly off-kilter. This is not what death looks like? He seems so certain, so perfectly knowing of what he’s saying that Luxord can’t help but wonder: what happened at Castle Oblivion?

There had been rumors that all was not well there, but then no more, and he’d never asked. He’d never thought to ask; their Superior was so careful, so particular with what they were told that it had simply never dawned on him. 

Had he died? Had more of them? Zexion was no killer, that much Luxord knew. He wasn’t even a spy; the older Nobodies had always kept him close to their chest for some unfathomable reason.

“What...do you mean? Do you know what it looks like?”

[mythandwarning]

complexedstigma:

Cloud was going to get something out of the fridge when his name was called. He paused in his movements and looked up, a questioning look on his face. “Yeah…That’s me.”

Once that slight shock was over, Cloud leaned back into the fridge and grabbed the milk, grabbing a glass soon afterward and pouring it as he studied the other man.

There was a vague feeling of recognition there but….”Do I know you? You seem t’ know me.”

“I’ve seen you before.” If Cloud didn’t know him, it was no surprise. Nobodies rarely removed their hoods unless they were doing business or fighting. He’d done neither with Cloud, only observed him. But then, too, there was something different about the man, as though he wasn’t quite right. 

“Or I thought I had. Tell me, when was the last time you saw Traverse Town?” Luxord had a suspicion that something wasn’t the way it seemed.  If he was wrong, then no loss; it wasn’t as though they really knew each other. But if he was right, then something was very strange. 

[oathcharms-blog-deactivated2023]

@mythandwarning

Kairi very much considered herself an optimist.

Really, she didn’t see a point in living life with anything other than the belief that everything will eventually be okay. No matter what. But she wasn’t feeling too optimistic right now.

She’d first seen him in passing, back at the hotel she now called home, and had immediately darted up the stairs back to her room. As far as she knew, he hadn’t noticed her, but that hadn’t stopped her from spending the next few days looking over her shoulder, her Keyblade always present. Today, though, after not noticing his presence for awhile, she decided venturing out with Destiny’s Embrace wasn’t necessary.

She was wrong.

Blue eyes narrowed into a glare as he stepped into her line of vision. The only thing stopping her from running away this time was the realization that if she didn’t have any of her powers, neither did he.

“What are you doing here?”

[mythandwarning]

This city had a way about it, a subtle serenity that had lulled him into a quiet complacency. When Luxord had woken here, in the sunlight of this living world, he had had no powers, and no weapons made of his own magic, but he had one thing he did not have before. He had a pulse. 

The subtle beat of it lived in his mind, made him unafraid in this place that seemed so like a dream. It made him not even want to fight. Everything that had happened, everything he had been, and been told, slipped out of mind. Even Xemnas, their godking in his own mind, became distant and unreal. 

When people he knew appeared there, the illusion of peace wavered. An angry voice from across a street finally shattered it. He turned, afraid for but a moment, and then confused when there was only a girl. 

"Do I know you? I don't believe we've met." Something about her seemed familiar, but Luxord couldn't place it.

[mythandwarning]

hey guys i've been out of sorts and really tired recently, but i wanted to let anyone i'm threading with know i haven't forgotten about either of my blogs (luxord or ignis) and i'll absolutely be more active in the next few days. i'm sorry for the wait in the meantime. also, if anyone would like to plot, feel free to shoot me a chat!

[mythandwarning]

faciliheir:

A smile tugged at her lips as she tilted her head to the side. “Well, I sure appreciate it. Today’s been awfully slow.” Most days were, actually, but it was better than sitting in her room doing homework. She’d do it eventually, of course. She had chosen good after all. 

Her grin widened at his question and she shrugged her shoulders. “Lil’ bit of everything. Love, life, the future, general advice for how somethin’ gonna turn out.” She was genuine too, not in it to scam a poor customer out of their money–at least, not anymore. That was the past, and she wasn’t going to look back. Besides, her policy now was that if they weren’t satisfied with the reading, or didn’t believe in it, then it was free. Or if she turned out to be wrong, she’d give them their money back. 

“It all depends on what you wanna ask, mister.”

It seemed like such a simple thing; he knew what he wanted to ask, knew what he needed to know, but the words felt caught. To admit that he could not see, that his ability to interact with time in the way he was so accustomed was more than embarrassing, it was almost painful. 

“I think,” he began, trying to frame the situation as delicately as was possible, “That there may be something wrong with me. I am accustomed to having magic, and it seems to have vanished.”

That wasn’t completely accurate, but it was as close as he could make himself say. “Do you have any way to know if this is permanent?” If his voice was uncharacteristically soft, he knew she wouldn’t notice. Blessedly, she did not know him. 

[mythandwarning]

@bookofretribution

[mythandwarning]

bookofretribution:

Zexion had, in his newfound freedom to do whatever he pleased, taken to wandering Stella City alone.  He craved some understanding of this place, and why he was here– as the last thing he could remember was the face of an ally betraying him– and the only way he knew how to acquire that was so search the city.  He would know all he could about this place as soon as possible, though he did not know what he would do after that was finished.

Today, he wanders the Rainbow River, following it as far as his feet will take him, until he finds himself deep in the woods.  He hears footsteps in the distance, but pays them little mind, kicking a rock into the river idly.  The footsteps get closer, until they are near enough that he knows it’s prudent to look and see who is approaching.

He hardly gets a chance to register the presence of his former co-worker before said man is tumbling towards him.  Before he knows it, Zexion finds himself flat on his back, a familiar figure sprawling across him.  A noise of faint pain passes his lips, blue eyes settling on Luxord as the other speaks.

“I’ll be alright.”  His response is somewhat clipped– not angry at Luxord, but a bit wary of any of his fellow Nobodies after his untimely death.  “As to your first question, your guess would be as good as my own.”

Luxord moved quickly off of his former compatriot, too aware of the size difference between them, and offered Zexion a hand. “I really must learn to watch where I step.” 

It’s odd; thirteen people, and the only two he’s seen so far are two he gets on best with. Perhaps Fate is being kind, but kindness from Fate rarely lasts, and almost always leads to trouble. It makes Luxord nervous.

He sits back on the grass, pondering. Before he knows it, the man is talking again, as if to fill the silence. “We might be dead, I suppose. It wouldn’t be the strangest thing that’s happened.” He quiets again, unsure. They could be dead, but he hopes they are not. 

[mythandwarning]

lowtownchampion:

“Oh! They’re beautiful!” Hawke smiled, staring at the squishy-looking creatures. She’d never seen anything like them before! “They look so mushy. I want to pet one.” She wouldn’t actually try of course- Hawke had learned the hard way about messing with unfamiliar creatures. But still…

“Nice to meet you Lux.” Hawke grinned at the man. “What brings you to the aquarium?”

“I have a fondness for the sea, and things that dwell in it. It’s calming to be able to sit and watch them live with no apparent recognition of our presence.” 

It might have only been a half-truth, but it was enough, he supposed. Tipping his head slightly, he glanced at her again. Hawke seemed safe; nonthreatening and warm, perhaps even friendly. 

“You know, I believe most aquariums have a sort of low tank where you can play with some of the creatures. Do you want to see if this one does?” 

[complexedstigma-archive]

@mythandwarning

Cloud spent plenty of his time at night just sitting in his room. Falling asleep was always difficult for him. And he had no want to bother other people so he just hid away. But he was feeling peckish this night, though it was probably closer to morning by now, so he wandered down to the hotel’s kitchens to find himself something to eat.

He was surprised to see someone there already. “Ah…Didn’t think anyone else’d be up right now…”

[mythandwarning]

“I rarely sleep. Don’t worry, you’re not a bother.”

Luxord enjoyed the kitchens, enjoyed the still quiet, and the subtle sounds of machinery settling after a long day of use; the small ticks, and creaks of things still running in the background. It was soothing in a way he couldn’t quite put his finger on; so soothing, in fact, that he almost didn’t recognize the man. Almost.

“Cloud?”