I usually donāt do this, but this seller on Etsy is stealing art from artists (I have specifically confirmed from @eggstyle it is theft of their art- see screenshot of the convo). Already Iāve seen people buy from them - who either donāt know or donāt care. Either way itās not right.
Please report this account - do NOT harass them in anyway, letās be mature about it.
Here are the cultural references I caught playing Touchstarved ANDDD my Eridia worldbuilding theory + observations. Iāll cut to the chase for you babygorl, Eridia is inspired by Middle East + Mediterranean. One could even argue, Turkey.
We will be looking at 3 things: Eridiaās physical structure(Architecture, geography), word origins, cultural references (like food, clothing, weapons)- with the current non-backer available knowledge we have right now.
I double-checked with internet but Im open for feedback correct me if Iām wrong OR you have any additional inputš§āāļø
1) Eridiaās Structure:
Eridiaās architecture is confirmed to be somewhat inspired by Istanbul. This was confirmed in the livestream now posted in the RSS youtube. The houses we see in Lowtown are examples of the old turkish houses that were mentioned. We also come across mosque-like towers and domed structures. Also very prominent in maybe not specifically Istanbul architecture but def Middle East overall.
Evidence A: a1) Eridia Lowtown houses / a2 a3) traditional Turkish houses. A3 more picked to fit the vibe of Lowtown the source is Researchgate
Geographically, lowtown and Hightown are also VERY Istanbul given that the Lowtown seems poorer compared to Hightown, which is similar to the European side of Istanbul across theeeee drum roll pleaseeeee BRIDGES! CORRECT! Boom Istanbul land geography reflected in Eridian structures! Since we know Eridia is also separated by a bridge between Lowtown and Hightown, it feels not unique to Istanbul alone but at least resembling the European & Asian halves of Istanbul
Vere mentioned the weather being āDreckā, idk what that really tells us geographically but Iād love to hear your thoughts.
THEORY: Location wise, Eridia is giving Mesopotamian locations. With river and all. We know Vere had said āthis was more than a miserable (sth i dont recall before my laptop broke so I cannot replay the game rn someone reblog this w that Vere scene)ā which leads me to believe that Eridia was once abundant-ish. Mhin also said its not that bad and the streets are now considered eroded (makes sense bc of water damage.)
The senobium is also a religious learning place and could serve as an institution more resembling of a historically islamic school: a Madrasah. Which also studied the sciences commonly during the Ottoman period. Madrasahs can be secular or religious. The Ottoman ones did study the sciences but outside of Ottoman Madrasahs Iād love to hear if they were secular or not (Even Ottoman Madrasahs were not entirely secular institutions.)
2)Word Origins:
Senobium written as Cenobium for us- is like a monastary that encourages community more than solitary. And the word itself has greek origins, coming from the word koinobion apparently). Leander is also probably greek bc of his name origins(Leandros- look up the myth of Oleander), but we can also see some other symbols/ references related to other greek myths like the pomegranate wine, the triple moons, the keys (HECATE AND OVERALL UNDERWORLD SYMBOLISM WAKE UP PEOPLE HEāS A- gets killed) waterways are also somewhat common in ancient sites (for any city close to a water source)
Eridia as a name can possibly originate from the name of the Greek goddess Eris- and it makes sense given the chaotic nature of the city. Mhin themselves said Eridia was never perfect which hints at some level of inevitable chaos.
3) Cultural references:
Mhinās dagger- looks like an Italian stiletto dagger.
Evidence B: Mhinās dagger vs an Italian stiletto dagger
Leanderās dagger- thatās a khanjar. These daggers are sometimes used to symbolize āmanhood power and authorityā. But take what I say with a grain of salt and feel free to correct me :)
Notes: Keep in mind that these dagger references are meant to show the blade not accurately determine where the blade is from-the argument is made for a region not a location. One could even argue this to be an Indian khanjar because of the handle.
Vereās decorations feel Italian as well when paired with Mhinās dagger. Kurasās earrings are feel like they can be somewhere in Middle East (not super sure), Ais himself is an outsider to the city so no wonder nothing he has particularly matches whatās going on as Eridiaās vibe.
We look at Mhinās blouse? Giving European bbg idk what to say especially those sleeves. And the overall silhouette.
Oh and btw. The lamps are Turkish/Moroccan lamps. And we have a silly little cup of what might be a funny Turkish coffee cup in MCās room :)
(More evidence will be in reblogs)
But now that we are at the end of it all, if u actually came this far allow me to now get a bit more sentimental with my words: Dear @redspringstudio I donāt know if you will read this or see this post. Iām also sure we cannot get a confirmation(for now) if any of these are true or not. Either way, I have so far never seen Middle Eastern references in a horror game before. Neither have I seen it done well-made too many times. I have followed the old work of some of the developers on the team and had came across a similar, heartwarming world building with again, Middle Eastern tones to it. Everything I have said today might be a speculation, perhaps I am really reaching with some things I say. But at the end of the day it really really warmed my heart to play this demo and not only freak out about the characters, but the world as well. To look around, frantically take notes and double check my current knowledge to make sure I was not delusional when making this post is really something not a lot of games can make me do. This is yet another reminder that representation matters, and that small hints in a good world building can really touch someone. I remember giggling with my friends and going insane over collecting the evidence for this post, and it will forever be one of the sweet memories I have had when playing visual novels for me.
Enough of being mushy go like and reblog so I didnāt end up wasting my hours and shit/j
Neko, do I need to read the comics and follow the asks?
No, thatās just extra content for those who want to understand more about the lore behind this world. All important and relevant information will be in the game.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
Why is MC being human important?
Let me show you the meaning behind it. Youāre in the middle of the jungle, and suddenly youāre surrounded by wolves. What would surprise you more being saved by another human, your own kind, or one of the wolves turning against the pack to protect you? Thatās the context I want you to understand.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
Did Harlequin and Pierrot propose marriage when they bit MC?
No. Right now, theyāre competing for you in a game of flirtation. Those bites are not proposals. I mentioned thereās context, and that the mark would leave a scar and MC has no scar!
Itās like when a friend gives you a ring that doesnāt mean youāre married, right?
Marriage and courtship among monsters are different, and MC should definitely be aware of whatās being proposed. So relax! For now, theyāre just teasing each other and lightly trying to mark you.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
Black tent and pink tent
I canāt answer anything about those topics! Thatās something you need to explore in the game and interpret for yourselves.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
What happens when the circus leaves? And Carol? And the fools?
All of that will also be explored in the game, so thereās nothing I can answer about it right now.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
Why does the game only have English voice acting?
I donāt know any Brazilian or Chinese voice actors, and adding voice acting is new to me. I never planned for the game to have it, but @darthsukiās performance really convinced me it would add more emotion!
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
How many endings will the game have?
Iām planning multiple endings, but I canāt give a number right now. I might change my mind, so I prefer not to set expectations yet.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
What does the āpoly routeā mean?
It means MC will fall in love with Pierrot and Harlequin at the same time. The rest is up to your interpretation. Just like Jesterās tent, I wonāt say too much about certain parts of the game so you can form your own interpretations thatās all!
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
Will Pierrot abandon MC?
Where did that come from? A lot of people asked me this, so Iāll be very direct:
NO. There is nothing that would make Pierrot abandon MC. Never.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
Are MC and Columbina the same person/reincarnation/descendants?
No. MC has no connection to Columbina.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
Does Pierrot still love Columbina?
No, Pierrot has grown up and matured a lot since then he no longer thinks of Columbina that way.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
What do the circus members/monsters find attractive in humans?
You know when you come across a group of cats on the street, and you recognize that theyāre all cats, but youāre unable to distinguish their gender or other traits that define them individually? Thatās how they see humans. They learn to recognize patterns to tell them apart, like āmost females have long hair, but not all,ā or āmost males have beards and more body hair, but not all.ā
Appearance isnāt exactly what attracts them, but other factorsā¦ maybe Iāll talk about that soon.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
What if I don't want anything romantic with the characters?
The protagonist's route won't involve romance, but you can still choose whether or not to form friendships with them.
āāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāāā
Why are some answers no longer canon?
Iāve mentioned before that while I was still writing the full script, I might change my mind over time.
Many asks made before I wrote Day 2 may not be very helpful anymore. Thanks to the @iwasbibliomaniac masterlist, Iāve started reviewing them and already removed some that no longer made sense to keep. Now I have a more solid foundation for the script, and I only answer questions that align with whatās already structured in it.
Content: contrary to popular belief, the fire lord can't have everything he wants. however, even heād admit that what he wanted was troublesome in itself, which is why he forces himself to be okay with having you by his side as his advisor. [tw: MDNI, angst/fluff/smut, apothecary diaries coded, so much yearning and longing, porn with plot, there is no power imbalance heās afraid of your father, zukoās a little shit tho, weāre already married in his head] wc: 4.8k
m.list | chapter one | next chapter
āYou want me to do yourĀ hair?ā
His lips twitch, fighting back a smile. āYes, precisely.āĀ
You sigh as you step into the manās chambers, walking up to the vanity thatās more fitting for a queen, in your opinion. If only people saw this side of the fire lord. Zuko, the pretty boy. He has zero insecurities over the scar his tyrant of a father left on his face, but heād faint at the sight of seeing too much hair shed on the marble floors of his bathhouse.Ā
āWhen you decide to have me summoned like this, do you ever wonder,Ā hmā what would her father think?ā you ask as you grudgingly pick up the boar bristle brush and begin to brush his hair.Ā
āI do,ā he dryly responds. āI like the way you do your hair, though, so Iād appreciate it if you didnāt tell on me. You wouldnāt want me getting in trouble,Ā right?āĀ
Zuko might be the fire lord, but he still has to watch his relationships with the other clans in this nationāĀ especiallyĀ with a certain hot-headed strategist that just so happens to be your father. You can only imagine his outburst upon learning that his daughter is playing with the lord's hair, rather than playing your role as his advisor.Ā
Most fathers would be pleased by the informationāĀ notĀ yours, heās a little moreā¦ strict. He already doesnāt like him from a joke made over a decade ago, suggesting youād make a fine concubine, which wasnāt taken lightly.Ā
Your father threatened to usurp the throne, sending a chill running down a then 21 year old Zukoās spine.
There was no way in hell heād hand you off to the imperial palace to become a concubine. Youāre the only child of his that inherited firebending. If your father had it his way, youād be a warrior, for fucks sake.Ā
Lord Zuko may have a dry sense of humor at times, but you have your doubts about how much of a joke that statement was, especially with how much he likes to bug you throughout the day.
Perhaps another conflict should eruptā the man has too much time on his hands. Maybe then youād fulfill your fathers wish of finally working in the militaryāĀ put your talents to use,Ā as heād say.Ā
But would Lord Zuko allow the gentle hands running through his hair to commit such violence? Or would that be when heād draw a hard line with the aggressive strategist?Ā
As progressive as he is, you sometimes wonder just how much it extends to you. Even as children, heād go easy on you during trainings. Heās only grown softer with you as the years passed. Despite not being a concubine yourself, you wouldnāt be surprised if he saw you as one of the flowers in his gardenā one heās not allowed to touch.Ā
You slide the hair stick through his headpiece, securing the top knot he had you redo. It looks the same, but you hold off on making a comment. āIs that better?āĀ
āMuch better.ā His eyes meet yours in the mirror, lips curving into a sly smile. āNowā what are we doing today?ā
We.Ā You hate how much he likes to emphasize that at times.Ā
āWell,ā you sigh. āAside from the usual council meeting, nothing much. Perhaps you can visit one of your concubines todayā¦Ā for once.ā
He huffs out a laugh. āAre you saying I donātĀ fuckĀ my concubines enough?āĀ
āPrecisely,ā you say almost mockingly.Ā
Itās all they ever complain about, and honestly, youāre sure you would, too, if you were one of them. Having to wake up and sit around all day, waiting for a man who never comes. And on the rare occasion that he does, he doesnāt stay long. Heāll show up, fuck the shit out of you for a couple rounds, then leave right after.Ā Allegedly.Ā
āDonāt you want an heir?ā you ask.Ā
āDepends,ā he hums.Ā
With the way heās looking at you, you can already tell what it depends on, and it has nothing to do with his current concubines. Lucky for you, he never gets the chance to actually say it because he gets interrupted right after, putting a conversation youād rather not have to a screeching halt.
āThe council is waiting for you, my Lord.ā
ā
The silk district was notoriously known for two things: brothels and bandits. It was the wild, wild west compared to the other districts in the capital due to high crime and the growing wealth gap. The governments always kept a watchful eye on it, which was never enough in your opinion.Ā
Are you surprised to hear that an entire brothel, including the madame, was discovered to be slain and robbed in the early hours of this morning? Absolutely not.Ā
āSend more military officers to patrol the area,ā the chamberlain says without hesitation. āWeāve been too lenient with them. If they want bloodshed, weāll give them bloodshed.ā
Yikes, he wants to rule the area with an iron fist when theyāre already clearly struggling. You canāt help but think of how much of a dictator this guy would be if he were in Zukoās place.Ā
You make eye contact with the lord, whoās sitting at the end of the table right next to you. In that brief moment, he notices the concern in your eyes and gives you a subtle nod.Ā
āPerhaps we can send more public aid?ā you suggest. āTheyāve been testing out a new rehabilitation program in Republic City as well. Iām sure the Silk District could benefit fromāā
āNonsense,ā the chamberlain cuts you off, wondering why youāre even here right nowā he thought you only assisted in mattersĀ withinĀ the court, not outside of it. āI-ā
āCareful,ā Zuko interrupts the man rather playfully as he continues to read through the scroll. āThatās the military strategistās daughter youāre speaking to.āĀ
The comment makes you nearly roll your eyes, knowing the only reason why he said it was because youāre having to constantly remind him yourself when he gets too close.Ā
The chamberlain, however, straightens up immediately. You have no idea why it took him this long to realize it. Heās been here for nearly over a year, but at least he knows now. The chamberlain can be quite rude at times, you wouldnāt want him to slip up with your father in the room. Not only would that earn him an earful of insults that are as creative as they are hurtful, but itād also be embarrassing on your part.Ā
That old man embarrasses you enough when heās around. Following you around like a lost puppy after meetings, asking if youāve eaten and if your superiors are treating you right, while side eyeing the fire lord himself. Youād agree so yourself that he has too much power in the court. He enjoys holding it over everyoneās head even more. Itās sickening, really.
You look at the chamberlain, who is now pouting, and offer an apologetic smile. āMay I continue?āĀ
āYes, of course,ā the old man nods, struggling to hide his shame.
Always one for games, Zuko finds himself suppressing a laugh, which in turn makes the chamberlainās slouch worsen. Heās grown to find more and more amusement in his daily tasks, a trait his father would definitely disapprove ofāĀ good thing heās not here anymore.Ā
The rest of the meeting went by as smooth as it could be, with the fire lord, of course, praising the chancellor in the end for being so well behaved, pretending to wonder what couldāve changed his usual demeanor. The usual teasings, all while you once again found yourself thinking of how light heās become. Even after receiving such upsetting news, he stayed calm while finding a solution.Ā
AĀ humaneĀ one.
No longer the grumpy, angsty boy you grew up with. Heās actually quite charming. But you keep that to yourself.
The palace grounds are empty, as they should be during the afternoon. Everyoneās off either eating, napping, or tending to duties such as cooking or cleaning. Itās quiet, surprisingly peaceful. Your footsteps echo throughout the breezeway as Zuko defies the basic etiquette of walking ahead of you as a ruler should. Instead, the bastard walks a little slower than you. If given the opportunity, heād turn it into a mini competition of who could walk the slowest, up until you both come to a full stop, with him looking at you all smug.Ā
āYour chambers are this way,ā you remind the said bastard as if heād already forgotten.Ā
He doesnāt bother to look back as he responds, walking down a gravel path leading directly to the flower garden. āHow about we take a detour today, hm?ā
You watch him for a moment, waiting to see if heād stop. He doesnāt, and you shouldnāt be surprised by it. Youāre able to catch up with him in just seconds given his slow pace, this time not bothering to walk behind him as heās clearly in the mood to be extra stubborn today.
Youāre all alone and away from the hearing distance of anyone else, yet you still choose to speak quietly as you start to gently tease the man. āWhat a surprise to see the king taking some time to enjoy his garden.āĀ
He lets out a soft laugh that fades into a hum. āOnly around a select few.ā
āOh,Ā wow,ā you pretend to be impressed. āHow charitable.āĀ
āItās an honor that you think so,ā he says, placing a hand over his chest to add to the theatrics, trying not to laugh once again. āTell me, when was the last time you walked through here?ā
You hum as you walk further into the sprawling garden filled with wooden arches covered with green vines and flowers in full bloom. āCanāt say I actually remember when.ā
āThatās a shame. I had the gardener plant new rose bushes,ā he murmurs. āWanted to ask what you thought of them.āĀ
āI think theyāre lovely,ā you admit, softly pinching a petal, rubbing your thumb over the velvety skin.
He smiles. āI figured.āĀ
They were your favorite after all.Ā
Why is he like this? The gardenās already filled with enough flowers. A new section wasnāt needed.Ā
Again, heās just bored.
In an attempt to keep the conversation from getting any more personal, you change the subject. āAre you looking forward to your trip to Republic City?āĀ
At the end of the meeting, it was decided that heād visit with the purpose of getting more information about the new rehabilitation program the city was rolling out. While the chancellor wanted to take a more aggressive approach, he decided to take a more peaceful route. Itās admirable how hands on heās chosen to be since taking his father's place.Ā
āMhm. Itāll be nice catching up with some old friends while Iām thereāā he cuts himself off and looks at you with slight suspicion, āyouāre going, right?ā
You never said you would, nor did you want to, honestly. Itād be nice to take a break. āIām sure you and some of your subordinates can handle it.āĀ
āWerenātĀ youĀ the one who came up with the idea, though?ā his tone slightly clips as he reminds you.Ā
āI was,ā you respond tentatively, taking back your thoughts from earlier as you look him in the eyes.Ā
This man looks like heās about to throw a fit.Ā
Zuko opens his mouth again, already knowing he shouldnāt be this pushy towards you, of all people, but he isĀ farĀ from perfect.Ā
So with a forced smile and all the resolve in the world, he murmurs, āyouāre going.āĀ
You smile back despite feeling an annoyed heat creep up your neck, heart starting to pick up. āAlright.āĀ
ā
Imagine being the fire lord, a literal ruler, and getting the cold shoulder from your own advisor. Every answer is so curt and clinical, and itās going to drive him up the wall.Ā
Yes, my lord. Of course, my lord. Apologies, my lord.
Give him a fucking break.
As if you werenāt punishing him enough, you went ahead and had two of his concubines āaccompanyā him on the trip. Itās not like he can say no to that, either, since itās considered to be one of his duties. Not to mention they both come from high-ranking families that would not be very pleased to hear of their neglect.Ā
So now he has to deal with two spoiled, pent-up brats hanging on him during the entirety of this flight, all while trying not to glare at the biggest brat of them allāĀ you, as you sit directly across from him, reading probably whatās some pathetic romance novel.
This is fucking ridiculous. You havenāt looked at him once since you first sat down.
Youāre no better than him. There was a strike of lightning in the direction you walked off in, and given how it was a perfectly sunny day, heās pointing his finger at you for the damages done in the east wing, despite keeping his mouth shut on the matter. Complain about being dragged to Republic City all you want, but you still have it better than most. If you really did have it that bad, you wouldāve been punished for such an offense.Ā
Like, seriously? Blowing shit up, like a fucking childā a terrifying one, to be frank, you areĀ absolutelyĀ your fatherās daughterā just because you had to do your job?Ā Grow up. His grandfatherās statue was shattered in the midst of it all, thanks to you. Youāre lucky he never liked the bastard.
In protest, youāre dressed like a noble's daughter rather than a member of the court. Wearing the finest silk and adorned in gold imported from the Earth nation, quietly refusing to represent yourĀ actualĀ nation as you claim to be representing your clanā proof that you have enough power on your own to be acting like heās actively denying you of basic human rights.
As if he even cared about your attire. Be his guest! You lookĀ fuckingĀ hot. Someone might even mistake you for one of his concubines, and he might justĀ notĀ correct them, since you think youāre more petty than he is.
Zuko gets pulled out of his thoughts when Concubine Aika speaks, still leaning against him and rubbing on his chest. She asked what book you were reading, which is when you finally looked up from it.Ā
āItās sort of an adventure novel.ā You look at the cover, speaking to her with a certain warmth youāve been depriving him of. āItās about a girl escaping an abusive orphanage once she turns 18 and follows her journey for the next 10 years.ā
So now youāre fantasizing about leaving him? Good luck with that.Ā
āYou look troubled, my lord,ā the woman to his right, Concubine Saiyo, says. Sheās leaning against him as well, now tracing her fingers along his jaw. āAre you alright?āĀ
āMāfine,ā he murmurs, trying to fix his face as he takes a sip of sake. āItās been a long flight.ā
āThereās a private cabin you can retreat to, if youād like,ā you suggest, going back to your little book, missing the way you just made the lordās eye twitch.Ā
āI know,ā he says.Ā
ItāsĀ hisĀ airship.Ā
Without warning, he gets up from his seat. Was it a little rude? Perhaps. But surely the two women beside him could understand what feeling hounded could do to someone. They donāt, they do their jobs and get up as well, which he understands. However, ZukoāsĀ notĀ in the fucking mood right now and waves a dismissive hand.Ā
āNo need,ā he curtly says, making his way to the back of the airship. āI just want to close my eyes for a bit.āĀ
. . . . . .
The trip starts off strong with a banquet being held in honor of the fire lord's arrival.Ā
Contrary to Zukoās wishes, nobodyās stupid enough to mistake you for one of his concubines. At least not within the circle of people youāre mingling with tonight, who all recognize your family's crest engraved on your hairpin.Ā
They were an ambitious bunch that spread all over once Zuko came into powerā reaching amongst the highest positions within the military, medicine, and even education.Ā
Funny enough, your position in the court was nothing special in comparison to some of your relativesā achievements. Some are even bothered by the fact. Being the first of all your cousins to master the art of firebending, being your grandfather's favorite solely for bending lightning with the same grace as he did in his prime, all while excelling in your studies.Ā
All of that potential, just wasted on being the lordās āpetā.Ā
You donāt have much of an opinion on the disappointment some of them have expressed in the past, though it wouldāve been nice if their words had stayed behind closed doors. You didnāt want to hear any of it. If you truly wanted to make use of that said potential, you wouldāve worked directly under your father as his subordinate.Ā
Maybe it was the result of growing up feeling like you were enough. You have nothing to prove, and quite frankly, youāre content with having a role that really only requires you to share your opinions with a ruler that shares the same ideals as youā¦ for the most part.Ā
If only heād also agree that you two spendĀ wayĀ too much time together.Ā
Luckily, youāre not required to be by his side tonight since youāre attending the banquet as a representative of your clanā something Zuko had no clue about until the moment you stepped onto the airship, which had him looking like he was about to blow a fucking gasket. He absolutely sucks at masking his frustrations. Youāre surprised his concubines still had the courage to cuddle up with him. He looked like he was 2.5 seconds away from throwing you off the ship mid-flight.Ā
Zuko would never do that, by the way, but youāre sure he was daydreaming about it.Ā
But even then, with all the distance between you tonight, you can still feel his eyes on you. Just watching and waiting for you to do something he didnāt like. Very masochistic considering how he wouldnāt confront you if you did end up doing something wrong in his eyes.Ā
You spend the entire night avoiding eye contact, which isnāt too hard given how all youāve done is catch up with old peers from school and relatives whoāve decided to move here to start new lives.Ā
The relatives you got along with, that is.Ā
You were enjoying yourself. Truly. Until Sokka called you over to their table.Ā
Funny how Zuko wasnāt looking at you then and was instead stuffing his face with spicy dumplings, then downing it with whatever liquor was in his cup.Ā
You walk over with two thoughts running through your headā please donāt let this man be as drunk as Sokka and Aang, and donāt let this be a conversation about how work was been. Sokka tends to ask those things at the wrong time, despite his heart being in the right place.Ā
This time around, itās not Sokka.
āHowās our flaming hot lord treating you?āĀ Aang asks, throwing an arm around aĀ veryĀ drunk Zuko, whoās laughing his ass off over the avatarās words for once.Ā
Your lips may have twitched a little, as well. Only because Aang gave even less fucks when in an inebriated state.Ā
āOh, you knowāĀ the usual.āĀ You let out a lighthearted laugh, and only you notice the way Zukoās face momentarily drops.Ā
The air around him quickly screamsĀ ādonāt fuck with meā, then settles back into something more suitable for someone whoās already had half their water weight in alcohol.Ā
āCāmon, you can do better thanĀ that,ā Zuko forces out a laugh, leaning back in his seat.Ā
You laugh a little harder. āCan I?ā
āYeah, you can.āĀ
Sokka lets out this weird, giddy gasp because he loves drama, and cuts in. āAre you twoĀ fighting?ā
āNo.āĀ
āNo.ā
You and Zuko look at each other after shutting down Sokkaās question at the same time. The fake smiles youāre wearing are not helping your case at all.Ā
āWhereās Katara? Iāve been wondering where sheās been this whole time,ā you ask in an attempt to keep the energy between you from getting any more awkward than it already is
Aang grows a little paleā the instant karma feels nice. āSheās a little sick tonight.āĀ
Thereās a bit of fear in his voice. Sheās totally pregnant. Not that you say that. Instead, you just point in some random direction behind you. āThatāsĀ terribleā my cousin actually just mentioned a bug going around. I hope she feels better soon.āĀ
āThank you,ā the man lets out a sigh of relief, allowing himself to be delusional for just one more night.Ā
āWhat about Toph?ā
āHome. Asleep.ā Sokka rolls his eyes. āSheās like a little old lady now. Youāll see her tomorrow, though, sheās been volunteering at the center.āĀ
āVolunteering or beating everyone into submission?ā Zuko murmurs, and they all erupt in laughter. āShe probably runs that place like the military.ā
You find yourself starting to zone out as the conversation moves on to a different topic. Youād like to blame some of the wine youāve been sipping on throughout the night for that. Everything starts to melt togetherā the live music, the endless chatter in every which direction. The only thing that pulls you out of it is seeing another one of your cousins who had just arrived, waving at you, and you don't shy away from taking that as an opportunity to excuse yourself.Ā
Aang and Sokka were as kind as usual when you said your goodbyes. Zuko, on the other hand, was harder to read through the pathetic excuse of a smile he gave you. One only meant to save face.Ā
If only he knew just how much worse he makes things sometimes. Although theyāre rare, this isnāt the first fight you two have been in. Perhaps you have been a little petty towards the man, but itās not you who grows so frustrated at someoneās anger that you begin to hold a grudge yourself.Ā
You arrive back to your room in the early morning with the regret of not cutting yourself off from the drinks sooner than you did. You wouldnāt say you were drunk, but you were definitely tipsy as you started to shed layers of clothes and jewelry to get in the hot bath that had been prepared prior to your return.Ā
Aang may be childish at times, butĀ fuckĀ was he a great host. Or maybe it was Katara who had all of these amenities set up for you. Candles and bath saltsā you could die a happy woman right now as you settle into the stone tub, taking deep breaths, letting your muscles relax.Ā
Twenty minutes in, you hear rattling and heavy footsteps that seem to hit the ground with more confusion than the determination an attacker would usually have. It forces you to leave the warmth of your bath, slipping on a robe. Getting hit with annoyance rather than fear may be a little foolish. Overconfident, even. But thereās still alcohol running through your veins, and you arenāt the pride and joy of your clan for no reasonā you canĀ absolutelyĀ hold your own in a fight.Ā
When you walk out of the bathroom, you come face to face withĀ exactlyĀ who you were thinking of.
āFuck,ā he looks away for a moment, regretting his decision thinking it was okay to just walk in.Ā
Zuko didnāt think youād be bathing, for some odd, stupid reason. Judging by the fact that heās still wearing his usual day clothing and his hairs not up in a bun, itās safe to assume he went straight here after leaving the banquet.Ā
You let out a long sigh. āGodā what are you doing here?āĀ
You donāt even sound madā just disappointed that you have to see him once more before you lay your head to rest, which slightly hurts the manās ego. Truth be told, he came here to argue with you, but even in his drunken state, heās finding it quite difficult to do so since he looks like a fucking pervert now.Ā
āYour comment from earlierā what the hell was that about?ā Zuko sounds more wounded than anything right now.Ā
You cross your arms, leaning against the door frame that connects the room to the bathroom. āWhat comment?ā
āThe usual,ā he says with air quotes. āDo you not like me anymore or something?ā
āYouāreĀ seriouslyĀ asking me that right now?ā Your face twists, just dumbfounded at this point. āYou ask me that as if I donātĀ workĀ for you?ā
He scoffs. āSo what, youāre saying Iām not your friend now?ā
āI mean, yeahā you are, but Iām still yourĀ subordinateĀ at the end of the day,ā you attempt to spell it out for him, trying to get it through his brain that he canāt just act like you two are a pair of besties.Ā
But he just continues to argue with you.Ā
āReally? āCause last time I checked, people donāt fight their superiors.āĀ
No, they do not. Youāre not sure why you even tried to make that an argument, the line between you has blurred a long time ago.Ā
āYou know what, justāĀ forget it.ā
The thing is, you're not the best at taking accountability. Most of the arguments youāve had with him have been swept under the rug after a while. Zuko's not having that right now, though.
āHmā actually, noā I donāt think I will,ā he stubbornly says. āYou have beenĀ punishingĀ me for fuckingĀ weeksĀ now and now you just want me to forget it?ā
Punishing him?
You roll your eyes, mutteringĀ āoh my godāĀ under your breath, not even bothering to look him straight in the eyes anymore as you walk to the nightstand and pick up a small jar of body cream.Ā
āWe have a long day ahead of us tomorrow,ā you say dismissively, rubbing the jasmine-scented cream into your hands. āI need to go to sleep, and so should you, honestly.ā
It doesnāt matter how well he can handle his alcoholā he reeks of it.Ā
āIām trying to talk to you right now so I donāt have to deal with your attitude tomorrow,ā he says, as if he hasnāt had an attitude himself the last couple of weeks.Ā
āDonāt worry, you wonāt have to,ā you murmur back.Ā
What feels like minutes pass after your pathetic attempt to settle your issues with him. At first, he just lets out a sigh, trying to keep his composure, but then he laughs under his breath.Ā
āSo thatās it?ā he asks in a condescending tone. āWeāre all good now?ā
āYes. Goodnight, Zuko,ā you hum.Ā
More silence follows after. You can just feel his eyes on you despite still facing away, now reaching for some hair oil, waiting for him toĀ leave.
He never does. Even after working the product into your hair, you have yet to hear the door to your room close, making you grow wary.Ā
There are many things telling you not to turn around at the momentā your blurred mind and tensed body. But even you make mistakes, lots of them with Zuko, and so you finally turn around.Ā
His lips are on yours.Ā
You donāt know how long heād been standing directly behind you, you never even heard his footsteps. All you know is his hands are snaked behind your neck and heās kissing you and youāreĀ lettingĀ him.
It takes you a moment to realize youāre kissing him backā too focused on how soft his lips are, how his tongue glides across your lower lip before slipping inside, so commanding yet so gentle.Ā
Then you sober upā pressing your palm flat against his chest and pushing him back so you two can look at each other, eyes wide and filled with instant regret.
āWhat the hell was that?ā you try to snap at him, but the sharp edge was dulled from the start, already fearing whatāll change between you from this moment forward.Ā
āIā fuck,ā he stutters, taking another step back. āIām sorry. I shouldnāt haveāā
Immediately, you cut him off. āNo, you shouldnāt have and youĀ knowĀ that.ā
āI know.ā It sounds like a plea coming from him as his chest tightens. āIām sorry.ā
Even you start to look apologetic, which breaks his heart a little since you did nothing wrong. The one who crossed the line was him, after all. āYou should go. Youāre drunk.āĀ
He opened his mouth to respond, but then closed it shortly after. There was nothing to say.Ā
And so he slowly nods and turns around, still in shock by his own actions as he begins to walk away, leaving you to deal with the aftermath of what the fuck just happened on your own.Ā
This was going to be the longest work trip of your life.Ā
notes: i hope u guys enjoyed this first chapter!! this was supposed to be a oneshot but then ideas kept popping up in my head and i thought, why don't i just turn this into a longfic like defiance lol. the plan is to follow these two around throughout a couple arcs, with the first one being them trying to navigate their feelings and attempting to go back to normal while trying to fix the shit show in the silk district.
Hey, everyone! Apologies for the late announcement, but as you may be aware, we have a lot on our plate right now! There's important things to take care of and get settled so for this weekend as well, the askbox will stay closed.
It's also very likely that when we are able to open it up again, it will be on a bi-weekly basis as this would better accommodate all of our personal schedules!
Thank you so much for your patience as we continue to grow this wonderful community around Neko and his game and stories!
We appreciate it so much, in fact, that we are excited to announce that there is now an official masterlist for The Freak Circus! It will be linked on the masterlist/info page here and contain any and all important information, a more in-depth FAQ about game and character lore, and an organization/filtering system that could make even Ticket Taker blush!
And we wonāt take the credit for this wonderful resource, as it was created and is currently maintained by @iwasbibliomaniac, who has been wonderful to work with ever since we initially posted on this blog about trying to create a proper masterlist we could officially host or use. Creating a masterlist for any piece of media takes a lot of hard work and passion, and The Freak Circus is no different of a fandomā especially when thereās so many little bits non-required but really cool information found outside the game!
In this vein, weād like to thank @neurthewanderer and @purple-plum-petals for their efforts into the masterlists they had both individually made early-on in the gameās release and life. Several of the moderators themselves even used and referenced those lists when we discovered the game and began making fan content, and weāve heard of many people who grew to love the game more after discovering those lists themselves! And to all other creators, artists and passionate fans who made resources themselves we simply didnāt come across somewhere: THANK YOU! That passion is what inspires other creators, and itās an absolutely humbling thing to see in fandom!
So while we ask for forgiveness in having to keep the askbox closed again this weekend, hopefully this wonderful resource can answer some of the questions you all have while weāre working through the asks we have yet to answer!
germansingergirl
stormborns
gummygunk
gracieabrams
discoholicmusic
prguitarman
