i have a new hyper-fixation every other day, I'm sorry to everyone trying to follow me for a specific fandom. she/her, 21 y.o., depressed goblin living in the sewers *finger guns* Feel free to call me Doodle or Sock https://archiveofourown.org/users/DinoSohn oh yeah I also have an ao3
Rotating the fact that the intimidating vocals in the Gogmazios fight kick in only for the Elderbreaker. There is no further escalation of the vocals in the later gaseous phase.
Once again it's not subtle how much the game is trying to build up ancient Wyveria's scattered remains as being that of the Dragon War.
Npcs mention Wyveria having hunters, yet everything we find of Wyveria with relation to humanoid/monster interractions is of military scale:
The dragonators scattered all over the land, the great fortified walls, the ancient books being bunkered underground where Sild is, the Guardians, Zoh's first phase theme, the Elderbreaker, Gogmazios's vocals...
You don't need all this shit for the occasional Kushala appearence, and encounters like Amatsu or Gogmazios that would require more intensive measures are exceedingly rare.
These vocals aren't the glorious epic of a hunter, or the threat of a mighty dragon. They're the Intergenerational dread of seeing a man-made contraption spew a blinding ray lethal enough to topple a massive Elder Dragon.
I'm still thinking about this fight and it has been a few weeks. The quest being called "Spector of their Sins" is absolutely on purpose. I would put money on the sins being the mass slaughter of monsters that lead to Wyveria's prosperity and, eventually, the Dragon War that also smoked Schrade and any number of other ancient civilizations along with them.
Basically every single character (including the Avis Hunter!) is on edge about the idea of using the Elderbreaker and uncomfortable with the implication of such a weapon being a thing that exists. All except for Werner. I could go on a diatribe about him alone but different post.
Even the smaller rayguns are suspect. The factory Azuz is built over used to harvest monster parts on an industrial scale so massive that even their "paltry" offerings are enough to surprise Erik. Everyone from the Guild is from places that use monster parts in every facet of life, yet they're still surprised at what Azuz is capable of using and their stockpile of monster bones. Everything down to the vases were made with wyvern scales. Wyveria's hunters were not like us; they did not have the preservation of the natural world in mind.
Of course, we Did need to use these weapons to protect Azuz, and the entirety of the East Lands, against th walking cataclysm Gogmazios, but I think it's intentional that Proof of Hero doesn't kick in after using the big weapon like it does normally. That right is reserved for Fabius protecting everyone from the insta-kill because using the Elderbreaker was not a triumph even if it was necessary. That weapon is a sin from the past; Fabius and the hunters' iron will to protect people is the hope for a brighter future.
Listen- you don't have to but anything werner related when it comes to x hunter would be great. Your stuff is great and there is a desert of content lacking for him.
Sure! This is how I feel with Erik, so of course I will help out! Here's a blurb to see if you and others like it and want more XD
Sometimes Werner just needs things directly told to him.
Werner x GN! Reader
The forge crackled with a warm orange glow, metal tools clinking steadily as Werner adjusted the plating on your newly reinforced gauntlets. You stood nearby, pretending to admire the scenery while watching him through the corner of your eye.
He didn’t look up once.
You’d faced down raging leviathans and toxic wyverns without breaking a sweat, but this? Standing here with your heart in your throat, hoping he'd notice the blush on your face or the way your hands fidgeted? This was worse than fighting two Mizutsunes at once in wet armor.
You cleared your throat. “You always work this late?”
“Mmm.” A grunt. A nod. Then: “The alloy on this model’s too brittle. If you take a blunt hit to the forearm, you’ll feel it in your shoulder. Did Gemma make this?—Don't tell her I said that.” He glanced up, finally. “And not that you’d get hit. You’re annoyingly good at dodging.”
You smiled faintly, heart doing a stupid little flip at the praise. “Thanks, Werner.”
He’d already turned back to his work.
Behind you, someone sighed. Loudly.
“Okay,” Olivia muttered under her breath, suddenly appearing at your side like a flash bomb. “I cannot believe I’m about to get involved in this.”
“W-What?” you stammered.
She folded her arms, cocking her head at Werner with a look of exaggerated frustration. “He’s been staring at your armor like it insulted his mother. And you’ve been mooning over him for two expeditions now. If I have to watch this sad little dance for one more week, I’ll lose it.”
“Olivia, please don’t—”
“Werner!” she barked. He didn’t flinch—just blinked and looked up. “When’s the last time you talked to someone about something other than armor physics?”
“...Last week. I asked Erik if he could move that Congalala shroom experiment as far away from my forge as possible.”
You groaned softly.
Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose. “That was rhetorical. Look—Y/N’s been trying to flirt with you all season. They compliment your work, find excuses to drop by the forge, stare at you like you hung the stars... And what do you do? Lecture them about brittle armor.”
Werner turned to you, brow furrowed in what looked like genuine confusion. “You… like me?”
Heat surged into your cheeks, but you forced yourself to nod. “I do.”
He stared.
Then blinked.
Then said slowly, “You’re not joking?”
You stepped closer, biting your lip but keeping your eyes on his. “I thought it was obvious. But I guess I should’ve spelled it out.”
He looked down at your gauntlet. Then at your face. Then, suddenly, he set the gauntlet down like it was too fragile to hold.
“I… don’t know how to respond properly,” he said quietly. “But I think about you. When I work. A lot.”
Your breath caught.
“I’ve never… done this before,” he added. “So, I might need diagrams. Or Olivia.”
“Nope,” Olivia said, walking away with a triumphant smirk. “My work here is done. Go ruin your own moment.”
You laughed, and Werner gave a tiny, uncertain smile.
“Would you like to—” he started, then stopped. Tried again. “Maybe… we could sit by the campfire later. And you could tell me why your eyes always do that sparkle thing. I’ve been trying to figure it out.”
You reached out and gently took his hand, soot-smudged and warm.
Erik ropes you into assisting him with his research, but there's more to this little project than meets the eye ...
Genres: Romance, fluff, humour.
Dividers by: @strangergraphics
The hefty tome slammed down on the surface of the table in front of you, raising a small cloud of dust. Waving it away with one hand, you glanced up at the eager face of Erik, dedicated handler of the Astrum Unit, and offered a nervous smile.
He was wearing that look. A reason to be wary indeed.
"Erik?"
"Listen."
He stepped over the bench you were seated on, straddling it as he flipped through the book. Pale hair fell forward across his brow and he brushed it back impatiently.
"I've been thinking. We've got this handy guidebook that you hunters compile with the research commission, right?"
"Yes?"
"But we can hardly call this a complete guide when it's so lacking."
You shuffled around to face him.
"Lacking in what way?"
"Arthropods. The insect life, specifically. Think about how many hunters may be carted away in the field because they didn't think to collect bitterbug broth, or snatch up a handy vigormantle bug?"
"And what's your solution?"
He waved a hand, cutting decisively through the air.
"We make our own guide."
"We?"
He leaned forward, peering wide-eyed into your face. Long lashes grazed his cheeks, his expression expectant.
"Of course. Who else would I ask?"
You cleared your throat and nodded.
"Me. Naturally. So ... what kind of information are you after?"
"The kind that lurks close to the earth, or on the trunks of trees. Whenever you see a new form of insect life on your hunts, I'll trouble you to make a small sketch of the creature, along with noting some of its properties. Not that I expect you to gather all of this at once."
He raised his hands in cheerful surrender.
"Only where you're able to. And make sure to note down the location of where you found it."
You raised an eyebrow.
"Is that a good idea?"
"What do you mean?"
"Providing you with the location of ... anything."
Across from you, Alma buried her nose in her own notebook, mouth twitching suspiciously.
Erik seemed confused for a moment before realisation struck home.
"Oh ... oh. You think I'll go running off to find them, with no protection or preparation of any kind?"
He slapped at your shoulder, laughing, and you narrowed your eyes. You tapped a finger on the table.
"At least you're self-aware."
"Oh, come on. Right ... here."
He took your hand between both of his, grasp always surprisingly strong.
"I promise I will not get myself in unnecessary trouble."
"Define 'unnecessary'."
"You don't trust me at all?"
"In the pursuit of arthropods? No. No, Erik, I don't."
And so began the great insect compendium, the fruit borne of both your labour, and Erik's. Through the months that followed, you did your best to follow through on your promise to him, taking time out of each hunt to carefully jot down the insect life you found.
Granted, you had never been the kind to appreciate such things before. Bugs, as useful as they were, were all too often shunted to the side in a hunter's mind to make way for faster and more effective means to use the environment.
They were useful, no doubt about it, but they were certainly one of the myriad things you took for granted on your many forays into the wilderness in search of much larger (and more dangerous) game.
You started to find ways to make your insect studies more interesting.
Along with the notes, diagrams (and suspicious stains that came with the territory of hunting), your weekly reports to Erik contained little doodles of your palico and amusing anecdotes of how you'd found particular species. They also contained some of your terrible puns, the ones that made Alma look at you with long-suffering pity and Gemma offer to place your head on her anvil to 'knock some proper humour into you.'
You never knew whether he actually read them. The moment you showed up with the report, he'd snatch it from your hands with a hurried 'thanks' and scuttle off to his den to pore over them. The little footnotes to your many-legged adventures may have to remain in your own memory for posterity.
At least your palico laughed at your jokes. Most of the time.
A sad state of affairs, but you'd survived worse.
It was some time before you saw any actual progress on the insect compilation. Erik impressed on you the importance of proper research and hypothesis testing, of statistical analysis and prediction of potential pathways, of peer-reviewed critique on his scientific writings by learned scholars of the research commission, before anything could be ratified as fact.
Sounded like a great deal of work, but you understood the necessity of it.
One wrong point of information, and a hunter could very well find themselves the prey, under certain circumstances. If this work was to be a hunter's resource, it had to be a reliable one.
So it was with a certain degree of anticipation that you entered Erik's research base one afternoon, having been called over by a message through your palico.
Was there finally some kind of solid outcome?
Erik was standing at the table, hands placed flat on its surface, back hunched, eyes trained on the bound collection of pages before him. He glanced up briefly before his face broke into a sunny smile of genuine pleasure.
"Ah, there you are. Come and have a look. We're finally making some headway."
Approaching the table, you saw that the bound pages were covered in his sloping hand-writing, with diagrams obviously fashioned directly from those you'd drawn, smudges of colour added here and there.
"Is it finally ready?"
"I do think so, yes! Of course, a scholar's work is never truly done. We keep etching away at the frontier, discovering new ideas that may put our previous ones to shame."
He spread his arms wide, as if to encompass the room, your joint research on the table, you.
"But this is a start. And a great one too! Just look at all the data we've managed to compile."
You glanced at the thick sheaf of paper and gave a rueful smile. Now that the majority of the work was in, you doubted that Erik would have much further use for your time or services. You supposed you should be thankful, but you had to admit, on some level, that you liked being useful to him.
You'd long since given up scant hope that Erik would take notice of your charms. You were just so ... different.
He was compelling to you, yes. With the soft fall of his hair, the gleam in his eye when new knowledge was to be gained, the deft fingers with which he pried open the secrets of the world and the rare occasions when he displayed the part of himself that showed exactly why he had been chosen for Astrum unit, the gall, determination and sterling professionalism, it was no wonder that he'd anchored himself so firmly in your admiration.
And you, well, you were a hunter.
In spite of your many accolades, you'd never considered yourself above average when it came to personal charms. You gave yourself to your work, and it defined who you were.
Signing, you placed an elbow on the table, chin cupped in one palm.
"I suppose you never included all of those funny stories I put so much time into."
Erik's reaction was not one you were expecting. His demeanour was suddenly evasive, eyes darting to the old steel cabinet that stood in a corner.
"Ah, well. Hm. Those were entertaining, of course! But in research terms they - "
You mouth curved down at the edges, rather exaggeratedly.
"Ah. And after all that effort."
There was something definitely off about him.
"Erik, what's in that cabinet?"
"Which cabinet?"
"The one you're eyeing like a Gypceros with a shiny trinket."
"What? Nothing at all. Just an experiment I'm running. Needs to be kept closed."
You raised an eyebrow.
"Is there something you - "
"No."
He waved your concerns aside, already bustling about the table where his research notes lay scattered like chaff. He glanced over his shoulder, seeing that you were still unconvinced.
"Oh? You really want to see my Congalala dung anaerobic fermentation experiment? I could open it up for you, but the smell - "
You raised your hands in swift surrender.
"No need. Only the fresh stuff gets a ride in my slinger."
He nodded, looking rather relieved.
"Oh, good. Because it's anaerobic, you know. If I did have to open it up, the whole thing would be ruined and - "
At that moment, Olivia strode into the tent, brisk and confident as always. She gave you a cordial nod of greeting before making her way to the steel cabinet, past Erik, who was suddenly looking a trifle panicked.
"Oh! Olivia, wait, you can't just - "
She shot him a slightly puzzled look.
"I'm just getting my cup. Athos is brewing us some coffee."
"Not now! Just hold on, you - "
Supremely unconcerned, she stared right at him while casually slinging open the door of the cupboard.
"No, I can't wait. My coffee's getting cold."
The door knocked against a nearby shelf, swinging slightly on its hinges. On the inside you could see, pasted in painstakingly careful chronological order, every single humorous note you'd left for Erik since the start of the compilation, complete with palico doodles and scratched out puns.
Squinting, you could even make out the discarded ration wrapper on which you'd once sketched a stick figure illustration of Werner forgetting your name again.
Following the line of Erik's mortified gaze, Olivia raised an eyebrow and grabbed her cup before turning to you, jerking her thumb at the evidence.
"You should probably get him more insect stories. I swear, the way he hordes these things, you'd think they were actually funny."
Having delivered this crushing judgment, she strode back out of the tent, humming slightly.
Her departure left a highly awkward silence in its wake.
You fiddled with the scabbard of your dagger.
"So ... "
"It's not - "
" ..., you really think I'm ... "
" ...at all what it looks like, I - "
" ... funny?"
You both spoke at the same time, but he heard you clearly, coming to an abrupt stop. A faint flush chased over the bridge of his nose. He brushed his hair back and straightened his posture a little.
"Uh ... yes. Yes, I think you're funny."
"Even though nobody else does?"
"Um, well, humour is sort of ... subjective, isn't it?"
"And mine is ... to your taste?"
He scratched his cheek.
"You could say that, yes."
A grin spread across your face and his mouth twitched in response, curving into an irrepressible response.
"Shall we test that hypothesis further, do you think?"
He tapped at the thick stack of papers before taking a bracing breath and meeting your gaze.
"If you're willing, hunter, then I guess ... that science demands more answers."
Tagging a few who might be interested, based on previous notes: @mrs-potatocat @maxdotmp4
Synopsis: As the new research assistant to the Astrum Unit, you have a rather embarrassing secret. You're a superfan of the renowned team now based in the Forbidden Lands.
About to come face to face with your idols, it's up to you to prove your worth (before Athos sniffs out your Olivia figurine collection or Erik drags you straight into the jaws of a monster). [GN Reader character]
Genres: Humour, fluff, crack.
Dividers by: @saradika-graphics
(Wrote this silly little fic in between getting work done. Have some Astrum Unit shenanigans!)
PART 1
The airship arrived during the season of Plenty.
Feet planted on the deck, overalls dampened by the light showers that blew in periodically from the coast, your grip on the handrails grew white-knuckled.
You were here, finally!
Below you, the desert vista brushed edges with sweeping grasslands, the majestic arch of the Wind's Gasp growing more visible through the haze.
The airship was heading for the Base Camp of the Windward Plains, where you would be tasked to assist the research team of the Astrum Unit.
Recent events, including connections with various settlements throughout the area, and the appearance of stronger tempered monsters, had allowed for the researchers here to sink greater footholds into understanding the complex ecosystems and fine balances maintained in the Forbidden Lands.
As such, a greater workforce was needed to handle the growing influx of samples, the cataloguing, to bolster the field teams and to process the huge amounts of data.
Your own specialty was scientific illustration. It had been something of a risk, choosing to hone your skills in this area. Back home, the ecological research centre prized analytics and novel scientific methods. Your illustrations were the kind more favoured in the field, and those selected to pioneer such efforts in unchartered lands were the best of the best.
In spite of it all, you'd been selected for this expedition. You had lived for this moment, for being here, on the deck of this airship, shifting your weight from one foot to the other in anticipation so severe you thought you'd felt a wave of nausea coming on.
There was something else driving your burning ambition, you see.
You were, undeniably, an absolute fan of the fabled Astrum Unit and their exploits, which had traveled back to you in your dusty little loft at the academy.
You'd spent the last few years poring over the monthly gazettes, the new research breakthroughs that came from the Forbidden Lands, the engineering marvels and innovations, the brand new materials and animal parts, the plethora of new data that your colleagues fluttered over like excited hummingbirds.
But you'd known about the Astrum Unit's members from before the expedition. You'd seen brilliant, eccentric Erik's star rise, the illustrious (and thrilling) career of Captain Olivia and her palico, Athos, the steady path that Werner forged for himself, an engineering attack dog set upon each new puzzle with unerring focus.
You had a collection of all of their exploits pasted across one of your walls, along with the small figurines you'd custom carved from ironwood, each with their own distinctive set of clothing or armour.
You had managed to dig through the academy archives to find prototypes of Werner's earliest projects, Erik's masterful bound presentations of endemic life and pieces of Olivia's favoured training dummy (which was more scrap metal than monster-shaped, as expected of something that had been repeatedly smacked with a huge hammer).
Of course, little of that cherished collection of items had made it onto the airship with you. They were safely locked away with the rest of your possessions back home (except for your precious figurines which had made the journey in your backpack).
Besides, you had so many new memories to make (and the fact that you wouldn't want your new comrades to think you too weird or obsessive, haha).
A shout from up on the prow caught your attention, and you rushed forward, eager for your first glimpse of the camp you'd been longing to see.
The airship pulled slowly into the dock, sinking until the deck was on level with a sloping gang plank. You gawped at the sheer scale of the camp, which had been steadily expanding over the past few years. It was certainly a lot larger than you seen in those early (amateurishly) sketched illustrations.
You got behind a large barrel and started to help push it out, availing yourself to the crew members and palico teams offloading the cargo into the waiting area.
Once the airship had been fully divested of its cargo, and your belongings were safely carried off deck, you tugged on the straps of your backpack and started to make your way towards the most nerve-wracking objective thus far; meeting the rest of your team.
You had no aspirations of making the acquaintances of the revered leaders today. They'd probably be out on important missions and business. You'd settle for meeting the rest of the research team. Hopefully, there'd be others as green as you clearly were.
You soon found yourself outside the Astrum main tent, which was simple in design and feature. Looking around, you couldn't spot anyone of note.
There was a research station set up nearby, devoid of personnel, and you decided to pitch your belongings there and wait for direction.
You really were itching to get to work, so out came your art supplies, the stack of sketchbooks with custom-made stain-proof and water-proof covers, the grids for proportion, the various tools for preparing your drawing implements. You'd also brought along several scientific journals and reference books as a guideline for your future work.
Scattered over the research table were various objects, small jars of preserved specimens, plants growing in small wooden troughs, larger bones and what appeared to be an interesting collection of animal teeth.
Among them was a Quematrice feather, the outstanding quality of the specimen immediately catching your eye.
What colour! And what form!
You just had to make a sketch. Maybe add more details later.
Occupied as you became with your current task, it did come as something of a surprise when a voice spoke up behind you.
"Wow! You're really skilled! And so quick at getting down the basics too."
Smiling sheepishly, you added a last touch before setting aside the sketchbook.
"Oh, I've had a lot of practice. Spent the last few years - "
Your voice died in your throat.
Standing before you, in a worn coat with pockets that could probably contain an entire ecosystem, was none other than THE Erik of the Astrum Unit.
Silvery hair cascaded forward over one eye, his elfish visage gave him a deceptively boyish charm, one that you knew all too well hid a razor sharp intellect and an analytic ability far beyond the norm.
Seeing your dumbfounded expression, his eyes curved upward cheerfully and he gave a small wave.
"Oh, don't worry. I'm from the Astrum Unit."
He leaned towards you conspiratorially.
"I don't know why, but sometimes the newer teams coming in think I'm some kind of weirdo trying to sell them insect repellent."
He spread his hands and shrugged.
"I mean, I'd sell you something, sure. But you can bet it would attract every bug in the area so I can observe their mating habits!"
With that ... concerning pronouncement, accompanied by a small giggle, he promptly turned and bustled over to the research station, exclaiming in delight when he saw that you'd set up already.
Re-discovering your ability to move, you followed him in a half-daze.
Erik! Erik? It was him! It was really him!
You couldn't lose this opportunity to actually unstick your tongue from the roof of your mouth and make a good impression -
Erik was still rambling.
" - and I was just telling Olivia that I need to get out in the field soon to observe more of the Doshaguma herd, because they're already showing signs of competing for the alpha position, and - "
Just name-dropping Olivia so casually!
You nearly choked on your own saliva. Mind scrambling to piece together the information he'd just provided you with, you interjected hesitantly.
"Ah ... you're going into the field soon? For observation?"
"Yeah! If Olivia allows me."
He turned hurriedly and ... was he stuttering? Was he trying to explain himself to you?
"I mean ... not that I need Olivia's explicit permission or anything, haha. It's just a formality. There are other hunters who could accompany me. You know. For safety. And - "
"What's this about other hunters, Erik?"
Erik glanced past you and blanched a little, ruffling his hair with a nervous hand.
"Ah, Olivia! Didn't expect you so soon! I was just telling - "
His words were rapidly vanishing into the depths of the cosmos as you took a moment to absorb what he'd just uttered.
Olivia? Olivia? Was he -
No. No, it couldn't be. If you turned around now -
And doing exactly that, you came face to face with an imposing pair of buckles over white and green armour, those particular shades ingrained in your mind from the sheer number of times you'd re-painted your dozen small Olivia figurines.
Your eyes tracked upward and -
Holy mother of Khezu, what a woman.
Tall, statuesque, blonde hair flicked out in signature rakish style above the simple silver hoops in each ear, Olivia was every bit the charismatic figure you'd imagined, and more.
Her pale, sea-green gaze flicked over you with curiosity, sharp, observant, assessing. She offered a small nod of greeting which you, somehow, shakily returned.
And now she was holding out her hand for you to shake!
No. No, you couldn't let yourself be reduced to a quivering spectator between the two collosi of your dreaming world.
Straightening your back, you took her hand, some unacknowledged part of your brain screaming that you'd never wash that particular appendage again.
Her grip was powerful enough to fling you across the breadth of the camp. Probably.
"Olivia, of the Astrum Unit. That there's Erik, our Head Researcher."
Oh boy, if only they knew how much you knew. Best not to speculate.
You cleared your throat, voice emerging slightly hoarse.
"Um, I do know who you are, Captain. The honour's all mine."
She waved you off, seemingly unconcerned with the title.
"Just Olivia will do. And you are?"
You introduced yourself, internally cringing at how stilted your speech emerged.
" ... and I'm here to assist the Astrum Unit with my particular skill set, scientific illustration."
Erik danced into your view, shaking something in front of Olivia's face. She leaned back and squinted at it and -
Wait, was that your sketch? WHEN DID HE -
He shot you a sunny smile.
"Oh, your drawing was so great that I just decided to borrow it. That's not a problem, right? Look, Olivia! This is the kind of detail I've been looking for!"
She took the sketch from his hand and - oh goodness, was Olivia looking over your work and nodding in approval?
Glancing up at you, she offered a small smile which punched the breath right out of your chest harder than a Gravios blast.
"I guess it is as Erik says. You're certainly talented, and I'm sure his research team will benefit from your skills."
She rolled up the paper and whacked him smartly over the head with it, ignoring his plaintive protest.
"Just keep an eye on him. He tends to run off at times and if he does, just report to me and Athos."
Erik huffed ruefully.
"They don't even know who Athos is!"
"Oh, of course I know who Athos is!" you blurted out, "That's Captain Olivia's most trusted partner."
Panic immediately rose in your chest as they both stared at you.
Oh no. Now you'd gone and done it. They'd think you were some kind of crazy-
Olivia's expression suddenly morphed to something much warmer, and she looked you over as if re-forming an opinion.
"You're absolutely right. Not everyone refers to Athos as my partner, but once they see her in action, it's usually a wake-up call."
You had somehow managed to make a good impression with that statement, but you were aware that it all came down to how well you knew Astrum Unit. Olivia had met with Athos in the early days of her career and they'd been inseparable ever since.
Olivia paused and looked around, brow furrowing.
"Speaking of which, where's - "
"There she is!"
Erik pointed in the direction of the research station. Near your belongings was none other than Athos the palico, resplendent white fur gleaming in the dim lamplight within the cavern, nose glued to ... your backpack?
And ... oh Raving Rathalos, was she focusing on the pocket where you'd kept the only portable items in your collection, the small figurines of Erik, Olivia, Werner and Athos herself?
Hurrying over, you stopped before her, bowing awkwardly in greeting. She stopped her examination, clear, curious eyes taking in your form. You felt sweat break out along your brow. There was something about her gaze that felt like she could plumb the depths of your soul.
After a few moments, she bowed slightly back, responding in the muted mewl of Lynian.
"Well met, mew recruit."
She left your backpack alone, scampering over to Olivia's side.
You breathed a sigh of relief.
Olivia smiled down at Athos before turning briskly to you.
"How do you feel about hitting the ground running? We've got a survey in the plains tomorrow. There've been sightings of a tempered Rathian. Erik, you should be able to observe the Doshaguma herd while I observe you."
She shot him a look that reminded you of a hawk pinning a rabbit to an empty mountainside. Erik grinned in return.
"It's not like I'd run off on you or anything!"
He tugged at your sleeve eagerly.
"Now's your chance to join us. Bring your special sketchpad. Who knows how much more could be accurately recorded if we have you along as illustrator!"
You let out a shaky breath.
"Of course I'll be there! You can count on me!"
Olivia nodded.
"Excellent. We'll re-group at the main entrance at first light tomorrow. Erik, get our newest recruit oriented. Get Fritz to set them up with a seikret and field pouch for their supplies, and brief them on researcher safety protocols in the - "
She cut off abruptly, eyes narrowing as Erik blinked innocently back at her.
"Actually, forget that. I'll get someone else to brief them on safety protocols in the field."
"I'm perfectly capable of that, you know!"
Ignoring him, Olivia placed her hands on her hips and addressed you again.
"We watch each other's backs out there, so look out for your teammates and mind their signals. Welcome to the Astrum Unit, new recruit."
If there was a backing track to your simple academic life, it was at this moment that it swelled to a deafening anthem of heroic exploits.
Here comes adventure! Here come the accolades! Here comes the chance to prove yourself to the very members you've idolized for goodness knows how long and -
A soft tap to your forehead brought you back to focus as Olivia lowered her hand, her expression a combination of amused and concerned.
"Hey, you okay? Looked like you were forgetting to breathe for a minute there."
Erik gave an enthusiastic nod.
"It's exciting, isn't it?"
Athos held out a furry paw.
"Hunting is like catnip, but don't get confused and try to catch your own tail, mewbie."
Headcanons about how Alastor's magic works... kinda?... and it's a comic because comics get more attention than just texts LOL
bonus
do you know that feeling when you have no one to yap about your special interest/hyperfixation? Alastor has been living with it since, like, forever.
Rosie already heard this like 100500 times
Vox is too smitten to be able to process what Alastor is saying (Alastor can just be saying random words at this point and Vox wouldn't notice the difference)
Mimzy finds it boring
And Charlie just uneducated
ONE MORE BONUS cuz i had this in mind for a long time
kianamaiart
turnnoffyourmind
annaxmalina
titsay
