How about 3 for the micro story prompt? (I trusted you)
(Send me a number and I’ll write a micro story using the word or phrase)
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Agony.
Shadowheart writhes in her tent, conscious only of the pain, stabbing outward from her hand through her whole body.
It is not quite so all-consuming as the pain that took her when they left the Shadowfell. But in some ways it feels more immediate. When she threw the Spear aside and Lady Shar exacted vengeance, she was almost too terrified, too shocked, too numb to fully feel the punishment that followed. But now, safely in camp with Moonrise behind them... there is nothing to block out the excruciating waves of her penance before the goddess to which she once devoted everything.
YOU HAVE SHAMED YOURSELF. The message resonates through her, a thunderclap of disapproval and disdain. YOU WILL PAY, AND PAY, AND PAY FOR HOW YOU HAVE FAILED ME.
And she screams and wakes gasping, her fingers clenched around the mark on her hand as it flares and sparks.
Her eyes squeeze shut and she breathes heavily, trying to calm the pounding of her heart. Is this how it will be, from now on? she wonders. Torment always, for my moment of failure?
Perhaps. And yet now, thanks to Aylin, she knows she could not have done otherwise. Everything she believed for so long, everything that made her who she was... has been a lie. And that hurts more than any physical agony.
"You are a child no longer," Aylin told her. "You are a woman. One who knows what must be done."
I failed you, Lady Shar... yes... she thinks, and it is a cry of pain and rage unvoiced but deeply felt, the first trembling steps towards resistance. But I trusted you, too, and for that I pay a greater penance yet...
Vee, even if you do not want to see everyone when they come back, there is a note that Patton has that is for you from Ian. It seems important.
As he detaches himself from Remus’s back (and lets Janus snuggle into his side, complaining softly about the loss of his heat source,) Virgil hears the others stirring around the room. Patton wakes first, and excitedly stirs Logan and Ainsliee awake once he gets a look at Roman.
Roman seems to jolt when Virgil bites Remus, but rouses more slowly than his brother. Virgil watches the two closely for a moment, wondering if Roman can always sense when someone around his sleeping self is being injured.
Now that Roman’s hair has suddenly grown to match his older brother’s, Virgil can see what everyone means about the twins looking similar. They mirror each other now, in the way their eyes seem glazed over at first, and they slowly become aware of their surroundings. They sit up and look around without really seeing, not yet awake enough to stand or use their arms. It’s strange, and kinda cute, but it does make Virgil worry about their ability to protect themselves if they’re attacked in the night. Virgil knows from experience that Remus can absorb some spare damage, but the same can’t be said for Roman…
Roman yawns, and Virgil watches his long, bear-like fangs shrink back to their usual shape while he does. Strange.
He isn’t sure how Roman managed to morph back without disturbing anyone, considering they were all either laying on him or wrapped up in his arms, but he’s glad it went smoothly; the lack of a fuss hopefully implies that the process wasn’t painful. And, at least only one person saw him before he was covered. Virgil hopes Roman doesn’t mind that it was him, not Remus.
(He conducted a gentle examination of Roman’s wounds while he was dressing him, more by accident than anything else. Virgil could feel the pain under his fingers as he maneuvered the larger man around; It doesn’t show on his skin, but he seems to have some bruising consistent with the places where the Bear had been injured, and his breathing was somewhat labored. He is going to need to rest, and possibly some arcane healing to help the process. Virgil has no idea how that sort of wound-transfer-between-forms works…)
Before he’s even finished “rebooting,” (as Remus always called it,) Annie barrels into Roman’s chest, on the edge of tears.
“Roman, your hair!” Patton squeals, still cooing over how quickly he fell into comforting Annie. One arm still around his fae daughter, Roman blushes and rubs the back of his neck, feeling out the new length of his hair as he does.
“Ah, my apologies, friends! I must look so unkempt right now…” He sighs, embarrassed and still sounding exhausted. Patton shakes his head, still wearing that sparkling grin,
“No, you look great!!”
“You look like me!” Remus laughs, scooting over next to Roman and slinging his arm over his shoulder to shake him, “Look, we’re twins again~! Well, except for that bird’s nest of a beard.”
“I didn’t make it like this on purpose! Give me a minute to get dressed, will you?” Roman scoffs back, shrinking away from his brother. He tries not to think about whatever his hair looks like right now.
(Speaking of getting dressed, what in the world am I wearing? Roman wonders to himself, looking over the strange robe and oversized pants he’s been dressed in.)
(He can’t help but notice that Virgil is refusing to look him in the eyes, but he assumes that’s nothing more than the same reason he’s been avoiding him all week…)
Roman scratches through his new beard, silently yearning for access to a mirror and something to trim with, but he’ll put that aside for now. Logan’s got that serious look on his face again, which means he’s about to bring up something important.
Remus, oblivious to or uncaring about Logan’s expression, just shrugs.
“Whatever you say. One of us is gonna have to change!” Remus twirls his long moustache, “Ehh, it’s been a while since I’ve done something new. I’ll figure it out~ Tonight is Liar’s Night, after all!”
“Oooh, that’s right!” Patton smiles, still bursting with excitement. Logan holds up a hand,
“Hold on. Before any of that, we have some things to discuss,” He adjusts his glasses, glancing around the room, “First, there are our new companions.”
“We’ll accompany you to the city, and most likely a bit farther than that.” Janus smiles cooly, fixing the hair sticking out under his hat. He’s leaning against Virgil’s side, oddly comfortable lounging against the angry-looking dark elf. Virgil doesn’t seem to be bothered by him either, to the general confusion of his current party.
“Ro and I have business with the Big Lady, so you aren’t getting rid of us anytime soon.” Remus grins, still squeezing Roman’s shoulders uncomfortably. “And, there’s the whole thing with Virgie.”
“You’ve met?” Logan asks, though it’s clearly a formality. An opportunity for them to explain. Virgil seems to sink a bit farther into his hood while identical smirks break out on the new couple’s faces.
“You could say so.” Janus hums, sending Virgil a smirk over his shoulder. Virgil scoffs at him, but doesn’t argue. (For Logan and the others, the lack of returning snark is starting to become concerning.)
“Oh, we go way back~!” Remus smiles, not as hesitant to share details as his companions. “I mean, I knew Virgie back when he was still kickin’ ass in the Underworld!”
Just then, a few answering whispers chime in as well,
Roman, Patton, and Logan stare wide-eyed at Virgil, who stutters and blushes.
“I didn’t know you could get that high!” Patton gasps, some mix of impressed and concerned.
“Uhh— I mean,” Virgil stumbles, drawn tense as a bowstring. His eyes flash yellow and he draws into himself slightly, cursing under his breath at the spirits,
“Goddamnit, stop talking about me!”
“He’s not the only one hiding things~” Janus speaks softly, reaching over to lay his hand over Virgil’s knee. He gestures to his own chest with his other hand, stealing the group’s attention with a flourish of dandelion-yellow gloves.
“I hear you are in need of a sorcerer? Well, now you have one.”
“You said you were a wizard…?” Patton frowns, more of an accusation than a question. Janus shrugs with a chuckle,
“And people lie sometimes, dear. I try my best not to — the gentleman that I am~ — but you know how rare sorcerers are these days! I’d rather not become some archivist’s latest science experiment.”
He hisses his last two words a bit sharply, sending a subtle glare in Logan’s direction. Suspecting that no one else caught on to the slight dig, (he loves his companions dearly, but Logan will be the first to admit that they are dense) the bard keeps his mouth shut.
“Well, then, it seems like we will be spending quite a lot of time together.” Logan subtly snaps back, hoping Patton and Virgil don’t notice him getting a little catty. He clears his throat and continues,
“So, we have our destination and an alliance. We should inform you of the dangers we will face on this trip,”
“Don’t bother, Virgil already let us know~” Janus soothes, smiling again. “The three of us are no strangers to dangerous circumstances. Based on our first day working together, I’m sure the most trouble you’ll get from us is how well you three can keep up.”
“Ohoho~! I appreciate the challenge!” Roman grins, as hot-spirited as ever. Bless that poor fool — Logan was losing his patience.
“Very well. In that case, we only have three more topics to discuss,” Logan pulls out his notebook to make sure he hasn’t missed anything,
“What we plan to do about Roman’s curse, the letter Patton received from Ian, and, apparently, Virgil’s much-more-intense-than-implied case of understimulation.”
“I’m fi—” Virgil clears his throat suddenly, then shakes his head, sounding a bit like he’s swallowed a rock, “We don’t have to talk about me, the other two things sound more important!”
“I don’t think there’s much we can do about my new…skill.” Roman shrugs, smiling, “I’m sure my Mother could cure it, once we reach her! Until then, I just have to attempt to keep myself under control. I’m honestly more worried about whatever that ‘understimulation’ thing you talked about is doing to Vi—”
“Unacceptable answer. We should be doing as much research as we can into a cure in the interim.” Logan states matter-of-factly. Roman huffs, quick to retort, but Patton cuts him off.
“You saw the note?” Patton blinks, “We were so careful when he passed it off!”
“And you have been sneaking peeks at it every few hours in the meantime. His handwriting is quite distinct, and it seems to be marked as a warning.” Logan smirks, quite pleased to have an opportunity to exercise his limited knowledge of hidden symbols. Virgil’s eyes flash red, and he hunches forward,
“What does it say?!”
“I don’t know. I wouldn’t be able to decipher it on my own, my thieves cant isn’t quite excellent.” Logan admits reluctantly, “Would you be able to decipher it?”
“Yeah. Hand it over,”
“Oh, no you don’t!” Patton shakes his head resolutely, gesturing to Virgil and Roman’s wounds, “We had a very busy and scary last few days, and I am not letting you get your hands on any more worry material until we’ve had some time to rest! You are going to relax.”
“What? What if it’s important!” Virgil hisses, already working himself up with imagined possibilities, “We could already be in danger!”
“I doubt any of us are in danger here, Virgil.” Janus sooths, though his tone is not very comforting.
“We are currently in a hidden city in the Feywild, surrounded by warriors and priestesses. If Ian’s letter is a warning about some incoming danger, I highly doubt it will reach us here.” Logan agrees softly, trying to keep Virgil calm.
“It’s better to be prepared,” Virgil bites back, still reluctant to let things lie. Roman clears his throat, trying his best to smile convincingly at the boy who still refuses to glance in is direction,
“And we will be, before we leave~ But we’re in no rush to go anywhere today. There’s a party tonight!”
“It’s a holiday, we should all have some fun together!” Patton grins, eyes sparkling as he looks around at his friends.
Virgil is starting to feel thoroughly outnumbered. He glares over his shoulder at Remus, prompting him to help, but the barbarian only shakes his head.
“Sorry, Virge! They have a point. And you know how much I’m loath to miss a party!”
“You aren’t getting your hands on that letter until tomorrow, my love.” Janus flashes him a subtle grin, (both of them oblivious to the returning confused looks from Roman, Logan, and Patton,)
“And the more you worry yourself about it, the longer today will be.”
Virgil feels a tug on his robe, and he already knows what’s waiting for him. Resigning himself to his fate, he looks down at Annie, who is giving him some of the sweetest pleading-eyes he has ever seen.
Virgil curses under his breath. The others he could have denied, but the combination of Annie and Patton’s cute faces is something lethal.
He throws his hands up angrily, momentarily dislodging Janus from his side.
“Fine! But the second the party’s over, I’m getting that fucking note.” Virgil growls through the other’s cheers, glaring holes into the floor,
“If anything happens to us between now and midnight, it’s on you fucker’s hands!”
In a plain old sword fight Twilight would almost definitely win. In fact, he’s canonically beaten Wild in a spar before, so that battle is easy to call.
But if they were allowing use of items/abilities? Hoboy.
Twilight may be able to turn into a wolf, but Wild is attacked by wild animals all the time; he’s used to how they fight, knows what skills they have... if it was just Wolfie vs Wild my money would be on Wild as the victor. Twilight would likely realize this and not stick to wolf form, but Wild has lots of other tricks up his sleeve. It’d be a tough fight.
So in a swords-only fight? Twilight all the way. But if items were being used, Wild would probably manage to come out on top.
So to recap what @t0mmyinnit said, one of the points is that Fundy is an adult who a lot of people (but mainly Wilbur) infantilize, or treat like a child when that’s not what Fundy wants or needs, while Tommy- who IS a child- is forced to mature and act like an adult before he’s ready.
Their relationship with Wilbur specifically is a good parallel between them. The idea of a ‘narrative foil’ is that two characters contrast or are different from each other in a certain way that lets you learn more about them, without the writer or in this case roleplayer having to tell you right out. It’s basically a fancy form of context clues. Fundy and Tommy are narrative foils in that Fundy is Wilbur’s biological son, but Wilbur doesn’t give him the attention, affection, and praise that Wilbur gives Tommy, who Wilbur has emotionally adopted as his son. (IK they’re brothers but that’s a technicality.)
Wilbur favors Tommy in every way, and as the viewers we get to see how the different ways Wilbur basically raises his ‘sons’ affects them. They both crave his attention, working hard to help accomplish Wilbur’s goals (remember that without Wilbur, L’Manburg wouldn’t exist) but Fundy grows more distant. Fundy wants to step out of Wilbur’s shadow, because being in that shadow hasn’t been a good time for him. He’s constricted being so close to his dad and isn’t allowed to grow. At the same time, he still has that emotional connection to Wilbur, culminating in him eventually rejoining his father in Pogtopia to give him his spy’s diary.
Wilbur doesn’t keep Tommy in his shadow, hidden behind him- he keeps Tommy in the limelight, using him as a figurehead and metaphorically a human shield. Wilbur may have lead the revolution but with everyone looking at Tommy, people would attack him instead of Wilbur. I personally don’t think Wilbur had evil intentions- at least at the time- since he was still sane then, but that's still what happened. Tommy has no need to step out of Wilbur’s shadow, and has actually been able to grow from being close to Wilbur, from having his guidance and maturing as a person and as a character.
Both of these characters were basically raised by Wilbur. The differences in their personalities, in how they view themselves and how they view others, are shaped by that. Both Fundy and Tommy want to have their own place in the world, but Fundy wavers between choosing sides, conflicted with his moral compass and unsure of where he stands in the grand scheme of things, or what he’s supposed to do, or what will make him happy. Tommy knows what side he’s on. His moral compass doesn’t waver. He knows what he’s fighting for and what he’s fighting against. He has a dream he knows he can be happy with and he’s determined to make it reality.
That’s how they are foils of each other. Without Fundy, Tommy could seem more shallow of a character, more flat and boring. We as the viewers would just assume that Tommy’s personality and his character traits were simply predetermined. With Fundy as a contrast, we can see how Tommy was greatly shaped by Wilbur and his mentoring. Without those foils, we now know Tommy would be more like Fundy. Similarly, without Tommy, we may just assume Fundy is just Like That, and not be able to hope for something better for the character. If a writer or actor or roleplayer or some sort of fictional world-builder doesn’t show us the highlights, the best of ‘what could be’, how can the audience be expected to even know that it’s something they can want?
Tommy and Fundy co-existing in the same universe allows the audience to see how they both can grow. It’s absolutely fascinating and that why I love, love, LOVE to talk about it. Thank you for the ask, and let me know if anything I said doesn’t make sense or if you have any questions!
What do you think hermit!tommy's reaction would be upon finding out that iskall was an assassin? Because I honestly crave any iskall/tommy interactions
terfs, racists, homophobes, those types of people. But i’ve learned though many many, let’s say attacks, a dni is useless because it won’t stop those types of people from coming onto your blog. I more have it there to say “I absolutly don’t support anyone who will send hate to someone who is trying to live their life.”
If I say “don’t interact with me if you’re transphobic” it’s an invitation for someone to send transphobic stuff. I don’t have my squicks/triggers public either, i’ll just ask the people i follow to tag those types of things.
I had a terrifying dream where I was in a local library and talking with taliesin and i dont remeber the conversation except for the last sentence, where he said, "don't worry, I'll be gentle with it, I always am when I do this" and I knew it was reffering to my soul, and then he turned into percy and shot me. And then I woke up. Sooooooo uhhhhhhhh I guess I sold my soul?
you did sell ur soul! it’s ok he has a lot of practice being a patron you’ll be fine
What would ut sans, uf sans, and us paps reaction would be to a human soulmate who was raised by a wolf pack but then taken back in by humanity, but the soulmate is still kinda feral sometimes and capable of hunting down animals on foot? Sorry if its weird
Dude, I love these types of ideas!
UT Sans
The only part of it that shocks him is your ability to take down an animal so much larger than you. I mean, he’s sure if he was raised by a different species he’d have difficulty acting like a normal monster, but it wouldn’t have effected his stats like that.
UF Sans
That’s... That’s kinda hot, he’s not gonna lie. He loves everything about that. He loves everything about you! It’ll take a long time before he admits that, but it’s true!
US Papyrus
Honestly not much different than UT Sans. He just might actually make a comment on how it’s odd under his breath.
