#disillusions

[stoicmike]

You can’t be disillusioned if you’ve never had any illusions — but that wouldn’t be good either. -- Michael Lipsey

[anipwrites]

Storyteller Saturday!

How are your characters connected to alchemical elements (e.g. Earth, Water, Fire, Air in most western canon, or Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water in most eastern canon)? Are there different alchemical elements in your world?

Hey, thanks for the ask! Sorry I'm getting to it late!

My characters have superpowers, some of which are tied to alchemical elements in a sense, but not all of them. In fact honestly I think a good chunk of them are closer to Pokemon classes than anything lol. But I'll talk about some of the ones who fit the elements closer!

Regarding Earth in the sense of like rocks and stuff, theres my character Taylor who can control rocks and rock-like substances/structures (so like bricks, concrete, asphalt, etc.).

I have two OCs with fire powers! There's Maddi, who can control fire as well as turn herself into a humanoid flame (and also some heat resistance). And there's Luke, who has some dragon DNA in him (long story) and as such can control and breathe fire, turn his body to magma, and has *a lot* of heat resistance--he can actually heal himself if he stands in fire.

I don't have anyone with strict water powers, but I do have Ken and his mom Frost who have ice powers! So they can freeze water, conjure ice and snow, etc.

When it comes to metal, there's Brian! He can control metal and some technology (the sophistication of the technology's programming determines his success rate).

In a 'I don't know if this counts as Earth but if it does I'll mention it here' way, my OC Alana can control/conjure plants, and shapeshift into different animals. So I guess she's got more of a Nature kinda deal, but some people would call it Earth so I wanna cover that base.

I guess the kind of powers my OCs have are sorta their world's alchemical elements? I hadn't thought of it like that. In which case I'll list them out here.

Darkness - Ken, Arcis, Maddi (to an extent), Nightshade, Zarroff, Diana, Shane (to an extent)

Light - Taru

Nature/Earth - Alana

Earth/Rock - Taylor

Fire - Maddi, Luke

Water - None of my OCs have this one lol

Ice - Ken, Frost

Metal/Electricity - Brian

Mind/Telekinesis and Telepathy - CJ, Logan, The Puppeteer (not directly but through his book)

Chaos - Shane, Alice (to an extent), Diana

Wind - Blur

Then there's other general stuff like 'oh people with powers tend to have enhanced strength and speed, some people have super strength and invisibility, the angels can fly' but I don't think those really can count as 'elements' per say.

[anip-ocs]

Disillusions - Monster Fight - Chapter 29

I haven't done a lot of writing this NaNo that I feel is worth sharing/can be shared without spoilers, but I do have a smidge of a snippet of a monster fight! I haven't written a fight/action scene in about 10000 years so if it's a bit of a Slog I deeply apologize, this is all still first draft content.

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For a moment, the team stood there, staring at the beast as it convulsed on the ground. Eyebrows raised, biting their lips, squinting in… sheer confusion. Even when it stopped moving, and began to fade away like all of the Puppeteer’s other creations, it only made them more confused. Slowly, they all lifted their heads to stare at each other. They were all thinking the same thing, right? Weren’t they?

“That was way too easy.” CJ said. “Right? Am I the only one who thinks that was way too easy?”

“No, you’re not. However,” Ken sighed, running a hand through his hair and not seeming to notice that he was smearing blue blood into it in the process. “I truly wish you hadn’t said it aloud.”

“Yeah, don’t wanna get jinxed.” Alana said.

“If we just go home, there won’t be anything to worry about, right?” Taylor shrugged, turning to leave. “I’m out! See you guys la—”

The team all froze as thunder boomed in the distance. But the sky was still clear and sunny, save for a few puffy white clouds slowly gliding along the horizon. So… not thunder? Though, the sky was quickly darkening… another thunderous boom, and then a dull roar. In the distance, a parking garage crumbled to the ground. Maddi felt her blood run cold.

Ken wiped a smear of blood off his cheek, squaring his shoulders as he glared in the direction of the crumbling structure. “Well. So much for that being the end of things.”

“W-What do you think it is?” Brian asked, taking a wary step back. Still, the ground rumbled beneath their feet, a loud boom accompanying each of the beast’s loud footsteps.

“It’s getting closer, that’s what.” Maddi huffed, igniting her hands. “Everyone, get ready. This is gonna be a big one.”

Indeed, it would be. As the monster got closer, they slowly began to see its gargantuan features over the rooftops. Spiraling cyan-blue horns, twirling above the rooftops of the buildings around them. Claws, almost as tall as they were, a stark white against the gray asphalt of the city streets. A yellowish-peach underbelly, six scaly blue legs. A long snout, riddled with white razor sharp teeth, a pink forked tongue snaking out to taste the air, and four large, golden eyes. Before they could truly be ready for it, the team of teen heroes found themselves under the analyzing gaze of a giant dragon, one that seemed large enough to snap them all up in one bite.

“What’s the plan here?” Alana asked quietly.

“Don’t hold back.” Ken said, a low growl in his voice. “Go for the underbelly if you can, but watch for the claws.”

“Sounds good to me.” Taylor said, flipping her hair before crouching low. “Is everything evacuated?”

“These few blocks should be, going by the notice that went out. What… are you thinking?” Brian asked.

“Watch and learn.”

The dragon released a deafening roar, so loud that Maddi was nearly knocked off her feet by the impact. Then it rushed forward, snaking between the buildings, its eyes catlike slits as it narrowed in on its latest prey. Taylor raised her hands suddenly, a chunk of asphalt from the street surging up and striking the beast in the chin, stopping it in its tracks. With a pulling motion, one of the tall concrete buildings beside it began to lean, ripping itself from its foundation as it quickly picked up speed, slamming into the dragon’s head and neck. The monster was stunned, but wasn’t crushed—instead, it shook off the damage and continued its war path towards them.

“Oh, we’re in for it now!” Maddi said, stepping forward with a grin. Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she and her friends stared the beast down, watching as it continued racing at them. She charged up her powers, her hands turning to pure burning flame. Waiting… waiting… waiting…

Now!

As the dragon opened its maw, ready to snap them up, the team quickly split directions. Maddi cast a blast of flame directly in its soft, fleshy mouth, instants before Ken grabbed her by the arm and pulled her away. CJ flew upwards, grabbing an abandoned car with his powers and attempting to drive it directly into the beast’s forehead, while Alana summoned a surge of thorns to pierce its side while she bounced away on a giant mushroom. Brian wielded his streetlight weapon once again, attempting to wrap it tightly around the beast’s mouth and narrowly avoiding a swipe of its claws.

Despite it all, the beast didn’t seem to take much damage at all from their attacks. As it turned to face them again, its mouth didn’t even seem singed, and its armored scales were barely even scratched after all their efforts. As the beast hissed at them, sparks dancing around its nostrils, they knew they’d have to try a lot harder if they wanted to finish this alive.

Maddi and Ken ducked to the side instants before the beast opened its mouth and spat out a blast of electricity. Even dodging it, Maddi felt the hair on her arms standing on end, a sharp minty taste filling her mouth, a sparking sensation in her head. Ken dropped from the sky, holding Maddi close as he fell to the ground and protecting her from the bite of the asphalt. The dragon didn’t hesitate, didn’t gloat over its somewhat-successful attack, but instead turned and snapped its jaws at Alana, narrowly missing her in its efforts. The plant girl let out a scream, jumping backwards before shifting into a bird and quickly flying away.

CJ flew in a bit closer, the glowing aura around him pulsing as he focused all his mental strength on the dragon's neck. Crushing its windpipe, breaking its neck, strangling it—whatever he was trying to do, he was unfortunately unsuccessful in the end of it. Their foe didn’t seem too affected, instead standing on its hind legs and swiping, trying to knock CJ to the ground. It missed by quite a big margin, but still forced CJ to retreat. Brian summoned a new streetlight to his side and attempted to maneuver it into piercing the beast’s underbelly, but the projectile was simply swatted away—right towards Taylor, who managed to dodge it easily enough but was still startled.

The reptile hissed, spitting out more bright blue electric blasts. Brian let out a pained shout as he was hit straight-on, knocked back into the wall of a nearby building. Alana gasped, instantly flying over to him and shifting forms, kneeling beside him and taking his hand.

“Oh my god, are you alright?!” she asked.

Brian coughed, looking up at her. “Can I say no?”

“Look out!” Ken shouted. The two looked up, just in time to see the beast rushing towards them, its mouth glowing bright as it prepared a new attack. Alana shifted forms into a pterodactyl and grabbed Brian before taking off, instants before a blue beam obliterated the building they’d just been beside.

“Holy shit!” CJ gaped, stumbling backwards.

“I think we need a new plan! Darky?!” Taylor shouted, turning to where Ken was forcing his way back to his feet.

“Plan’s still the same! Give it all you’ve got!” he yelled, crouching low. The shadows of the buildings around them defied the laws of nature, stretching towards the teen as a dark aura began to surround him. He snarled, flaring his wings as he stood to his feet, his hands held close to his chest as they pulsed with energy. For a moment, his eyes seemed to glow red, and with a shout he cast his hands out. Dark energy shot out of his hands violently, blasting towards the beast’s side as the angel roared. The sky went dark, if only for a brief moment, as the attack pierced the monster’s side and slammed it against the very building it had half-destroyed just a moment ago. The beast screeched as it crumpled to the ground, the building collapsing over it a moment later.

The rest of the team slowly turned, wide eyed, to Ken as he stood there, eyes wild and panting with ragged breaths. The boy paid them no mind, only staring blankly where the reptile had collapsed and met its certain doom, his heart pounding in his ears as energy danced and thrummed at his fingertips. Only when he’d finally caught his breath did he blink and seem to return to reality, noticing his friends staring at him, mouths agape. Ken stood straight, laughing tiredly and smiling a bit. “Well. Suppose that’s the end of that, isn’t it?”

“Dude holy shit!” Brian shouted.

“That was amazing!” Alana gasped, carrying Brian over to the rest of their friends as she finished healing him. “Have you always been able to do that?!”

“It’s not the sort of attack I’m able to do often. Honestly, it’s quite draining…” Ken laughed softly.

“Any way the rest of us can do that?!” Taylor asked.

“I’m not sure. Someone with light-attuned powers, possibly, but otherwise I’m not so sure.”

Maddi opened her mouth to ask a question, but froze as she noticed movement at the edge of her vision. A piece of rubble fell off the larger pile and to the ground—surely wouldn’t have been a big deal, but then two pieces fell, then three, then five, the pile was shifting as if something underneath it all was stirring—

“Guys,” she said loudly, grabbing all of their attention. “We’re not done.”

“What do you mean, we aren’t done?!” Alana gaped. But as the team turned back towards the dragon’s grave, they quickly had to duck to avoid the explosion of rubble as the pile exploded outwards, revealing the dragon getting back to its feet—slightly smaller than before, but still alive and kicking.

“Oh, you’re kidding me!” Taylor groaned.

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Disillusions Tag List: @mallthologist

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I hope this was a nice read!

[roadbread]

It’s been SOOOO long since I’ve gotten a commission, but I am super happy with how this turned out! The character is William Amadeus Sanders, aka, “The Puppeteer” one of the villains from @anipwrites story, “Disillusions”. I had a blast drawing this evil, puppet boy! if you’re interested in your own commission, DM me! 

[endlessandrea]

[illusion911]

disillusions by https://www.instagram.com/jonathan_solter/ Motion by TheGlitch @illusion911

[anipwrites]

Storyteller Saturday!

If any of your characters were in a time loop that brought them back to the beginning of your story after reaching the end, would they try to change anything, and if so, what?

Unfortunately it is no longer Storyteller Saturday it's now Sunday but nevertheless

I sorta feel like most of my main cast of heroes wouldn't. But maybe some would. Ken wouldn't trade his friends and their experiences together for the world, even the dangerous parts--but he'd definitely try to be more wary of his darker emotions and make sure he doesn't lash out as much. That's what lead to the creation of one of the villains they have to fight, and though things got figured out in the end he still regrets the initial lashout that lead to that villain being hurt and becoming a villain. He'd also watch his back during fights more--especially that first fight with the three-headed hydra bird. If he could avoid being swallowed by a giant monster he would, even if it didn't kill him or cause serious injury in the long run.

Brian, I feel like, would be sort of torn on whether or not to take his hiatus from heroing a second time. Because he genuinely was anxious and scared as hell, especially after the part where they all almost died, and taking time off left him time to gather his nerves and create some inventions that gave him more confidence in battle. But also at the same time, by the end of the story he isn't that anxious, so if he were to go back in time he'd probably be just fine continuing to fight.

CJ would have killed Zarroff and made sure he found a way to make sure that motherfucker stayed dead the first time he laid eyes on the guy.

Now the villains, on the other hand--most would try to tilt things in their favor to snag an overall win. The Puppeteer would probably just resort to mindcontrolling the heroes sooner, and snag more of the heroes at once before making himself known. Why worry about creating giant monsters when you can just force a win state--he's not gonna convince these people with threats, but with an iron fist. He'd 100% just mind control Alana right off the rip and force her to like him.

Interestingly enough, I don't know if Albert would go on to be a villain if he went back in time to the beginning. He became a villain through a toxic mix of anger, grief. and manipulation, and that maelstrom of emotions blinded him from seeing what he was really doing--not in the sense that he was trying to dismantle the government and get vengeance for a wrong done to him, but in the sense that he didn't realize the heroes he was fighting and trying to get out of his way were teenagers, and that one of them was his son. If he went back and had that knowledge, he'd deny Zarroff's offer and find some other way to deal with his grief.

The question at that point being how Zarroff would react to being denied.

I've rambled for a bit buuuut yeah!!! Thanks for sending the ask in!