Sorry for responding at 12 am- But, I was thinking, for the main plot, Hat would be an amnesiac who washed up on a beach with no memories, and a top hat with a photo album in it. The photo album is essential to the Plot tm. Basically, said plot would be Hat trying to find her memories, with the help of Bow and Timmy. They would have to work together to fight the bosses, and there's a bunch more stuff that's hard to condense, lol. I might just make a doc and somehow link it. - EclipsesEnd
Haha fair! And I love the photo album idea that’s so cool and just going on a journey to uncover memories is always exciting!!!
Got a drabble request from EclipsesEnd on AO3! The request was for the song “Boats and Birds” by Gregory and the Hawk! :D Hope this was something you were looking for and thanks so much!
There was something Snatcher couldn’t articulate. But it manifested in the art hanging on the walls of his tree.
There was something Moonjumper couldn’t articulate. But it manifested in the sheets of music with quarter notes dotted with hearts.
Treasure or cherish; there wasn’t a word that measured how much each picture or each song meant. The prince knew, painfully so, how fragile love could be. How even the most careful of nurturing could fail to prevent a sudden break.
The prince knew that holding something too carelessly or too desperately both risked tearing hearts asunder. He knew. But it was so hard to find that balance. What did he need to do? How did he find the textbook, how did he craft the perfect contract, that would ensure his love could only be whatever she needed it to be and nothing more and nothing less?
“Whatcha got, Kiddo?” Snatcher asked as Hattie popped out of his coil, revealing her latest drawing.
It was a family portrait of her sandwiched between him and Moonjumper, holding their hands. It was nighttime in the image, and the moon shone a spotlight on them, making it easier to see Snatcher’s ghostly image against the backdrop of a galaxy pinpricked by bright stars.
“I tried to pay attention to light, like you said!” She beamed, her blue eyes shining. She pointed at herself and Moonjumper. “See? I added shadows away from the light. But I didn’t know how to do that for you.” She furrowed her brows, pensive.
His golden smile stretched, and he let out a cackle.
“Probably because I am all shadow!” He flicked her hat brim, causing it to shift over her eyes.
Giggling, she pushed back the brim.
“Can we hang this one up too?” She pointed at the tree hollow wallpapered with her drawings, each better than the last as Snatcher gave her tips and pointers from his days as a painter.
“Well.” He leaned back and gingerly took her picture in one talon as he ran the other through his mane. Attempting to look serious as he appraised her work, he continued, “The halos of light around the celestial bodies is a stellar effect and brilliantly executed. Drawing the hands as circles is a bit of a shortcut but you’ve gotten better at the arms and legs. And,” he released his mane and held up a talon pointedly, “you did get my good side so it’s a masterpiece.”
Hattie laughed as he scooped her up. She immediately leaned against him, balancing on his arm as he snapped his talons and summoned a new thumbtack. Returning her picture to her, they both examined the walls.
“There’s a spot!” She pointed towards the stretch of bark by the clock.
“Hmm.” Snatcher felt that was too far. It was a rather special portrait… after all. Of his family. He wanted… he wanted to see it. Every time he looked up. “How about we swap it with this one? Of the hourglass?” He floated over to the space directly across from his chair. She seemed a bit confused and he added, “And the hourglass can go by the clock.”
“Okay!” She nodded, letting him hold her up so she could trade the hourglass for the portrait. Once the drawings were in the right spots, Hattie cheered and threw her arms around his neck.
“Whoa!” He stiffened from surprise before relaxing in her embrace. “What was that for?”
“I’m just happy,” she mumbled. “I love you, Dad.”
The ghost’s golden mouth thinned into a tight line. He blinked rapidly, to keep the rising lump in his throat at bay.
“I love you too, Kiddo,” he whispered, hugging her close.
They remained, and Snatcher worked to not let his fear of losing this love cause him to hug her too tightly. Gentle. He had to be ready to let her go.
Moonjumper taught her to read music, later that evening, while Snatcher cooked dinner. They sat perched on the left side of the ramp, and Moonjumper used his violin to play the notes on the page.
“This is a dyad,” he explained in a breathy voice, pulling the bow across the strings.
“Can I try?” Hattie beamed, reaching out. Moonjumper chuckled before handing over the violin and bow that were a touch too large for her. Unperturbed by the size, she tried to mimic the clear sound he had made but it came out as a pained screech.
“Straighten your back and lift your arm,” he instructed, gently guiding her arms into position.
She tried again and managed to draw out a better sound, but the dyad was still shaky. He encouraged her to strengthen her hold on the strings and her next attempt was even better than the last.
“I’m learning!” She perked with excitement and Moonjumper grinned.
“You are!” Moonjumper agreed. “I’m very proud of you, Little Heart.”
“Will you teach me how to play our lullaby on the violin too? And the other songs you wrote?”
“I can,” Moonjumper promised, “though it might take a while.”
“That’s okay!” Hattie preened, puffing out her chest, “I’ll practice a whole lot! We have all the time in the world!” She handed the violin back. Her comment made him pause.
All the time in the world?
“This is an E, right?” She pointed at the sheet music, tilting her head.
“Mmhmm.” Moonjumper played the note on the violin to demonstrate.
She continued studying the music and Moonjumper watched, lowering his arms.
He wondered, vaguely, about the day she might want to go where he couldn’t follow. She would grow up—how special! How grateful he was that his darling daughter lived and could grow—and growing up might mean she would want to set sail beyond the reaches of this planet, further than even the horizon. No doubt she would thrive in any world or time.
But he would miss her. He would miss her so much.
“Papa?” She frowned, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Leaning over, he brushed a lock of her hair behind her ear. He gave her nose a boop for good measure before pulling back. “Shall I keep playing? Or, if you want to stop, that’s okay too.”
“Keep playing!” Hattie propped her chin on her hands and kicked her legs in the air behind her.
He felt relieved.
Later, that night, the trio sat in the observation deck, stargazing. Hattie had set out a blanket and leaned back against Moonjumper who leaned against Snatcher who curled his tail around Hattie and she held it in her lap, petting its soft fluff absentmindedly.
“That’s the goat constellation,” Hattie pointed to the only star pattern she recognized. “She found enlightenment, right?”
“That’s the story,” Moonjumper hummed.
“Do you think she’s lonely?”
“What do you mean, Kiddo?” Snatcher prompted.
“Well,” she huffed, snuggling deeper into Moonjumper’s chest, “she just… became part of the sky. Didn’t she have friends or family?”
“Maybe,” Moonjumper offered slowly, “but I think the idea of enlightenment is finding your own path. Her curiosity and awe outgrew what the planet could offer.”
“She became a series of stars, with more room to fly,” Snatcher explained, propping his head on his talon.
“But… doesn’t her family miss her?” Hattie’s nose was crinkled, like a sour taste was in her mouth.
“I’m sure they do.” Moonjumper lowered his head onto hers, hugging her gently.
“But part of loving someone is letting them go,” Snatcher whispered.
Silence hung over them for a moment. Each thought about the silence of a cellar, cold and fraught with chains.
Yes, part of loving someone is letting them go, but…
Snatcher and Moonjumper startled when Hattie sniffled.
“I-I don’t want to let you guys go,” she said, voice cracking and ending in an unsuccessfully stifled whine.
“Hattie—”
“Oh, Dear Heart—”
“I’m sorry!” She sobbed as both halves of her father wrapped around her.
“We’ll always be here for you,” Moonjumper muttered, keeping one arm around her while he used his other hand to cradle her cheek, wet with tears.
“We aren’t going anywhere, and we don’t want to,” Snatcher added, lacing the tip of his tail through her fingers while pressing his forehead against hers.
“We just meant,” Moonjumper sighed, unsure what to say.
“If you ever wanted… more than what we could give,” Snatcher finished, “then we would support you.”
“But, being with you,” Hattie blubbered through tears, “was all I ever wanted. You’re my family. I’ve always just wanted to go home. And now I’m here. You’re my home.”
“Kid.” Snatcher smiled, genuinely, as his form relaxed.
“You’re our home too,” Moonjumper finished, the tension falling from his shoulders.
Hattie could only nod, lip quivering as she tried to hold back her tears. The two halves of her father held her, waiting patiently for her smile to shine again.
One day, she might change her mind, as all living and growing things tend to do. She might go on journeys in galaxies farther than the prince would have ever fathomed. But her home would always remain, tethered to her by a wake of stardust. There, she would always be loved and there, she would always love. There, she could always return.
Random AU concept, Vanessa in her normal role, and Prince in MJ's, but Florist is in Snatcher's. Thoughts? - EclipsesEnd
Ohhhhhhh would the florist have been captured by Vanessa too or would she have changed into Snatcher in the village after seeing the destruction? It would be really interesting to play with! It pulls the florist more into the action and adds an extra sadness if she’s working hard to protect the subconites like Snatcher does. And then would the Prince be trapped in the horizon/twisted puppet master/wandering amnesiac spirit who Florist!Snatcher hates? (I like the latter, now that i think about it, I think has good angst/character development potential :oc)
So... I may or may not be developing another AU, PMD edition this time (tho I've never played). And becuase I think you'd enjoy the brainstorming, what pokemon do you think all the AHIT characters would be? I'm thinking Eevee for Hat, Shinx for Bow, and either Ralts (eventually Gallade) or Espurr for Timmy, and Trevenant; possibly for Snatcher. What are your thoughts? - EclipsesEnd
That’s so exciting AND I LOVE PMD VERY MUCH And ahhhh I love what you have so far! Bow as Shinx is so cute and Timmy as a Ralts sounds awesome! Trevenant makes sense for Snatcher too and I’m cracking up at Conductor as a short Blaziken XD AND ABSOL YESSS (The only thing I have to add is that I think Vanessa as a Froslas is meant to be) ahhhh what were you thinking the roles would be? Would Hat, Bow, and Timmy be a rescue team and they fight the bosses or would some of the other characters be teams of their own too?
Random joke headcanon: Snatcher was being a jerk again to Hat, so the Subconites were, like the (probably) good older siblings they are, were basically trying to comfort her. One of them offhandedly called Snatcher a tsundere, to which Hat asked what's a 'soon-deh-rey'? The Subconites were so surprised and amused by her mispronunciation and naivety that they didn't correct her, which is why she calls Snatcher one on his Steam trading card. - EclipsesEnd
haha awwww that’s adorable! I love the Subconites comforting Hat and then being the culprits for her calling him a ‘soon-deh-ray’ XD
Hmm, what do you think the main AHIT cast would have as usernames for a chat fic? No reason, it's not like I'm gonna try to make a AHIT chat fic or anything.... no... not me. - EclipsesEnd
Haha ooooooo chat fics are so fun! Hmmmmm it mostly depends on whether it takes place in the game or a more modern setting? Hmmmm there’s a lot of different directions to go and I think a real fun thing would be if they ever change their username for comedy, like if Timmy makes a typo and everyone changes their username to the typo to dunk on him (sorry Timmy) Anyway rambling under the cut! Nothing clever but hopefully it helps kickstart ideas?
I imagine Hat would have something smug. Top Hat (like top dog but ehhh)... Hat in a Hat?
The only thing I can think of for Bow is if she has a moment of teasing so she could change her username to Bow B4 me Peasants but I feel like her username would usually be something sweet (depending on how you characterize her)
I imagine Mustache Girl might go with just Hero or Mustached Hero? (if she starts dunking on people in the chat and getting fed up with their retorts and calls them all bad guys they could all change their username to variations of Bad Guy)
Snatcher has to have King in it somewhere. or crown. Crowntractor........
DJ Grooves can be something like For the Peng-WIN
Conductor..... Cutductor (also just now wondering if he uses knives because of how often he says “cut”)
Cooking Cat has to be something cute like a recipe with cat in it...
asdfghjkl this isn’t very helpful, I’m sorry. I’m like the worst with usernames tbh
How to be sad 101: Listen to "Christmas in June" by AJR. Think of it as a prince song. Congrats, you are now officially sad. (For real though, thinking of it as a Pronce sibg makes an already solemn song really sad. - EclipsesEnd
AJR YESSSSSSSSSS I love the melody. I like it for prince! I’m picturing it as him thinking about going to school and feeling bad for having to leave for so long. But also “I won't ever let you down, but just in case / Can we do Christmas in June?” takes on a different meaning if it’s more like... snowfall in June :’o Also I just really love the line, “I try so hard to be so happy, are you happy too?” Like just picturing how the prince might have been trying really hard to be happy and make sure Vanessa was happy in how he gave up things for her sake (bacon, ect)
(Warning, this might go on for a decent bit so this might be a multi part ask) So, essentially, Florist and Luka had a sibling dynamic, with Flor. being the older sister. She ended up journeying from Subcon to learn more about plants, their uses, meanings, etc. During this time, Luka and Vanessa meet. Flor. is gone for a looong time, so they get engaged and stuff while she's away. (Continued in next ask) - EclipsesEnd
OHHHHH VERY NICE I love this idea ahhh ;o; It also makes for incredible angst when they don’t recognize each other. And I love the name Wolfsbane for her as a Snatcher-type ghost! Very cool!!!!
