#egra

[writernopal]

Heads Up, Seven Up/Last Line

Got tagged by the following peeps for this one in recent days, thank you all so much!💙

@writingamongther0ses, here

@mjparkerwriting, here

@talesofsorrowandofruin, here

@dogmomwrites, here

@scifimagpie, here

@mister-writes, here

Tagging (gently): @gummybugg @captain-kraken @sam-glade @tabswrites @squarebracket-trick @void-botanist

From AASOAF 3: wherein Egra and Axtapor chat about Mariel 🥺 also yes this is way more than 7 lines but i love this exchange so much

“You really do love her, then?” “She been my heart.” I said with a shrug. “There be nary a thin’ I would no do for her.” Another nod. “Is it strange?” “What?” “Being with a human.” I shook my head. “They been different, but I nay mind it.” “The scruff on their heads and bodies doesn’t…bother you?” “Nay. Been soft as mink.” “They remind me of those dumplings that go into Kava’s Day soup.” She said with a strange little frown and a wiggle of her fingers, “Soft and…watery.” I laughed. “Take one to bed and find out if’n that be true.” “X’fidi! ” She hit me on the arm. I laughed. “I have no interest in taking any lovers right now, thank you!” “Oh? Nary one been eye catchin’ to ye?” “No…” I might be stupid, but I knew when ‘no’ meant ‘yes’. “Aye then.” I replied with a barely concealed smile. She cleared her throat. “Is she nice?” “Aye. Very. Sweetest creature I ever did meet.” “Well.” She brushed her robes. “I can’t say I understand it, but if you love her, then…there’s nothing more to say. Promise me you’ll tell grandmama and the others soon. Even if they don’t forgive you, they might at least understand your reasoning.” I sighed. “Nay be sure ‘bout that. Grandmother ‘lieves Mariel been a poison and a danger.” “She’s hurt. Of course she’d believe that about her, but…she misses you dearly. And I don’t think she’s capable of ignoring you forever. She worries too much.” “‘Haps.” “Give her another chance. I’m sure she’ll come around.”

AASOAF 3 Taglist: @outpost51 @thelivingdeceased @faelanvance @captain-kraken @illjustpretend @elshells @full-on-sam @the-mindless @zestymimblo

Join/leave the taglist using this Google Form.

[estheticsly]

как-то на Марсовом by EGRA

[writernopal]

Nine Lines, Nine People + Last Line

Tagged by @writingmaidenwarrior here and @pheita here, thank you both!

Tagging (gently): @sugar-phoenix @writeblr-of-my-own @clairelsonao3 @janec23

A continuation from the passage I shared in this post.

From AASOAF 3:

I smiled at her, something which she appeared not to expect, as she frowned instead of returning the gesture. I laughed. Their displeased looks were, expectedly, alike and just as pouty.  “Wee thin’ nay knew ye—” Lady Egra and I fixed our eyes on Axtapor’s flabbergasted expression and rigid pose, filling the doorway just across from us. The bag of whatever he’d come back with slipped from his hand, landing with what one might consider to be a comical flop at his feet.  “Shite.” “I-I’m awake.” It was the only thing that came to mind to say, even though it was probably the most obvious and unhelpful observation I could have made. 

AASOAF 3 Taglist: @outpost51 @thelivingdeceased @faelanvance @captain-kraken @illjustpretend @elshells

Ask to +/- in the tags, replies, inbox, or DMs!

[writernopal]

7 Snippets 7 People

Tagged by @talesofsorrowandofruin and @mariahwritesstuff, thank you both! See their posts here and here, respectively.

Tagging (gently): @captain-kraken @tabswrites @sarahlizziewrites @outpost51 @dragonedged-if @thewardenofwinter @thelivingdeceased and anyone else who'd like to do this!

One (Axtapor's POV)

Perhaps many would be intimidated by the sight of Lord Rojundrog, Seer of Clan Oxlo, laying eyes on them like this, but to me, he was just a crooked old man with a talent for making himself bigger than he ought to be. He was born from my grandmother’s first clutch and had unusual crimson scales, or rather, unusual for Clan Oxlo. While we lizards came in a variety of colors, certain clans tended to favor certain shades. Ours were hues of blue, black, gray, and purple with the exceedingly rare orchid pink that appeared once every few generations, so his crimson was, at the very least, curious.

Two (Axtapor's POV)

“That is why the start of each social season begins with a reading of rites. A stupid commemoration of those ineffectual ones who fail to consummate their union in that place, the way true Dreamers should, and instead end up with their brains splattered all over their marriage bed. However, it is a rather effective culling tool to eliminate those who should not be trusted with our power or with the duty of representing our House.”

Three (Axtapor's POV)

“I could bore you with the details, but I doubt you are all that interested when it comes to ladies’ fashion, so I will spare you.” She responded, folding her hands neatly in her lap.  “I be plenty interested in lady clothes when it be on the ground...” I remarked under my breath. Egra and Ulsei both eagerly slapped my head, while Idhi and my grandmother shared similar looks of dissatisfaction.  I frowned as I rubbed the warm spot of impact and turned my focus back on Lord Haphrex. “How will ye be gettin’ to the Hefredies?” “I’m afraid that is where we will have to impose on your expertise at sea, my lord.” He said, “Fisla has told me about how talented you are at sailing.” “Has she? Ye’s be right familiar usin’ given names...” I muttered. Egra kicked me and shot me a frown. I growled at her. “Ye wee bitch.” “Grandmama!” She whined. “Settle down.” My grandmother admonished us both with a frown.

Four (Axtapor's POV)

“Well, now that we are on the subject of my beau.” She teased, “What is your opinion of him?” I sighed, not really wanting to provide her with my thoughts about him. I didn't dislike him, but it was still odd for me to see them so close to each other all the time. My grandfather had never been tender with my grandmother the way that Lord Haphrex was. The most I’d ever seen my grandfather do was kiss her hand, and that was only because we’d been at a social event where he was obligated to do so. I supposed Lord Haphrex’s intimacy with her was strange because I wasn’t yet accustomed to seeing someone be so openly affectionate towards her in a romantic way. There was something sad about that.

Five (Axtapor's POV)

“Then, if you can’t say, please, look out for yourself. You know that I care for you very much. But how you worry me, you troublesome boy—!” She let out a strained laugh in a poor attempt to hide the glittering of tears in her eyes. I squared my jaw and did my best to hold her gaze, but it was hard to when she cried.  “What be ye on about? I be a man grown now, proper as so, nay a boy.” I teased her weakly.  She let out another laugh, and this time her tears fell. “Oh no, you will always be a boy to me, hatchling. That same little boy who loved eating sweets from all the town stalls. When was the last time I treated you to something like that, hmm?” I laughed softly this time and pulled her into an embrace. “Right, long while.”

Six (Fay's POV)

Their coin was clean, and if the knights were pleased with that merchant’s quality of goods, they would certainly return with their business and that of other knights. And knights were easy to swindle. They paraded around in their fancy armors and capes, blithely unaware of how absurd they looked, dragging their velvets through piles of shit and stepping in vomit with their ignorant boots. They didn’t care for their belongings; that much was clear, so for a greedy merchant, they were endless fonts of gold.

Seven (Axtapor's POV)

“Lord Haphrex.” I greeted him with a small dip of the head.  “Lord Axtapor.” He responded with a similar gesture. “Tendin’ to business?” I asked as I saw him fold what looked like a bill of sale into his pocket. “One could say so.” He said, gesturing that I follow him with something of a busy look on his face.  I didn’t really want to have an extended chat with him, but I followed along anyway. “Fisla is saddened that you will be leaving us so soon, my lord.” He voiced as we took a leisurely pace toward one end of the harbor. It still irked me that he used her name so casually, but there was no real reason why he shouldn’t be able to, given their involvement. “Aye. I know.” “I do not like seeing her distressed, my lord.” He shot me a sidelong look this time. “That be...good.” I replied somewhat awkwardly.  What was he getting at? And what was that look from before? I hardly knew him well enough to be able to guess. He halted his advance and turned to face me. “So your mind is made up? You will not stay?” I sighed. “Did she put ye up to this?” “A man never reveals what a woman says to him in confidence, my lord.” He said with a slight frown. I pushed the leaves to the other side of my mouth impatiently. “I nay have time to be waggin’ tongues as so, my lord. What be it that ye want?”

[writernopal]

Happy WBW! I hope your week is going well so far! What are some superstitions / common beliefs in your world?

Happy WBW! Thanks for the ask! My week is going pretty well so far, I hope yours is too 💙 Also, this is such a fun question!

There is a superstition amongst Lizardfolk that if two children are born from the same egg (known as shell twins), then it means good luck and wealth to that family. That is, unless one of the children is stillborn or deformed in some way, then it means the opposite. However, Lizardfolk definitions of 'deformed' vary and are quite severe. They, as a people, do not value individuality, so if you're born with something as benign as stripes in the wrong place or freckles, then you're looked down upon for it.

That said, guess who has a twin? Yup, it's Axtapor! His shell twin is named Egra, and she's basically a slightly less chaotic version of him but equally as annoying. The two love each other very much and address one another as x'fidi and x'fida (brother and sister in Hamatian) exclusively despite having other siblings. And before you ask, no, they are not considered a lucky pair because of Axtapor's freckles. Egra doesn't have them.

[writernopal]

Find The Word Tag

Tagged by @elshells, see her post here!

Tagging (gently): @talesfromaurea @gummybugg @verba-writing and anyone else who'd like to join in!

My words to find are: attention, snuggle, swim, realize, and meadow

Your words will be: launch, horn, candle, faint and cinder

attention (AASOAF 2, Axtapor's POV) Welcome special guest star, his shell twin, Egra!

“Do ye see a rin’ in my nose? I nay be married, ye fool.” I responded shakily. “Don’t play coy with me. You and I both know that you wouldn’t display something like that so plainly. Who is she?” She probed more forcefully now. “I nay have a wife.” I spit angrily. “Maybe not, but you have someone, don’t you?” “Belay yer yammerin’.” I replied, turning the wheel in my hand to adjust our course and focusing my attention on sailing once more.  “No, no, you don’t just get to dismiss me like that!” She complained as she came around to stand in front of the wheel, “Tell me about her!” “Nay.” “So she’s real then?” She insisted with a bright look. “Avast, Egra—” “Mariel.” I snapped my head away from the sea to land my eyes on her and felt my heart quicken. I hadn’t heard her name out loud in so long.  “She’s not a lizard woman, is she?” She asked quietly. “How do ye know that name?” I asked in a harsh whisper.  Truly, where had she heard it? It could not merely be a guess. “You’re constantly mumbling it in your sleep. It would be a wonder if any of us didn’t know it by now…” She replied, looking beside herself, “It’s her, isn’t it?”

snuggle (AASOAF 2, Axtapor's POV)

I slipped out of our tent as quietly as possible to avoid waking her, only to freeze after a few steps and tossed a cautious glance behind me as I was sure I’d just heard her stir. Indeed she had, but she didn’t wake; instead, she snuggled further into the pillows I’d left behind to make her think I was still there, then settled amongst them peacefully.

swim (AASOAF 2, Mariel's POV)

“We’re just glad you opened your eyes, lassie. We nearly pumped the whole of the sea from your lungs and belly.” Balhur said with a grimace. “I-I don’t know how to swim...” “Gathered that.” He said with a friendly chuckle and an earnest look on his face. “Where am I?” I asked, nervous to hear his response. “A wee isle called Manta in the Farnian Sea.” He explained.

realize (AASOAF 2, Axtapor's POV) Grandma gets a boyfriend and predictably, Axtapor gets weirdly defensive lol.

I sighed and decided to change the subject. “Been meanin’ to ask, why did ye defect?” He cracked a wry smile. “Young man’s folly. Fisla always spoke with such wonder in her eyes of the world, and I cannot deny that being with her makes me feel like I am a man of your years again. So, when she came to me, distraught about how Seer Rojundrog had targeted you, the choice to defect was a simple one.” He admitted such a thing so readily, but I could tell his words were heavy with something more.  “Do ye love her?” I asked before I realized what I was saying. Why had I asked that? And did I really want to hear the answer? “Since I first laid eyes on her.” He said with a nostalgic look on his face, “She and I were hatchlings then, younger than you, my lord, when we first met. It was a pity that the late Lord Rehteus was just that much more charming than I and not already burdened with two wives. Fisla never wanted to play second fiddle to anyone. That is why Clan Oxlo is so small; she never allowed him to take any other wives besides her.” “Then it be right luck I been born at all.” I said with a small scoff. “Indeed. The time passed, and with it came his souring and my eventual softening. And now here we find ourselves.” He explained, handing me my pipe back.

meadow

I don't have this word, which is kind of surprising!

[writernopal]

Happy STS! If your OCs had social media account, what would they have and what kind of things would they post?

Happy STS, Kraken!

I answered something like that here for the MC cast of AASOAF and then here for Jace and Rapheus so let's just keep going down the list because I LOVE this question! This time we'll look at Axtapor's sisters, Egra and Ulsei.

To start, they bicker A LOT, but if there is one thing they can easily bond over, it's their love of talking. Specifically gossip and generally giving opinions on things when no one is asking for them lol. Seriously, it's like air to them. They could go on for HOURS, so a podcast would be a natural fit, but they get sidetracked SO easily that I think it would end up being something like UNHhhh LOL.

For the uninitiated, UNHhhh is this show that drag queens Trixie Mattel and Katya do where they have a topic as a starting point, but they sort of just take it and run. There isn't a lot of structure to the show itself, and they're mostly just cracking jokes, telling weird anecdotes, taking digs at each other, etc. And the editing is TOP TIER. Seriously it makes everything like 100x funnier. The episodes are on YouTube if you're curious!

Anyway, I think they'd end up running something like that. I imagine that instead of filming it in a studio, they'd film it in the living room of their grandma's house and then get Axtapor to edit it. In this universe, he's a Twitch streamer, but he probably uploads his stuff to YouTube too, and makes his VODs really annoying and over the top, which is exactly the vibe for this!

[writernopal]

HI NOPAL ITS BLURSDAY

[waves wand of time period neutralization]

Someone’s talkin trash.

Who’s:

On their way to fight em

Filming the fight for everyone

Ready to jump in and help

The Hype Man (gender neutral)

Trying to stop them

Just watching, brought snacks

Hi Outpost! This is my first blursday ask, how exciting! And this question omg lol

On their way to fight em: Axtapor (of course, esp if they're dunking on Mariel 😤)

Filming the fight for everyone: Rapheus (he may be beyond his fighting days but he'll watch it back and tell you all the ways he would have done it better lol)

Ready to jump in and help: Wilkes (he doesn't have any loyalties to Axtapor but he knows it would be troublesome if he got severely injured lol)

The Hype Man (gender neutral): Egra (Axtapor's twin who has FAR too much faith in her brother lol)

Trying to stop them: Mariel 🥺 (only because she doesn't want to see Axtapor hurt)

Just watching, brought snacks: Fay (she's only getting involved if there is something in it for her!)