#hdm au

[shroudedmoon]

Another!

Xenia is the version of him that calls people a staggering waste of carbon (and dust!) and throws trashcans and hits tables with his xrf spectrometer

Part 1 IL daemon au

[amarriageoftrueminds]

tragically at the point where I'm starting to wonder what their daemons would be in a 'his dark materials' au which is ridiculous because how would hockey even work if they all had daemons nobody's allowed to bump into without breaking a major taboo-

[confuzing]

Seen some confusion in the tags on my other SVSSS/HDM post so here's how I think transmigration works for people with daemons:

Shen Yuan and his house cat daemon Baobei (she's a grey tabby) die and transmigrate.

They wake up in Shen Qingqiu and his daemon's body respectively. A sudden change in the shape of an adult man's daemon would be too big a red flag for the other Peak Lords to ignore it would be a dead giveaway that the soul in SQQ is not the same man. So both Shen Yuan and Baobei get to experience mild body horror instead. (I know SY rolls with it in the book but he must have been a little weirded out.)

What I think would be the most interesting thing to me is I think that while Shen Yuan goes all in about calling himself Shen Qingqiu and thinking of himself as Shen Qingqiu I think he'd be viscerally uncomfortable calling Baobei anything but Baobei.

Him? Yeah he's Shen Qingqiu now totally. But Baobei is Baobei even if she's a complete different animal now.

[disgruntledbabysocialist]

Hmmmm Bloodymary His Dark Materials AU except they’re from alternate universes, so Simon has a daemon, is confused as FUCK on how Ryland DOESN’T (though… he starts building a suspicion that Mary has BECOME Ryland’s daemon), Ryland doesn’t know what Dust is (it’s Astrophage) and the Blood Ocean is full of the stuff.

[squidspawn]

Very excited to show off my piece for the @mdzsrbb !!!

this has been several years in the making (learning to watercolor an aurora is hard, y'all) but i'm very glad to finally release it into the wild! And accompanied by the absolute masterwork of the estimable @chadsuke/ @ftcoye, be sure to go check it out! Link: i look at the stars and i see your smile

There will probably be a few extra sketches in the future so keep your eyes peeled >:)

[polytrixaf]

hdm au where rumi and her daemon have had a strained relationship for years (they make nice in public of course, they don't need probing questions) because her soul despises all the lies and isolation but rumi is doing the best she thinks she can. zoey and mira never really know how to handle this frankly unnatural behavior, but they do their best to soothe wherever they (and their daemons) can...rumis daemon wants so badly to be loved by the girls but rumi keeps them both on a tight leash- and how offensive that is to her very soul to feel kept like a pet who needs training...she pushes rumi's boundaries as far as she can (zo/mira always a little confused by the clear lines rumi draws with herself, the slight distance always kept but the way her daemon will smother theirs with any accepted affection) which drives rumi mad sometimes...maybe her daemon still isnt settled, highly unusual for rumis age, which is another sore spot in their relationship but how can her soul know when they both live in a cage?

[the-element-of-hot-leaf-juice]

ALTA: His Dark Materials AU (daemon au)

Sokka and his daemon Mahani and Katara and her daemon Manaaki

The daemons of the siblings operate with the seamless, silent cooperation of a survival unit. Their bond is defined by mutual reliance, shared vigilance, and the deep, unconditional affection that their human counterparts often express through bickering.

Name & Meaning: Mahina (f). Means moon or month and derived from Maori. The moon is not only venerated among the people of the Water Tribes; it is a provider of order to the days, seasons and tides, as well as a light in the darkness. It reflects Sokka's fundamental nature as a structured person who is a bright light and steadfast guiding presence for his sister, his friends and eventually his Tribe.

Name & Meaning: Manaaki (m) meaning Support, Hospitality, Protection. A Māori word reflecting Katara's intense desire to defend and nurture everyone around her, and her role as the emotional caregiver of the group.

Sokka and Mahina

Mahina’s Personality: Energetic, practical, quick-witted, and protective to a fault. She is often seen scanning the environment, making mental notes of escape routes or potential tools. She mirrors Sokka's mix of worry and courage, often being the first to let out a small yelp of alarm before immediately preparing for a fight. She is his voice of caution and his engine of inventive thought.

Settled Form: Marine Otter (not to be confused with a sea otter), the largest species of otter, found along the cold rocky coastlines of the southernmost tip of South America, known for its deep familial loyalty, playfulness, capability as a hunter and for using tools (rocks) to crack shellfish.

Meaning: Mahina settles as the Marine Otter the moment Hakoda leaves for war. Intially Sokka is disappointed with Mahina’s form and her name; believe it to be too ‘girly’ and lame compared to what he was hoping for: a wolf. But the Marine Otter symbolises his true nature as the indispensable thinker, fierce, resourceful and at his core; a fun-loving friend.

Actions: Mahina is wary and suspicious of new people and has uncanny intuition. She is alert and anxious in new situation but when Sokka is comfortable; she is very laid-back, even lazy. She is very social and playful and will often be chatty with other daemons she is comfortable with, and if it won’t hurt them, she often nips and roughhouses with others. Another thing she does is voice Sokka’s stream of thought when he is thinking. She is often ‘building’ things when they are idle; stacking rocks and can even tie and untie knots. Which comes in handy, as she often ties enemies’ shoelaces together if the opportunity presents itself. She helps Sokka fish and is very good at picking good spots for setting up camp.

Relationships:

Katara and Manaaki: Mahina and Manaaki share the absolute, silent bond of siblings who have endured hardship together. They communicate frequently without their humans knowing, often through small clicks, glances, or shared movements. When they are at odds, their daemons will usually be the first to reach out to each other. Mahina often nudges Manaaki to offer comfort and affection to Katara. They have an instinctive affection that is often lacking in their human counterparts. They might be seen grooming one another's fur or feathers, or sitting back-to-back while resting. Although Katara is fierce and vastly more capable of defending herself, Mahina as a physically bigger Daemon, is always protective of Manaaki. Sometimes when Katara and Manaaki are angry and picking a fight, Mahina will simply pick up squawking and flailing Manaaki and keep him out of harm’s way or try to calm him down with hugs.

Kiyoi and Malik - EOC fic: Mahina is instantly playful with Malik (a tiny otter in comparison) when Kiyoi joins Team Avatar. The two otters, despite their different species, work together seamlessly when fishing or scheming, and find themselves and their humans becoming the practical backbone of the Gaang. Though Mahina is slightly exasperated with Malik’s seriousness, and often tries to coax him into a game or a swim. She sees the tension in Kiyoi and Malik's relationship and often nudges Malik to encourage his playful nature, essentially trying to cheer Kiyoi up through her daemon.

Suki and Kenichi: it is a relationship of Affectionate Teasing and Trust. Mahina and Kenichi have a playful, loving rapport that is immediately evident. They are often seen bumping noses affectionately or grooming each other. Mahina enjoys having dexterous hands and being able to make ‘jewellery’ (flower crowns and bracelets of fishing line) to adorn Kenichi's antlers with. The Otter often uses his almost slapstick behaviour to coax a rare, amused snort from the highly disciplined Deer. The daemons often ‘sleep’ together and… Mahina even lets Suki touch her eventually, and remarks that Mahina gives the best hugs.

Katara and Manaaki

Manaaki’s Personality: Fiercely nurturing, empathetic, and possessive of those he loves. He is often anxious and protective, mirroring Katara's intense desire to mother and defend everyone around her. He is a conduit for her strong moral compass, often letting out sharp, warning squawks when he sees injustice or senses danger.

Settled Form: Fairy Penguin (also known as Little Penguin) The smallest species of penguin, found along the southern coastlines of Australasia. They are rare and endangered. They are known for their deep familial bonds, tireless commitment to their mates, and surprisingly feisty nature when defending their burrows or young. Manaaki is sleek, dark blue/black, and moves with a distinctive waddle on land and incredible speed in the water.

Meaning: Manaaki settles as a Fairy Penguin the day Kya dies. It symbolises her deep familial loyalty, her self-appointed duty as the emotional anchor, and the 'small but mighty' nature of her protective spirit. Their rarity is also a testament to Katara feeling in herself that she is alone and endangered—the last true Waterbender of the South.

Actions: Manaaki often sits in the hood of Katara’s parka or is carried in a bag as he can’t grip on to her and is quite slow on land. Manaaki is very friendly and will talk to anyone and will always give people the benefit of the doubt. He is very trusting, but if someone betrays that trust… oh boy, Manaaki will never forget it. He is very popular and good with kids. A daemon like him is a rarity and very cute. He often leans into this if it means he can get his human companions a discount on store items or aid from other travelers. He is very helpful in the water though, able to retrieve small lost items like Sokka's fishing hooks and dive deeper than Mahina and for longer. He uses his diving skills to bring back small, useful items like specific herbs, algae or food. When Katara is particularly distraught or angry, Manaaki shows no fear. He will waddle quickly to the daemon of the person she is fighting and let out a series of sharp, protective squawks and try to attack them, flaring his feathers, making himself look larger. Manaaki is not as talkative as Katara but is a good listener and will often look out for people who are excluded or not having a good time and whisper his observations to Katara.

Relationships: Zuko and Akari: are said earners of both Katara and Manaaki’s ire. Initially, he deals them hostility and mistrust. Manaaki shares an intense initial aversion to Zuko and his daemon, but would often drive the much larger Dhole away with sharp squawks whenever Akari gets too close to Aang or Sokka. The shift in their relationship is slow. Manaaki is only able to tolerate Akari once Katara reconciles with Zuko. Manaaki now will peck Akari when he walks past as a teasing jab rather than an attack.

Sokka and Mahina: Manaaki and Mahina share the absolute, silent bond of siblings. They often communicate without their humans knowing, coordinating their actions in a way that shows their deep mutual trust and history. Mahina often relies on Manaaki for emotional stability, and Manaaki relies on Mahina for practical alertness. The daemons often play, talk and groom one another. Manaaki often protests when Mahina tries to protect him or carry him. But sometimes he will want to see what is going on or need to move faster, so will ask for “up-ies” with a little raise of his flippers.

Aang: Aang, as the Avatar, does not have a daemon; it signifies his unique spiritual connection and detachment to his past lives and Raava. He often tries to pass Appa or Momo off as his Daemon when in disguise. But initially, all daemons are wary of Aang. But Manaaki’s wariness is brief, he observes Aang, especially during moments of doubt or emotional turmoil, with a deep empathy. He understands that Aang, lacking a daemon, must bear the entire weight of his destiny and spiritual uniqueness alone. Katara is affection for Aang, paired with his lack of a daemon amplifies Manaaki's protective instincts. Manaaki perceives Aang as profoundly vulnerable or incomplete. He will frequently try to position himself between Aang and a perceived threat, acting as a surrogate daemon or guardian when the other daemons might not. Aang, being spiritually aware, understands his difference is distressing to a lot of daemons initially. He treats Manaaki with gentle reverence and often tries to amuse him with tricks and will offer him fabrics and cushions to make his ‘nest’ in Katara’s bag more comfortable. He wins him over quite easily. He eventually realises Aang is not as alone or vulnerable as he thought initially. Later in life Manaaki often rests between Katara and Aang when they are sleeping, providing the unconscious comfort of a physical soul presence that Aang lacks, a reflection of Katara's role as the person who grounds Aang in the physical world.

[browniefox]

Robert really has to commend Blonde Blazer on her restraint.

She doesn’t ask about it until she’s flown them over to a billboard, looking out at the Hollywood sign. The night has been one giant fucking mess, but then again, so is Robert’s entire life. He’s a little drunk, but Robert would like to think he’s enough on his game to be picking up the signals Blazer’s been tossing his way. This night could end up pretty well, if things continue to go - if not smoothly - in the right direction. But it also depends how this next part of the conversation pans out.

“So… I don’t suppose your daemon is actually small enough to be present?” Blazer asks.

Robert takes a sip of his drink, contemplating how to answer. This is a conversation he’s had before, but not often and never comfortably. Usually, if he’s picking up someone, it’s either a one night stand with a face he’ll forget, or Robert and Valda make an effort to be close by.

“I could say the same for you,” Robert points out, gesturing to Blazer’s general lack of daemon. In her skin-tight outfit, a daemon would need to be pretty small to be present but unnoticeable, and while insect daemons do exist, they’re fairly uncommon and usually carried in one of those nifty little lockets. Robert actually owns one, for when he wants to go out as a normie but Valda doesn’t and he wants to avoid uncomfortable questions.

“Right,” Blazer says, looks self-conscious, “Sorry, that’s really rude of me to ask, isn’t it?”

“It’s fine,” Robert shrugs. Even in the world of heroes and villains, it’s rare to see someone who appears human but doesn’t have their daemon nearby. If Robert recalls correctly (though he hadn’t followed the news all that closely) Phenomaman had to have some pretty intense publicity to shake the idea he was and evil, amoral, soulless creature. “I’m not an alien, though, if you were wondering.”

“A little bit, but not, like, seriously,” Blazer admits. “I’m not either.”

“Didn’t think so,” Robert replies. No, Blazer seems very human. “No, I try to keep my daemon separate from my whole Mechaman thing. Helps with the secret identity and all.” It’s a partial answer to her not entirely voiced question. The range Robert and Valda have is something that would rise an angry mob against them a couple centuries ago. In the modern age, people have still crossed themselves in front of him and called him an all sorts of unsavory things. It’s why he doesn’t do press conferences out of the suit often; if he’s in the mech, people can imagine his daemon is there with him. He cares less about appearances with every passing day, though.

“Zora prefers to keep his distance from the whole superhero thing,” Blazer says, giving a name to a face Robert had yet to see. He recognizes it for the small vulnerability it is.

“Yeah, well, Valda doesn’t like crowds. Maybe they’d get along,” Robert suggests, leaning in a little. Blazer giggles and smiles. This could end up being a very good night.