Feb 3
OCs | 20260121
Spot and Shadow :)
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OCs | 20260121
Spot and Shadow :)
Azris Week Day 3: Contact
Azriel and Eris have been hiding their relationship for years when they're separated when Amarantha traps Eris under the mountain. Despite it all, they find a way to communicate, and eventually find a way back to each other.
This is a prequel to "All I Want For Solstice Is You" and part of the "Winter Cabin" series
Have some angst and an emotional reunion for day 3 of @azrisweek! I love writing different ways that mates go about accepting their bond, and this is one rendition.
Thank you to @chunkypossum for her help betaing this fic and to @secret-third-thing for being my cheerleader as i edited!
Read the snippet below the cut, or you can read the full fic on AO3!
“She’s taken our power, all the High Lord’s. We’re trapped.” Rhysand’s voice was choked and weak, as if it took everything he had left to send one last message. “I’ve shielded you in. Protect Velaris, I love you all.” “No…” Azriel was running for the door before the single, desperate word had left his lips. Though voices sounded behind him, he heard nothing but the roaring of his blood as it pounded through his veins and his shadow’s song as they called him to get to his mate, his mate who was in danger. Hurtling into the street, Azriel immediately launched into the air and flew as hard and fast as he could toward the mountain where Eris was now trapped. Azriel felt the tug on their bond, weak but there, followed by a caress that was so tender it was painful. And then it hit him. Or rather, he hit it. Azriel crashed into the barrier that Rhysand had constructed with the last dregs of his power as Amarantha had taken it from him. And when he did, he felt another shield go up. Suddenly, there was nothing twining with the frenzied threads in his chest. Eris had cut off their bond.
This snippet does not start at the beginning of the fic. Read the full fic on AO3!
Please let me know if you would like off or on my taglist! @pippsmcgee @born-to-riot @chunkypossum @bubybubsters @queercontrarian @yanny-77 @fieldofdaisiies @iftheshoef1tz @secret-third-thing
Happy halloween!
alright kids, new game
use this for all of your ocs. i do mean ALL of them. then share the just the ones that are accurate
since my sleep deprived ass came up with this spin, i’ll go first:
and an honorable mention for malachi, who tortured a 17-year-old monarch for six months:
tagging @yaboieif, @princeteeb, @jingledbell, @demyxdancer, @rainbowsandwhumperflies, @whumpsoda, and anyone who wants to join in!
Read Ch 8: Cat and... Dog? from the story Anachronism (Adventures!AU Prequel) by Shadow7567 (Adventures!AU Director's C...
The chaos continues, and everyone has mad questions.
Also, sorry for this Debbie downer of an update, but I want to let y'all know. This (ch 8&9) will be the last upload until March, I need a bit of time to process some grief. Today, we had to put my cat to sleep after the cancer just became too much for him. He was our neighbor's cat, but started hanging around us more so we just adopted him in 2010. He was at least 17, maybe 18, so he lived a good, long life. I'm heartbroken, I've had him since 2008, but also relieved because he's not hurting anymore.
Anyway, sorry for the downer of an author's note. I'll see yall in March ❤️
I'll add the links later, I don't have it in me rn but you can find the masterlist pinned on my profile <3
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Allan expected a bit of resistance, but breaking a window with a chair and jumping out it was not on his mind.
Smart, though, as she targeted the one window that didn't have any boards on the exterior. She also set it up so subtly, even Allan didn't notice her plan until it was too late.
Clever. Very clever.
He couldn't wipe the smirk from his face as he watched Shadow dart off into the woods, having full confidence now that she would not try to actually run away.
Full confidence that he needn't worry about losing the lead to Scarlett, because even if he lost sight of her she'd turn up again.
The kid was drawn to Allan and his men like a moth the flame, he realized now, and already Allan found himself thinking about how he could use her to further his own goals. Her fighting spirit, physical prowess, sharp mind, potential loyalty, and of course, the secrets she knew about not only the Unicorn but also Scarlett.
Her lack of self-preservation could be cause for concern, admittedly, but he'd iron that out later.
An inkling of guilt nagged at him for dragging Shadow into the life of crime, but he pushed it away.
It wasn't like he forced Shadow to come to the docks, to come here. Besides, once she spilled what she knew of the Unicorn and Scarlett, Allan could send her on her way. He already had proof she'd keep quiet and wouldn't squeal to the police, so he could convince Sakharine to let her go.
This was not forever.
It wasn't too late for her.
She could still escape the tar Allan struggled so hard to free himself from.
"That foolish, obstinate, deceitful woman!" Sakharine hissed at Allan's side.
Possibly.
Aw, is someone cranky he's finally met his match? You better be lucky this isn't Scarlett.
Though, Allan supposed Shadow's methods of escape did not differ too much from Scarlett's. He still recalled the stinging in his eyes after her "pocket sand" stunt, and still recalled the burning anger that flooded his body.
If he knew then what he knew now, knew the power just beneath the surface, that rage would have been relief she hadn't done far worse to escape.
"You!" Sakharine whirled to face him. "Bring her back to me. Use whatever force you deem fit, but that wench is not to leave the property."
Wench? This is the 20th Century, old man.
"What was that earlier?" Allan couldn't help but ask. "Something about her not knowin' what she was gettin' into?"
"Do not patronize me, Thompson."
Wouldn't dream of it.
"All I'm sayin', boss, is careful makin' 'er an enemy. We have no idea what kind of dirt she has on us-"
Sakharine scoffed, cutting him off with a raised hand. "She made an enemy of me. She wants to be difficult? Wants to masquerade as a boy? Let her face the consequences." He turned back to the window, glaring into the woods and missing the look of disgust Harry threw at his back.
Allan subtly shook his head when Harry's eyes came to him, warning him not to let his temper get the best of him here.
Shadow had the luck of being important to Sakharine, even if it was brief. She had information he wanted, and thus wouldn't be killed yet. Harry had no such protection, and while Allan would side with his crew over this new boss he still had no desire to find himself in that situation.
"Treat her as you would a common street thug who decided to meddle," Sakharine continued, his back still to Allan and Harry. "I don't care if you have to break her legs and drag her back kicking and screaming. Bring. Her. Back."
I'll bring her back, sure, but breaking her legs? No dice. Hiding some minor emotional trauma from the cops is one thing. You can recover from a little scare in a few hours, days at the most. But legs? I highly doubt she'd let that slide.
Allan was no fool. Any understanding and mutual respect between him and Shadow would crumble instantly if he injured her that badly. Bad for business, making enemies when you didn't need to.
And Allan had no desire to lose a verbal sparring partner.
Her stubbornness and inability to take anything seriously annoyed him at times, sure. But when was the last time someone dared to insult him to his face? By calling him an industrial refrigerator no less.
Being surrounded by yes men too afraid to stand up to you got boring; he enjoyed finally having someone who could match his sarcasm and wit.
My skills were getting rusty.
Not to mention he had to always wonder if his men were telling him the truth, or just telling him what he wanted to hear. Some he knew he could trust, those in his inner circle.
Tom. Pedro. Harry. Ollie. Vinny.
They didn't fear him, nor did he fear them, and thus an element of deep trust ran between them like lifeblood.
But the rest of the crew he always viewed with a degree of suspicion. He scared men, he knew.
For whatever reason... he didn't scare Shadow.
Allan just nodded in partial agreement to another series of threats from Sakharine, grabbing Harry and pulling him out with him.
"That kid is psycho!" Harry exclaimed in the hall. "Does she have any idea what sort of man she's pokin' with a stick? We're one thing, he's another."
I knew you were all bark with the kid.
Harry acted all mean and tough, but Allan knew he held a soft spot for kids and teens. Allan didn't know Shadow's exact age, but it couldn't have been much older than Nick.
"You need to tell 'er to stop antagonizin' the boss," Harry continued. "Before she gets herself hurt or worse."
"Don't tell me you're gettin' soft, Harry," Allan said, but slipped a chuckle in to let the man know he was teasing.
Harry stiffened, looking more offended than worried. "Fuck no. Just..." He shook his head, brows furrowed. "Don't want 'er to find out the hard way what violent fantasies that sick bastard has."
"I think the kid can handle herself just fine around him. He's underestimated her before, and that was just her wits," Allan assured him. "Underestimating her before a physical attack could prove fatal."
"Think she's got the stomach for it?"
Depends on how desperate she gets.
"Everyone's a killer if you push 'em far enough," Allan replied honestly. "Everyone has something to flip that switch. Shadow's bound to have something as well."
I want to find out, but not the hard way.
He made that mistake with Scarlett.
Harry remained silent until they reached the bottom of the main steps. "The name. Shadow. It's... really similar to Scarlett's alias."
Guess I'm not the only one rememberin' her lately.
"It was Scarlett's alias."
Harry looked at him. "Think the kid has a connection?"
"I'll eat my hat if she doesn't."
A sudden yelp from the other side of the manor caught both of their attention.
"What in the big brother?!"
Harry sent a dumbfounded look Allan's way, the first mate just shaking his head in amusement.
At least having her around won't be a bore like Sakharine.
"That kid is somethin' else," he muttered. "Go help Neil and Tom. And keep that knife away will ya? Don't need 'er turnin' on us."
"Copy that, boss."
As Harry ran the direction of the shout, Allan turned and headed the opposite way.
Want a chase, kid? Want to play cat and mouse?
Let's see if you have what it takes.
Why are you running!? Why are you running!?
I couldn't help but play that vine over and over in my head as I raced around the manor grounds with Neil and Tom in hot pursuit.
Had to hand it to the pair, they were a lot faster than my initial assessment of them predicted. I expected to be faster, as while Tom had longer legs than me he still had quite a few pounds on me.Stockier men usually didn't have the same speed as leaner men. Neil's torso looked longer than his legs, but he didn't trail too far behind Tom.
I still remained ahead, however.
But, even though I was faster, they showed no signs of getting tired. I should have known they would have better stamina than me, what with working day in and day out on a cargo ship in the 1940s.
Back before a lot of stuff became automated.
Hell, I didn't even think computers were a thing during Tintin's time.
How the hell am I gonna explain my phone?
Like Trevor, it was phasing in and out of existence. Sometimes I could feel it in my pocket, sometimes I couldn't.
That was just proof this was all a crazy dream, right?
Objects in reality didn't just phase in and out. That was some Skyrim glitch material, not Tintin movie material. The movie, fantastical as it was, still had basis in solid reality.
If I was really trapped in the movie, which I definitely wasn't, then all this slap-stick survival and all these glitchy happenings wouldn't be a thing.
We got bigger fish to fry than justifying dream nonsense.
Such as the lack of a long term plan for the outcome of this chase.
They were following me, great, but now what? Unless I had infinite sprint, which was ruled out thanks to the ache in my teeth and the acidic sting in my muscles, I couldn't keep this up forever.
But honestly, I couldn't help being a little shit and causing problems on purpose.
I was like Courage, but instead of the things I did for love it was the things I did for boredom.
Apparently, breaking a rich guy's window and leading his hired guns on a chase was one of those things.
I just hoped the fellas behind me weren't too pissed about it all.
Allan didn't seem overly upset, more amused than anything. Tom had shown an almost protective side by standing in between Sakharine and me. Hobbs looked irritated at Sakharine's threats, suggesting he wouldn't really hurt me if given the chance.
As for Neil, given his helpful advice and lenience when smacked or thrown I'd be very surprised if he turned and got nasty.
Spying a pile of stones half-covered by old scrappy tarp as we ran through some wide-spaced trees near the edge of the thicker grove, I darted around it and put it between me and the sailors as I turned to face them.
Both men were alarmingly close, but the smile on Neil's face eased any worries of anger. Tom didn't look any angrier, just determined and a bit confused. Both men stopped on the opposite of the pile, Tom immediately leaning over with his hands on his knees.
Guess his stamina isn't as endless as I thought, poor guy.
I didn't know his age, but he probably had at least fifteen years on me so him being a little more out of shape was reasonable. He also looked more like a tank, used to taking people down without much of a chase.
"Fast little ferret, ain't ya?" Neil teased, breathing heavy but not as heavy as Tom.
"Ferret?"
"You're 'bout as bitey as one."
I straightened, hands on my hips. "I'll take that as a compliment!" I declared, giving him a toothy grin.
He laughed.
Yeah, Neil's safe.
You mean our brain's concoction of Neil.
Yes, that.
Tom, still leaning over, took a gulp of air and gestured weakly. "Ya can't... can't mean to..." He sucked wind some more. "Can't mean to run all the way back to town!"
Neil chuckled. "Naw, look at that smile, mate. She's enjoyin' this."
I shrugged. "Guilty."
Tom straightened, hands on his head. "Why the hell are ya enjoyin' bein' chased?" he demanded. "Are ya bloody barmy?"
It was my turn to be confused.
"Am... Am I what?"
"Crazy!"
"Oh... maybe."
"Maybe?" Tom exclaimed. "You're actin' like this is fun for ya!"
"Not the runnin', but the chase is fun. Lets me push myself to the limit in a non-threatenin' situation."
"How do you know it's non-threatenin'?" Tom asked. "We could be out to kill ya!"
I raised my brows and pointed at the gun still holstered on his hip. "You ain't gone for that once. If you wanted me dead, you'd have shot me already."
Tom frowned. "And you trust us that much already?"
I shrugged. "You look more confused than aggro, and Neil's laughin' his ass off."
"That's 'cause I am confused!" Tom dropped his hands, shaking his head. "Ya avoid the cops, come 'ere knowin' it's a trap, and ya pissed off the boss despite knowin' he's got us all under his lead."
"That sounds about right."
"And you're not at all worried?"
"I mean I can keep runnin' if you think it'd be better for my health. Not that I'm really enjoyin' this cardio."
"Aw, don't like cardio, huh?" Neil teased, heading around the right side of the pile.
I shifted my own right. "Nope."
He moved left, mirroring me as Tom watched us both. "Really?"
I moved to my left. "Really really."
Neil headed to the middle. "Pity."
I copied him. "Pity indeed."
Oh, I do not care for that smile at all. Think I've seen less concernin' grins on Trevor.
Then, to my utter shock, Neil launched himself over the middle of the stone pile.
"What in the big brother?!" I yelped, darting away.
Tackling my legs, Neil took us to the ground where he rolled himself onto my waist. He swatted my own hands down, lightly smacking the top of my head. "C'mon, martial artist," he teased, weaving out of the way of another strike. "Show me what you got!"
Think!
Planting my foot on his hip, I wrenched his shoulders to the side as I pushed his hip. I had a feeling he let me move him, but a win was a win and as he rolled off I sprang away and darted deeper into the woods.
Climb?
No, trapped above ground.
Over rocks?
No, Neil was more nimble than anticipated.
Through shrubs?
No, if I could charge through them so could the boys.
Underground?
No, no access points.
Only option was to run.
Over a log, around a boulder, under a shrub, across a stream.
Look above the shoulder to make sure they weren't gaining-
The ground vanished beneath my feet and I plunged headfirst down a small gully. I wasn't able to catch myself before I rolled head over heels twice, but I did stop rather suddenly.
Or, rather, my forehead stopped me rather suddenly.
I wasn't sure what exactly I hit, but I did hear a rather loud crack like a firework as the force of me bouncing off the obstacle sent me onto my back.
"Shit!"
Not sure if it was Neil, or Tom, but someone quickly materialized at my side and slowly helped me sit up.
As I did, my hand went gingerly to my forehead.
What kinda Mary Sue bullshit is this? I'm not clumsy! I'm a blackbelt for crying out loud, this is embarrassing!
But at least I had further confirmation this was a dream. Because while I could tell I hit something, I felt zero pain and didn't feel any blood either. Nor did I feel fluid or worse coming out of my ears. I felt soreness, sure, but no pain.
"Holy shit, are you alright?"
Slowly lowering my hand and turning my head to the side, I found Tom staring at me with a worried expression and a hand supporting my back.
I blinked slowly, face deadpan. "Peachy."
"Woah..." Neil breathed, causing Tom and I both to look his way. The brawny sailor crouched by the rock I'd apparently slammed my forehead into, running his hand down it slowly.
"There a reason you're carressin' the boulder, Blondie?" I grunted, my accent coming through strongly.
He looked over his shoulder, eyes wide. "Shortie... how thick is that skull of yours?"
"Very, I'm a redneck with Scotch-Irish roots. Why?"
Neil moved to the side, revealing a massive impact spot akin to a meteor crater with massive fissures snaking out across the rock's surface. His eyes looked about ready to leap from his head as he lifted a shaky hand and gestured at the impact spot with his thumb. "Because you just cracked this boulder into fours."
"Well. That's interest-"
"Are ya sure you're not hurt?" Tom exclaimed, turning my face back to him with both hands as he peered worriedly at my forehead. "Sure somethin's not broke?"
"-Ing."
You are touching my face.
Guess my theories on your hands being rough were right though.
It was interesting, admittedly, how gentle his grip was despite his strength.
Quit blue screening and do something.
I grabbed his wrists and pulled them away. "Quit bein' a mama hen, Tom. Ain't you supposed to be catchin' me?"
Neil stiffened, eyes flashing up to the top of the gully. "Speakin' of that, get down!" he hissed, borderline tackling us both under the small overhang formed by some boulders and shrubs.
I found myself half suffocated under not only Tom, but Neil as well as we all pressed ourselves out of sight from whoever Neil spotted.
I know these guys are both muscle bound sailors and full grown men but damn what are y'all eatin' on the ship?!
Also, which of these two hardened, drug smugglin' gunslingers are out here smelling like nutmeg?
Thankfully, Tom pulled me out from under them and maneuvered me between him and Neil, an arm braced across my front as we sat with our backs pressed against the bank.
Great, now I'm even shorter than them, I thought angrily, gripping Tom's arm and pulling it down from my throat. Damn this short torso.
Ragged breathing reached my ears, and a few moments later I heard Hobbs yell, "Oi! Where'd you lot get off to!?"
Neil elbowed me before holding a finger to his lips. I glanced at Tom, who nodded before giving me a look that strongly suggested I agree as well. Withholding a sigh for now, I turned back to Neil and nodded.
We all waited silently until Hobbs cursed loudly and headed back the way he came.
Neil breathed a sigh of relief. "That was a close one."
I lightly elbowed him as I pushed Tom's armbar away. "Again, ain't yall supposed to be catchin' me?"
"Ain't you supposed to be fightin' tooth and nail to escape?" Neil shot back.
"Touché."
Tom pulled at my shoulder. "D'ya 'ave any idea how dangerous this is, kid?" he demanded, a sharp note in his voice as he shook me. "Do you 'ave any idea what you're gettin' yourself into?"
I grabbed his arm to stop him. "Treasure hunt with an aristocratic asshat who thinks too highly of himself and wants revenge on Haddock for something that happened between the ancestors back in the 1600s that he won't fully cough up, so he bought off his crew to stage a mutiny and more or less keep Haddock a prisoner on his own ship until the time comes to slaughter him?"
He blinked. "Er, maybe you do know," he mumbled, looking away for a moment.
"Hell, think she knows more than us," Neil muttered, crawling out from under the overhang.
"Yeah..." Tom agreed, looking me up and down uncertainly. "How did you know that about the, er, situation with Sakharine?"
Dream!Tom or not, you're never gonna believe me. Not that I really care to delve into lore. I am here for chaos, not substance. Lore can piss off, I want shenanigans.
"Could we... take a raincheck on that explanation?" I asked, crawling out beside Neil and shaking myself off like a wet dog. "Just for a few minutes. I'm up for tellin' y'all, don't worry, but I just gotta, er..." I watched as a cricket scampered off, most likely having fallen from my shoulder. "Figure out how to tell y'all."
Aka, I don't wanna unless I gotta.
"Wait, that means you're stickin' around?" Neil asked.
"I'll unofficially agree with that." I halfheartedly threw my hands up. "Clearly I'm more drawn to y'all than a moth to flame." I frowned. "Though in this case it may be a bug zapper."
"So you surrender? The chase is over, just like that?"
I thought for a moment. "Mmm, nah. Still feelin' a little froggy." I couldn't help but give a short laugh. "Where's the fun in just givin' in without a fight?"
"Certainly ain't done that," Tom muttered, rolling his eyes.
"If you want to feel like you earned your pressgang, we can make that happen," Neil said. "How well can you grapple? Can fight it out and draw the others over with noise."
I grimaced. "Er... not well."
Tom blinked. "All that fancy stuff and you can't grapple?"
"I took karate not jujitsu!" I protested. "I wanted 'em to teach us floorfightin' but they never would due to 'awkwardness'."
Curse what's not in my pants.
"You can't grapple at all?" Tom repeated, a note of exasperation in his voice. He scowled. "Can't box either, can ya?"
I smiled sheepishly. "Er..."
Tom groaned. "I don't believe this! You challenged me this morning knowin' you'd get your ass kicked?"
"Admittedly, I was kinda bankin' on you takin' it easy on me."
"He would," Neil spoke up.
Tom glared at him. "She couldn't have been certain about that."
"So... was I supposed to just give in or not? Because if I didn't know you wouldn't hurt me, then why would I just surrender and trust I wouldn't be gutted and worse."
Tom opened his mouth to argue, only for a new person to enter our conversation.
"Am I interrupting something?"
Gay little cats
Shadow and Cream
Mortal Kombat OC Questionnaire
This wonderful collection of questions from @mkdecimation lit a fire under me! I started filling it out for all of my OCs before realizing it was originally intended as an ask game, but by that point I was having too much fun with it. Oops.
Factions and Alliances
1. What faction is your OC aligned with? Why? Shadow isn’t officially part of any one faction. They drift where they believe they are needed to protect the realms. That goal, however, most closely aligns them with the White Lotus, and they do confer with Raiden and Fujin when any potential threats rise.
2. What is their role - either in their faction or in the overall events of MK? Overall, they fill the mentor archetype with the confidante role. Shadow becomes a trainer of sorts with their own style, choosing to teach people to build on their own pre-existing strengths rather than pass on a textbook technique. Instead of giving answers, they prefer to give others the tools to find the answers, though it earns them a reputation of being seen as cryptic.
3. What are their thoughts on their faction? Do they enjoy being there? Do they want to leave? They admire the members of the White Lotus for both their dedication to Earthrealm’s defense and their selfless support of anyone in need. They feel most at home among them, but even so, there are still times they feel like an outsider.
4. What are their relationships like? Do they have any friends within their faction? What about rivals? Mentors? Friendship for Shadow is complicated due to their solitary nature. While they don’t form bonds easily, what bonds do form run deep. At first, they are wary of Liu Kang because of their knowledge, and he of them because of their mystery, though overtime they grow close. Bo' Rai Cho takes them under his wing as more of a social mentor, and Fujin becomes their confidante and support. There is a mutual respect and uneasy situational trust between them and Raiden for a multitude of factors. As for Kung Lao…well. They would break the world for him.
5. How do they feel about other factions? Do they have any enemies? Shadow sees nuance in every faction, judging individuals instead. Some choose their path with glee, some play the cards they are dealt, and some are unwilling participants. They are surprisingly neutral towards the Special Forces, mainly due to its more aggressive tactics. The Black Dragon and the Red Dragon both earn their ire for their exploitation and treatment of innocents, though their attention is focused mainly on the clans’ respective leaders. As for the Brotherhood of Shadows, Shadow absolutely despises both Shinnok and Quan Chi. If they could have a one on one fight with either of them with no consequences, they would do so in a heartbeat. When it comes to enemies, however, their one true antagonistic rival is Sovereign Aster, their literal dark double.
Origins
1. What realm do they originate from? Outworld
2. What species/race are they? Outworlder
3. What timeline does your OC originate from? NRS/MK9-11; By technicality, they don’t belong to any canon timeline, and instead crossed over from a timeline that branched off of Midway/MK-MKA millennia ago where Shang Tsung never betrayed Earthrealm after the first tournament.
4. What do they fight for? Why? Simpler said than done, Shadow fights for the universal right to live rather than survive. They can’t stand suffering, especially when that suffering is inflicted by tyrants and bullies.
5. Describe their childhood. What events led them to where they are now? Though the memories remain lost and faint, Shadow, born Aster, was raised alone by their mother Lucine on a makeshift farm. The two lived modestly yet happily, content with staying on the fringe of society and sustaining themselves. Shadow was a rambunctious child with a wild imagination. They could entertain themself for hours on end and spin story after story for their mother, yet would also become rather shy when faced with someone from the nearby village. Though their father was unknown to them and would always remain a mystery, they did inherit his green thumb and made their garden thrive once they were old enough to do so. When they were just barely an adult, however, their worldview was shattered when soldiers moved into the area on Shao Kahn’s orders. The threat the soldiers posed led to the young Aster’s powers awakening, and their defiance combined with their albeit weak display of magic made them a target. They were overwhelmed by the soldiers and chose to surrender as a prisoner in exchange for Lucine’s safety.
Fighting Style
1. Does your OC have any special powers/skills? How did they gain them? Through ancestry, they have innate magic, though their actual skills had to be honed through centuries of study and practice. Most of the techniques that Shadow uses are ones they developed themself. They could have channeled their fledgling magic into any school, and still could if they so chose, but their interests lie in the bonds of space and reality. They can teleport and phase through objects alone or with others, form temporary physical structures or sense altering illusions, even look through and step between realities, but their calling card is their mimic ability. With enough study of someone’s technique, they can form an avatar of that person around themself, taking that person’s weapons, abilities, and fighting style for themself as long as the avatar holds. They are a literal echo fighter.
2. Describe their fighting style. Do they practice a specific style of martial art? Or do they rely on magic/their powers? Physically, they can hold their own. They are trained in basic hand to hand combat and self defense, but their true strength lies in their ability to utilize the environment surrounding the fight. They excel at winding around an opponent, turning a corner into a trap, ensuring they always have the high ground. While they can easily force an advantage with their abilities, they do prefer to limit the energy they expend just for the challenge of it, usually only calling their signature spatial daggers.
3. What weapons does your OC use, and how proficient are they? Who taught them? How did they learn? They prefer to use magic constructs as weapons, favoring twin spatial daggers. They’re able to dismiss and recall these daggers at will, allowing them to control the flow of the fight. If they were given physical daggers of the exact same dimensions, however, they would not be nearly as proficient. Traditional weapons are not Shadow’s strong suit. Sparring has given them experience with basic melee weapons, but not near enough to truly utilize them. On the other hand, their mimic grants them theoretical knowledge of how to wield any weapon that lingers quite a bit after the avatar expires. As an example, while they normally would be clumsy with Kabal’s hook swords, if they mimic him for a few minutes and let the avatar fade, they would be able to give him pointers on his form despite not being able to physically demonstrate any longer.
4. How quick are they to fight? Are they aggressive, or do they prefer to talk things out? Shadow is very much a talk first person. Whenever possible, they limit bloodshed, regardless of the opponent. If it does come to a fight, though, they also won’t hesitate or hold back. Limiting the collateral damage by limiting the duration of the fight is just as, if not more, important to them than securing a win.
5. What is their last resort? (Think of an all-out attack that they would be used only if there were no other option.) Their last resort is letting go of their control. There’s an ability they don’t know they have until well after they’ve used it, and it horrifies them when they learn the truth about it. Major, major spoilers, this one.
Appearance
1. Describe or draw their outfit/armor. Shadow’s main outfit can be found here in their ref sheet. As for alternative outfits, they have one that Johnny bought for them and calls their “urban camouflage.” That outfit consists of a plain pair of jeans, black converse, a graphic tee, and a bright multicolor neon windbreaker.
2. Make a mood board for your OC.
3. Does your OC wear any jewelry? What is its significance? Nope! Shadow doesn’t have any objections to wearing jewelry, but they don’t have any attachments to it and don’t wear any day to day. They’ll wear borrowed pieces if the occasion calls for it. The only exception is rings due to their scars - they don’t even wear a wedding ring.
4. What physical characteristics make them stand out from the other fighters? While they keep them hidden, they do have a network of scars over their fingers and hands. Both their scars and their eyes glow violet when they use magic. If a stranger saw them outside of a fight, however, they would appear completely unassuming and wouldn’t leave an impression.
5. Does your OC have a particular style? Why? They favor function over fashion, not caring what others think of them day to day. The unique style that emerges because of that is a blend of Outworld tradition and Earthrealm advancement. It drives Johnny just a bit crazy that they’ll openly wear spandex but won’t touch an elastic hair tie or zipper if they have a choice. If need be, they’ll wear something out of their comfort zone to blend in, whether that be to just not draw attention to themself or to infiltrate a particular group. Doing so means they don’t have to worry about keeping up a constant illusion.
Relationships
1. Do you ship your OC with anyone - canon or otherwise? If so, tell us about their relationship! Shadow falls for Kung Lao despite their initial determination to stay uninvolved. They try to pull away at first, convincing themself it wouldn’t end well if they made any sort of connection with anyone, even when Lao tries to confess first, but nearly dying makes them realize how short sighted that was. The two take it slow, navigating their places in the world while discovering the ways in which they fit together. Their differences, even when they are opposites, compliment each other, such as Shadow being more of a quiet observer and Lao being nearly always ready to entertain a conversation. They both care deeply, much deeper than they let others see on the surface, and are both ready to lay everything on the line to protect their home and those they love. One aspect that defines how their relationship evolves is their honesty. After a particularly jarring revelation, one that Shadow at first tries to hide out of fear, they promise each other no more secrets. Sometimes Lao has to gently coax Shadow into talking about particularly bad nightmares, but talking through everything, especially when its something rough, brings them closer and makes them stronger. It doesn’t surprise anyone when they get married.
2. Does your OC have any friends? How did they meet? Most of the krew considers Shadow a friend in one way or another. Despite their social reservations, they do hold closer bonds with a few people. They first reach out to Hanzo when he was still Scorpion, when everyone else considered him an irredeemable enemy, and worked to show him that he was still himself and still so much more than the monster Quan Chi wanted him to be. After a rocky start and a hard conversation, they and Liu Kang become closer than either of them expected. Johnny more or less pesters his way to their side.
3. What is their family situation? Are they close? Are they still alive? Family is tricky for Shadow. When they start getting bits and pieces of their memory back, they can remember their mother, but not her fate. In addition, as far as they’re aware, they can’t go back to their original reality. When they go to Outworld to try and find answers, they do find their mother’s counterpart in a remote village not far from where the farm would have been. It’s a very emotional reunion on both sides. To Lucine, it doesn’t matter that Shadow isn’t really Aster anymore, and it doesn’t matter that they aren’t her Aster. They’re still her child, and she loves them all the same. Whenever Shadow gets a chance, they make it a point to visit. Still, their relationship takes time to build enough to be considered a familial bond.
4. Do they have any pets? Tell us how they came to be! No pets in this universe.
5. Do they worship any god in particular? Elder God, Titan, One-Being, or otherwise? Shadow respects all deities and their individual authorities, but they don’t worship any of them. No deity has a true constant across the branches of the universe, so they don’t view any as being infallible or worthy of blind trust.
Game Mechanics
1. Describe their intro animation. A crack of light appears in the air that then widens into a violet glowing portal. Shadow steps through with their hands outstretched and eyes glowing, and with a flick of their wrists, the portal closes completely behind them and the light in their eyes fades. If equipped with a gloveless skin, their scars glow and fade with the same timing of their eyes.
2. Describe their victory animation. Shadow spins their spatial daggers around their fingers a few times before letting one of the daggers fade, jumping to one side and teleporting away. When they reappear, they are right in front of the camera and slash it with their remaining dagger, breaking both the lens and the fourth wall. Their eyes glow the entire time, and if equipped with a gloveless skin, their scars glow as well.
3. Describe their fatality. Own Worst Enemy: Shadow mimics their opponent and uses their own default fatality against them, copying any weapons or abilities needed with spatial constructs.
4. Describe one of their brutalities. Heart to Heart: Shadow teleports behind their opponent and stabs them in the back with a spatial dagger. Then, they twist the dagger before ripping it free, pulling their opponent’s heart with it.
5. Describe their mercy animation. While their opponent is stunned, Shadow holds a hand out to conjure and manipulate spacial mannequins that steady the opponent until they are ready to rejoin the fight.
6. Describe their taunt(s). Turning away from their opponent, Shadow pulls a tome from a pocket space (most comparable to an invisible bag of holding) and begins to flip through its pages, appearing bored with the fight.
7. Describe their weaknesses. While they can string together a great number of hits, Shadow’s damage output per strike is relatively low.
8. Describe their strengths. Shadow is unpredictable and hard for the opponent to read. They move fast, and with their teleportation, it’s near impossible to zone them.
9. What gear could a player customize for your OC? Spatial Daggers: Changes the design and type of blades conjured. Default are hilt-less curved boot daggers.
Gloves: Changes what covers their hands. Includes full, fingerless, and sheer gloves, torn fabric wraps, and gloveless. Default are black leather gloves with adjustment straps at the wrists.
Sash: Changes design, color, and tie type of sash. Default is plain crimson wrapped over itself and secured with a knot at their side. [Mechanic only; remains unchanged in series]
10. What would their konsumable be? Blossoming krystellion branch: Shadow conjures small shields to block incoming projectiles for a short time.
11. Does your character have a special stage? If so, what does it look like? Does it have a theme? Reclaimed Shores: This is the section of Shadow’s (formerly Shang Tsung’s) island where visitors are greeted. To the far left and far right are twin wooden docks each with a lantern atop a relatively high pole. The white sand beach extends endlessly beyond the boundaries of the stage and into the background against the tree line. The forest is dense and unyielding, and as the island slopes up from the shores, it also keeps the sky from being seen by the camera during a match. At the midpoint of the stage, a path of carefully laid stepping stones cuts through the forest, marked with its own posts and lanterns, and though the stones continue onto the beach, they do not reach the fighters. At night, all four visible lanterns are lit. During a match, the fighters leave visible footprints in the sand as well as imprints from any slides, rolls, or falls. Occasionally, a wave will roll onto the beach and wash away any marks left behind in the sand. The two dock lanterns at the edges of the stage are interactables. They each have a rope attached to the top with the free end loosely wrapped around their respective poles. If a fighter is near, they can grab the rope and swing the lantern at the opponent as an improvised flail. The theme for this stage is a slower, softer version of the Genesis’s Palace Gates theme, while Shadow’s individual battle theme is Storm from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
12. What nicknames would Announcer Johnny Cage give them? -Slim Shady -Houdini -Mirror Match
Day 15: Demon