#sculking

[galaxies-unknown-a]

7- What do you like most about this character? (Herobrine)

[Character Ask Meme! Drop a random character + a number!]

GLOWY EYES GLOWY EYES GLOWY-

Okay, okay--- I'll take this more seriously. While he is aesthetically pleasing (faintly unsettling sonova bitch that just appears behind you to say hi-) I think what I like most about my portrayal of Herobrine is how soft he is??? The misunderstandings??? Like-- I know right now he's on a bloody warpath in blog-canon since Notch poisoned (potentially killed) his Writer, but... The fact that he's so soft.

My 'softer' approach to Herobrine- and his overall flip from being villain to misunderstood hero- is actually something I took from an x Reader I read involving Herobrine years ago. I may not read x Readers as much as I used to, but... It was a single fanfic. A single fanfic out amongst the untold thousands that flipped the script. I don't even remember where it is-- but in it, the reader was told by HB (after they panicked and fled from him) that his brother was the villain and he was just... Trying to live his life, and hated that everyone feared him so much.

And I love that idea, so of course, many years later (when I gave in and decided to RP as him) I took that approach.-- Sure, he's a cryptid, sure, he's scary when you don't expect him (I scare my coworkers plenty since apparently, without my keys on my hip I'm silent as a ghost),--- but he's just wanting to help. He wants to help. That's all he's ever wanted... And that thought just makes me feel sadly happy for him, because he's trying, he's trying so much and yet his brother comes along and dashes all his hopes, every time...

But yeah that doesn't compare to his glowing eyes /j

[lulu-the-warden]

Lulu used the mushrooms Jonathan gave her to make stew. Would you like to share?

[asknelux]

Does she eat? If so, does she have a favorite food of some sort?

“I gain all my sustenance from the Sculk. However, I have not tried to eat food, so I do not have an opinion on what would be my favorite… mayhaps something to explore when I go to the surface again.”

[lulu-the-warden]

That would be very helpful, I would be forever grateful.  If we get a larger garden, we’ll have more than enough food…if you and your little one plan to stay.  You are welcome to…if you’d like.  

Geode felt with a wooden stick for the dented bucket he used to make soup and stirred the mushroom soup he was making.  

It can be intimidating to go up to the surface, but…here there is really not much to worry about.  The village and outpost have been abandoned for some time now.

The whine he had made when his leg began to ache drew the attention of his new friend.

Oh, I’m okay…don’t worry.  Whenever there’s a storm on the way, my bad leg starts to hurt.  I’d say we have…hmm…two days before the blizzard gets here.

Geode used a pair of crude tongs made from two sticks and a spider thread to pull out the potatoes.  As they cooled, he pushed himself up again, stifling a groan as his leg ached again.  He got a couple old wooden bowls and hammered metal plates stashed next to the furnace.   Geode divided the thin mushroom soup, potatoes, and sweet berries into three portions.  He put a little extra soup in one bowl and added the small amount of goat meat to it.  The old warden paused for a moment and decided to add a few of his berries to that plate, too.  This was for the little sculkling; she was growing after all.

I have food for us.

Geode spoke with more joy.  He couldn’t even remember the last time he cooked for someone. He presented Jonathan with two servings.

The one with a bit more on it is for little Pebble.  It isn’t much, but it should be filling for her.

Geode got his own serving and joined the warden father and sculkling for dinner.  As he sat down, he stretched his bad leg out and rubbed it with one clawed hand.

Hehe…I’m going to need a good soak in the hot spring tonight.

[lulu-the-warden]

After the confrontation with the pillagers, things were settling down. Jonathan’s wounds were clean and he was dozing away in a nest of wool blocks.

Lulu heard him grumble a little in his sleep, hopefully he wasn’t being plagued by nightmares.

She was about to settle down herself, until her attention was grabbed by a sudden noise.

Lulu’s antennas twitched as she heard the familiar sound of something digging up and out of the sculk. It was a smaller noise, possibly a warden trying to be quiet?

The scent of another warden filled the air and Lulu’s heartbeat quickened.

Could this be an opportunistic warden coming to claim new territory?

Lulu moved toward the source of the sound and smell.

"Gwoo?" Lulu asked cautiously.

Some shuffling was heard.

Lulu shielded herself behind a ruined stone pillar and whined to the newcomer.

After a moment of silence, the reply came.

"Gweeee!"

The pitter-patter of tiny footsteps was heard right after, approaching.

A wave of relief washed over Lulu, to the point where she even chuckled a bit.

She had been afraid of such a tiny sculkling?

Lulu called to the baby, promising that her father was okay and just napping. The baby warden recognized the sound of a friendly she-warden and hurried to Lulu’s side.

Hello little one! What is your name? Lulu cooed.

The sculkling was so young she could barely manage any wardenspeak yet.

Lulu thought she said something like "Pebble". She gently picked up the baby warden and carried her over to where Jonathan was napping. She didn’t know her new friend was a father, but she was pleasantly surprised. In fact, the tiny warden was so sweet that in the back of her mind, Lulu began to contemplate having sculklings of her own…maybe, just maybe it could be time soon.

[lulu-the-warden]

Have you ever had any romantic interests in anyone, Tesser?

I...I...well, it's not like I could, you know...act on it even if I did...

I mean...who WOULDN'T want a big, tough partner who can crush boulders, but is soft and gentle to you at the same time??

Dr. Tesser has had a few crushes. Usually on knocturnes and wardens, you know, big powerful creatures. She definitely has a type. She doesn't let them know because of her upbringing in the very uptight, overbearing enclave.

It isn't the reason she decided to provide medical care to these creatures, but you know...it wasn't NOT a reason.

[lulu-the-warden]

Geode's antennas twitched as he heard the familiar foosteps approaching.  He paused the story he was reading to Pebble, who was intenetly listening from the old warden's knee.  This book was written in a way wardens and vision impaired villagers/illagers could read.  He could easily feel the words with a finger.  Geode had several of these books, some of them he had even written himself.  Until he met Pebble, though he had no one to read them to.

Welcome back, Jonathan~ Geode greeted Jonathan with a content sounded hum.   I think this is a good stopping point, I'll read you more at bedtime.  Go say to your Papa. He set Pebble on the ground gently so she could run to Jonathan.  Geode then grunted as he hoisted himself off his chair and steadied himself with his cane. He felt the pile of dirt that Jonathan had gathered. Oh good, that is more than enough!  Hmm...what is this?? Geode took the glowberries. My...it has been so long since I've had these!  Thank you!  I...I'm going to plant them right away.  Ooh, may you bring that dirt over here?  I have the perfect place. Geode limped over to the garden with more energy than he usually had.  Things were so much happier with his new friends. Being familiar with this part of his cave, Geode climbed up on a few rocks and tucked seeds from the glowberries into cracks in the stone cieling.   There, we should have more in a week or two...they grow quite fast.   Geode used the dirt Jonathan gathered to expand the border of his small garden.  He used his cane to trace a small canal; directing water to the new dirt.   I have a few things I can plant here.  While you were gone, a zombie wandered in.  He was pretty easy to deal with, and he dropped a carrot.   Geode started walking back to his workshop, where a fresh batch of mushroom soup was cooking. I'm sure you're hungry after such a journey.

[lulu-the-warden]

I think I can make enough to feed us.  These temperatures are hard to farm in, but…

Geode paused mid sentence as he hoisted himself back up.  He began limping his way back to the workshop where he had some food and supplies stored away.

I think once I finish getting enough dirt down here I can grow plenty.  The problem is getting enough down here…between the permafrost and well, my bad leg…the trip to the surface and back can take all day.  What I would do for even one glowberry, though…if I even had one, I could grow it on the ceiling above my garden.

It had been years since Geode had eaten glowberries.  

It’s a pleasure to meet you, Jonathan.  My name is Geode.

Geode’s antennas twitched at the sound of the shivering sculkling.  She sounded so cold, even by the lava pool.  Geode had an idea.

I have something you might be able to use!

Geode spoke with a little more excitement.  He moved as quickly as his cane and bad leg would let him, making it to the workshop.  Once there, he dug through the barrels for the object.

The soft cloth brushed against Geode’s claw and he pulled it out.  It was a small coat; most likely it had belonged to a young villager.  It was made of alpaca wool and fur and was designed for the cold tundra weather.  The coat had likely been discarded because it was well worn and had a tear on the sleeve.  When the village above had been populated, the residents used Geode’s ravine home as a dumping ground for things they no longer wanted.  He would be angry about it, but it was one way to get things he could use.  One villager’s trash was another warden’s treasure.

Geode carried the coat to Jonathan.

Here…hopefully this will fit her.  It’s very warm.

After handing over the coat, Geode set about making dinner.  He rummaged through the barrels he kept his food supply in.

Potatoes, a bit of dried, preserved goat meat, and a handful of berries…what luck!  Geode even found a small quantity of dried mushrooms.  He fired up the simple furnace and placed three potatoes inside.  The hot surface on top of the furnace was used as a stove; Geode cooked the bit of goat meat he had along with a little soup made of the reconstituted dried mushrooms.  

Geode sat back down just outside of his workshop and gave a wispy sounding whine.  His leg was starting to bother him.  Was it an approaching snowstorm?

We are almost done, I promise…