#the star scraper

[aestardrei]

tdp fanfic idea

the elder misgenders astrid so she brutally murders him for being an ass leader

[wheretwofacesmeet]

[aestardrei]

random oneshot of astrid finding out about how kosmo's visions end

The Star Scraper was silent, cold. Astrid knew that feeling all too well. It's been months since most of the Celestial elves found out about the Timeblind's visions. Months since they've began to prepare for the fight of their lives.

The Silver Witch was to come, everyone knew. No amount of preparation could change the fact of her arrival. They didn't know who survived and who was lost.

The Timeblind couldn't tell that much, he was fairly new to the responsibility in the first place. All they knew is that they had a chance to live, they had the strength to fight, they had the opening to win. But what they didn't have was his honesty.

Astrid had a feeling about that, she's known the Timeblind since they were kids. her brother, if she can even still call him that.. has been distant, weary and cautious for so long. He barely spoke, barely ate. all he did was meditate and mumble to himself.

This wasn't the brother who would joke around every chance he got. This wasn't the boy who would cry his eyes out of laughter every night they'd go to watch one of the elves do stand up comedy, he'd have laughed at the corniest jokes possible. God, he was so stupid, but he was hers. her idiot brother.

She saw how shaky his hands were, she saw his cracked lips, she felt his heartbeat steady and go irregular by each minute. It was horrifying. She knew something was wrong, she could tell, she could see.

What she couldn't see was how he woke from his visions, how he gasped for air, stability, in terror. how his blindfold's glow faded, fabric darkened as his tears flowed. She figured it was just of how intense the battle must be, but with how he recovered and acted after, she assumed it went good.

Then came the meeting, they were there to discuss what the next move would be, if the Timeblind's visions had changed in any detail. One curious, scared elf mustered up the courage to ask what everyone was thinking. "who survives, who doesn't, and how can we stop it and save them?"

Silence,

no one liked that silence.

The Timeblind went stiff, then allowed his shoulders to sag slightly.

"The truth is, I.."

Astrid frowned, her brother was usually quite straightforward with questions, no matter the severity or gruesomeness. She knew he always wanted to be honest with them, she knew he wanted everyone to be updated, informed and planning on how they could fight against the witch's arrival.

What was wrong, why was he taking so long to reply?

"I don't. it's- please.. wait."

Why were his hands shaking so much? How come his voice sounded young, scared? She hasn't heard him speak this broken since they were 14 and trying to lie to The Elder about why they were up so late. He was a horrible liar, everyone knew that.

Everyone knew that.

"is he okay?"

"why can't he answer?"

"god.. is it that bad?"

Whispers filled the tower's wing like poison through a vein. The Timeblind dropped the crystal he was holding and swiftly walked out, pressing his hand to his mouth to muffle his words.

But Astrid could hear, she always could. And she heard her name, her brother calling her, desperate for something, anything, as long as it was her. She knew that. And so, she reassured everyone that this was just something that needed a little talking out, though her panic was gnawing at her heart.

She told everyone to rest, to prepare for another meeting tomorrow, and that everything would be okay. Of course she knew most of these elves were nosy, rightfully so, and wouldn't listen. But it didn't matter. What mattered is that she figures out what's wrong with her brother and how to help him.

-----

"What was that? what's wrong?" Astrid asked him, he was sitting on the hammock, hands shaking, back facing his sister. "Astrid, please I was just.. I-" he sighed, defeated, but still defiant to tell her the truth.

"I just got nervous-" "Don't hit me with that 'nervous nervey-, whatever' bull, I know something's wrong. So tell me. I can help you, goddamnit, I can help you."

In that moment, Astrid felt dread. Like nothing she's felt before. Sure, the day she found out about the witch's attack was.. similar. But this felt personal, like she knew she'd never recover from the truth. "I was just nervous- I was ju-" "Brother."

His blindfold went dark near the eyes. He's crying. What could be going on.. What's happening to him? Why was this happening? Why was everything falling apart? Was their plan going to fail? Is everyone going to lose their lives? Is he going to fail them? Is he going to-

"ASTRID, PLEASE!" his voice cracked, he could feel Astrid's anger radiating off of her soul, he could feel her doubt pressing on his chest like he'd already failed everyone. The Timeblind could barely even breathe at this point, he was panicking.

"Are you seriously going to let whatever is going on get them killed?! They're counting on you and your ability. All of their lives are on the risk, all of them! They have parents, children, friends, siblings! Goddamnit brother! What is this all for!?" The Timeblind's posture shifted, now fully defeated, utterly broken.

"Tell me, what is going on that's weighing so heavy on you. You've had the same vision of the night for weeks. You said it ends before you see the outcome, I know that's not true."

"Please tell me the truth." Astrid couldn't help it either. her tears stung her eyes. fear, hope, worry, and horror all combined into her heart.

She couldn't take this situation in properly, not until now, not until she realized that the effect of the prophecy has been taking place long before the crystal fell from the Timeblind's hand as he walked away.

"I will die in the battle, sister." he trailed off, hesitant.

She felt her whole world collapse onto her. But she had to ask him for more.

"How?.."

"The Silver Witch has no mercy, she knows who I am. My heart is her goal. As well as the artifacts around the tower. She'll be ruthless. She'll make sure it-" "Hurts?.."

Cut off by his sobs, he turned around to face her, she pulled him close, trying to hide the fact that she was close to breaking down as well. "I don't want to die, Astrid. I'm scared of it. i don't to believe it's real." the Timeblind sniffed.

"I want to see the world grow, I want to watch all these people, all these stars reach their full potential.. I don't want my life taken from me, not now, not yet." He tilted his head upwards, trying to put the flow of his tears to a halt.

"There's no changing it, Astrid. I've seen it too many times, it's anchored. it's final." Astrid fell silent, thoughts and memories were racing through her mind in shock, as well as acceptance. She was going to lose her brother.

The Timeblind took a small, silver brooch off of his vest pocket, placed it in her hand and closed it. "I-sorry, sister. I wanted to tell you, as well as the others in this battle, about my fate the moment I saw it. but I felt as if the moment I told someone.. would be the moment it was set in stone."

Astrid took the brooch and pressed it to her heart. "I will fight with you, brother, until the very end." To the other elves, the Timeblind was a blessed young man, who was responsible, and determined to fight for their survival.

But to her, he was just her idiot brother.

To her, he was just Kosmo.

[aestardrei]

Does anyone else practically yearn for more information on The Celestial Elves?? I feel like so many good points and plot could be stemmed from them and The Star Scraper. I hope we get more info of them during The Battle of the Star Scraper part of Arc 3.

[aestardrei]

short kosmo crumbs after astrid left

Kosmo had always been a nervous person, although he was great at hiding it, and this whole 'enlightenment?' wasn't helping at all with his personality.

Usually, when he was with his sister, he felt confident to speak his mind and heart. But in these.. seminars? meetings? He honestly had no idea, Astrid wasn't allowed to be next to him, just the Elder and some high ranked that he didn't know.

He'd have to talk in front of the WHOLE Star Scraper and update them on his visions, which for the record, were not any laughing matter.

He was usually one for trivia, history and magic, but all this 'Fallen One, mage and warrior' thing was hurting his head. And of course. he had to give out all the latest news on the situation to the people. This was the first time he'd do it himself, given the cold he caught last week, he had to give the information to the Elder for it to be released.

Now there was no cold or sickness to save him from public speaking, in front of hundreds of elves.

He went over his mind-memorized script a fourth time,

..Fourth time in the last 30 minutes, and felt like a mess. Every single word he imagined was mixing together into some form of his anxiety. He felt like he was going to explode.

Kosmo unpinned the brooch that sat against the pocket of his vest, a tacky thing, really.

He found it on the floor 3 years ago, well.. more like tripped on it. And instantly loved it. He couldn't even see what it looked like for 3 whole years, but something about it brought him comfort.

He glided his finger around the gems, letting the chain of it brush against his palm. He took a deep breath, and pinned it back. He silently went over his script in his mind again, and the words clicked into his brain.

Like he had finally finished a puzzle he's been stressing about for days.

And so, Kosmo, the Timeblind of the Star Scraper, stepped onto the platform and greeted the people with truth and content.

Kosmo was a nervous boy. But so what? Nervous or not, so be it. He was himself.