A.N. : my first ever writing piece published publically. And ofc it had to be asra <3 the loml. Inspired by @/vesuviaweekly 's weekly prompt 'Nightmares and Daydreams' .Could also be considered a piece inspired from the ongoing prompt 'The things that changed' but I will probably revisit the prompt via another piece. Will be tagging it for both , just to be safe. VERY heavy on headcanons (I can't even distinguish between the canon facts and the facts i headcanon anymore). ← to the point it may be ooc . Anyways , the MC here will share my MC's origin story (this is to make me write faster , motivation go brrr) but will be referred to as MC only and will use they/them pronouns. This post will specifically target dreams of asra . I will (possibly) make another post in future involving dreams of my MC (Riku). Trying different writing styles in the same post. Is that a good idea ? Probably not . Would i still do it? Of course.
C.W. : He/him pronouns for asra (to avoid confusion) ; NOT spoiler free ; death mention ; mc's aunt is mentioned (oc character) ; somewhat angst ; very much self indulgent content ; lovesick asra; english is not my first language so please be kind and make me aware of any mistakes you may spot while reading this.
"By clicking on 'keep reading' , you hereby confirm that you have read A.N. and C.W. as given above and therefore I (the creator of this post) will not be held accountable for your reading experience"
Asra Alnazar
Nightmares :
• (Before meeting MC) His nightmares followed similar themes. Some of these included the glimpses of his childhood , with his parents and suddenly they are leaving. His childhood home crumbling to floor. Him getting in trouble while playing on docks . Sometimes it included Muriel - his new friend. The visions of Muriel , too, disappearing some day or being disappointed in him in some way were a great burden for him. Some others included him not getting any food for a whole day or two ( but were they really nightmares if this was his reality?) and people being mean to him.
• His ways of comforting himself during such times were very limited. He would wake up with a jolt and startle Faust too. They both would later cuddle and squeeze together. To prevent getting bullied , he would act all mean in front of bullies and protect Muriel from them too. To avoid starvation, he would resort to petty stealing via magic. He would visit his 'gate' on especially rough nights seeking comfort from his patron arcana the Magician. He would use magic to create pretty scenarios to calm himself down .Muriel started to comfort him too once he found out about his nightmares.
• (After meeting MC) He started to visit the magic shop the day after his nightmares . MC's aunt was a kind lady . Being in her presence would remind Asra of home and comfort him in an odd way. But he liked it. Once he was good friends with MC , he would randomly crash into their bedroom for comfort and cuddles. He was loved in the magic shop. But to avoid getting attached to them , he would often go on 'trips' , only to return after being haunted by nightmares making him crave for a place to call a 'home'. His nightmares significantly decreased after getting close to MC.
• (Plague Era) In the initial stages of the spread of plague , he would often get nightmares about his friends catching the plague. Mc did a great job in reassuring him initially but as the situation in vesuvia worsened so did his nightmares. He could not be reassured. Which then led to 'the argument' that caused him and MC to separate.
• (After MC's death) After he got to know about MC's demise (and after his short trip (?) to lazaret ), his nightmares would now involve those tall chimneys he saw on the island. In his nightmares, he would wander around the crematory and would hear MC's voice calling him . He would always wake up in cold sweat after such nightmares and cry himself to sleep again .
• (Post U.E. route) After the fight against devil was won , he had MC with him now. Now no matter what nightmares he would experience , he would always wake up to comfort full of love from his love. Now the nightmares were manageable and even if some of them truly terrified him , he knew he could tackle anything and anyone. He could go against the world if required now that he had MC supporting him.
Daydreams :
• (Before meeting MC) Asra is a very creative person. At such a young age his daydreams would involve a safe place , lavish meals , running around with friends. He would also daydream about his parents returning someday and taking him with them. He would often try to create these 'daydream scenarios' play out in front of him via magic. This also helped him get better at magic.
• Once Muriel and him secured a safe place in the woods , he would ask Muriel to join him while he was playing out such scenarios. Muriel would often decline , but on the rare occasions he would join Asra , he would find himself entranced in asra's daydreams. Afterall he has a very creative imagination.
• (After meeting MC) after meeting MC in his stall at one of the bazaars of lucio's annual masquerade ball, his daydreams started to include more of MC as he got to know them more. Scenarios of them practicing magic together, taking classes from MC's aunt together, going on foraging trips to gather resources for the shop together. During masquerade ball season , when he would be making new masks (to keep up the inventory) for his annual stall , he would daydream about the different styles of masks and colours that would suit them . Asking Muriel for help while carving out masks and showing him his ideas via magic (the same way he used while daydreaming). It would all be so they (MC) could have more options to choose from. He would always daydream about them dancing at ball together. When he saw other couples in the ball doing different types of couple activities, it too would feed his daydream fuel.
• While away on trips , he would daydream of bringing MC with him. To explore new places, meet new people, experience new experiences together. When the longing became too much to bear for him alone , he would return to meet them.
• (After MC's death) Daydreams were his only escape from the reality. He had no one he could rely on anymore. He would daydream about MC coming back , of him bringing MC back. He daydreamed about seeing MC again after all this time , about the time spent and what could have been. He would choose moments from his life and daydream about changing the course of how things happened, how things should have happened. He daydreamed about all that mattered to him and still there was nothing he could do to make that happen. Except being patient. Except searching for ways he could bring them back. Except daydreaming about successfully finding a way to bring them back. All because he had a creative imagination.
• (Post U.E. route) Now that everything was right , he finally dared to daydream about a future . A future where MC was present. A future where his parents were there . A future where he had people he could rely on. A future he could not wait to experience. Now his daydreams were filled with plans. Plans he would make to make his loved ones happy. Now his daydreams were not an escape, but just creative thoughts. Of course it did not happen immediately but eventually he leaned to control them. His creative thoughts help bring happiness in his loved ones lives now. His plans are always very detailed making everyone surprised when he finally decides to execute them. Why wouldn't they be surprised? Afterall he does have a very creative imagination.
That was fun to write ! I am so proud of it! Possibly my next post will be a Asra × Riku fic.
With that, the "First Post-Crisis Date" prompt is officially closed!
The tags are the usual #vesuvia weekly and for this specific prompt, #things that changed. The masterlist for all works submitted for this prompt will be under the poll for next week :D
Next week's prompt
Gift Baskets (for your LIs) - fan submission!
A Love Story in Memes
Rare Smiles
I want to see the votes o.o
Voting ended onApr 17, 2024
MASTERLIST
Things the M6 don't do anymore by @iliveforyouilongforyouvesuvia
etheri astranova remembers. she’s no longer on the run from place to place, desperately trying to find where she belongs, searching for she came from or why some things seemed so familiar. with all of the memories she retrieved, came the ones she’d lost long before those. with those long lost memories of her childhood, finally came peace. maybe things happened the way they did for a reason; she much prefers how life is now than what it could have been. in the end, she and julian always found their way back to each other, no matter the circumstances, and for that she knew she had destiny on her side.
magne morgasdóttir reconciled. after years in bitterness, yearning for what could have been and mourning a past so distant, she came to terms with it. muriel helped her a lot, just as she helped him; they weren’t so different after all (especially when the source of their problems stemmed from the very same person). things will never be the same, that doesn’t mean they can’t be better. magne can never forgive her brother for what he’s done, but that doesn’t mean she can’t forgive herself.
So due to the nature of this weeks prompt being things that are the same and different I'll be focusing on each of my Mc's in general and when it comes to their relationship with Asra and Julian since their the only M6 to have cannon interaction with Mc pre-plague and I'm going to keep it like that for my Mc's.
With that said spoilers for Mc's past and why they have amnesia and a small glimpse into my Mc's relationship with Julian pre-plague.
Kyle;
One of the biggest differences between pre-plague and post-plague Kyle is his magic. Pre-plague Kyle had very strong air based magic, the element of freedom, creativity, connections, change, and chaos. While Post-plague Kyle has more varied magic, being stronger in earth and water-based magic than he's ever been and gaining new skills with the fire element. Overall, it becomes a lot more balanced in his abilies.
Due to an event when Kyle was ten-years-old, he gained a fear of fire. However, this wasn't that big of a fear being more nervous dealing with fire but overall covered by a curiosity and deep enjoyment for watching fire flickering in a fireplace or candle. Post plague Kyle still finds fire interesting to watch. However, due to being burned alive, even if he doesn't fully remember, it has left its scars. The most obvious is that his small fear has turned into a big fear but not quiet phobia. They can watch a candle burn or sit by a fire, but the moment they have to cast fire or put something on the fire their tensing up a bit and slightly squinting their eyes.
A less obvious change is how Kyle has more control over himself after his death. Not a lot it's not like he went from Lucio levels of hyper to Muriel level of calm but while Pre-Plague Kyle would find it harder to keep calm in a place around people with high energy and likewise getting more sleepy when around tired people. Post-plague Kyle is able to focus more on how he actually feels. Although he can still energize himself with the crowds energy if he needs to.
Kyle and Asra;
Right off the bat, their relationship pre-plague was a bit complicated. They weren't an official couple, but they almost acted so much like it that most people who didn't know them would assume they were dating. Due to this, they never really had a time where they became a couple. Rather, it happened so slowly that it just unofficially became a thing.
Pre-Plague Kyle was harder to read for Asra while both versions find Asra just as hard to understand. As this has little to do with their soul connection and more due to the fact Kyle did things that didn't make as much sense as everything else he did. While most of these were small, little things like flinching at large clouds overhead or hissing like a cat at certain things. It could be excused if it wasn't for the fact that Kyle almost always seemed to act with some sort of logic behind it.
Pre-Plague Kyle did not appreciate Asra sneaking up on them as it was quickly established as something they shouldn't do unless they wanted Kyle being annoyed if not angry at them. Yet Post-plague Kyle not only is fine with it but will typically jump before laughing and playfully joke about Asra giving him a heart attack.
Kyle and Julian;
They didn't really know each other very well with Kyle not studying under Julian for very long before moving to the lazaret where they felt they were more needed to look after the sick rather than feel useless running between doctors. Post plague, they actually have more the chance to interact and to become closer.
Hunter;
The biggest change is their temperament. Hunter pre-plague was way more aggressive and willing to use their skills to take down any bully's in bars and taverns. While Post-plague Hunter is a lot calmer. While their not afraid to stand up for people their less likely to go out with the goal of finding trouble. (Even if they technically never start anything.)
One word,'hate'. Pre-Plague Hunter has a lot of hate and anger at how they were raised at a young age being taught over and over that their a natural monster and that this is who they are, what their good at, being a monster. While not all of that is erased by their amnesia, this leaves a deep-seated anger, they don't fully understand. However, Post-plague Hunter has more of the tools to be able to redirect that anger into something else.
Pre-Plague Hunter understood their anger and pain a lot more than Post-Plague Hunter, knowing why they feel the way they do. Having a deeper understanding of who they are and why they are like the way they are. As Pre-plague Hunter sees themselves like a shattered glass only able to cut while Post-plague Hunter sees themselves more like a street dog, hurt and angry and sometimes violent but not broken.
This also leads Hunter post-plague into being more kind to themselves and being in general more happy without their past holding them in a choke grip.
Hunter and Asra;
Pre-plague they weren't dating, and while it could've happened with some more time, they didn't have more time. The biggest difference between pre and post plague Hunter when it came to boundaries. Being unable to speak or understand themselves meant that during the beginning their was a lot they both had to learn.
For example, pre plague Hunter spent a lot of time at the magic shop before they met Asra. Being brought back to ground zero after being brought back to life. This had to do with physical touch and gifts but also in other small areas. Although that isn't to say everything is worse post-plague quiet the opposite. Over time, Hunter was able to accept touch and gifts more easily and even learn to seek out comfort when they need it rather than try and deal with it on their own like they used to.
Hunter and Julian;
Unlike Kyle, Hunter spent a good amount of time amount of time with Julian. Only leaving after they caught the plague. Due to this, when thinking of Hunter back then compared to now even Julian can tell Hunter is more passive. Which isn't to say much compared to most people, yet this speaks volumes when it comes to how they interact with each other.
Pre-plague Hunter had no deeper care for Julian or themselves outside doing their work and learning from the doctors. Them having little care about themselves was something Julian could tell from their almost reckless behavior at times. Even when they had the plague, having to be told by someone else to leave before valdemar got their hands on them. Especially since they worked closely with valdemar.
Bluebell;
The biggest change is their nervousness. Pre-plague Bluebell is a lot more nervous and shy, wanting to be the background character in someone else story. If their ignored, they won't be hurt. Yet Post-plague Bluebell is still quiet and soft-spoken. However, they are a lot more open to making new friends and being social.
Pre-plague Bluebell would rather be out of peoples eyes, and yet Post-plague Bluebell finds themselves wanting to prove themselves as capable of looking after themselves.
Asra and Bluebell;
Honestly, the biggest difference is that it's easier for Asra to convince Post-plague Bluebell that they actually deserve to be happy. That theirs more you can have from life than just living.
Another difference is more around Bluebells own perspective. As pre-plague Bluebell had little to prove and even less to lose while post-plague Bluebell both feels like they need to prove to Asra that they can look after themselves even before they actually could. (While this could easily be hand waved as Bluebell not liking, feeling vulnerable due to what happened to them during their vulnerable times in their life as a young child. It can go deeper than that back to going from babied and abused to free but having to be fully self-reliant or die trying.)
Julian and Bluebell;
To be honest their in a more similar boat with Kyle not having a lot of connection to Julian. However, breaking cannon a little because Bluebell breaks cannon a little having wings, tail and ear feathers Julian did know they went to the lazaret. Having actually been the one to convince them, they shouldn't hang around valdemar in case they found out Bluebell had the plague. What's more curios than a normal human? one with wings and a tail.
Despite that, most of their interactions were brief and quick. With Bluebell not really enjoying speaking and once again wanting to be a background character more than anything and Julian being drowned in his work.
A.N. : Inspired by @/vesuviaweekly 's weekly prompt 'Things that changed'. As I said in 'Nightmares and Daydreams' , I am revisiting this prompt. Again can be kind of ooc for Asra and heavy on headcanons. (Some stuff is canon for me but then I look it up it is in fact NOT canon😭😭😭) . Oh the sufferings of loving a character so deeply that you divert them a bit from their original source <3. Then again as the saying goes 'to be loved is to be changed' . Anyways , this post too will involve a MC who has a similar origin story to my MC (riku) but still will be referred to as MC . MC will use they/them pronouns. I know this prompt is supposed to be a pre vs post plague scenarios but tweaking it a bit just for plot purposes <3.
C.W. : he/him pronouns for Asra ; very heavy on angst (because I am in an angsty mood 🥰) (I am sorry my love I promise to write something fluffy for you soon 😭) ; death mention ; spoilers for asra route (pretty much entirety of his route) ; characters may be ooc ; MC's aunt is mentioned (oc) ; may feel self indulgent at some points (may not) ; long post below the 'keep reading' button ; i just felt like yapping about my spouse and his history so I made this post 🥰 don't mind me ; FORGIVE ME ASRA 😩; English is not my first language so please be kind and make me aware of any mistakes you may find while reading this piece.
This post got out of control and now can be qualified as a chaptered fic 💀 aka LONG POST AHEAD.
"By clicking on 'keep reading' , you hereby confirm that you have read A.N. and C.W. as given above and therefore I (the creator of this post) will not be held accountable for your reading experience"
Change is the only constant . We all must have heard of this saying one way or another. Change is painful, sometimes manageable, most times not. Nobody wants change . We get used to situations and hope that the situation remains same . Hope that we don't have to change. Because we have gotten used to these circumstances and learned to live with them. But sometimes change is necessary. These changes can be seen in Asra's life as well. Did it change him? Let's see how changes happened in Asra's life and how it affected him.
Having a family vs Becoming an orphan :
• Asra has two very loving parents. He is loved in the Alnazar household. He knows what a family is and what it is like to be safe. He likes to spend his mornings getting magic trained from Salim. In the afternoons , his parents go for work in the palace and return late in the evenings. He doesn't mind that. He knows that by the end of the day he will be cuddled beside Aisha who will hold him oh so lovingly. He knows that whatever they do , they will ensure his safety. Afterall a child doesn't worry about his parents. It is the other way around... right?
• The first change occurred when one evening Asra's parents didn't return. The first few hours he did not notice any change. Maybe it was the calm before the storm . After an hour or so passed and Aisha and Salim didn't return at their usual time , Asra started to worry. "Where were they? Why aren't they home yet?" Said the little voice in Asra's head and made him worried. He didn't know what to do. He decided to go in his parents' room and wait the night out there. He waited and waited but his wait bore no fruit. He couldn't sleep that night. The next morning he decided to take matters in his own hands. He himself decided to go out and search for them. He searched his neighbourhood like crazy , he went to search in all familiar alleyways , he asked all familiar faces he could find , but none of this gave him a clue about the whereabouts of his parents. He only knew that they worked at the palace , so he decided to go there. He asked people around to reach the palace ,and finally that he did , he was told by the count that he executed his parents. The count executed his parents. The count executed his parents. His parents.
• Asra had two very loving parents. He was loved in the Alnazar household. He knew what a family was and what it was like to be safe. Asra hated change. He used to be safe and sound without a worry in the world just a few hours earlier. Now he was dangerously aware of the situation. He is just a kid! How is he supposed to live !? How is he supposed to survive?! What about his family?! Will he ever have one? Asra cried that day , he sobbed like a baby. He was just a baby! His parents' baby ! When he decided to return home , another bad news awaited him. The count confiscated his childhood home. He could not return. He was left in the streets of vesuvia all by himself. He had to live by himself now. He had to survive all alone. He had to , what other choice did he have?
Being alone vs Meeting new people :
• He is used to surviving on his own now. He has to be. It has been so long . The other vesuvian orphans were not always kind. You could even say that finding a friend in those orphans was a rare deal. These orphans used to survive by joining 'gangs'. Mafia of sorts , but not really that dangerous. They were dangerous for other orphans though. They were the bullies who used to boss around and dictate other non-member orphans lives. They used to bully other orphans into giving them their food. Asra was initially scared of them . But eventually when he found out that they can't use magic like he can , it was game on for him. Now the 'gangs' were scared of Asra. They avoided him as much as possible and used to scare away new orphans who could possibly become his friend by telling them stories of the great power he held aka throwing things at them without touching it. Asra was used to being alone now.
• The next change in Asra's life was a well needed change. He met Muriel. Or maybe it went a bit differently. He rescued Muriel , from the same gang of bullies mentioned earlier. How could he not ? They were making fun of Muriel and forcing him to do stuff ! Asra hardly tolerated when he came across such scenes. So of course he did what he knew best , magic! A bit of magic and every bully was left terrified. Even Muriel was a bit surprised but he soon recovered when Asra grabbed his hand and ran away with him. Away from the bullies. Soon as they interacted more Asra finds that Muriel is the reserved kind. But Muriel never left his side. Maybe it was gratitude or something entirely different but he appreciated his presence. He liked this change.
• Next change brought in his platonic soulmate in his life. While doing some magic tricks to earn some quick money to feed himself , he came across a wandering magician. He was so intrigued! And as it looked the magician was too by such talent of Asra at such a young age. He conversed with Asra and gifted him and egg. "An egg ?" Asra thought . The confusion must have shown on his face because the magician soon explained that it was gift and he should wait for it to hatch. So he did. It hatched on his birthday and came out as a beautiful purple ball python. He gained a new companion! Oh how happy he was. He named her Faust! Soon after he realized that his and Faust's connection was deeper than that of owner and pet. She was his familiar. Oh how they spent their time together, playing on the ships waiting on the docks. He would let her run away on the beach sand and chase her to catch. Muriel too got known by Faust and she started to trust him. Maybe not all changes are bad , Asra thinks.
• Asra was a teenager now. Him and Muriel have managed to secure a place in the woods. Asra had heard the townfolk talk about an upcoming masquerade ball being organized by the palace. As much as Asra absolutely despised the count , he did have an empty stomach to feed. So they (Muriel and Asra) decided to set up a stall in the bazaar. They both worked on preparing masks and other little trinkets to attract onlookers and sell those to them. On the day of the ball , when the newly wed countess first arrived in the city of vesuvia , a certain someone entered his stall to be safe from the gathering onlookers (the crowd watching the countess arrive). Little did Asra knew that this person is going to change his life forever and ever.
Friends or Something more... ? :
• Ever since that fateful meeting with MC in his stall , he had started to know them more. To the point that he was well acquainted with MC's aunt , the owner of the magic shop. MC's aunt was a kind lady. She would not hesitate to be welcoming and warm to Asra. Once she found out that Asra too was a magic user , she offered to train him. He liked it. He felt safe when he was around them. He remembered what it was like to be 'home'. They soon got pretty close to Asra. Asra gained another friend , another person to rely on. Maybe changes are good , he thought.
• Maybe it was the puberty kicking in or entirely something else but lately Asra has started to feel attracted towards MC. It started as small voices in the corner of his heart that he would dismiss initially , but soon it evolved and became harder to contain within himself. Asra was pretty close to MC and he surely didn't want to ruin their friendship. So he would run. Run away from them. Run away on 'trips'. The trips that didn't help with anything. It only made the attraction stronger. The want grew stronger and he started to crave to be in the shop. But he stopped himself. He really didn't want to lose a friend. He didn't want things to change. He was hesitant to change their relationship.
The Grief :
• He was not ready for the next change. Well, nobody was . MC's aunt died. It was hard for Asra but it was even harder for MC. He was their comfort in such tough times. He ,too, lost a person he could rely on blindly but right now getting MC adjusted was his top priority.
• Once MC was well adjusted and inherited the magic shop , he felt better too. Whatever decision they would make regarding the shop , he would accept it. They decided to continue running the shop and invited Asra to be their business partner. He accepted and together they started their magic business. It was all going well , everything was as it needed to be. But life doesn't stop at perfect moments , does it?
• The city of vesuvia experienced its deadliest plague. The plague that brought destruction. The plague that changed many lives. The plague that changed Asra's life. He tried to reason with MC , to convince them to go with him and seek refuge in a safer city far away from vesuvia . Far away from the clutches of plague. But MC wasn't the one to listen to reason. So they separated and decided to go their own ways. Asra left vesuvia and MC behind. This decision was a crucial one which changed a lot of things.
• When Asra returned and found out about MC's death , he was heartbroken and guilt stricken. If only he was more stubborn . If only he had managed to convince MC. If only he was true with his feelings . If only... he could have prevented this from happening! He could have saved them! He didn't know what to do or where to go. The shop felt emptier without MC around and lost its cozy feel. He didn't like it. Maybe not all changes are good.
Feelings of loneliness :
• Asra had decided to bring MC back. It was risky but he was ready to take this risk if it meant having MC back in the land of living. He had decided that he needs to control his life and not the other way around. He will change his life himself . He decided to work in the palace for their resources. Many warned him of dangers of working in the palace but he was never the one to listen to warnings about the count. He felt lonely, like there was no one he could trust . When initially he couldn't find a breakthrough to bring MC back, he felt hopeless. Like he was doing all this for nothing. He couldn't even ask anyone for help. All he could do was stay patient and hopeful and just try . Try to do what he was here for. Try to find a solution. He wanted things to change.
Taking care of a once independent individual :
• MC's resurrection caused them to have amnesia. The same way someone with a severe brain trauma would have. They had lost both their functional and emotional memories. When Asra realized this he felt guilty . Just how long do they have to suffer because of me? He thought. He then decided to keep his feelings aside and rehabilitate MC back to recovery. He tried a few times to get them to remember their past but when this caused more harm then good , he stopped. He was hurting inside seeing the love of his life suffer so much. Maybe he should just let them go. Afterall he will be more happy to see them happy then in pain. And so he did. He buried his feelings deep inside his heart (or what was left of it) and just focused on their recovery. Focused on reteaching them magic. Focused on reteaching them to live. But occasionally he could feel the love for them grow. So he resorted to his old habits , going away from them. Change is necessary, he would convince himself.
Returning faith (in people) :
• When MC was asked to investigate the case of the count and find Dr. Devorak for his punishment by the countess , Asra was initially hesitant. But it was not his decision to make. He supported them when MC said yes. What he didn't know was that this change of events was the one which he would thank for all eternity.
• As the investigation progressed , so did MC's recovery and that too in leaps. He was surprised to see this. His faith in people started to return too . Faith in the old baker , in the neighbour next door , in the palace guards , and the countess . He found himself gaining a part of him that he lost along with MC. As the events unfurled and MC gained most of their memories, a part in Asra healed. Maybe he had never forgiven himself for leaving them behind but now hearing it from their mouth he finally believed it.
• When he found his parents imprisoned in the magical realms , he was left speechless. He didn't know what to do or say. He didn't know what to feel. Till this day he had thought that he was an orphan but no! There were his parents standing in front of him! He thanked the Arcana for letting him see this day. He couldn't be more happier. He is getting used to changes in his life.
Maturity :
• As soon as the battle with the devil was won , Asra felt light. He felt as if a great burden has been lifted from his shoulders. The source of his lifelong sufferings , the cause of the pain to his loved ones , the devil , is now standing in front of him frozen in time. Almost like a stone statue. He could not believe that he managed to do this. That they managed to defeat the devil. They were stronger than ever. They had changed. Both of them did , in their own ways. For better and for worse.
• When he was on his way on to a new adventure with MC , his life long partner , he couldn't help but feel as if he was living in a dream. Everything was perfect now. Maybe it will not be the same tomorrow, maybe it will not be the same a few years from now , but one thing Asra had learned from his life is that things change , people change , situations change , and that's OK.
Before meeting MC vs After falling in love :
• Asra grew up loved up until his parents disappeared, after which he was left on the streets to survive. He felt alone for the first time. He was just a child when his world turned upside down. His life changed forever . Of course he was quick to gain new friends, but new people do not fully cover for the ones already lost. Soon he found a place he could call home. A place that felt like his home. A place with people welcoming enough to remind him of his family. He started to grow attached to them. It didn't matter how much he tried to brush these feelings off, the feelings resurfaced again. He was young when once again he lost people valuable to him. He didn't like this. So he refused to get used to this change.
• When he finally decided to act on his feelings and bring MC back , he didn't expect them to come back completely wiped off of their memories. But he was a changed person now. Instead of running away he decided to take care of them. Instead of letting his feelings overpower him and making things awkward, he decided to maintain distance from them. Instead of forcing them to remember their past, he accepted them as they were. Afterall, is that not what true family does? As time progressed and made everything what he could only imagine in his dreams - with MC acting on their love , his parents returning , and the devil defeated - he himself healed. He accepted everything as it was and as it would be. He decided to welcome each and every change from this point onwards without a fear. Afterall, isn't change the only constant ?
Can you guys tell that the last part (before meeting MC vs after falling in love) was what was originally planned. You can tell right? Right? 🥰← op thinks everyone knows how their brain works. Does anyone even read this part? The part where I roast myself? Idk , leave a leaf emoji if you do! Hopefully i haven't crossed the yapping limit 😩😩 If only I showed this much enthusiasm while writing school essays 😍 forgive me for such a long post. And can you guys please bully me into completing my Asra × Riku fic ? Please 🥰 /hj. I hope you enjoyed this!
Rebloggers and commenters are being offered biscuits with a warm cup of milk 🥰
Additional entry for the "things that changed" prompt because I will take any chance to dump OC lore on everyone and that is a threat lol
(Slight content warning for very vague mentions of abuse)
Chimalus and Nadia
How it Started
Chimalus and Nadia actually met briefly when they were children.
Chimalus, though a far cry from royalty, was the firstborn of a small but wealthy noble family.
Their father was the type to always find a way to hobnob with those in higher power. If he wasn’t throwing a party himself, he was attending someone else’s fancy gathering… and dragging his child along with him.
Chimalus and Nadia both decided to escape a fancy event at the Prakran palace at the exact same time.
And so the two of them wound up accidentally enjoying a moment on their own private balcony.
It was awkward at first, but Nadia was eager to have someone listen to her talk about anything other than the endless fancy-party small talk, and Chimalus was only too happy to listen.
The two of them could just be kids, and it was a beautiful moment for them both.
Sadly, both of their lives fell through many, many dark twists and turns after that party.
And yet, somehow, those twisting paths led them both to Vesuvia.
How it's Going
Chimalus’ life was actually better after waking up in the life of a (relatively) ordinary shopkeep instead of the first in line for head of a noble house.
Their father was the picture of corrupt nobility, obsessed with power in any form over all else... including the welfare and wellbeing of his child.
He actively caused a lot of harm.
But now Chimalus has been given the chance to leave all of that behind.
Learning to be a person again with Asra meant that they actually had someone who encouraged them, who helped them find and pursue their own interests, and actually showed physical affection.
This was one of the biggest things that Chimalus was able to share with Nadia when the two of them finally met again.
Without even realizing it, they did exactly the same thing they had done during that party: they treated her like a person instead of a Countess or Princess.
Now Nadia and Chimalus take on everything together, from the biggest problems in the city to the much lower-stakes but equally challenging book club debates.
Perhaps someday one or the other will remember the moment that started it all.
But either way, in each other they found what they had both longed for as long as they could remember: being together as equals.
Meleia and Asra
How it Started
Meleia had always been an outcast. Even before she moved to Vesuvia.
Living and working with her aunt only made things more difficult.
Meleia came from a very distant place, somewhere literally off the map, and she was forbidden from talking about her past.
Between that, and her foreign magic utterly clashing with her aunt’s magical style, and her general lack of knowledge about Vesuvian culture, she felt trapped and alone.
And then she met Asra.
Asra happened to be in the right place at the right time to help her out of a sticky situation in the market just before the whole “stuck in the same spot during Nadia’s procession” thing happened.
They found kinship in each other, a pair of outcasts with magic they weren’t entirely sure what to do with.
But what had really amazed Meleia about Asra at the time was his willingness to actually help her out. To listen to her.
Even though the fleeting moments at the annual Masquerade were the only times they were “allowed” to run into each other, there was such a sense of hope and relief when they were together.
Her life significantly improved when her aunt eventually moved out of the shop, which let Asra visit much more often.
He helped her learn how to control her magic better.
But their relationship, as much as it was built on trust and sharing their mutual curiosities, was always veiled underneath secrets.
Meleia couldn’t talk about her past. Asra didn’t want to burden her with his.
And Meleia couldn’t explain-- not because she wasn’t allowed to, simply because she didn’t know-- why she never quite managed to control her magic.
Still, it was wonderful to have Asra by her side… until the night of that fateful argument.
How it's Going
It was tough at first, after waking up.
Meleia always felt a little guilty that Asra was so often the one taking care of her, and she longed to take care of him in return.
But now things are better in nearly every way.
Finally, finally, the two of them are exactly where they need to be.
Meleia has someone she can truly be herself around.
Asra has someone both to support him and to help him soldier through the more difficult choices and parts of life without slipping away.
The two of them have a deep understanding and trust of each other. Misfits have to stick together, right?
There are no secrets between them anymore, and ever since Meleia discovered the truth behind her resurrection and her new body, Asra has been more determined than ever to help her reclaim her past.
In all honesty, her new body helps a lot with magical control: one thing they did find out was that Meleia’s parents were both incredibly powerful magicians with two very different styles, leaving her with almost too much power for one person to handle alone. Having the borrowed body of an Arcana grants her the strength she needs.
The rest of her life remains a mystery… so far.
But whether they uncover it or not, Meleia and Asra will always, always have each other. And their friends. And Meleia found her familiar. And Asra found his parents.
They both have a family now, both with each other and beyond. And Meleia finally has a place-- and a person-- to call home.
This was originally for the Nightmares and Daydreams prompt, but fits Things that Changed super well, too, so now it's both!
"Nightmares and daydreams" led me to the awkwardness and anxiety that was bound to come with finding a long-lost sibling... and Damian just so happens to have one in Nopal.
About 4,000 words (this one got away from me lol) featuring Damian, Julian, a little bit of Asra, Oswald the bat, and a new friend!
Warnings: mention of canon backstory death, Damian has Worries
(but that's about it, everything ends up very fluffy)
_____________________
Asra’s guilt had been obvious when they finally made the connection that Damian might have some family in Nopal. Most of that came from a single very big hint: Mendoza. Damian’s last name.
He’d known his surname for a while now. That had been one of the first things Asra had shared with him when he’d started to reclaim his identity. Even then, it had taken a while for Asra to share. There had, apparently, been a time during Damian’s recovery when Asra had attempted to tell him that exact information and had nearly sent him into a coma.
Damian had gotten much stronger since then. In multiple ways. Including discovering a few more things about his past without collapsing.
Still… by all accounts, actually going to Nopal to find out if he truly did have family there was probably a very bad idea.
But Damian had to know. And he was stubborn enough to try. That didn’t stop the whole ordeal from being utterly terrifying, of course.
Asra had always done their best to help Damian on his quest to reconnect with his past. There was simply very little that they knew, even when it was proven that Damian didn’t always get a debilitating magical migraine when he recovered a memory. Right then, Nopal was the best lead that they had... and that was simply because Damian had found an old clay bowl that had been buried in storage for gods-know how long. According to Asra, the pattern was unique to a pottery shop in Nopal. A shop under the name Mendoza.
“It’s possible you have relatives there,” Asra had said. “I… never made the connection before. I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you?” Damian had asked.
It wasn’t an accusation, just a question spurred by genuine curiosity. It honestly had surprised Damian that his headaches hadn’t simply forced Asra to avoid talking about it. But Asra looked distinctly embarrassed when he answered.
“There are a lot of Mendozas,” said Asra. “Especially in Nopal. It could have been a complete coincidence.”
Damian had to admit that this was a distinct possibility. Still, Mendoza being a relatively common might have meant he had a lot of family out there. Somewhere.
On the other hand… he wasn’t sure what he would do if he had a lot of long-lost family members. Trying to reintegrate himself into an entire extended family that he had completely forgotten about was a daunting thought at the very least. And if it was entirely a coincidence, then they would travel all the way to Nopal for nothing.
He wasn’t sure which idea frightened him more.
It was especially difficult without Asra there to help. Julian absolutely insisted on going with him, which Damian appreciated. And Damian always had Oswald. The little bat went everywhere with Damian. So he wasn’t entirely alone. But it would have been nice to have a Nopal expert around.
Asra had offered to join them on their trip, of course. But the only time Julian could find someone to cover for him at the clinic happened to coincide with a trip Asra had planned with his parents. Damian refused to make Asra miss out on that. Besides, they both knew several magical ways to get in contact with each other if need be. And Asra had his water-teleport-trick. Asra would be there if anything went wrong... or if things went wonderfully right and Asra got to meet his long-lost family. Asra had given their best Magician smile at that statement.
But for now, Damian and Julian were on their own. So they had tried to brace themselves for a search that may have lasted days.
Surprisingly, actually finding the shop was the easy part.
All it had taken was asking a few people where it was. Apparently, they were on the right track in more ways than one. Nearly everyone they talked to said something along the lines of Damian looking familiar, then nodding in understanding when he mentioned his surname.
Just like Asra had said... there must have been a lot of Mendozas.
A few minutes’ walk felt like hours to Damian. His mind was moving that fast, trying to find every possible outcome of this whole quest. But then, somehow both too soon and not soon enough, they were there.
He and Julian stood before a cozy-looking stone building with a simple sign hanging over the door. The image on the sign was a ceramic pot, painted in beautiful abstract designs. And over the picture was a single word.
Mendoza.
With every step towards the shop, Damian had grown less and less certain that they were going to the right place. Sure, some people said that he looked like one of the many, many Mendozas. But that might not have meant anything. A lot of people in Nopal seemed to have brown hair like his own, though none so far had shared his golden eyes. Brown hair wasn’t exactly uncommon in the first place. It may have all been a coincidence.
There was only one way to find out. And Damian had come all the way here to find some sort of proof. Some sort of clue. And even an absolute negative would be a step closer. Hopefully.
So why couldn’t he just walk in the door?
Julian cleared his throat. “Should, uh… should we knock?”
“It’s a shop,” said Damian. “I don’t think we need to knock.”
He still didn’t move. His body simply refused to do so. Gods, this was a nightmare.
Oswald chirped from his spot tucked in Damian’s bag. Normally he would have been in a pocket, but Damian had left his jacket behind in Vesuvia. It was just too hot. Which probably wasn’t comfortable for Oswald, who liked dark and cool places, but that didn’t stop the little bat from trying to comfort his human. Damian absently gave Oswald’s little head a few gentle scritches in gratitude.
Julian gave Damian a concerned look. “Well… we could knock. If you wanted to.”
Damian managed to look up at Julian in return. “You almost sound more nervous than me.”
“Darling, I’m always nervous,” Julian laughed. His smile fell away. He ran his hand through his hair. “I can’t imagine how you might be feeling, love. But I’m here for you.”
“I know. Thank you, Julian.”
Oswald peeped again. I’m here, too.
“You are,” Damian cracked a smile. “Thank you, too, Oswald.”
Damian did feel marginally better. But he still made no move to open the door. His feet simply refused to take that last step.
Julian put a hand on his shoulder. “Damian...”
Damian took a deep breath. “What if it isn’t the place? This could be one of the most awkward moments of my life.”
“Nothing can be as awkward as the apple cart incident,” Julian chuckled. “And if worse comes to worse, I’m always happy to swoop in and whisk you out of there.”
“People will think you’re kidnapping me.” Damian pointedly looked at Julian’s outfit. Julian, had, of course, insisted on wearing black despite the near-sweltering heat.
“I could kidnap you, if you wanted.” Julian waggled his eyebrows at him. “I could even break through the window for some added dramatic flair.”
“Please do not break into another shop,” Damian sighed, smiling fondly.
Despite his teasing, Julian’s banter had actually helped. And Julian was right. A drama king as usual, of course, but right. The worst thing that could possibly happen was whoever owned the shop asking them to leave. And if they needed to, they had more than enough money with them to actually buy something. That, at least, would make things marginally less awkward.
So Damian braced himself. He hesitated for only another moment, his hand on the door handle. He wasn’t sure if it actually felt familiar, or if that was just desperate longing.
Julian gently squeezed his shoulders. Oswald squeaked encouragingly.
And Damian pushed the door open.
A bell chimed, so similar to the bell over his own shop door that Damian’s heart started to pound. The inside of this shop was just as cozy as the outside. The scent of it made Damian’s heart ache: a mix of flowers, the heavy sort of scent that came with wet clay, and the smell of a blissfully perfect fire. It was all so wonderfully, achingly familiar.
A part of him, however distant, knew he had been here before.
A tiny voice in his head reminded him that this didn’t actually mean anything. Asra had an entire house in Nopal, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he and Asra had visited together at some point…
Then the last lingering customer finished their purchase. Julian and Damian stepped out of the way so the customer could leave. The shopkeep caught their eye, and gave them a smile. She looked to be a bit younger than Damian. Her hair, trailing over her shoulders in two twin braids done up with red ribbons, was the same shade of brown as his own. And her eyes, though they were hazel instead of gold like his, were almost exactly the same shape.
She gave them both a warm smile. “Oh, hello. How can I…?”
She trailed off. Her smile slipped away. And her eyes went wide.
“Damian…?” she breathed.
Damian’s heart might have stopped. He hadn’t known what to expect. He’d been terrified that he was going to be wrong.
But now… now he was sure.
It took him three tries to actually speak. And when he did, his voice sounded strangled. He only managed one word.
“Hello.”
The shopkeep remained frozen for another heartbeat. Then she dashed forward and tossed her arms around him. It was one of the tightest hugs he had ever felt. And it was wonderful.
He’d had no idea how badly he missed this.
“I thought you were dead,” the shopkeep whispered in his ear. “We thought you died from the plague.”
Slowly, Damian wrapped his arms around her in return. He didn’t remember anything about her. He didn’t even know her name. But this was his sister. He was sure of it. Everything about this screamed familiarity. Family. He trusted her in a way he couldn’t fully understand.
So it was far easier to tell her the truth than he had feared.
“I did.”
His sister pulled back. “You did…? But… you’re here. What… how did you…?”
“It’s… a long story,” Damian sighed. “And there’s more that… that you need to know.”
This was a moment he hadn’t ever really dared to dream of. He just hoped that it didn’t all go horribly wrong. That she didn’t start hating him for forgetting all about her.
She gave Damian a searching look. A look that she quickly fixed Julian with as well. Julian gave her his best, most winning smile and offered his hand.
“Hi,” he said. “Julian Devorak. Pleasure to meet you.”
Damian’s sister looked completely bemused. So Julian tried to make things less awkward. Which failed spectacularly.
“It sounds like we have a lot to catch up on,” she said. “You still like cocoa, right, Damian? Or did you want some coffee?”
“I still love cocoa, actually,” said Damian. It felt odd to say still. “Julian’s more fond of coffee, though.”
“I, uh, wouldn’t want to impose...” said Julian.
“It’s fine,” said Damian’s sister. “Making both isn’t any trouble. And should I get some water for your little friend?”
She smiled at Oswald, which instantly endeared her to him. Oswald poked his head further out of the bag, his little nose twitching as he frantically sniffed the air.
“Actually, if you have some fruit lying around, I’m sure he’d appreciate nibbling on it,” said Damian.
“I think I can manage that,” said the woman with a smile.
She officially closed up and led them to a little back room—gods, this shop was arranged so like the one in Vesuvia—and got them all drinks and snacks. They settled in. And they talked.
They talked for a long time.
Damian explained everything. It was surprisingly easy to talk to her. It almost felt unreal. The words simply came, and she listened incredibly well. She took it all in stride when he mentioned the plague, his own sacrifice, Asra bringing him back, the amnesia that came with it. He didn’t quite know how to explain about his new body. And he still wasn’t sure what that meant, as far as him being the same person as before. But he told her everything he could. Everything he felt comfortable sharing.
It was a lot.
His sister—who he learned was named Amara—hardly said a word the entire time. She asked a few questions, each one pointed and perfect. But that was all.
“You’re… taking this rather well,” said Damian after the story was told.
Amara smiled. “Damian… I grew up with you. You’re a powerful and incredibly smart magician. And an alchemist. If you’re still doing that...?”
“I am,” Damian said slowly.
Amara beamed at him. “There you go, then. You were always pretty incredible, Damian. You made the impossible happen every day.”
“That doesn’t necessarily mean that you’d be so casual about this particular type of magic,” said Damian with a faint smile.
“I know I wasn’t,” Julian grinned.
“You almost got yourself killed trying to talk to one of the Arcana,” Damian countered, playfully shoving his boyfriend. “You are not allowed to talk.”
Julian chuckled and raised his hands up in mock surrender.
Amara smiled at the both of them, putting her chin in her hand. Damian hadn’t known anything about having siblings for a while now. Not biological ones, anyway. But the look was so very Asra-like that it immediately struck him as a sibling face.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m happy,” Amara said softly. “You’ve been through a lot… more than I can really imagine. But you’re here. You found me again. And there are some things that haven’t changed.”
Damian shifted uncomfortably. Oswald peeped from his spot on Damian’s head. Damian couldn’t exactly pet him at the moment, but he appreciated the concern nonetheless.
“I’m sure there are some things that have changed,” Damian said awkwardly.
“I wonder…” Amara idly stirred her cocoa. “You still like cocoa. Do you still like apples?”
“Yes,” said Damian, wondering where this was going.
“He loves apples,” Julian chuckled. “Luckily for us, an apple here and there isn’t enough to keep this doctor away.”
Damian fondly rolled his eyes. “Moving on…”
Amara laughed. “Moving on. Let’s see… what about music? You still like music, right?”
“Oho, he loves music,” said Julian, eyes gleaming. “You should hear him play. He’s a master guitarist.”
“I am not,” said Damian. “Far from it. But thank you.”
“You know I’ll sing your praises any time you like,” said Julian. “Especially if you’re accompanying me.”
Damian sighed. “Amara, if you want to kick him out, you’re more than welcome to.”
“No, it’s alright,” said Amara. “I’m actually enjoying getting to know your definitely-boyfriend-maybe-fiancé.”
“Hopefully fiancé, someday,” Damian corrected her playfully.
That, naturally, was calculated to make Julian a blushing mess. Which was exactly what Damian had been aiming for. Both because he loved flustering his partner and because he wanted to actually continue this life-changing conversation.
“If it happens, I hope I get to come to the wedding,” said Amara.
Damian wanted to simply say ‘of course.’ But they all knew it would take much more time before anyone was ready for a true invitation like that.
At least they had taken the first step.
“I’m happy you still play,” said Amara. “Or that you picked up playing again. Whatever the technical term is.”
“Either one works,” said Damian. “It’s… nice to know I played before, to be honest. Good to know that some things haven’t really changed.”
“It sounds like a lot hasn’t changed,” said Amara, sounding rather gentle. “Your favorite foods, your love for music, working as hard as you can on everything you do… what about your favorite animal? Do you still like turtles?”
For a moment, all Damian could do was sit there blinking. A tiny twinge of a headache poked at him, right behind his eyes. But it was easy to ignore. He hardly even noticed it under the sudden realization.
“I haven’t thought about my favorite animal in a while,” he admitted. “I would probably pick a jaguar now, or maybe some kind of bird of prey. But... I do still like turtles. Especially this one.”
He dug into his bag for a moment (Oswald obligingly got out of the way) and unearthed a little clay figure. It was shaped like a sea turtle, the shape a bit rough but completely recognizable. The head and feet were elegantly if inexpertly painted in varying shades of green. It had little dot eyes. The fins were white and purple with little specks of blue. Abstract blue patterns that looked almost like waves circled the shell. And right in the center of the shell was a lopsided sort of sun.
Amara gasped. Her hand went to her mouth. “Oh... Damian...”
“I never really go anywhere without it,” said Damian. “It’s kind of like my food luck charm. I can’t even tell you how many different protection spells I put on it just to make sure it never broke. I didn’t even know why it was so important. But now... I think I do.”
Amara slowly lowered her hand. “I... made that for you. When we were both kids... it was one of the first things I ever made. I was so proud of it...”. She gave a little, slightly awkward laugh. “It looks like a mess now. I had no idea what I was doing...”
“I would say it’s a true work of art,” said Julian.
Damian nodded. “I think so, too. And the fact that I still found it so important, even though I had no idea what it was... that means something. Right?”
“I think it does,” said Amara. “I think all of this means that you’re still… you. You’re still my big brother. And I hope we get to know each other all over again.”
Damian could only nod. She wasn’t the first person to say something along those lines. Asra had mentioned that his body didn’t make him the man he was, but his spirit did, and that had largely stayed the same. Julian had reassured him in his darkest moments, promising that any differences, any changes, were insignificantly small when compared to everything he had accomplished.
But a part of Damian, however distant, still struggled with the concept of who, exactly, he was. He was a magician… and even then it was odd at times to think of himself as anything but an apprentice. He was an alchemist… which was apparently something he had been before. He was apparently from Nopal, though he had very little concept for what that truly meant, and knew little about the culture of his apparent homeland. He was Oswald’s human, Asra’s chosen family, Nadia’s trusted magician, Portia’s annoying yet loving soon-to-be-brother. And now... he found he was Amara’s brother, too.
He wasn’t sure if he was ready to call himself that yet.
All these thoughts crossed his mind in a few seconds at most. But Amara seemed to know exactly what he was worried about. She slid her hand across the table, almost reaching for Damian but not quite daring to truly take his hand.
“There are some things that are different,” she admitted. “For one thing, you’re a little taller. It has been years now, so that makes sense…”
“It does,” said Damian with a hint of a smile. “But… what else?”
He didn’t dare ask it out loud. But there was a terrifying question behind that more simple one.
What else did I lose?
“Well… you were always really stubborn,” Amara said slowly. “It sounds like you still are.”
“Gloriously stubborn,” Julian agreed. “One of the many things I admire about him.”
It was Damian’s turn to become a flustered mess. Much to Oswald’s entertainment.
Amara smiled. “I can absolutely believe that. But… you seem more relaxed, too.”
“Relaxed?” Damian repeated. He was feeling a lot of things at the moment, but relaxation was not one of them.
“Mm-hmm,” Amara nodded. “I remember how much pressure you were under growing up. You took on a lot of responsibilities. And you carried them really well. But sometimes… sometimes it felt like you were carrying the world on your shoulders. And as far as I can tell, it feels like you don’t have to worry about that anymore. It’s nice to see, really. You have some space to breathe. And lots of people you can really count on. You were always pretty social, but… you have some really meaningful relationships now. People who take care of you, just like you’ve always taken care of them. It’s… well, it’s just nice, you know?”
Damian thought about that for a moment. He tried to picture the person that Amara described. A kid taking on the world out of sheer stubbornness… or perhaps for the same reasons that he had faced the Devil head-on. He did it for the sake of the people he cared about. He did it because those people, and the world they all shared, were so deeply important to him that he would never consider doing otherwise.
If he grew up with someone like Amara as a younger sister, he could see himself wanting to protect her. Wanting to take on whatever he could if it meant that she could pursue the things she loved.
As far as he could tell, she’d managed to do just that. She was clearly very happy with her shop. And she was a true artist. A lot of the little clay animals that Asra brought home from his trips to Nopal probably came from this very shop. It was a nice thought, at least.
Maybe he wasn’t a brother quite yet. Or maybe not anymore, if that was the right way to put it. But maybe, just maybe, he could start to be one again. This was a pretty good start.
