[whalemarch]

looking for a ghost story?

[blitzbuckz]

【𐂃】 ❝ C'MOOOON uh, kich, kich my man. it's not like I killed the younger ones— their days were already numbered. i'm sure these Koala-saurous... whatever will continue t' breed. Circle of fuckin' life, y'know? there's no harm done. ❞ he can tell they were still pretty pissed though, so he tried to think of a way to make it up to them. one that wouldn't get him into deeper shit back home.

❝ WHAT DID YA HAVE in mind though? demon weapons can't be handled by mere humans. it'll burn your skin alive. head warnin'~ ❞

[yoroiis]

" Make me an offer. What do you think the life of a Koholosaur is worth? And I'll see if we're on equal terms. "

Kinich wasn't so much upset as he was just following through on a gut feeling he had. Saurians lost their lives on the savannahs of Natlan every day and that was just life -- but this one had been preventable. Because of that, Kinich felt like somewhere, someone had to pay a price and Blitz had been the guilty party.

" Don't forget though, I have my ways of dealing with things that other people can't. So anything you have to offer isn't off the table with me, so long as the price is right. "

Ajaw would stay quiet for once, but the way Kinich had worded that sentence seemed to catch the Dragonlord's attention. It was true that Kinich was human, but the small pixel dragon at his side was not.

[yoroiis]

Any other day, and Saiki would've heaved a sigh at her twin brother's antics. She'd shown up to the station directly after breakfast; with some time to herself that morning, she'd fully intended on taking Heizou out for a snack and a little bit of shopping under the guise of 'looking for clues', a little game to keep him content, get them both a snack at the end, and enjoy their birthday together, but to her (not) surprise, she'd been turned away with confirmation he'd not even shown up for work that morning, instead leaving a note he'd be 'away for surveilance' with his 'wolf companion'.

But this was their birthday, and, rather than heave the sigh she wanted to, she'd take the bait and put her skills to the test instead, setting out in search of her 'missing' twin. He was, after all, likely hiding from work! He tended to avoid the 'office' on the best of days, but even she'd noticed he'd been scheming something for this day in particular, and he couldn't have gotten far. Not so early in the morning, and not when he'd had to make sure Cettra had their supplies for the day strapped to her lupine back before he set out.

The grocer, however, was a bust. The local restraunts hadn't seen him since the day before. Clues discovered along the way said he hadn't quite left the city yet, and given they were surrounded by sea on most sides, that left the road out past the large sakura tree, headed towards Konda Village... A thought backed up by fresh pawprints in the dirt by the tree, larger than any of the local animals and clearly eager to get moving. If she knew her future sister in law, Cettra would have run ahead in glee at being free and he'd have let her - Anything to let the wolf get her energy out before they really set off-

Clues that would lead her to her twin brother at the city's edge, prompting Saiki to catch his shoulders in a tight hug before he could slip away. "You don't even give me a good morning before you escape for the day? I'm hurt, Hei." A tease, of course, and she made sure her voice reflected as much, uttered by his ear. He would've stopped by to wish her a happy birthday at some point during the day, she knew, but what harm was it in poking teases at him like always?

She'd release him before he could complain too much, digging into the bag she'd brought with her - errands waited for no man, and her birthday was no exception! - to produce a delicately wrapped gift: A set of detective novels from Fontaine and a slip of paper promising him dinner together on a date of his choosing, written and doodled on by the spy herself. She'd anticipated them not having the chance to grab dinner together this year, so they'd just have to make it up later, a free hand taking his hand to press the gift into his palm before a quick kiss pressed itself to her brother's cheek.

"Happy birthday, Hei - Try not to get into trouble out there today. I want to see another with you next year, you know... Love you."

A shift of the package in that moment caught the writing on a small tag in a ray of sunlight-

For the greatest twin brother a girl could ever ask for.

@thundertide

" Oh c'mon, don't make it sound like that! You know that if I actually wanted to 'escape' to somewhere you couldn't find me, I wouldn't have even left a trace! That fact that you managed to chase me down just to give me something means I wasn't trying that hard to keep you guessing. "

Those from the Tenryou Commission, however, where another story entirely! As much as Heizou didn't mind someone like Saiki tracking his trail, he'd been trying his absolute best to keep anyone from the Police Station from dragging him back to work. Hand written notes left on desks, collaborated excuses, and well thought out alibis were only a small portion of what Heizou had conjured up in an attempt to give himself a carefree day off -- and the fact it'd been Saiki that'd 'caught him' first and not a certain strict enforcer of the Station's rules meant that his plan was still working!

Heizou actually found himself breathing a slight sigh of relief as he lightly brushed Saiki off his shoulders before turning to the package she'd brought. A quick yank of its wrapping would reveal the set of novels inside.

" Are these the newest books from that murder mystery series that's taking Fontaine by storm right now? You must've spent a lot of time and mora just getting these here this quick! " Glancing at Saiki, Heizou actually looked caught off guard. " But you really didn't have to bring me these all the way out here though! I might be dodging my duties for the day, but I would've showed back up around town eventually- "

Saiki knew that. Never mind the fact that her hand delivering his birthday gift only made the fact he'd yet to get something for her that much more obvious. He'd have to dodge around this conversation just as carefully as he was avoiding his Doushin duties for the day to keep it from seeming like he'd forgot! He was still planning to gift Saiki something for her birthday, too! It was just-

" So how about we do this! " he'd shift gears. " How about I schedule a lunch date to cash in this coupon out this weekend and I'll have the very best surprise present waiting at my side for you, too. I know with everything your day job's probably been putting you through lately, you could definitely use a whole afternoon off to avoid some of your responsibilities, too. "

" So does...udon from Uyuu Restaurant and an entire shopping trip around Ritou work for you? "

[blitzbuckz]

【𐂃】 ❝ AJAW THAT WAS YOU?! i mean— of course it is. I was . . . simply pretendin' to seem weaker. why would I fight an ally? that would be stuuupid. ❞ he sheepishly admitted, rising to his feet as he padded himself. dusting off the grass stains until Kinich's sharp voice caused him to wince on the spot. knowing he dun goofed.

❝ MY BAD? i'm a fuckin' DEMON. i can't help it— would ya . . . do a redo? well, technically the bodies can still be of use. you can trade in their meat for cash, right? ❞ he scuffed his heels on the grass. his spine && tail dropping as he seemed remorseful of his shitshow back there.

[yoroiis]

" It's still a waste- " he'd restate. " But what's done is done. "

Kinich could harp on the death of an entire colony of Koholasaurs all day if he'd wanted, but that wouldn't change the fact that Blitz had still ripped through them like a hunter gone mad. Unjustified death would still have its price, but even Kinich knew it'd be an even bigger waste to leave what Blitz had left behind to rot out in the sun. ...Might as well do something with the kills now while their fresh.

" Since all of this is your doing though, then let's make a deal. I'll forget any of this ever happened in exchange for something of yours. Let's say...anything that equals the price of what this Saurian meat would sell at market. " It'd be a fair trade in Kinich's opinion -- if Blitz could produce something worth trading.

[pruwinkle]

"It was one thing if a single detective could catch some skilled crooks. Perhaps he was just a good detective.

But if countless high-level criminals were seized by this one man, then surely he could not be an ordinary person.

In that moment, everyone present imagined something similar.

A trickster god in the guise of humanity, scheming and cunning beyond compare, seeing into the hearts of mortals with contemptuous ease."

—Heizou Character Story 5

[genshin-impact-updates]

Happy Birthday, Shikanoin Heizou!

Phew... Finally wrapped up that Mora theft case. Let's sit down, have some snacks, and read a bit of this novel together.

The case in this novel is quite interesting, though the logic is a bit flimsy in places...

Huh? You're wondering why I left the "evidence" here? Haha, obviously to lure out that "thief" lurking in the shadows.

Looks like it hasn't realized it's been exposed yet... Shh, play along with me and let it give itself away.

[khrysm]

A "Warm" Welcome

I finished this a while ago, but it was intended to be for Tartaglia's birthday. Didn't want to be rushing last minute like before.

2026-07-02

[yoroiis]

Her hands should not have been gentle. Calloused and rough from years of training, there was nothing 'gentle' about them - And yet her touch, cupping his cheeks, was nothing but, as if anything rougher would completely shatter the moment. The darkened room, soft sounds of the celebration elsewhere in the house winding down for the evening, quiet murmurs likely seeking them out yet knowing where they'd gone already... And when she let out a breath, it was against his lips, hot and willing, blue focused on dull blue, reminding her this was exactly where she wanted to be.

This was where she belonged.

Nothing about her should have been gentle, but it was still there in the way she pressed against him, catching his lips in another kiss, then a second, then a third. She'd waited all day for this moment. There had been cake. Presents, too - Ana and Sofia had drawn him pictures, Niko had babbled his version of 'happy birthday daddy'. Leandros and Kalistratos had brought him snacks from across Teyvat and a book of recipies to try the next time he was in the kitchen. She'd bought him a new, custom-made sword, Kyros had gotten him a knife... There had been a lot of gifts and a big celebration, and Kag had patiently waited... Kind of. Patience had never been her strong suit, after all.

But now that she had him alone, it was her turn. Her chance to give him the rest of her gift: Herself, most of their clothing already shed, the skin on skin contact enough to make her sigh once they'd parted from yet another kiss. She'd waited so long for this... There was so much to make up for, she'd long since decided, slipping a hand up to run through his hair, as if anything harder like they'd used to might break everything. They'd both waited so long for this... That wait was finally over.

"Happy birthday, Aj," she'd breathe after a few moments, half-lidded gaze studying his. Dull but beautiful blue... And so, so easy to lose herself in, giving his lower lip another slight nip. "What do you say... You make the most of the night with your gift~?"

I love you. I love you more than anything - Happy birthday, my one and only soulmate.

" ..hm, " His quiet, but content, hum as he'd breathed in Kag's flurry of kisses was probably enough to say that he'd been waiting for this gift all day -- but he'd still pull back with a breathy laugh at the moment, too. " I thought you'd never ask, but...heh, we probably still should've waited until everyone else left first- "

Because Childe could still hear the drones of the afterparty winding down from their hideaway spot in the bathroom. His back, pressed up against the wall as it'd been, only made listening to the chatter of their guests wrapping up their activities to leave that much clearer as his attention flicked back to Kag. She wouldn't let him go back to that party, he knew; so another slide of his greedy hands up her ribcage as his own kiss nipped back at her lips would proudly announce that he was ready to open the last of his birthday presents.

After all, she couldn't just offer him something this enticing and not expect him to excitedly take the bait!

" You're still as crafty as ever, you know~? First, you pull me away from my own birthday party so I can't send everyone away on a good note and then you do this? " The mock disappointment in his tone would be covered up by another nip of a kiss; his hands lightly trailing themselves along the edges of the traces of clothes Kag had managed to keep on.

" What am I gonna do with you? "

Oh, he knew what he was gonna do with her, but now of all times? Hm. Leave it to Kag to know exactly how to rile the risk taker in him up!

[genshin-impact-updates]

Happy Birthday, Tartaglia!

There you are, comrade! I knew you'd come to see me off!

Come to think of it, I've been away from home for quite a while... By now, Teucer and the others must be wondering what's taking their big brother so long...

Once I'm home, I can finally finish telling Teucer those ghost stories I promised him. Then, the next time you visit, he can tell them to you himself.

Anyway, no need to worry about me. Barring any surprises, we should be seeing each other again very soon, right?

[dxnut00]

having a hydro vision in a snowy region is always useful to impress your siblings

[yoroiis]

Death Defier. It'd been a long time since she'd heard that 'nickname', several deep breaths pulled in in an attempt to calm her racing heartbeat. She'd not been expecting a fight, had let her guard down... Stupid on her part, honestly. She'd let herself get distracted by Ajaw's complaints during their travels and paid the price for it, dark green gaze dropping to the stab on her bicep - Ironically right in the middle of an x shaped scar already present there. X marked the spot, indeed.

And yet painful as it was, Ral couldn't say it bothered her too much. Countless years and injuries had raised her pain tolerance fairly high; she'd need to tend to it, of course, and it did ache like crazy, but it was nothing that would, or even could, keep her from continuing on. Clean it up and bandage it - No big deal. She had other concerns, anyway, like why one of the fools that'd tried to jump them had called her Death Defier-

An even above that, she was more concerned for the state of her mate, turning to him once she was sure her arm wasn't in worse shape than it looked. he could handle an injury, but if anything had happened to Kinich... "You're okay? Anything hurt - Do I need to hunt them back down?" She would, a glance over him seemed to remind. If they'd harmed a single hair on his head... One cut was all she needed to add to the gouge in the ground her sword had already left from a missed strike. "They were waiting for us, and I wasn't paying attention. That one's on me."

@transientfrost

" Don't worry. I'm fine. "

His voice would come from only a few paces away; Kinich glancing at Ral from over a shoulder despite still being stuck between two towering rock walls. They'd been separated during the scuffle somehow, but the faint traces of his Nightsoul markings still glowing on his face and arms would say that he'd managed to beat off the thugs that'd thought they'd outsmarted him.

Little did the intruders know they'd cornered one of Natlan's best hunters in their attempt to intimidate Ral.

Letting the urgency finally fade from his voice, however, Kinich would casually swing his claymore over his shoulder as he turned to pace toward his partner. Though it'd only taken Kinich a few steps to see, and smell, the sharp acrid ting of blood in the air as his attention focused on Ral and her arm.

" We need to get you back home though. I don't know what they wanted with us or why they picked us as a target, but you've already paid enough of a price in dealing with them today. "

And before Ral could counter with her typical 'it's not that bad' and 'I can handle a lot more than this' remarks, Kinich would swing his weapon off his shoulder and into the ground beside him. Impactful enough to say he wasn't taking compromises this time.

" —Back out. Now. Before their reinforcements show up. "

[yoroiis]

Heiiiiizou.

The call of the detective's name rang out not with an actual voice behind it, yet still somehow managed to be audiable in their surroundings, the sound of grass crunching under paws not far behind it. Cettra couldn't say she didn't like the trip they'd taken, she usually loved traveling with Heizou for investigations, but this one had brought them too close to thunderstorms - Storms that admittedly hurt the the wolf's ears, already pinned back from several recent rumbles that had plagued her trek back to her partner.

She knew better than to complain, though. They weren't out on a trip for fun this time - This was an investigation into a smuggling ring, and he'd needed her nose to keep track of scents while he tracked more physical signs behind their escape into seemingly thin air. They hadn't come out this far just for funsies and complaints would only drag things out, no matter how much she wanted to go home and let the ringing in her skull from all the noise calm down!

The scent is stronger going westward. I think they got stopped by the storms trying to go south and changed plans.

She'd plop down in ront of him to sit with a tired expression, glancing in the direction of the nearby storms. Far enough away they'd not have to worry about things but close enough to allow them to see - and hear! - its effects, she'd taken to keeping an eye on it... And not just for the investigation's sake.

We're... Not going into that, are we? You can't fake smells, you know, so I don't think-

She was rambling, she knew, tail raising, then thudding back down in frustration at herself.

Do your findings say west, too? Rain can wash away scents, but I don't think they went south. Too dangerous.

@thundertide

" ...Depends. You know investigations don't stop just 'cause there's a little lightning and thunder. "

In fact, bad weather was often when most thieves and would-be criminals would make their moves; thinking a downpour could cover their tracks and keep eye witnesses at bay. Something like the thunderstorm ahead might've helped the smugglers they were tacking in the long run, too -- if the Tenryou's Commission's greatest detective wasn't already on the job!

Heizou had long since learned that getting the jump on evil doers often meant braving weather that most would run and hide from -- Cee being a point in his case. Purely following her instincts in a moment like this probably would've had them missing more clues than they would've found otherwise-

But thankfully for the wolf's sake, diving head first into the dark clouds and rain wasn't where his clues were leading either.

" Even with the thunderstorm, I believe they wouldn't have had a reason to go south from here anyway. Tatarasuna doesn't have much cover to offer them...but Nazuchi Beach and Musoujin Gorge would. If they're smuggling illegal goods in and out of Inazuma, they'd want to go unnoticed. And if they want to be discrete about their set up, then a secluded beach and an untraveled, dangerous gorge would be the best spots to organize a base camp. "

Plopping his hands up on his hips at that, Heizou would offer Cee a smug grin!

" How's that first class deduction check out with your nose, huh? "

[yoroiis]

Bonk. Kag's fist, lightly closed as it was, dropped onto the top of Childe's head with a heavy sigh - Albeit one laced with pure amusement. "I haven't been gone so long you can start talkin' about me like I'm some kindda damn ghost, y'know."

She'd give him that much, at least! She had been gone - Not in a physical sense, exactly, but her trip into her soul to deal with her traumas and the fight that'd ensued between the two of them had kept her just as far away from everyone around her as a mission would've, for longer than she'd have liked. But at the same time, she hadn't been gone so long that he needed to be telling their kids ghost stories about 'fearsome goats' she knew were about her, even if they were jokes!

At the same time, at least, she'd admit the bit she'd heard had made her smile, fist uncurling to play with his hair for a moment before she'd pull away. It' been a long time since something so silly had made her heart flutter like this... And had there not been three sets of eyes on him, she wouldve dragged him back for a fierce kiss for it, settling instead for leaning over his shoulder to plant one on his cheek, taking the chance to whisper a tease into his ear right after.

"Better watch what you say, Aj, or I'm gonna come make you one with me."

@thundertide

" Hey now! You're really not in the habit of ruining a good story for a bunch of kids now, are you? Or are scary Electro goats with sharp horns and bad tempers too much for you all of a sudden? "

They weren't and he knew that. In fact, Childe knew exactly what he'd been doing and why he'd been doing it, too! He'd been having fun, Anastasia, Sofia, and Nikolai were all entertain, and he'd even managed to grab Kag's attention all in one fell swoop! Three goals scored with one 'before bed' story session! He'd call that a new personal record as as he'd flash a sly grin back to Kag before turning to three children in front of him-

" So anyway! On one really scary, really snow night in the forest, the ghost goat stomped her feet! All of the snowflakes around her turned into angry sparkles from her Electro powers as she pointy horns to the sky and screamed." He'd pause with his hands squished against his temples at that; two fingers lifted to mimic horns as he looked over the kids. " Do any of you three know what an angry ghost goat sounds like? "

" BAAAA! " The noise was loud! Sofia was obviously projecting a toddler's lack of self awareness sense as she'd answered back with gusto -- but it'd amused Childe!

" Haha, that's right, Sofia! That's exactly what an angry ghost goat says! You're gonna be a really good one someday! "

[genshin-impact-updates]

Happy Birthday, Kaveh!

After that major incident last time, we took the chance, while restoring the house, to go through all the books and decorative ornaments. Everything has been returned to its proper place now.

Today is only a thorough cleaning. With weather this nice, it's a good day for it.

Are you asking about Mehrak? It's taken a bit of an interest in tidying things up lately, and even comes to help from time to time. I always check everything over again at the end anyway, so don't worry. It won't cause any trouble.

People get passing interests like that from time to time too. They usually don't last long enough to justify signing up for a proper class, but learning a little on your own is just about right.

For instance, these are all hobby books I bought: "An Introduction to Coffee Machines," "An Illustrated Guide to Modern Feather Crafts"...

And this oil painting, this decorative ornament... When you look at them all together, it's hard not to feel something. Time really does have a form, and yet it remains formless.

[rakuychi]

ありがとうスネージナヤ😭

再掲‼️

X: @rakuychi

[clueless1995]

[abysswenn]

kaveh is rich? the world really must be ending

(i thought it would be fun to dori-fy his outfit)