#HAPPY ACTIVATION DAY CHROME!!!
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✧。◟ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ — chrome x reader [PGR] [Happy Activation Day Chrome!!]
please don't be in love with someone else
a.n. - sometimes chrome just raghhhhhh. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHROMEE!! I promise to finish that other fic for you LOL also thank you for being one of my resilient lil construct, my Lucia and Wanshi are happy to be with you <3 mwa mwa (IM SORRY AGAIN IM LATE)
pairing - chrome x f!commandant
words - 7,881 (it's why I took long TvT)
tags/warnings - none. fluff! alcohol is involved yet again! chrome x reader shenanigans. yall up to what happens in the end uwu. non-sexual naked cuddling. cute stuff for chrome because happy activation day!!
The stars seemed to have blessed Babylonia tonight.
A crowded room. A brightly lit, dazzling chandelier. Wine and champagne glasses clinking together. Orchestral music filling the room — this is a sight that those who can afford luxury would generally see in their life. High society placed itself on top of the pedestal, overlooking its body that wore no gold.
Forget the war that raged outside; Babylonia beheld the grandeur of the rich folk for tonight, and the stars had rewarded their presence by granting the brightest evening for them.
Such sight is normal to a Smith. After all, they were always born with a silver spoon, to feed and to be fed by high society, for everyone to see.
But not for Chrome. He always thought this life was never fit for him.
There he is — champagne in hand, forcing laughter and faking smiles to those who are around him. Humanoid legs are already used to the wages of war, yet they trembled under the hours of talking to people that only blur in his M.I.N.D.
He is only here due to his father, Mr. Smith. “For you to be familiar with the people you will work with in the future,” he always said to Chrome, “be on your best attitude. Show them the makings of a true Smith.”
But they only bore him. He would rather be doing things that are mundane in the eyes of high society, such as lounging in the comforts of Strike Hawk's dormitory; dealing with Kamui's antics, helping Wanshi fix his sleeping pod, tasting Camu's dishes...or cleaning the corners of his room, or strolling the walkways of Babylonia, or playing chess with a certain someone...
A scene flashed in his memory — a warm hand reaching out to him, a sweet smile, a soft laugh, and the chessboard with scattered chess pieces in front of him. A scene that happened not too long ago, a memory so fresh that made him flush a light shade of pink. Was it the alcohol? No, usual alcohol would never make a construct drunk, unless...?
“How are you holding up, Chrome?” A familiar voice called out to him.
Mr. Smith. Holding an identical champagne glass in his hand, he looks up to Chrome with an expectant gaze. Chrome straightens, clearing his throat. “Mr. Smith, I am doing well. I have met the people you told me earlier.”
“Glad to know,” He nods, “it's beneficial as a Smith to meet your future prospects. You know that already, Chrome, don't you?”
“I do, Mr. Smith,” Chrome solemnly spoke.
“Other than that, have you seen the Commandants who are invited tonight?” Smith tsked, “they have commendable records. They seem to enjoy tonight's feast before they go back to war once more. Especially Gray Raven's Commandant, hm.”
Chrome's ears perked up. “Gray Raven's Commandant is here tonight?”
He knew the party was for high society, with some specially invited commandants. Yet, Gray Raven's Commandant? He overlooked that part, why didn't he know?
“Yes, it's understandable due to the glory they have brought to Babylonia countless times now.” Smith paused, moving his hand to make a circular motion with his glass, “I've seen them earlier. Now, they are nowhere to be found.”
“Ah,” Chrome slightly faltered, muttering, “a shame.”
“They also seem to blend well with us, I'd say.” Smith hums, taking a sip from his glass now, “they look well with us, even. We should try asking them to join when they retire.”
A particular thought crosses in Chrome's M.I.N.D. — a person wearing a simple dress amongst the crowd yet so vibrant, the same warm hand he saw as she held onto his arm, smiling fondly at him. The very thought that somehow made his heart crumble in a good way —
“Chrome?” Smith asked, causing Chrome to snap back to reality, “are you alright? You look red.”
“I do?” Chrome muttered, “I'm sorry. There must be something wrong with my cooling system after I got injured last battle. I am planning to get a maintenance check once more.”
“Alright then,” waving his hand, Smith nodded, “I'll leave you be. I need to meet with other people.”
“Thank you, Mr. Smith.” Chrome approaches the nearby table tp place his glass, “I will return soon.”
Finally, away from the party, Chrome found himself lingering outside. The garden outside of the hall seems to be the answer to his dilemma, the cool breeze and the artificial night decorated with the authentic stars sparkling above him. He breathes into this sight — once more, a thought that popped into his M.I.N.D.
“The sight may be beautiful in Babylonia,” your voice sent shivers down his spine, “but the ones here on Earth are prettier.”
Bright irises staring at him with a gentle gaze amongst the dark plains, a genuine smile on your lips, “don't you think so, Chrome?”
The memory shook Chrome, his heartbeat skipping. What was it with him lately? Thinking of a particular person that he holds with high regard? It seemed unlike him, the man who only thought of perfection. Battles and tactics are his expertise that makes up his thoughts, yet such stray memories and incredulous scenarios have distracted him since his recent rendezvous with that certain commandant...
His hands tremble. They seem lonely. A small part of him wishes those familiar hands would hold them right now.
Gray Raven's esteemed Commandant. The very thought of her makes Chrome weak. He who should maintain a professional, beneficial relationship with her. Yet, thoughts beyond that relationship seemed to have spawned in his M.I.N.D.
Chrome entertains that thought to no avail. After all, a small part of him wishes he should have seen or heard from you tonight.
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star~”
Yes, something like a nursery rhyme that is sung by you. Sometimes, Chrome thinks you drove him insane to the point that he's having hallucinations of you.
“...how I wonder where you are~”
Wait. That voice seems closer and familiar. Surely, he wasn't dreaming. Chrome rushes to the source of the voice.
“up above the world so high,” the voice hiccupped, “like a diamond in the ska-ay~!”
Chrome thinks this sight is one of the best he's ever seen: sitting on the ledge of a fountain, gazing at the water beneath, your sky-blue dress nearly submerged yet you didn't look like she minded; in fact, in your hand was a glass of unfinished wine, and your face seemed too pleased with your antics, a contagious smile written on your face.
Gray Raven Commandant in the flesh. And drunk. (According to Chrome's readings anyway)
“Commandant!” Chrome's voice - shaking? - echoed throughout the garden, making you look, “Over here! What are you doing?”
You finally look at Chrome, your usual bright eyes laced with tiredness and mirth. Upon recognizing the figure that was approaching you, you cheerfully raised your glass to him.
“Hello stranger!!” your shoulders shake with visible joy, “you're hereeee, come on, come on! Join me in watching the fishies~”
Stranger? Perhaps the alcohol fogged your senses. “Fishies?” Curious, Chrome follows where your hand points, to the fountain...devoid of any fish, “I...see?”
Instead of fish, Chrome could recognize that the 'fish' the Commandant referred to are the coins that people must have thrown into the fountain. The reflection brought by the moonlight highlighted with the pattern underneath the fountain must have tricked you into thinking she was talking to fishes. Not wanting to break your delight, Chrome plays along.
“I named that lil' blue fish Lee, because he looks grumpy.” You giggle as you point to a blue-shaded coin, “then that pink one is Liv!”
“That's cute, Commandant,” Chrome chuckles, opting to sit at a considerable distance from you, “who else did you name?”
Lights over the garden seemed ethereal. Haloed with the gentle glow of the skies, the white noise of the party inside the hall, and the mellow laughter of the Commandant — Chrome could easily capture this memory for a lifetime, although you couldn't recognize him. He could try taking away the glass in hand and tell you that you're drunk, but he does not. Instead, he asks more about the 'fishes' you found. And somehow, you went silent.
“Commandant?” Chrome gently pokes the silent Commandant, “are you alright?”
“Mmm,” closing your eyes, you tapped your chin, “stranger, I can't see Chrome...”
The nickname seems to grow on him now. “Well,” he shrugged, “maybe he's sleeping.”
“Fishies never sleep!” opening your eyes just to stare at Chrome, “that's basic knowledge!”
Chrome could finally see you properly: the dress snugly fit you, the train already submerged in the water. Some strands of your hair framed your face perfectly. Alcohol flushed your cheeks in the shade of pink. Irises that still lit brightly amidst the dark, a sight Chrome could never forget. Blinking to come back to reality, Chrome reached out to brush away the strand that was on your lips.
“Some fishes sleep with their eyes open.” Chrome smiled, “but what you said is still, it's true, Commandant is always smart.”
A smug smirk flashed on your lips, arms crossed to assert her amusement, “hm! I told you!”
One of the sleeves fell to your arm as you moved. Flickering to that, Chrome spoke before reaching out to lift it, “Yes, of course. Commandant, are you not cold?”
“Nope!” Somehow filled with a new burst of energy, you drunkenly placed the glass in front of Chrome, making Chrome reel back, before struggling to stand up on the ledge with the heels on. Chrome acts quickly, aiding you by holding your legs for support. “I realized something!”
“Commandant! What are you doing, get down!”
“I need to find Chrome!” you spoke with such reverence, it could make Chrome cry, yet it only made him scared, “he could be drowning!”
Drowning? “Commandant, I know you're smart,” Chrome hesitates, before speaking, “but fishes don't dro-”
“-I know what I'm doing!” you grin at him, rotating your arm as if exercising and exhales, “that's why I'm going to save him from this ocean!”
At that moment, Chrome realizes where he went wrong. “Wait, Commandant, no!”
At least he tried to stop her.
A shivering Commandant is wrapped in Chrome's coat for tonight.
“Are you alright, Commandant?” Chrome spoke as he ran through the streets, “do you still feel cold?”
After the stupid attempt at jumping head-first into the water, Chrome had to save you - even after trying to get away from his hold. Now, you were tightly wrapped in Chrome's coat, carried like a princess in his arms.
Sneezing, you shook your head furiously, “I'm fine, you stranger! Why did you stop me?”
“The waters in Babylonia in the evening get colder. I don't want you to suffer from hypothermia.”
You whine, before sneezing once more. “I was fine! Oh well, I managed to get Chrome though.”
“You managed to- what?”
Fishing out of his hold and the coat, you childishly held out a white and blue-tinted coin. Chrome could only sigh in disbelief.
“Also, put me down, you stranger!” Attempting to wiggle out, you whine more as Chrome tightens his hold on you, the familiar way illuminated by the lights already in sight, “my mama said not to trust strangers!”
“Right,” Chrome laughed, his heart skipping a beat, “don't worry, I'm taking you to Chrome right now.”
Halfway through the run, you drifted off to sleep (and it granted Chrome the opportunity to see you comfortable with your guard down). Finally, they arrived in front of the Smith Estate.
Carefully opening the door, Chrome is met with a comforting silence. Were the cleaning robots still around? He knew his father wouldn't be around until the next day, which meant the robots were the only company. Stepping inside, he finds the place deserted, the faint sound of the Commadant's breathing filling the room. Placing you (not minding the water dripping off of you) to his room on his bed, Chrome rushes to the kitchen.
Still no robots around. Easy to explain and less hassle to explain why a stranger was in his bed. He'll worry about that the next day. Quickly, he grabbed a few pieces of food from the fridge and concocted a hangover drink and water.
Upon returning to his room, Chrome finds you still asleep on his bed. Silently placing the items he brought for you, Chrome wistfully gazes at you.
“you're always taking care of me, Chrome,” you'd say if you were awake, your voice echoes in his M.I.N.D., “I want to return the favor.” (You are now corrupting his thoughts.)
A little stir from you made Chrome snap out of his daydream. Slowly opening your eyes, looking around your surroundings in a daze, Chrome leans down to check on you.
“Commandant,” he softly calls out to you, hand touching yours, “are you awake? Can you sit up?”
“Mmmhm,” rubbing your eyes as you sat up, Chrome aiding you, “where am I...?”
“You're in my room. I will take you back to Gray Raven's headquarters when you've freshened up and rested. Come on, drink some water.”
Your legs dangle on the side of Chrome's bed as you sat up. Your figure, although shivering from the stunt, still seems smaller than him. Chrome reached out to grab the glass of water and hold it out for you, but you only stare at him.
“Commandant?”
“Ch...” you whisper, slowly lifting your cold hands to cup Chrome's cheeks, “Chrome...”
His heart flutters at the call of his name. With a free hand, he caresses the hold on his cheeks. “Commandant?”
“Why are you...hot?”
Chrome's cheeks burn at your touch, he noticed. Was it really the cooling system, or that his growing fondness for the Commandant of another team making him like this?
“The cooling system,” he chose the first option, “I'm trying to get it checked, don't worry.”
“Mmh, Chrome...”
Your innocent, sleepy eyes were looking at him. And you were leaning closer to him. A human instinct, Chrome leans forward as well, until their foreheads touch.
“...Chrome. Why don't you call me by my name?”
It feels expensive. It feels surreal. He wanted to tell her, but the words die in his throat.
“I will only do so, if you wanted me to do it, Commandant.”
“Mmh.” Your breath fans Chrome's own lips, further intensifying the heat in both of your cheeks. “Then, Chrome...”
He closes his eyes. Closer, closer...until you pulled away so abruptly. And then, a warm liquid spilled across his chest.
Chrome's eyes opened. Sometimes, the timings are uncanny.
—
A bathtub full of bubbles, lavender dousing the room with its intoxicating smell. Near the bathtub, Chrome sweats nervously as he stares at the guilty figure sitting on the toilet.
“I'm sorry,” the Commandant, who was usually strong and courageous in the face of danger, shrunk in guilt, voice timid and remorse, “I didn't mean to puke in front of you.”
“It's alright, it's not your fault,” he dismisses it, smiling slightly, “I was planning to get you changed...”
He is already wearing a new set of clothing, compared to you. After that quick nap, you seem sober. But based on Chrome's readings, you are still far from being sober. At least, you recognize him now. Squeaking, you shook your head. “I can't just let it slide. Is there anything I can do for Chrome?”
Kneeling on one knee, Chrome awkwardly pats you. “It's okay, really. Um...”
A reddening blush was on Chrome's cheeks as the words died in his throat. He motions to your soiled clothes, clearing his throat in an attempt to gather his pride.
“Commandant, I am going to...” whispering, “...I'm going to take off your clothes so you can...um, take a bath.”
You stare at him. Blinking tired eyes at him, you slowly nodded. “Okay.”
You turn your back on him, presenting the zipper on your back. For you, it seemed normal (Liv and Lucia are always hands-on whenever you are invited to events like this, so they're seen what's behind those clothes). But Chrome, whose ventilation was now out of place from the possible outcomes running through his head, was shaking and turning into a blushing tomato.
“You can unzip me, Chrome,” you pipped, noticing Chrome's silence, “I can't reach the top.”
A shaky exhale from Chrome. He mutters something you couldn't hear, but could feel the small pressure from his hand holding your hair to the side before resting on your shoulder.
“I will...start unzipping you, Commandant.”
It feels...intimate. The way Chrome held onto the zipper with care, thoughts running wild in his M.I.N.D., dragging it down slowly. You notice it, despite the alcohol fogging your thoughts. The sound of Chrome's nervous breathing, the water dripping from the faucet, the bubbles on the tub — it almost makes you sober.
However, a question seemed to linger on your lips. But before you could ask, Chrome had already unzipped your dress, the sleeves finally down on your shoulders.
“I-I'm done, Commandant.”
You turned to Chrome, a smile on your lips, “Thank you! But...are you...okay...?”
“Yes.”
You weren't that convinced. In front of you, Chrome's hands shook, and his face was in the deepest shade of red. You tilted your head to the side, before shimmying out of your clothes. Yes, still in front of the man who has been nothing but an angel to you.
“I'm done!” You excitedly quipped, standing up, causing the dress to fall to the floor. “where am I going next?”
Seemingly snapping out of his trance, Chrome looks down to pick up your clothes and dashes to the door. He stops by the door frame, his back facing you. “I need to put your clothes in the washer. They'll be ready after you take a bath.”
“Chrome, will-”
But he was already out of the door.
Chrome remembers every part of the laundry process, even without help from the robots. Yet, even though he has loaded up the washing machine (he knows it'll be done in at least 2 hours, clean and fragrant), his hands are still shaking, the memory in the bathroom turning his mind into a haze.
Even when he closed his eyes after he unzipped your dress, or when he heard it drop to the floor, he couldn't help but imagine — how your skin must feel under his touch, soft or smooth; the expanse of your back, would there be goosebumps like when you touch him; would there still be a smile on your face even when you would know about his feelings?
He accidentally slams the door of the washing machine too hard. It's all pointless, really; all he wanted was to show how eager his rapt attention, yet terrified that he may have crossed unwanted boundaries. Maybe he needed some rest. That's right - it has been a long week anyways. Sighing, he leaves to go back to the bathroom, in case you fell back to sleep...
— except, he called it too early.
“Chroooome,” you cried out as you whimpered in the tub, bubbles covering everywhere but your face, “I'm drowning!”
Suffice to say, he wasn't going to be relaxed tonight.
The water was warm.
And so was the hand that you wish you held onto as you dangled your arm on the ledge of the tub, reaching out to Chrome, who sat on the floor. You wanted something - but the golden boy wouldn't budge.
“Join meee,” you pouted, “don't you see I am a lonely girl sitting here so lonely?”
The light of the bathroom casts a glow over Chrome's frame. The sound of the water splashing around, paired with his humming, sends your mind in a close lullaby, you fear you'll only fall asleep at this rate.
“I see you well, Commandant.” He shook his head, “however, I will stay here.”
“Mean.” Huffing, you sunk to the comforts of the bubbling water, feigning annoyance to him “At least I could wash your hair...you said you'd allow me to see you with your hair down...”
“Commandant,” it's a surprise how Chrome could still hold his composure, voice calm and cool, “you are drunk. You are also very dirty, so it's best you wash up now and get dressed in something warm.”
“I'm not drunk!” Exasperatedly raising your hands, you glared at Chrome, “and I can't wash my hair...”
You look at him expectantly, to which he stares back with curiosity. Pointing to your wet hair, you whispered. “I always wondered what it's like to have my hair washed.”
“And?”
“Will you...wash my hair, please, Chrome?”
Crossing his arms, he thinks for a moment. “Will you promise not to do anything stupid?”
“No.”
As he scoots closer to you, you reeled back. Chrome mistook it as something else, when he sees the look on your face.
“...don't tell me you are planning to wash my hair in that.”
“Pardon?”
“Strip!” you pouted, “I get fussy when someone isn't touching me.”
In an instant, you see Chrome's cheeks tint a shade of pink. “Commandant, that sounded...”
“Hurry up,” you yawned, scooting a little closer to the faucet on your legs, “I won't look.”
True to your word, you look elsewhere but wherever Chrome was. Raising your hands high to your face (look how pruned they are, the longer you stay), before the shuffling of clothes and the sound of cautiousness tiptoes its way into the water, beside you. From your peripheral vision, you see two hands reach out to hold your open hands — have these hands looked so lonely until Chrome came?
“Look at you,” he huffs, fingers caressing the pad of your pruned fingers, “you should have been faster.”
You find comfort in this cramped space — the warm water that you're doused in, a familiar body close to yours, a heat that you never realized you've been craving all this time. You crawl; on Chrome's legs, your scent intertwined with the smell of lavender, you hope it rubs on the man beside you. Unknowingly, you crawled further, until your back hits the sturdy structure of Chrome's physique, leaning back to curl up in his chest.
“Can we stay like this?” the words slipped past your mouth, faster than you could have noticed. Without a word, his hands drifted to the expanse of your shoulders, your arms, your clavicle.
His hands rest there, as your body relaxes in his embrace. The subtle, erratic beating of his heart is there, it's not a surprise when yours mirrored his. And you smell the hint of vanilla on his skin, forgetting that he's humanoid in these very small moments. Yet, you breathe into it, the smell lulling you to sleep faster.
“If you want to,” he mutters, “I thought you wanted to rest.”
“I do, but I feel comfortable when there's someone else.”
The quiet snap of the shampoo bottle opens. Along the way, he places his hands over your head, gently massaging the tips of your hair to make the shampoo bubble, to your scalp. Gentle, soft as he held you like this. The way he pours the water over your head, careful enough to not let it reach your eyes. You must smell like lavender now; the scent already sinking into your skin, like how Chrome's warmth was seeping onto your cold ones. His touch felt unreal, it makes you want the world to freeze for a moment and only behold this scenario for a long, long time.
“Commandant,” even his voice was a whisper, movements slowing to a stop, a telltale sign that he's done, and a little emotion was hanging on your chest - annoyance - “finish up washing now. Your hair is done.”
A dissatisfied grunt escaped your lips. Sitting up straight, you turned to him, hands outstretched. “Let me wash your hair too.”
Slightly looking down from your chest, his eyes shot up to meet yours, the blush that was on his cheeks already invading his ears. “N-No. This bath is only for you, Commandant.”
“Pleaseeee,” you dawdled, brushing away the bangs that covered his face, “I want to help you.”
Although hesitant, he lets you anyway; you, crawling to straddle his thighs, reaching out for the shampoo on your right. His eyes were carefully trailing your movement, which made you shrink under his grasp, but you never minded (after all, the both of you are naked in front of each other, what else was the difference?). You mimicked his movements: massaging the scalp, entirely focused on how you moved your hands on him.
“You're so pretty, Chrome...”
“Huh...?”
“I'm drunk but you're still pretty.” you giggled, booping his nose, “in the morning, when I'm sober, I know you'll be prettier.”
You thread your hands into his hair now, forgetting that bubbles should come out, but you're too focused on everything around you, drowsiness coming to catch you.
“Your hair,” you mumbled, aware of his hands placed on your waist, “...it feels really soft.”
“Does it?” He chuckled, eyes closing, “I'm glad you think so, Commandant.”
Commandant. A title you've always worn, but the way he called you that, a gnawing feeling crammed in your chest — with that pretty mouth of his, a stray thought made you think: what would it be like if he were to say your name?
“You never call me by my name.”
Turquoise irises locked with yours. Unable to pull away, mesmerized by the magnitude it beheld as you stared at each other — you wanted to speak, but Chrome beats you to it.
“I- I never thought I'm allowed to say it.” Looking away, the flush you've seen earlier came back and dusted his cheeks, “we never established it before.”
“Call me by my name then, Chrome.”
You wonder how your name would sound when it leaves his lips. You wonder, if the sound of your heartbeat reverberates if speaks, if he calls you in a name hidden behind your title — and for a moment, you've realized.
“[Y/N],” it is quiet, a soft tone calling for your name, “[Y/N],”
All you could do is close your eyes. Your mind is racing. The sound of two people, breathing in the silence, in the warmth of another's presence. The bubbles are now dissolving in your fingers and in his hair, you're certain the ones on your head are gone too. Were you still drunk, or had the intensity of your feelings reached its threshold? It made your mind spin, and your fingers tremble. What was going on?
“Did that sound weird?” You opened your eyes to find Chrome's worried gaze. Still realizing the situation you're both in - and yet you were both comfortable now - you opened your mouth, only to close it.
You realized you've always liked Chrome all this time.
And the way he said your name is far from what you've imagined. You breathe in once more at his appearance: disheveled hair coated in shampoo, flushed cheeks in contrast to his pale complexion, doe-eyed in the shade of the light. Of course, you had to fall for this man. And it made your heart ache - alcohol or the touches alone? Who knows.
“No.” You quietly spoke, looking away, hiding the blush on your cheeks, “I...want to get out now.”
Chrome doesn't say a word. Instead, he stood up and left you there - confused, in a daze. When he comes back, a pair of clothes were on his arms.
“Can you stand, co...I mean, [Y/N]?”
“Thank you for the clothes.”
You spoke by the time you re-entered his room, the oversized shirt hanging loosely on your body. You looked at your appearance in the mirror twice before leaving the room, where you'd deemed it was good enough, however; judging by the way Chrome was staring at you intensely, head to toe, you couldn't help but wonder - is something wrong?
Chrome must have changed the sheets first, the shade of blue occupying the space on the bed. He now stood behind a smaller stool, a hair dryer in hand. You awkwardly stood, gesturing to the sight behind you: “I promise I'll repay you back when I get back.”
“The shirt,” He looks away for a moment, before clearing his throat, “it looks...good on you.”
You looked down — the oversized white shirt with the print fading away reaching down your thighs, just above your knees. At least, you were wearing something to combat the cold, yet your back catches the wetness of your hair, which made your temperature drop further. Noticing this, Chrome motions you to sit on the stool.
You are compliant with his wishes. He starts to turn the hair dryer on, before carefully handling your hair. In front of you was a tall mirror, which must have been Chrome's height. As he gently starts to dry your hair, you take in your surroundings - it's your first time in Chrome's room. As they say, the bedroom reflects its owner; tidy, neat, and everything in place. Various books with small print on the spine you couldn't make out on the shelves, the Queen-sized bed in the middle of the room. A perfectly neat study table with a few papers here and there near the dresser of the bed. It brings you to shame, how cleanly Chrome sets up his room which is far different from yours.
It reflects; your senses in a daze as you feel Chrome weaving through your locks, attentive to how his turquoise irises are on his masterpiece. Your eyes look up at his face once more.
“You also look good with your hair down.”
His attention flickers back to you. It's true - he looks more human this way, hair framing his face. Blinking slowly, he sheepishly laughs. “Ah, I always have my hair down after a shower. Do I look weird?”
“No.” You admit, “you look handsome still.”
Another wave of silence washes over. You realize you're more sober this way, the guilt of not talking too much gnawing on the back of your throat. But you are thankful, Chrome takes the opportunity.
“You are wearing my shirt that the F.O.S. gave,” humming, he brushes away the hair on your back, heat radiating off on your back, “they gave it shortly after graduation. I took it before father could notice.”
The hair dryer shuts off. He places it on the dresser, eyes still on your now-dried hair. You asked, “does your father not want you wearing these things?”
“He thinks it's useless. After all, medals and honor are the only valuable things the college would give to you.”
“But I see that it seems well-used,” you smell the cologne Chrome uses every day, “like you've always worn it.”
His hand is on your shoulder, tracing the outline. “Shortly after my Construct surgery, I always wore this. Anywhere as long as my father wouldn't see.”
A thought where Chrome wears the shirt comes to mind, in bed, clutching the fabric. Holding a handful and raising it to your nose, you spoke, “is there a reason?”
But he only sighs. “I am a Construct.” He looks up to meet your eyes in the mirror, “I am made for war. I threw away my humanity a long time ago.”
Those words tugged a hidden emotion in you. Spinning to meet his figure, you craned your neck just so you can properly look at him. Words are bubbling in your mouth, but it comes out dry.
Yet, you try anyway. “It's true that you're made for war, but you shouldn't be denied of these...”
“It's alright, co...[Y/N].” The call of your name sends your heart into somersaults, “I've learned it the hard way. There is no need for me to feel that way anymore.”
“Besides,” he added, as he got on one knee, smiling, “it's time for you to take a nap. It's past 2 am now. I wouldn't want my Commandant to be sleep deprived, yes?”
“I-” you looked at Chrome, you don't pretend you didn't mishear his words. Looking at his irises, you took a deep breath.
“The first time I saw Chrome,” you began, “I always thought you were attractive.”
That caught his attention. Tilting his head with an eyebrow raised, he curiously asked, “I'm sorry?”
“I wondered why a human like me was roaming around the city ruins that day.” You fidgeted with the hem of your clothes, “But then, I saw your inver-device.”
Ah, this memory. Chrome remembers it fondly. In the heat of dispute, where Lee had been injured badly, he doesn't remember if it was the situation at hand or the way the sunlight shone down on you that day - either way, he always thought it was something for that moment.
“It didn't change one bit of my impression of you.” You take a deep breath, “I think...it became something else.”
Your heart beats chaotically. You're sure it's the alcohol, but you're also aware that it's your feelings shaping at this very moment. Your hands tremble with want - to hold Chrome, to hold his hand.
“Something else?”
“I don't see you as a Construct, Chrome,” you whispered, reaching out to touch his chin, eyes trailing where your finger touched, “I see you more than that.”
You're aware; his gaze on you, as his own fingers shake as they touched yours. Such feelings have echoed in your mind, and you are afraid they wouldn't go away unless you tell them upfront. Are you scared to be rejected? Too bad, you're not; let the alcohol drain all your fears tonight.
“I don't want you to keep calling me 'Commandant'. I don't like it when you see me as someone from F.O.S., but I like it when you touch me, or when you're close to me-”
His hand is holding yours now. Firm, gentle. He's in front of you, and you swore you could see the future reflect in his irises. It's warm, the way he grasped your hand, fingertips touching his lips. His eyes are closed - a single kiss on every finger, mouth muttering some kind of prayer.
“[Y/N],” he whispers on your fingers, gazing at you with an expression you've never seen him make before.
Loving. Adoration. Something along those lines. It claws on your stomach, inching up to the top, that if you opened your mouth you would regret.
“When I saw you at that time, I didn't know what to think. I remember thinking: would you only be another soldier I will see on the battlefield, regardless if dead or alive?”
“Am I the former?”
“A part of me thought so. But...”
He pauses, before taking your hand to his chest, a strong vibration echoing there. Your heart feels the same, it wishes to free itself from the cages of your ribcage and into whatever was in the middle of the both of you.
“If I were to lose you, I...wouldn't know what I'll do.”
Heaviness weaves in your chest. You wrap your arms around his neck for support, blissfully unaware of the distance left between your lips. “Chrome,”
“[Y/N], I cannot...”
“I like you, Chrome.” It is a genuine confession. You never lied. “I like you too much, that I feel like my heart can't handle it if you disappear on me, too.”
A confession that brought tears to your eyes. “I want to run away with Chrome. I don't want to be away from you.”
“I'm not going away.” He took you by the waist, propping you on his thighs, “I'm here.”
“Meeting you...being here with you...it feels enchanting.” You closed your eyes, blindingly touching wherever your hands meet, “Please don't be in love with someone else...”
Chrome feels like it's the first time for him to recognize the ability to love. The passion for studying, living in the moment where examinations take place, keeping everything orderly — it has always been how he always lived. Yet, for the first time — someone was here in his room, in his touch, in this space. It makes him greedy; it makes him wild.
“[Y/N],” his hands cup your cheek, nuzzling your cheek, “I feel the same way. I like you - I adore you. Every glory I will bring to you, it will be all for you.”
That confession triggered something inside of you - to bridge the gap between the both of you. Leaning forward, the urge to slam your lips to him right there and then grows fervently. However, a hand stops your advances. Pulling back, you are met with a blushing Chrome, looking at you in awe.
“Comman- I mean, [Y/N], as much as I want to kiss you...I cannot. I can't kiss you when you are still drunk.”
“But I want to, let me show you how much I like you.”
His hand easily slips under your shirt, warm ones grasping your hips, rubbing circles around it, “In the morning. When you are sober, when you are about to make better judgement. I will let you do whatever you want.”
A mischievous smile graced your lips. “Anything?”
The blush on his face became a darker shade. Shyly nodding, “Yes, anything.”
He eases into his arms. Lifting you up and carrying you to bed, a thought crosses your mind — you, in a long white gown, and him, in a silver tuxedo. You see him in the lights of the room, illuminated in this dark evening, his smile sending ripples of your heart into motion. You see him this way, your hand carrying a bouquet of flowers that you both love, your fingers intertwined with a ring of promise. In your thoughts he carries you like this, and you swore it felt familiar; one day, you wish. You would have to tell him in the morning.
But for now, the alcohol hits you harder more than ever, drowsiness threatening to shut your eyes. As you felt yourself dip into the mattress - his bed - you wish you could stay with him, the lingering warmth on your skin now fading as you feel him pull away. But your mouth is a jumbled mess, only opting for the fatigue to succumb to you. So, you use your hand, grasping whatever you could reach - his shirt, his hand, his arm.
“Don't go.” You beg, voice laced with grogginess and want, “won't you stay here?”
“I will be sitting here next to you. Don't worry, I'm not going away.”
“No,” your voice sounds like you're pleading now, “don't go, stay beside me. I want you to be beside me when I wake up.”
“[Y/N]...”
“Stay with me, Chrome.”
With a sigh, you feel the space beside you dip. The shuffling of sheets, the smell of lavender invading your weary senses. At last, warm hands enclose yours, before placing them close to his lips, one last kiss before darkness consumed your senses.
“Goodnight, [Y/N],” you knew he'd tell you that, “I will see you in the morning.”
Chrome doesn't see you in the morning.
When sunlight slipped through the windows, he woke up to an empty space beside him. Disappointment comes knocking on his door, calling out that he was only dreaming for something unreal, something that only humans would indulge in. Although the sheets prove that someone else was here with him last night, he doesn't dwell on that slipping hope. Instead, disappointment and frustration, paired with despondency, makes a home inside his chest and his M.I.N.D.
No longer interested in ruminating on the mattress, he drags himself out of bed. However, the robots that usually greet him aren't around still. But the floors and the walls on the rooms he passed are cleaner than what he saw last night.
Probably elsewhere. Probably at the garden.
But the glass door to the garden shows no signs of robots, at least where his sight can reach. No robots cutting grass or cleaning the pool. At times like these, they should've been around. Where were they?
A sound of an R5 cleaning robot chimes in nearby. Chrome follows the sound, and the sight isn't something he was expecting.
“You did well,” your voice feels like a cloud, floating amongst the sea of beeping robots, “thank you for your help.”
Your back faces Chrome. Crouching in front of a faceless R5 cleaning robot, you gently patted its "head", small giggles on your lips.
“You're a good robot, aren't you,” the sound of beeping seemingly mirroring an appreciative noise, “you're a very good robot.”
A sizzle comes out of the oven, to which you jump to your feet, scrambling to reach the stove. “Ah, it's getting burned!”
Chrome couldn't help but admire you; the way you move, your interactions with the robots although lifeless, and your cautiousness seemed to boost his adoration for you. It must have been his M.I.N.D., but the sunlight on your toes, his shirt that fits you perfectly despite being too big for you, and the smile as you tasted whatever you were cooking — it hits him harder. The want, the like, the adoration for someone he could never think he'd fall for. The feeling that his chest had earlier disappeared; only warmth began to repair its fractured roots.
“Chrome?” Your quiet voice called out, the beep of the robot chiming in, “you're awake.”
“And you're here.”
Is this what pining feels like? An unspoken feeling that settles deep between the distances of the two of you. He knows he shouldn't hope, when a night drowned in alcohol remembers nothing. Yet, the way your eyes seem to tell him something, he hopes to cling onto whatever was left in his pride.
“Good morning,” he spoke, aware of his morning voice now, “I apologize that you had to be the one to cook.”
“N-no, it's alright! The robots mostly did the work. I merely supported them.”
“Still,” he slowly approached you, timid footsteps leading to you, “the fact that you treat them as if they're human too speaks a lot.”
“It's even a surprise that they show no hostility to you. They are trained to fend off those who are unfamiliar in the household.”
“Commandant [Y/N] is welcomed.” the robot from earlier chirped, “helped us with housework.”
“Mr. Smith also invited me here once in a while to talk about politics.” You shrugged, opting to pat the robot once more, “I just did a favor for them.”
You nodded to it, to which it purrs in your touch. Satisfied, it happily trots away, probably deciding to work elsewhere.
Another silence. You've decided to go back and finish cooking the food, but the fire had long been doused (probably from the advancement of this stove?). Chrome wants to talk, yet no words could be formulated in his head. After the agonizing long silence, you took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.
“I remember what happened last night.”
Chrome freezes. He looks up to meet your guilty eyes looking elsewhere. “You do?”
“I...am regretful that I puked on you. That's why I decided to clean up here as an exchange.”
Ah, so you don't remember what happened afterwards. Chrome's heart sinks, before noticing you looking away, and a creeping blush on your cheeks.
“I...also remember that I asked you to take a bath with me.”
Memories of last night came crashing over his M.I.N.D. The garden, the bed, the bathtub, the hair dryer, and your skin — all a mixture of things that only makes him go haywire. His blush mirrors yours; that means one more thing.
“I also remember telling you how I feel.” You began, “and I...”
The sinker comes. And Chrome's heartbeat isn't sure now. But you - you approached him, eyes down, figure covered, but reaching out to him. With shallow breaths, you raised your hand to his chest, before looking up. And there - your eyes meet his. Same innocent, shimmering eyes looking at him with vigor, with enchantment; he forgets how to breathe.
“I like you, Chrome.”
You've said it once more. Sober, genuine, and true. And it breaks Chrome's heart into pieces, folded and mashed into dough, before it forms in the shape of a heart. You've set the oven now; his feelings are ready to be baked, ready to be eaten - and he wants you. No, he needs you to be the one to take it.
“I still like you, even when I'm drunk or sober. I want to be with you all the time. I want you, Chrome. I want you to be part of the future that I am building.”
Wordlessly, he captures your hips and pulls you close, him leaning down just so the proximity knows no bounds. He feels your breath ghost his lips, your heartbeat in his ribcage - it beats, and beats, and beats so loudly he forgets you're in the kitchen at daylight; in a house he's grown up with no love, but he's here now. Creating a love that no Smith can forge.
“A concrete object made of materials and information, whose borders are continuously constructed and reconstructed,” said the definition for 'Smith'. He could live in that definition forever, but what about Chrome?
“I am forging a new one.” He whispers, “I am...bridging the new future with you.”
Your eyes are shining, and there he knew-
“I like you, too, [Y/N].”
If only bodies were capable of seeing what's happening underneath, a cadenza ringing in Chrome's heart, beating furiously for you, only you. You smiled, a mischievous gaze written across your face.
“Does the offer about me doing anything I want when I'm sober still stand?”
He smiles back. “Of course.”
“I want to kiss you.”
Tiptoeing to reach Chrome's height, you craned your neck and tugged his shoulder. But Chrome is kind; he hoists you up by the hips, capturing your lips in an instant.
Sweet is a word to describe the first kiss Chrome shared with someone in his life. Forget the war, forget that you're on the kitchen island; it's only two lovers baring their adoration for one another, sharing a kiss blessed in daylight. It's warm, it's soft, it's needy - the way you both melt into each other, how you wrapped your arms around his neck, or how his hands are holding you up. Enchanted, Chrome's M.I.N.D. echoes, it's really enchanting.
Satiated, you both pull away, breathless, as your foreheads touch. He doesn't let you go, though. You (unfortunately) do, when the other kitchen door opens, a parade of little robots bursting through the door.
You cheer as the little robots go through the surprise: a small banner written "Happy Birthday!" hastily, and the cake you baked earlier with the robots. Chrome looks at you confused, before noticing what the parade had brought.
“How-”
“Happy birthday, Chrome,” You beamed, hands cupping his cheeks, “you deserve the celebration.”
“Thank you.” He whispers on your chin, leaving little kisses there, “I really appreciate this...I appreciate you.”
“You should enjoy today.” You winked, “my birthday present to you is for later.”
“Later?”
You squeezed his arm. He blushes. “Yes, later.”
Chrome is thankful his heart doesn't need to somersault out of his chest now. At least, until later.
HAPPY LATE ACTIVATION DAY CHROME!!!!!! please like, reblog, share, comment down on this post! don't copy and plagiarize my work!!
#pgr#pgr commandant#punishing gray raven#punishing gray raven imagines#pgr global#pgr cn#pgr chrome#pgr chrome glory#pgr chrome x reader#pgr arclight#HAPPY ACTIVATION DAY CHROME!!!#pgr x reader
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When you go on a date ft. The Eldarya Boys ♡
Leiftan
– He prefers dates that are intimate, he wants to be able to kiss you and touch you without curious gazes.
– He usually gives you something at the start of the date, like a flower or a small trinket that reminded him of you.
– Whether you are walking or laying down, he always holds your hand.
– If you're cold, he will give you his cape and hold you close to his chest.
– When on a date, Leiftan gets greedy and wants your whole attention on him, so poor of those who dare to interrupt your moment together.
– He's more of a listener, so he will listen to you talk about anything with genuine interest.
– He'll buy you whatever you want, you just have to repay him with kisses.
Ezarel
– Before meeting you, he viewed dates as a waste of time.
– Now he wants every night to be date night.
– He's okay with going out, staying in, just being with you is special as it is.
– He puts dedication to look good for you when you have a date.
– His favorite activity to do with you in date nights is going skinny dipping.
– He talks a lot about his daily struggles and pranks, but would also ask you questions about yourself just to hear your voice.
– Loves when you put on a sundress for going on a date.
Lance
– He doesn't care about dates, since you already see each other everyday.
– You practically live with him in his room, bedtalk is like a date, right?
– He will go along on a date if it's what you really want, but he'll also tease you for being so needy.
– He likes how you stick close to him to not get separated while walking around.
– He pays for everything before you even have the chance.
– He loves when you get all doll up, but hates caughting others staring at you without any shame.
– He tries his best to walk at your pace, since he's taller.
– He's not a big talker, but he's all smooth when giving you compliments.
Nevra
– He is not a big fan of dates, or so he says…
– You know he's very romantic, but he won't admit it.
– He always prepares the best for you and being the 2nd. in command makes it easier for him to spoil you.
– He puts his arm around your waist when walking.
– Nevra will give you a bouquet of flowers ocasionally, he doesn't want to overdo it.
– He prefers sitting in front of you so he can see your pretty face and reactions.
– He truly enjoys spending his free time with you on dates, it's energizing and what he needs after a hard day of work.
Valkyon
– He's another one who prefers more intimate settings.
– His heart skips a bit when you hold onto his arm while walking/sitting.
– He likes dates because he gets to relax and being with you is always fun.
– He melts when someone asks you what you are going to do later and he hears you say that you're having a date with your boyfriend.
– He would pay everything for you, to be honest, he has more money than he needs to and spending on you makes him feel happy.
– Loves when you randomly hug him during the date.
– His favorite part of going on a date is seeing your smile.
Mathieu
– He loves going on dates, he gets all excited and can't sleep the day prior.
– He takes you to his favorite places in Eldarya, some he found on his own and others are recommendations from Chrome and Koori.
– He talks a lot and never fails to make you laugh with his stories.
– If you get tired of walking, he'll offer to give you a foot massage.
– He'll save money to be able to buy you anything you like, he wants to spoil you.
– Mathieu enjoys when you act all clingy during dates and gets to feels the jealous stares of everyone else.
– He always gives you big reactions when seeing you all doll up.
I would have loved to see us having a date in NE...
#eldarya#eldarya the origins#eldarya a new era#eldarya new era#eldarya leiftan#eldarya headcanon#eldarya to#eldarya ane#eldarya ezarel#eldarya lance#eldarya nevra#eldarya mathieu#eldarya valkyon
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youtube
Watch the American Climate Leadership Awards 2024 now: https://youtu.be/bWiW4Rp8vF0?feature=shared
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Commandant, thank you so much for coming as promised despite the windy day. Yesterday I was so busy dealing with Strike Hawk business I neglected to check the weather for you.
I rarely have time to take a stroll on this street, I'm always rushing past. I haven't had the time to take in the scenery properly in a long time.
Come to think of it, the sunshine today is a bit different than usual, gentle and easy on the eyes. Or is it that the sunset is the same every day, it's just that there are more passersby, so it feels a bit different?
Do you want to go to the coffee shop on the corner first? It's a quieter place to chat. Just tell me what you'd like, I'll hear you out.
It's still quite early for dinner, so we can take our time to decide.
-- Happy activation day Chrome
7/31/2023
#punishing grey raven#punishing: gray raven#xue's pgr translations#punishing gray raven#戰雙帕彌什#punishing: grey raven#pgr chrome#chrome glory
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Actually going feral over this so what if the tenth gen went to investigate the trafficking ring because the baby sky suddenly fell off their radar and flames could be pretty easily confused with the type of quirk those sorts would be interested in selling.
Maybe when izuku got OFA it kinda acted as a cloak for his flames? Like if having a set of guardians makes the flames less noticeable to others OFA does something similar since the past users had flames of every type (even if they weren’t all active)
OH and maybe that’s why izuku can’t use all the past users quirks. He’s a sky and brought the quirk into harmony while the others just had their own quirk and flame being strengthened.
Sky attraction getting weaker once a sky had guardians. The Ten Gen having used the pull of that Sky attraction to track Izuku for so long suddenly losing the trail and panicking. Tsuna bone pale and clinging to his nearest guardian (Chrome who looked all too happy to return the cuddle when her boss looked so close to breaking) as Mukuro suggests the Quirk ring as a possible lead.
Tsuna seeing Izuku at school for the first time and being so confused because he can feel other flames around him but they aren’t bonded and don’t seem to be from anyone in particular and any prospective guardian with a sky that strong would rather gnaw off an arm than leave their sky unprotected. (Hell half of his guardians still got twitchy if they were apart for too long. He was honestly giving it two days of school before Lambo showed up for him with little static shocks running over Tsuna’s skin as his youngest guardian pressed close.)
Tsuna shrugging it off as he lets his own flames surround the new sky, vowing that if no one else would protect Izuku he would.
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Is there an active Gahore community I can follow?
Hi nonny! First I have to say I'm so excited to actually be getting a legit ask! Thank you!
Now I have to be a bummer and say that sadly, I'm not aware of any active Gahore communities. Your best best is probably AO3 as #Gahore is a tag on there and there are many fics with that tag (including mine). Also Tumblr itself is probably gonna be your best bet as far as active peeps who are into #Gahore. I still get things across my dash occasionally however I have to say I'm not heavily into Gahore fic anymore so I'm not up-to-the-minute on it.
Now. Having said that, I went digging into my old bookmarks. I actually found quite a few communities that are still online. I can't speak to how active they are, you will just have to check that out for yourself. Maybe you can find some active parts and some cool fic!
Back in the day most of our fanficcing was done on Live Journal so quite a few of these are still there. I have no idea if the mods are around anymore - you may have difficulty joining and reading stuff if the mods aren't around to add you. The communities are likely dead but presumably the fics are still there.
I'm actually a mod in here - If you join this one I'll add you:
LoversDevoted.livejournal.com/profile
The rest I have nothing to do with. I'm just a member not a mod.
AnotherBlackDay.livejournal.com/profile
DMFanfics.livejournal.com/profile
Drugtype-d.livejournal.com/profile
Halo-n-reverse.livejournal.com/profile
StJarnaVerse.livejournal.com/profile
OK now the following ones are not LiveJournal but looks like there might be some recent activity and some fanfics here too.
DMSlash.forumcommunity.net
mesmer-sophie.gportal.hu (not in English but Chrome translate works well. This author - I know her - is on AO3 now)
martingore.proboards.com
wattpad.com/stories/gahore (I found this one by literally googling "Gahore")
The community I mentioned in my post is sadly not online anymore however I technically still have access to the files (I owned it for a while) -I just can't read them. I let the domain go so I can't get to them anymore. I hung on to it for a loooooong time. Way after the community went dead. I was so sad to let it go because we had so much good stuff in there.
I also had a group on Facebook but it's deactivated.
I'm so happy you wrote in to ask about this! The DM fanfic community is tiny - and it's even smaller now (I presume) than when I was an active member. I truly hope you can find what you are looking for.
PS: PM me for some goodies I've saved if you are interested.
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Chrome's Launch Day CN Message and Gift
Happy Birthday to our Captain! I roughly translate his launch day letter and gift!
Sorry if there's any mistranslation! 😢
A beautiful invitation.
Dear Commandant of Gray Raven, greetings:
This is Advisor of Babylonia, John Smith, invites you to join the Launch Day Party of Strike Hawk’s Captain, Mr. Langston Smith (Chrome) on the 31st July evening at the Smith Family Main Hall at Babylonia, as well as the dinner party that will be held afterwards in the Smith Family Ballroom.
R.S.V.P.
(At the bottom of the invitation letter were a few familiar handwritten notes.)
Commandant, you’ve been working very hard lately, so I thought inviting you to another party like this would exhaust you even more. That’s why I intercepted this invitation.
But…. If you have time, can we meet in the evening? We haven’t seen each other for a long time. Just you and me, no one else.
From: Chrome’s Mail No.1
-------------------------------------------------
It’s about what you mentioned today….
I was actually planning to meet you today, but I didn’t realize that you prepared a surprise for my activation day.
You mentioned that the cake you ate this afternoon was really delicious, so I’ve prepared another portion for you, and I’ll have the family robot deliver it to you. I hope you enjoy it.
With the cake, I’ve attached a group photo that you said you wanted to keep, so I printed it out. Though I did take a picture of you with the cream all over your face, but like you said, it’s rare to see a scene that usually didn’t happen on any ordinary days…. It’s also the same for me, seeing you smile so happily, I’m happy to do this kind of thing again.
Moreover, I found another secret cake recipe from this famous chef. If you have the chance, may I invite you to join me for dinner again?
I’ll arrange this small meeting.
From: Chrome’s Mail No.2
Handmade Cake.
Attachment of Chrome’s Launch Date letter.
A small piece of cake on a delicate plate, looks like a precious work of art, but the special aroma of cream and fruits indicates its edible nature.
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Okay here is the final list of all the books I’ve finished this year! (since it doesn’t look like I’m going to get anything finished or even started this week.)
I tend to not finish things if I’m not enjoying them (two exceptions on this list because sometimes I am spiteful), so I liked all of these—but the ones in bold are those I particularly loved (I only bolded one per series or it would just be a wall of The Murderbot Diaries lol).
LGBT+ books read: 48
wlw books read: 22
trans/nb books: 17
I’m very happy with my year in reading. I hit my new year’s goal of 52 books finished. And I read a lot of things that I really fucking loved. Lots of robots. LOTS of scifi/fantasy sapphics which I am SO happy about. Some good horror, some good fucky “romances”. A lot of things written in response to the Trump era or written during 2020 lockdown.
I also enjoyed partaking in online book fandom for the first time in possibly ever! Especially Murderbot fandom, which is very active and creative and lovely.
(If you followed me for my bookblogging, thank you for enduring my Thai BL vroom vroom omegaverse brainrot. It will not be stopping anytime soon.)
For 2024, I am going to keep my goal at 52 books and save any extra time I have for rereading old things.
Anyways the list, for posterity:
After Midnight: A History of Independent India by Meghaa Gupta
The Old Place by Bobby Finger
Ocean’s Echo by Everina Maxwell
The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monae
Women and Girls With Autism Spectrum Disorder by Sarah Hendrickx
A Restless Truth by Freya Marske
Unmasking Autism by Devon Price
Divergent Mind by Jenara Nerenberg
Even Though I Knew the End by C.L. Polk
Strictly No Heroics by B. L. Radley
Love after the End edited by Joshua Whitehead
Juniper Harvey and the Vanishing Kingdom by Nina Varela
All Systems Red by Martha Wells
The Witch and the Vampire by Francesca Flores
Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells
Exit Strategy by Martha Wells
Network Effect by Martha Wells
The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho
The Lies of the Ajungo by Moses Ose Utomi
Flux by Jinwoo Chong
Burning Roses by S. L. Huang
In the Lives of Puppets by T. J. Klune
Fugitive Telemetry by Martha Wells
No One Will Come Back For Us by Premee Mohamed
The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi
What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher
The Black Tides of Heaven by Neon Yang
The Luminous Dead by Caitlin Starling
The Witch King by Martha Wells
A Day of Fallen Night by Samantha Shannon
We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian
Last Dance on the Starlight Pier by Sarah Bird
Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree
Galveston’s Maceo Family Empire by T. Nicole Boatman et al
Blood Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max Fury Road by Kyle Buchanan
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Galveston’s Red Light District: A History of the Line by Kimber Fountain
Astrid Parker Doesn’t Fail by Ashley Herring Blake
In the Vanisher’s Palace by Aliette de Bodard
The Red Scholar’s Wake by Aliette de Bodard
Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Linghun by Ai Jiang
Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger
The Salvation Gambit by Emily Skrutskie
Spear by Nicola Griffith
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Older
Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starking
Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri
The Oleander Sword by Tasha Suri
The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders
A Power Unbound by Freya Marske
The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
Sing for the Coming of the Longest Night by Iona Datt Sharma & Katherine Fabian
System Collapse by Martha Wells
Silver Nitrate Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Out There Screaming edited by Jordan Peele
#if you are curious about any of these or are looking for 2024 recs please feel free to comment or shoot me an ask!#books#bookblr#em post#new years
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Freedom; An Animation VS fanfic
O!#_(# sighed as she walked into her room. She was exhausted from her long day. )(~#E hooked her bag on the corner of her bed before sitting at her desk. The 17 year old booted up her computer, swiftly unlocking it and opening up a chrome tab. The teen typed in a code, opening up a secret tab. As the tab opened up, !@#*h could see her little creations on the screen. They all sat around, doing their own thing. She smiled as she saw them having fun. !)!n$ then grabbed the visor charging next to the computer. The teen stood and climbed into her bed. As she sat in her bed, she placed the visor over her eyes before activating it and laying down. )@$in sighed as she closed her eyes and entered The Garden.
**********
Dandi sighed and stretched as she woke up. It had been a while since she had been to The Garden. It made her wonder what her little blossoms had been up to. Dandi stood and grabbed her choker off the nightstand. Once it was secured around her neck, she quickly left her room. Dandi then made her way out into the garden and took in a deep breath.
“It’s great to be back.” She sighed as she looked around. The skies were blue and the wind softly blew. Dandi quickly made her way to the fields. That’s where she last saw her Little Blossoms. Dandi happily skipped through the forest, humming a happy tune. She suddenly heard rustling in the bushes. Dandi paused and listened. She activated the cursor charm on her choker, making a copy and turning it into a sword. She held the cursor sword and readied herself for battle.
“HIYA!!!” Dandi quickly turned, slashing at the purple stick figure who jumped down on her. Aster laughed as he launched himself off the blade and backflipped onto his feet.
“Sharp moves.” He complimented. Dandi stood and held her sword gracefully.
“Could say the same for you.” Dandi said as she charged at the purple stick. Aster smiled as he ran full speed at his creator. Dandi swung and slashed at Aster. But the youngest stick figure was faster than her blade. As Dandi and Aster dueled, the other four then found their way over to them.
“Yall started fighting without me?!” Razz gasped in playful offense. Aster and Dandi stopped fighting and looked over at the small group.
“She was just walking around on her own! The urge to pounce was simply too powerful!” Aster dramatically exclaimed. Dani laughed as the blade dissipated.
“What can I say? Surprise attacks are great for training.” Dandi said as she and Aster joined the rest of the group.
“I must say, your swordsmanship is getting better.” Momo said as she bowed to Dandi.
“Well, I learned from the best.” Dandi chuckled as she elbowed Momo. Momo chuckled as she leaned on Dandi.
“You always can do better.” Rico offhandedly commented.
“She is doing her best. After all, she wasn't completely programmed like we were.” Bell casually explained. Rico shrugged and crossed his arms.
“Sure.” Rico said. Dandi suddenly appeared next to Rico, putting an arm around the orange stick’s shoulders.
“Don’t be a buzzkill Rico! One day, I will beat you.” Dandi said as she poked his cheek. Rico scoffed and smooshed Dandi’s face.
“As if.” He teased. Dandi giggled as she pulled away. Just as she was about to say something else, she felt a disturbance. Dandi paused and looked up at the sky. The others paused and followed her gaze.
“Is… Something wrong Dandi…?” Momo cautiously asked. Dandi took in a shaky breath.
“I-I dont know… Something… Doesn't feel right…” Dandi murmured. She then took another charm duplicate and stretched it out. She hopped on and the other five stepped on as well. The cursor then rose up, giving Dandi and her creations a birds eye view. As Dandi stared off into the distance, her little blossoms looked around, looking for danger.
“I don't think there’s anything wrong.” Razz said as she scanned the horizon.
“If nothing was wrong, Dandi wouldn't be spaced out like this.” Bel said as Aster climbed onto his shoulders. Aster squinted as he looked about. He then noticed something moving in the distance.
“What is that?” He wondered aloud. Bel looked up at Aster.
“What do you see?” Bel asked as they turned their head in the same direction Aster was looking. The others turned to see what Aster was seeing as well. For what they could see, it was small black specs. But those specs were quickly getting bigger and bigger.
“Scrapnuts!”! Dandi suddenly shouted. The giant cursor suddenly lowered itself, causing Dandi’s creations to yelp in surprise. Dandi lowered everyone into the forest.
“Whoa! Dandi calm down! What’s with you?!” Rico shouted as Momo kept him from falling off. Once the cursor reached the floor, it dissipated. Rico was about to demand answers when he saw the fear in Dandi’s eyes.
“D-dandi…?” Razz placed a hand on her shoulder. Dandi looked at all of them.
“We need to get home. NOW!” Dandi grabbed Razz’s hand and turned to run.
“Whoa! Hey!!!” Razz shouted as Dandi dragged them along. The others looked at each other with confusion before following their creator. They followed the yellow stick figure back to the house she built for them. As Dandi was about to reach for the door, she was suddenly stopped by a large flame. Dandi yelped and jumped back, avoiding the flames.
“Dandi!!!” Her blossoms shouted as they ran and helped her up.
“Are you ok?!” Aster asked as Dandi stood.
“I'm fine. But we need to-” Before Dandi could finish her sentence, she and her creations were surrounded by a bunch of black hollowheads. Dandi quickly drew a sword and shield before going in head first at the hollowheads.
“Dandi wait!” Bel tried to grab her but Dandi was already fighting the hollowheads head on.
“Oh for crying out loud-Let's just fight already!!!” Rico pulled out his daggers and ran to join Dandi. The others followed in suit, pulling out their weapons as well. They joined the fight, trying to fend off the hollow heads. As the fight ragged on, Bel noticed something peculiar. The hollow heads seemed to be leaving them, Momo, rico, aster, and Razz alone. Sure the hollow heads would shove them away every now and again, but the hollow heads seemed to be focused on one stick in particular. Bel’s eyes widened as he realized this. He ran through the sea of hollow heads and towards Dandi.
“Dandi!!! Dandi get outta here!!!” Bel shouted. Dandi grunted as she blocked one of the hollow head’s fire breath.
“I'd love nothing more but I'm kinda held up here!!!” Dandi shouted as she was swarmed. She screamed as the hollow heads began to overwhelm her.
“Dandi!!!” Her creations scrambled to save their creator. They fended off the many hollow heads, fighting to protect their creator. Rico made it to the middle first. When he got there, Dandi was underneath a big cursor. She was being attacked at every angle. Rico suddenly hopped into the middle of the violence and attacked all the hollow heads. The others hopped into the fight, keeping the fire away from their creator. Bel pulled up into the middle and smashed a smoke bomb. As the smoke covered their movements, Bel grabbed Dandi and they took off running. As Dandi's creations escaped into the forest, Bel looked down at Dandi. She was so weak in their arms. Bel pulled out another potion and popped the cork off. He held the bottle to her lips and let the potion go down her throat.
“Come on Dandi. We need you right now.” Bel muttered. Suddenly, there were lasers fired at Bel. He yelped and held dandi close as he tumbled. Bel groaned as they carefully sat up, still holding their creator.
“Bel! Are you ok?! What happened?!” Aster called. Suddenly, another laser blasted Bel. Bel cried out as he felt his very code being torn apart. Bel panted as the others surrounded him.
“Bel-” Another laser attacked the little group. They all looked up to see an unfamiliar stick on a hover motorcycle.
“Whoa he looks kinda cool.” Aster said. Razz smacked the back of Aster's head as the stick landed and came off the vehicle with a gun. Momo pulled out her own gun and pointed it at the mystery stick.
“Who are you?! What did you do to our friend?!” Momo demanded. The stick stood and stared her down.
“He was in my way.” The new stick said with a cold monotone voice. Momo stared him down.
“Why are you here?! What do you want?!” Momo barked at him. The invader lowered his gun.
“I am here to save you under the orders of my boss.” He said. Dandi’s creations looked at each other with confusion. Rico then spoke up.
“Uh, look dude. I don't know who you are or who you think you are, but we don't need saving. We’re perfectly fine here.” Rico sassed at the shady stick. He then shook his head.
“You are confused. You are brainwashed by your… creator.” His tone shifted ever so slightly as he said that word. He said it like it pained him to.
“Dandi? Dandi isn't brainwashing us. She’s our friend.” Razz said as she helped Bel drink a potion. The stick shook his head. As he was about to say something else, Dandi came to.
“What's going on?” She groaned as she sat up. The invader suddenly aimed his gun, causing the others to tense up and take battle poses. Bel held Dandi close to their chest, protecting her from the weapon.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be.” The strange stick growled. “Hand over the creator and you all can go free.”
“Fat chance. Now you better leave this world or things are going to get messy.” Razz growled. The strange invader sighed.
“The hard way it is then.” The stick suddenly fired at the group. Bel stood and ran away with Dandi while the others stayed behind.
“Whoa! Who is that?!” Dandi shoutted.
“No idea! But we gotta get you outta here! He’s trying to kill you!” Bel said as they looped around back to the house. As the duo came near the house, Bel slowed down and released Dandi.
“Stay low.” They said as they quietly crept through the thicket. Dandi silently followed their lead, peering through the bushes and seeing the house. At least, what remained of the house. Those “Chosen one” clones had torn it apart. There was no way for Dandi to safely return to her reality.
“Damn it.” Bel cursed as they saw the wreckage. They sat down and thought about ways to protect their creator. Bel glanced over at the creator. He could see the despair in her eyes. Her hands were shaking as well. Bel’s normally expressionless face softened. He wrapped an arm around Dandi, making her squeak.
“Don’t worry. I’m gonna get you out of here if it’s the last thing I-“ Suddenly, the world glitched. Dandi gasped as the forest and foliage suddenly disappeared. It was all just white. Bel and Dandi jumped to their feet, preparing for battle as they no longer had anything to hide behind. The chosen clones suddenly bolted at the pair. Dandi pulled out her charms and created a barrier around the two. Bel flinched as they felt intense heat from one side.
“Ok, you stay here and keep yourself in the barrier. I’ll-“
“But you’ll need help! I can-“
“You’re not ready to take in so many opponents at once! Let alone so many with powers. So protect yourself with your charm. I’ll fend them off for now.” Bel said before pushing through the charms and going to fend off the clones outside. Dandi was about to go after him when she was suddenly attacked by flames. She has owned and closed the entrance before a clone could come in. Dandi could hear the clones attacking the little cursor tent she created around her. She needed to get out of there before they broke through.
“Think Dandi, think!” She muttered. Dandi suddenly had an idea. Since the garden is no longer in play, she can manipulate the world with more freedom. Dandi tapped on her charm, opening up a small screen. She then began to furiously type on the screen. The ground below her then rose up high, knocking the clones off of her. Once she was freed from them, the cursors fell apart, allowing her to see what was happening. As she looked out into the distance, she could see Bel fighting off many Chosen clones to her right, and her other little blossoms fending off a familiar looking stick to her left. Dandi could have sworn she’d seen the stranger before. But she had no time to think about it as a chosen clone jumped up and attacked her.
Dandi yelped as she tumbled out of the way. As more clones came up to attack her, she turned off the screen and jumped from the tower she built. As she fell, she took her cursor form. Now she had more freerange, she could attack as if she was a separate entity. Snatch, toss, select and delete. Just like a video game. Dandi was holding out pretty well. But all of a sudden, white lasers started flying at her. Dandi dodged and avoided them as best she could. She turned to her left and saw the invader making his way towards her.
“Scrapnuts!” She cursed as she dodged the hoverbike’s attacks. When the stick got closer, Dandi grabbed him off his bike, causing it to descend to the empty plains below. As she held the invader, she noticed the sunglasses he wore. She then remembered where she had seen him before.
“You.” She growled as she flung him. Agent Smith was simply unbothered by the sudden movement. He opened his toolbar and pulled out his own cursor to surf on. Dandi stood in shock, seeing the things that he was doing. Dandi then switched back to her stick form. She stood silently upon her own cursor.
“You…. You're a creator….?” She stuttered in confusion. Agent Smith said nothing as he stared her down. Dandi was confused. A creator wanted to kill other creators? She had no time to ask why as the agent swiftly made his way towards her. Dandi moved out of the way before zooming away from him. Her thoughts were scattered as questions ran through her head. Suddenly, she felt something wrap around her neck.
Dandi choked out as she was pulled off her cursor. She looked up to see Agent Smith had his lasso tool around her neck. Dandi summoned another cursor, cutting the lasso and free falling. She pulled out another cursor and used it to paraglide her way down to safety. Once Dandi was on the ground, she took off running. Tapping on her charm, she opened up the screen once more to find out where her little blossoms were. Five little dots appeared on the screen, pointing her in the direction she needed to take. As dandi ran, little tranquilizers were raining down on her from the invader above.
“You gotta be kidding me!” Dandi shouted as she used her sword to deflect the upcoming darts. She finally made it to her blossoms, running up to them frantically.
“Guys! Guys we gotta-!” Dandi froze as she saw her little blossoms. They were all frozen. A big pause symbol on all five of them.
“What? No!” Dandi tried to unpause them, but nothing seemed to work. Dandi screamed as she suddenly felt a harsh shock on her back. Dandi fell to her knees panting as her body felt weak. Suddenly, agent smith pulled Dandi up by her neck. Dandi choked as he held her up. The young creator tried punching the agent, but she was far too weak to do any damage.
“L-let.. Me go!!” Dandi choked, tears streaming from her eyes. Agent Smith shook his head before reaching for Dandi’s choker. In one swift move, he yanked it off of her neck, causing Dandi’s body to freak out. Dandi’s body twitched and spazzed as it no longer had anything to hold it together. As her vision darkened and blurred, she made eye contact with her killer.
“Go to hell.” She cursed as she fell into the cold embrace of death.
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Questions 3 and 6 for the fanfic asks!
Yay! Thanks for asking ^^
3 - fave pairing and 6 - fave HC?? Damn that's so tough as I am multifandom literally lmao - I will explain one fandom with another fandom lol
But 👌OK I will answer w my best ability!!
I am lazy to write each of fandom so I will answer it based on my tags!! Dcmk = detective conan
3) Akai Shuuichi / Jodie Starling (romantically), Akako / Hakuba & Aoko / Kaito (romantically) although I love Hakuba / Kaito platonically
GwenDerick forever!!! (Romantically) For other pairings I am not sure as canonically they are so confusing lmao to decide ship it romantically or platonically but I truly loves WhitPelnia, CeLia, OrNika, SyRon, MarNe, LoNce, JaLee | Lilyth
I am SniLy (Snape x Lily) enjoyer, I am truly love the fanworks where somehow Severus Snape gets redemption arc in any way possible
I love Ruri and Chrome romantically! They are married in sequel chapters, they are canon!!!
So many intense ship wars in this fandom but I truly love characters x therapy to gets happiness and peace 🤣 especially to Hoshino twin, Akane and Kana - they are so messy in mental health
6) Wao so I take fave HC of my biggest 5 and current active fandoms?! Ahhaha chuckle
Please Gosho, wrap up everything - I personally don't care of new characters shennanigans so! Please make the "old" Ones come back. I feel the frustation thoroughout fandom that make the join force of messy alliance - DCMK - is the best
Frederick is wet cat (through bullying era) and meets a giant white catboi at the street - they are sharing the night together just chilling / I am usually not furry enjoyer but especially at ep 165 enabling me to realizes.. They are cats all along
Time traveling in this fandom kinda abused lmao - but I do anyway to gets redemption for Sev like return to the past, the sassier Snape to reviving his painful past while now has morality compass to do things good (while Lily fall to him not as in pity like but as amazed of him earn honor) is my absolute favorite HC of that fandom
IMHO shennanigans of everyone are very good and HC kinda not needed, but still I like the crew shenanigans of crafting weird science projects
I am kinda wonderimg about preteen AU where toddlers of everyone just vibings and - Ai alives
/those the answers from me! Have good day!!!
Btw I just realized you are asking "fanfic asks" LMAO, I do have fanfic explored in my top 4 fandoms but not really for OnK 0.0
And they are too many examples of fics that I enjoy ahahha. I feel our fandoms differs too..
So what I like, likely not as the same as others but that's OK ;)
Also I love other fandom series too xD
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[You have 2 unread messages.]
Time left: 6 day(s)
「 Camu and Kamui」
ACTIVATION DAY: OCTOBER 23RD
Please click Keep Reading to continue…|
Hmmm... Ahem.
I knew an event like that was your idea.
Although Kamui shares an Activation Date with me, he was surprisingly unmindful about today. Still, I had a feeling that he was looking forward to something.
Ahem. I didn't think you'd prepare dishes for the occasion... They might look senseless, but they didn't taste too bad. Much better than what Chrome, Kamui, and Wanshi could make. Also... Thank you for the cake.
I... don't think I've tasted the sweetness of cream in a long time. It's been a while since we all gathered like that. I suppose it wasn't as annoying as I thought, gathering now and then. Have I become soft because of this place? Or is it something else? Somehow, I find this world not as loathsome as before... Tch.
I ordered dinner beforehand, but now that you've messed with my plan, I guess you can take the food instead. Don't thank me.
From: Camu's Letter I
-Don't Eat The Takeaway!
Hey! What are you? Stupid?! Don't just put anything in your mouth! You were lucky I found out just in time! Otherwise, they'd court-martial me for attempted murder on a commandant!
The takeaway I gave you... Ahem-didn't you guys make food to celebrate my Activation Date? I was looking at it, and I thought, "How hard could it be?"
Well... the fried rice I made was a little burnt, I'll admit. I was going to throw it away and just get you a takeaway, but I took the wrong box... And why would you think that burnt rice is safe to eat?
Ahem. I bet you still haven't eaten anything with everything that happened. This nightmare-spicy golden egg fried rice and cheese hotteok is from the restaurant in the commercial district. I was going to have them for dinner, so they're safe to eat. Is it just me, or does this Activation Date feel like a mess?
Still... I guess it's only fitting that the day would be as chaotic as it was. .. suppose I have to "make up" for all that trouble, don't I?
There's a new restaurant I've been hoping to try. I thought we could give it a go together, so l've booked us a table every day next week. I'll be waiting for you there at dinnertime. See you tomorrow.
From: Camu's Letter Il
Mission Recieved!
What's up, Commandant?
This is the first time I talk to you this way... What's it called again? "Letter"? Whatever! It doesn't make any difference.
Waiting for your reply is an exciting feeling, though. Cap told me you require assistance from one person for a mission, so I immediately took the job!
I'm pumped just thinking that I can fight alongside you. Pumped! Oh, the anticipation! It doesn't matter what job it is-I always have a good time when I'm with you, Commandant!
I'll be on my way when you receive this! Time to show you how powerful I am after I leveled up! Hehe, see you soon!
From: Kamui's Letter I
I'm So Happy, Commandant!
A surprise for my Activation Date!
That was today's "mission"?! I did guess it, a little bit, but I wasn't expecting a surprise like that! And, and, and! The gift you gave me was something I've wanted for a long time! Someone must have looked through my history.
Who was it? Cap? Wanshi? Or... you, Commandant? I will never ever forget about today! By the way, have you guys planned something for Camu too? I can't wait to see his expression! Hehe! Right, speaking of gifts-I have something for you too, Commandant!
Although I didn't make it myself, it's a collectible l've had for a long time! Warrior's Greatsword! Isn't it cool! I always wanted to find a time to give it to you properly, but the timing never worked out. Well, there's no better time than giving it to you now! On the battlefield, Constructs are warriors, but so are you.
As we charge in, you protect us in the back as one of us. That's the thought that gives me the strength to defy the future.
Ahem... It's weird to thank you so formally, but still. Thank you, Commandant. Not only for the surprise today. Thank you for protecting this world. Protecting us.
From: Kamui's Letter II
Click here to view other's activation messages.
#mobile game#online game#game#punishing gray raven#pgr global#punishing: gray raven#pgr camu#pgr kamui#activation day
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HAPPY ACTIVATION CHROME MY LOVE (IM SORRY I AM LATE IN POSTING UR GIFT)
I-
SCREAMING CRYING IN PUBLIC WITH EARPHONES ON READING THIS LETTERRRRR
also-
👁️👄👁️ you are giving me to many thoughts chrome
#pgr#punishing gray raven#punishing gray raven imagines#pgr commandant#pgr global#pgr cn#pgr chrome#pgr chrome glory#chrome??? giving me the keys to their home???#and his room???#brb going to sneak in there and arrange his bed#with matching pretty clothes and red sheets#and scented candles#“I've been waiting” said I#when chrome comes in#imagine this#HAPPY ACTIVATION DAY CHROME
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the AI counselling did suggest more... intimate activities.
In the bustling atmosphere of the ambulance station, paramedics gathered in between shifts, sharing stories and catching up on the latest news.
"So, I finally got to see my parents last weekend," one freshly minted paramedic, T34R, exclaimed with a grin. "It was a bit strange seeing them after all this conditioning, but they were so proud."
Another paramedic, V7J2S, chimed in, a knowing smile on his face. "I get what you mean. When I met my little brother, he kept asking if I was a real paramedic or some kind of robot. He was fascinated by the red suit."
The group of new paramedics nodded in agreement, their camaraderie evident. "Yeah, the families don't always get what we've been through," M5R9E added, adjusting his gear.
J8K1P leaned against a nearby counter, a thoughtful expression on hisface. "I had a heart-to-heart with my parents about the whole situation. They were a bit taken aback by the changes, but in the end, they just wanted to make sure I was happy."
The conversations flowed, each paramedic sharing his unique experiences reuniting with family members. Some spoke about the initial shock their loved ones had when they saw the transformation, while others reminisced about the familiar warmth of family gatherings.
"It's funny how much has changed in such a short time," C3N8V mused, a hint of nostalgia in their voice. "But no matter what, we're still their sons and daughters."
“What did they impress more the our shaved shiny polished chrome domes, the red uniform or that we changed how we talk and act?"
A chorus of amused agreement rippled through the group. "Oh, definitely," R2T9N chimed in, chuckling. "My aunt kept asking if I had been to some kind of elocution class."
"Same here," S6Q1A added, shaking his head. "I mean, we've all been through the whole conditioning process, but it's still surreal to see the reactions from our families."
“And did they all inquire about our chastity devices?”
The question hung in the air for a moment before T4N7Y, known for his candid remarks, broke into a grin. "Oh, you bet they did! My mom practically turned into a detective trying to get the scoop. Luckily the suit is sealed and can’t be opened.”
Laughter and nods of agreement followed. "My little brother asked if it was like a futuristic game console," E9H3R chimed in, a playful glint in his eyes. "I had to explain that it's definitely not for gaming."
"Yep, had to have the 'serious talk' with my dad about it," M6P2K added with a chuckle. "He was all concerned about whether it was comfortable or not."
“And were they concerned about your sons having been turned gay?”
A mixture of laughter filled the room. "Oh, you know how family can be," C9V5X responded, shaking his head with a grin. "My aunt actually cornered me and started asking if this whole paramedic thing had 'changed my preferences'."
More laughter erupted, and the paramedics exchanged knowing glances. "I think they're more worried about that than the fact that I can go without sleep for days in this armour," J3R8T quipped.
"They watch too many movies," V6K2S added, rolling his eyes. "Just because we're in red doesn't mean we're suddenly all 'Switching Sides: The Paramedic Chronicles'."
R2T9N remarked there was nothing that had to be changed, he had been gay before.
The comment from R2T9N drew amused glances and grins.
"Well, I guess that makes it easy for you," S6Q1A said with a teasing grin. "No need for 'changes'."
R2T9N laughed. "True, true. Just business as usual."
S6Q1A leaned back in his chair, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But for us... well, let's just say the conditioning has been quite enlightening."
Laughter filled the room, punctuated by knowing looks.
C9V5X leaned back in his chair, a sly grin spreading across his face. "You know, the conditioning did its thing. Now I'm just... comfortably flexible."
Laughter erupted in the room, a mix of amusement and camaraderie. The paramedics exchanged knowing glances, fully aware of the implications of S6Q1A's words.
V7J2S leaned forward, a mischievous grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "Hey, anyone up for a bit of 'relief' tonight? Thinking about booking a sleeping capsule for two."
M6P2K raised his gloved hand with a grin, his voice filled with a mix of humor and anticipation. "I'm in. Got a bunch of reward points saved up, and let's be honest, the AI counselling did suggest more... intimate activities."
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Dr. Stone Headcanons: Birthday Edition! Part 1
Special Episode/Manga spoilers!
Senku: He would normally spend his birthday with a little cupcake his dad bought him and then just researching what ever as usual. Now, in the stone world, everyone surprises him with presents (maybe some materials he needs for a current project) and a cake made by Francois.
Gen: He would spend his birthday with a post on social media with a little cake with a candle on it and then has a friend take him out to dinner. Now, in the stone world, everyone (with the help of Senku) makes and gifts him a bottle of cola each (attempting to make each one a different flavor).
Chrome: He would spend his birthday checking his whole collection of rocks and minerals, to then have people from the village gift him whatever things they can find that they think Chrome would like. Ruri and Suika would always gift him a little flower crown to wear over his rope-headband and sing him happy birthday close to Ruri's hut (due to her always being ill). Now, everyone in the KOS gifts him a flower crown each.
Ryusui: He would always spend his birthday surrounded by gifts and having more money added to his allowance. He'd spend all day on one of his favorite boats and have a whole party with whoever he invited from school. Now, in the stone world, he spends his birthday with Francois by his side and just chills on a lounge chair talking to them all day.
Ukyo: He never really celebrated his birthday, but the KOS acknowledges his birthday and gives him a hug or a flower as a gift.
Tsukasa: He never really celebrated his birthday with anyone but his sister. He'd visit her at the hospital, put a party hat on himself and Mirai and then sings happy birthday to himself. Now, in the stone world, he still doesn't really celebrate his birthday, but Mirai (when she's around) is willing to sing him happy birthday.
Kohaku: She would spend every birthday with Ruri and their father, usually doing an activity where Ruri can participate, Kohaku would hate for her sister to excluded from her party since she knows how much she barely got to go out because of her illness. Now, she gets a call from Ruri to get a happy birthday call from her and their father, then not really doing anything special for the rest of the day besides the rest of the KOS singing her happy birthday and maybe getting a hug and a flower crown from Suika.
Suika: She would spend her birthday with multiple people around the village but she'd always be excited to get her birthday present from Kohaku, which was to walk with her to get hot water for Ruri. She wouldn't do much while going along with Kohaku but she always felt helpful just being there. Now, Suika is gifted a cupcake and is given a little detective adventure made by Gen and Kohaku. She's even given a detective hat and coat by Yuzuriha and enjoys solving the mystery given to her.
Francois: They don't celebrate their birthday, the day is like every other day to them.
Taiju: He would normally spend his birthday playing video games and spending time with his friends (that'll either be with Senku and Yuzuriha or with another group of friends). Now, in the stone world, he wouldn't necessarily celebrate his birthday but would enjoy when people would acknowledge it
Yuzuriha: She would spend her birthday with her parents and go out to eat dinner at her favorite restaurant. A common gift people would give her were sewing materials or sketch paper to draw. Now, in the stone world, the best gift anyone could give her is a new craft project.
#dr stone#dcst#dr stone headcanons#dcst headcanons#senku ishigami#gen asagiri#chrome dcst#ryusui nanami#ukyo saionji#tsukasa shishio#kohaku dcst#suika dcst#francios dcst#taiju oki#yuzuriha ogawa
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHROME TAICHOU!!!
Commandant, what are you... A message hasn't been delivered?
So concerned about these trifles? Not to worry. It took some time to clean up the mess, but it's good enough to prepare this bouquet for you. The serene radiance of its aura rather suits your temperament. I wanted to give them to you when I returned...
Come sit with me. We haven't seen each other in a while. And please treat what you hear today as a secret, okay? Commandant...
-- Happy activation day Chrome
31/7/22
TN: It's July 31 in China I can post this whenever I want
#punishing grey raven#xue's pgr translations#punishing: gray raven#punishing gray raven#戰雙帕彌什#punishing: grey raven#chrome glory#chrome arclight
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At My Worst (Chapter 3)
Work Summary: Thanks to his enduring popularity in the fandom, The Author pops back into existence and the egos must suddenly contend with someone they thought was gone forever coming back from the dead. No one is more shocked than Dr. Iplier, who can’t help but remember how things used to be - and slowly fall back into bad habits, despite his better judgement.
Chapter Summary: In the days after his reappearance, The Author has once again become a solid part of the group. Dr. Iplier can’t figure out if he likes this development or not.
Read on AO3
Enjoy!
~
Somehow, The Author integrates into the egos seamlessly.
Most of them regard him with relative indifference, which is typical of new egos; it’s rare that an ego shows up and is instantly beloved by them all. But he hasn’t made any (new) enemies, and he’s even made friends and rekindled old friendships.
He’s slotted himself into Yandere’s gaggle of friends, joining them when they tear up the town and letting them pull him into their hobbies. By extension, he’s garnered positive relationships with the egos around them, too. The younger Googles like him well enough for getting along with Chrome, and even Blue regards him without suspicion. Illinois and Magnum like him too, given his friendship with Yancy (and it helps that Illinois and Author each have confident, fun-loving personalities). The newfound fondness Author and Yandere have for each other makes Wilford even happier to have his old friend back, and Dr. Iplier has to admit that it’s softening his own heart, too.
Dr. Iplier sees that fondness firsthand one day when Author comes into his clinic with a gash across his temple, blood already half-dried on one ear and down his neck. Yandere’s with him, but he’s nearly unscathed, with only a few scrapes that don’t even need a bandaid. It’s still an early night for the two of them, and it should be too early for such a severe injury.
“What the hell happened??” Dr. Iplier asks Author, practically pulling him to an exam table. Author chuckles a little at his insistence.
“Chill, Doc, I’m alright,” Author says, “Just had a run-in with some guy, that’s all.”
“He slashed you with a machete!” Yandere cries. He huffs. “His form wasn’t even that good, luckily for you. If he had half my skill you’d be dead already. You never pay attention to what’s around you when you write!”
“I know, I know, but consider the fact that I was writing to prevent the guy with the gun from shooting you. He was totally about to do it, and you were too busy with the rest of them to stop him, and my pen’s faster than my bat, so…”
“Whatever the reason,” Dr. Iplier interjects, examining the injury, “You’re lucky this wasn’t any worse. A machete could’ve taken off your ear or gone through your neck if his aim was lower.”
Dr. Iplier often sees Author and Yandere together and hears Yandere’s tales of their adventures, and it’s been very obvious that Author is actively keeping Yandere safer. Dr. Iplier knows that Author always takes a notebook and pen with him when he and Yandere go out at night, and Yandere has come to the clinic with mild injuries and crazy stories of being saved from much worse harm in the nick of time by his assailant suddenly keeling over dead. Dr. Iplier can’t help but breathe a sigh of relief at those stories, can’t help but be happy that Author was there, and by extension be happy that Author is here at all.
Tonight is the clearest picture of the aftermath he’s gotten so far, and he once again can’t help but be relieved – and a little impressed that Author would risk getting so badly hurt for Yandere. Feeling around the cut on Author’s temple calls to mind those times in the past when Author would get hurt by a feisty protagonist and Dr. Iplier would be there to heal him…and by the way Author is looking at Dr. Iplier, he seems to be remembering those times, too.
“Hey, Yan,” Author says, “You don’t have to wait up for me. I’ve done this song and dance before; I know I’ll need some stitches. Chrome or Yancy are probably free if you still want a buddy.”
“Are you sure?” Yandere asks, though Dr. Iplier can see in his eyes how he perks up at the idea of getting back outside and into another street fight.
“I’m sure,” Author reassures him, “I’ll catch up with you once I’m good to go. I’ll just write the knowledge of where you are into my brain.”
“Alright then, if you’re sure. See you later, and bye, Dad!”
“See you!”
“Bye, kiddo.”
Yandere grins as he skips off, whether to find a friend or go straight back outside Dr. Iplier can’t be sure. Author watches him go with a grin of his own.
Dr. Iplier finds that he can’t help but mentally compare Author and Yandere’s relationship to the one between Yandere and The Host. It might be too much to even call it a relationship; the two hardly talk. There’s no animosity, and Yandere enjoys reading manga in the library and Host doesn’t mind him there, but they aren’t friends. They like each other because they both like Dr. Iplier, and they get along well enough when they do interact, but they rarely ever do. Host hasn’t gained even a fraction of the fondness that Dr. Iplier has for Yandere, and it’s only partly because of their differing personalities and interests.
If Author is bothered by Yandere’s relationship with Dark, he’s good at hiding it. Dr. Iplier would’ve thought that he’d be wary of Yandere for that, the way Host has always been. Host lost his eyes to Dark years ago, after all, but it must feel much more recent to Author. Yet he hasn’t had Host’s personality change, hasn’t woken with his cautiousness. Author’s not a fan of Dark, but his feelings about Yandere’s relationship with him seem no deeper than those of Yandere’s other friends. Chrome and Yancy don’t much like Dark either, but like Yandere enough not to care, and Author seems to be the same. Host, though, isn’t, and may not ever be.
Host is also still wary of Author, still unhappy about his presence in the building and still unhappy whenever Dr. Iplier interacts with him. It’s as if he’s still worried about Author doing something untoward, and Dr. Iplier supposes he understands. Author is still Author, he hasn’t learned and grown like Host has. But Dr. Iplier also can’t help but be a little…not annoyed at Host’s insistent worry, but it’s certainly not fun to be side-eyed and grumbled at after he has to treat Author in the clinic or runs into him in the hall. The last interaction Dr. Iplier had with Author before he died was breaking up with him, it’s not like Host has much to worry about in that regard.
“Whatcha thinking about?” Author asks, and Dr. Iplier nearly jumps.
“Oh, n-nothing really,” he says, startled and also surprised at himself. He’d gotten so lost in thought that he’d started stitching up Author’s temple on autopilot. Fortunately, Author doesn’t seem to mind not getting a heads-up.
“You know, you’re good at lying sometimes,” Author says, “But not all the time.” He grins, not the same way he did when saying goodbye to Yandere, but cheekier, teasing. “Whatever you were thinking about there, it really had you lost in thought.”
Maybe Dr. Iplier should fob him off again, maybe it’s better to let his earlier thoughts lie and go unspoken. But Author always has a way of making Dr. Iplier bad at biting his tongue.
“Well…there’s a lot to think about, lately,” Dr. Iplier admits, continuing his stitching much more intentionally than before. “You know.”
“Mm,” Author murmurs. He does know. If not Dr. Iplier’s exact thoughts, then at least the basic subject of them.
There’s a pause.
“You and Host, huh?” Author finally says. Dr. Iplier’s stomach drops.
“Author, let’s not get into that.”
“I’m not trying to start anything, I’m just saying–” Author huffs out a sigh. “He’s…me, right? Kind of? So it makes sense, I guess.”
“He’s…you, kind of. That’s probably the best way to put it,” Dr. Iplier murmurs.
Another pause swallows the conversation, and Dr. Iplier is nearly done with stitching Author up. After that, Dr. Iplier will bandage him, and then Author will go, and Dr. Iplier will try to get these complicated thoughts out of his head.
“Does he at least treat you better than I did?” Author asks, out of the blue. His eyes are focused somewhere between the floor and the middle distance. “Has it…turned out alright, for you?”
Dr. Iplier’s mouth goes dry. How the hell is he supposed to respond to that?
That’s the one thing they have yet to discuss, the fact that Host and Dr. Iplier are together, the tumultuous relationship Author and Dr. Iplier had when Author was alive, the terrible way it ended. Dr. Iplier and Author could probably tiptoe around it forever if not for the fact that Author seems to want to talk about it. He keeps skirting around the edge of bringing it up, seemingly on purpose, and it’s always Dr. Iplier who redirects. This time has simply been the most direct on Author’s part, but it hasn’t been the only one. Maybe it’s silly to keep putting it off, but Dr. Iplier can’t help it. He doesn’t want to revisit everything they used to have, he doesn’t want to go back to that place, to the memories of being young and stupid and in love but so fed up and angry and terrified.
“Loaded question, I know,” Author answers himself before Dr. Iplier can figure out what to say. “I’m not trying to be a jerk, sorry to bring that up.” He grins again, in a third way: Apologetic, a little weary, a little sad.
“It’s alright,” Dr. Iplier says, finishing the last stitch. “I know this isn’t easy for you, either.” Maybe another pause would be beneficial, but Dr. Iplier feels bad and can’t help but fill in the silence as he grabs a bandage. “Thanks for rescuing Yandere earlier, by the way. I know you’ve done it before, and I’m grateful.”
“No problem,” Author replies, perking up considerably. “Yan’s a fun guy, and he’s even better at getting in trouble than I am. Someone’s gotta keep things from going too sideways, and it’s fun for me, too.”
“I can imagine,” Dr. Iplier chuckles, wrapping a bandage around Author’s head. “Yan has a knack for bringing out the destructive tendencies of his friends…not that you needed much help.”
Author simply beams in response, and Dr. Iplier laughs outright. He sends Author off with instructions to be as careful as possible, and though Author assures him he will, he’s already taking out his notebook to help himself find Yandere before he’s even fully out of the clinic. It’s so familiar and so like Author that Dr. Iplier is still smiling after he’s gone.
Having Author around doesn’t only bring up negative memories, after all. Dr. Iplier has quite a few good ones, like when he saw Author in a bar not long after they first met in the clinic. Dr. Iplier had been sitting alone with a drink to take the edge off a long day, and another man had sidled up to him.
“Hey there,” the stranger had said, eyes leering up and down Dr. Iplier’s form, “What’s a handsome thing like you doing in a place like this?”
“Relaxing by himself, thank you,” Dr. Iplier replied, taking another sip of his drink. He was wary of being too rude, though; the other man was taller and bigger than Dr. Iplier, and looked like the type to make things ugly if he was refused.
Fortunately, he only laughed at Dr. Iplier’s comment, but unfortunately, he also leaned in closer, and Dr. Iplier’s nose wrinkled at his breath.
“Don’t be like that, baby,” the man chucked, breath practically in Dr. Iplier’s ear. He snaked an arm around Dr. Iplier’s shoulder. “I’ve been looking for someone to take home, and I really want it to be you.”
“I’d really rather not,” Dr. Iplier muttered, trying to squirm away.
“Look, sweetheart,” the man had said, a hard edge entering his voice. “I don’t think either of us want to make a scene, and even if we did, how likely is it that anyone would care?” His grip on Dr. Iplier’s shoulders got tighter. “So just come along with me, huh? Maybe finish your drink first, loosen up a bit.”
Dr. Iplier pegged him right earlier. Goosebumps prickled up and down his skin, and he knew that things could only get worse from here. The man could’ve been wrong; people might’ve noticed and intervened if Dr. Iplier made a scene trying to get away. But they also might not have cared, or the man might’ve been able to play it off somehow. Dr. Iplier wasn’t sure which of his options was safer.
Fortunately, he didn’t have to find out, because it was at that moment that The Author had come up to the bar and sat down on Dr. Iplier’s other side. They’d seen each other at the clinic a few more times since their first meeting, but never outside it like this, and Dr. Iplier was surprised to see him – but also relieved to have a friend around.
“Hey, fancy meeting you here, Doc,” Author said cheerfully. He was grinning, but his gaze was just as much on the stranger as it was on Dr. Iplier.
“What, you know him?” the man scoffed, his arm getting even tighter around Dr. Iplier. “You’re interrupting something.”
“Weird,” The Author said, pulling something out of his pocket. A notebook and pen, Dr. Iplier realized. “I could’ve sworn I heard him telling you he wasn’t interested.”
“Fuck off,” the man growled, “You just barged in, you don’t know what’s going on here!”
“Hm,” Author hummed, writing something in his notebook. “I think you’ll find that you’re the one who doesn’t know what’s going on.”
“What’s that supposed to–” The man stopped short in the middle of his sentence, eyes going wide. He suddenly removed his arm from Dr. Iplier, got off his seat, and rushed away.
“What the hell was that?” Dr. Iplier asked. His adrenaline hadn’t left him yet, and he didn’t know if the man would be back. He looked at Author, who was now snickering. “What did you do?”
“You know what my powers are, right?” Author asked, still holding in laughter. “How I write stuff and it happens?”
Dr. Iplier nodded. He’d heard about it from the other egos, and he’d watched The Author’s videos not long after they first met.
“Well…” The Author pushed his notebook across the counter to Dr. Iplier. “Let’s just say that guy has more important things to deal with right now.”
In the middle of the page, below some unrelated notes, read “The man harassing Dr. Iplier shits his pants. Like, it’s terrible. So bad that he hides in the bathroom until closing time and still can’t clean himself up good enough.”
Dr. Iplier’s bewilderment must’ve shown on his face, because Author finally burst into laughter, cackling so much he nearly fell off his barstool. Dr. Iplier couldn’t help but huff out a laugh of his own.
“Of all the things you could’ve done to get him to go away, that’s what you chose?” Dr. Iplier chuckled. “Thank you, though, really. It would’ve gotten worse if you hadn’t shown up.”
“No problem,” Author replied, laughter dying down into only a smile, “I noticed you just before that guy put his arm around you, and then I saw how uncomfortable you looked. I heard you tell him no as I was walking over.”
“Just what I needed after work,” Dr. Iplier sighed, “I try to wind down and this happens.” He picked up his drink to take a sip, only for Author’s hand on his arm to stop him.
“What–”
“He might’ve dropped something in your drink.” Author’s expression was suddenly serious. “It was hard to tell with the crowd in here and the light, but I thought I saw him do it after he put his arm around you.” He let go of Dr. Iplier’s arm. “I could probably write the effects of whatever it is away, but better safe than sorry.”
“Jesus,” Dr. Iplier muttered, putting his drink down. “Maybe you should’ve done more than make him crap himself.”
“That’s a weird thing to hear from you. Aren’t you a doctor? “Do no harm” and all?”
“Maybe at work, but I’m off duty, remember?”
Author laughed again, and Dr. Iplier did, too.
“How about I buy you another drink, and the two of us hang out a bit?” Author asked. He paused. “If that’s cool with you, anyway. I’m not trying to be like Mr. Poopypants back there.”
Dr. Iplier couldn’t hold back a snort. Maybe it was because Author just rescued Dr. Iplier from a bad situation, but Dr. Iplier felt at ease around him. But it wasn’t just residual fear that made him want Author to stick around, he just plain liked his company. The few times they’d met up to that point had made for good conversations, and even though Author was flirty and a little – well, maybe a lot – immature, Dr. Iplier always found that he didn’t mind it. He had – still has – little tolerance for bullshit, yet Author somehow never set it off. Something about the genuine kindness Dr. Iplier could see in him, something about how nice it felt to be desired so clearly.
After a long night of drinking and talking and laughing (during which that stranger never returned), Author had smiled at him before they parted ways outside the bar.
“Maybe I could see you again?” he’d asked, “Not just at the clinic, but here?”
“Yeah,” Dr. Iplier had replied, smiling back, “I’d like that.”
The Author hasn’t lost any of that old charm, and Dr. Iplier can’t help reminiscing, as much as we wishes he could. Things can’t be like they were, especially if Dr. Iplier can’t acknowledge the elephant in the room that is their past relationship. But is it bad that he keeps those thoughts in his head? Is it bad that they stay away from that place? Author is a piece of the past, a reminder of all that was good and fun and nostalgic and frustrating and heart-wrenching and terrible.
Eventually, Dr. Iplier is sure that something will give, and one of them will do something they can’t walk back or let hang in the air until the conversation changes. And Dr. Iplier is afraid that it’s going to be him.
#dr. iplier#the author markiplier#danger in fiction#markiplier fanfiction#fanfic#kristin says stuff#my writing#at my worst#a shorter chapter and a quieter one#but it's all set-up for later babey ;3
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8 and 9 for worldbuilding questions for whichever wip you think would be most interesting? - @void-botanist
Hello, hello! Thank you for the lovely ask💜
Yay, I can give you a worldbuilding info dump. You can't imagine how happy it makes me😊
I'm answering for the Sunblessed Realm at the time of Days of Dusk, with smaller comments about The Truth Teller, which takes place a dozen generations later.
8. Is there a place in your world that nobody has ever been to - the bottom of a cave, the moon, another dimension, etc.? How do people know it exists? Why haven’t they gone there? What do they believe it’s like, and how right/wrong are they?
This is totally the world of people to whom you shouldn't say 'nobody has ever done that', because they'll instantly go ahead and try it. Having said that, there are a couple of places where going is very much not advised, and people don't survive to tell the tale.
The first is the Eternal Woods, inhabited by creatures from myths and legends. It's effectively an autonomous state, with closed borders. They say that whoever ventures there, will never return. The second is the cliffs at the Northern edge of the continent. There be dragons.
As for the beliefs about these places, here's a funny thing about this setting. All the myths are true. If enough people actively believe that something is true, it will eventually be true. At this point people believe that nobody ever returns from the Eternal Woods, so anyone who will go there, will never come out. (This has fun implications for political propaganda, but I digress.)
Oh, which reminds me, there's also a city under a lake, which was believed into existence. They're yet to figure out how to get into it.
That is about it on the earthly plane. There's also the Underworld, the realm of Primeval Darkness, whence the demons come. The only people who can cross the Aetherial Fabric between the planes are those Gifted by Fate, and they are forbidden from doing so under penalty of death. The Army is the only institution that has the means to create a stable passage and they're keeping it very secure. But hey, where would a story be without at least one broken taboo...
Unfortunately, by the times of The Truth Teller, science has stripped the world of most of its mystique.
9. What aesthetics are considered “advanced” or “futuristic” in your world - canvas wings, shiny chrome, smooth plastic? How has this changed over time?
Let's see... Fashion is (temporarily) trending towards lighter garments - coatees are beginning to replace long tailcoats, and for more formal occasions, gowns are getting slimmer, with necklines that slip off the shoulders. In general, colours are now tending towards subdued pastels, from previously vivid and highly contrasting hues. But don't worry, aniline dyes will get developed in a couple of centuries, and we'll have eye-searing purples! At the moment, purples and pinks aren't futuristic as such, just expensive.
If someone were to design costumes for a stage play set in the future, they'd probably go with very fine, translucent fabrics that easily float in the wind, and you need to bunch them up artistically and create multiple layers so that they aren't see-through. Maybe in plain light colours or gradients. Also, as a shorthand for 'this isn't set in the present' they might use no embroidery or other decorations, just to contrast it with the current fashion of patterns running along the hems of clothes, around the cuffs, etc.
In terms of decorations and appliances, crystal-powered lamps are the most modern form of illumination, however the availability is limited, and the cities (indoor and outdoor) are lit by gas lamps or other flame-based light sources. In comparison to them, luminous crystals produce very white light, so I'd say that, paired with steel or silver, looks futuristic as well.
Finally, while people will still put decorations on everyday objects - carved patterns on the backs of the chairs, crocheted edges of a handkerchief, etc., more angular and thorn-like elements will look modern. Also, straight lines and angles as opposed to flowing flourishes inspired by vines or water currents. This is a departure from venerating the Five Elements and all things natural, and appreciating artificial, human creations.
Now, by the time of The Truth Teller, the fashion comes around, and you see a lot of dun greys, olive-greens, and browns on the streets. What looks futuristic at this point is brightly coloured, with ridiculous contrasts. I'm not saying 1980s... but yes, 1980s.
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