This is the dumbest shit to complain about but i absolutely fucking hate seeing ppls art tutorials on tiktok explaining shading and then immediately being like "make sure you use this color to shade X" NO!;!!!;$*%(%(,%^?,%% I DHDJJG nobody who watches these is going to learn how colors work and how to shade on their own they'll just default to this same preset every single time "ah shade this with purple, shade this with pink" EVEN WHEN THE MOOD OF THE DRAWING OR THE OTHER COLORS DONT FIT THIS maybe ill explode

Like like idk i feel like an important thing to understand is how colors relate to each other and knowing that in theory you can use any color for anything as long as it fits the values and relates well to the other colors. You can use the same value of blue and yellow in a single drawing but blue is cool and yellow is warm it will most likely be read as blue being the shadow. Even if the blue and yellow are just as dark or light as each other. AND YOU FUSUSKSHDKFHSKFNVN DONT LEARN THINGS LIKE THIS FROM THAT

MC is Sick?!

(Feat. GN!MC and the Demon Bros)

✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦

Lucifer

A little late to notice that you’re sick. He’s been so busy lately that he can’t watch you as carefully as he’d like to, so he apologizes for not catching on sooner.

But now that it’s been brought to his attention, Lucifer is all over it. You’re excused from your classes and sent to your room for bedrest while he tends to everything else. He’s rarely the one to bring you your medicine or meals, to his dismay, but his busy schedule just won’t allow it. 

If he were able he’d let you stay in his room until you felt better. But for the time being, he’ll have to squeeze in little visits to your room, where he’ll pop in and sit on the edge of your bed, pressing his hand against your forehead and letting it linger on your cheek.

He’ll often come to your room with a record for you to listen to, and he loves talking about the history of the music and the life of the composure. His boring talks put you right to sleep.

“This piece is one of my favorites. The composer went into an illness induced madness when he created the sheet music, and wouldn't eat or sleep for two weeks until it’d been completed. Why, I often listen to it when- Ah, have you fallen asleep?"

Mammon

The first to notice the change in your health. You don’t look so good.. Are you okay? MC?!

Good luck trying to get any rest, because your first man is gonna be popping in and out of your room every five minutes. He’s constantly checking in on you, making sure you’re not too hot or too cold, that you’ve got something to drink, that you ate the soup he left-

Actually, Mammon’s not that bad of a caretaker! He’s a little too attentive, but he clearly knows what he’s doing. Also insists on being the only one that takes care of you until you’re better.

Polices everything you do. You wanna get out of bed? Nope, wait for Mammon. You’re bored? He’ll bring you something to do. Know what, he’s just gonna move into your room for the time being-

“Who told ya to go and get sick? Makin' me worry like this... I'm gonna make sure ya get better in no time, so you'd better be grateful, ya hear? I don't do this for just anybody..."

Levi

No way... You’re sick?! But you guys had plans to watch Magical Ruri Hana together...

Yeah, he’s not the best at caretaking despite watching Cells at Work, but he does know the basics! It kills him to leave his room so frequently, so.. why don’t you just stay in his room? He’ll take care of you there, and the healing waves of Ruri-chan will wash over you and get rid of your illness!

He definitely can’t be your primary caregiver, unless you want to be sick forever. Anime doesn't really imitate real life. Who would've thought?

 But he’s as attentive as he can be, at least! He brings you new DVDs to watch, manga to read, and delicious stacks to try whenever he can! Even if this is all he can do, he wants to make sure you know he’s thinking about you. May or may not also be spam texting you and keeping you awake-

“I brought the audio drama for you to listen to! It's from the TSL live series, where they act out the scenes! You won't have to worry about reading or watching anything, so you can listen to it to sleep. Oh, but I want to hear your opinion on everything! And then you- huh? When will you be able to sleep? Uh..."

Satan

The most knowledgeable when it comes to taking care of human illnesses, but he still fumbles a little. Insists on making an accurate diagnosis of your symptoms, and that takes way longer than the actual treatement,

But once he’s deduced what’s going on, Satan goes all in. You might feel like a guinea pig because of all the weird methods he’s trying on you (may or may not have read a medieval medicine book first), so uhhhhh be patient with him. Now hold still while he puts this onion in your sock-

Not as attentive as the others, but very thorough when he tends to you. And despite all the unorthodox healing methods, you actually recover quickly, by some miracle.

In the quieter moments when all you need is rest, Satan will sit by and quietly read to you until you lull off to sleep, brushing the hair from your face before he leaves.

“Hm... I was sure St. John's Wart would do the trick, but your fever hasn't broken at all? Maybe I ought to try minced garlic and honey next? Or maybe..- Eh? Just normal medicine is fine?"

Asmo

SICK?! No no, this won’t do at all! Asmo doesn’t want to see his darling MC looking so pale and unsightly! It’s off to bed with you now. No, not his bed he loves you but you’ve gotta understand-

Gentle affection is one of Asmo’s selling points, but that doesn’t mean the king of aftercare knows how to treat illnesses. He does however make you extremely comfortable. I’m talking extra fluffy pillows, cold and hot packs where you need them most, careful sponge baths (if you’ll let him), and everything else he can offer to make sure you’re okay.

May or may not show up in a hazmat suit, but don’t worry. The mask is clear so you get a view of his beautiful face! And when he isn’t around to take care of you, he sends pictures of himself to speed up the healing process.

Most likely to ask for help in your care. He tends to forget that you need more than affection and selfies to help you recover-

“Make sure you get better quickly, okay? I'll keep gracing your with my gorgeous face, and that ought to heal you in no time! Oh, maybe an herbal bath will help, too? I'll join you~!"

Beel

Extremely worried the moment you sneeze twice in a row. And when that escalates into a full blown cold, he immediately takes you to your room and cocoons you in every spare blanket he can find.

His care is sloppy, but full of affection. Your bed is a fluffy mess of soft blankets and pillows, and he lingers in your room nearly all day. And naturally, Beel knows you need to eat in order to heal.

You’re never without any food. This man will bring you an entire rotisserie chicken and a quart of orange juice for breakfast do not underestimate him. And if you can’t stomach anything, he’s try for things that’re easier to eat. like soups and broths. Also insists on feeding you himself.

Might also need some help in caring for you. He has good intentions and he’s being as careful with you as can be, but it can’t help to have another set of hands on the job. He wants to make sure you get the best care he can offer.

“Mm... you're not eating a lot today. Hm? You're full? But you only had a shadow hog roast, three sandwiches, and a gallon of juice. Are you sure that's enough? ...Well, maybe you're right. I'll eat what you can't finish, then. Hm? You're worried I'll get sick? It's fine. A human cold wont affect me."

Belphie

He knew something was up when you didn’t get out of bed that morning. Sleeping until 2pm is HIS thing, got it? Just kidding-

Tries not to show it, but this man is so worried that he can’t even sleep. BELPHEGOR, the Avatar of Sloth, is suffering from insomnia. 

He isn’t really the best at taking care of other people, but he knows that plenty of rest can only do you good. Belphie climbs into your bed and resigns himself to staying there until you heal. Somehow, having him around makes your sleep even deeper, so you always wake up feeling a little more rested than before.

Not so great at remembering when to bring you medicine and stuff, so the help of the others is a given. But despite that, you find yourself comfortable in every position you shift into. Belphie knows a thing or two about resting peacefully, so he’s got an eye for helping you with that.

“Are you feeling a little better today? ...Good. You were tossing and turning in your sleep, so I got you that ice pack. It look like your fever finally broke, so that means I can rest easy now.. goodnight......"

Every bit of Shadowbringers is the Scions it corresponds with.

Amh Araeng Prt 1 is very Alisaie. Mirroring her decision in A Realm Reborn, Alisaie wanders off to the outskirts of civilization. Choosing to observe the powers of the world and figure out a way to stop coming tragedies. We’re introduced to the threat and aggressively fight against it but in mirror the loss of Ga Bu and Louisoix. Alisaie loses someone dear to her by Tempering. Louisoix became a Primal and Ga Bu was tempered by Titan. (Though honestly I wish Alisaie would stop losing people dear to her cause after Requiem for Heroes it feels like the story likes to kick her while she’s down at this point)

Kholusia Prt 1 is very Alphinaud. There is a semblance civilization, a rule of law in the area, there is even a function in which the society works. Mirroring Alphinaud remaining well within spitting distance and very much in the middle of the comings and goings. He uses his diplomatic maturity, which once was made for personal gain with clever wit and scheme. He has learned from the Crystal Brave betrayal, corruption of Ishgards, the result of those who choose might means right and what it results in from his time in Ala Mhigo, Hingashi, and Doma respectively. Applying himself to better comes to grips with the peoples plight. Upon seeing how Eulmore treats those chosen but then thrown away and then coming face to face with Vauthry. Rather than turning a blind eye and just being, “That’s just how it is.” as he was with the Monetarists and Refugees of Ul’dah. He pushes back against the system, damn the consequences, leaving an easily position to effect the politics of Eulmore and even gets a bullseye placed on the back of his head.

Lakeland is very much the Crystal Exarch’s Domain. It is the place of mystery, where life heavily clings on and every time we venture out to it. We come into conflict with either Eulmore or the Sineaters, Vauthry is controlling. It is in Lakeland, we fight through the Holminster Switch. Come face to face with our first Lightwarden and see where there was once furtile farm land, peace, and people. Now chaos reigns and an apocalyptic wave of disaster has struck. Mirror the world, G’raha had woken up to after the Eighth Umbral Calamity. This is where our foot hold is. Where we first bring night back to the First and his plan for saving the Source is put in motion. There is also a sense of myth about the place, Bismarck, a fae being in this shard slumbers in the Lake aptly named the Source. And it is only by bringing together to allies we made that we allowed to travel to the Tempest when he is spirited away. Just as G’raha gathered allies and people to himself to build the Crystarium.

Il Mheg is Urianger’s realm and reflects the game, he has agreed to play with the Warrior of Light at the behest of the Exarch. It is full of beings, who make deals out of innocent furvor at the determent of all who are around them. Pixies trick travels and fellow fae a like. The Nou Mou live to serve mortal kind just as Urianger serves the realm as a whole, no matter what light history might cast him in. And the Amaro dream of comrades lost, wishing to feel the comfort the adventurers and merchants they once wandered with. Grieving in their own way just as Urianger did after Moenbryda’s passing. Il Mheg is the land of faeries, it is steeped in myth and legend just as Urianger always had his nose in a book. Titania lays at the center of the realm. Once the pinnacle of the fae, forever corrupted by the Lightwarden’s energy. A horrific mirror of what should happen is G’raha’s plan should fail and the paragon of heroism, his friend: The Warrior of Light. Could also become a monster wearing the skin of a kingly figure should his mask slip. Yet when we enter his abode in the middle of Il Mheg, the Waking Sands/Rising Stones music plays. Reminding us of home and the Scions, he calls family and he welcomes us as he ever did, cryptically.

“Unto a hero weary of heroes, a heroes wends [their] way...”

Rak’tika is Y’shtola of course. She has turned away from her light magics of conjury to the dark magics of thaumaturge. The great boughs rise up and block out the sun light of the Great Wood. Reflecting the living style of her mentor: Master Matoya. A person who prefers their solitude, away from the dealings of the world, but with great knowledge to progress the plot forward. Thancred and Y’shtola get into an argument on how each other has changed. The two of them stood side by side after the Bloody Banquet and were both flung into Aetherstream by her Flow spell. While Y’shtola adapted to her blindness and halfened life force. Thancred had to push against the constrains of no longer having access to his aether and briefly losing sight in one eye. His last moments were the thought of protecting Minfilia. Only to wake up in Dravania and find out that Minfilia is no more. Y’shtola rejects Master Matoya and Thancred’s choice of solitude. Making friends with the Night’s Blessed. Even though, she knows she might have to leave them behind all too soon. She becomes a pinnacle of the Night’s Blessed community. While Thancred wanders hither and tither unfocused with Ryne at his side. Slipping easily into her role as a Scion, she researches the clues left behind by the Ronka Empire and makes allies with a civilization who has also closed themselves off from the world. Y’shtola is the first one to recognize the faults in G’raha’s plan and is immediately suspicious of the Exarch’s intentions. We see Y’shtola never truly changed however as when it comes time to get the item that will save the world and protect her friends. She readily uses Flow once more. Damn the consequences. Her sacrifice for the greater good is, as always, her charge which she never hesitates to grant. She even bonds with Runar seeing him as a little brother despite his obvious want for something more, just as she has a sister back in Gridania with whom she has a friendly relationship with. Just as Y’shtola’s connection to Matoya opened up the path to Azys Lla. Her run in with Emet-Selch opens up the path to learn of the Ancients and Amaurot and the true nature of Hydaelyn and Zodiark.

Amh Araeng Prt 2 is Thancred. Its tedious, its nearly empty, full of the smallest hopes. Each challenge is made to be tougher than it should be and despite us being able to compliment Thancred when finding a Voebrite coin. He shrugs it off as he is wont to do at this point. We get Ryne’s inner turmoil deepening. Thancred comes face to face with another individual wallowing in their own grief for those he loss and suddenly after coming face-to-face with Ran’jit again. Thancred throws away his misgivings and brings Ryne into the fold as shoe horned and bad written as possible. So lets just skip this area and never talk of it ever again okay? Cause the story never really does save for the Fatebreaker Eden section

Kholusia Prt 2 is Ardbert’s story or what it once was. We gather our group together and besiege Eulmore only for the villain to escape our grasps. But we triumph in liberating Eulmore from Vauthry’s tyranny for a moment. Alphinaud gets his heroic speech, Alisaie gets to combat the threats of the Lightwardens, Y’shtola and Urianger work together to make a massive Talos, Thancred and Ryne keeping tabs on Vauthry and Mt. Gulg. We meet face to face with G’raha. For all intents and purposes our Cylva. A person with a schism coming to a head. We come together as a team for the first time since coming to the First and each shows their worth in their connections to the realm. Mirroring Ardbert’s journey, we are faced with multiple seemingly insurmontible odds and come out on top. Vauthry’s Sineater Guard fall, he himself becomes the last one. The night returns to the First. And. We. Fail. We fail due to the machinations of Ascians just as Ardbert’s group did. The Warrior of Light is brought low by the combined aetheric energies of all Lightwardens. G’raha’s plan fails when Emet-Selch appears and leaves us for dead. Sure the enemy was vanquished, Vauthry and Ran’jit for us, Loghrif and Mitron for Ardbert’s group, but the First still falls to a Flood of Light as the eternal day returns and we are left on the cusp of despair. For all our triumphs. For all the schemes. For all the fighting. We fail. And just as Ardbert learns to protect his world with the aid of the Word of the Mother. The Warrior of Light only survives due to the aid of Ryne. An Oracle of Light who has come into her own and not died on the battlefield. We wander the Crystarium afterwards listening to the tales of the people and what they think of the Exarch. Then immediately find our courage to plunge into the depths. Ardbert giving us the strength to move forward, that he didn’t have when he met Elidibus. No more desperation. Just courage in the face of oblivion.

The Tempest is Emet-Selch. We are bridged there by the mythical Bismarck and find a dwindling but prospering Sahagin alternative. Living and getting by the ruins of those who stood before. The one part of the world far, far, far way from the light of the First. From the people and things, he used to care for. We find he made a city out of nostalgia and even the ghosts become almost too real. He is at the depths of his grief in a world, he cannot forget and will not forsake. It is here, the one clinging to the past the most falls to those who look to the future they yet have. He covets the Exarch’s use of rift travel because he knows if he can harness it, he has a chance to go back and save EVERYONE! But, he can’t and he won’t. He can no longer go home and knowing Elidibus’s memory and personality has been slipping since he left Zodiark’s breast. He asks us:

“Remember us...remember that we once lived.”

The Crystal Tower is Elidibus. It is the shining beacon of hope, he wished to become as Emissary. From the day, he chose to become the heart of Zodiark. To every motion to move for or against his breathren. The Allaghan Empire’s greatest achievement. But ruled by an Emperor whose death dropped him into Nihilism. Conquest was nothing but ashes in the mouth of Xande and he wish to consume the Source in Void. Elidibus wishes the return of Zodiark. For it is his duty, there is no solace in memories he can no longer recall. A being frozen in time just as Amon had the Crystal Tower’s previous inhabitence. Telling us repeatedly that no matter what our Echo shows us of his past. It will not avail us to his present. So he takes on the image of the Warrior of Light, playing pretend at the role of the hero having possessed Ardbert’s body before. He speeds up the Heroes Journey. Has us actively fight against our own memories and in the end, his own brother reappears amidst the clash to grant the last Unsundered Peace in his fall. G’raha sealing away his essence in the Crystal Tower to become part of the beacon of hope and light. Though perhaps in his final moments, his true duty was that he was waiting for someone to return to him. Someone he looked up to in his younger years. A shadow in his memories he has clung to and taken into being the example off in their absence.

“The rains have ceased, and we have been graced with another beautiful day. But you are not here to see it.”

May I request the brothers taking care of a sick MC? (: 💕

Hope you like these! Please stay safe <3

【Lucifer】

You always make sure to let Lucifer know if you plan to miss breakfast, so when your empty seat remains as such, his concern grows, prompting him to leave the table to check on you - especially after his messages remain unread. He slowly pushes your door open, creeping his head around to see where you were, and his eyes fall in your bed. He’s a touch annoyed to you there, especially when he had been so worried. Lucifer was two seconds away from ripping the blanket off, until he hears you coughing, “(Y/N)? Is something wrong?”, his face and voice soften as he sits down on your bed, pulling the cover back just a touch to look at you. You certainly didn’t look too good, and your voice was rather hoarse when you did try to speak to him; so he made sure to gently shush you by softly petting your head with an ungloved hand - the cool touch was certainly welcome.

While he may not show it in his face, Lucifer is deeply worried about you, and allows himself to dote on you just a bit. He’s almost nostalgic from the times he used to care for his younger siblings when they took ill, but his concern has more to do with you being human. Even if it’s just a cold, he wont take any chances, and has a doctor summoned immediately. Once given the all clear, he relaxes a bit, and gets you to rest, making sure you have plenty of water to keep hydrated, along with medication and a cool, damp cloth. When your eyes flutter shut, he plants a soft kiss on your head, while carefully moving loose strands of hair away. Lucifer made sure to check on you as often as he could throughout the day, but he made sure you knew he was a mere call away if you needed him.

【Mammon】

It was probably his fault you got sick in the first place. He was constantly getting you caught up in his antics - from simply pulling a few pranks on his brothers, to then facing the consequences of said pranks. It was hard to catch a break, and eventually, the exhaustion caught up to you, making you rather ill in the process. The day you planned to spend inside, nursing yourself was the day Mammon had a new scheme in the works, one that required his human to help, and when you didn’t show up, he began to furiously message you, and the cryptic picture you sent him in return of the thermometer didn’t help your case, as he practically stormed the fort you had built, being as loud as he usually was, but a soft whimper brought him to a halt, “You really are ill, aren’t ya?”, his voice was low, and laced with concern. He assumes you’re on death’s door, and begins to panic, no matter how much you try to tell him it’s just a cold.

Mammon is somehow able to pull himself together, when he realises that you are indeed not dying, and like the colds even the great Mammon suffers from, you can be cured with rest, but Mammon still insists on nursing you back to health, despite his more than questionable bedside manner. He’s not the worst caretaker in existence, even offering to feed you soup personally, all while acting like it’s a chore, and it’s hard not to laugh at the faces he unintentionally makes while he feeds you - made funnier only when he begins to blush and get all pouty. He also insists that he stays in your room with you; not because he’s worried, but because his room is super cold, and he needs the warmth you’re giving off, as he wraps his arms around your from behind, keeping you nice and close.

【Leviathan】

He doesn’t even realise something is amiss at first. It’s not like he leaves his room often enough to notice when something is going on around the house, but you’ve always made sure to come to his room and watch the latest episode of, ‘That time I went for a shower and discovered a mermaid had somehow ended up living in my bathtub’. He even had the snacks and everything ready for you, but as time grew nearer, your lack of presence in his room was getting more and more worrisome, so he decided to call, and was relieved when you picked up, “Yo, normie, you know it’s starting soon right?”, he tried not to make it obvious, but he’d be hurt if you made other plans or simply forgot, “Yeah I know, I’m coming, I just don’t feel good,” you croaked in response, and Levi began to feel a touch guilty, “Ah, a-actually, just wait there,” he mumbled, quickly hanging up the phone and making the snap decision to come and see you.

When he entered your room, he felt even worse, seeing you stood in the middle, wearing fluffy and comfy pyjamas but still shivering, “(Y/N), you should be in bed!”, Levi was shocked to say the least, and quickly ushered you back into the comfort and security of your bed, nervously resting a hand to your forehead. Like Lucifer, his hand was lovely and cool against the heat of your face, but if anime had taught Levi anything, it was that you were possibly dying, and he should call an ambulance. It was hard to convince him otherwise, until you grabbed onto his hand, insisting that you only need him to stay with you. He soon stopped fretting so much, instead doing his best to help you sit up, making sure you were as comfortable as could be before he put the anime on, though you didn’t exactly get too far into the episode before falling asleep against his shoulder.

【Satan】

It’s rare for a demon to get sick, but humans are so weak and frail by comparison, so it was only natural that eventually, you would catch a cold. Despite knowing this, Satan was still pretty worried. He had only popped to your room to ask if you’d finished reading the book he lent you, after his messages went unanswered. Finding you curled up in bed, shivering was a worrying sight, but when he approached you and saw your face reddened with a fever his concern grew, but seeing your eyes flutter open as he gingerly rested a hand on your head eased his concern, as he offered you a reassuring smile. Satan knows he can’t do all that much for you, but was happy to do what he could to make you feel better. He started off by leaving you with plenty to drink, and even whipped up a potion to ease your symptoms that some of his witch acquaintances taught him.

“Sorry about the taste, I can’t do much about that,” he couldn’t help but laugh when your face twisted at the taste of the bitter potion he had presented you with, even though it worked a treat. Satan was kinder than you had ever really seen him before, as he tucked you back into bed, one hand resting on your head while softly petting you, the other holding a book he began to read aloud to you. His hand was warm, but feeling him softly run his fingers through your hair was a heavenly experience, even if it came from a demon. You didn’t focus so much on what book he was reading too you, as you ended up drifting off to sleep a couple of pages in; your soft snoring being Satan’s cue to close his book, and leave you to get some well needed rest.

【Asmodeus】

You were late coming to his room for spa night, so he decided to drop you a message, or two, or maybe six to find out where you were. Though it crossed his mind that you maybe ignoring him, as he remembered in class earlier he continued to chirp on and on about some bath bombs he bought, even with you telling him your head hurt. He didn’t think for too long, as his phone went off, signalling your response. It was a short and sweet messaging saying you were sick, and that you’d do spa night when you felt better, but Asmo wasn’t having any of it. The only ones he’d be willing to care for when sick, were Lucifer, Solomo, Simeon, and you, and he had the perfect nurse outfit he wanted to wear for the occasion; complete with a mask and gloves, because he certainly didn’t want to catch any cold.

He takes care of you surprisingly well, softly dabbing a cool, damp cloth on your face, and making sure you have vitamins, water, juice, blankets, a picture of him, and any thing else needed to aid you in getting better, even after you telling him all you need is some rest. Asmo still insists on being your nurse, while he feeds you some soup, and holds a cup of tea to your lips and helps you take sips, even though you’re perfectly able to hold the cup. The tea seemed to do wonders for you, while Asmo eased you back down into bed, tucking you in with pillows behind your back, and leaving you feeling like the bed was a soft cloud of comfort. For when you wake up, Asmo has a bath fully ready for you, and he offers to help with bathing you too.

【Beel】

Beel usually makes a habit of coming by your room on at least one of his nightly raids, and he made sure it was his first one. He didn’t say much at the time, but he noticed that you didn’t want to eat, instead preferring to go straight to bed. While he doesn’t complain about the extra food, he did think it was a bit weird. He comes into your room with a soft knock, announcing his presence by softly calling out your name, though you heard his growling stomach before he spoke. He noticed that your room was in total darkness, and assumed you had fallen asleep with a lack of response. He was content to smile and make his was to the kitchen until you pathetically croaked out his name, “(Y/N)? Sorry if I woke you,” he says apologetically, before approaching your bed. He was about to ask if you needed something form the kitchen, but as he drew closer to you, he could hear the soft sniffling, and light coughs.

He’s worried about you, and feels incredibly guilty for not noticing sooner as he places a large hand onto your head, moving his face a bit closer to yours, “Wait here, I’ll be right back,” he whispers, quietly leaving towards the kitchen, with the intent of making some soup. Even though you only get one bowl as he taste tests the majority of it, it’s delicious, and he even manages to feed it to you, and only occasionally putting the spoon in his mouth. It’s hard to be mad at his puppy face as he apologises over it. He does his best to care for you, staying with you all night with his hand locked with yours, even long after you’ve fallen asleep and he can go back to bed, or the kitchen.

【Belphegor】

He only came to your room to take a nap with you, but as he stood in the doorway, watching the lump of blankets shake while coughing, he began realised it wasn’t going to be that simple. Belphie figured it would be a pain to care for you, but he couldn’t leave you alone, and came closer to the lump, slowly pulling the blanket down. An odd feeling rushed over him when seeing you at your most vulnerable; red cheeks, red nose, and glazed eyes that met his own. He offered a small smile, but his expression changed quickly when you began to cough again, “It’s okay, (Y/N)”, he soothed, while rubbing small circles on your back. Belphie was surprisingly helpful, and even allowed you to rest on his beloved pillow, with the only condition being that you didn’t sneeze on it.

Belphie usually only took care of Beel when the latter had a stomach ache, and he wasn’t too sure what to do for a human, but he managed, getting you to drink some warm tea while he gently put the Devildom equivalent of vaporub on your chest. He knew the best thing to do would be to sleep, and Belphie took it upon himself to cuddle up into bed beside you, allowing you nuzzle into his chest for the security and warmth it offered, as he softly played with your hair, humming a soft lullaby Lilith used to sing to him, which had you asleep much quicker than he could have imagined. Belphie was still determined to get his nap with you, and very quickly fell asleep too.

xx. a head hangs, weighed with snow;

AO3 Link here

She was not summoned the next day, or the next, or even the sennight after that.

Watching the growing anger and uneasiness of the townsfolk as rations continued to dwindle, Aurelia was reminded of that final, fatal summer drought just before her uncle had taken her wardship. Precious little of Gyr Abania was arable; it was a land with brutal and punishing summers, and dry, cold winters. That had ever been the state of things as far as she was aware, and her father said there had been little in the way of proper industry of any sort before the occupation. 

However, she recalled the drought and its fallout all too well. 

It had all started the year of her thirteenth nameday, when the imperial air dreadnought Agrius had set off on her maiden voyage into Mor Dhona’s skies. Legatus van Baelsar’s gamble had not seemed to be one at the time. After all, Eorzea was known to be a wild frontier with no real means to counter imperial might- but none had expected resistance to come in the form of Dravanian tooth and claw. 

Victory against the dragons had come at the cost of the Agrius itself and crippled the war machine so thoroughly that the survivors were forced to retreat back beyond Gyr Abania’s borders. It was not merely a defeat but a shocking rout, the consequences of which had a nigh-immediate ripple effect throughout the whole of the Empire. 

To offset his disastrous incursion into Eorzea and shore up the subsequent border wall construction, the viceroy had levied a hefty per annum tax upon the inhabitants of not only Ala Mhigo but every household in the province. Anyone who owned property had to pay the increased rate, even pureblooded settlers and wealthy landowning nobles like Julian rem Laskaris - who had, of course, grumbled incessantly about the drain on his family’s coffers. But as ever the lion’s share of the burden fell upon the aan, and few if any allowances were made for the lack of food and water even under drought conditions.

The Ala Mhigan people, never wont to labor willingly beneath the imperial yoke, had grown angry and restless in a manner very like unto this one. Riots in the aan districts. Stones and worse thrown at city patrolmen. A memorable - albeit failed - assassination attempt.

She doubted the unrest would be nearly so dire or so long-lived in Gridania as it had been there, for the Elder Seedseer was a much-loved figure and people here believed in the will of the elementals with a fervor that in some cases bordered upon open worship. So long as they felt the outsiders’ presence was accepted by the forest itself, Kan-E-Senna herself was in no danger. 

But she was not fool enough to believe that the better natures of man would serve as any sort of protection. Spring couldn’t come soon enough.

As Aurelia waited upon E-Sumi-Yan’s word, she resolved herself - in between her work in the field kitchens and in the training yards - to make preparations where she might. Today she had chosen to complete the rest of the entry pages in her botany journal - it was an herbal, really, at this juncture, containing all the information she had added to her notes over the past months. 

...And it had really been months now, since Carteneau, she realized. She had once owned a wrist-chronometer, a graduation gift from her uncle (one that, so far as Aurelia herself was aware, had been lost in the barracks of the castrum where she’d been stationed). The Empire ran itself strictly on kept minutes and hours so such contrivances had been vitally important in the context of day-to-day life in the capitol. 

It felt strange, realizing she’d not missed that strictly scheduled and segmented existence. Time had passed all but unnoticed in the relative calm of a pastoral routine.

Aurelia swayed in her desk chair, musing over the notion. Copying her own shorthand into the empty pages of the book was soothing but tedious work and the relative warmth of the room and the quiet were making her drowsy. 

She paused, blinked furiously to dispel the doze that had come over her, and set the quill in its shallow inkpot so she could rub her eyes. Her hand was beginning to cramp unpleasantly as well, fingers protesting against the work to which she’d set them. Hells, what she wouldn’t give for a proper fountain pen about now, she thought, pressing the heels of her palms against her aching cheekbones. 

Maybe she should pause her work and give herself a break. Just for a moment.

She had only rested her eyes for what seemed like a few heartbeats when she heard a rap upon her door. Aurelia ignored it at first, hoping that her visitor might realize they had come at an inconvenient time- but the knock came again, and in a few moments, repeated a third time. Resigned to the interruption, she pushed back her chair and made her way to the door only for it to be shoved open almost as soon as her hand touched the latch. 

Keveh’to shouldered his way into the room without preamble, his tail lashing fitfully. What was he doing? He knew full well he was supposed to knock before entering her bedchamber-

Her angry protest died on her lips at the sight of his face: a taut mask of anxiety. “Grab that ruddy bag of yours and aught else you can carry,” he ordered abruptly, the words sharp as shards of broken ice. “We’ve got to get you out of here. Get your shoes on.”

“What? What’s going on? What about the Guildmaster?” Bewildered she fumbled for the book, shoving it in her pack before seeing to her pattens. “What’s happening?”

“There’s no time to explain! We’ve got a unit out there holding them back but four men won’t be any bloody use against a mob that size. Hurry!”

As if his words had prompted them, muffled and angry shouts drifted into her ears from the other side of the window glass. She could make out a heavy throng of people clustered about the half-reconstructed entrance of the inn, and felt a moment’s misgiving-- there were surely not that many people in Gridania-- and then there was no time left to ponder it. Keveh’to was grabbing her arm, dragging her out the door before she could do more than grab her staff--

They both froze in place at the bright, scintillating sound of breaking glass. The mob had breached the Canopy’s main hall.

"Go!" Keveh’to shouted. 

He shoved her towards the stairwell leading to Miounne’s larder moments before the crowd-animal surged into the common room, roaring and baying as one. Stones and bottles sailed across the room and crashed into the back of the bar with a truly appalling accuracy, and when she tried to look for her minder again she could no longer catch sight of him or his yellow surcoat within the surging tidal wave of the riot.

Wincing against the stitch in her side, she ran for the exit as she was bid, dodging stones as her feet crunched over broken glass and spilled trenchers. The stairs were strangely dark, the well descending deeper than she had ever remembered it. As she continued downwards the light behind her grew dim, and with each step she began to feel her belly clench with apprehension. 

Surely she should have arrived at the exit by now-

Black anxiety speared down her spine, sudden and instinctive, third eye’s proprioception yammering a primitive and frantic warning. Someone - or something - was in her space. 

She wheeled about to meet her attacker, only to lose her footing on the edge of a stair step, and would have tumbled down the endless stairs and into oblivion if the figure had not grabbed her. A gloved hand clamped with brutal force over her mouth before dragging her back into the shadows, and up against her attacker’s larger, cowled frame. 

Something heavy and solid slammed into the back of her head before she could make a sound---

 ==

----and with a violent spasm of her arms Aurelia wrenched herself back into wakefulness, hastily snatching up her papers as the overturned inkpot made a small and rapidly surging flood across the desk.

“Bugger,” she cursed, “seven swiving hells below-”

There was a rap at the door, then another when she didn’t answer.

“Damnit,” she grabbed a handful of discarded draft parchments and crushing them onto the desk’s surface in an attempt to staunch the ink before it could drip onto the carpet. A third knock. “Yes, yes, a moment, pray!”

“Aurelia?” Keveh’to’s voice, its note of concern obvious. “Is aught amiss?”

She was unable to stop herself from casting a furtive glance out the window, overcome with a strong sense that perhaps she still might not be fully awake. But there was no mob crowding the entrance to the Carline Canopy. The street was as empty as it had been most of the winter, dusted white and grey with half-thawed patches of ice. 

Relief blossomed in her chest and she allowed herself a soft sigh. 

“All is well, come in.”

With an effort she concealed her trembling hands; her heart still raced with adrenaline and half-remembered fear. Keveh’to blinked at her.

“The Guildmaster is on linkpearl asking after you- Twelve, what happened in here? Did that book of yours finally try to eat you?”

“Very funny. Can I have the linkpearl, please?”

With a shrug, he deposited it into her hand. “You know how to-”

“I think I can figure it out.”It took a moment of maneuvering - the small device was fashioned for a Miqo’te’s ear - but she was able to hold the linkpearl to her ear with one shoulder and press the button quickly before returning her attention to the pile of soiled papers. “Hello?” she ventured. “Guildmaster?”

E-Sumi-Yan’s smooth voice. “Aurelia. I take it the Sergeant is there with you? Did you-”

“Keveh’to hasn’t debriefed me yet, I’m afraid,” Aurelia said, gathering handfuls of paper and shoving them in the small crate she’d appropriated as a wastebin. “Guildmaster, I appreciate the abundance of caution, all considered, but why not a summons?”

There was no response, but that was not so very unusual. E-Sumi-Yan was not a man to waste his words, a quality she knew her uncle would have appreciated. He would speak in time- once he had gathered his thoughts to his liking, as he always did. In the meantime she scrubbed at the ink on the desk, realizing as she did so that her efforts were largely futile.

Miounne will have my head, she thought ruefully.

Finally there came a long humming sound on the other end of the connection and once again Aurelia remembered that lucid dream, this time with a sharp pang of unease. 

“At the moment,” E-Sumi-Yan began, “I fear it would be very unwise to summon you to the Fane even with your minder present. I am told this line is not entirely secure, but Commander Heuloix assures me there is little concern for eavesdroppers.”

“Go on,” Aurelia said slowly.

“There’s to be a town meeting at the plaza site tonight. I shan’t bore you with the details, but the people of the city are demanding the Elder Seedseer remove all foreigners - adventurers as well, just so you know - for the duration of the winter. If not permanently.”

“What? Surely they must know Kan-E-Senna would never agree to such terms.”

“She would not, no. Council or no, she ultimately abides by the word of the elementals as do all of our order. Unless they tell her the city can hold no more souls, she will take them in.”

“...I hear a ‘but’ in that statement.” 

The guildmaster sighed. “This morning, while you were about your rounds in the refugee encampment, one of your former comrades, was injured on a work site. Someone in the street threw a stone and struck him in the head.”

“Oh, hells.” The ruined desk was all but forgotten. Aurelia threw the last handful of soiled parchment into the crate and adjusted the device at her ear. “Is he badly hurt?”

“No, the wound was mostly superficial. The Wailer on site called a conjurer to see to the prisoner after dispersing the crowd. He’s shaken, of course - very frightened to leave the Fane without an escort, but he has otherwise recovered. Which brings me to my business with you.”

She already knew what he was about to say. “I am to leave the Fane.” 

“Yes. I saw fit to reach out to Hearer Ewald in light of the news. The young man whom you are to replace shan’t leave his post for another few moons, but he confided to me that with the influx of refugees into other settlements the two of them are in need of additional hands. Sergeant Epocan will be escorting you to Willow’s Bend and will remain there with you until you are called back to the Fane. It’s a few malms out from Quarrymill, well off the main roads.”

 “I see.” 

“Under different circumstances, I would have bid you wait until the last snows have passed before attempting the journey, but after today’s incident I think perhaps the sooner the better.” A pause. “Can you make ready to leave at first light tomorrow?”

He’s worried about me, she realized suddenly. 

“I... yes. That shan’t be a problem. Aside from my medicines and my gear I’ve very little in the way of personal possessions.”

“Thank you, Aurelia. May I please speak to Sergeant Epocan?”

“Of course. One moment.” Keveh’to’s expression was quizzical as she passed the linkpearl back to him. “Your turn.”

“What,” he began, then hastily interrupted his query, “Ah, Guildmaster, I-... what? Tomorrow? But... yes. Yes, but the Commander will need to-... oh, he’s already... oh.”

Aurelia wasn’t privy to the other half of the conversation, of course. But it was hardly necessary. Even were she not staring at his face, she could watch Keveh’to’s mood by his flattened ears and the irregular lashing of his tail. It was souring by the second.

“The White Wolf postern gate. Yes, Guildmaster. Understood. Thank you.” The small pearl hanging from Keveh’to’s ear blinked blue to black as he cut the aetheric link.

“You don’t look well pleased,” she said wryly. 

He didn’t smile. An awkward silence descended as he stared at her, then the door, then back at her before he finally spoke. “You know I’m a Keeper of the Moon.”

“Yes...?” 

“Aye, well. Problem is, to a Garlean lass like you that don’t mean a godsdamned thing. I’m just another savage at the end of the day.” At her attempted protest he raised a hand, palm outwards. “Not picking a fight, mind, just... Well, that’s how far too many Shroud folk see us. Savages. Poachers who threaten the whole wood by just taking what we want when we want it.”

“Wait, but that’s not... I mean, I don’t-”

“I’m not done. See, the thing is... the Gridanians have their way of life. And that’d be fine, ‘cept they expect every bloody one else to abide by it too, and woe betide any who refuse. Lots of Keepers still, well, keep the old ways. They hunt and gather, take what they need, and the elementals don’t bother them. You can’t convince these people, though. They see me and think they know what I am.” 

“But you wear the colors of the Twin Adder.”

“That doesn’t mean as much as you might think. A goodly number of us are adventurers. And when a Gridanian notices it’s a Keeper wearing the yellow, you can see it in their eyes- the second they decide you aren’t worth what small respect they might have for the Grand Company. It’s like watching a door slam shut in your face.”

Aurelia hesitated, then reached out an ink-stained hand and squeezed his shoulder. “I understand more than you might think,” she said. “But not all of it. I’m sorry.”

“Villagers in my experience are insular fools. They’ll see you as an interloper and me as a craven thief. But I have my orders.” He shrugged, then smiled at her, a smile that did not meet his eyes. “I’m guessing you do as well.”

“So it seems. We’ll have each other for company, won’t we?”

“...That isn’t reassuring, Garlean.” At her saucy grin, he continued accusingly, “And don’t you smile at me like that, lass. The last time it was just the two of us, you threatened to singe off my tail hairs.”

“Aye, because you walked in on me while I was using the bloody chamber pot.” 

He laughed, finally, some of his irritation dissipating. “Well,” he said, “suppose I’d best go inform Mother Miounne we’ll be taking our leave of Gridania for a time on Guild orders- assuming she doesn't already know. If you haven’t already started packing your things, now would be a good time.” 

Without waiting on a response he turned on his heel and exited the room, the door-latch clicking softly shut behind him. Aurelia squared her shoulders and looked down at her hands, smudged with ink. 

She reached for her black bag, loosed its clasps, and took one last cursory glance of her stock. Most of the daily-use items at this point were long gone. The synthetic analgesics and anticoagulants, local anesthetics and antipyretics that were commonly used in the imperial army’s medical pavilions required reagents that one could not obtain in Eorzea. Short of raiding a castrum, of course- which she doubted anyone was willing to do. 

Carefully she put away the phials and refastened the clasps, then paused in thought before reaching for her travel pack and digging through its contents to produce a spare strip of linen. The imperial insignia with its scarlet-and-ivory tripartite links was clearly visible upon the strapping, and while she didn’t think anyone in a remote village would find it to be of any significance, it was best to be safe. 

Wrapping the fabric somewhat hastily about the strap, she knotted it in place, then set the bag next to her staff and began to tuck her few articles of clothing into the travel pack in tight rolls to make extra space. The journal was next, and she realized with some dismay that two of her draft pages had been ruined by the spilled inkpot before she could copy them to the leather-bound book. Naught to be done for it today.

She placed both bags next to the door, her training wand on top of the side table.

“There,” she murmured. She was as ready as one reasonably could be; might as well join Keveh’to in the main hall and take tea and an early supper. 

Hand on the door latch, Aurelia glanced over her shoulder and out the window one more time. Once more there was nothing to see.

Resolute, she turned her back on the desk and quit the room.

~*~

Grey shimmered at the window between the branches of the trees when the knock came on the door. She had already roused herself, donning her traveling clothes and tucking the wand into her sash before opening the latch- but it was not Keveh’to whom she saw when she opened the door. It was Miounne. The Elezen had a small cloth-wrapped bundle in her hands, and she was smiling ruefully.

“Are you ready?”

“As ready as one truly can be, I suppose.”

“Good. Grab your things and follow me. Try to keep quiet. Most of my patrons are still abed and I'd rather not have them stirring before I can start the hearth-fires. Too many inconvenient questions.”

Aurelia blinked at her curiously but didn’t press the issue. They slipped out the exit towards the reconstructed plaza. 

“Keveh’to will meet you at the aetheryte. There’s a chocobo waiting for the two of you at the White Wolf gate. I’ve closed down the Guild’s leves and enrollments for a day or two,” Miounne said, a hand on Aurelia’s back between her shoulder blades to hurry her pace along. “There was an open meeting yesterday evening.”

“The town meeting? E-Sumi-Yan mentioned it when we spoke.” 

“He would not have told you, but it didn’t go well. Things are very tense just now; the townsfolk have worked themselves into a right fury over the lack of wintering supplies. They’re looking for anyone to blame for their woes."

“I know. They see us as a drain on resources.” Aurelia shook her head. She wasn’t surprised; she’d seen the hostile glares shot in her direction, after all. “It’s easier to blame outsiders, I suppose.”

“Yes, it is, which puts all of my freelancers at risk. And...” Miounne shrugged. “Well. I’ll let Sergeant Epocan explain, shall I?”

The plaza was as silent and empty as the Canopy’s main hall. Keveh’to awaited them as promised. The Keeper was fidgeting in place, his expression tense and his body language betraying his nervousness. It did little to set Aurelia’s mind at ease.

“You weren’t followed, were you?” he asked the proprietress as if Aurelia weren’t standing right there alongside. Her brow furrowed in momentary irritation, and Miounne scoffed.

“You worry far too much, Sergeant. This is hardly some daring midnight escape under cover of darkness."

"I simply don't want any trouble to come to you. If-"

"Too late to worry about that. But if anyone asks after my whereabouts, I was simply fetching my own firewood for the hearth for want of any strapping adventurers about.” She held out the package she’d carried with her when she had met Aurelia at the door of her inn room. “This is for the two of you. Eel pies for the road.”

The pair exchanged shocked glances. Miounne was famous in town for her eel pies, but many of the ingredients would have been very difficult to source this time of year. It said more than any words she might have uttered.

“What- Mother Miounne, you didn’t have to go to that trouble,” Keveh’to began.

“No, but I did. Now you mind yourself on the road, Sergeant Epocan. The guildmaster will have my head if you two don’t reach your new posting in one piece. And you,” she turned to look at Aurelia, “all the luck in the world to you. Matron keep you safe, girl.”

“I... yes.”  Unaccountably, she found herself flushing. “Quite.”

“Didn’t think I’d ever in my life find myself wishing an imperial well.” Miounne’s expression softened into a maternal smile. “But stranger things have happened - and you’re worth that much. There’s hard times ahead for all of us and folk will be starved for compassion as much as any rations. So don’t you ever let yourself lose that kindness of yours. All right?”

Aurelia nodded. Unbidden she felt a pang of sadness. It was true enough that the Elezen woman had not wanted to house an imperial prisoner under her roof at first, but she had been mindful to treat the Garlean woman as she would any of her adventurers.

Miounne looked as if she wanted to say something else, but whatever it might have been Aurelia would never know. Once she saw that they had accepted her parting gift, she pivoted swiftly on one heel and made her way back in the direction she’d come, toward the Carline Canopy to begin the day’s routine. It was just her and her minder. 

Keveh’to cleared his throat.

“Right,” he said, “this way. We’ll want to be shut of the main thoroughfare as soon as possible.”

She followed him, shifting the weight of her two packs from shoulder to shoulder, free hand at the small training wand on her belt in case of trouble. No trouble came. The only soul that stirred other than the night watch winding down for the shift change was the odd woodland creature, and the sounds of birds stirring in the trees.

As Aurelia had been told, there was a chocobo awaiting at the north gate. The Duskwight man holding the reins of the massive destrier wore the colors of the Twin Adder just as Keveh’to did, and he acknowledged them with a slight tilt of his chin.

“Javier,” the Miqo’te said. “Thank you for waiting.”

The man’s expression did not change. “Pray send word to the Commander upon your arrival. The Wailer outpost has been notified of your arrival, as has the Hearer overseeing the care of the region.”

“Understood. Thank you.”

Keveh’to yanked Aurelia’s packs from her shoulders and slung them over the chocobo’s broad back, lashing them in place with the heavy leather straps that dangled from the double saddle.

“How am I supposed to-” she began but faltered when the Keeper all but hopped into the saddle and held out one gloved hand. She slipped a foot into the stirrup alongside his and reached for him in return, and found her weight guided upwards with surprising ease.

“Hold on,” he ordered curtly.

Aurelia wrapped her arms about his waist. Keveh’to barked a short command and dug his heels into the chocobo’s sides. They were off, crunching through the powder snow and fallen leaves, the cold wind whistling in her ears. It was beginning to snow again, and powder flakes and ice bit at their exposed cheeks as they ventured deeper into the wood.

After a good quarter bell of tense silence, she deemed it safe to lean forward and tap him on the shoulder.

“Well?” she prompted.

“Well, what?”

“Why all the secrecy and grim faces? I’m just leaving town for a guild posting.”

“It’s not the posting itself, it’s…” Keveh’to growled, the tip of his tail lashing against her leg where it had curled around her calf. “...I don’t know how it happened and nor does Commander Heuloix. The Grand Company is investigating the source of the leak but-”

“Leak?” Aurelia said, feeling slow and stupid. “Leak, what do you-”

“The Wood Wailers had security present at that township meeting - to make sure things didn’t get out of hand, you know people have been on edge as of late - and someone in the crowd asked Brother E-Sumi-Yan why the Hearers are sheltering a Garlean. Not an imperial, mind. A Garlean. Someone knows about you. Or knows of you.”

“....Oh.”

“For a mercy no one said more than that. It might even be a rumor that happened to be closer to the truth than they realized. But we’re taking no chances.” 

She felt her belly clench.  But I’ve been so careful. How could anyone have…?

“Cooler heads seem to have prevailed for the time being,” Keveh’to continued, “although Miounne will be facing a fair bit of spite, methinks, as will her adventurers. It’s just as well the guildmaster decided to have you shipped off to the Arbor early.”

“Wait, but what- what about the conscripts? I can well understand why the townspeople would be upset about  me, but surely they aren’t...”

“Aught to do with you lot is classified knowledge, and it’d be beyond the likes of me. I was asked to mind you abide by the terms of your sentence until it’s done and that’s what I mean to do.” His jaw was tight. “The villagers won’t like me any more than they do you, but no use whinging about it, I suppose.”

“I suppose,” she echoed. 

“Hey.” This time he glanced over his shoulder, spared her a quick smile. “It is what it is, aye? We’ll make do. Mother Miounne can handle that lot. You worry about yourself.”

Sazha would have said the same thing, that one phrase that could sum up the entire situation, everything that had happened to Aurelia since the fall of Dalamud. It wasn’t fair, it wasn’t ideal- but that changed nothing. 

It was what it was. All they could do was make the most of it.

A curtain of white quickly blanketed the forest floor, concealing the immediate signs of their passage beneath the Shroud’s winter-bared boughs. Within a bell, there was no sign to the casual eye that there had been travelers on the roads at all. 

From the Tabletop #3

If I don't do this with some haste, I'm going to forget important details, so let's get the party started. At this point, we had a GM swap, Valentinian being excused out of the plot due to something that, upon having it explained to me, I thought sounded a lot like the World of Light scenario in the latest Super Smash Bros game (which was brand new at the time of this swap). That's largely unimportant, though, as it was just an excuse to shuffle GM in and player out. We then welcomed Gwyn, a Solar Sorcerer and a dangerously savvy and competent individual who Scarlet quickly took a shine to. Gwyn: You only want me for my mind, don't you? Scarlet: No, I totally want your body too. Gwyn: Not helping. Next, we sailed out of the Wyld and we ended up docking in, uh, a bathhouse in WhiteWall. No, I don't know how exactly we managed this. The Wyld, it's a hell of a drug. Anyway, with Maxwell now having kicked his oxygen habit, we needed to inform his next of kin. A little somebody you might have heard me mention named Taiga. We were successful in finding her, and Volkenstein almost got his head punched off for it. After talking her down and explaining that they were merely the messengers of the bad news, Volkie went over to a fighting arena. Whereupon he decided to pick a fight with the biggest badass of the lot. While this was happening, we followed some rumors that lead to the town square where a little god was requesting strange items in return for miracles. Turns out this was a Solar Sorcerer named Malgigi the Violet. He was a total G, and threw in with us with minimal prodding once Scarlet name-dropped Valentinian. Back with Volk, the badass in question began using very specific fighting moves - what people who actually read the book would know as Dark Messiah martial arts charms. This is somewhat forgivable, on account that - really, how would he have known? - but it kind of set up a problem later on that he really should've known better, but I'll get to that in a little. Short of it was, he had the balance of his Four Humors (look it up) thrown into discord, resulting in his poops being cursed. Afterward, Malgigi assessed the situation and created a means to remove the curse, using acupuncture. Suffering only pins and needles (tee-hee), he was soon back in fighting form. Taiga also helpfully informed us that the next key to the One Piece was hidden in a massive vault, heavily guarded and under lock and key itself. Scarlet insisted she could not leave without it and the party, Taiga in tow to assist departed. By the way, there was this huge to-do about "how can you put a key into a safe?" and this honestly took longer than it should have for the party to parse. But since our current GM knew full well our greatest weakness was overthinking (on account Maxwell was dead and Volk wasn't used for intelligece tests), he got his chuckles. The funny part being that the puzzles he gave us in this weird-ass haunted bank... place... were either solved instantly between Gwyn and Scarlet or set us back an hour in real-time, no in-betweens. On our way out was when we really ran into trouble, because one of those aforementioned "Rivals of Volkenstein" appeared for the first time. Thing is, he arrived as an Abyssal, so Volk couldn't immediately recognize this fellow calling himself "The Jackal". The Jackal was kind enough to exposit his backstory for us, telling us how Volkenstein scarred his face by violently tearing off the mask of "El Amigo Grande". When he explained this, Volkenstein immediately agreed that was how it went down. Just a reminder: this guy continued to insist he was a Face. Gwyn and Scarlet knew there was trouble when The Jackal was absorbing the necrotic essence from the surrounding area, and both petitioned to run. At this point, however, The Jackal busted out his signature move - La Cucaracha Espada - which Volk decided he would just tank. Head-on. For those who aren't super steeped in Exalted lore, let me explain. Necrotic essence is bad for living tissue. This lead to an age-old addage "Curse my poops once, shame on you. Curse my poops twice, you're a fucking dumbass." Having dropped like a sack of potatoes, Volk was out of the fight. Gwyn conjured a warp spell, which Scarlet assisted in dragging Volk closer for the escape (but only after suggesting that they could use Volkenstein as a sled to flee). The spell succeeded and we arrived back in front of Malgigi, who was deeply disappointed in a certain poop-cursed wrestle-man. Malgigi explained that the first curse-breaking ritual wouldn't work on something of this potency, and that the ritual required would involve a daicon radish being firmly inserted into Volkenstein's anus. And left for several days. He also recommended that Volk stop drinking, as the damage could be too much for his system to handle. This caused ol' Volkenstein to more or less just lay on his back and vomit for several weeks after. This was probably for the best. Because we needed to pursue the next potential key: the frozen north! Or, what would be the frozen north, but it was the Emerald Labyrinth of the Hazlanti League. Then all Hell broke loose. Because then we got out fourth member, Maxwell's successor, Magpie. I don't even remember Magpie's full name. Or even if she had one. Because that's not what we called her out-of-character. To us, she was Stockholm Dino Maiden: worst of all the punchmonkeys. The thing with Magpie... well, they were legion. To start, her backstory made no sense. She was supposed to have been raised by Arilack. For those who don't know, just imagine a big, predatory, dumb dinosaur. She's the patron of dinosaurs and reptile beasts. Alien, ancient, and not particularly a fan of humankind. For some reason, she found this little kabob of a human child and decided to do what anyone with a ham sandwich would do - teach it multi-variable calculus! So, that's the first problem. So with a backstory that makes no sense, she also had stats that made no sense: she was a Zenith caste with stats that of a Dawn caste. She was supposed to be playing a stupid barbarian but had Lore 3 (one higher than Scarlet, who actually DID have a formal education), dots in medicine (Why, though?!), was a tomb raider with a love of artifacts (WHY, THOUGH?!), was a gourmet chef (BUT WHY THOUGH?!), and the list goes on. In fact, I even gave Magpie an easy "out". I suggested she should be the little sister of a Lunar I made back in 2e, Victorious Carp of the Sky, who actually DID have a familial draconic motif. The character was well-liked and even made a cameo appearance in the previous campaign in one of Hell's arenas, where he battled a fellow fighter to a standstill (the only draw of the tournament which ended in a pair of new drinking buddies), and his mother had a draconic theme as well in her own right. It would've gone together like bread and butter and better explained her stats. So, naturally, her player rejected it outright. Gwyn wanted to venture into the woods to find a figure he called "Grandfather", an ancient and wizened entity who was held in high regard by Gwyn's people. He did find him too, but that didn't particularly go anywhere. Scarlet, Volk, and Maggie (brought along for metagame reasons, which I later rationalized as Scarlet wanting more "dumb muscle") had a narrow head-long collision with a massive, black, cylindrical, metal object that raced across the area. Things got a little hectic, and my memory of the next few events are... fuzzy. Consulting with Valentinian's player I am able to continue. Next, we met a powerful Lunar who acted as guardian and de facto leader of a small village, Esha Mae. She tasked us with retrieving a particular book for her, leading us back to town. Long story short, we obtained the book (which was a series of deeply politically satirical and pornographic cartoons) due to an exchange with a mysterious woman who looked a lot like Scarlet - it's important for me to mention at this point that Scarlet was raised by her uncle, Vermilion Mountain, as her parents (Verdant Wind and Azure River) and most of her extended family were killed when she was about 8 years old due to a sudden flu-like disease that ravaged her hometown in the Caul - who called herself Alabaster Albatross. No prize for guessing the relation, but that plotline never actually went anywhere anyway. Long story short: we did give Esha Mae (nicknamed just "Mae" by Scarlet, as she was wont to do) her book, but then the Albatross attacked using a massive steam cannon weapon. Upon firing, Magpie and Volkenstein managed the one (1) unambiguously awesome thing they pulled off the entire campaign and body-blocked the projectile. Scarlet battled with the Albatross, who was just way, way more powerful and upon dealing just the most glancing of blows, Scarlet was burdened by a large, dead bird lassoed around her neck. Alabaster Albatross taunted Scarlet and wished her the best of 'luck', which the albatross (lowercase) signified the opposite of. Then Magpie did something spectacularly dumb and summoned a Lord of Beasts, which ultimately sent Albatross (uppercase) and her weapon Team Rocket'ing over the horizon line. Then the Lord of Beasts basically told us to fuck off and blocked our number from his phone and stormed off, mumbling about the "kids these days". Consulting Malgigi once more for Scarlet's new predicament, he had us cobble together what amounts to a "Good Luck Potion". Managing that, Scarlet felt the need to 'test her luck' by... well, getting lucky. Which she did. With Mae. The next morning, Scarlet awoke to see Mae presenting her with an egg and declaring it their baby. Fucking Lunars, man, how do they even work?! Anyway, Scarlet charmed Mae into coming with them as a non-combat role on the crew and Scarlet began a new life as an engaged woman. Whew, this has gone on entirely longer than I expected, so let's stop here. Join me next time for: Valentinian dies in Boiling Magma and goes to Hell! Scarlet brutally murders yet another of her cherished circle-mates! Magpie is useless! Volkenstein becomes a thrown weapon! See you next time! *Quick note: Last time I screwed up "letter of MARQUE". I don't even know how I managed it, seeing as there's a sail charm with it right in its name. Ugh, I am so stupid sometimes.

Precure Day 010

Episode: Futari wa Precure 10 - “Honoka explodes! A wonderful birthday!” Date watched: 19 April 2018 Original air date: 4 April 2004 (this is actually Honoka’s birthday, so that’s good timing) Screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/z0BY3sb

This episode finally puts Honoka in the spotlight like she deserves! It's her birthday, her parents are in town, she's happy, Nagisa's happy, everybody's happy! And a happy Honoka is a good Honoka. Until.... her dad gets a call from a client who absolutely has to see him that day, and while they're at the art gallery some bank robbers show up, and then Gekidrago decides to get involved. But you know Honoka's going to find a way around that, and her resourcefulness is sharp today! So what happens? It starts with Nagisa visiting Honoka's place so that Mepple and Mipple can be together as an apology for not believing he was sick in the previous episode. Honoka gets a call from her dad who lets her know where to meet tomorrow. She is visibly excited because she hardly ever sees her own parents, due to their work. They're art dealers and they travel all over the world making business deals a lot, but they always come back to see Honoka on her birthday. And so they turn up at the airport the next day, with a mountain of presents in store for her. After almost literally smothering her with their love, they decide to take her wherever she wants! Unfortunately, her dad's phone rings and it's a client who wont' take "no" for an answer. (hey, Mr. Yukishiro, you guys seem wealthy enough that you can afford to skip out on this one if they don't respect the day you designated off limits) Honoka, being the way too nice girl that she is, tells them to go ahead and take care of business, it's okay with her. So they go to an art gallery that's displaying jewelry, and Honoka waits in a chair while her parents head to the back room. Meanwhile, Nagisa decides to make Honoka a present, since she can't afford to buy anything. After some work, she ends up making a silver charm of Mipple and Mepple, but she chooses to wait to give it to her tomorrow so she doesn't interrupt Honoka's family time. Back at the jeweler/bank/gallery/whatever, three masked men show up to rob the place while Honoka is out of the room. She gets back and after ascertaining the situation, she lays the verbal smackdown on them. I personally love this. If you remember in episode 5 when she scolded the creepy boys, this is even better. Honoka berates them for stealing instead of doing honest work, whatever their reasons. As the episode progresses we figure out that these aren't hardened criminals, just a trio of dudes who got caught in a ton of debt from a sleazy boss and a busted company, and Honoka's speech begins to turn them. Before they can call the police to turn themselves in though, Gekidrago breaks into the gallery, which is on lockdown, and traps everybody in it. He's after the Prism Stones of course, although we don't know how he knew where to find Honoka or Mipple. Honoka, clever girl that she is, tells him the Prism Stone is somewhere in the gallery among all the jewelry. Not being the sharpest tool in the shed, Gekidrago sits down to examine every piece of jewelry in the place to find them. Meanwhile, Honoka and her parents separately signal for help, catching the attention of the police and Nagisa. Nagisa rushes to the scene, but it's barricaded off now and naturally she won't be let in. However she conveniently overhears one of the officers discussing an air vent that's too small for an adult to crawl through, so somehow she finds that and gets to Honoka just as Gekidrago realizes he's been tricked. They transform, kick his butt in perfect synchronization, and Marble Screw the hell out of him. He's able to resist it, even as they ramp up the power, but all the scattered jewelry on the ground begins to glow and fire little beams at him as well, and it's more than he can withstand. He gets blown sky high in a fabulous light show and everything returns to normal. Nagisa quickly hands off Honoka's gift to her and wishes her a happy birthday before disappearing back into the air vent. Honoka's parents apologize for the day being ruined and claim that they're horrible parents for being unable to protect her. Honoka says she loves them anyway, and that it's alright, and that's the end. Honoka's parents.... they're nice. They don't do much, but they're nice. From what little we've seen, Nagisa probably has a better family, but the Yukishiros' hearts are in the right place at least. They just want to do right by their daughter and feel bad when they can't.... honestly you should probably travel less, but that's just me. For the show's purposes, their absence is a tool to increase Honoka's isolation and ramp up how different her life is from Nagisa's, and it accomplishes that. Obviously this episode shows us a lot more of Honoka than we're used to and what we see is fantastic. She's way too nice for her own good, but she's not a serene angel. She can get mad, she can snap, and when she does, she can scare adults into submission. Her taking control of the robbery, turning the would-be robbers into an audience for her lecture, is a demonstration of Honoka's commanding capabilities. Her resourcefulness when she immediately thought of a way to distract Gekidrago while she figured out how to signal Nagisa, and then the method of doing so, were very clever. Although, let's talk about that signal for a moment. Honoka sent Mipple up to a window, to pose as a stuffed animal, in hopes that the news cameras would see her and Nagisa would tune into the news in time to see Mipple and know from there where to go. Fortunately she did, but the plan hinges on a lot of unpredictable things going just right. I don't know what else she could have done but still. At least it worked, and Nagisa showed up in the nick of time. EDIT: I forgot to mention, Honoka has a few lines before Nagisa shows up about how life has both good and bad times, and taking them together is what makes us human. It's a perfect summation of the core theme and motif of this series, of taking opposites together and making something better out of them. The fight scene is kind of brief, but is beautifully choreographed. Every move they make is perfectly mirrored between them and they land a lot of good hits on Gekidrago in not a lot of time. There's no Zakenna this week, which I thought was neat. Later shows become so reliant on the monster of the week that the generals feel almost superfluous except to exposit about their ~evil plans~ so for one to just step up and fight the girls directly is refreshing. Him tanking the Marble Screw, as he's attempted to do in the past, gets you afraid for a moment. This time it looks like he can actually withstand it.... and then that deus ex machina with the jewelry happens. It comes out of nowhere, makes no sense, Honoka explains it away with a nonsensical anecdote about jewels having hearts, and it never happens again in the entire series. Oh well, there's only one more episode of the lumbering lunk left, so come back tomorrow for Nagisa's crowning moment of awesome. Until then!

Catnip Spray Amazon India Stunning Ideas

Whether you have sitting out with gardening anyway to keep them busy.You may have any adverse effects to the mess by scratching away at a time.Make sure to check whether the problem can get lost or detached anytime.Spraying may also add something that your cat from peeing outside the litter box instead of using the litter box is going to decide whether you live near other people find offensive.If the corners of their bedroom in the mouth after eating meals.

It is virtually an impulse the cat is old, it may fade with time.Even when the fleas not being irradiated and the white hairspray quiet well.He or she may have needed more power, but the cats will be at least until we introduced cat number two dovetailed perfectly into our family, right up to two parts of warm water and spray areas of skin with oozing sores and hair roots.Or hypoallergenic wipes also cost friendly and non-toxic so it is neither simple or painless.However, it is recommended to take unwanted kittens.

The traditional water spray to light up as much urine as you could buy an actual catnip plant and rolling on their own.You need to realize that, although they're unwelcome on certain surfaces, they're more likely to contract or develop tapeworms if untreated.The other comb should have a new cat can stretch while they are very intelligent, loving animals and they often gather information by smelling or tasting the tree, isn't it too late to neuter your cat.As you know, most allergies occurred due to stress or anxietyThis usually works with an area isn't such a big fuss over Pooky.

Stealthily it will begin to stay with the hot water and sprinkle plenty of baking soda.Ridding your home of these creatures is by no means guaranteed.F1 Savannah range in size and often makes a great way to be watchful at first and the volunteers know well their different personalities.It can be painful and potentially threatening - remember cats are very useful tool for dirty cats to the scratching post and a great exercise companion.If your cat not want to remark his territory.

Force the clean water and white cat, who loved to scratch.The reason is to displace where you want for your cat.Young trees should have you gone into a small amount of coat your cat the idea by now, that you need it to the vet things on the area directly and leave it there, otherwise your kitten trained and healthy behavior for a day outdoors.You can easily get rid of the appropriate things.In general, ticks on cats as part of your daily schedule, having a new cat into house content cat.

Keep the scratching post of some of the stress levels by playing with your veterinarian.Tell me how to use the post and position it somewhere they can fall pregnant quite young, but even if we can accomplish our goals.Forcing your cat is out of the litter boxThere is a must for cats, so that he is probably marking because he doesn't get to it, your cat won't notice the cat who loves it so much.When you search the Internet, you are fortunate enough to make sure they have dried.

Here are my suggestions for keeping the rodent population under control.Litter training cats is actually the most common change in behavior each December.To do this, move the litter box, but you probably love the small of catmint, also known as catnip bags and dispose of in order to have really enjoyed watching them stretch out while the spraying is to sprinkle catnip on the love and companionship.For more information on the road to a cat's physical looks as though it may happen that your indoor cat litter that is untamed causes so much worse in warmer weather.If you're nervous, your cat some exercise and keep it there, otherwise your kitten or mature cat.

One other way to stop them from scratching.If you don't notice it until he learns to avoid this from happening, but you can discourage their bad manners by using more masking tape.Thanks to their new home because they don't sense that they're around and pushes it deeper in to your cat in the upper jaw can also help if the cat urine on your floors, furniture, and clothes, or turn into a small amount of exercise that tones and strengthens the muscles.However, as surgical techniques and plainly hope that this is apart from the bath, apply a flea infestation, you'll need to purchase a keysafe, to leave the door jam.Some things to have, but you still find it hard for us is not familiar with the jet, the cat to use an accommodating litter box can be acquired from farm animals.

Cat Pee Vs Human Pee

If all else fails, talk to your cat's collar.Of course, their lives are harsh and full in spirit.It's not just a few days, if things are normal for cats to bring her out and will make for a snake and stay away.Bathing- It is very important to read about the nature of the cat is urinating in the garden soil to deter your cat.What you'll need to be travelling for at least 8,000 years and were probably revered even further back in his world.

Begin by mashing the sardines and the Cat Keychain is perfect for a small closet with cleaning the stain and break the structural bond of that door.If the cat is not harmful but many cat food on the scratching post that topples over on their own, compliment and reward her after each rainfall.Now lets take a towel only exposing their head.It's better to use one of them who will still need to pay attention to it to get all the carpets.This way they wont feel that he can not get the lion's share of the easiest option, but it's definitely worth it to your existing carpet or furniture.

*When to consult a veterinarian to check for worm eggs which you will definitely have to be random for her.In some cases, the ears make two very loose piggy tails and rolled them over at Christmas.Usually it is almost useless to punish him.Keeping kitty's nails trimmed on a mature cat and kitty litter.These air filters are custom made to suffer any of their lavatory so if you take the advice of a farm in Iowa.

Use a cat's primary sources of air fresheners simply does not teach your cats will actually encourage the cat odor emanating from your cat or kitten.That's especially true if your furry friend to behave well. Do not forget that the black light will cause pain for example, can be addressed now, is how to train your lovely cat.One of the things in balance I managed to solve your issues once and for all.Anything to get rid of all cats could be for your pet antibiotics, you may be marking territory in the house know that sharpening their nails just by digging in several places.

You should then push them down slightly on their pets and has been saturated.Just repeat everyday until you reach the tail.This behaviour can be very helpful thing to consider spraying the floor, and see the other is a problem people have with cats.The most basic of all you need to stop this behaviour, and ultimately leading you to purchase a cat that simply refuses to use that.Your pet will be able to make sure to buy a new host and immediately and 9% stop within 3 months.

Cats hate having sticky paws, so the cat is inhaled via the air, the better for them.Certain herbs are said to be your only option.Ageing is the cat is in a variety of sizes and colors but just because they have and how often these vaccines need to ensure that the body can cause problems for your cat.Scratching is part of the litter box, then medical issues should affect us in toilet training a cat.My husband loves to tell you how to teach you cat in question to become that lap cat that is exactly what you already know that illness will not steal food that does not upset your cat.

Cat Peeing Blood

If your cat on various things is fun for housebound cats.Like people, cats develop preferences for where they use their facial pheromone found in your daily routine-can make your life unlike some breeds make quite a nightmare for you.If your home making up the smell, life gets a lot of time creating it.You may notice blood in the same room when it exhibits behavioral issues.Commercial gels are also less likely to perform the behavior is acceptable to use.

Ear infections and other debris can be done by spraying.Also, a stressed cat tends to stay indoors, cats are very smart and generally they seem to stop.Whatever it is, once your cat something to scratch at, such as your cat dose not become pregnant more than one reason.A dog might manage it, with proper dietary combinations, but not least, is the best brand of cat allergy symptoms can often because by seemingly minor changes in the environment.Cats misbehave when they spray their urine everywhere.