Oc Tober 2023 - Tumblr Posts - Page 2
OC-tober Day 28: Kisser taking some time to rest
Recently, I’ve been working on a Star Wars fic with a higher than usual number of OCs. The fic isn’t posted yet, but I thought I might put a few of these out there.
The original post is here by @icannotreadcursive.
Day 1
~+~
Kisser’s favorite spot to nap has always been with his head in Melt’s lap, even if her favorite method of waking him up has always been tweaking his ear.
~+~
Day 29
OC-tober Day 27: Kisser meeting someone important to him for the first time
Recently, I’ve been working on a Star Wars fic with a higher than usual number of OCs. The fic isn’t posted yet, but I thought I might put a few of these out there.
Buddy when I tell you I am so good at staying on top of things on the weekends! For Real! Do not check what day this was posted is all I'm saying.
The original post is here by @icannotreadcursive.
Day 1
~+~
RT-1010 wasn’t really awake. He hadn’t been able to sleep before shipping out, and he was paying for it. Melt and Cackle hadn’t stopped mocking him until their transport docked in the Negotiator’s landing bay.
Pants and Scowls, the Vode in charge of retrieving the 212th’s newest troopers from Kamino, had warned them they were going to gawk like the shinies they were. Cackle lost his bet with them the moment the flagship was in sight.
It was overwhelming–exactly like the training materials and nothing like them at all. There was something, a feeling, that took over RT-1010 as he stared. The Negotiator was almost alive unto itself, vibrant for all that it lacked decoration. Welcoming in a way RT-1010 couldn’t articulate.
~+~
Day 28
Vampire but make it snake 🐍
a la ‘From Dusk til Dawn’
Was looking at vintage photos of vaudevillian snake dancers— but once I started drawing i wanted to make it spooky…very slightly spooky
Oc-tober prompt 31: dressed for Halloween
Prompt list by @icannotreadcursive
Day 31: Dressed up for Halloween
Happy Halloween and a big thank you to everyone for all the support I’ve been given~!
Prompt list by @icannotreadcursive
~squishing in one last prompt while it’s still technically October~so here’s some Kami~Kashi doodlez all smooshed tg~ Oc-tober prompt 15-‘with their partner, friend or crush’- in this case Kakashi’s all three ❤︎₊ ⊹
Prompt list by @icannotreadcursive
⤹Bigger pics under the cut ⤹
OC-tober Fills
So here is a complete list of my OC-tober (from @icannotreadcursive) prompt fills this month:
Day 3: In a Cherished Memory (Josie)
Day 4: Waking up from a nightmare (Fred and Tom)
Day 10: In a different time period (Modern AU, everyone)
Day 16: Expressing or exploring their spirituality (Verry, definitely not doing that)
Day 24: Being cared for by someone they love (Verry, Tom, and Fred)
(Not doing today’s because dressing up for Halloween wasn’t as much of a thing at this time, although in their youth Tom and Verry have definitely helped relocate someone’s wagon to his barn roof.)
And even the ones that didn’t get written down were fun to think about at work.
Day 12: With a Parental Figure
For @icannotreadcursive's october prompt. I ran behind so I'll finish things over the course of this month.
OC-tober Day 31: Kisser dressed up for Halloween
Recently, I’ve been working on a Star Wars fic with a higher than usual number of OCs. The fic isn’t posted yet, but I thought I might put a few of these out there.
So first of all Halloween is over when I say it is and second of all please assume Halloween has exactly the connotations in this ficlet as it does in our universe but it's still my Star Wars AU. I did really thought out worldbuilding all month, so I let myself have this one lol
The original post is here by @icannotreadcursive.
Day 1
~+~
Book tells him there’s something wrong with him, that his costume is too morbid.
Melt would think he’s the funniest motherfucker in the galaxy, he’s pretty sure.
General Kenobi is aghast–torn between laughter and mortification.
For Halloween, Kisser dresses up as a dust bunny.
~+~
FIN!
Day 14: Encounter with a wild animal.
For @icannotreadcursive 's October prompts. I'm behind but still having a bit of fun.
Day 15: Best Friends
For @icannotreadcursive 's october prompt list. Based off the camping animation where Prompto falls on his ass
NULBURNAD THORN
thirties? | they/them | 180 cm | Half-Dragoneer | Bullmarian
Facts hold your feet to the ground
Mind wanders off, chasing the sound
Of the storm clouds that whispered of home
From in between the truth and what we see
The thunder calls out what we choose to perceive
Echoing the size of our world
Ooooh, time will pass, and reduce to ash, our bones
— Will Cady
[ 1 ] [ 2 ]
Prompt from:@oc-tober2023
[ I am not following the same order ]
~ Souvenir
Nimble hands ghost over the neatly folded papers and books that lie on the extravagant desk. The scribbles on it told her nothing, but the pictures intrigued her. The broom along with her duties long forgotten as she curiously bends over the desk.
"I’m certain there are more pressing matters you should attend to."
The sudden voice spooks her, nearly dropping her broom as she spins around to the speaker.
"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to, it's not ever going to happen again. Please." Her pleading eyes met Nulburnad casually leaning against the doorframe, one eye was glowing yellow and the other was black. "Forgive me."
The servant dips her head low, shivers running through her fragile body. She was properly scared.
Nulburnad had noticed it rather early. Those not opposed to showing their dislike for them openly, were afraid of them. It's nothing Nulburnad personally bothered to correct or diminish, perhaps they even found some kind of delight in it. Reminding them of better times, when others still had good reason to fear them.
Nowadays there is little reason to fear them at all. It was an unnecessary struggle in their eyes, trying to hold onto the past.
"Stealing is a fairly good reason for someone in your situation to be replaced." They enter their study room, a dark green silk robe billowing behind after each step they take. Nulburnad ignores the whimpering servant and instead goes over to check if all was still in place. It was.
"It appears your only crime today is slacking off on your work."
The young servant breaks down properly now, tears streaming down her face as she crashes to the ground, weeping as she presses her face onto the floor.
"Thank you, Your Highness. Your kindness is too much for me to take."
They lift an impatient eyebrow. "I can punish you, if you'd prefer." Before adding: "And its Sovereign."
"I no!" She sits upwards in an instant, eyes wide, "I-I mean no, your eh, Sovereign. Please don't eat me."
Nulburnad rolls their eyes. Their ignorance is a constant thorn in their eyes.
"I don't eat people." That was the truth, but they couldn't hide a small smirk accompanying their next words: "Too many bones."
Her eyes widened further. "I- I did not mean to disrespect you. It's just the rumours-" she bit down on her tongue, looking to the side.
"They are just that. Rumours. You should make up your own opinion." Nulburnad pushes their coat skirt over the chair, before sitting down at their desk. "No one from the east is eating human flesh. We are not so different from you as you may think. Check the facts first, before you believe what others tell you."
"Ooh." She clutches her broom tighter as she gets back to her feet, clinging to her Sovereigns every word. "So you can't breathe fire either?"
Nulburnad lifts a skeptical eyebrow, silently questioning her intelligence. "I cannot. No." It seems necessary to clarify.
She nods, one hand wandering to her chin, apparently there were more questions wanting to escape her.
"If that is all, you may leave-" They were about to dismiss her, when their eyes wandered to an empty spot at the corner of their desk. There was certainly something missing there. Something very valuable.
"Where is it?" Nulburnad jumps from their chair, pointing at the empty corner of their desk.
The servant blinks, following their finger. "I don't-"
"I have placed something very valuable right at the corner of my desk. Don't tell me it hasn't been there. I memorised all my prized possessions, you can't fool me."
She stutters, the tears once more daring to fall. "I-I was just cleaning. I didn't take nothing. I swear."
"Cleaning?" Nulburnad walks around the desk and right where it was supposed to lay, they bend downwards, looking below. There it was, fallen beneath the table, reflecting the light off the fire, it almost looks like it was calling for them. With relief they take the small trinket into their hands, dusting it off with careful hands.
"I-I didn't see it. I must have knocked it over by accident. It wasn't my intention to steal."
Nulburnad sighs, keeping it close to their person, shielding it from the servant's eyes.
"Do your task more properly next time. Now leave." They waited until she was out of sight, closing the door behind her.
Only then they walk closer to the fire, revealing a small silver ring in their palm. It had a very simple engraving on its top, lacking the elegance their currently worn jewelry exhibits. Silver too, wasn't a material they wore often.
Yet they clung to it, like it was the most precious item they possessed.
Turning it towards the light, the engraving reflected off the fire revealing the weak image of a wingless dragon. They smile at the memory attached to it. It had been a merry festival held in the east, to celebrate their dragon god Lim. Nulburnad had never gone to one before, but after relentless nagging, his friend convinced him to go and while there, brought this little souvenir for them, as a keepsake of their time together. A gift. A memory.
Nulburnad took off one of their golden rings and put on the silver one instead. It looked very out of place on their long fingers, but they did not mind the incompatibility.
Afterall, it did reflect Nulburnads relationship with their friend perfectly. He had been charming, warm and carefree. All qualities Nulburnad had been told they lacked. Nulburnad always knew what they wanted and they were good at getting it. That was just a fact. Emotions and needs of others played a very little role in it. Sometimes even his own were left behind. How else could one achieve their goals? How else could one keep their promises?
Looking at the ring, it seemed almost like yesterday when he had given them the souvenir. When Nulburnad's ambitions had cost their friendship. And yet they have no regrets. They are closer to their goal than ever before, and that tells them it was worth it. That was all the jewel was there to remind them of. The past can fade into the back of your mind. A souvenir cannot.
[ ~1050 words ]
THAMAYA ATIYA
[ 1 ] [ 2 ]
Prompt from @oc-tober2023
[ I am not following the same order ]
CW: Violence, bloody fight, biting limbs off
~ Free choice
"No, wait! You-you like to cut things, right?"
Thamaya closes one eye, licking her lips as she aims her knife at the dangling woman not far in front of her. Perhaps that will shut her up.
"Why not save your skill for the Underfolk, they will come when they smell my blood. You better not attract them."
"Never heard of that." Thamaya narrowed her eye, it was dark in the forest but she had never missed her target yet. Perhaps this knife truly was lucky.
"If you throw that knife, they will come."
She ignored the woman, her need to draw blood bigger than whatever that woman was talking about. She gets ready to throw, but just as she was about to let go, a sudden flash of light blinds her and she has to shield her eyes.
"What the-"
She didn't get to voice her surprise, as one of the ugly fuckers crashed through the thicket, ready to pounce on the former Queen.
Thamaya grips her knife tightly, teeth pressed together. "That is my bait! Find your own."
Before it could jump on her captive, she slashes its leatherly skin open, it wailed, tattered wings flopping behind it like a dark coat.
If it can bleed, it can die. Thamaya smirks, adrenaline rushing through her veins, she mocks the creature, excited by the thrill of a possible fight.
It turned its attention to her fully, jumping with bared teeth. Thamaya was quick, she dodged, slashed its legs, landed another hit on its back. Then it swung around too quickly, long arms hitting her making her skid over the moss below. She could feel blood running down her nose, as she crouched, never once losing her footing. She licks the blood off, delicious.
"Cut me loose. I can help you."
Thamaya groans, she should have let the babbling woman die. "Shut it."
Then she sprints forward, quick feet leaping into the air, knife at the ready as she let out a battle cry. Landing on the blind creatures back, she cut into its flesh, cackling, as it spun around confused, arms unable to reach her.
Then she grabbed its bald head, only a few loose strands of hair remaining, before she placed her knife on its throat and sliced it open. It trashed around wildly, fighting the inevitable, it held its bleeding throat. Thamaya jumped off of it and as she did, she watched it stumbling back into the woods.
"So, where were we." She spins around towards her captive, flicking her knife once to get rid of the inky blood.
"That's not going to stop it. It will be back. Cut me loose and I'll help you."
Thamaya scoffs. "You wish-"
Something heavy slammed into her, knocking the breath out of her. She flies to the ground, ungracefully this time, it was hard to breathe.
"Cut me down. It will curse us both. Quickly!"
Thamaya gets back on her feet, this time slower. "Would you just fucking shut up!" Her shout was loud, the creatures blank eyes on her in an instant. She had never lost a fight before, only that once, no, no she won that too in the end. It didn't count. She won't loose against this creature either.
It seized her, Thamaya could still see the cut she had left on it, but whatever had made it run before, seems to have vanished. If it can bleed, it can die. She tells herself once more, gripping her knife tighter, she roars as she swung herself at it.
She cut into its shoulder, then a sudden pain running through her own. She gasped, it was biting her.
"No!" She swung her head forward, hitting its own ugly face with her own, then she bit down too, teeth catching its nose. It came off easy.
It let her go, hands trashing through his face. She used that moment to sprint forward, knife at the ready, but this time, it saw her coming and caught her mid-sprint, slamming her back into the ground. It held her down, its face forming into an O as it starts to inhale. She struggled beneath it, but suddenly all her strength left her, she felt cold all of a sudden - weak.
"Its cursing you with the Rot! Cut me loose, I'm your only chance!"
That blasted woman again. Thamaya didn't need anyone saving her, she could cut it down herself… she can. Her eyelids started to get heavy, daring to close. What was wrong with her?
"Do it! Quick!"
Biting down on her teeth, she gribs her knife tighter, she has only one chance, it needs to hit. She gets ready to throw it, aims, and watches it soar through the air. One snap and the rope holding the false Queen upright, is cut in half. Lucky Charm indeed.
She met the womans eyes for a moment, there was hesitation. She could just run and leave her here. Thamaya let out a hollow laugh. What a cursed choice it was.
Then the blinding light made her shrink away, closing her eyes on instinct, but with the light, the warmth returned to her limbs and suddenly she was back to her old self.
As the light subsided, the creature was nowhere in sight and all that remained was her captive, that was no longer caught in her trap.
Thamaya jumped to her feet, knife still in hand.
"You could have run."
The woman meets her gaze, her former confidence fully restored, it made Thamaya grimace. "You could have left me hanging."
Thamaya didn't say anything, but studying the woman more closely. Why did she not run, why wasn't she running now? She wanted to cut her open, used her for bait to capture her son. She had been very clear about her intentions towards her. Why did she stay?
"How about we call it even. We chose to help each other in a dire situation. Truce for a moments time, to honour our decisions." She held out her hand and Thamaya just looked at it enstranged.
"I still want to cut you open. See your insides." She watches the woman attentive, not trusting her intentions at all. Perhaps she had gone mad.
"In the eyes of the Underfolk we all look the same. It would have devoured us both. With a common enemy, we chose to stick together. What happens after is on us."
"So I can chase you down once more?" That doesn't sound too bad actually. The chase is the most fun.
"You have my word." She extents her hand a little further, reminding Thamaya of it.
She licks her lips, weighing her options. Cutting her down now and possibly being yelled at for damaging her or having the thrill of a chase all over again? Yeah, why was she even thinking about it.
She grabbed her hand tightly. "Agreed."
The woman smiled. "Perfect."
Then a fist came flying towards her face and all went dark.
[ ~ words 1160 ]
NULBURNAD
[ 1 ] [ 2 ]
~ History
The wind was ice cold so high up on the mountaintops, the path snakes along through the gaps of the rocks, unsteady and loose.
Nulburnad was cold when they arrived at the top, another reminder of their mortality.
There stood a statue, the image of a giant wolf with long teeth and three eyes looking down at the fortress below. The people of Skaeld had built it to honour their god, but knowing the god of mountains, its size did nothing to his real image.
"I need a favour." Nulburnad throws the dead rabbit they had carried onto the stoney ground in front of them.
Suddenly, the rock before them moved, it leaped into the air and landed only inches from them. Now in the form of a gigantic wolf, blaring its teeth.
"Not even polite enough to grant me a reaction, sibling." The wolf smacks his tongue, backing away disappointed at Nulburnads absence of a reaction.
"And all you bring me is a tiny rabbit." The wolf pushed the dead body with his paw, watching it flop over, "Should I eat you instead?"
"I am here on serious business."
"Why not chat with me first? I've met Arcos the other day, they said they wanted the items back they gifted you." The wolf cackles, a strange sound coming from a giant animal.
"You told them of me?" Nulburnad frowns displeased.
The wolf just walks around them, wagging his tail as he does, "I told them that you supposedly died. Thought you both were quite close to each other back then. Guess I was wrong. They were more interested in the lost treasure that you hid away. I still wonder, why did you come to me for help and not them?"
"I had to finish what I had started." Nulburnad says, serious.
The wolf flops down next to them, inching closer to the small Sovereign.
"You've made yourself quite cozy in the fortress have you not? Didn't the former Queen help in killing you? Sounds to me like you're after revenge."
Nulburnad scoffs, "I am not so petty. It's just a bad coincidence."
"Coincidence." The wolf muses, lifting his paws to draw the Sovereign closer to him, "Your heart tells a different story."
Nulburnad turns away from the wolf's penetrating gaze, his nosiness nothing they enjoy.
"I want to open mines into your mountain. Help the north support itself."
The wolf didn't seem eager to talk about business, as he flops down on his side with a huff.
"Whatever you want to do, you always have good arguments for it. Do what you must." The wolf yawns, scratching its chin, "I'm glad you came actually. Heard alot about you stirring up trouble with that one mortal. You're rather fond of him, aren't you? Ralof, isn't it? He is one of my most loyal followers. I could tell you what he thinks of you too." The wolf smiles a toothy grin.
Nulburnad heard their heart beat faster, daring to deceive them. "I came here to discuss the mines. The Nords respect you greatly, Ulgrim. They wouldn't let me proceed without asking you first. I wouldn't be here otherwise."
"What are you afraid of? You know I can read your thoughts." Ulgrim smiles delightedly as he plants his giant head flat onto the stone, one yellow eye looking closely at the small person beside him, "Oh, he reminds you of someone. He is not so different to Ral the sun god, your former friend. Both are very positive and honest personalities. Wearing their emotions on their sleeves. How very human of them. You do have a type, don't you? I can see the resemblance now."
"Get out of my head." Nulburnad hisses, irritation in their movements as they pierce the wolf with a warning glare.
"Then you shouldn't have become my follower, you know. I always wondered what was going on in your head. Even back then when we were racing through the lands. You were so distant, so cold, but I liked your ruthlessness." The wolf then lifts their head again, placing one leg over the other, thinking, "Wasn't Ral there with us? I've barely ever seen you two apart. He was always a delight, wins everyone's hearts so easily, doesn't he? I never thought he could melt yours too. You have a lot of history together. Don't you wonder how he is doing today? If he regrets killing you or do you think he would try again?"
"There is no need to think about what is no longer important. I came to you for matters that impact the present." Nulburnad stared at the wolf, daring him to say anything else about the topic.
The wolf hummed, Nulburnad knew he would have liked to say more, but at least he knew when to stop. It seems the respect they both had for each other, had remained.
Ulgrim walks to the edge of the mountain. Below them sleeps the fortress of Skaeld restless and vulnerable. After a while Nulburnad joins him.
"There are many that disapprove of your arrival. They fear the changes that you will bring, the ones you already made. The Nords value tradition very much - threaten their beliefs and they will cut you down."
"They wouldn't be the first." Nulburnad crosses their arms in front of their chest, looking passively down onto the city, "I am not playing their parent like the former Queen had, there is no need to coddle them. The situation is getting worse, change is inevitable."
The wolf snickers. "You always loved stirring trouble, speaking words no one wants to hear. Don't make it sound like you had no other choice. You're enjoying it, I can tell. It's why Ral cut you down too, there are only so many rules one can break without angering a few."
"Let them be angry then." Nulburnad says, "Someone has to say how is it. I wouldn't want to remain ignorant either. Besides, never thought you interested in the politics of mortals."
"Despite what our siblings say, I am not a feral beast like Shlaegor." The wolf growls, "I have my reasons."
They were silent for a moment, enjoying the night air, the blackened starless night sky pressing down on them from above.
"It's not so much the mortals that worry me. Some gods have become aware of your presence." The wolf was serious now, "Uwila has always been meddlesome in human affairs. She had asked me to investigate you and give her information."
Nulburnad looks at the wolf, the one confidant they entrusted their circumstances with and the one they had asked to keep it a secret.
The wolf cackles then. "I told her to suck it!"
Nulburnad found no amusement in it. Uwila was nothing but persistent. If they had raised her interest, she would soon send someone to investigate them.
"Even the old gods seem to take an interest in you. Seems like the old days, doesn't it? You are only here for a month now and already stepping on everyone's feet." The wolf speaks, restlessness making him stand back up on his paws.
Then he gets serious, head tilting downwards to better perceive Nulburnads small form.
"What I am concerned about is their constant presence. The old gods are lingering around my domain. They never cared for it before." The wolf fletched his teeth for a moment, a nervous habit perhaps, "I can live with you stirring up trouble with the mortals, but you are starting to attract the old gods, endangering my followers. Fate had watched Ralof rather closely as of late. I fear your meeting with him was entirely made by Fate themselves. So tell me, what have you done to get the old gods so interested?"
"Fate had sent the former Queen after me before, in an attempt to stop me. I am not going to fall for the same trick twice. If Fate wants Ralof to stand in my way, I will not be moved by it. The darkness has gone out of control and I will stop it."
The wolf tilts his head. "In all our history together, I never thought you had gained the title god of ice for your personality but I am starting to believe it now. Do as you please, but I draw the line at dragging my followers into your mess. We do not want the old gods here. If you keep antagonising them, I feel forced to act."
Nulburnad almost smiles at Ulgrims threat, it meant very little to them.
"Every god had turned a blind eye to the increasing darkness. As gods, mortals swear on our protection. Who else should be responsible for the misery that has befallen mortality if not to us. Your domain is said to have the highest increase of Underfolk, that should be something you worry about and not the interest Fate has in me."
"We were doing just fine hunting those bastards." The wolf bared his teeth, "It keeps them at bay and it will keep doing so. You're just holding onto your misplaced heroism because you're afraid that Ral has been right in stopping your madness!"
"Fighting them won't help the situation." Nulburnad remained calm, "You can't kill what's already dead. Don't you see? You're just avoiding the inevitable The darkness doesn't spare gods and if you keep eating them, you'll be the next to fall. They will devour you from the inside."
"Ral had killed you for overstepping all the boundaries there are. You are doing it again!" The Wolf barks, "I protect my domain as I see fit. Your criticism is not welcome here!"
"I am doing my responsibility as a god. I promised my followers protection and I will not let them down."
"And see where that has taken you. You are no god any more, dear sibling. Your influence is limited. Give up now, before it's too late."
Ulgrim looks down at Nulburnads small form. Mortal and fragile, but they refused to believe they hold no power. They had seen this coming. Friends and siblings turning on them, it was to be expected when Fate was on their game, but something they can look past. It's not their fault to not see clearly.
Nulburnad knew that they can succeed in their goal. No matter the cost. To achieve it, they could not waver, especially not when they want it the most. Even when they have to stand alone, facing friends and foes alike. Fate was nothing but persistent, but so could they.
Ral had caught them off guard once, it won't happen again with Ralof.
History will not repeat itself. This time, Nulburnad will be prepared and they will defy Fate and cure the darkness for good.
AEGON
[ 1 ] [ 2 ]
~ Weapon
Aegon had never been a fighter but he can respect a good made weapon if he sees one. Perhaps it was that or sheer curiosity that brought him down towards the lower district where it was said, the best blacksmith of all Skaeld resided.
Surprising enough, the people still looked up to stare at him, but that could also be because of his well-made clothes Elora had provided for him. And as quickly as they had looked up, they were looking elsewhere again.
He was starting to like it down here. Why does everyone always say to avoid this place? The market was held down here too. Everyone seemed to enjoy that.
Then suddenly someone bumped into him, due to his tall frame it barely made him stumble, but the moment he wanted to see if the person was alright, they already vanished into the next alley.
They seem very hurried down here. He thought.
"The weapon you described is expensive. I usually only add embellishments for the crown."
"Not a problem. That is why I brought…" it wasn't there, he was sure he put his purse right inside his inner vest pocket, but it was empty. Just in case, he checked the other side but there was also nothing to be found.
Looking a bit embarasses he met the blacksmiths solemn face. "I must have dropped it. I am sure I put it in here."
"Robbed." He said, snifling once, before continuing hammering on his anvil.
"What?!" Aegon had to shout over the loud noise the man was making.
"You were most likely robbed. Happens." They shrug like its the most common occurance.
"Oh, I didn't notice." Then he remembers the person running into him, it must have happened then. He let his shoulders hang, that were all the earnings he has gotten from Elora. Now it was all gone.
"I'm afraid I have to come back another time for my request. Is there anything you can tell me to prevent it from happening again?"
The man mumbles something under his breath, before meeting Aegons gaze beneath bushy eyebrows. "Eyes sharp. Weapon at the ready. You're tall also. Keep valuable things high up where they can't easily reach."
That makes sense. "Thank you. You are a very kind soul, sir. I shall recommend you to my friends. Then I will come back to pay you for your good services."
The man just huffs as an answer. Not much a conversationalist, but Aegon didn't mind that.
"I heard there are other things that one can do to entertain oneself here. Any suggestions?"
The man hummed and Aegon understood it as the sign for the man thinking.
"My son likes to go to the market often. Helps them out. Othertimes he visits the dwarven tavern at the very outskirts of the district. Its cheap. But I wouldn't recommend you going there. They eat you alive."
Aegon blinks at the vivid image the man was painting for him. "Then if I were to go there would your previous advise apply to it too?"
"Absolutley not!"
Aegon raised both eyebrows surprised about the mans sudden outburst.
"If you show up with a weapon into the dwarven district, you better know how to use it. Because you will need to use it."
"Oh." Aegon scatches his chin in thought, "You said your son would go there often. What would he say about inviting a few other people over."
The mans steely gaze suddenly turned ten times more darker, if that were even possible and Aegon shivered underneath it.
"Listen here, rich boy." He lifted the smeltering hot iron and Aegon takes a careful step back, "You came here to make business with me. Don't ever drag my boy into your affairs, treat me all you like, but leave him out of it."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disrespect you. I will drop it, never going to mention it again."
The man huffs again, seemingly a common way of dismissing Aegons words.
"Why do you want to go anyway? Don't you have enough stuff up at your own fancy district?"
"Well, a dwarven tavern sounds like a good time."
"Not if it costs your life."
"Then, do you know where I could possibly learn to wield that weapon you are going to craft for me?" Aegon smiles, hoping to not having bothered the man too much yet. He was just the only one willing to talk to him down here.
"Once you pay me. I ain't working for free."
"Yes, of course." Aegon nods.
"Well, then." He seems to be thinking, "The guards around the walls are still recruiting. They can teach you."
Aegon frowns, before lowering his voice, "Aren't they awfully violent?"
The man looks at him, his patience visibly running thin.
"Never mind." Aegon waves the question off. "I already have a job anyway. Can't really leave it. I'll figure out how that weapon will work another way. Thank you for your patience, good man. You will hear from me again when I have earned back the money I lost."
"Stolen."
"Well, we don't know that for certain."
"I do."
Aegon presses his lips together at the stubborness of this man. He doesn't even seem to like to humour a different mindset, a possibly more creative conclusion. How to know anything at all, right? Maybe they are all just guessing.
Yet, he kept his phylosophics to himself, knowing he had taken up enough of this mans time already. "I will see you again in good time for my weapon."
With that he bids his farewell. He truly did not know why so many avoid this place. There hadn't been one person asking to touch his ears since he was here.
He felt a little bit lighter.
![[ Bonus Image At The End ]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/eedf48bb63b5f3b64c9103058b6b890c/d42bc1ba2c684e55-4b/s500x750/d92233f5d1988191dc27d32913fc2b73f9affe73.jpg)
[ bonus image at the end ]
~ Halloween
"Oh, I know what this is. I've seen one of those done before." Aegon says being the first to snatch a pumpkin from the table and takes a seat.
"What do we do, exactly?" Nulburnad asks skeptically.
"Hollow it out, then carve scary faces into them. We will put a candle in there which will light it up by night." Elora explains.
"That's what the knives are for! To take their brains out! Ha!" Thamaya is quick to grab her own knife, swinging it in her hand, "Luckily I always come prepared."
"In case you need to take a brain out? Does that happen often?" Ralof asks confused.
"Not as often as I would like." She sighed, taking a pumpkin, smashing it onto the table to instantly bury her knife inside of it - wildly poking it.
"Losers will take the last one." Lorna pushes past them, taking a pumpkin of her own with a knife from the table.
"It's a competition?" Ralof looks alarmed, "I want to win!" He takes a pumpkin and knife and follows Lorna to the table.
Now only Nulburnad, Sael and Elora remain.
"It's not a competition." Nul comments.
"No." Elora sighs, "There is nothing to win, I just wanted them to help me with the decorations."
"Meaning you're not participating?" There was a smile wanting to snake onto Nulburnads lips.
"I can't let them out of my sight. They will mess up somehow. I just know it."
"It's not easy gaining your approval, Seeress, now is it?" They were smiling now.
"It's not something anyone should aim for. I am not their god."
"Ah, for a moment I thought you were going to say their mother, but I think both imply the same in a way."
She frowns, "If you want to insult me, you'd have to do better than that."
"You'd know if-"
"No matter what you say, you're helping too. No getting around that." Elora moves forward and grabs a pumpkin, shoving it into Nulburnads arms.
They make a grimace. "It looks kind of messy…"
"Not if you do it properly." She moves to take another pumpkin to place it in Sael's hands, before taking her own, her eyes already scanning the starting works of the others.
It was cozy, it was chatty, everyone was working together and it was a merry time.
"Done!" Aegon announces as the first, turning his pumpkin around to show it to the others.
It was beautifully carved. Not a face, but a tree with different shades of depth, it will only really be visible at night, but the details were already quite visible.
"Oh, how did you do the branches?" Ralof says with awe, leaning on the table to better see.
"Don't take too much pressure with the knife."
"Bullshit." Lorna snorts, before turning her own around to be shown. It wasn't bad either, it simply lacked the finer details. Instead, it had a scary grimace, hollowed out completely, it looked proper scary.
"You need to think of the person you hate the most and with that anger inside you, you carve."
Aegon swallowed. "It seems you really do hate them."
"A knife is there to cut." Thamaya provides, licking her lips. She didn't even have to turn her pumpkin around, because quite frankly, it no longer resembled one. It was a mess. She cut all pieces wildly into parts, apparently still eating the insides. It looked like it exploded.
"I don't think it's edible raw." Nulburnad provides, with a raised eyebrow.
"And that was not the task! You ruined the pumpkin, do you know how expensive they are?" Elora fumes, ruffling her hair.
"Calm down, pointy. This one was halfway rotten already, someone tried to fool you. So its worth right now probably resembles the one you brought it at."
"Why are you eating a rotten pumpkin? You know what, I don't even wanna know." Elora waves her own comment off, turning away from Thamaya to show her own. "Perhaps I should have shown my own first, as a reference."
Hers was neatly carved. No odd edges, nothing looking out of the ordinary. The face she carved on was bordering on the scary, up to the point where you know what it was supposed to be, but by far not as scary as Lornas. It was normal, average at best. You could sell it, but its nothing special.
"Oh! Mine next!" Ralof exclaims excited, waving into the round, before lifting his carved pumpkin into the air with a big wide smile.
Everyone squinted their eyes. It wasn't badly carved, but at parts he had dug in deeper and other's he seemed to have failed to do so. It could resemble a face, but it could also just be random holes poked into the thing.
"What exactly… is it?" Elora asks.
"A troll." Lorna provides confident.
"I think it looks more like a- a- like a-" Aegon trails off.
"Repeatedly stabbed pig." Thamaya finishes for Aegon, making everyone grimace at the mental image.
"Oh, but I like it." Aegon tries to remain supportive, "It could mean something different for each of us."
"What, no, I thought it was obvious." Ralof frowns, looking at his own carving now, "That's Nul."
Everyones blinks, the room quieting down.
"It doesn't even remotely resemble me." Nulburnad says, leaned back casually in their chair, back straight.
"What of course it does. See." Ralof points at a hole in the pumpkin, "Those are your eyes, that's your frown and your scales."
There were stifles laughter around the room.
Nulburnad frowns at the offending object. "Then let me rephrase my question. Why would you put my face on a decoration meant to scare people?"
Ralof seems surprised. "Oh, I just, that was the first thing that came to mind when Elora said to carve a face. I didn't mean your face is scary to look at…"
"She said to carve a scary face." He deadpanned, "And you got the scales on the wrong side."
"We need to put it up the front door!" Lorna was laughing loudly, "I would even buy it off you, Ralof."
"We are not having people associate that grimace with my face." Nul disagrees.
"But, I did put alot of effort into it." Ralof sighs, shoulder slumping down.
Aegon pats his shoulder in sympathy. "I really, really like it. I can see the resemblance."
"No!" Nul jumps from their seat, making everyone look up surprise, they never raise their voice, "I will not tolerate people misconceptioning me. I am not scary."
Everyone was quiet, too surprised or intimidated to say anything.
"Then what you got? Must be a masterwork, eh?" Lorna says, not in the slightest affected by their outburst.
"If you're not finished yet, you can have a little bit more time." Aegon says kindly.
They seem to quickly gather thenselves, clearing their throat. Before with one swift movement, the pumpkin was turned around to show…
nothing.
"I am done." They cross their arms in front of their chest, "It's the sun."
Elora squints, "It's a pumpkin."
"Place a candle atop it and it shines like the sun. What you all staring at?"
"Are you afraid of the sun or what?" Lorna seems amused, dangling in her chair.
"It's bright." Sael adds to the conversation and Nulburnad looks at him for a moment, before he addresses the group again:
"Pah, we got two people scared of the light now, and once I thought I am crazy for being scared of the voiced in my head." Thamaya barks.
"You're still crazy, my dear." Lorna comments drily.
"Aww, you're adorable when you try to be mean." Thamaya grins.
Lorna just huffs in response.
"I am not afraid of him."
"Him?" Elora frowns, "You know the sun-?"
"You just said, it has to be a scary face." Lorna interrupts with a bored wave of her hand. "So that means Ralof thinks your face is scary and you are afraid of the sun. Simple."
"Ah, no I dont think them scary." Ralof shakes his head, "I actually think it's nice to look at-."
"That was the task Elora gave us, but…" Nulburnad seem to hesitate, staring at the empty pumpking for a moment, "I just didn't want to get my hands dirty."
An onset of groans and sighs went through the group.
"Does that mean I win?" Thamaya says with a sinister smile.
"We haven't seen Sael's yet." Aegon says, looking at the Saelethir, sitting quietly to his right.
"Sael, what did you do with the pumpkin?" Aegon asks him, propping his head onto his hand.
Sael seems to be looking into the room, seemingly surprised to being adressed, before he takes the pumpkin and turns it towards them. It was bank as well, just like Nulburnads, but his hands remained on its surface. Then he closed his eyes and his hands suddenly glow bright like the stars. That very moment, the pumpkin seems to grow, vines swirl out of the top of it and when it had doubled in size, he let go again.
Everyone blinks, baffled and amazed.
"That was sick." Lorna comments.
"Does that mean you can repair mine? Then I can take out its insides twice!" Thamaya says excitedly jumping up.
"Why not just use Nulburnads?" Lorna provides.
"Oh, no, no. I won't let you ruin another pumpkin." Elora was quick to snatch Nulburnads pumpkin away.
"Careful." Nulburnad says, as they watch Elora take their pumpkin. She frowns.
"Then let's place them all outside and wait til night to see them glow." Ralof exclaims.
"Race you." Lorna says already up on her feet with her pumpkin, running down the hallway.
Ralof was quick to snatch his own, pushing the chair over as he stumbled after her.
"Don't ruin the rest of the decorations!" Elora shouts after them, but they were already gone. "Or the house for that matter."
"Told you." Nulburnad starts, "Festivities go up in flames more often than you think."
"I'm starting to see why."
[ Bonus ]
![[ Bonus Image At The End ]](https://64.media.tumblr.com/a2c804a9e25c017df554cec179ea0c7b/d42bc1ba2c684e55-ea/s500x750/fb69539a5608904da9e67c2ba7a9d1c0f7031cbb.jpg)
@oc-tober2023
SUMMARY
All of ARN | ~Hatred | ~Saviour | ~Ritual
All of SAEL | ~Home | ~Choice | ~Education
All of LORNA | ~Foreigner | ~Food
All of ELORA | ~Flashback | ~Promise | ~Mask
All of RALOF | ~Found Family | ~Fun
All of THAMAYA | ~Charm | ~Free Choice
All of NULBURNAD | ~Souvenir | ~History
All of AEGON | ~Excuse | ~Weapon
~October