JustaSim
Unlucky Member
Edit!
I cannot credit any image artist. These were randomly found on pintrest. I did not save the links and the images are inserted as simply pasted image. If you want me to take down an image, be a grown adult and say something directly to me please. Clearly these are not mine when I already stated below I FOUND them on pintrest.
This was simply an attempt to start a conversation. Don't like it? Give me your cravings and see if they provide better inspiration.
Or the back button is your friend. K?
Not sure what possessed me to encourage new stories. I must be out of my right mind to think such a thing is possible.
So f* it. Want to write? Here's my basic as all get out info.
I usually write in a lazy lit style, but my average range is 300-1200 words. I am female in real life, and I'll play male or female characters. Regardless of role, I only write MxF. Sorry. I've been rping for about two decades, do the math if you want to. Last but not least, I work a full time job that is demanding. As much as I want to, I cannot be online posting all the time. Worse, after a long day, I may not have the brain power to post. So, patience is greatly appreciated.
Current Search
Boredom and pintrest have brought me to bad decisions. Please see images in spoilers and private message me with interests. I won't be replying to comments left here. No order and no plots. Just pretty pictures that were found.
from some manga or game since there are multiples of these 2. IDK it wasn't listed
Have 3 songs. Yes, these are from fandoms. No, the rp does not need to part of the fandom.
And different intros set up from rps that didn't move forward. Pictures again without credit since I found from pintrest.
I cannot credit any image artist. These were randomly found on pintrest. I did not save the links and the images are inserted as simply pasted image. If you want me to take down an image, be a grown adult and say something directly to me please. Clearly these are not mine when I already stated below I FOUND them on pintrest.
This was simply an attempt to start a conversation. Don't like it? Give me your cravings and see if they provide better inspiration.
Or the back button is your friend. K?
Not sure what possessed me to encourage new stories. I must be out of my right mind to think such a thing is possible.
So f* it. Want to write? Here's my basic as all get out info.
I usually write in a lazy lit style, but my average range is 300-1200 words. I am female in real life, and I'll play male or female characters. Regardless of role, I only write MxF. Sorry. I've been rping for about two decades, do the math if you want to. Last but not least, I work a full time job that is demanding. As much as I want to, I cannot be online posting all the time. Worse, after a long day, I may not have the brain power to post. So, patience is greatly appreciated.
Current Search
Pirates - see 2, 4, 10 and 14
Demons - see 3, 9, and 12
Sesshy x Rin**
Demons - see 3, 9, and 12
Sesshy x Rin**
Boredom and pintrest have brought me to bad decisions. Please see images in spoilers and private message me with interests. I won't be replying to comments left here. No order and no plots. Just pretty pictures that were found.
from some manga or game since there are multiples of these 2. IDK it wasn't listedHave 3 songs. Yes, these are from fandoms. No, the rp does not need to part of the fandom.
And different intros set up from rps that didn't move forward. Pictures again without credit since I found from pintrest.
Which one, which one?
The man weaved through the crowds of drunken fools. He wore dark clothes that were almost stark in contrast to all the colors around him. People yelled in wonder just barely heard over the festive music that filled the night time streets. One lovely scream tore his attention in a woman’s direction. His gaze was sharp behind the black and bone colored long nasone mask.
“Beau.” He muttered under his breath. A light shimmered into his blinded eye. It glowed an eerie green before fading out again. The man’s shadow shimmered as if coming alive then it was gone. His shadow was searching for that delightful sound. Was she the one?
The man moved through the crowd again, following the trace of magic his shadow left behind. Beads crunched under his heavy boots. Excitement curled in his stomach and twisted onto his lips. Mardi Gras was the best hunting grounds. Even in this modern world, so many people went missing.
Now, if only he could be less messy…
A whistle caught his attention, and his shadow returned to him. His eye glowed briefly as his friend showed him what he had found. Yes… Her.
His fingers wiggled as his magic spun at their tips. The shadows came to life in her eyes. They chased her deeper into the darkness until she came to a dead end in an alley far from the festivities of the party. Distantly the music played on.
Standing in the entrance of the alley, he stared down on the woman that cried in her fear. He could almost taste it and his tongue danced over his teeth. Oddly his canines were slightly sharper than a human’s should be. The man removed the mask from his features. He enjoyed being face to face with his prey.
“Good evening, miss.” He crouched down in front of the woman and draped his arms over his knees lazily. “Théodore Barrilleaux, Theo to my friends. Which you’ve already met.” The shadows moved again, snapping like beasts at her figure. She screamed that lovely sound again. The man took a deep breath to savor it. “Welcome to my world now.” Though the words were pleasant it was as if he had told the shadows they were free to attack. The darkness swarmed the screaming girl.
The man laughed, feeling the high of a kill. It was a mess in the alley. The girl suffered cuts all along her body while her blood splattered the walls and ground. He had been close enough to be tainted by her blood, but this was why he wore black. He wiped a wet spot from his right cheek which did little more than smear the crimson color against his fair, scarred face.
He rose to his feet and stumbled to lean against the wall. The shadows seemed to seep away, exposing the gore of the body. He needed to clean the mess, but they had lured her far enough away that he could take his time. He felt so good right now. He could linger in this feeling a while longer.
The man weaved through the crowds of drunken fools. He wore dark clothes that were almost stark in contrast to all the colors around him. People yelled in wonder just barely heard over the festive music that filled the night time streets. One lovely scream tore his attention in a woman’s direction. His gaze was sharp behind the black and bone colored long nasone mask.
“Beau.” He muttered under his breath. A light shimmered into his blinded eye. It glowed an eerie green before fading out again. The man’s shadow shimmered as if coming alive then it was gone. His shadow was searching for that delightful sound. Was she the one?
The man moved through the crowd again, following the trace of magic his shadow left behind. Beads crunched under his heavy boots. Excitement curled in his stomach and twisted onto his lips. Mardi Gras was the best hunting grounds. Even in this modern world, so many people went missing.
Now, if only he could be less messy…
A whistle caught his attention, and his shadow returned to him. His eye glowed briefly as his friend showed him what he had found. Yes… Her.
His fingers wiggled as his magic spun at their tips. The shadows came to life in her eyes. They chased her deeper into the darkness until she came to a dead end in an alley far from the festivities of the party. Distantly the music played on.
Standing in the entrance of the alley, he stared down on the woman that cried in her fear. He could almost taste it and his tongue danced over his teeth. Oddly his canines were slightly sharper than a human’s should be. The man removed the mask from his features. He enjoyed being face to face with his prey.
“Good evening, miss.” He crouched down in front of the woman and draped his arms over his knees lazily. “Théodore Barrilleaux, Theo to my friends. Which you’ve already met.” The shadows moved again, snapping like beasts at her figure. She screamed that lovely sound again. The man took a deep breath to savor it. “Welcome to my world now.” Though the words were pleasant it was as if he had told the shadows they were free to attack. The darkness swarmed the screaming girl.
The man laughed, feeling the high of a kill. It was a mess in the alley. The girl suffered cuts all along her body while her blood splattered the walls and ground. He had been close enough to be tainted by her blood, but this was why he wore black. He wiped a wet spot from his right cheek which did little more than smear the crimson color against his fair, scarred face.
He rose to his feet and stumbled to lean against the wall. The shadows seemed to seep away, exposing the gore of the body. He needed to clean the mess, but they had lured her far enough away that he could take his time. He felt so good right now. He could linger in this feeling a while longer.
In the rising sun, the cries of the gulls echoed around the docks. The waves gently rocked the ship as it was loaded with cargo. It was bound to be a good day for sailing. The wind caught the woman’s long unbound hair as it blew through like the whisper of a secret.
“I don’t like the look of these men. The lot of them look like scoundrels.” Blair complained under her breath as she stood at the raised deck watching the new crewmen loading the cargo. She folded her arms under her bosom, which only accented further her feminine form left exposed by her overcoat. She didn’t hide that she was a woman. She was of average height for a woman with a slender frame. This may be her father’s ship, but she hadn’t taken this position by inheritance. She had earned it.
Unlike the fool beside her.
The dark haired male next to her gave a heavy sigh as if he had been through this before. “Well, if you didn’t chase the last crew off, perhaps we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
She scoffed, still not taking her eyes off the new crewmen. She shifted again to put her hands back on the top deck railing in an attempt to look more relaxed. “It is not my fault those men could not handle taking orders from a woman that could knock them on their ass.”
A hand reached out to cover hers. “Blair-”
“Not while on the ship.” She hissed, drawing her hand away. She didn’t miss the hurt in his midnight colored eyes, and like the coward she was when it came to his rather obvious attempts at courting, she cast her own hazel gaze away. “Here I am still captain.” Her tone was softer this time. She reached up to tuck away a few strands of her brunette hair behind her ear in a nervous stall for words. “I’m going to make sure the cargo is stored properly and meet the new crew, lest we avoid issues early on for those that cannot stomach orders. Stay here and monitor the progress of the rest.”
“Yes, Captain Turner.” Geoffrey agreed in an even tone. The hurt was gone from his carefully neutral expression. Even then she could feel his eyes on her as she started for the cargo hold below.
He was getting bolder in his advances. She may need to remove him from the ship entirely, but could she really do that to her future husband? Geoffrey was a good man, he’d make a fine husband if she could find some kind of romantic feelings for him. She just had to give up everything in return; her father’s ship, her title, and the sea. All so she could raise little ones. A thought that terrified her at the best of times. What kind of mother would she be? Not a good one. There wasn’t a single nurturing bone in her body.
Blair walked below, taking her time to make sure everything was in its proper place. She met the new crew as she went, offering them a handshake and polite words to welcome them to the Grandmere. Old girl as her father had fondly called the ship. It was larger than most merchant ships and with plenty of cannons. This had once been a marine’s ship, but she had been retired around the same time her father had. He had bought it, claiming the sea still called to him, and renamed her for her new purpose. It had been a few years since her father had been well enough to set sail again. Now Blair took on odd jobs in an attempt not to have to run the same paths time and time again.
Too bad superstitions of women onboard a ship circulated strongly. Worse, it seemed, was a woman with power. She knew how to sail a ship. She knew how to fight. She knew how to read a map and give directions. What was so different about herself and a man in the same position? Why did she have to fight so hard for what she loved?
“I don’t like the look of these men. The lot of them look like scoundrels.” Blair complained under her breath as she stood at the raised deck watching the new crewmen loading the cargo. She folded her arms under her bosom, which only accented further her feminine form left exposed by her overcoat. She didn’t hide that she was a woman. She was of average height for a woman with a slender frame. This may be her father’s ship, but she hadn’t taken this position by inheritance. She had earned it.
Unlike the fool beside her.
The dark haired male next to her gave a heavy sigh as if he had been through this before. “Well, if you didn’t chase the last crew off, perhaps we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
She scoffed, still not taking her eyes off the new crewmen. She shifted again to put her hands back on the top deck railing in an attempt to look more relaxed. “It is not my fault those men could not handle taking orders from a woman that could knock them on their ass.”
A hand reached out to cover hers. “Blair-”
“Not while on the ship.” She hissed, drawing her hand away. She didn’t miss the hurt in his midnight colored eyes, and like the coward she was when it came to his rather obvious attempts at courting, she cast her own hazel gaze away. “Here I am still captain.” Her tone was softer this time. She reached up to tuck away a few strands of her brunette hair behind her ear in a nervous stall for words. “I’m going to make sure the cargo is stored properly and meet the new crew, lest we avoid issues early on for those that cannot stomach orders. Stay here and monitor the progress of the rest.”
“Yes, Captain Turner.” Geoffrey agreed in an even tone. The hurt was gone from his carefully neutral expression. Even then she could feel his eyes on her as she started for the cargo hold below.
He was getting bolder in his advances. She may need to remove him from the ship entirely, but could she really do that to her future husband? Geoffrey was a good man, he’d make a fine husband if she could find some kind of romantic feelings for him. She just had to give up everything in return; her father’s ship, her title, and the sea. All so she could raise little ones. A thought that terrified her at the best of times. What kind of mother would she be? Not a good one. There wasn’t a single nurturing bone in her body.
Blair walked below, taking her time to make sure everything was in its proper place. She met the new crew as she went, offering them a handshake and polite words to welcome them to the Grandmere. Old girl as her father had fondly called the ship. It was larger than most merchant ships and with plenty of cannons. This had once been a marine’s ship, but she had been retired around the same time her father had. He had bought it, claiming the sea still called to him, and renamed her for her new purpose. It had been a few years since her father had been well enough to set sail again. Now Blair took on odd jobs in an attempt not to have to run the same paths time and time again.
Too bad superstitions of women onboard a ship circulated strongly. Worse, it seemed, was a woman with power. She knew how to sail a ship. She knew how to fight. She knew how to read a map and give directions. What was so different about herself and a man in the same position? Why did she have to fight so hard for what she loved?
Lanying was the treasured youngest daughter of the Qin family. Her father had earned the title of Lord after returning for the last war against the monsters two decades ago, which would have been a year before her birth. She grew up in peace and prosperity.
That was until the day the General arrived at her home. It had been revealed how her father had won against the monsters. A forbidden magic ran in his veins. The power to destroy it all. A dark magic. Despite a life of loyalty, the Emperor still feared this magic. Her father was to be executed. The family name was brought to ruin in a single day. If her father had the magic, then it must have been passed down to his children. Perhaps even his wife was tainted by the magic.
Or so the people claimed…
That day, her mother was murdered in the streets for daring to love a man of dark magic. Her sons were hunted and imprisoned to await their execution. Her father, in the public square mere feet from where his wife lay in her own blood, was hanged. And even with the power to destroy it all, the man never used it against those that came for him. He understood their fear. This was the fate of his forbidden magic. His only regret was that his family would suffer the same fate.
- - - - - - -
Lanying sat up from the bed roll with a sudden gasp. It was a dream; a nightmare of the past that always haunted her. As she settled her breathing in her lonely tent, she could hear the sounds of the other soldiers beginning the morning routines.
It was time to face the day as Meifeng again.
Half a year after her parents murder, the monsters had returned. Starving and desperate, she had decided to join the military for the free food and shelter they offered. They didn’t care about man or woman, young or old. So long as a person could hold a sword, they were taken in. She had trained hard to use a sword. Her once soft hands were now worn from all she had endured. She had learned fast to avoid the risk of being thrown out.
A year into her training, she was still little more than a front line grunt, but it kept her fed and out of the streets. This was better. She wasn’t dead yet, and one day she would be strong enough to take back her brothers. They didn’t have the power, but the Emperor had kept them imprisoned just to be safe.
On the other hand, the Emperor hadn’t searched as desperately for a meek woman. He probably assumed she was long dead. She should have been, but revenge was a tricky thing. It kept a person alive through sheer willpower it seemed. One day, she would have her revenge on the Emperor and all those that helped to destroy her family. She would use this dark magic to kill them all. Of all his children, she was the only one to inherit the power they feared.
After dressing for the day, Meifeng stepped out of her tent. Breakfast was first, then they would be marching on the trail to the monsters again. That pre-battle energy was on the air. Perhaps today they would finally strike the enemy.
That was until the day the General arrived at her home. It had been revealed how her father had won against the monsters. A forbidden magic ran in his veins. The power to destroy it all. A dark magic. Despite a life of loyalty, the Emperor still feared this magic. Her father was to be executed. The family name was brought to ruin in a single day. If her father had the magic, then it must have been passed down to his children. Perhaps even his wife was tainted by the magic.
Or so the people claimed…
That day, her mother was murdered in the streets for daring to love a man of dark magic. Her sons were hunted and imprisoned to await their execution. Her father, in the public square mere feet from where his wife lay in her own blood, was hanged. And even with the power to destroy it all, the man never used it against those that came for him. He understood their fear. This was the fate of his forbidden magic. His only regret was that his family would suffer the same fate.
- - - - - - -
Lanying sat up from the bed roll with a sudden gasp. It was a dream; a nightmare of the past that always haunted her. As she settled her breathing in her lonely tent, she could hear the sounds of the other soldiers beginning the morning routines.
It was time to face the day as Meifeng again.
Half a year after her parents murder, the monsters had returned. Starving and desperate, she had decided to join the military for the free food and shelter they offered. They didn’t care about man or woman, young or old. So long as a person could hold a sword, they were taken in. She had trained hard to use a sword. Her once soft hands were now worn from all she had endured. She had learned fast to avoid the risk of being thrown out.
A year into her training, she was still little more than a front line grunt, but it kept her fed and out of the streets. This was better. She wasn’t dead yet, and one day she would be strong enough to take back her brothers. They didn’t have the power, but the Emperor had kept them imprisoned just to be safe.
On the other hand, the Emperor hadn’t searched as desperately for a meek woman. He probably assumed she was long dead. She should have been, but revenge was a tricky thing. It kept a person alive through sheer willpower it seemed. One day, she would have her revenge on the Emperor and all those that helped to destroy her family. She would use this dark magic to kill them all. Of all his children, she was the only one to inherit the power they feared.
After dressing for the day, Meifeng stepped out of her tent. Breakfast was first, then they would be marching on the trail to the monsters again. That pre-battle energy was on the air. Perhaps today they would finally strike the enemy.
The human realm was so different from the Underworld. The sun was bright here. It was lush in greens and vibrant pastel colors. The air was lighter and cool. The boy stared in awe just on the other side of the portal. He had never been to the human realm before, but it was wonderful.
“Dad? Are we really going to get to live here?” He questioned as he hurried to keep up with his father’s longer stride. Behind them a small group of four guards accompanied the lord and his son.
Unlike the boy, the father had the striking image of a demon. For the most part, demons and humans were similar in build. The differences were in their eyes that were more cat-like and golden red in color, the tips of their ears were pointed as were their canine teeth, sharp and long claws, and of course, their horns.
The boy had yet to get his horns or sharpened canines while his claws were simply blackened nails. His shaggy dark hair covered his ears. Even with his strange eyes, he could pass for a human child. Which was the only reason his father agreed to let him come to the human realm that still hated and feared the demons.
“That is the purpose of this meeting. We will see what comes.” His father answered carefully as he kept his eyes on the white castle they were approaching.
The human king along with his guards waited for the demons. The men greeted each other while the boy looked around. He wanted to go explore, but he was supposed to be on his best behavior. The group moved towards a meeting room while they spoke pleasant greetings. Maybe this was possible.
Maids approached the group to escort the boy away. Their nervousness was obvious to even the child. With a small nod of encouragement from his father, the boy went with the maids. He looked over his shoulder and watched his father continue to walk with the human king. For a brief moment, the demon lord also looked over his shoulder with a somber expression. The boy smiled to reassure his father. He would be a good boy to make the humans like him. He had to work hard, too.
As they rounded the corner, the boy reached for the maid’s hand that was at his right. She jerked away with a sharp gasp. She tried to recover but her voice trembled when she spoke. “Apologies, young lord. Please do not touch me.”
The boy pulled his hand back. “I only meant-” He stopped the excuse from fully forming. “No, my apologies. It was my mistake. Please take good care of me.” His tone was polite and collected carefully.
The maid nodded and picked up her pace a little until they reached a study room. She opened the door and allowed the boy to enter. “We will bring you- uh- tea?” She offered, though the odd stumble of her words suggested she wasn’t sure the demon would actually drink tea.
The boy smiled warmly. “Yes, please.” His mother often called him cute when he smiled. If he just kept smiling, maybe these maids would see just how cute he was.
As the maids rushed out, he was a little disappointed. He knew that humans didn’t like demons, but this was his first time experiencing it. What was so bad about demons? He looked down at his hand that had brushed against the maid’s. Her touch had been soft and cold. She didn’t have claws either. How strange.
The door didn’t fully close, the latch popping back slightly and leaving the door opened a crack. The boy approached to close it properly, but he could hear the maids whispering nearby when he did.
“This is terrifying. Did you see the way he smiled?”
“He’s trying to lure us in. He looks like a human child, doesn’t he?”
“But he could kill all of us with those claws. Why do we have to watch him?”
“We better hurry. I want to be done with this quickly.”
The boy stared at the human maids as they retreated. He blinked his eyes against the welling tears. His claws couldn’t kill anything yet. Not to mention, he had no reason to. Was he really that scary? He was just trying to be friendly. Maybe coming to the human realm wasn’t a good idea. Were they really too different?
He didn’t want to be here anymore. He should just wait back at the portal to avoid more trouble.
The boy reached for the doorknob but hesitated. Instead, he looked around for another exit. A window would do. He nodded to himself and hurried to escape out of the room. He jumped from the window and ended up in some garden. Now, he just needed to find the way back to the portal.
Except… an hour later, and he was completely lost. The town was just as beautiful as when he had seen it when he first arrived. It felt more overwhelming now. This wasn’t a place meant for him or others like him. He was scary…
“Hey!”
The voice startled the boy and caused him to turn towards the girl. She waved to him and skipped over so happily. She wasn’t scared of him, but that was only because she didn’t know what he was. He reached up and pulled at his hair self consciously to make sure it still covered his ears. If he was human, he could play with these children. Right?
She was so warm and welcoming. He stared at her hand for a long moment in silence. These children were playing war. It was good practice and a game he knew well. Slowly, he reached his hand out to the princess. “Of course, my lady.” He crossed his free arm over his chest and gave a slight bow of his head to her in respect.
His hand was warm and already worn from his sword practice. He let her lead him out into the light of the day and the open street with the other children. “What is our target? I will lead us to victory.”
“Dad? Are we really going to get to live here?” He questioned as he hurried to keep up with his father’s longer stride. Behind them a small group of four guards accompanied the lord and his son.
Unlike the boy, the father had the striking image of a demon. For the most part, demons and humans were similar in build. The differences were in their eyes that were more cat-like and golden red in color, the tips of their ears were pointed as were their canine teeth, sharp and long claws, and of course, their horns.
The boy had yet to get his horns or sharpened canines while his claws were simply blackened nails. His shaggy dark hair covered his ears. Even with his strange eyes, he could pass for a human child. Which was the only reason his father agreed to let him come to the human realm that still hated and feared the demons.
“That is the purpose of this meeting. We will see what comes.” His father answered carefully as he kept his eyes on the white castle they were approaching.
The human king along with his guards waited for the demons. The men greeted each other while the boy looked around. He wanted to go explore, but he was supposed to be on his best behavior. The group moved towards a meeting room while they spoke pleasant greetings. Maybe this was possible.
Maids approached the group to escort the boy away. Their nervousness was obvious to even the child. With a small nod of encouragement from his father, the boy went with the maids. He looked over his shoulder and watched his father continue to walk with the human king. For a brief moment, the demon lord also looked over his shoulder with a somber expression. The boy smiled to reassure his father. He would be a good boy to make the humans like him. He had to work hard, too.
As they rounded the corner, the boy reached for the maid’s hand that was at his right. She jerked away with a sharp gasp. She tried to recover but her voice trembled when she spoke. “Apologies, young lord. Please do not touch me.”
The boy pulled his hand back. “I only meant-” He stopped the excuse from fully forming. “No, my apologies. It was my mistake. Please take good care of me.” His tone was polite and collected carefully.
The maid nodded and picked up her pace a little until they reached a study room. She opened the door and allowed the boy to enter. “We will bring you- uh- tea?” She offered, though the odd stumble of her words suggested she wasn’t sure the demon would actually drink tea.
The boy smiled warmly. “Yes, please.” His mother often called him cute when he smiled. If he just kept smiling, maybe these maids would see just how cute he was.
As the maids rushed out, he was a little disappointed. He knew that humans didn’t like demons, but this was his first time experiencing it. What was so bad about demons? He looked down at his hand that had brushed against the maid’s. Her touch had been soft and cold. She didn’t have claws either. How strange.
The door didn’t fully close, the latch popping back slightly and leaving the door opened a crack. The boy approached to close it properly, but he could hear the maids whispering nearby when he did.
“This is terrifying. Did you see the way he smiled?”
“He’s trying to lure us in. He looks like a human child, doesn’t he?”
“But he could kill all of us with those claws. Why do we have to watch him?”
“We better hurry. I want to be done with this quickly.”
The boy stared at the human maids as they retreated. He blinked his eyes against the welling tears. His claws couldn’t kill anything yet. Not to mention, he had no reason to. Was he really that scary? He was just trying to be friendly. Maybe coming to the human realm wasn’t a good idea. Were they really too different?
He didn’t want to be here anymore. He should just wait back at the portal to avoid more trouble.
The boy reached for the doorknob but hesitated. Instead, he looked around for another exit. A window would do. He nodded to himself and hurried to escape out of the room. He jumped from the window and ended up in some garden. Now, he just needed to find the way back to the portal.
Except… an hour later, and he was completely lost. The town was just as beautiful as when he had seen it when he first arrived. It felt more overwhelming now. This wasn’t a place meant for him or others like him. He was scary…
“Hey!”
The voice startled the boy and caused him to turn towards the girl. She waved to him and skipped over so happily. She wasn’t scared of him, but that was only because she didn’t know what he was. He reached up and pulled at his hair self consciously to make sure it still covered his ears. If he was human, he could play with these children. Right?
She was so warm and welcoming. He stared at her hand for a long moment in silence. These children were playing war. It was good practice and a game he knew well. Slowly, he reached his hand out to the princess. “Of course, my lady.” He crossed his free arm over his chest and gave a slight bow of his head to her in respect.
His hand was warm and already worn from his sword practice. He let her lead him out into the light of the day and the open street with the other children. “What is our target? I will lead us to victory.”
Xolotl stood next to his twin as the sun began to set. The two gods were the mirror opposite of one another. Quetzalcoatl was golden and seemed to glow with life and wisdom. Xolotl was dark and held an air of death around him.
The golden one leaned his arm on the shoulder of his brother. "What are you looking at, brother? You're going to be late. Huitzilopochtli will be heading to the underworld for the night soon." It was Xolotl's job to protect all that traveled to the underworld including the god of the sun who traveled there each night.
Still, Xolotl stood watching over the humans below them move through the ancient city of gold. "My instincts tell me to remain. Many will pass on into the underworld soon, and eventually all will fall."
"What are you saying?"
The dark brother hesitated as if trying to come up with the right words. "I don't know. It isn't sickness that comes for our people. Yet, the knowledge that our people will die is deep within me."
"Perhaps a war is coming. All the more reason to go to Huitzilopochtli." The golden one had finally risen to his full height and was taking this moment seriously.
Xolotl shook his head. "War is uncertain. Each choice can end or save a man's life. What is coming is a massacre. Every man, woman, and child below us will be in need of guidance to the underworld." His eyes flicked to his brother. "What do you suppose will become of us once our people are no more?"
For a long moment, the two stared at one another in silence. Then the dark brother moved, his form shifted into a monstrous black dog. He would speak to Huitzilopochtli as his brother suggested. Perhaps war could save their people.
-----
In the following days, war did come to the Aztec people. Yet, it was as Xolotl had predicted. Their people didn't stand a chance against the men with explosive sticks.
The dog approached Quetzalcoatl after his most recent run to the underworld. The golden one stood with tears running down his cheeks. Xolotl drew his brother into his embrace as he returned to his human form. The two stood in silence for a moment, clinging to one another until finally Quetzalcoatl pulled back to speak. "I've been thinking about what you said, brother. What will become of us?"
"I believe I will remain in the underworld with the spirits of our people." The dark one replied with a gentle smile.
Quetzalcoatl nodded, wiping away the tears from his eyes. "I think I will venture into this world. There is so much that we do not know outside of our own city."
Xolotl smiled. "Just like you to want to seek knowledge."
The twins laughed softly together in understanding of one another. "Take this." The golden one pushed the ehecailacacozcatl into his brother's hands. "I am the wind. When the wind moves through this, hear me and remember."
Xolotl looped the amulet shell over his neck. "I will, and remember me in the fire as it warms you each night. We will meet again." The brothers held tight to one another's hands until the last of the Aztec people fell.
Xolotl left a piece of himself within the amulet and placed it upon his statue within the temple. Then he lead the last of their people to their final resting place.
Time passed, and the dark god rested easily in the underworld. The wind would sound in the world of the living, and he would feel at peace. As long as there was the wind, there was his brother.
-----
The god stirred in the underworld. His dark crimson eyes fluttered open to allow his gaze to shift over the spirits of the children as they played. It seemed like they never tired of such, but then time moved differently here; endlessly locked in a single moment of bliss. He yawned and stretched his stiff body. Whatever had caught his attention was not enough to keep him awake. He rolled onto his side and fell back asleep to the laughter of children.
The golden one leaned his arm on the shoulder of his brother. "What are you looking at, brother? You're going to be late. Huitzilopochtli will be heading to the underworld for the night soon." It was Xolotl's job to protect all that traveled to the underworld including the god of the sun who traveled there each night.
Still, Xolotl stood watching over the humans below them move through the ancient city of gold. "My instincts tell me to remain. Many will pass on into the underworld soon, and eventually all will fall."
"What are you saying?"
The dark brother hesitated as if trying to come up with the right words. "I don't know. It isn't sickness that comes for our people. Yet, the knowledge that our people will die is deep within me."
"Perhaps a war is coming. All the more reason to go to Huitzilopochtli." The golden one had finally risen to his full height and was taking this moment seriously.
Xolotl shook his head. "War is uncertain. Each choice can end or save a man's life. What is coming is a massacre. Every man, woman, and child below us will be in need of guidance to the underworld." His eyes flicked to his brother. "What do you suppose will become of us once our people are no more?"
For a long moment, the two stared at one another in silence. Then the dark brother moved, his form shifted into a monstrous black dog. He would speak to Huitzilopochtli as his brother suggested. Perhaps war could save their people.
-----
In the following days, war did come to the Aztec people. Yet, it was as Xolotl had predicted. Their people didn't stand a chance against the men with explosive sticks.
The dog approached Quetzalcoatl after his most recent run to the underworld. The golden one stood with tears running down his cheeks. Xolotl drew his brother into his embrace as he returned to his human form. The two stood in silence for a moment, clinging to one another until finally Quetzalcoatl pulled back to speak. "I've been thinking about what you said, brother. What will become of us?"
"I believe I will remain in the underworld with the spirits of our people." The dark one replied with a gentle smile.
Quetzalcoatl nodded, wiping away the tears from his eyes. "I think I will venture into this world. There is so much that we do not know outside of our own city."
Xolotl smiled. "Just like you to want to seek knowledge."
The twins laughed softly together in understanding of one another. "Take this." The golden one pushed the ehecailacacozcatl into his brother's hands. "I am the wind. When the wind moves through this, hear me and remember."
Xolotl looped the amulet shell over his neck. "I will, and remember me in the fire as it warms you each night. We will meet again." The brothers held tight to one another's hands until the last of the Aztec people fell.
Xolotl left a piece of himself within the amulet and placed it upon his statue within the temple. Then he lead the last of their people to their final resting place.
Time passed, and the dark god rested easily in the underworld. The wind would sound in the world of the living, and he would feel at peace. As long as there was the wind, there was his brother.
-----
The god stirred in the underworld. His dark crimson eyes fluttered open to allow his gaze to shift over the spirits of the children as they played. It seemed like they never tired of such, but then time moved differently here; endlessly locked in a single moment of bliss. He yawned and stretched his stiff body. Whatever had caught his attention was not enough to keep him awake. He rolled onto his side and fell back asleep to the laughter of children.
The rays of dawn slowly streaked into the sky, casting light on the wreckage of a once grand ship. Bits of wood floated on the steady waves. Flames were scattered about and slowly dying out as the ship continued to sink. Ezra opened his good eye to gaze upon the scene that marked his failure. He had lost. They were stolen from him, and he was left to sink to the bottom of the ocean with his Cyane.
The rising sun would not make his situation better. He would dehydrate and burn under the day. Any fresh water that may have been in the supplies, would have sank already. They had been days from any port, so swimming was impossible.
Ezra pulled himself onto the driftwood plank that was just large enough to hold his form. It wavered under his weight but remained afloat. He sighed as he laid back. Now what? He couldn’t let this be the end of his life. The others would be counting on him to come save them.
The good news was the battle had taken place on a main trade route. Ships crossed this path often enough that rescue was at least a possibility. If the timing held as normal, he should only need to hold out for two days. The bad news was this was also a main route for the marines. If he was pulled aboard such a ship, he’d have to hide who he was. With a hell of a lot of luck.
He still wore the nicer layers of a captain. He would need to keep as much as he could handle to protect against the sun. His eye patch was too much of a giveaway of who he was. He reached up and snapped the band that held the patch over his eye. Then he dropped the piece into the sea. He blinked open his mostly useless eye. He hated not having the patch. The eye had just enough vision to throw off his perception, and it seemed he struggled to keep it closed on his own. He thought of his first mate making fun of him for it.
He had to survive. He had to get to them.
Unclipping his cloak, he pulled it and let it drop to follow his eyepatch down into the depths. His pistol went next. The thing had gotten wet and would be useless anyway. He was still armed with his sword, though he debated ridding himself of it as well. Ultimately, he didn’t want to be defenseless if the worst should happen.
The pirate sang to himself. It was nothing more than a way to keep himself awake and aware. The sun was beginning to climb higher in the sky.
It was as he lay there with the midday sun glaring down on his form, he could just make out a ship in the distance. He sat up suddenly and nearly ended up in the water again. His form was still wet as a way to keep himself cool.
“Oi! Here! Oi!” He called with all his might. He held to the edge of his driftwood and waved with his free hand.
The rising sun would not make his situation better. He would dehydrate and burn under the day. Any fresh water that may have been in the supplies, would have sank already. They had been days from any port, so swimming was impossible.
Ezra pulled himself onto the driftwood plank that was just large enough to hold his form. It wavered under his weight but remained afloat. He sighed as he laid back. Now what? He couldn’t let this be the end of his life. The others would be counting on him to come save them.
The good news was the battle had taken place on a main trade route. Ships crossed this path often enough that rescue was at least a possibility. If the timing held as normal, he should only need to hold out for two days. The bad news was this was also a main route for the marines. If he was pulled aboard such a ship, he’d have to hide who he was. With a hell of a lot of luck.
He still wore the nicer layers of a captain. He would need to keep as much as he could handle to protect against the sun. His eye patch was too much of a giveaway of who he was. He reached up and snapped the band that held the patch over his eye. Then he dropped the piece into the sea. He blinked open his mostly useless eye. He hated not having the patch. The eye had just enough vision to throw off his perception, and it seemed he struggled to keep it closed on his own. He thought of his first mate making fun of him for it.
He had to survive. He had to get to them.
Unclipping his cloak, he pulled it and let it drop to follow his eyepatch down into the depths. His pistol went next. The thing had gotten wet and would be useless anyway. He was still armed with his sword, though he debated ridding himself of it as well. Ultimately, he didn’t want to be defenseless if the worst should happen.
The pirate sang to himself. It was nothing more than a way to keep himself awake and aware. The sun was beginning to climb higher in the sky.
It was as he lay there with the midday sun glaring down on his form, he could just make out a ship in the distance. He sat up suddenly and nearly ended up in the water again. His form was still wet as a way to keep himself cool.
“Oi! Here! Oi!” He called with all his might. He held to the edge of his driftwood and waved with his free hand.
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