( Imeeji ) continuations

[worthathousand]

Comments

Day 114: Eclipse

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))

[ The LiliS dorm is still unupgraded, but the unit's aesthetic gives is a cozy, welcoming feeling all the same. Dried flowers on the walls; vintage-looking chairs with crocheted throws; a weathered picnic table for meals and gatherings. ]

It looks like we have the dorm to ourselves for a while yet.

[inspiteful]

[ It's nice, he thinks. It's not exactly familiar -- he's a city kid, through and through -- but it's more familiar than...whatever HSS got. Gods know he spent a couple of days trying to understand the mostly useless buttons and switches all over the dorm, and him wondering about why they got chairs that swivel and rotate. He goes over to a chair. ]

Will it be fine to sit here?

Day 124: Kissing Game continuations

[worthathousand]

Ruby Sour

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))

---

[ such a good dragon—

There's a muffled hum of approval at the feeling of his nails at her back; her own fingers twine in his hair, tugging enough to tease as she lets her lips linger—before, finally, pulling back just enough to speak. ]

Not bad, for a virgin.

Joker

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))

---

Very well. [ her smile relaxes again ]

[ offering him a hand to pull him in close ] Let's see how this goes.

Aradia

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

[ there's a bit of a sigh at the feeling of fingers in her hair; a deeper one when their lips meet.

when Dia pulls back, Amaranth's cheeks are flushed as well. ]

...You are, ah, quite lovely to kiss.

Eclipse

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

[ she gives him a bit of an extra squeeze when the hug begins by way of reassurance before holding him gently close ]

You feel even taller like this. [ a chuckle, partially muffled by the fact that her face is against his shoulder ]

Wednesday

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

[ a hint of tension leaves her shoulders ] You're not prying, I promise; I appreciate your kind thoughts.
Even with how little I remember so far, I know that I loved my family with my whole heart, so I hope that you can have something like that for yourself, someday, if it's what you want.

Pharaoh

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

[ She isn't accustomed to someone else taking charge before she does, and it shows in the slightly startled way she blinks as she's pulled in close.

Even so, she's not about to be passive, hooking her fingers beneath the curve of his jaw as she presses against him, the better to let her meet his lips. ]

Requiem

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

I, ah, did have a much better time at the last game like this than I thought I would, in part because of you.

...I don't know if you'd mind sharing which categories you think you can fill—besides "older" and "dangerous," of course.
[ while she's still a bit awkward in general, she doesn't say "dangerous" as though she considers it a bad thing. ]

Shrike

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

[ That boldness actually does manage to take her very slightly by surprise: there's a little "o—" of sound right before their lips meet.

And then, of course, she's all in: the hand at Shrike's waist already moving to her lower back to pull their bodies against one another while her free hand reaches up to the back of Shrike's head, fingers already tangling in her hair as she deepens the kiss.




...Amaranth plays "gay feelings chicken" to win, ]

Erika

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

[ Her hand catches Erika's cheek as she leans in to her; there's a hint of a smile hovering at the edges of her lips the moment before their mouths meet.

She parts her lips a touch, adding some richness to the kiss, though for the moment it's more of an offer than anything else. ]

Nova

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

[ she angles her head, sympathetic ]
As it happens, the game this is reprising was my own first game here as well.
I am glad that you, too, are fortunate enough to have a gentler introduction to this place, where you need not do any more than what makes you comfortable.

[ she offers a hand, palm up—the gesture elegant, but with a chivalrous sort of flair ]
To what degree do you intend to participate? I would be glad to offer a kiss, if you wish it.

Cardigan

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
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[ raising her brows a touch, a suggestion of a dare in her expression ]
We don't want for competition, but I can think of a few ways to raise the bar.

Prim

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
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Ah, yes... [ a pained expression passes over her face ]

I am Amaranth. And glad to meet you again in happier times.
May I ask what level of kiss you are hoping to achieve? I confess I am hoping to aim for high points.

Asphodel

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

In that case, before you go, may I offer you a hug? We can both earn some points in the process.

Shu

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
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Ah, so it was a matter like that.
[ her voice has softened a bit, though her eyes are still subtly narrowed, considering him. ]

Have you spoken with him at all, since?

Day 155: Betrayal endgame continuations

[worthathousand]

John

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

Oh, you mean— that.
[ a soft wince ]

...I don't know that I can go back just yet. For their sake, mostly.

Day 162: Monster Bingo

[worthathousand]

[ bingo card here or here ]

----

[ Amaranth steps into the game tower and the color drains out of her hair like ink, leaving it stark white. The resemblance to her sons is probably that much more uncanny, now... or that much more confusing, whoops.

But what actually makes her pause, eyes wide, is the stuttering feeling of her heart stopping in her chest.
Fortunately, the sound of her phone notifying her of the rules distracts her before any panic sets in. ]

...Oh. Mela's tits, they could have warned us.

Re: Day 162: Monster Bingo

[dragonheartedgirl]

Whose tits?

Day 177: Gryphon Salient

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
---

[ She straightens, easing her grip on the edge of the seat, instead placing her hands folded against her lap: deliberate, controlled. ]

I have very little reason to trust you, Gryphon Salient. Not yet—certainly not on the word of so-called friends of yours I have never met. The Anathema are silver-tongued when they wish to be.

[ studying him closely: openly taking inventory of his combat readiness. could she kill this guy if she needed to. ]

...But for Eclipse's sake, I will hear you out. Much of our history comes from the texts of the Realm and the Immaculate Order, so some of it is likely biased in favor of their Empress especially. However, most of it there is little reason to doubt. I can only give you very basic information, though, due to my scant memories—the sort of things any halfway educated person would know.

Millennia ago, Creation was ravaged by demonic Anathema, who controlled the world with power stolen from the dead primordial creators. Some mortals, though, were blessed by the five Immaculate Dragons, and from thence came the lineages of the Dragon Blooded princes of the earth. The dragon blooded rebelled against the Anathema—the "Glorious Uprising"—and slew them. Thus, mortals were freed.

From there began the First Age of the Dragon Blooded Shogunate, who installed themselves as nobility. However, there were other threats to Creation. The Great Contagion nearly wiped out all life—and then the Raksha invaded.

When all was near lost, a single Dragon Blooded soldier—supposedly single, I suppose—was able to take control of the Imperial Manse, and destroy the invading armies.

She is the Scarlet Empress, and her Realm, ruled by her Dragon Blooded descendants, is the dominant political power in Creation. Only lands sufficiently distant from the Blessed Aisle avoid their control. My home province was still independent, but tenuously so—we still certainly had to play nice with the Realm scions and Immaculate monks.

The Immaculate Order is the only acceptable faith within the Realm. They teach self-improvement through service to others... [ dry ] and of course absolute absolute reverence and obedience to the Dragon Blooded. To actually, empress forbid, worship the gods is outright heresy to them. [ at this she actually rolls her eyes ]

However, the Dragon Blooded can't really be everywhere they're needed—and that's even if the Realm didn't try to control most of the bloodlines. When their people are threatened, local gods... [ her brow furrows ] ...Well, as I said, I know that there are princes of the earth Chosen not by the elemental dragons, but by one of these gods. I am one such exalt. The Immaculate Order regards us with suspicion—heretics who might be acknowledged only insofar as we serve the Order's goals.

You already know about the threat of Anathema. The.... so-called Lunar Anathema have preyed on humanity throughout history, but the.... Solar Anathema, if that is what they are.... have only just begun appearing. We know of three varieties of Lunar [ yep, just three ]: Frenzied, Face-Stealers, and Ogres. The Solars likewise have deliberately unflattering names: the Forsaken, the Blasphemous, the Unclean, the Wretched, and the Deceivers.

Whenever an Anathema is sighted, a Wyld Hunt is called to hunt them down, for it has always been treated as common knowledge that the person has been possessed by a demon. Hunts are dangerous, and it is very rare for all members to survive—but from what I can remember, it is likewise very rare that they fail to.... [ her voice catches just a touch ] eliminate their quarry.

And that is what I can tell you.

1/2

[salientfacts]

[ wHEEZE

what. what the fuck.

give him a moment, but

while he's not tensed for combat right now, just—tense, kind of like the way Shrike conducts herself—this is a man who's seen war and acquitted himself well in it. despite being, by all appearances, a large nerd

also he might be having a panic attack. ]

Day 181

[deicider]

[Noon on the appointed day, Cardigan arrives at the shore, carrying a bag of supplies.]

Re: Day 181

[worthathousand]

[ There's a generously-sized bottle of sake peeking out of the top of her leather bag.

—And she immediately strides up to them, tucking a finger under their chin to pull them in for a kiss. ]

I have truly missed you.

Day 215: Shrike

[worthathousand]

(( from here ))
[ At the LiliS dorms, Amaranth guides Shrike to her own room, which is now—like the avante bedrooms—substantially larger, with an array of personal touches, including a seating area with a low table. ]

You know, [ commenting as she takes a seat ] you're actually seeing this before Cardigan.
I hope they'll approve.

Re: Day 215: Shrike

[softlyfalling]

Ah—

[ she blinks, taking it all in—it’s so fancy—before taking a seat of her own. ]

It’s beautiful. I’m entirely sure they will.

[deicider]

[Cardinal texts Amaranth in the morning, around the time they usually finish their morning workout.]

Cardingan Hey, are you free?

[worthathousand]

Demeter: I certainly can be. What is it?

Day 266: post-Final Battle

[worthathousand]

[ from here. ]

[ She knows the way to the Dead Zone so well by now—weeks and weeks of training her small army, now—and that's what saves her, here: being able to keep the gust of wind moving in a direction that's nearly muscle memory.

But as they near, coasting low in towards the grass just beyond the crater, she's overtaken by another bloody coughing fit, and then it's on Cardinal to support her weight as the breeze beneath them gives out. ]

Re: Day 266: post-Final Battle

[deicider]

[Cardinal is tuned to the balance of tension in Amaranth's body, pressed against their own. They can feel her focus shift, and they hasten to put their feet on the ground, not missing a beat in their sprint.

So they burst into the Deadzone a second later, and Cardinal finally does stumble, blindsided by a scorching fire along every nerve ending in their body. They know what it means but it doesn't matter; they don't even check on Amaranth - there's nothing they can do right now. They leave her on the ground and stumble just outside fumbling for their phone, rapidly texting out a group text to Cobalt and Peresephone.]


Cardinal Chases Dawn: Deadzone.
Cardinal Chases Dawn: Amaranth.

Day 349, after Wed-Bed-Behead

[worthathousand]

[ They've only been riding about twenty minutes when Amaranth stops them—midway through Ueno Park, coming up along its large lake. ]

...Fuck making it to the ocean, actually.

[ She dismounts, moving to tie the mare to a cherry tree. ]

Fight me here.

[ And with that, she shrugs off her jacket and pulls off her boots—then walks with Stability out over the water. ]

Re: Day 349, after Wed-Bed-Behead

[softlyfalling]

[ well—it makes sense enough to do the same, after giving her new mount a brief opportunity to get a proper look at her.

she makes an unsheathing motion as she walks out across the water, and her sword of choice appears in her hand. We’re all exalteds here, obviously it is the fuckoff-huge kind. ]