Post-redacted threads + other nonsense

[lionson]

This post is mostly for threads with Shiro involving Redacted stuff. So either other time loops, post-game, stuff like that.

But I'm also throwing my other shit in here too because yes.

If you want to make a top-level just drop the name of the character you want in the header of your comment, I'm cool with whatever. Muselist is over here.

Comments

For Hua Cheng, post-game

[lionson]

[Yeah, so. Shiro had thought it would be a few weeks before he had to travel, or even a few days at the very least. He was not expecting trouble to happen just a few hours after going home.

Which in turn means that Hua Cheng is going to be inundated by not just one, but three people getting isekai'd into his world, less then 12 hours after he returned. This is literal too, because in true isekai fashion they're falling from the sky while screaming. Hua Cheng will need to catch them or move out of the way to avoid being squished.

I don't know what HC's actual canon point is, but all three of them are ready to fight if there's danger. Hopefully they're not interrupting a tender handholding session because that would be even more awkward than a fight.]

For Lili

[moonlightbeast]

[This is where I admit I haven't read that much of AnY and have no fukken idea what meetings would be going on when and I'm basing this off the wiki and what I remember from CRAU. Please have mercy.

But that drug trafficking problem from the Kai Empire? Well, there's other people who want to take it down too, and they have agreed to help Lili. They have more freedom to act, since they're an independent detective agency, and they have agreed to lend their resources to Lili to help her infiltrate a party where some of the traffickers are supposed to be gathered and looking to make business deals.

Those resources happen to be one nervous teenage boy, who looks a bit gangly and out of place in formal robes. He is not noble-born by any stretch of the imagination, and this is going to be a hard act to pull off.]

Ah...I-I'm not sure anyone would believe that we're courting each other.

[Yep. That's their cover story. A young couple from rich families out for a night of intrigue.]

[coastal]

[ . . . . oh, this is a choice.

lili is just sighing a little bit at that, crossing her arms as she looks over this gangly boy who is clearly doing his best, but also - doing his best doesn't mean they aren't just going to fucking die.]

Not with that look on your face. Stand up straight! Shoulders back! Would it kill you to look a little more - I don't know, impressive?

[LILI BE NICE]

[moonlightbeast]

[He is definitely a choice here, and Atsushi is assuming it's because of his fighting capabilities rather than his ability to socialize. Because if it was for socialization skills, Kunikida would have been a better choice.

(He won't suggest Dazai. Dazai is a former-criminal and is too famous to the underworld. He would get found out immediately.)

Atsushi is good at following directions, though, and he immediately straightens up. He can actually stand up nice and tall- or as tall as his 170 centimeters will allow him to.]

What do you mean by 'impressive'? I'm not that good at being intimidating. And aren't we supposed to be acting friendly to get information from people?

[coastal]

To some degree - but also if you look too squishy, they'll walk all over you. Whether we're facing neanderthals or the brains of the operation, that's true.

[which is probably why lili has no problem being - well, herself. self-assured, direct, and always cutting to the heart of things.]

So be friendly if you want, but I'm trying to keep you from getting eaten alive here.

For Xie Lian, alternate time loop

[lionson]

[In a time loop where Shiro didn't McFukken die before memory share week, he actually gets to be around to see all of those floating orbs! And we'll say they already know what the memory orbs do, so there's no surprises there. Just caution, as Shiro eyes one of the orbs that has gotten close.]

Have you had any luck with these things yet? Because they keep showing people all the sleepless nights I had when the boys were newborns. I'm getting tired of remembering all the diapers and bottle feedings.

[Still, he's tempted to to prod one, or have Xie Lian try. Because he's still a little gay for Xie Lian, and finding out more about the man seems like a good idea. Their friendship can't be built just on teasing, after all.]

[dianxias]

[ im gonna say xl totally forgot hc in this time loop for the purpose of doing shippy things okay? okay cool

extra funny bc hc is on this post. ANYWAY.

xie lian's sipping tea and sitting with shiro this evening, and he watches a bubble float between them. his mouth quirks up with a smile. ] Is that so odd? I think it sounds sweet.

[ cute... dad shiro.... that's the kind of just human thing that xie lian loves.

but, he takes a sip of his tea as he considers the next question. ] Mostly, I have been avoiding them - with the luck that I have, I think I would end up sharing something that no one would want to see.

[lionson]

[RIP HC, we knew thee well.]

I suppose it's sweet to look back on, but it was a lot at the time. I tried to raise them on my own at first, but newborn twins are a handful! I had to pull in a couple of friends to help me, because after three days of no sleeping I just couldn't take it anymore.

[He does miss that age, though. When they weren't crying, Rin and Yukio were so cute.]

Mmm, I think I understand. Though it's unfortunate that your bad memories outnumber your good, you deserve more good days.

[He goes to sip his tea, but he pauses when he realizes something, and he chuckles.]

Aah, pun not intended there.

[dianxias]

Haha... I can only imagine. [ he's never exactly spent much time around children himself, after all! xie lian was an only child, and he certainly is never planning on having kids of his own.

but... the comment (and the pun) makes him huff a laugh, and xie lian ducks his head, humble. ] That's very kind of you to say, though, Shiro. Really - I have lived for eight centuries. It is probably only to be expected that the bad have outweighed the good.

Even so, it makes me treasure the good memories, and the good days, all that much more. [ he eyes a bubble as it floats by... ]

For Nico, there's heavy spoilers for both Riordan books and SSSS in here btw

[silentscout]

[In a world somewhere between 'kind of ok but with monsters' and 'full on zombie apocalypse', where two canons got thrown together into some haphazard end times that weren't actually end times, Nico is going to get sent halfway around the world on a quest. Because that's how it goes with these things, send the demigod children in to clean up the messes the gods make.

But hey, at least Nico is immune to the zombie virus? It's one of the perks of being the son of the god of the underworld, dead shit don't affect you.

Dead shit also doesn't affect another demigod in the area, one who got much more of his grandfather's blood than his two non-immune cousins did. Which is handy in a country that is half taken over by 'trolls', as the locals call them. The island bits in the southern part of Finland are safe, as are some of the coastal regions. The country had survived the years of troll attacks by spreading out the population into small, easily-defensible towns and villages, so that even if one fell to the trolls the majority of the Finnish population would be safe. And indeed, they had thrived in the area despite the hardships associated with being right at the center of the temper tantrum thrown by the Norse gods and goddesses.

But deep into the northern woods, past the checkpoints and miles of defensive perimeters around what remains of the Finnish population? That's troll territory, and that means to be careful. Even if you're immune, a troll can still rip you apart if you're not careful. And immunity doesn't protect you from the nastiest of trolls, which live deep in those forests and look for unsuspecting demigods to gobble up.

The first time these two unlikely traveling companions meet up isn't in person, though. Unlike his stubborn cousin, who insists that he can do this task alone, Lalli understands the value of help. Even if he dislikes working with people in general, he likes being alive, and if help is needed to stay alive then he will ask for it.

Discreetly. Because Onni said no and Lalli is still one who quietly follows directions from people he respects most of the time, so his rebellion to look for help is going to be without Onni noticing.

So that means dreamwalking. He can travel hundreds of miles in one night, so even though he's in a safety shelter deep in the woods of Finland, he can dreamwalk his way all the way down to the port towns and look for any demigods who might also be dreaming. There's a handful of demigods around- he recognizes Onni and Reynir's dreams immediately, but passes them by for the time being since they're already in the group. Instead, he wanders past the dream bubbles of a demigod of Frejya (beauty won't help here) and a demigod of Thor (too flashy, there's normal humans in the group they need to not draw too much attention) and stops in front of a darker dream bubble.

Lalli frowns as he lets his hand skim over the surface of the bubble, feeling the magic within while also not breaking the surface. He definitely feels the weight of death here, but this isn't a demigod of Hel. That goddess doesn't have many demigod children to begin with, and this doesn't feel like the right brand of 'afterlife' to be her magic. Bu this 'death' also isn't the remnant of a troll dream, he had come across those before and knew how they felt. So what is it? Someone else?

It's worth the risk to travel into the unknown, he decides, and he pushes forward and steps right into Nico's dream. What wonders wait for him there?]

[resumed]

[The dream bubble is new. He'll be the first to admit it, because he doesn't really quite know how he'll meet up with this demigod he's meant to help and as per usual, Hades had been his infuriatingly vague self when he sent his son out on a quest to control things across the globe.

So when Lalli actually steps into Nico's dream, what he'll actually see is a lot of darkness. For someone used to traveling by shadows, it seems as though his own dreams are equally dark and private. Nevertheless, entering the dream will find a younger teenager who seems to be walking through the woods. In the far distance behind him there's the remnants of a summercamp, as if Nico's just left to begin his journey.

He's quick to notice he's not alone though and he pauses, looking up and staring straight in Lalli's direction.

Perhaps it's a little bit unfair that he has an advantage here knowing a little more than he'll let on, but it comes with a price of its own. Instead, he stays still with a stygian iron sword at his side and equally silent until he speaks up.]

This is different. [It's not really entirely conversational, but it's a fact. Demigods are prone to having prophetic dreams, sure, but this sort of meeting is new. It's a way to test the grounds, too, to see what Lalli has to say.]

[silentscout]

It's your dream, I just walked in.

[For Norse demigods, dream bubbles are normal. It's a common way to protect the mind from attacks that might come during their sleep. And indeed, the space between dream bubbles can be dangerous. Lalli has just been traveling the bubbles for years and knows how to avoid the dangerous space between them.

But he doesn't realize that dream bubbles aren't a constant across the world, so he is a bit perplexed when he hears Nico's reaction to one. Is the dream different, or is it being conscious during one that's different.

Also, dream bubbles have the handy feature of built-in translation, so they can understand each other just fine here. No extra magic needed!]

Do demigods not go into each other's dreams where you are from?

[resumed]

[No extra magic needed!! Which is nice because Nico already has three languages under his belt, nobody needs a fourth.

Still, he seems almost perplexed when Lalli explains and he even looks over his shoulder as if his dream would explain what, precisely, happened. But he frowns after that and he shakes his head.]

Our dreams don't work that way. Sometimes we can receive messages, but normally they show things that are happening or will happen in our future. Like a prophecy.

[Perturbed as he is, he can't help but be curious.] This is something you do often?

FAKE MURDERGAME FOR BROTHERS

[aono]

[It's Friday morning of week 0, and they have no idea that they are about to find a body. Rin is just drowsy and looking to get some breakfast.]

Yukiooooo, c'mon. Let's go eat.

[Even if his brother is suddenly a few months younger and not quite as apt to hit betray. This is honestly for the best, maybe they can work out their problems this time.

He yawns, and then he tugs on Yukio's sleeve. To the kitchen!]

[reflash]

[Rin's shonen protagonist hair color change nonsense was honestly explained pretty well with a vague "some stuff happened". A very Rin explanation that Yukio is going to live through in a few weeks.]

Let's eat, and then I want to go up to the fifth floor. Mori-san said she found a room with a locked attic. Do you still have the key you found a few days ago?

[Out of their room, down a hallway, and into the kitchen! Yukio isn't looking too closely at his surroundings but he'd probably notice something extremely out of the ordinary as they walk.]

me, a fool, not getting notifs

[aono]

[Enjoy your blissful ignorance for now, Yukio. When memory share week hits, shit will get real.]

Yeah, I still got it. You really think it's to the attic?

[Rin, in contrast, doesn't notice shit. He certainly doesn't seem to notice the bloody footprints exiting the kitchen. Yukio might have to stop him before he steps all over them.]

rip notifs

[reflash]

It's either to that attic or to somewhere else potentially important. All we need to do is-- [He reaches out and grabs Rin by the shoulder as he cuts off mid-sentence.]

Nii-san. Go back to the room and grab my first aid kit off of the desk.

[He should have been carrying it with him. He should be carrying his guns. Stupid.]

Be careful not to step on anything when you come back.

[There's a quick glance at the footprints (enough to tell if they're bare feet or shoes, if it's entire "I stepped in a puddle of blood" footprints or partial "got a little blood on me" footprints, but Yukio's less focused on following whoever left than seeing if anyone is still here. He's heading in to the kitchen, looking around for any obvious threats to his safety and any other people who might be here. If someone's injured, he can help.]

For XL, AU time

[lionson]

[Having to constantly travel is already a huge pain in the ass, but traveling with two small children in tow can be an absolute nightmare. It takes all the problems that constant travelers have- the need to constantly be aware of surroundings and where shelter, food, and water are, the danger of traveling through new territory with no idea of what's lurking around the corner, the sense of anxiety over not having a place to settle down and call home, the lack of long term friends you see every day- and multiplies it by a thousand. Kids cry. Kids get sick. Kids don't understand 'we need to sleep in this cave because the next town is more than a day's travel away'. Shiro has had countless sleepless nights between taking care of his sons and trying to manage their needs on top of his own.

Still, it's better than the alternative. He counts himself lucky to just have them in his life, even if the journeys they have to take leave him feeling perpetually exhausted.

He still wishes they could settle down for more than a few weeks in one place, though. By the time the boys start making friends it's time to move on again, and it always upsets them. It's led Shiro to prefer housing that's away from other people, if only because it makes the 'goodbye' easier.

Which was why Shiro had picked this particular shrine to stay in, at least for the time being. It was old and in dire need of repair, but it looked like it had been cleaned recently. Signs pointed to someone possibly living there, but just not being home currently. Maybe they had gone on a trip somewhere? Whatever the case, Shiro feels confident in letting him and the boys stay there for a few days to rest and build up their food resources. He plans to have them gone before the person who maintains the shrine gets back.

In the meantime, he is sure to leave the shrine in a better condition than he found it. It's a lesson he's been trying to teach the boys, and they are all too eager to help. Holes in the walls are filled in, the leaky spots in the roof are re-patched, and offerings are left at the tiny shrine each day. Respect for the places you intrude on, that is key. And he has been teaching Rin and Yukio those lessons as well.

He's not sure if offerings of berries and little men made out of sticks are appropriate for whatever god is worshiped at this shrine, but maybe that god will be amused by the presents that five-year-olds bring. Shiro himself is certainly amused by it. Especially when the boys spend time in front of the large drawn picture, telling it about the stories of battles and intrigue they come up with while playing with the stick-people. That is particularly cute, even if he's pretty sure nobody else can hear it.]

JC come get your tiger friend

[moonlightbeast]

[There were rumors of a series of temples, one for each cardinal direction. These temples were dedicated to four powerful gods known as 'the four guardian beasts'. One could visit any of the four temples and seek the blessing of that temple's guardian beast, but the trials needed to earn that blessing were rumored to be quite deadly. Most failed, and the rumors of their painful deaths were enough to scare off all but the most daring of cultivators. But the promise of power and longevity were enough to tempt some to try.

The White Tiger, Baihu, was the guardian beast of the West. It's temple was situated deep in the heart of a secluded forest, one that was full of animals dangerous in their own right. Even surviving the two-day trek through the dense forest was proof enough of someone's strength. The local cultivation sect included that journey as part of their rite to finish their initial training, even. Members didn't have to go into the temple, but they had to go there, pray at the entrance, and then bring back proof that they had made it.

Jiang Cheng was well-warned of the dangers when he reached the town near the jungle. Take plenty of supplies, and don't rush the trip. Safety and awareness of one's surroundings were key to survival in the forest. But he was also encouraged to not enter the temple at all. Nobody had passed Baihu's trial in over 100 years, and the locals doubted that anyone ever would. Nobody alive could even remember what the trial contained, because it had been so long since anyone had succeeded. The only advice anyone could remember was 'don't rush it' and 'be aware of one's surroundings'.

Still, nobody was actually at the large temple to stop Jiang Cheng from entering. He would see the small altar outside where people prayed, as well as evidence of fires built and camps kept for the night before people started their journey back. But nobody was at the temple on that day, so Jiang Cheng was free to do as he wished.

Would he climb the winding stone stairs and enter the temple, seeking the power hidden within? Or would he chicken out at the last moment?]

Bedi and Chiron

[1stknight]

[Some fighty bullshit is going on in Chaldea. Let's say Gilfest, that's due to repeat this year. But yes, everyone is in a fighting spirit and making teams for battles.

Bedivere and Chiron are with others on their team, of course, but the two of them are the frontliners wiping out the easy fights. They are between a battle currently, though, and a sweaty Bedivere is getting some water. When he sees Chiron, he'll offer him one of the bottles of water to be found in Chaldea. Modern conveniences are awesome.]

You did a good job in that last fight. I think we stand a good chance of coming out on top.

[antaressnipe]

[Truth be told, it takes effort for Chiron not to go sneaking away and watch the ongoing fights now that their first is completed -- particularly whatever battle Achilles is in, knowing that his former student will be gleefully raising hell in the arena.

But a moment of rest is just as important, so he finds himself swallowing his initial hunger for more adrenaline and instead follows after Bedivere, smiling faintly when he's offered water]

I think both of us did adequately, yes.

[The benefits of an Archer/Saber combo on the battlefield: difficult to outmaneuver them when one is sniping from afar and the other is cutting down everything in his path]

You are not too fatigued?

Lalli and Izo, continuation of a TFLN thread, it's going to get NSFW

[silentscout]

[this one here, I don't think we ever clarified if it's Slumscape versions or not, but regardless Lalli is going to be a weirdo about it anyway. Because he's doing his usual routine of 'scratch on the door to be let in' instead of knocking. He's also opting for the balcony this time too, because he's nothing if not a man of habit.

He'll wait for Izo to open the door for him too, though he will keep scratching at the door every now and then until Izo answers.]

[heretic_blade]

[ slumscape versions are perf -- anyway, it takes a minute for Izō to answer. ]

Yeah, yeah, I'm comin'... [ He opens the door with a brief glare and steps aside. ] One day I'll teach ya t'use the front door like a normal person.

[ Today is not that day and that day would probably never come...which is fine. ]

[silentscout]

This door is better to use. It's big and open so you can see exactly who is there.

[And most people don't actually use it, so when Lalli comes a knocking- er, scratching- it's pretty obvious who it is. No need for the 'who is it' game.

Normally when Lalli visits, he keeps himself completely dressed. Cloak, boots, even the rifle he carries on his back, it all stays with him. It's habit-driven, mostly. But today he's actually going to stop by the door and lean the rifle up against a nearby corner, and then hang his cloak on it. And since he's not wearing his cloak now, his bakeneko-additions are much more visible than usual. Namely the golden marking on his forehead and the bridge of his nose, which are usually hidden by the hood of his cloak. His mask is currently hanging off of his shoulder too, whereas he normally wears it on the top or side of his head.

With that done, he turns to face Izo.]

It's faster to climb up and down the outside of the building too.

[heretic_blade]

...You're weird, y'know that?

[ He takes a minute to look him over, if only because it feels like a rare opportunity. Seeing him with his guard down like this, well...it feels special. Izō himself isn't dressed any differently, if only because the heat in his apartment never seems to work. At least his swords are against the wall and not tucked into the straps of his hakama for once.

He takes a deep breath and closes the distance between them, hesitantly extending a hand towards his chest. Well, may as well go for it -- they both know why he's here. ]

So you jus' wanna get down to it or...?

[ Because he's not opposed to getting down on his knees right now, but somehow a slower approach feels like a better idea. ]