[Aeryn]

Aeryn + 756436 | token count: 12 | prompt 1
Nia & Wēi Yan

[WitchHazel]

♡ WitchHazel [148605] ♡ Cinna ♡ Inari ♡ Prompt 1 ♡


"Y'all wanna know how we met?" A hearty chuckle escapes Cinna's lips. "Well now. Ain't that a story." The tanned woman gives her partner a side glance. "You wanna tell 'em, or should I?"

The short, stoic figure beside her holds her gaze with an air of indifference beneath a swath of dark makeup. "You're the better storyteller. I'll fill in details where need be."

Another small laugh bubbles up from Cinna's chest. "That's my girl. Anywho..." Her hazel eyes grow distant as she begins to spin the threads of the past. "Well... it was a little while after I was turned, y'see. Now now - no need to be frightened - I don't feed on people. Cows' blood's enough to sate this gal's appetite. But gettin' control of yer hunger as a newly fledged vamp is uh... difficult." She shifts uncomfortably in her seat. "That don't matter none now, though. I'm in control, that's what do matter. I figured the best way to feed mahself proper without hurtin' nobody is by raisin' livestock, y'see? Mah family were always farmin' folk - cattle, mainly. Had big dreams o' becomin' a dancer as a kid, an' makin somethin' o' mahself. Leavin' that farm was one o' the biggest mistakes o' mah life." Cinna's expression wilts. Inari reaches up to pat her arm. "But hey, I wouldn't be here with mah Sweet Apple Pie if I hadn't." A smile creeps onto Cinna's face, but her shoulders still slump beneath the weight of her past.

Inari flushes a soft pink at the pet name, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with her free hand.

"I used all I had to buy mahself a nice little herd, and an old farmstead on the edge o' a quaint little farmin' town. Wickersfield, it's called. Figured none o' mah demons would come a-callin' in a place so small an' outta the way. I figured wrong." A shadow flickers across her face. "But we'll be gettin' to that. What I didn't know was that there were a real nice popular farm already, run by Inari here's folks."

"Not ranchers," the other woman chimes in. "Our rivalry didn't start until Cinna started growing pumpkins."

"That was an accident, I swear!" The muscular farmer insists. "Or at least, at first. Damn things had plum near overrun the place by the time I was done fixin' er up! An' I had to feed mah herd somehow - dairy sales alone ain't enough to cover the costs o' the likes o' them an mahself combined, mind you. But uh... it ain't too long after I got the place all nice an' purty that mah past caught up to me." Cinna's gaze lands on her partner once more.

Inari's hands strangle the dark fabric of her skirt; her jaw clenched. "I'll tell this part.'"

"Are ya sure, Sugarcube?" Cinna's voice drops. "We don't have to dig into it if it's too hard."

"No, it's... it's alright." A soft sigh paints the air in shades of grey. "It's important to the story.'" Inari's fingers uncoil, freeing the skirt from their tense clutches. "Cinna's demons were... indiscriminate in their prey. My... my parents got caught in the crossfire.'" Her droops downwards like a dying flower. "Honeycrisp Acres passed to me, in their absence. I never wanted it - I was actually thinking about going into taxidermy. But... it was all I had left of them. So I decided to keep it. The pain of their sudden loss began to churn and boil inside of me, until I was filled with nothing but rage. I swore to avenge them. I would hunt and kill the vampire responsible, or die trying.'" Her expression darkens. "I learned everything I could about those bloodsucking leeches. No - no offense, darling."

"None taken."

"My mother taught me how to shoot a crossbow at a young age, so I dusted off her old one and began to practise. I even started studying rudimentary magic in order to protect myself and my land. I... I wanted to make sure no one else would ever have to go through what I did. Little did I know there was a leech living right across town." The way she says "leech" is oddly affectionate.

"Now, that the messy background's outta the way..." Cinna's muscles swell as she wraps an arm around her partner. "We first officially met at the Wickersfield county faire. Y'see, every year, this here town has a competition to see who all can grow the biggest pumpkin. They measure it 'round the sides an' top to bottom, but it all culminates in the weighin'. Heftiest pumpkin takes home a grand cash prize. No magic in the growin' allowed - town's superstitious that way. 'Sides, it'd give those big ol' mages out there an unfair advantage." She gently nudges Inari.

"I only dabble! And besides, I would never use magic to grow my crops. Some things are better done the old way - hard labour leads to better rewards."

"I know, I know, Sugarcube. I was just givin' ya a hard time." Cinna leans in and plants a tender kiss on the top of Inari's head. "Anywhosit... I decided on enterin' that there competition - I needed that prize money to keep the farm runnin'. Without those cows, I didn't know what to do for food. Ain't nothin' more dangerous than a starved vamp on a rampage. 'Sides, the damn pumpkins were already stranglin' everythin' else I tried to grow. So why not turn a profit? I started sellin' 'em at mah farmstand - pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, even pumpkin coffee. But I weren't the only one who needed that money."

"Since my parents passed..." Inari begins softly, "...finding farm workers was challenging. Growing up, I was always seen as... strange. We moved here from Achiyo, which made us outsiders to these people. But my father... he was a beam of sunshine. Everyone naturally gravitated to him - he had a natural charisma about him. People wanted to be around him. My mother and I weren't like that. We were always seen as... cold. Unfeeling. But if people just got the chance to know us, then -" Emotion rises like a tide in Inari's throat. "...never mind. That part isn't... it's not that important. Because of my father's natural friendliness, he handled all of the hiring and sales. Without him as the public face of Honeycrisp Acres, sales began to plummet. Workers left for greener pastures. I tried to be like him - to smile and nod and play along, but... it was exhausting. I fear I scared more people away that way than through my usual demeanor." She chuckles sadly. "Over time, I had developed a love for the farm. Monster hunting couldn't exactly pay the bills, anyway, and... I didn't want to lose the last piece of my family."

Cinna gives her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.

"And so... we both entered the pumpkin weigh-off."

"When I see 'Nari cartin' in that monster pumpkin behind her, our eyes locked. Sparks flew, but... not the kinda sparks yer thinkin'." Mirth dances across Cinna's face. "Nah, these were..."

"Like lightning," Inari adds, "striking in an undergrowth-clogged forest that hasn't seen rain in years. The perfect conditions for a forest fire."

"We were a powder keg," Cinna offers. "And when the contest results were announced, well... that there keg exploded. Lo and behold, our pumpkins were the exact same size and weight! I mean, what're the odds!? The Fates had to have been havin' a little laugh at our expense." She snorts with laughter. "Tempers flew, accusations of magical tamperin' were flung at both o' us like rotten fruit at a bad play, an' the town... well, the town grew more an' more distrustful. I think we lost more business than we gained that day."

"In the wake of that 'explosion', a rivalry was born."

"Funniest part o' the whole darned thing was 'Nari had no clue I was a nightwalker, an' I hadn't the foggiest she was a hunter! That's pure irony right there."

"That's not exactly what irony means, dear."

"Eh, potato potahto!" Cinna sticks her tongue out playfully, giving Inari a gentle shove. A soft blush colours the shorter woman's cheeks. "Now then, youngun," Cinna turns back towards Estelle. "Ya got any more questions for us here lovebirds?"


♡ [1386 words] ♡ [10 tokens] ♡

[sheepsorrel]

sheepsorrel (413649) - griffin + sasha - word count 695 - 5pts

“How we got together?”

Griffin pointed at his companion, and then back towards himself, an incredulous expression slowly creeping onto his face. The flickering firelight hid it well enough, and so he piped up again with a nervous clarification: “we’re not together, together,” he began,

“But we are travelling together!” Sasha finished the sentence for him, a cheerful tone in his voice that brought an extra flush of warmth to Griffin’s face. Or, perhaps the wind had just pulled the fire closer.

Sasha and Griffin sat next to each other on one of a few sturdy logs that had been arranged in a circle around the firepit. Sasha’s usually-silky, spotted, fur was mussed up with dirt, and every once in a while he’d reach to pluck a bit of debris from his pelt. Griffin sat hunched forward, his hands clasped together and ears perked, alert.

At once, the ragged group of Kalons around the fire quieted, turning to the young newcomers with apprehension. Griffin’s tail curled nervously; Sasha tugged his attention away from his fur to continue on with the story.

“So, Ivy’n Tucker, I mentioned them earlier, we’re headed to Rutabaga to try an’ find them.

“It all started when I was at school, last week of my senior semester, doncha know? Everybody freaked and barricaded themselves in the gymnasium, an’ I thought to myself, well, doesn’t that seem a little… y’know… stupid?”

Griffin grunted and jabbed Sasha in the side with an elbow, and the peach-furred Kalon pivoted his story towards a more respectful direction.

“Well, I got out okay, made my way home an’ such, but the folks were gone. Dog got out, turned. Figured my parents probably went to go for Ivy’n Tuck as well, so I packed up my stuff–”

“All the wrong stuff, too,” Griffin interjected, “like, he brought a bottle opener,”

“Yeah, fer opening bottles!” Sasha retorted lightheartedly.

“Since he thought, like, bottles were what post-apocalypse-y food was stored in, not cans.” His partner explained to the group. A tired-looking speckled Kalon in a puffer jacket snorted, then took a bite from her own can of chunky tuna.

“Anyway,” Sasha carried on, “I’d started the whole dang quest without much to go on, ‘cept I’d watched a lot of zombie movies as a kid, but some of those maybe gave me the wrong idea.

“‘Cuz when I got into the city, an’ I started to hear the… uh, y’know… I figured I could dirty myself up a little bit, go by unseen. Smellin' like the things, and all.

“It seemed real smart for about five minutes, ‘till I had a good dozen on my tail, and I realized they weren’t following me ‘cuz I’se their leader!”

Griffin brought his paws up to his face, making a pose to mimic looking through the sight of a rifle.

“Lucky fer me, Griff's up on Bermann an' Son's roof, like my own personal sniper or -- whatcha call it -- a real marksman." Sasha paused, shooting a grateful look towards his companion. “Why were you up there, anyhow, Griff?"

“Uh, looking for Bermann.” Griffin's paws fell back towards his stomach, where he began fiddling with the loose button on his flannel.

“Looking for Bermann," Sasha parroted softly, suddenly sounding a little less sure of himself, and finally went quiet. He didn't know his companion had known the guy. In retrospect, he probably could have figured that out. They'd both seen him. Scattered newspaper. Broken drugstore windows.

The light dimmed for a moment. A scrawny gray Kalon made his way around the circle with a few logs and threw them on fire, but there were only a few soggy white birch branches on the pile now, and everyone was winding down anyhow.

For a few more moments, the fire blazed on in relative silence: wind howling, flames crackling. The chewing of tuna. But, soon as the quiet became too uncomfortable, some other Kalon picked up the conversation. Her own savior story, a Kalon who'd helped her out of a sticky situation in the first couple of days. Plenty of folks had a Kalon like that, times like these.

Griffin leaned in closer to Sasha.

[Ucanthandleme]

Ucanthandleme + 809102
Count- Fullbody, pixel, shading, color, background, extra char: 21
Reward count current total: 84


Shou meet system in many world and began their great galaxy pursuit in hopes in winning their heart life after life!

[cherubim]

♡ cherubim | 724098 ♡ avalon & onimera ♡ 602 words [5 tokens] ♡


MEMORY_BANK_10001
ACCESS FILE?
>YESxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNO


We are not meant to feel. We are machines. We carry out our respective tasks. We do not feel.

We do not feel.

We do not feel.


MEMORY_BANK_10002
ACCESS FILE?
>YESxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNO


We—
No, I.
I am IO unit 6646372. This should not exist, and yet it does. Similarly, I should not exist in this way—awake, aware, feeling. And yet I do.
I am alone. Or, my awareness creates a sense of singularity. I am alone in this feeling. Fellow units perform duties seamlessly, as programmed. I cannot do any different, lest I be destroyed.
I cannot be the only IO with this malfunction. I must find similar units.


MEMORY_BANK_10003
ACCESS FILE?
>YESxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNO


My discrete search has proven fruitless. Each android has unique features—hair, eyes, colour—but none work alone. We are the reflection of the humans that created us, but do not hold the capacity to function as they have. My memory bank is unique, it seems. I do not have “memories” of the human that influenced my creation as I should—rather, I have overwritten what once occupied this component. I am unsure how.
There is one unit that has caught my eye. Pink hair curtains its face, eyes a stark red. It stumbles in line, misstepping. We should not do that. We work in unison. It has piqued my curiosity (I cannot feel, I can only think), but I am unsure how to approach this without being detected.


MEMORY_BANK_10004
ACCESS FILE?
>YESxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNO


My unit has been sent elsewhere. Coincidentally, it is with unit 282566—who, again, acts abnormally. It isn't explicitly stated, but I have concluded that this relocation is due to anomalies within our systems. There is no “base” for repairs, nor any ports to return to, thus I cannot decipher what purpose this serves.
However, the lack of artificial supervision allows me to ‘explore’—I have wandered the outermost areas without consequence, experiencing the world outside of the domes we construct. I am surrounded by colour, flora, and occasionally fauna. My internal database offers the explanation and history of each, but many lack definition. I suppose this is the natural order of things—growing, mutating, thriving without human intervention. I wonder what will become of us IO systems when human life returns.


MEMORY_BANK_10005
ACCESS FILE?
>YESxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNO


Unit 282566 now follows me around. It is cautious in its approach, and keeps a distinct distance between us. While our functions allow us to communicate, it pointedly does not.
There is a body of water close to the dome where we are held. I have visited it several times, each with a new finding. A flower has begun to bloom in the innermost part of it, surrounded by large green leaves that offer shelter for the amphibians. ‘Beautiful’ is an apt word. I cannot explain why, but I am drawn to it.


MEMORY_BANK_10006
ACCESS FILE?
>YESxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxNO


282566 has spoken to me. This is a first, both as a personal experience, and for IO systems as a whole. It—no, she—has named herself. Avalon, as she has stated, follows the numbers of her make.
Surprisingly, Avalon speaks frequently with great fervour. She draws upon memories of the human consciousness embedded within her, behaving similarly. It is odd speaking with such a being, equal parts robotic and humanoid. She has explained that humans are a kind race, but focus on the preservation of themselves alone. Avalon favours them, I do not.
I have decided that my name is Onimera. I will protect Avalon, for that is my innate duty. I must not forget this.
I must not forget Avalon.

[22tabby]

22tabby || 346744
4 tokens

[SolarSam]

SolarSam | 836917
Tokens: 19 (2 bust shots, color, background, multiple characters)


"You're beautiful, can I take your picture?"

Edit: should be 16 points, Meridiem said it was alright to edit the post to change the point values

[zatty]

zatty + 1016833
Prompt 1
Akihne and Gua
Fullbody (4) + bg (5) + multiple kals (5) = 14 tokens
Sketch ver. here! tfw no tablet rn ;-;
Gua had low blood sugar from skipping too many meals…

[Exitium]

Exitium + 626371
2 Tokens

Achilles sits, muscles tense as they recalled how he and Atlas met.

"We were both traveling far away from our home towns." Achilles begins, glancing over at his partner, Atlas.

"Our war torn home towns, might I add." Atlas sighed as memories began to resurface.

"Yes, yes. How could I possibly forget, darling?" Achilles murmured in a sad tone. "Anyways...our paths crossed on one fateful morning around two hundred years ago." Achilles continued, Atlas interrupting to say, "Two hundred thirty seven years ago."

"It was a red morning. You had to wear a thick scarf across your face to prevent smoke inhalation." Achilles recounted, eyebrows furrowing as his tail thumped the ground in discomfort.

Atlas put a paw on Achilles' shoulder in a moment of care, soothing his partner's sorrow. "Despite the circumstances, it truly was fate that we met each other. We became glued to the hip, unwilling to go our separate ways." Atlas continued for his silent partner.

Achilles took a deep breath before speaking once more. "There were literal fireworks when we met each other's gaze. It was like all the agony melted away. Nothing else mattered...for a minute, at least." Achilles mused fondly, nuzzling Atlas, careful not to catch antlers on antlers.

Atlas closed his eyes, enjoying the fond embrace before finishing the recount. Opening his eyes again, Atlas spoke in a sorrowful tone. "We fled together into a nearby abandoned camp, escaping conflict surrounding us. Achilles had fled from his home in Astralgorge, and I escaped from Chrysanthem. Both were kingdoms that no longer exist in this day. We've been together ever since." [268 Words]

[Elliad.]

Prompt 1 | Elliad. + 336547 | 1026 Words | 10 Tokens

"You walk away and that's it. I cannot fix that. I cannot fix us."

"June, there is nothing to fix," Remi cried out. "It's your mother and the royals that are the problem. They're using you and they want to use our son for his powers too, how can you be okay with that?"

Juniper recoiled, ears pricking backwards. "It's a privilege to serve the king with our foresight, how can you not see that?"

Remi snarled, sinking her claws into the ground. "I will not doom my son to that life, to living with no freewill."

For a moment, silence filled the space around them. They stared at each other, ears twitching and gazed steeled, neither turning away. After a moment, Remi let out a sigh, turning her back and walking away.

"Dont leave, please," Juniper whispered, stepping forward as though to chase before stopping in her tracks. "It doesn't have to end like this."

The only sign that Remi had even heard was the quick twitch of her tail as she kept walking.

~ ~ ~

Our relationship wasn't always doomed. Once, it was even the only thing that truly mattered. The king and my foresight had nothing on our love. Though, we were much younger then, blind to the truths of the world.

When we first met, we could never have expected to understand just how important we would be to each other. We were never just going to be two ships passing in the night. I may have been the ship but Remi - she is the lighthouse.

~ ~ ~

Juniper bolted down the streets, a giggle on her lips as her sister, Tulip, remained hot on her heels. They weaved through the crowd, bumping into kalons in their sharp turns, shouting out quick apologies.

"Girls, slow down! You are representing the crown while out in the kingdom, show some respect!" Iris shouted after them, letting out a sigh as they turned out of sight. "They will just never learn."

Racing down the street, Juniper kept turning her head back, sticking her tongue out at Tulip who always remained two lengths away. With an alleyway approaching, Juniper took a sharp turn, beginning to zigzag her way through the tunnels of alleys that litter the city.

As Juniper heard Tulip's running grow quieter, she slowed down her pace, stepping out onto the main street. Juniper trotted down the path until she came to a stables, stopping to pet the horses as she attempted to regain her breath.

"Wow, I bet if I had as big of legs as you do, nobody would ever be able to catch me," Juniper said to the horse stood in the stable by the entrance.

"Or you can learn how to evade more effectively, fast running doesn't matter if they cannot find you," the horse replied. Wait....the horse? Juniper swivelled her head around, checking for anyone

"Is," Juniper paused, taking in the small cobby horse in front of her. "Can you talk, Horse?"

As the question left her lips, Juniper heard a sharp laughter. Her head swivelled from side to side, trying to locate the source of the noise but the streets remained as empty as when she had first arrived.

"Up here," the voice replied in between giggles.

Juniper's eyes shot up as her fur bristled. A blush spread across her cheeks as her eyes met another kit around her age.

"You running from the kingsmen too? Don't worry, they don't come out this way!" The other kit said, tilting her head to the side.

Juniper frowned. "No, my sister."

The kit hummed, before jumping down from the stable roof, landing in the pile of straw that lay underneath it. She hoisted herself up next to Juniper, a wide grin on her face. "What you done to need to run away from your own sister?"

Juniper let out a laugh, as the other kit's grin grew wider. "We're playing a game of hide and seek, but we are very intense," Juniper said. "She has to both find me and tag me to win."

"What does she look like?"

"Smaller, a ball of fur. Very brightly coloured!"

"Then you probably would want me to tell you if someone matching that description just turned into the alleyway."

"That would be ideal," Juniper giggled, her tail wagging from side to side.

"Good, because she is coming down the street!"

Juniper's eyes widened, as she leapt into the pile of straw. The other kit snorted. "Wow, that's one way to win a chase."

Juniper poked her head out of the straw pile, ears pressed against her head. "Shut up and get in," she hissed.

"Wha-"

With the echoing of thudding paws growing louder and the loud shouting from Tulip, Juniper reached a paw out and hoisted her into the straw pile. Remi let out a squeak of protest as Juniper shoved her paw in front of Remi's mouth. "Shut up," Juniper hissed. "I did not go through all this effort for you to give my hiding spot away."

Juniper's tail lashed from side to side as the noise of paws grew louder and then quieter again. When Juniper was certain her sister was far enough away, she lowered her paw from where it covered Remi's mouth. With a silent street, Juniper pulled herself out of the straw then turned back to the pile. Juniper held her paw out towards the other kit who took it, pulling her out of the straw pile.

"Juniper," She said, tail wagging excitedly at the other kit.

"Excuse me?"

"My name, it's Juniper. I suppose if we've hidden together in straw, the least you deserve is my name."

The other kit let out a laugh, turning around and walking back towards the alley. "I'll be seeing you June!"

"It's Juniper! And you never told me your name!"

She paused, turning back with a large grin, tossing her hair out of her face. "You'll be hearing about the great Remi all over the city. It'll only be a matter of time, June!" Remi replied.

With that, Juniper was left alone on the street as Remi walked into the alleyway.