#connection au

[ A casual conversation ]

( "Maybe in a few days, we'll leave with the task to find new friends" )

( "... That's not how it work-!" )

Mixolydian and Aeolian (Redesigned!) Leaders of the group Mixolydian's Moths, which consist of whatever sky kids they adopt and teach music.

More lore (+some repeat info)

Meet Axiom!

Axiom (they/them) fell in Season of Performance. They used to be your average sky kid, but they found their way into an area sky kids definitely weren't supposed to be, one of the Devs' small stashes of information. In it they learned about the Light and the Dark. They decided to attempt to make a deal with the Dark. In the process, they shattered their core. This would normally kill a sky kid, even the smallest crack is dangerous, but the Dark saved Axiom and made them into their servant. Their mental stability pretty much completely broke at this point as well.

They are addicted to power, and will try almost anything to have the upper hand in every situation. Since they have a dead core, they cannot be spotted by krill. They are still attacked by crabs (even normally passive ones). Their cape doesn't mend anymore (sky kids can mend their capes with light usually), and they can only glide. Shards still hurt them (shards are bad in more ways than just taking light), but it's only by directly touching them and it's far less than what it does to a sky kid, so they were able to dig a small piece of a shard out and connect it to a stick. They are able to control dark plants.

Some doodles based off Solar, Nexus, and Eclipse from @kuuchaos backstage au! Trying to figure out a style I could be consistent with while also keeping them recognisable for the Ameliorate universe.

Full image and two additional test sketches below:

It is really Skrimm-Centric, but that's because of the nature of the AU. However, I am not opposed to the idea of the others being soul-connected, and now thinking about it, I have a more present idea to it.

So, it does center around Skrimm, but that's because he gained his powers much later in life than the others in their respective elements, and explores the brutality of it, in a way. He runs, finds his way to swindle his coin, but as it attaches to him, it sort of, well....

At first, he starts seeing the souls of people as this drift-y/wisp-y sort of smoke. Reds and purples, sometimes blue, and he doesn't understand it. Why would the souls be red instead of blue? Does it have to do with those red eyes? The coin?

Even without the coin on him/in his grasp, he still sees the souls. Then it turns to more: He starts seeing time ticking on those blue souls, sometimes hours, sometimes seconds. These shades are starting to vary from deep and dark to light and bright. What does it mean?

Seemingly stronger around graveyards and burial sites, he avoids them like the plague, only to be horrified by just the sheer amount of considered burial sites around Avantris. His anxiety is raised, constantly scanning the world and over his shoulder, he never stays in more than one place, unless he's compelled to. Even then, he tries to fight it.

At random moments, jolting in the dark of night or freezing in the middle of the day, he feels this sort of pull to go somewhere with an unnatural calm and sense of needing or wanting to comfort. Again, stronger near those graveyards.

Stronger towards those that grieve.

He doesn't get used to it, that anxiety staying with him forever basically, but telling anyone about it would get him locked up. So he keeps it tucked away.

However, he is not the only one. He is just the way of death and despair. A comfort to a soul passing through the graveyard on the side of living.

Queenie's, Jornir's, and Barnabos' are all connected to their environments, how they were raised, and just themselves overall.

Respectfully, Queenie has a connection to the forests, beasts, hunting. She is life in the forest, the plains, and the deserts, to a degree.

Jornir has a connection to the wastes, traveling, surviving. He is the life that dwells in the harshest of places with what they can, how they can, when they can.

Barnabos has a connection to the sea, pirating, the depths. He is the life in the oceans, rivers, and lakes, no matter how deep.

And Taishen... Well, he isn't unfamiliar with the way that lives travel, seeing people come and go. He was sheltered, yes, but he is still a way of life itself. The way of people, to find joys in the little things of life, to find happiness after pain, to keep on even on the dreariest of days. Him and Skrimm are the opposite in that way.

And to say that scares Skrimm is an understatement. To suddenly find these people, all with their own connections, and yet still not be understood is.. Well, downright terrifying. Why was he roped in? What is the point of being this darkness of all this light?

He finds the answer in a way he doesn't want to. And to say he pleaded until there were no words left, screamed until his voice gave out, and used every single bit of magic he had possessed in him to the point he used more than he could carry...

He understood why. Why he was this darkness in the light. Why he was chosen.

Dubbed the WholesomeAu by @/Twisted-n-Thristy, The mirror summons a very young Mc (between the ages of 4-10) and they show obvious signs of being neglected, starved, and abused, well since they technically don't have a family in their world maybe some one (or some people) could step up and Mc's new parent/siblings/legal guardian

Ooh! I like this idea!

As a legal Guardian, their new parent, that responsibility could be shared by Divus and Crowley! Both interchange schedules so one or the other can take care of little MC. Trien takes more of a doting grandfather role, and Vargas an uncle one, with Sam being more like an older brother!

Crowley takes them to get registered, to their doctors appointments, etc. He loves to wrap them in his coat, because they look so cute, but he does it to make sure MC is warm and feels safe.

Divus prepares a room for MC in their houses, grabbing proper clothes and items needed, even making a whole homeschooling plan for him to help raise his new puppy ;-; They sit at his desk while he teaches, doing their reading and math, and they even learn to raise their hand if they need anything ;-;

Trein dotes on them, often reading old literature, telling them stories of when he was younger and the antics he partook in with his own friends and siblings. He makes sure to catch them up with the culture and world of Twst, often leaving Lucius with MC, helping to comfort them if they need anything.

Vargas helps them with nutrition! Teaching the little MC how to eat properly, feeding them healthy foods, often giving them little "workouts" to do by his side to help them build stamina and work some muscle. He values their physical health, and becomes a great shoulder to lean on.

Sam is always teasing them! Poking their now chubby cheeks, pinching their sides, ruffling their hair- he can't help it! He always wants them to have a smile on their face, feeding them candies and giving them a little outfit to work with him, he loves how they run around the store trying to restock items and help students out.

They can't seek justice for MC, but, they won't allow MC to go back. Not after the condition they came in.

MC is never leaving them.

They'll grow up happy, healthier, and become the best woman/man/person they can be. They won't allow a single eyelash to fall die to neglect. Their eyes are watchful and distrusting of many other adults- with select students selected to be role models and babysitters for the magicless baby.

MC is only 6 years old, but those 6 painful years are going to be diluted by the staff, by their love and care.