#distantlocale

They found some different sticks! Maybe their poor sibling (and other self) would like them more. They’re an odd light brown colour while the other half is a darker brown.

@distantlocale​ SAID: “  YOU HAVEN’T STABBED ME YET!  ” bipper @ ford in the sock opera au :)

THREE HOUSES STARTERS // accepting.

Was this is a dream? Was this a manifestation of his greatest fears? In all honesty, Ford didn’t know. His first instinct at that cursed, familiar voice had been to reach for the nearest weapon, only to reel in seeing it belonged to Dipper.

Oh... oh, no...

This was worse than any dream.

Stood with grit teeth and clenched fists by his sides, the man faltered, taking a subconscious step back at the other’s words. Oh, to spite his negligence -- in trying to protect the boy ( TRYING TO HIDE HIS OWN SHAME AND GUILT ABOUT F ), he’d only put him in more danger. Having a second head was better than one; WHY DIDN’T HE LISTEN TO HIS OWN ADVICE?

The small vessel walked along the path of foliage, nail drawn at their side. They hopped off the ledge, knowing the lake should be just ahead. However, the four-horned bug stops in their trek, casting a glance around. They could've sworn they heard something, but weren't sure what. The vessel tipped their head a different direction, but saw nothing... (greenie @ hornet! c:) 

~

As Hallownest’s sole protector, Hornet couldn’t stand to allow anything to happen to it. Most might have found the cause silly, protecting the ruins of an ancient civilization, but it hadn’t been her choice to make. It was her birthright; something passed down to her through the deal her Mother had struck with the King many years ago. It had been the last thing Herrah had told her when she’d been just a little girl, demanding her to explain why she needed to go to sleep forever.

This duty meant that she could not allow anything- bug, vessel, or otherwise- to undo what her Mother had so bravely sacrificed her life as a Higher Being for. Not without a significant effort on their part, at least. In a flash, her weapon was sent flying towards the next vantage point, a brief streak of red following soon after as she did the same. Green leaves flittered to the ground in her wake. The vessel had gone on about the same path as many others had before it, so Hornet already knew where her place was.

Stood high above the creature on the ledge opposite of the one they’d come from, she peered down upon it. “I have seen you, carefully making your way through this ancient glade. You will go no further, ghost.” That was what she called each vessel that passed through, as this was what they all were- Mere ghosts of Hallownest’s past, slowly trickling out from their dark birthplace. “I know of what you and your kind intend to bring upon the old kingdom- Something I cannot allow to pass. Not now.” The mysterious bug drew her needle, a swift jump to the floor likely signifying the beginning of a fight. Her next words only solidified the idea.

Nosk silently adjusts its hidden form to get a good view of the approaching one. It's this spider again. Nosk has seen her before, but stayed away; today it will approach her. A quick surface glean of the target's mind, and a form is picked by the shape shifter: that of a small horned bug. Nosk slides out of the darkness, ready to lure the spider back to its cave... but the eerie atmosphere is utterly ruined when it trips on a stone rather undignifiedly and bonks its head against the ground.

~

Though Hornet had long since gotten used to the little ghost’s tendency to appear in places she hadn’t expected, what with their journey consisting mainly of wandering until they found a way they personally deemed correct, there were still moments where the vessel would manage to surprise her. Not enough to knock her off-guard, persay, but enough to incite a kneejerk reaction, mostly involving threatening them in some way.

This was one such instance of this. She’d been distracted for a single precious moment by the distant sound of scuttling, suspecting it to be a Little Weaver, but swiftly spun upon her heel at the echo of a second sound behind her. Hornet had her needle in hand as per usual, so it was quickly held forward, used to hopefully keep whoever (or whatever) it was at bay long enough for her to get her bearings.

...The vessel from before. It had been quite sudden, but she supposed it was only natural for them to find themselves within the darkness of Deepnest, after all, what with it being the location of her mother’s final resting place. The possibility of it being the trickery of a nosk crossed her mind, but it was quickly quashed. Their movement was simply much too clumsy to be such a usually cunning creature. The princess lowered her weapon, fairly confident in this fact. With all that time spent alone, she’d become a huntress in her own right, and never before had she noticed a nosk imitate creatures beyond looks. It simply wasn’t a part of their nature.

They were merely creatures that took advantage of others’ personal ties and clouded judgement; nothing more, nothing less.

Gooigi walks up to the Knight, their slimy head tipping slightly. Gooigi points at the nail(?) that the little guy's holding, giving a curious gurgle. Why does the Knight have that??

~

They sat upon the stone floor. They remained spaced out, even as the other approached, distracted by the eternal battle that took place within the infected vessel as Void and Light attempted to overtake control of their shell. A drop of orange goo slowly made its way down, sliding along the length of a crack. Both energies were natural predators that, like any other, became competitive in the presence of another. It was only until their friend had gurgled that the fight was tipped in the Light’s favor. Not that the Void had had any chance against the blinding light, of course, but it was good to finally get back to their usual behavior.

Orange eyes peered up at Gooigi, the glow they cast briefly reflecting upon the other’s green body, before following where they pointed. The weapon in their tiny hands. It had been on their back before, but they’d likely taken it into their hands without paying attention. “Nail...” The Light inside them allowed Tick to speak, in a way. It wasn’t the traditional way one spoke, being more akin to whispering on their behalf, but it worked the same. Just one of the many gifts they’d since recieved from Her.

“Nail...” They repeated as they stood from their spot, the drop of goo from moments before finally detaching itself and dripping onto the floor. This didn’t seem to bother the vessel. “Nail for fight. Kill void. Kill empty one. Spreads light. ...Important.” Though it was important to them, they hadn’t been taking care of their nail, its quality having suffered under their long time neglect. It was dull again; cracked in places just like it had been when they had first reentered Hallownest. They’d forgotten many things under Her guidance, after all. Taking care of their nail was unfortunately one of said things.

Something about this made Tick feel oddly saddened, though, the feeling only having worsened as they stared down at their weapon. Orange slowly (yet steadily) spilled out from within the sockets of their shell. To Gooigi, it would likely be seen as something akin to crying. To the Knight...

     🌺ℰ𝓂𝒾𝓁𝓎;;– ‘ Lena! ‘ Emily ran up to her as she wrapped her arms around Lena and pulled her into a hug. An embrace that almost didn’t let go. Did she miss her on that mission? Yes, absolutely! And there was a gentle kiss to Lena’s temple that said so.