Question: do we have any info on how Thistle addresses himself in Japanese? I've heard that can be a way to see how 'masculine' someone may see themselves. Not a 1:1 since it's cultural, but I kno the self-pronouns can be a character insight.
(Coming in from the 'Thistle trans????' ask)
I've heard he uses ç§ Watashi? I don't have a screenshot of him saying it in original japanese tho... So if anyone else has one?
Edit: Apparently it's not watashi, but boku
double edit: Apparently is watashi when speaking to Laios and boku when speaking to Delgal/Golden kingdom citizens
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Qualityâ Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
For the angst sentences, I have an either/or since I'd feel bad asking for both:
"I hate what Ive become" for xanlow
Or
"Dont act like you know me" for leokumi
"Don't act like you know me."
1.7k, leokumi
from this ask game
Leo doesnât exactly want to get into how he was captured. He is willing to say, however, that it wasnât only him, so perhaps that makes it equally embarrassing for them both.
Right now, heâs currently in the middle of escaping someâugh, he doesnât know, self-proclaimed death cultâwith none other than Prince Takumi of Hoshido. Whoever these lowlifes are who caught Leo off guard, they seemed intent on gathering different kinds of dragon bloodâwhich means Leo needs to deal with both the consequence of their horrendous treatment of prisoners, and this moody enemy prince.
Theyâre quite close to getting out of their containment, actually. Which isnât remarkable, this pathetic cult is ragtag and ill-managed. They happened to get lucky in Leoâs capture, and heâll admit that Prince Takumi is just formidable enough that maybe they got lucky twice, and theyâre paying for their lack of preparedness.
All thatâs left is for Leo and Takumi to clear one hallway, then they can make a generally clean break for an exit. Theyâre just⌠Stuck, presently. The cultistâs tactics for keeping them from moving forward are working, and itâs only a matter of time before someone rounds the establishment and comes at them from behind.
It isnât a particularly complicated hideout, a crumbling cobblestone fort thatâs been out of proper use for decades, and Leo was able to retrieve Brynhildr without much trouble as they ran. Prince Takumi got his bow as well, and theyâve each been handling themselves fine. Itâs just this awkward position theyâre in now thatâs giving them trouble.
The best they can do is pick off the poor excuses for cultists one by one. But itâs hard to do that when theyâre firing back. Theyâre able to get a few of them, sure, butâ
âThis isnât working,â Takumi grumbles through his teeth, firing an arrow and then slamming himself behind the wall as a burst of magic flies by. Leo, on the other side of the hallway entrance, scoffs.
âClearly.â He exhales sharply, then casts a sharp and leafy spell down the hall, and assumes the cut off screams are targets hit. âFocus on the short ranged ones for now.â
Though Leo is feeling the effects of all his magic usage already. Sweat beads his forehead and goosebumps tickle his neck. He can feel his blood getting hotter, too. Forcing out more magic than he has to provide will make his very pores bleed, and fainting from blood loss would be the most intolerable way to lose. Especially around these cultists, who seem intent on using his flesh for the worst.
Takumi charges his arrow in his bow, magic swirling more intently the longer he holds it, then sets it loose. âAnd then what do we do about the far ranged ones, wise guy?â
Leo clicks his tongue. âI said for now, you fool.â Which earns him a glare. âWeâll retreat and make another way around.â
âRetreat where? Our cell? No way,â Takumi says back. He glances behind himself, then behind Leo, and then fires two rapid shots into the hall. Not even a moment later, he seizes an inhale through his teeth and narrowly avoids a dagger. âGods. Long range against long range is so damn risky.â
Leo tries to prepare himself for another large spell. He isnât sure how many more he can cast after this. One, maybe two, at least of the ones with the potency heâs been using. But heâs quickly reaching his limit. âIndeed,â he says, irritated. âBut you are a bowsman and I am a mage, so unless you have any better ideas, retreating is our best bet.â
Takumi narrows his eyes, breathing hard. âDonât act like you know me.â
âAm I acting like I know you by observing youâre using a bow? Primarily, even? And have been all this time?â
âHow are you this annoying.â
Leo huffs. âIâm not sure your mumbling has been doing us any favors, either.â
Takumi glances towards the hallway. Then he rolls back his shoulders and exhales a steadying breath. âHey. Do your big plant spell thing.â Leo nearly corrects his wording to anything but that, but Takumi goes on. âIâm going in right after.â
âInsanity. That spell wonât last long enough to be used as cover,â Leo says. âWeâre better off retracing our stepsââ
âJust do it! Do you complain about everything?â Takumi snaps, which is ironic, since heâs obviously been the stubborn one. Takumi narrows his eyes. âI can do close range, and I can do it well. You just need to watch my back, Nohrian.â
Leo gives him a look, quite unconvinced. But retreating will only work if they both do, and Leo has been getting ready to cast all this time. They wonât get anywhere if he tries to stall and leave it only to Takumiâs bow, and he wonât be branded as a coward who runs away alone. Especially not by this prince, of all people.
So, not approving of the plan but without another spell to perform, Leo lets magic drip out of him and into his tome, then lets it come back into his veins deeper, in vines and bark and poison.
He casts his forest of magic into the hallway, and Takumi bolts after, staying just far enough to keep from friendly fire. Leo watches, seeing some enemies turn to Takumi, and he uses smaller and more electric spells to keep them occupied.
Leo was quite uncomforted by Takumiâs confidence, but heâs surprised to say he does what he said he would. He keeps his bow in hand, but he doesnât battle with it except for quick draws and finishing blows. He dodges, and fights by jabbing his elbow or throwing a punch against unprepared archers and magicians. Once he properly enters the fray, Leo doesnât need to do much to keep him healthy.
Itâs both relieving and concerning, in truth. Leo fully appreciates the certainty of getting out of this fortress, he admits retreating was a last resort, butâhe didnât anticipate Takumi mightâve had other skills, not to this degree. Heâll have to consider him wisely the next they meet on a battlefield.
Takumi finally clears the area. Leo doesnât wait for a signal, he just runs up, fully aware they donât have the time to waste. They proceed through the fortress wordlessly, steeping over bodies and extremely close to their freedom.
Theyâre right near the front gate when they hear talking. Instantly, they freeze and hold their breath, backs pressed a wall. There are people just on the other side of the gate, and Leo tries to listen.
ââon, man, just a tour? You guysâyou guys do tours here, right? Itâs totally tour worthy,â comes a voice clearly trying to sound more laid back than he is. Leo blinks, a little surprised at the subject matter.
âI do all sorts of tours, if youâre interested,â suggests anotherâwas that Niles? Leo listens a little more intently.
âWaitâwait whatâs that mean,â says the first voice, and then a female one sighs.
âNeither of you are helping,â she says sharply, as if smiling through annoyance, then speaks more sweetly. âWe really just want to look around? Weâre not looking to cause any trouble. Itâs just, a really, really important thing weâre looking forââ
And who is unmistakably Odin chimes in excitedly, âOf extreme importance! Epic, and maximal, and most certainly heinous if not brought back into our fell, empty, and capable hands.â
Leo thinks if you could hear a cringe, he wouldâve heard one from this woman. âRight. All that. Super important. So please?â
In a low voice, Takumi starts to speak, leaning just slightly closer to Leo. âI think it might be my retainers out there,â he says slowly, and Leo raises an eyebrow.
âFunny. I was thinking they sounded like mine, as well.â
Takumi glances at him, then glances at the gate. âShould we just make a run for it?â
Leo considers that for a moment. âIâm sure theyâll know what to do.â
And so, after one more brief and mutual look, Takumi and Leo both burst out of the gate and start running. And Leo was quite correct in identifying Odin and Niles, the former looking shocked and the latter looking highly amused.
âNever mind!â says Takumiâs male retainer, and among some shouts from the guards, the six of them charge away. Odin casts a spell behind them to keep any stray cultists off their backs, and Takumi fires a couple more arrows, seemingly for good riddance.
They find cover in a forest nearby, treading deeply until theyâre sure they can take a moment to breathe. Takumiâs retainers start fawning over him immediately, and Niles and Odin give Leo some attention as well. He waves them off.
âIâm fine,â he says, wiping off sticky sweat from his brow. âJust more winded than Iâd like to be.â Heâll need some time to recharge. Neither Odin nor Niles look convinced, but Leo isnât going to be revealing any weakness in front of Hoshidans.
After collecting himself a bit more, Leo looks over at Prince Takumi, whoâs smile from his talking with his retainers falls as he meets his eyes. Takumi pauses, then puffs out his chest and grips his bow tightly.
âNext timeâweâre enemies,â he says. His retainers stare at him, then give their own unique glares to Leo. Takumi ignores them, gritting his teeth and wrinkling his nose. âFor now⌠Thanks. I guess.â
Leo lifts up his chin, standing tall. âWeâre still enemies,â he corrects. And then, with his head held high, he casts his gaze away. âBut... Thank you, too.â
He doesnât care for Nilesâs eyebrow raise, nor for Odinâs head tilt. Leo just turns around and walks, and the pair of them follow readily, away from the cult idiots and the Hoshidan prince.
And Leoâhe doesnât look back. Of course he wouldnât. He meant what he said, this war is nowhere near over. One little collaboration doesnât change that, and obviously theyâre agreed in that regard.
But, still. Even if Leo doesnât check behind him⌠Some part of him wonders if Takumi does.
Idk if youre still brainstorming over the immortals!au but if you did 'include' Nina, there are a lot of protective dog spirits Alexander could be to keep her safe.
Bonus points if Nina thinks all pet dogs are just like that and doesnt get the fuss about how her dog suddenly turns spectral or grows ten feet when her shithead dad tries to get visitation.
oh that's cute! I do like the idea of nina just being a regular human/avoiding any of the plot whatsoever, but the concept of alexander being a protective spirit is super cute
it's extremely unlikely she'll ever turn up within the core set of goings on in this au (i don't say plot cause there really isn't much of one) so really whatever you'd like to imagine for her works just fine!
Yo this is the bird poll and I also have no idea how a RTHA showed up for rough-legged. I use duck duck go so it likely has something to do with SEO running different?
I have yet to positively ID a rough-legged in the field either so I think I just zoomed through grabbing pics and didnt realize til it got pointed out after I posted đ
Yeah I was mostly just joking around, found it funny that even though RTHA wasnt included they weaseled their way in anyway. If you want more vetted sources for bird pictures instead of relying on a search engine to turn up the correct species, I'd suggest checking eBird or iNaturalist RG images/taxon images
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
â Live Streamingâ Interactive Chatâ Private Showsâ HD Qualityâ Free Actions
Free to watch ⢠No registration required ⢠HD streaming
So when you make these songs, do you make both versions and see which sounds better? Or is there a method to your madness?
I make both versions, yeah
sometimes, one sounds a whole lot better! sometimes theyâre about the same, quality-wise. itâs hard to tell with this stuff.
if you ever want to hear the other half of something, send me an ask, and Iâll try to dig up the file! there are a few I keep meaning to post, because theyâre pretty good tbh
I love how Leo always has his nails painted when you draw him!
thank you! i like to ignore it in lore because noone ever comments on it lol but it does make drawing hands easier somehow? i used to never draw fingernails until leo hahaÂ