#otakejin

𝐒𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐈𝐑,   a frigid mantle barren of winking stars and promises but nonetheless gluttonous and ravenous in its perpetual hunger.   Countless times before,   has she fought with the urge to shout just how much she could comprehend him and his grief and countless times before,   has she silenced such sentiments with the swift cruelty of a heartless butcher     ⸻     He has come searching for salvation,   not for the sentimental vicinity of a   LOST SOUL   whose existence has been sewn and tailored in the unblinking dark.

Bruised fingers find each other’s company as she folds her hands in front of her lap,   a gesture that has recently begun to serve as a motivational and reassuring anchor   ;   when everything has been lost,   one can solely depend on the touch of their own self   (   gone are the times in which she could be cradled by the arms of her beloved family,   amidst crane feather and armor plates,   never to be harmed nor threatened   )   .   A furtive glance is thrown at him and Sonus finally breaks the silence.   ❝   Do you have any peculiar tradition in Mount Suzuka   ?   Or any kind of festival that you particularly enjoy   ?   ❞   She knows not whether she is in fact poking at an open wound or whether she is pressing some soothing balm ‘pon it,   but the reason at the core of her curiosity is soon explained.   ❝   My grandfather often spoke of merry festivals held under the resplendent sun and he claimed that each time the whole island would be filled with nothing but   LAUGHTER   and songs for days.   There were also some special dishes prepared and games for everyone and even wonderful prizes...   I’ve always wanted to participate in something like this.   ❞

The North is certainly far colder than this, it’s almost too hot. The island brimming with such unique life. Zarina doesn’t sense any Natural Disaster, but it’s obvious by her casual strides that she’s not one to be fearful. The cold air around her created to keep herself safe from overheating but also to keep track on any changes in temperature, her body is a weapon on its own and she needs to make sure that nothing will harm her while she’s so far away from home. Human on the outside, but is she one on the inside? 

The smell of winter and death lingers on her similar to how the smell of smoke clings to one’s clothes. Not only that, but her smoking a pipe with such a laid-back behavior asks for concern and awareness. It’s so interesting how she hasn’t found this island on the map as the travel went by, she even had to leave her team farther away as she studies it on her own, but it seems like they’ve left like promised, leaving her behind for a couple of days before returning. 

“ Oh? ” The audible surprise comes out from her as the woman continues to walk forward, hearing someone ahead. Several accessories were left on the ship, meaning she needs to make sure that she will not destroy the ones that are on her right now. The bracelet on her ankle (akin to a chain), three rings on both of her hands, earring that remain intact. Six out of ten remain on, but she knows how easily some of them can break if she just puts her mind to it. She doesn’t trust this place and its denizens. It’s too suspicious that none here has greeted her or even attacked her, not yet. As she sees the one standing ahead, the woman waves her hand, but her golden gaze shows no relaxation: It’s observant, it’s analytical. Her body is ready to jump away and she’s ready to make the rings on her fingers shatter. “ Hello~! ‘Scuse me, are you one of the owners of this land? ”

@otakejin 

Otakemaru is a kind one, but a stubborn one. He continues to follow a path that he chose himself and she cannot judge, no, she cannot. The time spent here was mostly peaceful aside from the youkai who tired to invade the island. The Master of Mt. Suzuka, in the absence of the one who started off this land seemingly, would easily deal with them alongside some of the other sea spirits. She didn’t know if it would be even right to call them demons aside from what she had heard and what she’d seen. They all acted like humans do, they weren’t different and it made her feel strangely comfortable. It took months upon month for her to understand that, yes, no one expected anything from her in terms of payment for letting her stay here. She did offer her own labor as she didn’t enjoy being left indebted to anyone else. However, she still remained a mystery while speaking of certain moments in her life to Otakemaru. It seemed fair. She was not spilling her soul to him, but enough to tell him that she would not use and abuse this kindness she was given. As someone who was lost in the sea, so to speak, she was fortunate to arrive at this island instead of any other. 

This is why the mention of how the ‘chains’ and ‘shackles’ on her hands and legs in the sight of beautiful accessories remained on. She explained the reasons through telling a story of how humans would be afraid to ever face someone like that and how she’d be killed if she were to lose control, her family would be in danger. The winter runs in her veins and the frigid death that would make even her family make sure that she was keeping it all at bay. What she hasn’t really spoken to others was the way her mother reacted to her powers. When a young Zarina was happily showing it to Lyaisan, the older woman became terrified and slapped her own daughter before breaking down and apologizing profusely while crying. She didn’t notice how absent her gaze became as she was staring at the fire, the soup was still cooking but only Otakemaru’s voice brought her back from her reminiscing. It’s strange, but it was nice to speak of those who she probably won’t ever see again. It hurt, but she had to be realistic instead of harboring false hopes. 

“ A mother hitting her child is wrong, you would be correct, ” Zarina agrees before sighing, leaning forward to check on the soup’s readiness. The silence that follows doesn’t last long, but Sokolova makes sure to think over what words she could tell him. “ Where I’ve come from, my powers could overtake me if I’m not in control. Perhaps, she was afraid that if I’m comfortable with them, I’ll forget that they are dangerous and I must not become comfortable with them. Wrong or not, I survived, didn’t I? ” A bitter smile graces her lips as she brings the wooden spoon out to taste the clear broth. This reminds her of the Ukha that she made at home, a soup that she doubted anyone really knew the recipe to in this land. She promised to share it with Otakemaru only because it was a test run in making it. 

@otakejin​,    prompt    »    pre-established  relationship  ask  meme   (  accepting  )      /               ✿    (hi  👋  ty  for  the  follow  btw.   thought  i'd  send  this  as  a  plotting  icebreaker  of  sorts?)    

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@otakejin

Appreciation over this island's unity can be seen in the golden gaze of the "yuki-onna" as she wonders how true it will be if she will expose herself as a human with abilities beyond human recognition. They've already seen her as a non-human entity, it caused her great internal distress, but for the sake of survival she couldn't say anything. How can these ... youkai act if she were to discuss the truth? It was already too late, she never corrected them but she never lied to them about who she was because they never asked. Instead of lies, she didn't correct Otakemaru upon his first introduction to her and she simply followed that suit without missing a beat, playing the role she's been assigned all to live on and not die. This island was filled with those whose abilities could be more dangerous than she'd like to admit if she were wearing all of her accessories, it's dangerous to keep them all on but it also makes her grow a bit more distant as she can feel the void grow and the bitter frostbite nip at her fingertips when she relaxes.

It seems one those moments of distance bring his attention to her. It's a bit strange to be brought back into the unknown (to her) society, his welcoming nature can be a burden and she wonders if he understands the differences in one's upbringing or if he wishes everyone to follow his own created rules. Then again, they do say to live by the rules of society you are in to survive. She wishes not to fully commit and submit to them, but Sokolova offers him a raised eyebrow as she feels her shoulders drop as gives him a solemn expression before looking away from him to look at the cooking fish she's been preparing.

" It's hard to adjust to everyone's kindness, " she explains to him, patiently. " Where I've come from, such kindness is always coming with a weapon hidden behind another's back. " Immediately, the maid of winter shake her left hand at him to explain right away, preventing him from speaking up. " I am not saying that you and your people act this way, but it is hard to forget the way you are living. Not everyone is able to easily adjust to a new lifestyle when your whole life has been different. "

There are no lies in her words, she thinks it's better to be quiet about certain things, not finish the whole detailed explanation but give the general idea. There are no reasons to dive too deep, she will leave and maybe he'll regret being so nice to her. There is no rudeness in her behavior or in her gaze, Zarina remains calm and collected while explaining as if she is his teacher and hopes he can understand where she is coming from. The older sister in her speaks louder right now than anyone else, she thinks how she speaks to Victor and Aleksey at this moment, but there isn't true warmth in her voice. With Otakemaru, she is far more serious and more polite than she'd be with her family.

LYNX AMA | @otakejin

very good questions !

I wouldn’t say I have any big inspirations for Liqin ,  unless you consider european vampires and succubi / incubi to be inspirations !

as for what made me want to create him ,  I wanted to create the concept of a character that thinks “Rex Lapis is no better than the Gods he’s struck down” as well as the idea of “humanity made the idea of good and evil, and we simply sort things of the natural world into them” y’know ?

Liqin was originally going to be a Jiangshi ( fun fact :  Qiqi’s is a / is based on Jiangshi ! ) , however as I did my research I found that it did not fit the character I had in my head .

it led me down a rabbit hole on Chinese mythology and stories ,  and I found out about the Huli jing !  I got fixated on these fox spirits and I went through hoops to learn more ( I’m STILL learning more information ) for the sole purpose of Liqin’s character !

"If you're her sister, then you're my family too." A faint curve of his lips, his expression soft. "I heard that it was thanks to you that my soul is no longer bound to Mount Suzuka. Thank you." (for Senhime!)

𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐇𝐈𝐌,   their depth shimmering with barely concealed curiosity and anticipation.   Many were the tales concerning him that she had eagerly listened to,   some laden with merrier feelings than the others   ;   he had fought for what he had believed to be right,   stubbornly unyielding in front of excruciating ache and self - sacrifice,   a pursuit that she could emphasize with effortlessly.   And yet,   she does not allow herself to forget about the gargantuan differences that,   up to this day,   still set their respective experiences apart:   EVERYONE BELIEVED IN HIM,   a support that she could only imagine in glimpses of daydreams and amidst flowing tears.