@darkraise | angst prompts.

Her light is dimmed, grey and opaque like moonlit fog; still luminous from within but subdued, less strenuous on the eyes. Or the eye, in Darkrai’s case. This way the unicorn would not seem so grating on the senses as they draw close to the nightmare pokemon, as if hoping their proximity would elicit comfort and understanding.

“Do you resent that?”

His being was of fears and mistakes and regrets, did he sometimes find that role to be burdensome? For the unicorn, wrought of light and magic, shaped by dreams too, knew how it was to be treated unkindly and with deceit. Perhaps not to the extent as Darkrai did, they would admit.

A luff of breath, warm and spring-sweet, wisping at the shadows that make his form. “Not all touch is unkind, and not all words are sly. There will yet be Times where you will be treated gently.”

❛[ GIVE MORA SOME THINGS!! ≻ accepting!

THE OBJECT WAS FASCINATING TO IT, THE ENTITIES ROLLING CLICKING REVEALED. Passive observation had seen them work; that which was used to… contain the beings that existed within the reality of the other. Different shapes which the God had yet to decipher reasons // AND NOW HOLDING ONE IN HAND ALLOWED CURIOSITY TO BE FED. Claws carefully closed around the sphere, turning it this way and that before multitude of eyes fixated. Though not all had strayed from the other being. “&– -I have been… very interested in these from my passive observations. Strange things to me… I have not seen anything like them in my many travels.” Mused, truly trying to articulate the fact that this gesture of the other was truly appreciated. “&– -You have given me something to figure out further in ways beyond just watching…. you truly do hold my appreciation for this.” // @darkraise

@darkraise : “i’m sure i don’t think of myself as suffering.” ( ♡ )

❛    it's   subjective,    isn't   it?    ❜    rena   muses,    absentmindedly   laying   in   bed   while   the   creature   looms   in   a   dark   corner   of   her   room,    observing   her.    it   had   been   some   time   already   that   they've   learned   to   communicate,    via   devices   or   other   pokemon.    however,    when   it's   the   night   sky   reaches   the   deepest   shade   of   indigo…    the   world   is   much   more   quiet   around   them.    rena,    shifting   around   in   her   bed,    was   able   to   spot   the   pokemon   that   was   darker   than   shadows.    offering a thoughtful hum, rena finally sits up. ❛    some   might   say   that   solitude   like   yours   is   suffering…    however,    if   you're   unaffected   by   it…    then   it's   not   an   ailment,    right?    ❜

@darkraise#look at this guy…. so proud of himself for creating a small-scale cataclysm and losing his mind to the void
#‘anyways how are the nightmares. hope you enjoy’

“It certainly did not go exactly to plan, but one must take risks to gain knowledge at times.”

“And what we discovered was truly incredible. The data we have gained from this was worth the price. And just think, we’ve only scratched the surface of what we can do. We appreciate your assistance in this matter.”

He’ll never admit to the nightmares. He’s fine it’s not an issue. Nope.

@darkraise | from questions only sentences.

Ophelia’s immediate reflex is to reject the notion, which is perhaps the most telling sign that she would be lying. The harsh reality that she had been lying to herself for years feels like an insurmountable obstacle she couldnt climb over or break through. She shoves her hands into her jacket pockets, huddling into the warmth of the soft fleece lining and therefore avoiding Darkrai’s peering blue eye.

Her brows are furrowed and she’s stubbornly staring down into the streets from where they stand on Hotel Z’s roof.

At first it seems as if she wasn’t going to answer him but a minute ticks by and she exhales a puff of air, misting silver-white in the night chill. “Maybe.” Her tone is just shy of petulant, “It helps to lie to yourself a little bit now and then, make something seem less scary or impossible.”

It had helped her, anyway. It still did.

Ophelia is dreaming, she’s sure, feeling heavy and fuzzy around the edges of her sight. Standing at a fortune teller’s tent and table, where the curtains seemed to ripple like waves and change color every time she looked away. But what else is there to do than take from the tarot deck when offered?

Three cards. She is not as well practiced hiding her emotions as her aunt is. A pinch in her brows, the twitch of her mouth as she hears each card and explanation. Lost in her inner world; that happened a lot over the years, closing herself into her own mind to fret and worry, or to hide from others. An unfinished journey sounded right, being tangled in Lumiose’s ongoings since the start. Since five years ago.

She wondered when it would be done. What she had to do to wash her hands of being hero again. But who else was there to do the heavy lifting?

And the last, being overwhelmed at some point. A fault of her own. Ophelia blinks and even that feels weighted. Pressure on her chest and a rushing sound in her ears. The curtain billows and closes in, darkness narrowing in her vision; until the last thing she sees is the Chariot spinning its wheels and fading out entirely.

@darkraise visited ophelia in her dreams again.

@darkraise: You’re still banned from storytime. Back to ur corner smh

He puts on his glasses, ties his hair up, and throws a lab coat over himself.

“Hello, I am…. new. Here for your story time. Please continue.”

❝ I knew when you walked into this place that you were special. ❞

’FASCINATING’- THAT WAS THE THOUGHT THAT BOUNCED BETWEEN THE NUMEROUS MINDS OF THE BEING. This dimensional pocket it had found in its near endless scouring of reality and all which knotted to it // AND THE DISCOVERY HAD BEEN PLEASING TO SAY THE LEAST. Beings which existed, the construction of this own reality, and most recently being an eye it had felt watching back from its disconnected observation from own realm. Few ever noticed eyes watching from the realm between realms, and those that did either did not concern themselves with it or DECIDED SELF A THREAT. Neither had happened, so it had merely been an instance of distant observation.

UNTIL A MOMENT DECIDED BEFITTING, FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TIME SPREAD ON. The pocket of space buckled in on itself, the head of the beast seeming to pry self out of a VOID BEYOND THE VOID. It was not the full of the entity– - it could not be, for reality rejected the one that wasn’t at its very core. Still, it gave more to ONE WHO SAW than merely the lure it oft use for other interactions. “&– -I could extend the same sentiment to you, for few notice my observations… fewer amongst those do not revile immediately. But perhaps it is not fair to cast such reflections of past when I am but a curious visitor.” There is a purring lilt to voice at @darkraise words of recognition, her fascination of the reality around now ISOLATED in this current moment to the being before gaze. “&– -I also sense a… uniqueness to your being that I have yet to detect with others I have seen here. You are quite efficient at gaining the attention of this old entity.”

@mooncrcwned: “Behave.”
@darkraise: you’re excluded from story-time

POUTING

“Must you get in the way of progress like this?”

She hasn’t been sleeping extraordinarily well as of late. Shay doesn’t know if they are her nightmares or the Giratina’s nightmares. Thankfully she has an open window balcony to sit at, blanket over her shoulders and stare at the night sky.

When she hears a voice other than her own, initially she grows tense. The sound wasn’t Itzal, but it definitely wasn’t human either. It felt somewhat ethereal, like a dream. She was certain she was awake. Itzal perks up in the back of her mind.

Well… this wouldn’t be the first mythical entity that graced her presence. She had been doing a lot of research on the Sinnoh area since she was stuck with the anti-Arceus inside her head. Shay glances over at the empty space she knows her Giratina would occupy.

“Good to know it’s not me.” she replies quietly, turning back to the one and only genuine nightmare. “Must whisper pretty loud if you heard it.”

Shay doesn’t sense anything hostile from the Darkrai. A nice change of pace for once. The last big threat she dealt with scarred her for life on many levels.

“Itzal bring you all the way to my humble home?” She asks, letting the shadows animate into a mass with blue eyes behind her head.

HEAVY IS THE STORM THAT BREWS ABOVE, the lightning flashing across the sky with scarce abandon, thunder roaring and droning like a thousand drums. They’d taken shelter in one of the higher boughs of the Scarlet Forest. Fifty feet below, a river surges and ebbs, gushing with fresh rainwater that fell in a deluge. The hollow makes a decent, if not slightly cramped shelter for the three of them; for him, for Opal and for Darkrai. Nata sits hugging his knees, while Opal is squished close to his side, stubbornly pressed against her ‘brother’ out of fear.

The heavy rain and the floodwaters below made her anxious. Frankly, Nata could not blame her. Another crack of thunder sounds, making the boy flinch instinctively under their guardian’s watchful gaze. He was nestled against the crook of Darkrai’s arm, expression pensive.

The rain wouldn’t let up anytime soon. As far as he was aware, their wooded alcove would remain theirs for many minutes more. There’s another rapid flicker, and two lightning strikes, close by and back to back, finally prompt Nata to recoil. One arm instinctively pulls Opal closer, while the rest of him leans into the adult of the group—which in this case, was the shadow.

Creature of nightmare and eldritch horrors aside, the boy found his company oddly soothing. Gone was the wariness he possessed, though he dare not try to dream for fear of accidentally triggering Darkrai’s powers, still. His other arm wraps around Darkrai’s elbow, and squeezes slightly. He’s nervous.

Only moments later, as the following thunder ebbs into the distance, does Nata realize what he was doing, and he awkwardly uncoils his arm and goes to clutch his pendant instead. “Uhm, sorry …”

STARLIT GRAY EYES PEER OUT SLIGHTLY FROM BENEATH the cover of his bangs, lighting up with acknowledgement, before saddening in pity. Sheltered though he was, Nata possesses the empathy and understanding that an entire race of pokemon should not be framed for the actions of an individual. To concede to the stigma that have arisen around his kin couldn’t have been something he outright admitted—surely, he had done everything he could to prove himself innocent, correct?

Nata looks at him, and then looks at the cosmog bouncing around nearby. Then, the ralts looks down at his pendant, and gently takes it in his paws. “ … Hopefully not everything, right?”

Ralts were keenly aware of others’ emotions. He looked upon Darkrai and saw … something almost fatherly when he looked upon that little cosmog. He cannot help but look and recall that same far off look his own father had. Distant … but still loving.

“The things you do give up … is it worth it?”

His presence was felt before he was seen. Yris had been preparing herself in her room at Hotel Z before Darkrai would eventually phase into the room, like a phantom coming out of the mist. Despite knowing he was coming, she was still surprised he sought her out when the two of them kept parting after getting into some kind of disagreement.

Not that she would ever refuse someone coming in to see her; if someone needed to talk, or needed help, she could never quite refuse.

She was resetting her ranger equipment when he arrived, giving the elder Darkrai a nod.

“Good evening. I’m assuming you wanted to ask me something,” she said, more of a statement than a question.

Get a hug from Yris Regis // @darkraise // accepting

It was probably awkward for his fellow Darkrai being around a human like Yris who was blessed by their very antithesis, probably stranger still for him to see Regis constantly stalking her within her own shadow. Overall the young Darkrai was as strange as the young woman he had grown attached to.

Perhaps he had been around mortals for too long, much too influenced by the gentle by nature trainer he was with. He knew Yris and the elder did not get along, but they weren’t outright hostile and Yris only ever meant well. He learned he could simply choose to do things one would not expect of their species, especially when two of them met.

A hug. A little awkward, almost childish. A youngling’s attempt at showing kindness. The old one had lived much longer than him, had gone through so much more. Been put through more pain than he deserved (and learning he was but one of the few reasons the elder had chosen to get capotured made him feel guilty).

“YOU HAVE MY GRATITUDE OLD ONE.”

As a fellow outcast, he brings by books and the like for Mora that he found during his travels. Sometimes tomes of ancient lost history, sometimes scientific books on nature, sometimes old magazines and newspapers or maps.

THE MASSIVE HOUSE STOOD ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN, BUILT SPECIFICALLY TO IT. Now it was not the only being of massive proportions, but it still dwarfed most others– - even with its particular care towards its species abilities to GROW MASSIVE IF CONSUMED UNCHECK. Specific effort had even been made to reduce to the best of it ability, though still did it tower. Honestly it did not mind, for it had resulted in a place fit for what it collected and those whom needed housing. The growingly familiar presence of @darkraise noticed, and furthermore was the former proven beneficial once more if what he had in hands was any proof needed. “&– -You are lucky I do not physically feed on knowledge alone, because all you bring me would put me at great risk otherwise.” Laugh spills out from the great beast, the feast of the mind something it GREATLY LOVED even if it joked.

IN SPITE OF THE DESTRUCTIVE ENTITY LEGENDS THAT SURROUNDED SELF, EVER GENTLE WAS MOVEMENT. Restrained hand-maws grasped a few of the books placed down, numerous eyes gazing upon the information of titles or age of their appearance– - gaze held ‘pon them as if hungry maws salivating themselves at the prospect of what was held between pages. FOR LATER, THOUGH. “&– - I hope you shall remain for a little, however. I am greedy in my hoarding, perhaps, but I am not selfish. The gifts you bring to me are of no small factor to my days… let me attempt to return in like.” Moment stack as it turns and exits to an adjacent room, before returning with a crate in one mouth and a basket in another. PLACED WITHIN FREE ACCESS BEFORE THE OTHER BEING OF THE DARK. One piled high with fruits and other bounties of nature, the other full of trinkets and objects. “&– - The food is freshly picked, and anything or everything within this crate is freely yours. Some may prove of use either in your travels or perhaps ways unexpected. Some have been given to me by others, some I have found myself…. though if there is else which pry’s at your mind, speak freely. I may have it yet within my collection, or within my mind.”

//yeets a shitpost out real fast before i run back to my other drawings

Rush Through the Dome!

They moved together like the wind.

After getting permission to break ranks and go off on her own, Yris grabbed a few extra neccessities before allowing herself to ride into battle on Suicune’s back.

Yris scooped up Umbreon into her arms so that they could all go together. While she herself only had a rudimentary understanding of the words of Pokemon, they would most likely have no trouble speaking to each other. Umbreon would be able to guide Suicune to where they needed to go.

The moment they crossed the border, Yris felt it.

The nauseating feeling of something corrupt scratching at the edges of her senses, trying to get in, screaming and rattling at her mental defenses. The air felt thick, almost like trying to adapt to a different atmosphere, but she eventually adjusted the further they went in.

But she knew it was only a matter of time.

Her hair, glittering and golden streaked behind her in its usual ponytail, some of her bangs getting into her eyes and whisps of hair catching at her lips. In her view, she could see it happening in real time – the first streak of red appearing.

“Is that where we need to go?” she whispered, see the building rising up in the distance. Crystals everywhere that reminded her of the Mega Crystals back home drew her gaze, though she felt a sinister energy to them. Much like the ones during the night of the Blood Moon that had accumulated too much malice. They rushed forward, avoiding enemies that would slow their path, but she kept it in her mind.

The closer she got, the louder the distant mental screams became. No one voice called aout to her, but was a constant cacophony of anguish, trying to tear into her psyche. Another red streak appeared in front of her eyes. “Let’s hurry!”

She had no idea how long she would last, nor how the Pokemon would fare. Suicune seemed to be holding it together, but clearly keeping up Mirror Coat was difficult. Yris took the chance to summon the Lunar Shield, cursing lightly when she saw another streak of red – it looked like using her blessings burnt out more of her divinity. This was Ange all over again! The barrier would keep them safer for a little longer, at least from the shades trying to come at him. They were able to plow through a few shadowy shapes with the extra barrier, but it disappeared all too quickly like stardust in the wind.

“Was that…?” As they closed the distance between themselves and their destination, the ranger could have sworn she saw someone’s silhouette – not that of a shade or someone possessed by their own dark thoughts and lost to the shadows, but an actual person! And it looked like –

“Amethio…!” Of course, she had no time to call out, simply her and her group barreling forward. What had brought him here to this place? Was he crazy, coming here by himself? Had his memory bene fixed? Was he going to be all right? Yris couldn’t help the intense worry that filled her heart and made it heavy.

She sincerely hoped her dear friend would be all right.

At last though, their little group reached the outside of Exceed HQ, though the place had clearly seen better days. The malice and hatred exuding from the place was awful. Like a foul stench rising up from a sewer, Yris wanted to throw up from how nauseated she felt. But she would have to push forward before whatever blessings she had that kept her safe went away and left her too weak to save anyone.

The ranger thanked Suicune for its kindness, knowing it used a lot to bring her here. This was a human problem created by humans and she felt bad needing to rely upon the beast. As she had before, she passed a bit of her warmth, her heart filled with so much gratitude that she didn’t feel much of a change in her self. No fading gold at the act of using a kiss to give Suicune more energy to return.

“Thank you, I’ll take it from here.”

After seeing off the North Wind, the ranger from the north turned back to face the daunting Exceed building.

Yris inhaled, then exhaled deeply.

“Right!”

No point in hesitating now; Yris simply braced herself.

“Your master is inside, right Umbreon? I can’t promise to bring him back in one piece, but I promise to do my best. Now…watch out!”

And with a mighty grunt, she smashed her way through shadows, conrete, metal and glass, creating an opening for them to jump in. It wouldn’t be long before this strange shadowy corruption tried to close itself off again. At her waist, one of her Pokeballs was shaking in excitement; was that Regis? He seemed eager to come out and help. With Umbreon, Yris stepped deeper into the land of nightmares.

“Let’s go!”

//@darkraise @velvet-voiced @lxst-explorer

HE DOESN’T PROTEST AS HE’S LIFTED UP,though it was weird at first—being scooped up by claws that were just as capable of tearing flesh as they were cradling something fragile. He cannot help but recall the Guardian Aggron’s gentle nature in her final moments, for what once had slain and struck without mercy found within itself a tender heart.

The ledge was difficult to climb without the aid of a suitable pokemon, and sadly Nata had no dodtrio with him to make the situation easy to handle. They were heading away from Wyveria’s capitol, away from the slumbering forms of guardians that could have been disturbed by the shadow’s aura. Perhaps that was why he had chosen to show himself? The threats were far lesser here.

In the time that has passed, Nata had regaled Darkrai of the Dragontorch, the bizarre energy source that carried wylk throughout every corner of the land. “My uncle says Wyveria harnessed it to control the weather here,” he explains, pushing through the snow. Above them, fragments of floating earth linger. They are the remnants of one such achievement, defying the laws of gravity that otherwise held Nata’s feet to the ground.

“See up there? Those structures … they’re part of what’s left. Some of the pokemon have even adapted to navigating them easier.”

@darkraise asked: 💜 friendship ⚡ sparring partners 👨‍🏫 one muse is a teacher/mentor for the other muse 💧 friends due to traumatic experiences (uhhhh) 🟥 one muse makes a deal or contract with the other ( magic or non-magic. as a trainer )

Absolutely? I mean, Amethio, despite the natural unnerved feeling he gets from Darkrai, does hold a great deal of respect for him…In part because he offered to help find Zygarde’s Cores and gave him advice that (while he failed step one) will absolutely lead to him growing in the future. And if he became someone Darkrai could open up to, he’d keep that shit in total confidence.

Plus, the opportunity of becoming stronger by getting to spar with Darkrai? He’d be honored, even if Ceruledge would be at a severe disadvantage. As for a contract, that Amethio might want to talk to Darkrai about, get his feelings on the matter as friends before doing anything on that front.

Natural Headcanons

Juniper Answered Here!

The list of lies Haru has told to protect herself, and to protect others, is a long one actually. As it typically does, it started with her father with lies that everything he was doing was for the betterment of Okumura Foods. Maybe there was some truth to that. He did bring it back from bankruptcy. But at the same time he lined his pockets the entire way and kicked others down to see his way up. Yet for years Haru couldn’t admit to that not to others nor to anyone else who may ask. She had to believe her father was doing the best for the company because he was doing what was best for her too… At least that was the other lie she told herself. It was easier to believe that then to accept that he was preparing her to be the perfect bride for when he found the perfect husband for his goals. She still hasn’t looked that truth in the eye yet. She has begun to deconstruct some of those lies, to admit that perhaps her father did not have anyone but his own best interest at heart. But he still finds herself lying to protect him, to protect herself, at times with rose tinted memories that he was a “good man”, a good father, at one point.

She still lies to protect herself and to protect those she loves. She is working to deconstruct her rose tinted view of others, to quit lying with idolization of others. But she is still willing to say a friend is with her if someone asks even if they aren’t or willing to say a friend wasn’t where they were if it will protect them. Her willingness to lie to protect herself and protect others goes incredibly far. She has no problem looking someone in the eye, especially authority figures, and lying to their face as naturally as one might breath. She is trying not to fall into the same trap she did with her father. Where her lies become so ingrained within herself that they become truths. But in the worst situation she can and has gone so far as to lie to herself to the point that she begins to believe her own lies as truth.

This one has multiple answers. In main verse Haru feels safest at Leblanc. It reminds her of the cafe her grandfather ran when she was a child, it was the last place she was able to sleep soundly without fear, it’s where she feels she can truly just live without eyes on her at all times. Leblanc feels more like home for Haru then her actual home. She truly loves Leblanc Café with all of her heart and would do anything for the place she feels safest. At Leblanc Haru can speak freely saying things that might be considered stupid or ‘silly’ and not fear humiliation. She finds herself surrounded by the smell of coffee there which takes her back to memories of better times. She can enjoy home cooked curry made with love rather then simply as a duty. She can feel useful helping Akira or Sojiro when the cafe gets busy or she can enjoy a moment of quiet when things are slow. Her friends gather there in the attic or at the cafe itself and she can almost feel the love surrounding all of them. Leblanc really feels like a certain paradise that Haru hasn’t been in, in many years.

Now to go beyond main verse to speak in any universe, any time, Haru feels safest when surrounded by nature. Be that in her greenhouse, in another’s garden or just strolling through a park. Though realistic she knows she must keep up her best appearance when in public alone and she is never as safe as she may feel. Being in nature puts Haru far more at ease then anywhere else. Her walk lightens, her expression softens, her thoughts often wander further. When she is allowed to work in nature is when she finds herself most comforted. It gives her purpose beyond simple value. To plant something feels like planting hope, like trusting that with her hard work and through some kindness in the world more can grow in the world to sustain itself and others. When her hands are buried in the dirt she feels a certain oneness to the earth that she simply can’t get anywhere else. It’s an acceptance of herself as she is without the need for any performance of perfection. For Haru to exist in nature means to exist simply as she is and there is no greater comfort nor greater peace then that.