The Void Smiles Back [ZnT/Starry Eyes (Worm/Lovecraft)]
- Thread starter helnae
- Start date
- Crossover
hghwolf
Bird of contempt
I wouldn`t say 'confirmation' but it`s notable, yes.
Assuming that Taylor's skin grows back without the runes. It was magically applied, so cutting the brand off might not mean much of anything.
Yeah, that's why I put a question mark there. We'll see in the next few chapters.
A good point. Maybe it breaks it, maybe it doesn't, maybe it weakens it. Maybe that skin flap is now mindfucked.
yttam50
Eu Sunt Dracul
- Location
- Scotland
You may or may not like Stigma of the Void then.
- Location
- Earth Prime
Ooh, interesting. I'll give that a look! Thanks!
Thozmp
Gets my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine.
How quickly does she heal? Mending the skin of a cut is pretty damn fast, but Taylor has a gapping hole in her chest currently, how long does that take to close up?
- Location
- Internet, The
That new version is a complete 180° from the old one. I guess this direction is more in line with how Taylor is typically portrayed? Still surprising that you immediately go to another extreme, and immediately threatening the school master for informing her about the technical legal situation / word choice is a bit out there even for her… Also not a fan of the local and (as I recall somewhat powerful and competent) authority figures being so easily threatened, though that might just be appearances. After all, Osmand did insist on the apology. (Also, unreliable Louise narratr, as @DestinyPlayer mentions.)
More in character than the old version, at least.
-------
I liked her casually cutting out the runes. Wonder how (and whether) the hole heals if she does not reattach the skin.
More in character than the old version, at least.
-------
I liked her casually cutting out the runes. Wonder how (and whether) the hole heals if she does not reattach the skin.
Last edited:
- Location
- Russia
It could be a case of unreliable narrator, as Louise is both still scared shitless and, more importantly, suffering from a horrible lack of sleep.
- Location
- Deep in the Badlands of Equestria
Well, up to this point she has been able to regenerate strips of her skin, at the cost of the new sections coming in as a sort of greyish-white shade that was visibly off tone from the surrounding area. Whether or not the runes will come back with the new skin is yet to be seen, though considering they cut channels straight through her structure on the space-borne part of her body, I suspect that the likelihood is pretty high right now. Whether or not her structure there will regenerate from the effect is yet to be seen.
13th Bee
Worker
- Location
- Tennessee, USA.
This version was much improved, @helnae.
I did notice two errors.
Firstly, a grammatical error where the narration slips into the first person during the bit them explaining her legal status. It's not italicized or anything to indicate thought either.
Secondly and rather pedantically, folding pocket knives aren't exactly new. There are examples from as far back as ancient Rome. They also have examples with locking blades dating back to the fifteenth century, predating the period that ZnT is analogous to. A folding knife would be fairly expensive but they weren't out of reach of tradesmen, so as high nobility, it wouldn't be surprising if Louise had one herself for doing things like trimming quills (the origin of the term pen knife). Louise wouldn't be that impressed by Taylor having one, though Taylor having a dozen of them would be quite strange in the same way that a guy with three Rolexes on each wrist would be.
I did notice two errors.
Firstly, a grammatical error where the narration slips into the first person during the bit them explaining her legal status. It's not italicized or anything to indicate thought either.
Secondly and rather pedantically, folding pocket knives aren't exactly new. There are examples from as far back as ancient Rome. They also have examples with locking blades dating back to the fifteenth century, predating the period that ZnT is analogous to. A folding knife would be fairly expensive but they weren't out of reach of tradesmen, so as high nobility, it wouldn't be surprising if Louise had one herself for doing things like trimming quills (the origin of the term pen knife). Louise wouldn't be that impressed by Taylor having one, though Taylor having a dozen of them would be quite strange in the same way that a guy with three Rolexes on each wrist would be.
OverReactionGuy
Verified Sanity
Oh, this school situation is really bringing back memories to Taylor. The headmaster is now Blackwell in her eyes. The authority figure that doesn't do shit for her.
And Colbert is Gladly.
And Colbert is Gladly.
You know they really are written like that, aren't they.
That's actually really far from their usual characterizations of absent minded scientistXburnt out black ops and generic anime lech.
- Pronouns
- Yes
Incomparably better. I liked the last line, also Taylor's reaction to being treated as subject to Louise's will was great.
I wonder if Taylor and Louise could get away with an "I'm sorry you're so pathetic" apology.
It's too bad Louise outranks the other students so much, if she didn't having Taylor deliver the apology while Louise made it clear she was ignoring the entire thing might have been another insult.
That, or something like "I'm sorry I didn't realize you were too weak willed and stupid to defend yourself and were only lashing out because of jealousy. I promise I will try and remember your limitations and hope you manage to overcome your limitations enough to learn not to attack me or Louise before I run out of patience."
Keep in mind that Louise was raised to think her behavior in canon is not only okay, it was expected of her. While that doesn't completely excuse it, it does mean that there is the potential for her to learn to behave like what Taylor would expect a human being to act.
zhuull
SB still lying to protect Racists what else is new
This was a vast improvement over the previous attempt at this scene. It did a much better job of maintaining Taylor's somewhat resigned but still angry with these people tone. It should also kill any further attempts by the faculty at least of act like Taylor is a "commoner".
Of course now I'm waiting for Guiche or Malicorne to accuse her of actually being a Beholder in a person suit!
And on a side note, hopefully this digression into anime will prompt @nanayoung to pick back up their Starfield in RWBY omake and make it into a true spinoff.
helnae
Mlem~
- Pronouns
- She/Her
That would be really nice if she did decide to continue it, but, well, the last time I asked her about it (which might've been... maybe a year ago, now that I think about it?) she was too busy to seriously consider it, so let's not bother her too much about it, okay?And on a side note, hopefully this digression into anime will prompt @nanayoung to pick back up their Starfield in RWBY omake and make it into a true spinoff.
TortugaGreen
Constantly out of the loop
- Pronouns
- She/Her
You know, something I've noticed is that Louise seems to be thinking of Taylor more as a peer than as a commoner. For one thing, when they got to Louise's room, she apologized for the low quality if the cot that had been procured for Taylor, rather than just expecting her to deal. This is the most prominent case, but overall Louise has been quite respectful to Taylor, much more than would be expected of interacting with one of much lesser status. Now it might just be that the bad stuff has yet to happen or Louise is off-balance enough due to Spooky Eldrich Bullshit that she is defaulting to polite, but I would have expected less cordial of conversation if Loise thought Taylor was a commoner.
Note, however, that I have not read the relevant source material so I'm operating off of a limited data set for any evaluation of characters.
Note, however, that I have not read the relevant source material so I'm operating off of a limited data set for any evaluation of characters.
Last edited:
- Location
- Earth Prime
If this is a repeat on this thread, my apologies, but I think I only did this on the SB one.
My take on it for Taylor would be something like: "I'm sorry for threatening you, and would be sorrier if I had done lasting physical harm. I hope nobody gives me cause to be sorrier in the future."
In the anime, Louise shows a straw pile and essentially a dog food bowl on the floor to Saito, and covers her embarrassment by just demanding he sleep there as it is his place as her familiar.
She is utterly reprehensible in her treatment of him, and if it wasn't hiding behind "she's a tsundere; isn't that hillarious?" it would be even more blatantly horrific.
- Pronouns
- Yes
The fact that she felt any emberassment over that puts her ahead of a significant portion of RL medieval/Early modern nobles.
Her behavior in canon was, by the standards of a feudal culture like the one she comes from overly generous and kind to Saito. While that doesn't excuse her behavior, it does explain it and shed a very different light over her actions.
TortugaGreen
Constantly out of the loop
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Well that definitely settles that Louise has a much higher evaluation of Taylor than she would have of Saito, so that's definitely something.
I figure this is because on Taylor's end she's been pretty upset at her situation, but she's done nothing like what Saito reportedly did initially, avoiding the initial hostility that would have happened there. In addition to better-handled interactions, I suspect Louise is having a much easier time identifying with Taylor than otherwise, as she's acted in a way that Louise could understand well initially, as well as having shared past experiences with things like bullying. To a degree I suspect sheer physical appearance may have been a factor, as since this is in magical offbrand Europe, someone of probably largely European descent (though we never get any specifics about what those are) is going to be far more familiar than a Japanese person, especially when it's medieval times and the closest contact anyone has to Asia is rumors out of the mysterious east.
- Location
- Stockton-On-Tees
As I recall, Saito's more lecherous behaviours didn't occur initially.
Early on in ZnT (though it's been almost 5 years since I read it, so I could be wrong) Louise was an abusive bitch.
The only 'justification' for it, ie Saito's behaviour, didn't come until after she was using a barbed whip and the like on him.
Early on in ZnT (though it's been almost 5 years since I read it, so I could be wrong) Louise was an abusive bitch.
The only 'justification' for it, ie Saito's behaviour, didn't come until after she was using a barbed whip and the like on him.
- Location
- Maine
- Pronouns
- They/Them/Theirs
So uh. This was bouncing around my head.
"Do you know what's in between this land and the moons? Do you know what lies in between thought and deed, truth and lie, now and then? In each of these things, no matter how large or small the gulf may seem is a void. Until this moment, you had thought nothing could live there. Let me tell you this. I am not of the void. I am the Void. And my inhabitants aren't happy with you either.
"Others will threaten to blot out the sky; to rain fire down upon you. I do not need to make such threats. All I will do is show you each and every star in the sky, and you will think no more. Do you understand?"
"Do you know what's in between this land and the moons? Do you know what lies in between thought and deed, truth and lie, now and then? In each of these things, no matter how large or small the gulf may seem is a void. Until this moment, you had thought nothing could live there. Let me tell you this. I am not of the void. I am the Void. And my inhabitants aren't happy with you either.
"Others will threaten to blot out the sky; to rain fire down upon you. I do not need to make such threats. All I will do is show you each and every star in the sky, and you will think no more. Do you understand?"
Last edited:
hghwolf
Bird of contempt
End stage pretentious blue and green morality Taylor ?
It`s neat monologue, but at the point where you`re able to make it and not lie there`s no need to threaten. You just do. If Louise, or Wardes, or Henrietta, or Mott or whoever is an issue, just eat them. Or erase them. Transform them into somebody else. You`re at the point where you`re no longer bound by the 'laws of reality'.
Yog-Sothoth is gate and key
binding time to matter.
Where his gaze falls on the earth
rules of physics shatter
Try to chain him with your laws
Pitiful Equasions !
Nought but dust and sand shall mark
Your obliteration.
That`s not mine, but it presents the issue nicely no ?
Last edited:
- Location
- Maine
- Pronouns
- They/Them/Theirs
Eh, it was just something that kept playing while I was on the toilet, pretty much. Not saying it's not *gesture*. Just that was in my mind because of all this.
Also possible Splatterhouse and Batman. It's been a day.
Also possible Splatterhouse and Batman. It's been a day.
Backstab
helnae
Mlem~
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Backstab
Louise let out a weary sigh as the door closed behind us, then buried her face in her hands. "Oh Brimir why did I say all that?" she groaned.
I paused, then clipped my knife onto my belt before reaching over to awkwardly pat her on the shoulder. "I think went acceptably, all told."
She parted her fingers to glare at me, and in her eyes I saw the pain of wounded pride. "You would think that, wouldn't you," she replied after a pause. With a huff, she let her hands fall, then glanced at Aria. "Are you going to put that, uh, I mean, your friend away? Please?"
I, too, looked down at the contraption I'd crafted with Aria's help. I had no idea what whim had prompted me to make it, but, well, it had been made. I'd based it off of what little I knew about chainsaws, and honestly, while it was pretty decent for a first attempt, it was a pretty poor approximation of what I'd intended. I mean, it looked the part, from the outside, provided you ignored the fleshiness, but the "motor" was just a couple of finger-like appendages "walking" the belt along its greased track, and the speed at which they did so was rather lackluster. Maybe if I took the time to experiment with variations on the design? Maybe I should make more separate parts? Or maybe I should just give up and go for a sword-like design with vibrating, reciprocating-
Louise cleared her throat, startling me out of my thoughts, then gave the chainsaw attempt a significant look. I frowned. "Is that an order?"
Louise simply scowled back. "Of course not. It was a polite request."
The corner of my lips quirked up a little without my input, and I reversed the changes I'd made, allowing the belt of teeth to return to the rest of the mass. "Thank you, Aria. You can take it back, now." A part of me still giggled silently as Louise shuddered and looked away.
"Aww, but I didn't get to eat anything this time!" Aria complained good-naturedly as her flesh gradually slurped its way back through the cut in my palm, and once again, I chose not to heal it closed.
Chuckling, I relied, "Maybe next time." Focusing once more on Louise, I frowned. "Let's get you to bed, okay? You're no good to me if you're falling over from exhaustion."
She huffed with exaggerated irritation, then sighed. "Yeah, bed sounds really good right now." With that, she started descending the stairs, and I hurried after her, just in case she stumbled and I had to catch her.
The two of us received a good few looks from other students who saw us as I escorted Louise to her bedroom. Many of the looks directed at me were angry, wary, or even outright frightened. Thankfully, nobody tried to stop us.
Once I had put her to bed, I was left with a good deal of time on my hands. After a few moment's consideration, I decided to return to that clearing I'd found the previous day to relax, try some stuff out with Aria, and generally have some fun with my friends.
Of course, when I tried to put that plan into action, I hit a snag.
I was partway across the courtyard, heading for the gate, when someone shouted something behind me. I did my best to ignore him and continue on my way. "Stand and fight, you brute!" he shouted as I continued to walk. "Or are you a coward as well?"
I didn't particularly care what this idiot boy thought of me, so I didn't stop. Eventually, though, I heard the sound of someone running on grass behind me, and a hand grasped my shoulder for the second time that day. I rounded on him in an irritated huff. "What!?" I demanded of him.
The blond, foppish-looking boy stepped back in surprise, before glaring at me with righteous anger. "You hurt my precious Monmon!" he shouted. "I demand satisfaction!"
"What?" I asked, before a thought occurred to me. "Like, in a duel or something?" He nodded, stepping back to brandish… was that an actual rose? I shook my head in confusion and disgust. "I don't feel like play-fighting with you right now. Run along, now." I made a shooing motion with my hand and turned to leave.
The blond grit his teeth and shouted, "So you are a coward! I should have expected Vallière's familiar to be just as useless as she is!"
Irritated but unmoved, I continued to walk calmly away, noting as I did that a good number of students had noticed his antics and were coming over to watch.
"Fine! If you won't stand and fight, I'll make you!" Curious, I looked over my shoulder to see him swipe his rose through the air as he said a few words. One of the rose's petals came loose and fluttered to the ground where, in a flash of light, a feminine, valkyrie-themed suit of armor bearing a spear arose.
My curiosity piqued, I turned fully around, but continued to walk backwards. "Neat trick," I said. "Now, what do you plan to do with it?"
"Be silent, commoner! I am Guiche de Gramont, my runic name is the Bronze, and I shall avenge my beloved! Valkyrie, attack!" The suit of armor started to move, rising a couple inches into the air where it hovered for a moment, then dashed towards me, its spear pointed at me.
I raised an eyebrow at the painfully telegraphed attack that even I, with my rather limited combat experience, could probably avoid. Given that the armor was leading with the sharp end of the spear, assuming this Guiche wasn't just incompetent, he was probably just trying to scare me as I scrambled out of the way. Of course, a sharp piece of metal didn't scare me, so I simply turned around again so the spear would hit me in the back where my halter-top shirt didn't cover it, so that my garment wouldn't get damaged.
I heard Guiche gasp, and I stumbled slightly as the spear sank deep into my back. "Aria, grab it and drag it through!" I ordered, and she chirped happily in response. The armor tried to pull the spear out of me, but it wouldn't budge, so it placed its other hand on my back and tried again. I glanced behind me as I watched it grasp the spear with both hands and plant a foot on my back as it tried once again, but once more it failed.
I stopped in my tracks and turned so the armor wouldn't block my view of Guiche, who was standing there frozen, his mouth hanging open and fear starting to appear in his eyes. Looking around, I saw that those other students who were close enough to have seen what had happened were also freaking out a little.
Finally, the armor lost the little tug-of-war and the spear was dragged from its grip and through my back and leaving the armor hanging there in midair as if unsure how to proceed. Guiche started to back away, only to stumble and fall on his rear. "You disappoint me," I said, then continued on my way towards the gate.
Louise let out a weary sigh as the door closed behind us, then buried her face in her hands. "Oh Brimir why did I say all that?" she groaned.
I paused, then clipped my knife onto my belt before reaching over to awkwardly pat her on the shoulder. "I think went acceptably, all told."
She parted her fingers to glare at me, and in her eyes I saw the pain of wounded pride. "You would think that, wouldn't you," she replied after a pause. With a huff, she let her hands fall, then glanced at Aria. "Are you going to put that, uh, I mean, your friend away? Please?"
I, too, looked down at the contraption I'd crafted with Aria's help. I had no idea what whim had prompted me to make it, but, well, it had been made. I'd based it off of what little I knew about chainsaws, and honestly, while it was pretty decent for a first attempt, it was a pretty poor approximation of what I'd intended. I mean, it looked the part, from the outside, provided you ignored the fleshiness, but the "motor" was just a couple of finger-like appendages "walking" the belt along its greased track, and the speed at which they did so was rather lackluster. Maybe if I took the time to experiment with variations on the design? Maybe I should make more separate parts? Or maybe I should just give up and go for a sword-like design with vibrating, reciprocating-
Louise cleared her throat, startling me out of my thoughts, then gave the chainsaw attempt a significant look. I frowned. "Is that an order?"
Louise simply scowled back. "Of course not. It was a polite request."
The corner of my lips quirked up a little without my input, and I reversed the changes I'd made, allowing the belt of teeth to return to the rest of the mass. "Thank you, Aria. You can take it back, now." A part of me still giggled silently as Louise shuddered and looked away.
"Aww, but I didn't get to eat anything this time!" Aria complained good-naturedly as her flesh gradually slurped its way back through the cut in my palm, and once again, I chose not to heal it closed.
Chuckling, I relied, "Maybe next time." Focusing once more on Louise, I frowned. "Let's get you to bed, okay? You're no good to me if you're falling over from exhaustion."
She huffed with exaggerated irritation, then sighed. "Yeah, bed sounds really good right now." With that, she started descending the stairs, and I hurried after her, just in case she stumbled and I had to catch her.
.o.o.o.
The two of us received a good few looks from other students who saw us as I escorted Louise to her bedroom. Many of the looks directed at me were angry, wary, or even outright frightened. Thankfully, nobody tried to stop us.
Once I had put her to bed, I was left with a good deal of time on my hands. After a few moment's consideration, I decided to return to that clearing I'd found the previous day to relax, try some stuff out with Aria, and generally have some fun with my friends.
Of course, when I tried to put that plan into action, I hit a snag.
I was partway across the courtyard, heading for the gate, when someone shouted something behind me. I did my best to ignore him and continue on my way. "Stand and fight, you brute!" he shouted as I continued to walk. "Or are you a coward as well?"
I didn't particularly care what this idiot boy thought of me, so I didn't stop. Eventually, though, I heard the sound of someone running on grass behind me, and a hand grasped my shoulder for the second time that day. I rounded on him in an irritated huff. "What!?" I demanded of him.
The blond, foppish-looking boy stepped back in surprise, before glaring at me with righteous anger. "You hurt my precious Monmon!" he shouted. "I demand satisfaction!"
"What?" I asked, before a thought occurred to me. "Like, in a duel or something?" He nodded, stepping back to brandish… was that an actual rose? I shook my head in confusion and disgust. "I don't feel like play-fighting with you right now. Run along, now." I made a shooing motion with my hand and turned to leave.
The blond grit his teeth and shouted, "So you are a coward! I should have expected Vallière's familiar to be just as useless as she is!"
Irritated but unmoved, I continued to walk calmly away, noting as I did that a good number of students had noticed his antics and were coming over to watch.
"Fine! If you won't stand and fight, I'll make you!" Curious, I looked over my shoulder to see him swipe his rose through the air as he said a few words. One of the rose's petals came loose and fluttered to the ground where, in a flash of light, a feminine, valkyrie-themed suit of armor bearing a spear arose.
My curiosity piqued, I turned fully around, but continued to walk backwards. "Neat trick," I said. "Now, what do you plan to do with it?"
"Be silent, commoner! I am Guiche de Gramont, my runic name is the Bronze, and I shall avenge my beloved! Valkyrie, attack!" The suit of armor started to move, rising a couple inches into the air where it hovered for a moment, then dashed towards me, its spear pointed at me.
I raised an eyebrow at the painfully telegraphed attack that even I, with my rather limited combat experience, could probably avoid. Given that the armor was leading with the sharp end of the spear, assuming this Guiche wasn't just incompetent, he was probably just trying to scare me as I scrambled out of the way. Of course, a sharp piece of metal didn't scare me, so I simply turned around again so the spear would hit me in the back where my halter-top shirt didn't cover it, so that my garment wouldn't get damaged.
I heard Guiche gasp, and I stumbled slightly as the spear sank deep into my back. "Aria, grab it and drag it through!" I ordered, and she chirped happily in response. The armor tried to pull the spear out of me, but it wouldn't budge, so it placed its other hand on my back and tried again. I glanced behind me as I watched it grasp the spear with both hands and plant a foot on my back as it tried once again, but once more it failed.
I stopped in my tracks and turned so the armor wouldn't block my view of Guiche, who was standing there frozen, his mouth hanging open and fear starting to appear in his eyes. Looking around, I saw that those other students who were close enough to have seen what had happened were also freaking out a little.
Finally, the armor lost the little tug-of-war and the spear was dragged from its grip and through my back and leaving the armor hanging there in midair as if unsure how to proceed. Guiche started to back away, only to stumble and fall on his rear. "You disappoint me," I said, then continued on my way towards the gate.
So, uh, I guess I ended up having a Guiche fight of a sort, after all? I mean, I guess technically I didn't lie about it, since it wasn't the Guiche fight that nearly every ZnT fic has, just a fight that happened to be started by Guiche. Since I don't believe Taylor would feel a need to prove herself, it wasn't really much of a fight, of course. Also, Guiche's motivation for this fight differed quite significantly from the anger at personal humiliation in canon.
Last edited: