Elizabeth Pilfrey Member
- Last Seen: 9 yrs ago
- Old Guild Username: Elizabeth Pilfrey
- Joined: 10 yrs ago
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- Elizabeth Pilfrey 10 yrs ago
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Bio
Liz, early twenties, big city. I work in editorial, so I guess that means I know how to write. Hah! I literally bleed the Chicago Manual of Style. It haunts me. That said, not a grammar purist, like, this is the internet, whatever, follow your heart. I am p friendly and like to talk. I'm also an optimist and an adult and have zero patience for childish shenanigans and gratuitous angst.
Fandoms: love Marvel, Mass Effect, and Image. Did I mention Mass Effect? Commander Shepard: life goals, or wife goals? (I haven't played the third game yet).
I also like pirates, and space, and space pirates. I also like magic, especially urban and post-apocalyptic magic, subtle magic like GRRM does in GoT, or Tamora Pierce in Circle of Magic. Dystopias . . . I can do dystopias. If there are monsters. Basically, hit me with the super-intense action, lots of snark, and characters who can't keep themselves together but still manage to be upbeat, and survive, and keep going. By leaning on each other. By learning from each other.
Oh look, I've got sappy. Hit me up and let's do some fighting!
Fandoms: love Marvel, Mass Effect, and Image. Did I mention Mass Effect? Commander Shepard: life goals, or wife goals? (I haven't played the third game yet).
I also like pirates, and space, and space pirates. I also like magic, especially urban and post-apocalyptic magic, subtle magic like GRRM does in GoT, or Tamora Pierce in Circle of Magic. Dystopias . . . I can do dystopias. If there are monsters. Basically, hit me with the super-intense action, lots of snark, and characters who can't keep themselves together but still manage to be upbeat, and survive, and keep going. By leaning on each other. By learning from each other.
Oh look, I've got sappy. Hit me up and let's do some fighting!
Most Recent Posts
(This is an accidental double-post so I'll fill it with a picture of Artur's inspiration instead)
"Are you hurt? I know some healing magic if you want me to try and mend your wounds. I am in your debt, after all."
Of course he'd forgotten something something crucial like, oh, sealing the elf's magic. Little details like that tended to get lost between the being woken up by the summoning of a demonic horde and the fucking No-God's own spawn appearing in the form of possessed elf. Artur scowled, furious at himself and completely done with the situation. He should just give up on the Guardians. He felt like just getting up and leaving or falling over on the ground and crying, or taking up life as a hermit. Instead, he continued to glower at the elf in the best approximation of an intimidating way as he could muster, with was difficult with his baby face and huge, teal eyes that anybody would sacrifice a child to have. He resented his looks almost as much as he resented his own utter inability to just do things right for once.
"Thank you," the elf said, breaking into Artur's angry inner monologue, "Thank you for sparing me. If you want, I will tell you more about me. It's the least I can do. There's a lot to explain, so it'll be a while, if you are even interested that is." Artur met his eyes and was surprised to see honesty there, if not a full helping of sanity. He looked away. His ribs did pain him, but he wasn't the one in dire need.
"Do you need your hands to do magic?" he asked, "My horse broke a leg chasing your through this damn forest." He ignored the elf's offer of a heart-to-heart. Of all the Holy Arts Artur had proven himself utterly incompetent in, Counseling was his greatest failure. He hated listening to people, especially when he himself was in an impossible mood.
Of course he'd forgotten something something crucial like, oh, sealing the elf's magic. Little details like that tended to get lost between the being woken up by the summoning of a demonic horde and the fucking No-God's own spawn appearing in the form of possessed elf. Artur scowled, furious at himself and completely done with the situation. He should just give up on the Guardians. He felt like just getting up and leaving or falling over on the ground and crying, or taking up life as a hermit. Instead, he continued to glower at the elf in the best approximation of an intimidating way as he could muster, with was difficult with his baby face and huge, teal eyes that anybody would sacrifice a child to have. He resented his looks almost as much as he resented his own utter inability to just do things right for once.
"Thank you," the elf said, breaking into Artur's angry inner monologue, "Thank you for sparing me. If you want, I will tell you more about me. It's the least I can do. There's a lot to explain, so it'll be a while, if you are even interested that is." Artur met his eyes and was surprised to see honesty there, if not a full helping of sanity. He looked away. His ribs did pain him, but he wasn't the one in dire need.
"Do you need your hands to do magic?" he asked, "My horse broke a leg chasing your through this damn forest." He ignored the elf's offer of a heart-to-heart. Of all the Holy Arts Artur had proven himself utterly incompetent in, Counseling was his greatest failure. He hated listening to people, especially when he himself was in an impossible mood.
Dude don't even worry about taking all the time you need to. And I'm so happy you're thrilled, too! Fxf is so refreshing I'm so glad this is happening. While I don't identify as anything really, at all (just call myself straight for the sake of ease), I have so many problems with the typical mxf power dynamic and gender roles and MEN and UGH SO ANGRY and so many problems and RRRR.
ANYWAY, if it moves a little slow on the romance is that OK? Just so that I can warn you ahead of time if I feel like I'm getting uncomfortable.
And congrats to your sister! Is it her first year? I hope she has an AMAZING time.
ANYWAY, if it moves a little slow on the romance is that OK? Just so that I can warn you ahead of time if I feel like I'm getting uncomfortable.
And congrats to your sister! Is it her first year? I hope she has an AMAZING time.
Artur didn't move for what felt like hours, breathing slowly and carefully thinking about absolutely nothing. A clear mind was the first defense against demonic possession. After a time, he began to realize that the screaming and the buzzing had ceased, and his mind drifted to the fact that he was still down on one knee, head bowed, hands clasped on the hilt of his unsheathed sword, the point of which was buried deep in the earth in front of him. He tried to pull it out, but his frozen muscles refused to move. Taking a slow, deep breath, Artur tried again, unclasping first the little finger of his right hand, the the little finger of his left. Thus, he was slowly able to take his hands off the sword. This was probably unwise -- the moment his fingers hands were free the rest of his muscles let go, like a heavy door that has swung free after scraping heavily over the first few inches of its path.
Thus Artur found himself on his side, head swimming. He could see the elf from here. His pale body seemed to glow in the light of the full moon. The milky-white marble statues of the saints which adorned the Order's temples came to mind, and that was the thought that brought Artur fully back to his senses. No, not a saint. A demon. An elf possessed by a demon. And not just any demon -- one of the No-God's, the Other's, lavender-lit own.
With the same heavy slowness, Artur pushed himself into a sitting position. From there, he tried to stand, but it was useless. Gritting his teeth against the bruising his pride was about to take, he pulled himself, half-crawling, half-rolling, over to the elf to examine him more closely. He was a gruesome sight up close, skin knotted with scars and thick with ink. Artur shuddered involuntarily. The illustration seemed to writhe like the bodies of a million black maggots, and the picture resembled nothing more than a page from the unholy Demonata, the dark works of the No-God's pagan worshippers. Artur looked away, and slowly made his way back to his sword. Every movement jostled his ribs, and by the time he managed to get himself fully upright and wrench his sword out of the ground, it was all he could do to keep himself from collapsing once again. Even just reciting exorcisms took all the strength out of a Guardian's body, and this, Artur felt, was not just any exorcism.
The one stroke of luck he had was that Revelations had found Apocalypse, and the was calmly standing and nuzzling his brother when Artur approached and tried to lead him to the elf. The horse wouldn't come near the body, however, and Artur was left with no choice but to pick him up and carry him to where Apocalypse still lay, breathing heavily and eyes rolling with pain, though no longer screaming. The elf seemed unusually light, underfed, and bony, as whatever had caused the incident earlier disappeared off with half his body weight. He flopped the elf face down on the ground, none too gently, and went to his saddlebags. He found the jar of dove's white used for painting Circles and talismans and a brush, along with the Guardians' reference guide, and returned to stare at the pattern on the back of the elf.
"Sealing Circle," he mumbled, and flipped through the fat tome until he found the appropriate section. It listed several fundamental circles and hundreds of modifications to be used as needed. When sealing a demonic force for transportation within a vessel, one section read. Artur took a deep breath, winced when the attempt jounced his ribs, and set to work as quickly as he could.
When he was done, the elf's back was covered from shoulder to hip by the strongest Sealing Circle Artur could manage to invent, reinforced by symbols and talismans, while his chest bore an excerpt from Sealing the Demon and some symbols to reinforce the spirit, all written in Artur's best attempt at textbook script. He wasn't very good at Symbology, and he certainly didn't know if this sort of thing worked on elves, but he would damn well try anyway.
The last thing he managed before collapsing was to tied the elf's hands and feet and prop him against a tree after confiscating his sword and wand and a number of other things that he'd found in his pockets. These he neatly laid out on a bare patch of ground. He couldn't even muster a fire, but he determined to stay awake to watch the elf, and set about mixing a potion to help put Apocalypse at ease.
The elf stirred. Artur watched, stony-faced.
"Is it true what you said about not having a soul?"
Thus Artur found himself on his side, head swimming. He could see the elf from here. His pale body seemed to glow in the light of the full moon. The milky-white marble statues of the saints which adorned the Order's temples came to mind, and that was the thought that brought Artur fully back to his senses. No, not a saint. A demon. An elf possessed by a demon. And not just any demon -- one of the No-God's, the Other's, lavender-lit own.
With the same heavy slowness, Artur pushed himself into a sitting position. From there, he tried to stand, but it was useless. Gritting his teeth against the bruising his pride was about to take, he pulled himself, half-crawling, half-rolling, over to the elf to examine him more closely. He was a gruesome sight up close, skin knotted with scars and thick with ink. Artur shuddered involuntarily. The illustration seemed to writhe like the bodies of a million black maggots, and the picture resembled nothing more than a page from the unholy Demonata, the dark works of the No-God's pagan worshippers. Artur looked away, and slowly made his way back to his sword. Every movement jostled his ribs, and by the time he managed to get himself fully upright and wrench his sword out of the ground, it was all he could do to keep himself from collapsing once again. Even just reciting exorcisms took all the strength out of a Guardian's body, and this, Artur felt, was not just any exorcism.
The one stroke of luck he had was that Revelations had found Apocalypse, and the was calmly standing and nuzzling his brother when Artur approached and tried to lead him to the elf. The horse wouldn't come near the body, however, and Artur was left with no choice but to pick him up and carry him to where Apocalypse still lay, breathing heavily and eyes rolling with pain, though no longer screaming. The elf seemed unusually light, underfed, and bony, as whatever had caused the incident earlier disappeared off with half his body weight. He flopped the elf face down on the ground, none too gently, and went to his saddlebags. He found the jar of dove's white used for painting Circles and talismans and a brush, along with the Guardians' reference guide, and returned to stare at the pattern on the back of the elf.
"Sealing Circle," he mumbled, and flipped through the fat tome until he found the appropriate section. It listed several fundamental circles and hundreds of modifications to be used as needed. When sealing a demonic force for transportation within a vessel, one section read. Artur took a deep breath, winced when the attempt jounced his ribs, and set to work as quickly as he could.
When he was done, the elf's back was covered from shoulder to hip by the strongest Sealing Circle Artur could manage to invent, reinforced by symbols and talismans, while his chest bore an excerpt from Sealing the Demon and some symbols to reinforce the spirit, all written in Artur's best attempt at textbook script. He wasn't very good at Symbology, and he certainly didn't know if this sort of thing worked on elves, but he would damn well try anyway.
The last thing he managed before collapsing was to tied the elf's hands and feet and prop him against a tree after confiscating his sword and wand and a number of other things that he'd found in his pockets. These he neatly laid out on a bare patch of ground. He couldn't even muster a fire, but he determined to stay awake to watch the elf, and set about mixing a potion to help put Apocalypse at ease.
The elf stirred. Artur watched, stony-faced.
"Is it true what you said about not having a soul?"
"Ame!" Lily yelled, and ran after her, chugging along at a steady run until she caught up with the girl. Damn everything else, but she was strong, strong than even some of the boys their age, and she could run for miles without tiring, and she was proud of it. Still, on the hot summer day, she was soon coated in a sheen of sweat, her sleeveless white zip-up, from Erza's new Heartkruz fashion collection, just a touch too tight for the weather. She stopped to wipe the sweat off her brow and unzipped the vest just a little. She felt more comfortable around Ame, though she wasn't comfortable in her own body. That was the only explanation she could think of for being so relaxed. "And, um, trains are fine, we can travel any way you want," wiping another arm across her forehead. "I've never actually, um, been on a train . . ." she added quietly, biting her lip and keeping her eyes on her feet.
The station was only ten minutes away walking, but the heat was brutal, and trying to stay dry was proving to be a useless exercise. As they stepped onto the platform, Lily stopped to pull her hair into a high knot on her head to keep it from sticking to her face, revealing her long, slender neck -- perhaps the only attractive thing about her. She looked up at Ame, and was surprised to see worry on the other girl's face. She immediately felt uncomfortable and looked back down, unconsciously fiddling with the straps of her backpack. "I, um, I can buy the train tickets, since you let me come on this mission, if you want . . . " she said.
The station was only ten minutes away walking, but the heat was brutal, and trying to stay dry was proving to be a useless exercise. As they stepped onto the platform, Lily stopped to pull her hair into a high knot on her head to keep it from sticking to her face, revealing her long, slender neck -- perhaps the only attractive thing about her. She looked up at Ame, and was surprised to see worry on the other girl's face. She immediately felt uncomfortable and looked back down, unconsciously fiddling with the straps of her backpack. "I, um, I can buy the train tickets, since you let me come on this mission, if you want . . . " she said.
I am so excited for everything that could happen, yes. :D
Artur looked at the elf -- Morgan, he supposed -- strangely as the other blabbered on like a small child talking to his imaginary friends. Artur's sword arm fell to his side, though his grip didn't loosen. It was unreal. He couldn't get a word in edgewise the elf as he went from lightspeed introductions to apathy laced with fear and wariness, to sitting down and cradling himself. Moreover, he had called Artur a knight and by the Gods Artur looked nothing like one of those armored brutes. True, the Guardians' garb took after the armor worn by the First Order well over a century ago, and they were currently in a very secluded part of the reaches, but . . .
Could the elf be unstable? Artur quickly did a check-over the way all acolytes were taught in their Counseling lectures. Deep scarring indicated possible battle wounds, but they were old, and the shock of injury would have worn off by now, though Artur knew little about the elven composition. There seemed to be no Taints on him, so he ruled out lower-level demonic activity. Battle wounds of the spirit often plagued those who had experienced extreme violence -- that would certainly explain the speech, which flowed like wine from an unstoppered skin. Judging by his accent -- and here the elf's ears twitched, and Apocalypse suddenly tossed his head, rising up on his back legs a few times and turning in a circle as if to bolt -- judging by his accent . . .
Artur didn't have time to make a judgement as the elf suddenly began to glow with demon's light and Apocalypse reared and bolted, nearly throwing Artur. The elf took off at the same time, still glowing, running at inhuman speeds toward the forest. Artur yelled at Apocalypse, who thankfully, in his fear, chose to run in the same direction. Heedless of his passenger, the stallion burst through the forest, Artur low on his neck. The elf was easy to follow, glowing brighter with each moment, and Artur locked his eyes on the light. Suddenly, Apocalypse screamed and tilted, and Artur had only a moment's notice to leap off his back before the horse fell, having tripped on a stone in his wild gallop. Artur landed and rolled, the heavy padding of his surcoat sparing him some damage, though the wind was knocked out of his lungs. He lay there, gasping for breath, while his horse screamed beside him.
"Hush, now," he forced out between clenched teeth, and reached for some calming powder in his pants pocket. He found it and was about to toss it at Apocalypse, when a scream broke the silent night.
"Help me!" Artur sat up, wincing. He had broken a rib. Every breath was agony. But he slowly clambered to his feet, found the light again, and began to run. The fine, blonde hairs on his arms began to stand up, just as they had when the lightning struck, and Artur had long ago learned to trust his body's reactions to the world around him. Demonic activity, he thought, and squared his jaw.
The elf was writhing on the ground when Artur came within sight of him, illuminated by the kind of soft light that would have been beautiful if it hadn't been the lavender of the No-God, and if it hadn't been coming from the elf himself. Artur halted and gasped. The elf looked like he was being torn apart, a porcelain figure slowly disintegrating, all the while screaming in pain. The priest still clutched his calming powder, and now he tore the pouch open with his teeth and threw the entire contents over the elf. It would quiet pain and blur the mind, locking it in a cloud of sleep. Often it was burned as incense in the halls of Counselors, to put those seeking their comfort and advice at ease. In strong doses, it could put a man to sleep for many days.
The powder scattered over the elf. Artur didn't wait to see if it would take effect, for he was deeply afraid that it wouldn't. His rib panged and the sound of a millions of insects filled his ears again. He fell to one knee, supported by his sword, still clutching it tightly, and began to recite from the book of Excorcisms, shouting over the sound of demons in his mind. He hadn't specialized in Exorcism, but his instructors had always praised his perfect pronunciation and beautiful voice, and he prayed to the Gods above that they would aid him now.
Could the elf be unstable? Artur quickly did a check-over the way all acolytes were taught in their Counseling lectures. Deep scarring indicated possible battle wounds, but they were old, and the shock of injury would have worn off by now, though Artur knew little about the elven composition. There seemed to be no Taints on him, so he ruled out lower-level demonic activity. Battle wounds of the spirit often plagued those who had experienced extreme violence -- that would certainly explain the speech, which flowed like wine from an unstoppered skin. Judging by his accent -- and here the elf's ears twitched, and Apocalypse suddenly tossed his head, rising up on his back legs a few times and turning in a circle as if to bolt -- judging by his accent . . .
Artur didn't have time to make a judgement as the elf suddenly began to glow with demon's light and Apocalypse reared and bolted, nearly throwing Artur. The elf took off at the same time, still glowing, running at inhuman speeds toward the forest. Artur yelled at Apocalypse, who thankfully, in his fear, chose to run in the same direction. Heedless of his passenger, the stallion burst through the forest, Artur low on his neck. The elf was easy to follow, glowing brighter with each moment, and Artur locked his eyes on the light. Suddenly, Apocalypse screamed and tilted, and Artur had only a moment's notice to leap off his back before the horse fell, having tripped on a stone in his wild gallop. Artur landed and rolled, the heavy padding of his surcoat sparing him some damage, though the wind was knocked out of his lungs. He lay there, gasping for breath, while his horse screamed beside him.
"Hush, now," he forced out between clenched teeth, and reached for some calming powder in his pants pocket. He found it and was about to toss it at Apocalypse, when a scream broke the silent night.
"Help me!" Artur sat up, wincing. He had broken a rib. Every breath was agony. But he slowly clambered to his feet, found the light again, and began to run. The fine, blonde hairs on his arms began to stand up, just as they had when the lightning struck, and Artur had long ago learned to trust his body's reactions to the world around him. Demonic activity, he thought, and squared his jaw.
The elf was writhing on the ground when Artur came within sight of him, illuminated by the kind of soft light that would have been beautiful if it hadn't been the lavender of the No-God, and if it hadn't been coming from the elf himself. Artur halted and gasped. The elf looked like he was being torn apart, a porcelain figure slowly disintegrating, all the while screaming in pain. The priest still clutched his calming powder, and now he tore the pouch open with his teeth and threw the entire contents over the elf. It would quiet pain and blur the mind, locking it in a cloud of sleep. Often it was burned as incense in the halls of Counselors, to put those seeking their comfort and advice at ease. In strong doses, it could put a man to sleep for many days.
The powder scattered over the elf. Artur didn't wait to see if it would take effect, for he was deeply afraid that it wouldn't. His rib panged and the sound of a millions of insects filled his ears again. He fell to one knee, supported by his sword, still clutching it tightly, and began to recite from the book of Excorcisms, shouting over the sound of demons in his mind. He hadn't specialized in Exorcism, but his instructors had always praised his perfect pronunciation and beautiful voice, and he prayed to the Gods above that they would aid him now.
Maybe! And yeah, I am all about world building, and I am so behind on the manga it doesn't even matter anymore.
Otherwise, I did write a magic sword into the story already just in case. We'll see how it goes. Also, feel free to take the lead and order Lily around, just like Ame would anyways. She doesn't have too much initiative of her own, but she does follow orders really, really well.
Otherwise, I did write a magic sword into the story already just in case. We'll see how it goes. Also, feel free to take the lead and order Lily around, just like Ame would anyways. She doesn't have too much initiative of her own, but she does follow orders really, really well.
"O-okay, I guess that settles it, then!" Lily tried another smile, and this one came out better. She'd forgotten how Ame could make anyone cheer up and feel better about themselves in second, and in spite of everything, it even worked on her. "Although, I don't really know much about clothes . . . " she laughed until she realized she wouldn't be going clothes shopping with Ame. She would use the money to leave the guild and set out on her own, to rent her own apartment and go to school. Somehow, she felt more upset about leaving now, but she shook the feeling off. Still, she decided not to tell Ame her plans. She turned to Growl.
"I hope you won't have to fly me out of anywhere, I'm kind of heavy . . . " her smile faded at the cat's glower, and she turned back to Ame, "Were you planning on starting out today? I mean, I'm ready whenever, my bags are all packed and everything, I'll-I'll go get them now!" With a nervous nod, Lily dashed to the bar. She had stuffed them in a cupboard underneath the bar that morning before going to talk to her mother, along with her prize sword and dagger, which the Titania had given her for her birthday several years ago. They were magical, Erza had said, looking at Lily strangely, but the user would have to unlock their powers for themselves. Since Lily had no powers, they were just very, very nice swords to her, and she loved them more dearly than anything in the world.
"Going somewhere, Lily?" Mirajane, beautiful as ever, smiled down at Lily. The girl looked up from where she was crouched on the ground.
"A... I guess I'm going on a job," she said, almost to herself. She couldn't believe it, now that she was saying in out loud. She'd dreamed of doing this, and she was so happy that she would get to go with Ame. A little smile crept onto her face, and she even hugged Mirajane before walking back over to Ame. All the eyes in the guild were on her, judging her, as usual, and Lily dropped her eyes to the floor and hunched under her heavy pack. Then she realized that it wasn't that they were staring at her because they were ashamed of her. No, she looked just like a young mage going on a mission. She looked like a member of Fairy Tail.
"I hope you won't have to fly me out of anywhere, I'm kind of heavy . . . " her smile faded at the cat's glower, and she turned back to Ame, "Were you planning on starting out today? I mean, I'm ready whenever, my bags are all packed and everything, I'll-I'll go get them now!" With a nervous nod, Lily dashed to the bar. She had stuffed them in a cupboard underneath the bar that morning before going to talk to her mother, along with her prize sword and dagger, which the Titania had given her for her birthday several years ago. They were magical, Erza had said, looking at Lily strangely, but the user would have to unlock their powers for themselves. Since Lily had no powers, they were just very, very nice swords to her, and she loved them more dearly than anything in the world.
"Going somewhere, Lily?" Mirajane, beautiful as ever, smiled down at Lily. The girl looked up from where she was crouched on the ground.
"A... I guess I'm going on a job," she said, almost to herself. She couldn't believe it, now that she was saying in out loud. She'd dreamed of doing this, and she was so happy that she would get to go with Ame. A little smile crept onto her face, and she even hugged Mirajane before walking back over to Ame. All the eyes in the guild were on her, judging her, as usual, and Lily dropped her eyes to the floor and hunched under her heavy pack. Then she realized that it wasn't that they were staring at her because they were ashamed of her. No, she looked just like a young mage going on a mission. She looked like a member of Fairy Tail.
I guess a sword would make sense since she's obsessed with Erza and practices swordfighting all the time, but maybe it could be something super ironic?
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