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gauloiseblue · 23 days

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Second Time The Charm

He comes back to the house the next day, still try to knock on the door, but minutes pass and it's still unopened

He wanted to be a proper guest, who goes into the house through the front door, invited, but in this case, he had no choice but to leave the shovel by the door

That is, until the door suddenly opens, and the owner of the house comes out. She seems surprised to see him, and he can't say the feeling's not mutual

"Oh hello…" She greeted, "Didn't expect you'd come."

"I came to return the shovel." He said, "Thought it'd be very rude of me if I leave without saying thank you."

"Don't worry about it."

At this point, he's at a loss for words. She's dismissive, and doesn't hide her indifference. He'd not fancy her much, if she didn't have pretty eyes

He pretends to look at the trees, before attempting to revive the conversation again, "Those are beautiful, you've taken care of them very well."

"It's not me, I have a gardener."

So that's why

"Private gardener?" He asked, knowing that a commercial one would use their own tools, and not the owner's

"Maybe. He's an amateur." She told him

He raises his brow, "It doesn't look like an amateur work."

"Seems like you thought the word amateur as a beginner." She chuckles, "He's an amateur, someone who does it out of love. He loves the garden, that's why they're beautiful."

He looks at her with interest, she seems to have her way with words

She turns her head to him, "I'm going to the farm, you wanna come?"

With a curiosity in mind, he decides to come along

They both talk for a bit, and he soon learns about her and her activities. She likes vinyl records, because the sound quality is different. She cooks her own food, and she likes to bake. She hates hot weather, and bugs. She also talks about the town folks, and how they all are eccentric in their own way

"You know Callum? He's the town's handyman. He likes to collect scraps, to the point his house is full of things other people discarded. You might find your broken plate there if you look around."

"Really?" He hums, "I've met him a few times, he's a nice fellow. Though Claudia and Flores said I should watch my belongings around him."

She rolls her eyes, "I suggest you to take their word with a grain of salt, especially Flores. She's the one who attempts to take one of my lipsticks because I said I never really wore them."

"Oh?" He said, "What happened then?"

"Nothing, I caught her red handed."

"She apologized?"

"Of course not, I told her to leave before she could embarrass herself further."

At the farm, they're greeted by the owner himself. He's an old man with big arms, though he's not too tall

"I see you bring our newcomer here." He said to her before offering his hand to him, "Name's Harris."

"John." He said, "She didn't bring me here, I was the one who went along."

"Consider yourself lucky. She hates strangers."

"Not true. I already liked you when we we first met, Mr. Harris."

"Aw, drop the honorific, will ya?" He chuckles, "Us cowmen are honest, of course you'd trust me. Can't say the same for other people, especially you." He then looks at him, "Y'look like you've served during a war. Navy?"

"Probably worked for the special force in the army." She said, which immediately set his alarm off

"How did you know?" He said as he smiled, keeping his friendly facade

"Your body said it all." She shrugged, "I've met a lot of people, so I developed an intuition for it."

"Special force? Someone who carried out secret missions?" He whistles, "You have a lot to share. Tell you what, I'll keep it a secret, but you gotta tell me what happened during your service. Not the government secret stuff, of course."

She chuckles, "I suggest you, John, keep your past to yourself. The town folks are very curious, so you better keep it close or they'll hound you for stories."

"Roger that."

"I almost forgot, you came for the milk." The man clicked his fingers, "Come, I'll prepare it for you."

The three of them walk inside the farm, where the occasional moos and smell of manure fill the room. They walk until they reach the small room full of gallons, and he opens one of them

"Did you bring your bottles?" She then hands him the basket, which contains 4 bottles. He begins to fill each bottle with fresh milk, before handing them back

He refuses when she tries to pay him, telling her she's done a lot for him already, and sending her out before she can insist. He then waves them both goodbye, telling them to come over and have a tea sometimes

"He's a nice fellow." He commented after offering himself to hold her basket

"He is. He's too nice in fact, that it worries me sometimes." She replied

"He'll be fine. He has good people around him."

"Hope so."

They stay quiet for a while, before deciding to ask her something. "Say, you've met a lot of people before. Did you meet a lot of people like me too?"

"Never, in fact." She replied, "I've met some people from the army—commander, secretary, almost everyone who work in the office, but never one from the field. That's why I assume you're in a special force."

"That easy?" He chuckles

She nods, "Everyone can do that, it's not hard to guess."

"Well, I disagree." He smiles, "I can't figure you out in the same manner."

"You just have to look closely."

"Won't you be uncomfortable with that?"

"I am." She told him, "But I'm used to it."

"Then I won't do it." He said, "I'm not comfortable with prying into people's life."

She seems amused by his answer, "Lying is a sin."

"Scout's honour."

"Alright, do what you want."

They part ways once they reach her front door. He insisted to bring the milk to the kitchen, but she told him it's not necessary. So they exchange pleasantries before he leaves

Halfway through his home, he realized he hadn't learnt her name at all

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#cod #call of duty #cod mw2 #captain price #john price x reader #price x reader

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juice-thief-frog · 5 months

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Hypothesis: Rejecting Dark Magic Could Save Viren's Life? Season 5-6 Theory!

This theory/speculation/thought experiment won't leave me alone so I'm gonna officially shout it out into the world!

There's a chance that Viren could maybe have unfucked saved himself.

We're all wondering - did Viren survive season 5? Has he kicked the bucket for good this time? Or is he like that cockroach you just can't get rid of?

I have some unfortunate (or maybe fortunate) news! Viren could definitely be alive!

And it's about dark magic, power, and fever dreams!

Those dark magic dreams Viren had all season had to mean something more! A push for Claudia to go full baddie? Yeah, most likely. We've all seen the Season 6 teaser.

But what if those fever dreams meant something... more?

What if it leads up to more than just Viren's ultimate end?

tl;dr - What if by rejecting dark magic, Viren unknowingly saved his own life? AKA: I dive into Viren's mind, and try to decipher his character arc a teeny bit.

Let's goooooo-

I have little evidence to back up this 'what if'. But I have something, however small.

So, to start this off:

"Tomorrow, the sun will rise, and you will not."

At first this sounds pretty clear - and it might still be! Viren could be sleepin' with the Xadian fishes. But when has Aaravos ever been perfectly clear? Mr 'I Swallowed Her' speaks in riddles and rhymes, and does he even know what the fuck he's talking about? (of course he knows, he's Aaravos, what am I thinking-)

One alternative take on this cryptic little message could be that the old Viren can't come to the phone right now. Because he's dead.

Viren rejected dark magic for the first time ever! He finally sees what Harrow has been seeing all along - dark magic twists you, twists everything around you, into corruption. We can see this with the corrupted Banthers - and Viren's face.

The sun will rise, and the old Viren will be dead.

But perhaps in his place will come a new man - one with a new goal, a new purpose, new motivations. In writing-terms, this means Viren will basically be a whole new character.

Characters are defined by their goals and motivations.

Since the beginning, Viren's goal has been somewhat the same (a bright future for humanity by using dark magic and overthrowing Xadia). But things have changed for Viren, especially during Seasons 4-5. Viren is completely powerless for the first time since Arc One.

Lord Viren has always been a character defined by his power. Even without using dark magic, he can still influence others to bend to his will.

Example image: Lord Viren threatening the young Crowmaster to summon the Pentarchy.

Lord Viren also takes Gren off the mission to find the missing princes, effortlessly placing Soren and Claudia in charge seconds after Amaya left. Viren convinced Soren to go and kill the princes on this mission.

Whenever his power and authority is threatened, Viren keeps pushing forward. Like the dark mage he was, Lord Viren keeps pushing until he gets the desired outcome. Soren said it best:

So, the truth is, someone who wants you to do horrible things, and convinces you that they're good, that's a villain. My dad... is a villain. And he's only gonna get more powerful, and the more powerful he gets, the more people will listen to him, and believe him, and follow him.

Meeting Aaravos is a pivotal moment in Viren's further pursuit of more power. Aaravos promises Viren more power and influence than ever before. Aaravos guides Viren to send the smoke assassins after the other kingdoms to motivate them by fear. Aaravos brings out the worst in Viren by targeting this fatal weakness.

Ultimately, Aaravos guides Viren to further pursue his hunger for more power. Viren convinced Claudia that Soren misunderstood the assignment of 'kill the princes' (dick move, Viren).

Then they march into Xadia, and take down the Sunfire Kingdom. And Aaravos takes Viren to the top of the Storm Spire to capture every essence of magic from baby Zym.

Power, power, and more power. Take a sip of water every time I write 'power', honestly.

So Viren falls to his death, and Claudia brings him back 2 years later. The fourth season begins, and Viren is already different. He is powerless. He isn't even wearing his High Mage attire, instead he's in bloodied and dirty prisoner clothes.

He's travelling with an elf, and he doesn't have his staff. He realises he doesn't even want his staff anymore. He's suddenly horribly afraid of heights, and is obviously frustrated about how he's losing power over everything.

His own mind and body are warring against him. He's going to die in 30 days, and he's experiencing panic attacks. Viren is falling apart worse than his tattered clothes.

And after he finally uses dark magic? He ends up passing out, and missing out on his last few days alive. Instead he's thrust into visions for days on end. Interesting to note that Callum didn't suffer from his own visions as long as Viren did. (perhaps because Viren does indeed have a long history of dark magic?)

These visions take Viren into his past, makes him look at everything in a new way. He sees the harm he caused, sees every scar he left on the world. In his pursuit of power, he ripped everything he loved apart. Including his own children. Soren hates him, and Claudia is diving deeper and further than Viren had ever gone.

It is the vision of Claudia that seems to shake Viren the most. To see what corrupted path he has laid out for his children horrifies him. To see Claudia follow this path so eagerly puts the final nail in the coffin.

No dark magic, never again.

Viren is done with dark magic, and he's done with Aaravos. He's done with his pursuit of power. He's ready to be free.

Interesting to note is that his past self is the one reaching out and holding on here. Reconnecting with his roots, his oldest beliefs.

At the end of the season, Viren is the most powerless he has ever been.

Laying under the stars, he cannot even find comfort in their shine. They remind him of Aaravos, and of all the mistakes Lord Viren has made. He certainly doesn't feel free.

He's chosen not to kill The Being, he's chosen to align himself with his roots. His roots as a young man dreaming of things far bigger than himself. He turns his eyes away from the stars, no longer reaching for them. Instead he closes his eyes, and awaits death's embrace.

What happens next?

Well, maybe the rejection of his old life leads him to find a new path. Maybe rejecting the call of dark magic puts him out of Aaravos' reach, and he can finally become someone better.

But I guess we won't know for certain until Season 6. So pls share your own thoughts and observations! I'd love to see what you all come up with!

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raayllum · 7 months

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in honour of this post, tags on another of mine i cannot remember that talked briefly about Rayla's issues, and that I've talked about Claudia and Callum's moments of being hypocritical, now I want to actually talk about Rayla's hypocritical tendencies cause it's something S4 and S5 made a fun little consistency - let's dive in

Rayla can sometimes ignore (or react indignantly to) other people possibly having their own reasons/justifications because she's tunnel visioned into only thinking about her own justifications as uniquely warranted

Let me explain

The first time I noticed this was in 2x03, mostly because it was one of those moments that made me laugh even though it's not trying to be funny because

Cause Rayla, honey, you know you lied to them too ("lying and hiding the truth aren't that different") - and Callum forgave you for that and is still your friend. Why would Claudia and Soren be any different to him? (And they are, but not the point of this point).

Now, unlike Soren (who is the person they're primarily discussing), Rayla didn't lie outright, but she did lie by omission - much the same way Claudia did. And Rayla has known her own motivations all along - probably worried they might give up on their mission if they knew (especially at the start), and she doesn't want them to hate her, and most of all by this point in the show, she didn't want to hurt them ("I'm afraid of hurting him" / "when you care about someone, it's hard to hurt them").

This made sense to me in terms of Rayla being good at being initially (often times rightfully, sometimes not so) indignant on her own behalf. She is able to justify herself and does so often, both angrily - as the next examples will show - and more neutrally ("How could I take his life?"). She defends herself both physically and personally to Corvus ("I didn't kill anyone"), she smarts at Callum when he (rightfully) tries to push at her ("I don't have to explain anything to you"), and is mad at Ethari when they initially talk ("Yeah, it's me. Surprised to see my face?"). This initial defense of herself doesn't usually persist and typically gives way to self loathing ("I can fix this" / "I don't deserve your trust, not yet" / "They're right to reject me") but it is there at first and is usually her first reaction, which is very fun.

However, this coupled together with the other two instances arc 2 brings up in terms of her being kind of a hypocrite makes it a pattern, beginning in early season four. (Callum also isn't at his best in early season four, saying he doesn't want to talk about stuff and then bringing it up the next episode to take a jab at her - but he's still dealing with the fallout of the problems she caused, so he absolutely gets more of a pass. As always, see my In Defense of Callum's Narrative Lens from way back in the day if you're interested in more of how his perspectives are portrayed.)

Because gee, Rayla, I wonder whose fault that is? And again, it does make sense that she's angry - she's spent two years just wanting to be with him with none of the messy complex heartbreak he had to go through because she was the one who made the choice to leave. She expected him to at least shout at her, not ice her out completely. And again, we see that initial indignant streak fade when he reiterates he wants to go, and she looks down disappointed, but accepting of it (and puts whether she'll stay or not in his hands, too).

Since she had a good reason for leaving, and it's what her parents did, while she expected anger, she also wants affection and love. Isn't her justification enough, in some ways? Shouldn't it be? And while Rayla wrestled back and forth with this, it's clear she does think that it should be (even if both seasons show she's starting to realize just why she was wrong).

But we do see this hypocritical tendency of hers perhaps pop up most prominently in S5 with Nyx

Again, in Rayla's head, lying and stealing the key wasn't perhaps the right thing to do, but the better thing to do than burden Callum with what she was going through / to be open and vulnerable. It makes sense why she'd do so - and her shot at Nyx gets a tiny pass cause she's technically sticking up for Ezran - but it still falls back on Rayla leaning too heavily on her logic / independent streak to justify actions that are actually counterproductive to having healthy, wilfully open relationships.

And this is something I love about TDP. Even when the characters are genuinely making the worst possible fucking decisions they ever could (hi arc 1 Viren, Claudia and Karim constantly in particular) you completely understand how and why they're justifying those decisions, and Rayla is no different. Doesn't mean they're right, doesn't mean it's not logically stupid or fair or whatever, but it's emotionally consistent, and that's what matters most in the end. And now we have a fun little consistency to add to the pile

#in that vein of 'ezran can steamroll others bc the emotional solution is so obvious to him /#he suppresses the hell out of shit' spirit #tdp rayla #characterization #mini meta #analysis series #tdp #the dragon prince #like i love rayla but she's so full of shit sometimes lmao #analysis #like rayla really is a character where one of her core flaws is both #a lack of grounded self awareness amid too much self awareness #bc sometimes she's on the right path about her actual flaws (lying & leaving)#and other times she's so off base it's like girl what planet are you on this is Not one of your problems #steering her into the pile of actual flaws lmao #also why callum is good for her #'nah you're good. but that other dumb shit you did? jc"

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munsonsduchess · 1 year

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The Healed Man

summary: it’s been two weeks since steve and dustin brought eddie to your door and two weeks since eddie has been awake

w/c: 1,486

warnings: mentions of injury, mentions of blood, unwanted physical attention (billy hargrove and tommy hagan keep insinuating that you should all be friends), swearing

a/n: welcome to part three of shadow of the moon, you can find part two here, i’m honestly really excited about this series and i can’t wait to share more of it with you all, if you see a typo then say nothing and have a drink of water to forget

dividers are by @firefly-graphics and the moodboard was made by me 💛

It had been a tense couple of weeks since Prince Steven and Dustin had arrived on your doorstep with a bloodied and mauled Edward Munson in need of your aid. You’d managed to bring the young man back to some semblance of stability and had moved him to your own bed to recover instead of laying on your kitchen table.

In the meantime you’d gone back to business as usual, creating your little spells and charms for the townsfolk, love spells for girls who were enamored with the Prince, a boy in the next town over, farmers wishing for a good harvest. It would disturb people to have a bandaged, sometimes still bleeding, boy on your work table.

You changed Edward’s bandages when you had the time. Reapplied the salves. Did whatever you could to keep his body healing.

During this time you’d also met Dustin’s mother, Will’s Mother, Jane’s father, Mike’s older sister Nancy and Lucas’ younger sister Erica. The latter two being a force of nature all on their own.

You’d also met the Prince’s friend Robin who seemed to be keeping a secret of her own if you had to guess.

All of these new people expressed their concern at you living so far away from town and alone. The parents in particular expressed this concern but you’d waved it off,

“I’m not welcome in town” you’d said, “I’m not usually welcome in any towns. People find out who I am and what I am and they tend to not want me around”

“Load of horseshit if you ask me” Jane’s father Jim commented, “lots of stuff going on in that town is horseshit”

You’d learnt later from Will’s mother Joyce that Jim had lost a lot. He’d fought for the King in one of his wars, while he’d been away his daughter had fallen sick and nothing could be done. Jim’s wife was overcome with sadness and had walked to the river, never to come back. He’d found Jane wandering around the woods by herself, she couldn’t speak and wouldn’t eat much except bread but he’d taken her in immediately and cared for the child which everyone thought was ridiculous but Jim had brought Jane up regardless of what other people thought.

Joyce and Dustin’s mother Claudia had promised to come up regularly and check on you and Eddie for whatever you might need.

Among your list of visitors was the Prince himself who came by regularly every night to check on Eddie. He would ask you questions, how was he healing? How long until he woke? Had he said anything even in his sleep?

You didn’t have the answers for his questions and it pained you to see his crestfallen expression each evening. Still the Prince returned, night after night with the same questions.

When you’d see Nancy and Robin during the day they’d tell you that Steve was looking worse and worse every day. He wasn’t sleeping, hardly eating, he was on a mission apparently to find out what exactly had happened to Eddie. How it had happened.

Apparently Eddie did a lot of odd jobs to earn money since he too seemed to be unwelcome by the general townsfolk of Hawkins in the same way you were. People called him a freak and he had been accused of consorting with the devil more than once by certain members of the nobility.

Eddie’s uncle Wayne was a good man and Eddie did all he could to help the older man and he had been returning from a job that evening when he’d been attacked though by what or by whom seemed to be the root cause of the mystery. One that Steve was determined to figure out himself no matter how much his friends offered to help.

Just past the two week mark since Eddie had come into your care you’d needed to leave him in the care of Claudia Henderson and Joyce Byers while you’d gone to the local spring nearby to fill some bottles. You’d hadn’t expected to be gone all that long but the universe seemed to have other ideas.

No sooner had you arrived at the spring than you heard the sound of hoofbeats and men laughing. You’d looked up to see Billy Hargrove, Tommy Hagan and Jason Carver riding your way. Having absolutely no desire to interact with any of those men you’d tried to gather your bottles and leave as quickly as you could but Hargrove stopped you,

“Leaving so soon? Here I thought you were a friendly witch” he laughed, jumping down from his horse, “we just want to be friends right fellas?”

“Yeah. Best friends” Tommy agreed as he dismounted his own horse, “just like you’re such good friends with Stevie”

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what you mean” you tried to play dumb hoping they’d find less amusement in your torment.

“I think you know exactly what we’re talking about” Carver’s lips were twisted in a cruel sneer. Of the three men he seemed to be taking the least pleasure in accosting you,

“So. How about it honey?” Hargrove had come up behind you and placed his hands on your hip, “let’s be friends”

“The best of friends” Hagan agreed again

You were looking around for a clear line of escape, of a way out of this situation before it went even more terribly, then you heard someone yell in the distance

“Get your hands off her!”

As you caught a glimpse of the Prince in the distance suddenly Hargrove and Hagan immediately backed off but not far enough for your liking,

“Awe come on Stevie. We’re just being friendly” Hagan grinned at him, “you guys are such good friends we figured we’d say hi”

“Maybe your little witch could help us with some problems” Hargrove laughed stepping closer to you again,

“I said get your hands off her” Steve commanded again, “leave her alone”

“You keep strange company Harrington” Carver snapped, “what would your father think if he knew you were visiting a witch each day”

“What would yours think Carver, if he knew you were so disrespectful to your prince?”

No one said anything for a while until eventually Hargrove just sighed and remounted his horse,

“Well that’s ruined my fun. Come on, I’m sure there’s girls who’ll actually be worth fucking in town”

Hagan snorted and remounted his horse, following after Hargrove without sparing a glance backwards at where you were standing. Carver however remained a free extra moments before following his friends.

You let out a sigh of relief and sagged onto the ground. This is why you avoided people, men in particular. Especially men like Hagan and Hargrove. Though it would seem as if Carver had no intention of following through with his friends plans but instead was working off his own agenda.

“I’m sorry about them. They’re assholes” Steve said, he had dismounted now and was walking over to you,

“How did you know I’d be here?” you asked him, no one but Claudia and Joyce knew where you were going,

“I had stopped by the cottage but you weren’t there and Joyce told me you were down here”

“You came to check on your friend” you nodded, “he still hasn’t woken up”

“I came to check on you. I know it can’t be easy looking after Eddie on your own and Claudia said you were sleeping on the floor?”

“I only have one bed your highness. I thought it best for your friend to rest in it rather than on the floor. I do not mind”

“I’ll have another mattress sent. You shouldn’t sleep on the floor”

You had opened your mouth to protest but the Prince had already moved and was gathering up your bottles,

“I’ll help you carry these back” the way he spoke brokered no argument so you simply let him and followed back to your cottage.

As you walked the Prince asked about your life, about your craft, what brought you to Hawkins. He seemed genuinely interested in getting to know you, which was a marketable change from what you were used to, especially from royalty.

As the cottage came into view you expected the Prince to walk off and leave you to your work but he followed you inside and placed your bottles on the work table,

He bid goodbye to Joyce and Claudia as they headed back into town but still he remained.

“Your highness really you - ” you were about to say that Steve could go on his way, that you would be fine but then you heard something else,

“Steve?” Your head snapped around to where a bandaged but awake Eddie Munson was standing in the doorway to your bedroom looking directly at you, “who the hell are you?”

Taglist: @babyrunsforfanfic @novelnovella @pillow-titties @yappydoo @filthy-gorgeous-library @likedovesinthewnd @insertcoolnameherethanks

Let me know if you want to be added!

#eddie munson #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfic #stranger things #stranger things x reader #stranger things fanfic #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things fic #duchess writes #duchess.txt #shadow of the moon 🌙

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nightingaelic · 3 years

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Fallout new vegas companions taking the courier's place in lonesome road (+ cut companions if that's cool with u) (thanks!!)

The problem with trying to adapt Lonesome Road to another character's experience is that so much of its story hinges on the courier's missing past and the former Frumentarius' struggle to make them understand what happened, why it caused a shockwave across multiple lives, locations and generations, and whether to avenge or let go of the harm that was unknowingly done to the Divide. So if you bring the companions into the mix instead of Courier Six, you either have a long-running story of mistaken identity (a hilarious concept, Ulysses being absolutely positive that the companion is the one who wrecked his dream home while they have no idea who this angry, verbose man is), or a drastically different history for the companions themselves. I say let's give that second option a shot, it seems fun and headcanon-y.

Arcade Gannon: While I don't think Arcade would be directly responsible for the destruction of the Divide, I think he would pale at hearing Ulysses' message searching for Enclave agents and would set out to confront the angry courier on behalf of his hidden family. The Enclave remnants are already hunted by the NCR and the Brotherhood of Steel, and the last thing they need is to be chased out of yet another home over something they didn't personally do. He'd accept ED-E's help wholeheartedly and consider turning back every time he ran into marked men or tunnelers, but his own resolve to save his loved ones would urge him to persevere. I think his determination would intrigue Ulysses, enough to engage the young research scientist in conversation if he arrived at the end of the road in one piece, and the courier might even let go of his vendetta if Arcade revealed that he was doing this out of the goodness of his heart rather than a sense of duty. Arcade would cancel the nuke launch, but would seriously consider blowing up the Legion.

Craig Boone: We know the NCR and Legion were fighting over the Divide before the ICBMs leveled the area. But what if that was by design, rather than by accident? Maybe Boone has more skeletons in his closet than just Bitter Springs, and he was part of a strike team that used old Enclave technology to surprise the Legion forces and seal off an access route, a decision based on math and made by men who had never met the people of Hopeville and Ashton that they sentenced to death. It's yet another weight on the sniper's conscience, and yet another debt he feels obligated to pay, so when Ulysses' call goes out, he answers. The usual dangers of the Divide wouldn't slow him down, but the turbulent weather would irritate him to no end. Upon arrival at the temple, Boone wouldn't mince words because he already knows he's guilty of the charge and he knows Ulysses used to walk for the Legion. If he survived the encounter, Boone would take the opportunity to rain the same destruction down on Caesar's troops.

Lily Bowen: There are about 119 years of Lily's life as a super mutant that are unaccounted-for, and we know she suffers from schizophrenia like many other nightkin. Perhaps it was Lily who discovered the Enclave package and unwittingly left it in the home of America's missiles: Perhaps it was Leo. I'm inclined to think it was Leo, who was probably searching for a cache of Stealth Boys in the old military installations across the desert, and who simply didn't care when a new hole in the earth opened up behind him. Lily, on the other hand, cares deeply, and would set out after Ulysses in the interest of making amends where she could. More so than any other companion, I think Lily would be disturbed by the tunnelers and would go out of her way to crush them wherever they popped up. The marked men would earn her sympathy and she would do her best to knock them out without killing them. After doing the same to Ulysses, Lily would cancel the launch and weep over the subsequent loss of ED-E. She would likely bring the little eyebot back to the Mojave and search for a way to fix it.

Raul Alfonso Tejada: We already know that Raul goes to extreme lengths to avenge the people he cares about, so it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to mix his backstory into the story of the Divide. Following the murder of Claudia in Tucson/Two Sun, Raul chased Dirty Dave and his brothers across Arizona and into the town of Ashton before killing them. Unbeknownst to him, Dirty Dave had a package with him that could speak to the nuclear missile silos hidden in the Divide, and the earth crumbled behind the vaquero as he made his way back home. Though he'd heard of the devastation, Raul didn't put two and two together until Ulysses sent out his summons, and because he didn't have anything planned that week, the old mechanic decided to answer the call. He would put up with Ulysses' messages like a good sport until he encountered the man in the temple, where he would refuse to fight until the two talked things out like civil people. I think Ulysses would be surprised at the revelation that the ghoul he had cast as a villain was following his own quest for vengeance and unaware of the package, and would come away somewhat amused by the situation. They would most likely team up to fight off the marked men, and Raul would cancel the launch and take a wrench to the machines to prevent any more "misunderstandings."

Rose of Sharon Cassidy: Let's say one of Cass' caravans delivered a package back in the day. Let's say that package accidentally buried the caravan crew and an entire community along with it. Let's say Cass knows, and that's one of the reasons she drinks. While Courier Six walks the Divide out of curiosity about their missing past, I think Cass would do it as a form of penance in and of itself, with a little desire for self-destruction thrown into the mix. The journey would start out as a bender fueled by self-loathing and the fanciful notion of giving her missing caravan a proper funeral, and by the time Cass runs out of whiskey she's already halfway through the Cave of the Abaddon and punching holes through the tunnelers with her shotgun. She would largely ignore Ulysses' cryptic messages and holotapes, but she'd grow fond of the little eyebot that took a shine to her and would tear after it once the mysterious courier repossessed it. Following the final battle, Cass would cancel the launch, but only at the very last second, just to revel in the fleeting feeling of control.

Veronica Santangelo: I just can't see Veronica knowingly or unknowingly waking up a nuclear arsenal with a careless application of tech, but I can totally see her stumbling upon the aftermath of something her old mentor is responsible for. Father Elijah already has a tenuous grasp on the consequences of his own actions, and we know that the prototype tech that controls the Divide's weather is a Big MT project. Maybe Elijah paid Hopeville a visit to check it out and took his investigation a little too far when he discovered the nukes. This would explain Ulysses' directions to the old man to find the Sierra Madre, sealing his doom inside the casino. But where does that leave Ulysses? Along comes Veronica, following her mentor's trail of destruction, and the courier can't help but guide her along the path, show her the meaning of the wreckage and the danger of pre-war technology when left to the discretion of those with old-world values, like the Brotherhood. Along that line, I think Ulysses would try to test her like he does Courier Six, and would schedule a launch to see what she does. Veronica would cancel the launch and resolve to never tell her brothers and sisters in Steel about the secrets of the Divide. She might dump some water on the consoles for good measure. More importantly, I think she might finally realize that the unchanging family she clings to can only die out, or go down the same path that Elijah did.

ED-E: Given that ED-E is a robot, I think Ulysses would be hell-bent on finding whoever sent the little guy rather than consider that the eyebot saw a package with Enclave markings on it, picked it up of its own accord, and deposited it wherever it next encountered old American symbols. Through its communication with the other eyebots in the Divide, I think ED-E would get the picture about the courier's quest for the responsible party and play dumb for as long as possible. The other ED-E would help conceal the mistake to save its new friend, but Ulysses isn't stupid and would eventually figure it out. But how do you effectively punish a robot? Maybe he would set the nukes to target the Divide again, to send any remaining eyebots to the scrapyard for good, but it's a long shot. If he did, ED-E would cancel the launch, but would join its override system capabilities to its counterpart's and use the combined decryption power to ensure that both eyebots make it through the ordeal unharmed.

Rex: This good boy would never even consider entering the Divide. Seriously, what dog in their right mind would go in there? What cyberdog? No thank you. Still, the idea of a dog being responsible for the nukes and Ulysses continuing to hold a grudge is beyond funny. Maybe Rex was part of a mission for the Legion when he still belonged to Caesar, part of the group that leveled the Divide on behalf of the Bull. Maybe that's why Antony says he was "lost in battle," and maybe he's the only surviving member of that squad. I don't see why Ulysses would hang around the Divide waiting for the dog to look upon the hell he'd wrought, and he would more than likely seek the canine out himself as soon as he heard about the King's new pet. From there, the story turns into Courier Six investigating an assassination attempt on a goddamned dog, and the events of Lonesome Road play out pretty much the same way they were written - plus plenty of asides about how Ulysses is going to way too much effort over a creature that can't comprehend what nukes are.

Benny Gecko: Few people know that Yes Man was actually one of two securitrons that Benny managed to incapacitate and reprogram, and while the head of the Chairmen hid his favorite in the Tops for safekeeping, he sent the other out into the world for some recon and experimentation. Imagine his surprise when Yes Man was able to remotely hack into a nuclear missile silo and wipe out a budding trade community. And who would've thought that test run was going to come back to bite him in the ass, right after he was sprung from the Legion camp? I think Benny would do everything in his power to avoid entering the Divide, but I also think Ulysses would have little patience for him and would actively force the disgraced city boy into walking the Courier's Mile by blocking any other path out of the Mojave. Benny would form an attachment to ED-E, similar to Yes Man, but would complain the whole way and confront his tormenter with little remorse. He would also nuke both the NCR and the Legion if he came away alive, probably with some snarky one-liner about "letting the chips fall where they may."

Vulpes Inculta: Vulpes already has a few scorched-earth badges on his Pioneer Scouts belt (Nipton, Camp Searchlight, etc.), so eliminating the Divide is just another tactic in the grand strategy playing out between the Bull and the Bear. All he needed to do was leave a certain package in town, and the problem basically solved itself. Unfortunately, that deserter of his wasn't buried under the wreckage, and now Caesar has ordered him to assassinate the renegade. The fool keeps announcing his whereabouts every few hours or so, making tracking an easy task, but by the third time he feels eyes on the back of his neck and turns to find nothing there, Vulpes can't help but wonder whether the student has surpassed the teacher. The final showdown of Frumentarii would be something for the ages, a clash of philosophies and loyalties with plenty of verbal sparring between the bullets. If he survived the encounter with Ulysses, Vulpes would definitely nuke the NCR.

Ulysses: This cut companion can't very well face off against himself, can he? Unless... he was the courier who accidentally brought the Enclave detonator that sealed the Divide's doom. Given the weight of this grief, I think Ulysses would similarly force himself to walk the length of the Divide, take in the utter destruction that his own actions had wrought, and reflect on the meaning of one man changing the course of history. When it came down to the final room, the final decision, our disillusioned courier would activate the launch as a way of testing himself, testing his own resolve. Like Cass, he would stare at the machines shuddering to life around him until the very last moment, before shutting the system down for good, smiling under his breathing mask and walking away forever.

Victor: The robot cowboy doesn't really know what the angry man on the eyebot keeps talking about. He certainly doesn't remember delivering a package to a place called Hopeville or Ashton. Why would he? Mr. House is very good about covering his tracks, particularly when it comes to eliminating business rivals. Really, it could have been any old securitron. Nevertheless, Victor rolls merrily along in search of the courier who summoned his master, letting his own optics passively take in the devastated wasteland left behind by bombs that launched 200 years too late. Because of his robotic nature, I think it'd be a lot easier for Ulysses to get the drop on Victor and disable him at the temple, then wait until House sent another envoy or came himself. House would probably lose interest as soon as he got his data, which I don't think would stall Ulysses much: Once he figured out the Strip's owner isn't coming, he'd find some way to get inside the Lucky 38. If, however, Victor prevailed in the final struggle, he would nuke both the NCR and the Legion on behalf of Mr. House.

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corvus--rex · 3 years

Text

The last one was the prequel to this one, which I actually wrote first. It's not even the beginning of the main story, but it was what I came up with first. Oh well. I wanted to do cyberpunk without it being Leakira (which I do love, I just wanted to do something different), and came up with this. I have played the shit out of Shadowrun tabletop, so a lot of it comes from that. And since it's part of the last post, it's still an Omegaverse :)

~*~*~*~

Lance backed away, raising his hands. “Hey, no need for that. I’m not even armed.”

The mercenary pointed with his weapon.

“Over here?” Lance asked, still playing the game. “Ok.” He walked over to the window of the high-rise. “Might want to watch that draft. Wouldn’t want to come down with something.”

His hard-wired comm picked up everything, making the assassin on the ledge outside chuckle. But he knew that it was his cue, and punched through the window feet first, his tech-enhanced boots forcing through the thick glass easily. The black monofilament blade glowed red with heat, cauterizing the sliced wound to the mercenary’s throat and killing him instantly. Lance pulled out a modified holdout pistol, taking out the overpaid mercenary that followed with perfect aim.

“Red! On your nine!” Lance yelled above incoming fire.

A small knife flew, catching the mercenary in the throat. Keith used his falling body as a springboard, launching himself at the next target. Both he and Lance heard the same thing over their comms.

“Comin’ in hot!” Shiro yelled.

Lance and Keith both knew what that meant. That meant that this semi-stealth mission was turning into a Russian stealth mission, and that it was coming in the form of Hunk’s gatling gun. Soon enough, they both heard the whine of a spinning barrel and the screaming of rapid laser fire. Mercenaries were still pouring in and the teammates knew that they would still have to fight their way out. Lance had already retrieved the files and uploaded Pidge’s traceless virus. All they needed to do was get out.

Keith spun in the air, knives flying, carving a path to the exit. As he turned, he caught sight of a mercenary coming up a little too quickly behind Lance. His violet eyes went wide, launching himself off walls, furniture, and bodies.

“BLUE!” he screamed as the mercenary drew a small pistol and fired.

Lance’s gasp caught in his throat, his free hand going to the exit wound in his chest and dropping to the floor. This was wrong. These were just mercenaries. And the Voltron Pack always wore heavily modified body armor. There was no way something so small should have been able to punch through that. In a blind rage, Keith hit the mercenary hard enough to pin him to the floor, drawing the ultraviolet hard-light blade he kept on his back. Pressing his thumb to a bioscanner on the hilt, the small knife expanded in an instant to the straight-edged ninjato, which he plunged through the mercenary’s chest plate. He turned the blade back, jamming it into its sheath.

“Blue’s down! We need evac! NOW!”

The laser bolt from the pistol meant that Lance’s wound was cauterized and he wouldn’t bleed out, but it didn’t keep him from going into shock. Keith barely had the presence of mind to retrieve both Lance’s and the mercenary’s weapons before returning to the marksman.

“Stay with me. Come on, Blue. Team’s coming. I need you to hold on. You’ll make it.” Keith was rambling, and he knew it. But he couldn’t help himself as he watched the light in his Alpha’s blue eyes dim.

The sound of electricity and the smell of ozone whipped past Keith’s senses, a small blur following. Several mercenaries dropped, the blur that was Pidge spinning, her electrified katar flying through the next throng. A powered whine and sharp crack felled a line of mercenaries, Allura quickly moving on to the next group with her whip. Knowing that backup had arrived, Keith focused on keeping Lance awake. The Alpha was only barely conscious, the bolt having blown straight through his lung.

“Come on, baby. Stay with me. Team’s here. We’re getting you out.”

Keith was desperately trying to keep his scent hopeful, but the fear and panic saturating his mate’s was overwhelming. Lance was afraid of dying, and it was looking like a very real possibility. The Alpha’s hand moved, a brief jerking spasm. Keith took it, pulling the tactical glove off and holding it to his face, softly kissing his mate’s palm.

“You’ll be ok. We’re getting out.”

Pidge came up, putting a gentle hand on the Omega assassin. “All clear. We need you to get him to the extraction point. Allura’s got the body of the one that got him.”

Keith hadn’t even noticed it was gone. But he had a new mission objective. Get his mate to safety. He shoved both weapons – Lance’s and the mercenary’s – into Pidge’s hands, and picked his mate up in a bridal carry, racing to the extraction point. Shiro was in the pilot’s seat of their VTOL, a specially built, modular one the Coalition named Atlas. Hunk and Allura were already onboard, Pidge bringing up the rear behind Keith. Allura rushed to help the Omega assassin. The limited medical supplies on the Atlas wouldn’t save Lance in the long run, but it was enough to get him back to base.

The Coalition Rebellion’s base was hidden within a high-rise owned by shell companies belonging to the financial backers of the rebellion. The three biggest supporters were Olkarion BioTech, owned and run by Claudia Ryner, a thin middle-aged woman who could flip between hard-ass CEO and a gentle maternal figure in a split second, Taujeer Chemicals, owned and run by a man only known as Baujal who never showed his face and always used a voice modulator, and The Garrison, manufacturers of weapons, armor, and vehicles, owned and nominally run by Ellen Sanda and more practically run by Cmdr. Iverson. They all wanted the megacorporation that ran the world, Daibazaal Industries, gone as much as everyone else.

The Atlas landed on the grounds of the Rebellion base, known only to the Coalition as the Castle of Lions. Medics were waiting to rush Lance to the medical floors, leaving Keith on the landing pad feeling like his soul had been ripped from his body. The rest of the Voltron Pack surrounded him protectively, and the worry, panic, and fear he’d kept carefully bottled up overwhelmed him and he dropped to the asphalt.

When the assassin woke, he was in a med floor bed. Pidge had set up a work station in the room, the weapon and punctured armor of the mercenary being run through her meticulous scanners. Hunk tinkered with Shiro’s cybernetic arm while Allura paced like a caged tiger. Keith sat up, a wave of dizziness making him lay down again. It got the attention of everyone in the room. Pidge adjusted the bed’s position remotely, allowing Keith to sit up without falling over. They were all at his side immediately.

“Surgery was successful,” Allura told him, “Lance will make a full recovery. He’s still out, and they want him in a completely neutral environment. The only medics allowed in are Betas.”

“I can’t see him?” Keith asked, worry and panic clouding his scent again.

“Not yet,” Shiro said, “He still needs to heal, and you know that pheromones can interrupt that process. Even a bonded mate’s.”

“I could probably get in, check up on him for you,” Pidge offered. There were few cases like Pidge where, even if the corporate-run nanny state hadn’t mandated sterilization for all Betas, she would most likely have done it anyway. The benefit in this case was that she was less likely to upset Lance’s healing.

“Please?” The Omega couldn’t keep the whining cry for his mate out of his voice.

Pidge nodded, placing a small hand on his arm.

“Oh!” Hunk said, darting over to the other side of the room. He came back with a high stack of blankets and pillows. “The medics don’t want you moving around much yet, but we figured you’d feel better with at least a small nest.” He went back, returning with another blanket in a sealed bag. “I went and got this one from your room.”

Keith didn’t need elaboration. He instinctively snatched the bag from Hunk’s hands, holding it close. They were his pack, and fully understood the state he was in. Pidge queued further processes for her scanners and left to check on Lance. Hunk went with her, as he was the only other Beta in the pack and could back her up when they got there. Shiro and Allura were the pack’s other Alphas, and while they wanted to see their packmate safe, they knew they couldn’t be near Lance. They could, however, ensure the safety of their pack’s Omega, and so stayed with him, only assisting with the nest when it was asked for.

Even with limited nesting materials, Keith still was able to build one that made him feel more secure, the soft fluffy blanket from the nest he shared only with his mate adding to the security. The shrill, distressed trill coming from him died down only when he fell asleep, wrapped in his mate’s scent and knowing that his pack’s two other Alphas were nearby.

When Keith woke next, Hunk and Pidge were back. He shot up in his nest, a soft questioning noise rolling up his throat.

“He’s doing better,” Pidge answered. She turned around. “It’s been about six hours since we left to check on him. They said that you can probably see him tomorrow morning, which is in,” she checked the time, “About four hours.”

“You should eat and rest,” Allura suggested softly. “If you’re exhausted and upset when you see him, it could make things worse.”

Keith knew she was right, but it didn’t make it better. He wanted his mate, his Alpha. He’d had to watch when he was shot, when he fell to the floor, had to watch as his beloved Alpha desperately clung to life. He wanted them to curl up in their nest together, safe in each other’s arms. The memories caused another distressed sound, this one harsher, even more shrill than before. The pack snapped to look at him, knowing that if Keith got any more worked up, he could go feral. It was a state more closely associated with Alphas, but it was certainly possible for Omegas. The kind of trauma he’d experienced that day combined with being separated from his mate was making things dangerous for him. Pidge dropped what she was doing, climbing into the nest. She was a packmate and therefore safe, but she was about as far removed from anything like Lance as possible and, therefore, was the safest person to be close to Keith. He curled up, still upset, but allowed her to hold him, reinforcing that he was safe.

It didn’t take long for him to fall asleep again.

He was woken next by Pidge gently shaking him, breakfast in hand. He accepted it, a soft sound escaping, his Omega brain still in control. After breakfast, that Pidge actually joined him in his nest for, she called for a medic, who came in and checked Keith over, clearing him for release. Pidge stuck close to him, going along to the next floor where Lance was still under medics’ care. But he was awake, and Keith darted inside, Pidge staying by the door.

The Omega curled up on his mate’s bed, softly nuzzling him. Lance ran his fingers through his mate’s hair, a large medical patch monitoring his biorhythms across the back of his hand. After a few minutes when Keith still hadn’t said anything he looked to Pidge, concern and confusion written across his face.

“He nearly went feral last night. Hasn’t spoken a word since then,” she explained.

The medics tried to make Keith leave when they were alerted to Lance’s shifts in his system caused by the sudden fear for his mate, but the Alpha insisted on his Omega staying. Pidge left, knowing Alpha-Omega mate-pairs in general and her packmates in particular. She knew how important their connection was and that if they were separated both would most likely turn feral, attacking anyone who got too close that wasn’t their mate. Shiro and Allura stood guard over the room from the outside, preventing anyone from entering they didn’t approve. One nurse claimed that she was just there to check up on Lance, but her scent told them she was lying and that she was most likely there to try and separate the pair again. Shiro’s tall, broad frame firmly kept her out. Pidge and Hunk had brought the nesting materials from both Keith’s hospital room and their own apartment in the Castle. Lance’s biorhythm readings were calmer than the medics had seen, and they stopped bothering him and his mate.

It wasn’t until the end of the day when Keith finally spoke for the first time. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“For a while, so did I,” Lance admitted, “But you got me out in time. You saved me, mi amor. We’re ok.”

Curled up in their temporary nest, wrapped in his Alpha’s arms, long, elegant fingers carding through his hair, Keith was able to sleep peacefully for the first time since the start of the mission.

~*~*~*~

Links to the rest of the series:

1 | 2 | 3* | 4 | 5* | 6* | 7 | 8 | 9* | 10 | 11 | 12* | 13 | 14 | 15* | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19* | 20* | 21* | 22*

#my writing #abandoned wips #keith kogane #lance mcclain #alpha lance mcclain #omega keith kogane #klance #keith x lance #abo #omegaverse #vld #voltron #voltron legendary defender

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the-silentium · 3 years

Text

Trial by Fire

Masterlist - Chapter 1

Fors is an Original planet. I do not give permission to people to use it for their own fics, the planet, the animals, the Nightmares, the lore or anything related to Fors. Thank you.

Pairing: Bad Batch x Reader

Words: 4020 words

Warnings: Blood, gore, monsters (yay).

A/N: Woohoo, action chap! From this point on, the will be blood on almost every chap. Be warned.

Taglist: @haloangel391 / @lightning-wolffe / @cherrydemon5 / @and-claudia

_____________________

"Something happened." One of the members spoke up, addressing the problem from his position at the end of the long table. "The planet is angry again."

"Why would they come back now?" Another asked, finger nervously tapping at his tight.

The man leading the council took a second, to release the armchair from his deadly grip, allowing blood to return to his white fingertips.

"We all know how it started." He didn't know why they were back, but he certainly knew who was the cause.

Whispers erupted from the dozen of people sitting at the table, accusations, hateful exclamations, worried questions, they all blended in a cacophony that beat at the leader's growing headache.

"Enough." He barked, effectively bringing silence back into the closed room.

"She's back and we need to find her. Send half of our available hunters into the jungle for a retrieval mission. No one is allowed back in until she's here."

"But Arlan," the head of the scouts paused, unsure of his own next words, "she's dead."

No one dared to breathe, in fear that they may be chosen to venture the darkness away from the village's protection if they dared to make a sound to disturb the stillness of the room.

"Apparently not." Arlan growled, frustrated that the thorn in his side was back.

____________________

You took a deep breath in to calm your buzzing nerves, they couldn't control you right now, not when everyone's lives, your family, was in danger. They needed you strong and in control, something you hoped you could be long enough to get the whole group to safety. It was your only chance. You had your instincts, they were sharp and trustworthy so you had to rely on them and not let panic overflow again.

You exhaled slowly, wiggling your fingers and toes to relax every inch of yourself. You could do it. You were an experienced hunter in these jungles and they were highly trained commandos with a flawless success rate. Let's not forget the fact that they had blasters. You were good with your knife, but it clearly wasn't the best weapon out there. Maybe the odds were in your favor.

But they were used to droids, not unpredictable monsters that loved to tear beings apart limb by limb. Tonight would be your trial by fire. For all of you.

"We need to be ready to meet them." You cracked your knuckles unconsciously, already picturing yourself in front of one of your nightmares.

You acknowledged Hunter's comment with a nod, already walking to the nearest tree to stab it with your knife and insert your loyal tap into the hole.

"We all drink before it's no longer possible. It's gonna be a long night and this is our last chance to do it." You pointed to Wrecker. "You first."

He obeyed in a beat, trusting your survival skills. You knew you'd need all the energy available and the sugary water would provide you just that. Also, you needed to be as hydrated as possible.

"Okay." You turned towards the rest of them, all their visors fixated on you. "So, I don't know much about them. There are different species that are common beliefs in my village and other species that are proper to other villages. But they all have in common to eat whatever cross their path and to roam solely at night."

Wrecker moved away from the tree, wiping his mouth with his wrist to make place for Tech who removed his helmet to drink.

"This planet is a trap." The grey-haired clone grumbled at your unhelpful lack of information.

"I know, I've lived here my whole life." You glared at him before concentrating again. "No one in my village ever came back from a night outside, so I don't know for sure what species are around. All I know is that there are Algax roaming around."

You signaled to Cross to take Tech's place.

"They are taaaall creature, with dark blue-ish skin and really long arms and legs. They are shy," you gesticulated your hands around to find the right word, but couldn't find it so you went with the first word that came to your mind, "things that tend to hide along the trees and grab their prey when they don't look. They don't eat the prey, just crush it to death and let it there for the other things."

You were losing time fast, the jungle was darkening with each passing minute and you were far from ready. There was too much to cover and so little time. Plus, there was the fact that what you knew wasn't 100% reliable. Beliefs change from people to people, from village to village, who knows what version of the stories these beasts really came from?

"And they're super sneaky and silent. Hunter your turn." You announced a tad too dryly, but no one called you out on it, maybe because they were as on edge as you were, mentally preparing themselves for what was to come as best as they could considering they didn't really know what was to come.

"I'll do this quick so listen. And Tech, listen really really carefully. Rule number one, if you see a light, something cute, something scary, hear a sound or hear your name being called, you. Do. Not. Follow it."

"They know our names?" Tech's hands stopped mid-air, his helmet almost back on his head, eyes wide in surprise.

"The planet hears us talk. Of course they know." You almost rolled your eyes at the stupid question coming from the team's genius. Ears everywhere duuh.

"Rule number two, don't eat or drink anything from now on. Can't have one of us puke their guts or get poisoned or paralyzed." Out of the corner of your eyes, you clearly saw a shiver shake the sniper's body. Lesson learned.

"Number three, if I say run, you all run. In the same direction would be best, but if it comes down to it, you run and don't stop. We'll regroup afterward. You have trackers on us, right?"

"If you keep your comlink on you, yes." You patted your pockets in reflex, hand closing around the small object to confirm its presence and alleviate your concerns.

"Last rule, if I do this," the index, middle and ring finger of your free-hand closed to let only your thumb and pinky pointing to the ground, "you have to hide, absolutely don't run. Hide. Some of them are guided by movements and you'll only attract them."

"Hide? But we can blast 'em!" Wrecker's enthusiasm didn't affect you this time around. It was a first.

" 'm just no sure they'll stop moving if you do. Best to make our way around unnoticed."

He grumbled his disappointment at having to be silent, it never has been his forte. Plus, he had the added difficulty to hide his imposing stature, so this would be a challenge. Thankfully their armors were almost entirely black, would they have been the usual white with color stripes, it certainly would have been even more difficult to blend in with the vegetation.

It felt weird giving them orders, like you were totally out of place. And in a sense you were. The newbie wasn't supposed to command the trained soldiers. The newbie followed behind and shut its mouth.

Well, at least that's what you've always been told and that's what you've always done. It was no use to fight with the other hunters. They were a group of dickheads that deserved hell, but they had more muscles than you. And they were outnumbering. Aaand they were watching each other's back, whereas you were alone without any backup. All that being said, it didn't stop you from making them pay for their hurtful words, harsh treatments, condescending tones and constant bullying, one way or the other.

For the first time, people let you lead them and it was unsettling. A part of your mind waited for the inevitable low blow to hit you square in the face. You knew the commandos weren't like that, but you couldn't help it. It was a defensive reflex you developed over the years of trying to fit in a world that you were too different to live in. It was totally foreign to be listened to and not berated down, it felt good and terrifying at the same time.

"Understood?" Your voice softened into an unsure tone, its once imperativeness melted under the weight of your anxiety of being listened to.

One after the other, they all nodded, gazes full of determination and something else that almost made you sweat. They all showed their trust in you, even Crosshair who you thought didn't like you much, offered you his trust. It meant way too much and stressed you beyond measure. You couldn't let them down and have them killed. Any single one of them.

Nodding in return, you walked to the tap beside Hunter and forced yourself to swallow the water, pushing down the lump that formed in your throat. You could do it. You could survive the night if you played your cards right. With your knowledge and their excellent combat skills surely you could defend yourselves. Right?

"Blasters ready gentlemen. We have to find a shelter as quickly as possible." You removed the tap from the tree and hid it back into a pocket.

"A den should be alright or a small cave."

With one last look at the four of them, you noded to yourself.

"Good night, good luck." You told them as per habit and hope that the saying would somehow protect you all. Your usual joking self was nowhere to be seen, letting you wear a mask of complete seriousness.

They tensed, apparently getting on the fact that this was an important custom on this planet.

"Good night, good luck." They repeated, one after the other, causing you to smile tightly at the gesture.

You took North, continuing away from the ship and into unknown territory. You knew that after a while you'd eventually fall into Forsians hunting territories and then you'd have a better knowledge of the terrain, but those parts of the jungle were still hours away. Hopefully, you'll be able to climb up and make your way back to the ship before getting there.

"Will you be alright to walk in the dark?" Crosshair's voice erupted from your pocket and you knew this wouldn't work. Each time they'd speak the whole jungle would hear.

"I'll be fine. Like I said, the best mutate to survive." You winked at the white crosshair on the sniper's helmet. "I can see in the dark. Not full 10/10 on the chart, but enough so I won't ram into a tree."

You fished the comlink out of your pocket and showed it to Tech who was rummaging around in his utility belt pockets.

"Can't have it screaming my position every time someone spea-"

"I know." He cut you off, presenting you an earpiece.

"This will do." He took your device to connect them together, or so you think. "There. You'll hear us through the earpiece but you still need the comlink to talk."

He gave you back the electronics and you quickly put the earbud on, comlink returning to your satisfyingly deep pocket.

"Thanks. We should continue to follow the ravine and hope that we can climb it at some point and return to the ship."

Agreements resonated in your right ear and you got on your way. It got darker and darker until the only colors you could see were different shades of blue and black.

The silence around was nerve-wracking, every tree seemed like it would turn around and jump at you at each and every step you took.

It was nice to quickly fall back in your old habits, feet barely making a sound, eyes recognizing every scratches and marks on the trees let by multiple species marking their territories; Dire bears, Lacergans, Fu-

You almost jumped at the low rumbling whisper right in your ear. Thankfully, your scream stayed in your mind and the only thing jumping was your heartbeat.

"Movement ahead." You couldn't hear shit, but you trusted Hunter's heightened senses.

You stopped, the boys getting into their shooting positions at your sides. You could do it.

"Smell like death." Hunter added with a grunt of displeasure.

The new information registered like a cold bath, freezing every muscle in your body. The ice-cold bath that just fell over your head paralyzed any transfer of information between the neurons in your brain, leaving you totally helpless for a whole second. Your brain was still out of service when your body just moved on its own, already knowing what to do despite the lack of orders from above.

The three middle fingers of your free hand closed, letting only your thumb and pinky pointing to the ground, clearly informing the clones of the course of action. Thankfully, all their gazes got attracted by your moving hand, immediately changing the formation.

Twiggs broke a bit to the right, still far enough for you to dodge behind a tree undetected, soon joined by Tech who as opposed to you, faced the tree. His chest plate pushed on your torso to get closer to the tree, one of his blasters raised right next to your head, the other grazing your upper arm, caging you in a position that would be extremely hot in totally different circumstances and with a totally different clone.

At the corner of your eyes, you thankfully noticed Wrecker's imposing form hiding as best as he could behind a particularly thick bush, Hunter standing behind a tree next to him, weapon pointed towards the sky above. Crosshair was nowhere to be seen, so you hoped it meant he found a good spot.

Rustling leaves and moving grass made you freeze completely. No one moved as the footsteps got nearer and nearer. Of course, this was the first creature you'd encounter. Kribats were the worst creature one could run into.

They were told to feast on human flesh like there was no tomorrow. They were starved, walking the jungle every night in hope of biting down on some stupidly brave human who ventured the night, but these times were rare nowadays. Almost no one got out at night, reinforcing their desperation for human blood.

It was told that they could paralyze you in fear at simply one glance to their wicked red eyes, allowing the beast to pound on its victims and take their life. It wasn't clear how it killed its preys, but all the versions were unanimous, it was a bloodbath.

Fors really seemed to hate the Bad Batch.

If it wasn't enough that the most dangerous monster was hot on your asses, Tech's recording light flashed to life, illuminating your position and burning your retina like a mighty beacon. With a fast but careful movement, you reached around his arm encasing your body into the tree to cover the red traitorous light.

Blinking the tears away, you really hoped your glare got the message perfectly clear to the engineer. Forget about your hobby for one night, you dumbass!

The rustling grass behind Hunter's tree stopped your breathing, all senses focussed on the beast's movements to know if it detected your group or not.

Tech's eyes visibly widen behind his visor at the ungodly sight of the creature's emaciated body, the skull of a cervid posed atop a male human body rivaling Wrecker's height was disturbing, but not as disturbing as the sight of all the blood covering its dark skin. There was so much blood that it pooled at its feet, leaving behind a river-like path in the grass.

The low ragged rumble of the monster passed your tree, surprising you that he hadn't bounced on it to grab you from behind. You glanced at its retreating form and oh this is new. Your version of a Kribat didn't have a feathery tail trailing behind. Now, what could this be useful for? They couldn't fly, could they?

The Kribat wandered deeper into the depth of the jungle, leaving its imprint on everyone's mind as well as on the jungle floor and all your noses and mouths.

You waited for a little longer, just to be sure that it was far enough to not catch its attention before nodding to Tech.

"Clear." He whispered through the comm.

The first breath you took in almost pulled you to your knees. The smell was atrocious, grabbing you at your throat. Decomposition, blood, acids, they all mixed to form a rancid smell that you could almost taste.

"What in the Nine Corellian Hells is that?" Crosshair stood from behind a dead trunk on the ground to join everyone at the dark trail.

"Human blood, flesh and organs." The shredded pieces of meat here and there turned your stomach upside down.

You were used to flesh and blood. Heck. You were a hunter and often butched your meals yourself. But this flesh was human and the state of it only left you to imagine was it must have felt like to be ripped apart. You didn't want to speculate if the victim was alive or not when it happened.

"Kribats are craving human flesh but they don't have a digestive system. It gets in and gets out, so they're never satiated."

"So this one just ate?" Wrecker approached behind you. Now faced with what these beasts were capable of, his enthusiasm disappeared somewhere, letting him wary and if only a little bit scared.

"It looks like it." You fixed the blood, deep in thoughts. Why were there humans out tonight?

"I thought no one was supposed to be out at night." Tech inquired while disconnecting the red light on his helmet.

"They're not supposed to be. It means that something's wrong." You sighed. Tonight couldn't get any better. The planet was throwing a tantrum.

There was nothing you could do about it, so you focussed back on the present. You swallowed to keep yourself from puking as you dropped to your knees before the red river.

"And what are you doing?" Crosshair asked, not daring to approach the thing himself.

"Camouflaging my smell of a juicy living being." With shaky hands, you plunged your fingers through the sticky mixture. You gaged at the feeling but covered your sleeves nonetheless.

"You guys should cover your armor too. Lucky bastards." At least it wouldn't touch their skin.

"No way." Crosshair groaned as Tech walked over asking "Why?"

"Because I want us to survive the night." You deadpanned. There was no time to explain the how and why.

You stopped breathing for a second to cover your torso and pants, cringing at the warm wetness soaking the fabric. You allowed yourself a second to mourn your once perfect clothes that you loved so much. You'd have to burn them after only one day wearing them.

At your sides the boys reluctantly followed your lead, grunting in disgust every two seconds.

You decided to forget your face, this would end badly for your stomach.

Turning around as you wiped your hands on a clean spot on your pants, you noticed Hunter's clean body leaning on a tree for support, head tilted down with a hand over his heart. You didn't need to be a Jedi to feel his distress at the overwhelmingly nauseating smell.

"You okay?" His visor lifted to meet your eyes at your worry. You controlled yourself and refrained from pulling him in a hug, you'd only make it worse.

"Yeah." But he sounded far from okay.

"We have to continue, but if you stay close, we all should be able to hide your smell without rolling you into the stuff." He grunted in agreement.

Tech, Crosshair and Wrecker joined your sides, covered in the mixture.

"Okay. We continue."

Hoping that your sergeant would get used to the smell, you took the lead once more. You didn't know if his mutation would allow his brain to stop registering the smell after a couple of minutes like everyone else. You mentally crossed your fingers for him.

The trees seemed taller into the dead of night. The occasional moon rays passing through the leaves made the heavy ambiance slightly more bearable.

You wondered what a night outside looked like on another planet where no monsters crept their way around. Where you could lay down and watch the stars, not through a tiny crack in the rock like you used to in your village and fully admire the high sky, illuminated by a sea of sparkling orbs. You deeply wanted to experience it with your team who would definitely think you stupidly simple.

But they would understand. After tonight, they would.

Your progression was steady for a while, every ears and eyes were focussed around to detect any unwanted creature lurking in the shadows.

Back to his collected usual self, Hunter finally seemed used to the smell plaguing his nose. To add to the good news, you spotted a mature tree, particularly large. At first glance, it looked like it reached the top of the ravine.

Excitement flooded your veins, a hand lifting to stop the group who tensed in alert.

"I think this one could get us up." You whispered to them, pointing at the tree.

"It definitely could." Tech scanned the tree, the others still watching the surroundings.

"I'll go check." You broke away from the formation to get to the closest branch.

"Wait-" A hand caught your upper arm.

"Hunter, I'm the best climber here. Plus, you guys will make too much sound for a recon with your armor. I'll make it quick." Your determined eyes met his visor, not willing to get back on your position.

"Be careful." He released you to position his team around the tree.

You send him a quick salute before pulling yourself up the tree. You kept your knife in one hand and climbed up several branches. The next one was pretty high, too high for you to reach it without jumping. Your knife found its home at the side of your boot and you focussed on your jump. Crouching slightly, you suddenly extended your legs and pushed with considerable force. Both hands grabbed the top of the desired branch before letting your biceps do the rest of the work.

"Are you okay?" Hunter called through the comm.

Leaning on the trunk, you reached in your pocket to retrieve the communication device.

"Yeah, had to jump to continue. Think I'm almost at the top. I'll be down soon." You answered, looking up to the thinning branches where more moonlight pierced the darkness.

"Copy that."

Your comm returned to your pocket to free your hands. Up. Up. Up. In the same minute, you made it to the top. The moon was still low, not fully visible above the line of trees obstructing your vision.

Now, you noticed that the edge of the damn ravine seemed barely close enough for you to jump there. Maybe Wrecker could throw you there. But how would he reach the top? Checking under the edge, the lack of roots keeping the ground stable was highly disappointing. Even if you were to jump all the way there, the chance of the dirt crumbling under your fingers was too high.

Quickly, you grabbed your comm to let the boys know that you were coming back.

With a grumble, you started to descend, moving gracefully from branch to branch without making a sound. The gap you jumped looked pretty big from above, causing you to hesitate for the shortest of seconds. The need to get down was more pressing than your unease so you braced yourself and pushed yourself off your perch to the one below.

You landed perfectly, both feet on the hard surface, hands wrapped around it tightly to not move further.

For a second, you were perfectly stable. The next you were falling through the air, propelled by the body hitting you full force. Wood painfully came in contact with your shoulders, arms and back, emptying your lungs before a scream could escape your lips.

#bad batch x reader #tech x reader #wrecker x reader #crosshair x reader #hunter x reader #sergeant hunter #clone force 99 #clone wars #star wars #good night good luck

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beautifulterriblequeen · 3 years

Note

Ruthari angst prompt 48 (guest starring Viren & Co)?👉👈

“Can you promise me no one else has to get hurt?”

okay wow, WOW, okay, okay fam, I see how it is, I see it. But I’m gonna give it a stabby little twist.

cw and tags: death, corpse, blood, dark Ethari, today in things that are worse than death, triggered Runaan trying to reenact his last mission but with Viren and Claudia

_________________________

The dark mage’s body lay where it had fallen when Runaan kicked it free of his blade. Its blood pooled atop the smooth stone, gleaming oddly black even in the filtered light beneath the forest canopy.

Ethari couldn’t tear his eyes from Viren’s, which stared black and unseeing toward the sky. He knew Runaan took lives. He knew it, he knew. But to see it happen right in front of him, with deadly efficiency and not a whisper of warning... His own blood ran cold.

A drop of blood slid from the tip of Runaan’s sword and landed atop a delicate white flower petal. The assassin still hadn’t looked up. Stood like a panting statue.

The girl snapped out of her shock first. “How could you? How dare you?” she shrieked, darting forward. “I’ve already lost my father once! You monster! Do you know what I had to do to get him back last time? Do you?”

Ethari managed to snag a handful of her sleeve before she could get close enough to Runaan to become his husband’s second victim in twenty seconds. “Wait--”

Claudia tried to jerk free. She bared her teeth at him, and her lips began to form accursed words. In horror, Ethari wrapped an arm around her shoulders and clapped a hand over her mouth. “No, no, don’t! Please don’t!” he blurted, holding her securely. His eyes were locked on Runaan, though. Maybe he hadn’t heard her...?

He had. Runaan’s lashes flicked as he raised his icy, unforgiving gaze to study Claudia. There was no mercy in the set of his jaw, no quarter in the curl of his lip. He took a step toward her.

Ethari backed up, bodily lifting Claudia with him, and turned protectively to shield her. “Runaan, please. Please, enough. She’s a child.”

Runaan didn’t slow. “She spared me for her father’s attentions. She knew what he was going to do.”

Claudia jerked her mouth free of Ethari’s hand. “You deserved it! You murdered King Harrow!”

Runaan’s expression didn’t change. “Swiftly, and with all the mercy I just gave your father. Lord Viren... has long since forgotten what mercy is.”

“You’re just a glorified murderer! You don’t deserve mercy for what you do to us!”

Runaan’s grimace deepened, and he met Ethari’s eyes as if to say, Do you understand now why I never trust humans?

Ethari did see, but he was more horrified that he might not be able to persuade Runaan to spare Claudia’s life. He couldn’t help but remember the last time he’d hugged Rayla, grateful and guilty all at once. “Please, give me a moment, I think I can find another way here.”

That did give Runaan pause. “Ethari. There is only one way here. She must be stopped.”

“Stopped and killed are not the same thing!” Ethari shouted.

Runaan blinked at him as if seeing him for the first time.

Claudia glanced between the husbands, unafraid. “Yeah, good luck with that. You Moonshadow elves killed my dad once before, but I brought him back. You think death is scary to me anymore?“

Runaan flicked his sword and turned back toward VIren, as if to make him more dead somehow. Ethari’s stomach turned. “Runaan, she’s... she’s just a girl. Like Rayla. If I can find a way to fix this, can you promise me no one else has to get hurt?”

Runaan stopped again. His hand flexed around the handle of his sword. Slowly, he turned to look back over his shoulder. “No. I can’t.”

The craftsman’s heart fractured, and its pain sent shockwaves through his chest. He had moments to act before Runaan claimed the initiative again. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he whispered to Claudia. He let go of her and turned her to face him, meeting her eyes with his own tearful ones. “I can’t let him kill you.”

Claudia quirked a doubtful eyebrow up at him. “Yeah? Whatcha got, Big Guy? You going to tackle him so I can escape or something? You think he won’t stab you? Look at him. Assassins are killing machines. You can’t stop him by yourself. You’ll need my help.”

Ethari’s bottom lip trembled. “No. You need mine, little one. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry...” He took her face in his hands.

Claudia’s eyes widened. “Wait, what are you doing?”

Ethari closed his eyes and concentrated. Moon magic flared blindingly from his fingertips, surrounding Claudia’s head like a halo.

“No, please! Please stop, stop!” Claudia wailed.

“Ethari!” Runaan spun around and ran toward him. “Ethari, stop!”

But Ethari knew his enchantments backward and forward, and--in this case--inside out. The spell was complete before Runaan’s hand clamped onto his wrist and jerked it away from the young dark mage’s head.

With wide turquoise eyes, Runaan stared at his husband’s handiwork. “What have you done?” he breathed.

Ethari took a step away from them both. His hands shook as the magic faded from Claudia’s face, leaving her eyes blank and pure white, matching half of her hair. She stood still, calm. Empty. He hands drooped to her sides.

“What have you done?” Runaan repeated.

Ethari gulped. The weight of his choice settled in his gut like an avalanche into a lake. “Stopped her.”

Runaan waved a hand in front of Claudia’s eyes. The girl didn’t respond. He turned her chin with a cautious finger and stared into her face for a long, long moment. Finally, he let his hand drop. His eyes found Ethari’s. “She’s not there anymore.” His voice was faint with shock.

“So you don’t need to kill her, right?” Ethari murmured hopefully.

“Can you bring her back?” Runaan pressed.

“I don’t know,” Ethari stalled, afraid Runaan would ask him to, immediately.

The killing rage had gone from Runaan’s tone and posture. But the look that replaced it was one of unease, alarm, even disgust. “Ethari... this is not mercy,” he said quietly. He adjusted his sword grip. “A soul needs its body.”

“No, no, please--” Ethari blurted, nearly in tears. Everything he’d just done had been to spare Runaan, and Claudia too! Why couldn’t Runaan see that? He reached out, not sure if he was stretching toward Claudia or Runaan.

“Well well well, this is a fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into, craftsman. Whatever will you do now?” The voice, low and self-satisfied, came from behind them.

Runaan and Ethari whirled in surprise. Claudia remained unseeingly blank, staring off to the right.

Viren’s corpse was just getting to its feet. It brushed itself off with debonair grace, wearing a broad, lopsided grin full of too many teeth. It tsked in annoyance at the large cut over its heart, and the heavy red stain that marked its white garment. Then, with a flick of its hand, the rent in the cloth mended itself, and the bloodstain vanished. Viren’s visage brightened to the picture of health, complete with sparkling gray eyes--no. They’d gone purple.

“Who are you?” Runaan challenged, aiming his sword at the reanimated corpse.

Viren’s head tilted back with a low, charming laugh. “We meet again, assassin. Last time I saw you, you were wearing fewer shirts. But you’re nearly as resourceful as I am, it seems. I suppose congratulations are in order for managing to escape Viren’s penny circus. Apparently, there is more than one way to release from the world beyond life and death.”

“’Viren’s penny-’ Runaan, who is this?” Ethari asked under his breath. He lowered his chin and balled his hands into fists.

But Runaan’s eyes had gone wide in horror. “You...”

Viren’s body burst with violet and pink light, vanishing within a taller illusion that took solid form and offered a graceful, swoop-horned bow.

“Me.” Aaravos smirked. “Now, I can do better than your bloodsoaked husband, craftsman.” He held out a violet hand and smiled expectantly. “Give me the girl, and I will promise you that no one else has to get hurt.”

#tdp angst #ruthari angst #runaan #ethari #claudia #viren #aaravos #unexpected star touch #what can i say i love killing viren #and letting aaravos be a dramatic bitch #also nooooo ethari what did you dooooo #well i mean. i know. but holy cats that's dark #mwa ha ha it's angsty

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jostepherjoestar · 3 years

Note

Imagine if over time everyone notices Trisha’s twin seems to getting more distant and focused on the goal. When they ask her what’s wrong she avoids the question but what everyone doesn’t know is that for everyone to get out alive either her or her sister has to die and she decided that she would protect trish like her sister has down for her over the years

Una Gemella (fic 1,5k)

Decided to name Trish’s twin Claudia after Claudia Schiffer, the famous 90′s model since Trish is also named after one. I hope you can enjoy this, it’s pretty sad and basically a totally different ending to part 5. Whoo boy.

part 1 and part 2 of the ask

Content warning: wounds, death

Under their capo’s watchful gazes, the merry band of gangsters actually worked together for their common goal: to take down Diavolo. With their combined strengths they’d figured out much more information, a lot faster. But with their collaboration also came the discovery that two of his own divisions were working against him, Diavolo went into quite a fit of rage, especially knowing that his two daughters had developed stands. His hatred only grew stronger and his lust to rid the planet of anyone who knew his history only further developed.

In some miraculous way no-one had lost their lives, of course there were less battles to be fought, having to no longer see the assassins as their enemies and vice versa. Diavolo had sent his Unità Speciale onto the large team with a few extra recently added members so he’d be sure of the traitor’s demises. Of course they all knew that Doppio was in fact protecting and housing part of their enemy, thanks to Claudia’s recently acquired stand.

Knowing how large the threat was, Diavolo decided to unleash all hell in Rome on the combined teams arrival. Night had fallen and all seemed normal, tourists were loudly enjoying their dinners, lovers enjoyed their romantic walks past the centuries old monuments, families put their children to bed. That calm was disrupted by the many stand attacks that would mark the city for years to come. The teams had decided to split up so they’d all have enemies to fight at the same time, urging for the safest way to ensure a quick end to the chaos.

On their way to the Colosseum to meet Polnareff about the arrow, Claudia seemed even more focused, there was barely any trace left of the shivering, crying girl from a few days ago. She’d hardened quickly, perhaps too quickly. Her more stern sister even being surprised to see her twin this way. Risotto, Giorno, Bruno, Trish and Claudia had formed their team and quickly met with the Frenchmen. Claudia offering short and stern answers, she’d already seen what would happen and there was no time to waste. Her father was lurking in this very spot. She knew she had no choice, there was no future in which they all could survive if she and Trish both lived. One of them had to go, she was sure of her resolve, Claudia was dying tonight.

Claudia had ignored or brushed off her companions concerns until Risotto cornered her. He knew there was something going on and he was sure to find out. “Tell me what’s going on. We are a team, you need to talk to us.” he said in a stern but concern filled voice. Before she would have been afraid to look the capo right into his crimson eyes but now she took it head on. “I have to die. There is no other way. Your men will suffer, Bucciarati’s will too if nothing is done.” the strength in her voice trembling as she felt tears pushing to release. She held them back with all her might but her trembling hand betrayed her true feelings. Risotto understood. He had put his trust in her since she first called the meeting, admiring her bravery for such a youngster.

The tall silver haired man sighed deeply, he didn’t even hide the pain behind his eyes. He was going to miss this one. He knew she wouldn’t change her mind, she was going to make the ultimate sacrifice. He didn’t ask how or when, he knew enough to deduct that it was soon. He didn’t want to make peace with her decision but he knew he had too. She could feel Diavolo getting closer, Trish could too. The two capo’s strategising inside the old rings of the crumbling monument but it was too late for that, the pink haired villain had already made his entrance, no longer using Doppio to protect himself.

It was time. The attacks were brutal but their team had the advantage of knowing his powers, even though it didn’t help much. The rage behind his hits were felt, Bruno and Giorno had taken quite the beating already. Diavolo’s plan was to work his way down to his “beautiful daughters” as he so lovingly said. Risotto stayed close to Claudia, somewhere hoping that it didn’t need to end the way it was going to. The solemn nod the youth gave to him made him aware the moment was nearing. Bruno had been incapacitated, Giorno by his side to protect him from any more harm for the moment. The blond looked not that much better off than his capo, his stand could only do so much.

Claudia was alert, knowing the direction her father would strike from, sure to protect her sister who’d taken place beside her. “I want you to finish him Trish, no mercy. I know you can. Do it for us, Risotto will help.” she told her sister, voice beginning to shake, avoiding her sisters confused gaze. She would only tear up at the sight of her. “Claudia what are you talking about? We’ll do it together. Ok?” Trish’s confusion distracting her from the incoming attack. It nearly hit her but not before her sister pushed her aside to accept the blow. Giant pieces of stone rubble had been hurled at them, smaller rocks hitting Trish and Risotto, a plume of dust camouflaging Claudia’s body from view. A pang of fear struck them as they saw her crushed beneath the large stone, barely breathing. Diavolo was still hiding behind pillars to avoid counter attacks, awaiting to see the result of his.

“Claudia! No!” Trish couldn’t hold herself back and rushed to her sister, tears already falling down her flushed cheeks, Risotto following suit. The pink haired sisters holding onto each others hands, Trish pleading for her to stay awake. “Giorno please help her! You have to, please!” she begged her teammate who’d gotten up to fight again. Risotto placed his hand on her shoulder. “It’s no use. It had to be this way. I’m... sorry.” he sternly said. But the sight before him tore at his heart, it shouldn’t have to end this way. “She’s not dead yet you fucking idiot. Giorno get over here!” Trish spitting her orders as her tears wet the ground beneath her. Claudia still faintly breathing, eyes fluttering. “You have to do it Trish... Do it for us. Kill that bastard... It had to be.” she could barely talk, shallow breaths sputtering her through her sentence. Her hand feeling numb from her sisters squeeze, like the pressure would somehow save her from her fate. “We have to keep fighting Trish, I’m sorry.” Giorno said with a solemn tone, knowing not even his healing powers could save her.

Risotto stayed by Claudia’s side, the tear stained sister focusing her anger on her father, not ready to say goodbye to her twin just yet. While Giorno and Trish continued, the capo’s large hand had taken the frail one in his. “You did really good out there kid. It takes balls to be a gangster but what you did? I don’t know what to say...” he could feel his heart swell with sadness for the coming loss. She was slipping fast. “Maybe in another life we’ll do it right.” a sad smile the last thing that would grace her beautiful face as she whispered her last words. Risotto knew it was time to help the remaining team finish off the cruel man. His sadness fuelling his resolve to fight on, holding on to her last words. Maybe in another life.

The end was in sight. Giorno had evolved his powers and was able to bring the devil himself to his knees before him. He looked pathetic, his eyes filled with fear he wasn’t going to admit to. Trish walked over, the tears having dried, remnants of dust making the watery paths visible on her cheeks. She bore her heel into the ribs of her father making him hiss and cough in response. “This is for Claudia you filthy bastard! Enjoy this pain now, you’ll be wishing you felt it again because wherever you’re going is a million times worse. You’re the most disgusting being I’ve ever laid my eyes on!” she spit on his face, she would have never done this in any other situation, thinking it a disgusting act, but now her rage was acting for her. Trish let Giorno finish him off, sending Diavolo into his own personal hell.

When he was finally gone Trish fell to her knees, not even caring about scuffing her skin. There was a faint relief, knowing there would be no more fighting, no more worrying. But it hurt, god it hurt so bad. She knew sacrifices had to be made to complete the mission but this... It wasn’t what she imagined. Her sobs returning, it felt like the tears would never stop. Bruno and Giorno placing themselves by her side to console her as best as they could. They sat by her until the sun had starting rising again, lighting the way for the dawn.

Like Claudia had predicted, all men were safe. Some worse off than others but they were all still breathing. Risotto felt a gaping emptiness in his soul, the little one had left quite the mark on him. Maybe next time, in another life, they’ll be luckier.

#cozy ask #la squadra x reader #jjba x reader #ngl i sobbed while writing this #am sensitive baby ok #la squadra #la squadra fic #risotto x reader #bruno x reader #giorno x reader #trish x reader #diavolo x reader #jjba fic #jjba part 5 #team bucciarati

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victoria-daydreams · 3 years

Text

Of Vices and Virtues

Chapter Seventeen: Everything Falls in Place

AN: I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a relatively good day, hope you enjoy this chapter.

Word Count: 3.7k

Trigger Warnings: none

Taglist: @azayamari

Chapter Eighteen: The Night Before

Dinner was a grim, silent affair, tomorrow is the big day. We fly to Cuba, and try to save the world. But what happens then? I pushed my nearly full plate away and excuse myself from the dining room. In truth, I am starving, but anything I eat had a hard time stay down for long. I decided to get some fresh air, and hopefully that would clear my head. I put my plate back into kitchen, Charles had offered to accompany me, but I kindly declined with the of excuse needing time to think by myself. He understood completely and gave me my space.

I found myself at the doors of the deck. It was a stone structure and had steps leading down onto a gravel path that continued straight into the garden, and wrap around the house as well. The deck itself had a table and chairs, along with a couple of tastefully placed flower pots. I eyed an old key that was already stuck in the door and turned it, pushing the mahogany slab open as I slipped out of the building.

The fresh air felt nice against my warm skin and I let my eyes slide shut, allowing the cool night air to wash over me, breathing in deeply to calm my nerves.

"For the longest time I had nightmares about the things Shaw did to me," I jumped at the sudden lush, velvet like voice emerging out of nowhere. "It took awhile, but they finally stopped after I came to terms with my mother's death, and the things he did," Erik said, as he came and stood next to me as we looked out the sprawling greenery before us.

"And here we are, on the eve of coming face to face with Shaw," I said, gripping the stone railing. "I know you've been waiting for this moment for a long time Erik," I continued, feeling his eyes on me.

"I have," Erik agreed, with a nod of his head. A silence fell between us and my mind began to wonder about tomorrow again. "Tell me Claudia," he started, and I turned my head to look at him. "What did you feel after Professor Lewis' death?" Erik asked

"Relief," I answered truthfully. "A sense of relief. He couldn't hurt me any longer," I stated, breathing in the night air whipping around us once more. "Is that what you want Erik? Relief?" I questioned, cautiously sliding my hand over to Erik's. "Peace?" I uttered softly, hesitating but then placed my hand on top of his.

The instant our hands touched, I saw into his mind, his pain.

"I can't do it, Herr Schmidt. I'm so sorry," a little boy whimpered, bruised and bloody.

He stood in front of a man, his body swaying. His face was gaunt, tears rolled silently down his cheeks. The man sighed, shaking his head and letting out a tsking sound before slapping him hard across the face. The boy stumbled into the wall, pain rocking through him. Pressure. Anguish. Anger. Grief. Rage. Helplessness. Despair. Everything mixed into one, and he couldn't stop it...

I exited Erik's mind, lifting my head and locking my eyes with his, "There is so much pain," I muttered pursing my lips, my heart ached, as I had felt the pain he had felt once upon a time.

"You know what I must do tomorrow Claudia," Erik whispered, and I looked down at our hands.

"Yes, I do," I answered, slowly moving away from him.

I removed my hand from his and decided to head back inside. Before I could take another step, he took hold of my arm. He looked up at me as if he wanted me to stay.

"You told me not to long ago that we would get Shaw, but now you have this disapproving look on your face," Erik commented, as he arched that perfect brow of his.

"I don't know...it's just that I have a bad feeling tomorrow," I explained quietly, looking down. "What if-" I began, but stopped when Erik placed his other hand on my cheek, forcing me to look up at him.

My heart beat quickened, I felt like hyperventilating as I met his stare. I wanted to stay, however at the same time I wanted to runaway from the suffocating tension between us.

"What if what?" Erik asked curiously.

"What if you kill Shaw and it opens a Pandora's box?" I proposed, my stomach starting to flip due to our closeness, but for the life of me I could not move away from him.

"It won't," Erik assured. "But if it does I'll be there to protect you," he added, pushing some of my hair behind my ear.

"How brave of you," I breathed, as he gently grasped my other arm. Erik slowly began leaning into me, my heart began to pound in my chest. "I-I need to go, I think I hear Charles calling me," I excused lamely, pointing behind me.

As if he was stung, he let go of me instantly and quickly looked away. I said something he didn't want to hear. However it was something we both needed and I couldn't blame him nor myself for trying. I walked, nay, I nearly ran away from Erik as I tried to slow my racing heart.

"How on earth was I going to stand staying here?"

~~~x~~~

One hour.

That's how long it's been since I left Erik on the deck alone after another near kiss encounter which was becoming a more frequent occurrence as the days went by. I ran my fingers through my hair, frowning as I walked quickly through the mansion, not wanting to be followed. I had just left the kitchen wanting a glass of water before I headed for my room. While on my silent journey I felt the sudden need to stop as I approached a cracked door, cocking my head slightly I catch a glimpse of what's inside.

"Claudia Walker," Erik announced as he took one swig of his glass filled with liquor. My body froze, thinking Erik knew I was outside the door. "Who would've thought she would've been our finest recruit," he stated, with a grin revealing his white teeth.

"Well, you do remember the signature I picked up from her, it was incredible," Charles commented smiling. "And I would like to think that we recruited the finest mutants, not just one singular person," he added, giving him a pointed look.

"But she is certainly the strongest one out of all of them, you said yourself, remember?" Erik countered, taking one more swig from his glass and set it firmly down on the mantle.

"She is, but I don't want her to let that go to her head," Charles explained, shaking his head.

"Why limit her Charles? She was born with exceptional abilities,"

"Because that would be dangerous, Erik," he stated simply. "You and I have both seen what she has done and what she can do," Charles answered, lifting his head to meet Erik's gaze, unsuccessfully hiding what could only have been a guarded reaction.

There was something Charles was unwilling to share, but I could tell Erik was determined to find out what he had decided. Hell, so was I.

Erik soon became very serious, as his eyes hardened, "I can't help but wonder if you're helping Claudia because she hasn't wholly met her potential, or if you made the choice for her. Tell me, my friend. What have you done?" Erik questioned, his voice taking on a hard edge.

I pushed the door open and smiled, not wanting the argument to heat up any further, "Evening, gentlemen," I greeted, the two men broke their tense gaze from each other to me. "I hope I'm not intruding, I just wanted some company before I head to my room," I explained, a soft grin on my face.

Charles smiled, "Of course not Claudia, please come in," Charles said, motioning for me to enter and I fully stepped in the room, closing the door behind me. "Erik and I were just about to start a match of chess," Charles stated, glancing over at Erik.

I sat still, my legs curled underneath me eyes watching the flames. Charles and Erik sat at the chessboard, playing in silence the one game Erik had a chance of beating Charles at.

"Cuba," I didn't move as Charles spoke. "Russia. America. What's the difference? Shaw's declared war on mankind; on all of us. He has to be stopped,"

"I'm not gonna stop Shaw, I'm gonna kill him," Erik corrected, setting his glass down on the table. "Do you have it in you to allow that?" he inquired, moving a chess piece. Charles stayed silent, but sat forward on his chair. I had been listening, but chose to look up from my nails and at Erik now, still staying silent. There was a long pause before Erik spoke again. "You've known all along why I was here, Charles, Claudia," he said, looking between the two of us. "But things have changed. What started as a covert mission, tomorrow mankind will know mutants exist. Shaw, us - they won't differentiate. They'll fear us, and that fear will turn to hatred,"

"Not if we stop a war," I piped in, wanting my opinion to be heard. "Not if we can prevent Shaw. Not if we risk our lives doing so," I pointed out.

"Would they do the same for us, Claudia?" Erik asked me, I thought for a moment and said nothing.

"We have it in us to be the better men," Charles chimed in.

"We already are," Erik countered. The was tension building again, I could sense it. Anger flowing between the two men, fueled by this disagreement. "We're the next stage of human evolution, and you said it yourself-"

"No-" Charles tried to interrupt.

"Are you really so naive as to think that they won't battle their own extinction?" Erik asked, keeping his eyes locked on Charles "Or is it arrogance?"

"I'm sorry?" Charles sounding offended.

"After tomorrow, they're gonna turn on us. But you're blinded, because you believe they're all like Moira."

"And you believe they're all like Shaw,"

I wasn't sure what to believe. I knew humans could be kind, Moira and all the human friends I made while growing up were evidence of that. But I knew they could be like Shaw or Professor Lewis as well.

Everyone could.

Charles lowered his voice, "Listen carefully, my friend. Killing Shaw will not bring you peace,"

"Peace was never an option,"

The room became silent once more for a few minutes before Erik stood up and bid us a good night. Charles began packing away the chess board and I turned to the nearest shelf and admire the view. are shelves and shelves of books – most hardback and leather bound. I stroke the supple leather, breathing in the familiar smell. Picking the nearest one of the shelf, I open it on a random page.

"Dickens. One of my favorites, actually," Charles named from behind me. His voice made me jump and the book fell from my hands.

"Jesus," I muttered, bending down to pick it up. I straightened up again and Charles took the book from me, smiling fondly at the cover.

"Great Expectations. Have you read it?" I smiled and nodded my head yes. “It's really rather wonderful isn't it?" Charles asked, as he put the book back on the shelf. He walked further along the shelf until he stopped and pulled a book out of its place. He twisted the book so that I could see the cover. "Jane Eyre?“

"Yes I have, although I despise the ending," I commented, with a slight shrug of my shoulders.

He leaned forward in curiosity, mouth curled in a smile, "Why not? It's a beautiful love story,"

I shook my head at his words, "Their relationship is built on lies. Rochester deceives Jane the entire time they know each other, and only gives her the truth when forced to. And then after all of that, she still goes back to him in the end and forgives him for everything he's done," I explained, shaking my head once more.

"Rochester did those things because he wanted to be happy, he lied to Jane because he loved her. Is that so wrong?" Charles countered grinning.

"He kept secrets from her because he was selfish. He hurt her with his obsession for his own personal interest with not a care for Jane's feelings," I pointed out, slowly moving closer to him.

"He learns his lesson in the end,"

"His house burns down. What does that change?" I questioned, arching my brow with a grin on my face.

Momentarily stumped, Charles took the opportunity to change the subject. "Other than to criticize my favorite book, is there something on your mind?"

I smiled at my victory, and walked towards Charles, sighing deeply. I wrapped my arms around his neck, placing my forehead on his chest and letting out another sigh.

Charles chuckled and the vibrations of his laughter tickled my face as his arms immediately wrapped around my waist, "What's the matter love," he asked curiously, placing a kiss on the top of my head.

"It's just that...we might die tomorrow, Charles," I said quietly, lifting my head to meet his stare.

Charles held me tighter, burying his nose in my hair, "I won't let that happen," he promised, moving his head back to fully look at me.

"You'll be my knight in shining armor?" I chuckled softly, masking the unease I felt because another man made the same proclamation earlier.

"Always," Charles answered, before swooping down and pressing his lips against mine in a quick kiss. "Now, go get some rest Claudia. We have a big day tomorrow," he ordered softly, removing his arms from me.

I nodded, flashing him a smile before I left the room and headed upstairs. I jogged up the stairs and made my down the hallway to my room, just as I turned into the hallway I saw Raven coming out of Erik's room. Naked and blue. My movement faltered for a second, but I played it off as I passed Raven not even looking in her direction. Although, I couldn't mask the flash of hurt in my eyes when my eyes connected with his and Erik was tying to read it. He cocked his head to the side.

I looked at him as I had my hand on my door knob, and he looked back his eyebrows furrowed.

A look of something like realization came over Erik's face. I felt nothing but terror and panic. Erik looked like he was getting prepared to say something but I twisted the knob to the door and the door slammed closed behind me.

~~~x~~~

I was in the shower, letting the scalding water flow around me. Steam filled the bathroom, and I breathed it in deeply, relishing in the smell of the scented soaps I used now. I turned the knob off and stepped out of the shower, wrapping a soft, white towel around me. I opened the door to the bathroom and the steam came rolling out as I pulled my shower cap off and tossed it on the sink counter. I moved into the bedroom and towards the bed, sticking my hand underneath my pillow I felt a silky piece of material and pulled it out completely revealing my nightgown.

I unwrapped the towel from my body and threw it on the bed before slipping on the purple nightgown. Scooping my towel back up I walked back to my bathroom, and hung my towel to dry when I heard a knock at my bedroom door, causing me to frown.

"It's almost 11:00 p.m. What could anyone possibly need at this hour?" I thought.

I approached the door slowly, frowning as I picked up my matching silk robe and slipped it on. I opened the door and I found myself relieved and annoyed.

"I would say this is becoming an increasing habit for you, but you just missed me taking a shower," I quipped, tying my robe closed.

"May I come in?" Erik asked quietly, and I stood aside to let him in and closed the door after him. He stood on the far side of the room, looking out my window. His back was to me. I couldn't see his face. "I kissed her," he admitted.

I slowly clapped, "Congratulations, I guess," I replied, not really sure how to respond. Nothing had happened between Erik and I. I couldn't pretend I didn't want something to happen. "She's comfortable in her own skin, I guess you opened her eyes," I remarked. "Is it my turn now?" I asked mockingly, crossing my arms.

He turned around, "I don't want her,"

I dropped my pretenses, "I know, but you don't exactly want me either, not truly," I remarked, beginning to pace up and down my room. I shook my head, "Men," I scoffed, feeling Erik's eyes on me. "All of you, just interested in my abilities," I continued, sticking my hand out. "First Professor Lewis, and now you and Charles, the three of you trying to decide how I should use my abilities," I said, letting out a short, mirthless laugh as my pacing came to a stop. Erik had taken a small step toward me and I lifted one finger telling him not to go any farther. "Erik, I want you to listen and listen well, men have tested me before and they've all met an unpleasant end," I finished, with a warning tone.

He blinked, "My god, you're magnificent," he chuckled letting a small smile adorn his sharp features. "You're not even using your power and you could have me wrapped around your finger," Erik commented, still grinning.

"Stop it," he was trying to distract me. "I'm not going to fall for your honeyed words. Matter of fact, I don't think you've buttered up anyone else in the mansion like you done with me," he didn't say anything. "Sean? Hank?" He looked away. "I didn't think so," I scoffed, crossing my arms.

He looked back up at me, "They don't want to see the world for what it is. You and Raven, you both have so much potential,"

"So what, sweet talk us until we see things your way?" I questioned incredulously.

"Raven needed to know she's beautiful the way she born," he explained, walking towards me. "Say the word and I'll tell her everything,"

I could feel his words, they were intoxicating, "You just want me for my power..." I hesitated, taking a small step back. "So that I can mold the world in your vision," I finished, finding it harder to breathe with the way Erik was staring at me.

Erik was closer now, "Yes, but that doesn't mean I don't want you," he whispered.

We stood there looking at each other. Erik lurched forward and grabbed me around the waist, pulling me into him and attaching his lips to mine. I was surprised but delighted all the same, I pushed my lips firmly against his and a small moan escaped his mouth. Erik's fingers deftly untied my robe, hastily pushing my robe off my shoulders and onto the floor, before he pushed me up against the wall, pinning my body down with his and letting his hands roam everywhere.

He pulled back, breaking off the kiss, and pressed his lips to my neck. I inhaled deeply and arched my back against the wall. I panted into his ear and laced my fingers into his hair, pulling on his locks. His hands traveled down my back, and rested on the back of my thighs. He lifted me up and smiled into our kiss as I tightly wrapped my legs around his waist.

My eyes fluttered as Erik kissed every inch of skin he could find, pressing harder against me with his body. Erik was happy. He was getting what he wanted. Me and my powers. I placed my hand that was in his hair, on his chest and shoved him away from me and I dropped to the floor. We were both breathing heavily. He didn't just get to kiss me and think everything was better. That I would just go along with him. He kissed someone else and he wanted to use me as a weapon. My hand whipped out, and I slapped him hard across the face. His head snapped to the side and he rubbed his cheek

I was the only one who got to decide what I wanted and what I did with my abilities. Not Erik. Not Charles.

"I hurt you. And for that I'm sorry," Erik said breathlessly. "But things are going to change, the world isn't going to want us. You need to find out where you stand: with us or the humans. What's coming is bigger than you and me. You need to be ready to set aside our differences so we can work together,"

"Erik, not everybody hates us," I began. "But with this black and white mindset you have they will. Don't make me an enemy Erik," I warned, shaking my head.

"I don't want to be your enemy Claudia," Erik replied quickly. "I never want to become your enemy..." he added softly with vulnerability he rarely let anyone see.

We stood there. Incredibly close. I could smell him. He leaned in and opened the door around me and walked out. He was gone. Biting my lip I scolded myself, for letting everything get to this point. I ran a hand through my hair just as I'm barraged by a feeling of pain and betrayal so intense it takes my breath away. For a moment I want to fall into the door and just curl up in a fetal position, clutching my body to try to drive away the pain, but then I take a deep breath and remember that it's not real.

Not for me, anyway.

I lifted my head up and saw Charles standing at the end of the hallway like I just slapped him, backing up an inch with the force and surprise of the painful realization. He says nothing, but the hurt and sorrow in his bright kind eyes are enough, and I quickly shut the door. I leaned my forehead against the door and closed my eyes. Mumbling curses under my breath I flipped around with my back against the door, covering my face with my hands. I groaned, breathing out.

"Claudia Ava Walker, what have you done?"

Chapter Nineteen: The Embargo Line

#x-men fanfiction #black fanfiction #charles xavier fanfiction #x-men fanfic #charles xavier x oc #black!oc #magneto x oc #erik lehnsherr fanfiction #erik lehnsherr x oc #charles xavier #erik lehnsherr #black!reader #marvel fanfiction #marvel fanfic #marvel imagine #x men fanfiction #x-men

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illustrator-dani · 3 years

Text

The Legionnaires Cub

On ao3 soon!!! But on tumblr now :)

"Is Elliot feeling alright, Primus Runaan? Callum and I have noticed that he hasn't been reporting to training lessons this week." Legionnaire Rayla Stormpaw said after saluting her uncle and former primus, Runaan Moonshadow. Her mate and fellow member of the Storm Warband, Callum Stormclaw salutes as well beside her. "He hasn't even responded to our letters we've sent him in weeks either."

Runaan nods in understanding. He bows his head after he takes a long sigh. That only worried the two parents more. "Elliot has been vanishing to the fields north of here. Close to the midnight desert. We have sent a scout to observe but they haven't returned yet. Elliot has been growing distant from his warband and to me, his primus, as well."

Rayla looks over at Callum and the two nod in unison. Whatever happened to their cub, rather for the good or the bad, they need to find out what.

For Callum, he knew checking in with Runaan was the best call and would do anything for his mate.

But for Rayla, this was a punch to the gut. If she hadn't left Elliot as an infant for Runaan to take care of- if she hadn't gone on that mission that took her away from the life she made. This would've been avoided or at least prevented from getting out of claw like this.

"We'll find him and the scout, Primus. We'll leave as soon as we can." Rayla salutes her uncle and goes to leave but a claw on her shoulder stops her.

"Just be careful, Rayla. There are dangers rising every day around the midnight desert. Dangers that you and Callum won't be able to face alone." warns her uncle as he steps away from them and heads up towards his office.

Callum doesn't speak about the warning until after they are safely back in the barracks and packing up for their adventure.

"Are we bringing the rest of the warband with us? You heard what Runaan said about the dangers-" he shuts his mouth abruptly when his mate turns to glare at him.

"I know about the dangers. We faced them head on before, just the two of us, and we never failed our mission. But this mission, Callum, is personal. It involves our cub." she says, sighing as she sits on his bed and rubbing her eyes with her paws. "It also involves a scout. I can see why you mentioned the warband, but it's still personal."

Callum goes to sit next to her and puts an arm around her while giving her a little smile. "I understand, love. Claudia, Soren, and Nyx have seen you with Elliot before. They're worried about him too and they're worried for you as well. Hell, I am more worried for the two of you than anyone else combined." He says, putting his head on top of hers while listening to her hum in agreement. He continues softly, gently, "I know you don't like mixing our warband into our personal lives, but they're our family too. They will understand and Soren will keep his mouth shut. Otherwise, I'll grant Nyx and Claudia permission to beat him up if he hits a nerve."

That made Rayla snort and she squeezes his paw that rests on her shoulder. The guardian had a way with words. She wouldn't lie but she found him using his charm on her super attractive. She knows that she's being stubborn. This mission is personal but she knows her bandmates won't object to rescue a cub they all helped raise.

Storm Warband is and forever will be a family.

Even the future generations will be storm warband bound.

Forever.

Rayla tilts her head up towards Callum's and he rests his head against hers. They haven't had time to just be with each other. Alone. Intimate. The only other time was… when they had Eliot. That was years ago. It felt like forever since they were allowed to be in the same barracks. Sometimes in the same bed when the other had nightmares or couldn't sleep.

I really need to ask for time off so Callum and I can visit Ezran in Katolis. Maybe visit my parents stationed at the Storm Spire. Thought Rayla as she pulls away from a flustered Callum who wasn't expecting a kiss at all. They haven't kissed in a while or even hugged. It was almost like the world was keeping them separated until now.

"What are you thinking?" He asks, looking at her with those emeralds that trapped her even as a cub. He still feels warm when she puts her paws on his cheek which he leans into subconsciously. As if his body missed her more than he did.

"About how we're going to explain to the others that we're horrible parents? C'mon, soldier, let's go reunite with the Storm Warband." she says, leaving him on the bed and packing the rest of their supplies in her bag. She stops when she feels a pair of paws wrap around her waist.

"We're not horrible parents, love. Our cub just has a mind of his own right now. He's a teenager. It's what they do."

"Yeah, I know. I just miss the little cub he used to be."

"We all do. Let's go make sure we find our cub and make amends with him then." Callum says kissing his mate's ear and letting her go to get into his armor as well. Once he was in full armor, the staff he held was brighter and had made Rayla's fur glow like a halo. He finds himself slowly falling in love with her once again.

"Why are you giving me that look?" Ever the observant one in the warband and the guardian shrugs. "Let's move out."

"Yes, sir." Callum follows the thief out of their barracks and couldn't help but smirk at the back of her head. He sees the blush on her ears. He gets her every time.

And it never gets old.

#its not long but its a good start #the legionnaire cub has two parts but part 2 won't come out until late #later*#I hope you all enjoy this little oneshot for now and stay tuned for part two #the legionnaires cub #charr rayllum #Legend of the Storm Warband [Series]#Rayla Stormpaw #Callum Stormclaw #gw2 au #my fic #delicate fanfics

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iwillhaveamoonbase · 4 years

Text

The Long Game Ch 1

Instead of striking a few months later, the Moonshadow assassins guild decides to play the long game. Rayla will pose as a human and kill Harrow and Ezran when the time is right all while gaining valuable information. One problem: Rayla falls in love with Callum and doesn't think Ezran deserves to die for a crime he doesn't he even know was committed.

Now, Rayla has a choice: tell the truth and risk losing Callum but fixing the divide between Katolis and Xadia or staying quiet and having a chance at a happy life with Callum, Ezran and Harrow but losing the best chance they have at peace and probably never seeing her home or family again.

---------------------------------------

The assassins guild had been talking for days about whether or not to go in and kill King Harrow and Prince Ezran now or wait a few more months or even a year. Queen Zubeia was in distress and the call for revenge was ringing loud and clear throughout Xadia. First, eight years ago, the humans had attacked them unprovoked and murdered one of their citizens for their perverted dark magic. Now, they killed the Dragon King and the Dragon Prince's egg. Xadia could not let this go. The only question was: when?

Runaan looked at Rayla out of the corner of his eye. He knew she wanted to prove herself worthy. He personally found it difficult to believe that his friends, Tiadrin and Lain, his parents, had abandoned their post. In the back of his mind, it didn't make sense. They knew better. But, a Skywing elf who had also been part of the Dragon Guard had admitted they had all fled when the humans killed the Dragon King. There was nothing anyone could do to stop the Silvergrove Ghosting the pair now. But, Rayla could do the right thing in their stead and proclaimed herself ready to do whatever it took to right their wrongs.

"It's better to go now. Who knows how long the Dragon Queen has?" Runaan turned his attention back to the conversation his guild mates were having. A cacophony of sounds as they tried to plan the best course of action that would bring them all back home and, hopefully, stop these humans from killing anymore Xadians.

"The humans will know it's us right away."

"So what?! We want them to know what they did was wrong!"

"True, but, if we wait, maybe we can cause doubt. They'll destroy themselves trying to figure it out."

"We have never not admitted we've taken life before. Why should we do it now? We take life but we don't take it lightly."

"Yes, but this is our chance to not only get the humans fighting each other, but to also get the Moon Nexus back!" There was silence for a few moments. Every Moonshadow el,f even a thousand years after the humans were forced out of Xadia, still felt the string of losing contact with the Moon Nexus. It went deeper than pride; it was an irreplaceable piece of their heritage, culture, and magic that was forever lost to them because the humans refused to accept their lot in the universe as non-magic users. "All I'm saying is, kill two Moon Phoenixes with one arrow. Sow dissent AND fulfill the contract."

Runaan turned to Rayla. Her young face was stony as she took in what everyone was saying. Young... He looked her up and down. She was strong, but those who didn't know better would see her as a slip of a thing. Slowly, a plan formed in Runaan's mind. At any other time, he would have been horrified by the idea. Rayla was his daughter as far as he was concerned. His apprentice, his greatest joy besides Ethari. Ethari would never forgive him. But... Runaan stood up, getting the attention of everyone in the room. "I have an idea. It involves my protegee, Rayla, and getting honor back for her parents as well as stirring doubt in the Pentarchy."

"What do you propose, Runaan?" The guild master had a steeling expression as he stroked his beard.

Runaan smirked. "We play the long game."

-------------------------------

"Absolutely not!" Ethari roared. "We already lost Tiadrin and Lain. We aren't losing Rayla!"

"She's going to be fine, Ethari." Runaan breathed through his nose. As he expected, Ethari was displeased.

"She's too kind, Runaan! Too loving. Her heart isn't made for a regular mission and you want her to do this?! Send Bandlr or someone else."

"She's the only one her age whose properly trained. She's faster than all of us and quick on her feet."

"Then send yourself or a group."

"They won't suspect a young girl travelling on her own. The longer she does nothing, the more likely they will be to think everything is fine."

"And if they catch her after she succeeds? They'll kill her! They'll kill our daughter and you're sending her to the slaughter."

"She'll die with honor and rise above what her parents have done." Even to Runan's ears he sounded so detached. He winced.

"You...you can't be serious. Runaan, she's our child. Not by blood, but we raised her. She's only 15. She'll be 16 when her training's over. You can't...you can't do this." Ethari's voice was shaking as he started to breath a little harsher. "She's just a child."

"Rayla's already agreed, Ethari. There's nothing either or us can do now."

"You didn't even ask me first!" Ethari breathed deeply for a few moments before his face became stone. "So, that's it, then? You're just going to say good-bye to our little girl?"

Runaan ran a hand through his white hair. "My love, it's not that simple. Queen Zubeia ordered the two hits. We have to do the job."

"Then take a squad like tradition says and do it! Do not send our Rayla into the human lands alone. What if the spell fails and she's found out? What if she slips up? We have no idea when the time is even right. We may never see her again! Do you want that? Because I don't! Rayla shouldn't be made to go because of her parents' actions."

"No one is making me do anything," Rayla piped up from the chair. Runaan had completely forgotten she was in the room and, judging by his slight jump, so had Ethari. "Yes, Runaan offered my name for the plan before asking me, but I agreed. I had a fair chance to give someone else the job and I said I would do it. I'm going, Ethari."

"Rayla, please, don't do this."

"Why do you lack faith in me?"

Ethari shook his head. "It's so much more than that. You're a child, Rayla. Don't throw away your chance for a future when tradition holds you shouldn't even be considering this."

"What future? If Xadia doesn't do anything, the humans will eventually believe they can do whatever they want. What if they start killing elves or more dragons for dark magic? We're already at war. We have to act!"

Ethari looked between the two of them. "You know what? Both of you, do whatever you want."

Runaan started reaching for his husband. "Ethari-"

"I'm going to my sister's, Runaan. I need time to process sending my child, OUR child, over the border to be alone and carrying out a mission ALONE for who knows how long." Ethari slammed the door behind him; silence reigning for a few minutes.

"Well," Rayla looked up at Runaan, "he took that better than we expected."

Runaan sighed. "He's right, Rayla. Think long and hard about this. You have been given 24 hours before you're officially assigned this task. We are asking you to give up an untold amount of time. You might never come back."

Rayla looked directly into his eyes. "I know, but I don't have a choice. Someone has to do this and it should be me. If my parents had just stayed, maybe, the Dragon Prince would still be alive. Besides, they'll probably believe me easier than someone like Bandlr whose already all muscle at 14. I'm young and fast, but I'm slight enough. No one will believe I'm a threat if I say I come from a farming village."

"You're right. I'm so proud of you, Rayla. I'm sure you'll be able to come back home one day."

It took Ethari two weeks to come around, a new blade for Rayla in hand and a flower for when she went on her mission. He still barely talked to Runaan and, if Runaan was being honest, he couldn't blame him. Rayla was going to be spending a few months with Lujanne at the Moon Nexus followed by a bit of time in the village by the Cursed Caldera before making her way to the capital. There was no room for error and she was going to have to learn how to act human fast.

The flower Ethari made was set into the fountain, the whole of Silvergrove watching. Runaan knew he and everyone else would be keeping an eye on it. Rayla had to succeed.

-----------------------

6 months later

-----------------------

Callum groaned as Soren sent him to the ground again. "C'mon, step-prince. Wasn't your mom the strongest general is Katolis? You shouldn't be this weak after this much training."

Callum glared a bit at his...friend?...tormentor? Callum wasn't sure who Soren was to him anymore besides the big brother of his crush. How Claudia and Soren came from the same parents was beyond Callum. Though, Viren did give Claudia more attention because of her magic. More love, probably. "My mom was a lance specialist. Why don't we try that?"

"Princes use swords; even step-princes."

Callum looked down at his feet. "The king can use a lance."

"ARGH! It's just not how it's done, OK? Sword first, than lance. Now, on your hands and knees and give me a hundred push-ups." Callum groaned and was about to follow through when Caludia raced through the courtyard to stand in front of Soren. She started miming a bit, a big smile on her face. "What is it, Clauds? Use your words."

She squealed. "There's a girl whose just come from the border. She asked to see the king and she looks about my age, maybe a year younger."

Soren and Callum's brows furrowed. "Why does she want to see the king?"

"Don't know, but she's pretty cute. She might be your type, Sor-bear."

"Uh-huh. You don't know my type, Claudia. You've proven that how many times now?"

Callum didn't bother staying for what was bound to be an argument between the two. Instead,he hurried to the throne room, running to Ezran and Bait with a handful of jelly tarts with them. "What do you think she wants?" Ezran asked.

"No idea. Whatever it is, I'm sure the king will hear her out."

"You know, you can call him 'Dad.' I really think he'd like that, Callum."

"He's the king, Ezran, and I'm just the step-prince."

"But, he raised you and I know he loves you."

Callum closed his eyes briefly. "It's complicated, Ez."

Ezran pouted a bit, but dropped it. When they finally made it to the throne room, they stood to Harrow's right while Opeli and Viren were standing to his left. Before them was a pale girl with hair a few shades lighter than Soren's and light blue eyes. She stood perhaps an inch taller than Callum and was dressed in plain robes that marked her as a member of the farming class.

"Your Majesty," her voice was clear and projected throughout the room. She took a sweeping curtsy, though almost lost her balance doing so. She raised her eyes when Harrow told her to rise, slowly coming back up to face the room. "I come from a town on the border. We were attacked not too long ago." She looked down, a tear slipping down her cheek. "I'm all that's left of my village. Please, I need help. I have no family."

"Who attacked your home?" Viren looked straight at her, eyebrow raised.

"I believe it was elves." Viren and Harrow shared a look before turning back to the girl. "They kept saying something about dragons when they came but everything happened so fast it's all a blur."

Viren cleared his throat. "And why did you come all the way here? Surely there were others who could look after you."

The girl looked distressed, twisting her hands together a bit. Callum couldn't help but notice just how pretty she was, with a Cupid's bow on her top lip, high cheekbones, and large eyes. But, there was something slightly off, something that in the back of his mind was saying it wasn't quite right. Maybe she was too pretty? "To be honest, I tried a few times but they either didn't want me because of the possibility of the elves coming after me. I just hoped that I could be safe here."

Harrow nodded. "Of course, dear child. You are welcome to stay as long as you like. And, I am so sorry for the trials you have faced before coming here today."

Viren sent a glared at Harrow. "Harrow-"

"Not now, Viren. We have to look after our citizens. Always." Harrow turned back to face her. "What's your name, child?"

She looked at the five in the room, a soft smile on her face. "Rayla. My name is Rayla."

#rayllum fanfic #rayllum #the dragon prince #tdp #the long game #whelp #the first chapter is here #despite me saying I was going to wait #I don't keep my word apparently #please enjoy

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d-pennants · 4 years

Text

Every line Aaravos says...

In an interview Ehasz & Richmond confirm that Aaravos never lies, but..

if you understand where he’s coming from, he’s not lying about anything. But you don’t necessarily know where he’s coming from. He never lies, he always tells the truth.

So, how much is the real truth, subjective truths, alternate interpretation of words, or paltering (misleading by misrepresenting select truths)? Who knows.

But I copied all of of Aaravos’ lines from transcripts if you want to try and guess.

Some are kinda funny in hindsight - “ Preparing you for greatness.” Just meant being able to see Aaravos, who is a Great One. (Or very impressed with his own looks).

S2E7 Fire and Fury

Viren: I'm ready. Aaravos: Speak. Viren: I - Aaravos: Speak, so I may hear you. Viren: Who- who are you? Aaravos: Ah How long I have waited to hear the sound of another voice. How may I serve you?

S2E8 The Book of Destiny

Viren: Who are you? Aaravos: My name would mean nothing to you. Viren: [sighs.] Where are you? Aaravos: I don't know. Viren: Don't lie to me. Aaravos: I'm not lying. I never lie. Viren: [sighs.] I found this mirror in the lair of the Dragon King. This mirror meant something to him. You meant something to him. Aaravos: Perhaps. Tell me what you need, and I will help you. Viren: I need your name. Aaravos: Aaravos.

Viren: What's going on? Every time I found a mention of you in an ancient scroll or tome, the entire passage disappeared as soon as I looked! [sighs.] What game are you playing? [sighs.] Viren: Ugh! [sighs.] Why should I trust you? Aaravos: You shouldn't… yet.

S2E9 Breathe

Viren: I should end this right now! Throw the mirror into a river and cut you off forever. Aaravos: You won't. You are too curious. Hungry for knowledge and power. Both things I can provide. Allow me to earn your trust. Viren: And how would that work, exactly? Aaravos: Search your heart. There's something that you want very badly. But something or someone stands in your way. Viren: I- I am having a problem getting some people to listen to me, to hear the importance of what I'm saying. Aaravos: Who are these people? Viren: They are kings and queens. The leaders of the other four human kingdoms. Aaravos: Then we will have to get their attention.

Aaravos: You tried to win over the other humans with loyalty and friendship, but they ignored you. Those who fail tests of love are simple animals. They deserve to be motivated by fear. Viren: Bring terror to Del Bar to Neolandia to Evenere and to Duren!

Aaravos: You're in danger. They've come for you. Do as I tell you. Prepare for battle. Guard: Lord Viren! Open up, by order of the High Council! Aaravos: Well? Open it for them! Opeli: Surrender, Viren! Aaravos: Stop. It's over. Viren: But I can destroy them all! I have all the power I need! Aaravos: Stop! Opeli: You're completely surrounded, Viren! Give yourself up. Don't make me give the order. Viren: You have betrayed me. Aaravos: No. I will stay with you.

S3E1 Sol Regem

Aaravos: Do not despair. Be patient. Your time will come. You have put things in motion.

S3E3 Ghost

Aaravos: Get up. Get up. You have visitors coming. You're going to need to look presentable. Viren: My children. I'm so glad to see you safe. Claudia: What happened, Dad? Why are you down here? Viren: While I tried to unite the five kingdoms against Xadia, the Council was more concerned that I broke a few rules along the way. But none of that matters. The egg, did you get it? Claudia: It's not an egg anymore. It's hatched. Viren: It hatched? That dragon will become the most powerful creature in the world, and you've let it fall back into Xadia's hands? Claudia: But, Dad, Soren could've died. Viren: That doesn't matter! Soren: Dad? Viren: I do not mean to be cruel. But we must be ready to sacrifice. Even the things we love. I would have asked you to choose the egg over my life, if it came to it. Do you understand? Everything I do, and everything I ask of you, is for the future of humanity. Claudia: Is that why you told Soren to kill the princes?

Claudia: Answer me, Dad. Why did you tell Soren to kill the princes?

Aaravos: Careful. If you tell the truth, you will lose her. You will need her soon. Viren: Oh, is that what you thought, Soren? Claudia, did you really think I would ask him to do such a thing? Surely you know your brother is um, easily confused. Soren: Wait, I know I'm not the smartest, but I know what you said. Viren: Oh, really? What do you remember? Soren: You told me to return with the news that the princes died. You said, "Accidents happen all the time." Viren: Soren, I was preparing you for the worst. I knew tragedy might have already befallen them No! You said that I'd know to do the right thing. Viren: Soren. I said "do the right thing," and somehow you heard "kill the princes." Oh this is disappointing, son. Even for you. Soren: Claudia, you believe me, right? Claudia: Oh, Sor-bear. I believe you thought you heard it, but you obviously made a mistake. We're just really lucky you messed up the mission you thought you had, huh? Wow.

S3E4 Midnight Desert

Viren: What are you doing? Aaravos: Preparing you for greatness. Now, be still.

Aaravos: It is ready. Open your eye. You can hear me. And now you can see me. And I can better serve you.

S3E5 Heroes and Masterminds

Claudia: Knock knock! - Oh, who's your new friend? Viren: Don't! Do not touch it. Claudia: Sorry, Dad. I just thought it looked cute. Viren: No. I'm sorry. I'm just trying to get ready for our march on Xadia. Did you need something? Claudia: Uh, no! I was just making sure you're okay. I mean, you are okay, right? Viren: Thank you. I'm fine. Claudia, you understand why Prince Ezran had to be removed? Claudia: Of course. He couldn't have done the things that need to be done. Viren: Others might take a crown out of self-importance, but I-

Claudia: You're doing it to help us. To help everyone. Viren: Yes. Yes, that's right. That's why I know I can count on you, Claudia. Claudia: Everything's going to be okay, Dad. I'm here for you. Aaravos: Well played. She will be a valuable asset. Viren: She is not an asset. She is my daughter.

S3E6 Thunderfall

Soren: What, you don't want me to smoosh that thing? Viren: Do not smoosh the purple creature. Think of it as my animal familiar. Soren: So, you're saying you've adopted a little bug-pal? Viren: Yes, Soren. He is my little bug-pal. Soren: I'll just ride back here with Claudia for a while. Aaravos: Has our relationship truly escalated to this new height? Am I your "little bug-pal"? We have a long journey ahead. While we travel, there is something I have been meaning to ask you. My understanding is that somehow you killed Avizandum. Viren: I've killed no such person. Aaravos: Avizandum was no person. Avizandum was an archdragon, the great king of all the dragons. The most powerful creature in the world. Yet, somehow, you brought him down. Viren: So, Avizandum was his true name. We called him Thunder.

Aaravos: Please, continue. I eagerly await the great confrontation. Viren: We did not find Thunder Avizandum where we expected to find him.

Aaravos: What an incredible story. I am delighted you took down that arrogant monster. Viren: It sounds like you have a history with Avizandum. Aaravos: Oh, I do. He is the reason I am where I am today. Viren: And where is that? Aaravos: He never bothered to mention where he imprisoned me. Viren: You're imprisoned? Your home looks like no prison I've ever seen. Aaravos: Yes, it's well appointed. But make no mistake, this has been my prison these past few centuries.

Claudia: We're going to cross that border. After all impassable is just another kind of passable. Aaravos: Yes!

S3E7 Hearts of Cinder

Viren: So, what is the plan? Aaravos: To fulfill your wishes, of course. Is your wish to rule Xadia? Viren: I wish for humanity to flourish. And it cannot flourish with a knife forever at its throat. Aaravos: So, you wish to conquer Xadia? Viren: No! No, my goal is a bright future for humanity. Aaravos: Right. And this bright future will require us to conquer Xadia? Viren: Yes. Yes, perhaps. Aaravos: The key to achieving your noble aims for humanity is simple. It's the same as it has always been. Viren: The key is the Dragon Prince. Aaravos: Yes. You must take down the Dragon Queen and capture the baby dragon. Then you will have the attention of all the world, and the power to do what you want. But first, there is something we need here in Lux Aurea. Viren: You want us to attack the stronghold of the Sunfire elves? But we need to preserve our forces for the final confrontation. Aaravos: Viren, I'm nothing if not elegant and efficient. We'll risk as few lives as possible… one. Viren: Ah, mine. Aaravos: Yes.

Khessa: Ugh! Humans disgust me. Your kind could not be satisfied with what you were given. So you take what is not yours. You take it within you, and you turn it to filth. Aaravos: Your arrogance is so predictable. You allowed my vessel to walk right into your court, and then you brought him directly to the source of all your power? Oh, the irony is wonderful! You're just like your grandmother. Would you like to know the truth of her fate before you face yours?

(Aaravos whispers something. The second word seems to be human).

S3E9 The Final Battle

Aaravos: When you capture the dragonling, I will show you how to take his power, how to imbue yourself with all his magic and potential, so that you will transcend the limits of your human form. Then none will dare stand against you.

Aaravos: Brace yourself.

Aaravos dark magic spell: He swallows your heart. He swallows your mind. He swallows your power.

#aaravos #tdp transcript #transcript #tdp quotes #my notes

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raayllum · 2 years

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Irony and The Dragon Prince

So, TDP really likes irony as a story telling tool to craft both characters, foil relationships, and general arc stuff. There can be irony purely in someone going against an intended expectation (i.e. subversion can fall under irony sometimes) as well as more general dramatic irony. Think Oedipus Rex in which the further Oedipus pushes for the truth, the closer he comes to destroying himself and everyone around him - the audience knows this, even if he doesn’t. Or 1x08′s beloved little bit of verbal and situational irony sometimes. It’s also where we get most character inversions and foils from, for example:

Rayla, an assassin who has never killed anyone, becomes the protector of the princes she was sworn to kill. Meanwhile Soren, a proven captain of the crownguard, is tasked with killing the princes instead. The fact that Viren ordered Soren to do something so terrible is precisely what leads Soren to end up stabbing his father in the first place. Bait is grumpy (a negative trait) yet can glow with light (a positive association) whenever he needs to; also his name, for that matter. Claudia is extremely goofy and also a sinister dark mage. Callum spends most of season two stuck in his head until he is literally stuck in his own head in 2x08. A hero (Callum) and a villain (Aaravos) both seek the exact same thing: magic, and freedom from the chains (metaphorical or literal) that bind them.

King Harrow states that a child is freer than a king, so then the show explores the weight of being a child king in Ezran. Then, right when Ezran gives up the crown (thus ‘freeing’ himself of that weight) he is literally put in chains. This is also the main reason why I haven’t let go of the “Harrow in Pip” theory, either, because a king trapped in a bird (the symbol of freedom) is simply too much up the show’s alley to deny.

TDP also really really likes to have things come back in horrifying, roundabout ways. Claudia mentions turning chains into snakes in 1x03 and we see that spell twice in S2 from both her and Callum. She and Soren are tricked using illusions of the princes, Soren states he hates the moon, and then Claudia uses the same trick on him a season and a half later. Avizandum blocks out the sun and then kills multiple humans crossing back into Xadia, only for his son to block out the sun by the end of the season in order to save Callum and Rayla’s lives.

Perhaps the most obvious examples are Rayla and Claudia’s mindsets from the first few episodes. “My heart for Xadia” is something that follows Rayla throughout the series and the way she prioritizes what she feels her duty is over love and family time and time again, even over Runaan and then over Callum in TTM. Her arc also ends with her actually succeeding in her mission as she kills a human and a king of Katolis no less, just not the one she was supposed to.

Then you have Claudia not understanding why Harrow would have reservations about the switching spell, even when Viren does, embodied by the way Claudia has still (seemingly) killed a man (or many things) in order to bring her father back to life.

TDP loves irony and bringing things back in unforeseen ways, even episodes or seasons later. It’s one of the reasons rewatching the show is so rewarding, whether to pick up on things you missed the first time, or to speculate about other things in the future, and I love / appreciate it very much.

#tdp #tdp meta #the dragon prince #analysis series #analysis #arc 1 #rayla being a Dual wielder even when she often insists on doing everything alone lmao

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imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul · 4 years

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Return to Me - Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two: And I Run, Run, Run

A/N: Sorry I had to skip last week, I needed some time to get caught up! I hope you like this chapter, let me know what you think! Let me know if you want to be tagged, too, or if I missed you in the list.

Pairing: Poe Dameron x Reader Word Count: 4,512 Synopsis: Still on the run, the reader travels to Arvala-7, where she meets someone who opens her eyes to how foolish she has been. Warnings: violence

Tag List: @xeniarocks, @too-many-baes, @araceli91103, @idocarealot, @treblebeth, @treestarrrrrrrr, @thescarletknight2014, @charlottie2998, @ibikus, @mellow-f1, @mrsdaamneron, @trustme3-13, @missjess71, @ella-solei, @minelskede, @gleigh42, @usuallyweepingnacho, @givemethatgold, @and-claudia, @constantdisgrace, @wordsinwinters, @readingvogueonprivetdrive, @trshbb, @kaitlynw011, @ihave2muchtimeonmyhands, @fairytalesforever, @thanos-jeep, @mixedfandxms, @pastelbunny1501, @emotionalcal, @danicalifxrnia, @getyourselfaunicorn, @spider-starry, @jimhalpertcanbuymelove, @angelicaxhouston, @roserrys, @blushingwueen, @americasass-romanoff, @commondazy, @throughparisallthroughrome, @ms-dont-care , @bubblegumcat229 , @barnesdameron

Previous Chapter - Next Chapter

After Poe left, you didn’t waste much time. You allowed yourself a few minutes to cry, but quickly wiped your face clean. The Resistance had found you, which meant that your location was no longer safe. Looks like you wouldn’t be able to sell those scraps after all.

You pulled out the scrap of paper that you had kept in your pocket since leaving the Gungan Underworld. It had a list of planets, some crossed off, with the words, “Not Safe,” written next to them. You quickly jotted down another “Not Safe” next to Taris and scratched it off.

You finished packing your few things and tried to keep your eyes from traveling to the slight indent in your bed where Poe had slept.

It was still dark out when you left the room. Of course, on Taris that didn’t exactly matter. There were still people creeping around every corner of the poorly lit street, but you kept your bearings. When you left Naboo, Jobee Qod had lent you an old ship. He said that the Gungans didn’t get much use of out it, and when he led you to it, you saw that he was right.

The old ship was rusting in more spots than it wasn’t, and when it reached lightspeed it made an awful humming noise, but it worked. It was the kind of piece of junk you only look at once, and wish that you hadn’t seen, which made it the perfect ship for your travels. You had to get some repairs on it when you landed on Felucia, which unfortunately cut your stay there shorter, but other than that, the old clunker had proved useful for you.

When you landed on Taris, you gave up most of the credits you had stashed away to store it in an old hangar. As you approached the shop, it was clear the owner wasn’t home. For a second you thought about hanging around to wait for day to hit and the shop to open, but then you remembered your dreams. Yes, the Resistance had found you, but you figured they would when you sent out your transmission. You could handle the Resistance. But if the First Order were to find you, which was likely, given the dream you had last night, there was no chance for you to escape. Not when you were as alone as you were.

Waiting simply wasn’t an option.

You snuck around the back of the building, although you weren’t sure it would matter. There were people milling about the street, but they were all focused on their own business. They were probably just as hopeful as you were that no one was watching what they were doing.

At the rear of the shop there were two large windows and a back door. Hoping for luck that never seemed to find you, you tried the door first. Locked. And when you tried the windows, too, you found they were also locked.

“Damn it,” you muttered. You took another look around you. No one was watching you. You had tried to remain as harmless as possible on your mission to disappear, but you had to do some things that were quite unbecoming of a queen, even if you weren’t eager to do so. Right now, you had to make another choice to get off of Taris.

With your elbow, you broke the glass of the large window. Break-ins were common in this part of the planet, so no one really invested in high quality security systems, or even higher strength glass. There wasn’t anything worth saving down here.

Your ship rattled as you started it up, but it still started. You threw your things in the back and took a few breaths. Usually when you had to fly you thought of Poe. Poe could fly anything, and always made it look simple, so you would try to embody his cool demeanor when you took flight. But after everything that had happened, you had to actively stop yourself from thinking about him. And the memories that did appear weren’t happy ones.

“There’s no time for that,” you said to yourself, hoping that hearing the sound of your own voice would break you from your thoughts, “I only need to focus on leaving.”

The next planet on your list was Arvala-7. It was quite a ways away, but from the way a man on Felucia had descried it to you, it was one of the perfect places in the galaxy to completely disappear. There were lots of people there, he had explained, but they’re just as eager as you to stay hidden.

You hadn’t trusted the man not to follow you directly to Arvala-7, so when you left Felucia, you decided to journey to Taris instead. But you were running out of leads now, and Arvala-7 seemed like a perfect location to get away for a while, at least to make plans of a more permanent location for you.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Thank you, you’re very kind.”

“I wouldn’t call it kind, missy, I’m expecting hard work out of you. Just because I’m letting you stay with us, doesn’t mean you won’t have to earn your keep.” You nodded your head and followed behind Marsa, a woman you had met on the outpost you had arrived at on Arvala-7. She could see you looking around, trying to find your way, and assumed you were looking for a place to get away. She offered you one right away. Said that she employed all kinds of drifters, as long as they worked hard.

You weren’t even sure what kind of work Marsa was in, you were just glad for a place to stay. She even had a field where you could keep your little ship, that after this last trip, seemed to be on its last leg. You wouldn’t be comfortable taking it back into space without getting some repairs done, which wouldn’t happen without getting some real money.

Marsa lived three hours away from the outpost. It was true that she must scavenge for workers there because she had absolutely no other business besides picking you up. It was as if she was waiting for you. You flew behind her, taking in the scenery as you made your way to her farm. You were hoping to recognize landmarks so that if things took a turn for the worst, you could find your way back, but it was just a vast expanse of nothing. Sand for miles and miles.

Hopefully, you wouldn’t need to make a quick leave.

Within a week of staying at Marsa’s house, you felt comfortable that you wouldn’t need to make a quick getaway. Besides Marsa, her wife and two daughters, the ranch you stayed on was quiet. Marsa and her family only talked to you when they had work for you to do. It was a regular routine you could throw yourself into.

You woke up at first light in the day and helped Marsa and a few of her ranch hands round up the blurrgs. Once they were corralled, you assisted in equipping them for agricultural labor. Whatever needed done on the ranch, as long as it was too big for you and the ranch hands to handle, the blurrgs were able to do. This left you with room for other jobs, which meant that Marsa sent you on nearly every errand she needed.

You were skeptical at first to travel in and around town for her, but eventually the boredom you felt on the ranch persuaded you to leave. The town was nearly as quiet the ranch. No one seemed to notice that you weren’t from around there, and if they did, they didn’t ask about it.

Everything was simple on Arvala-7, which is exactly as you wanted it. You needed to get away from all of the stress you had been living with for the last two years, and this was the perfect location. When you were doing chores for Marsa, it was easier to forget about all you left. And with the location you had chosen, you were almost certain that the First Order would ever find you here. The planet was far too remote and seemingly unimportant for their efforts, and even if they did show up, the chances of them finding you on the ranch were slim to none.

Everything was working out the way you had hoped on Arvala-7, until Khwaabi arrived.

Khwaabi was a man, around the same age as you, in a similar position as you. Marsa invited you into town with her one day, stating that she needed an extra hand to carry back everything she needed to pick up, although you suspected she was just lonely as her wife was visiting her family off-planet. Inexplicably, Marsa decided to make a detour to the outpost in town. When you questioned her about it, she just waved her hand at you and told you that she had a feeling. As you walked in with her, you surveyed the room nervously. In groups like these, there were often First Order patrols. But you also suspected that the reason Marsa had decided to come into the outpost was to keep an eye out for other lost souls like you, in the hopes of bringing them onto her ranch as well.

When you saw Khwaabi, you only had to look at him for a second to know Marsa would invite him to the ranch. He had that same lost look in his eyes that you must have had when you arrived on Arvala-7. She approached him and all too soon, he agreed to come back to the ranch with the two of you.

Although he was in the same position as you, Khwaabi was much different than you. He was an open book. Just on the ride back to Marsa’s ranch, you learned that he was from Kashyyyk. And unlike you, he told you exactly why he had left. Khwaabi had fallen in love with a boy, Leoro. But his father hadn’t approved of Khwaabi, so he decided to leave Kashyyyk to make a life that Leoro’s family would be proud of.

He was easy to read which made him an easy friend. There weren’t any secrets about him, which meant that you could trust him with yours. Although, you never did. You were nearly positive that Khwaabi could be trusted, but you had been burned before. And talking about everything that had happened seemed daunting and pointless. Whenever he tried to get any information out of you, you simply changed the subject back to Leoro and he forgot everything else.

About a month into knowing Khwaabi, a breaking point came where you could no longer hide your past. It had become a fun game for him and the other ranch hands, guessing wildly about where you had come from. They came up with tales of pirating and espionage, one even guessed that you were an empress on the run from your kingdom, but you never gave in. You just laughed at their guesses and tucked in early for the night.

But one day, you couldn’t run anymore.

Marsa sent you and Khwaabi into the marketplace for a few supplies, where you met your past face to face. Although you had suspected that Arvala-7 was safe, you knew that nowhere was truly safe from the First Order. There had been a few patrols through the town, but Marsa had made her business from drifters, and she knew to turn around when she saw them, in order to keep her workers safe. Only this time, Marsa wasn’t with you, and the patrol had blocked off the major exits from the marketplace. The only way out was through their checkpoint.

“What are you doing?” Khwaabi asked as you stopped suddenly, grabbing onto his forearm. He followed your petrified gaze to the marketplace entrance and laughed softly. “Come on, they’re just making sure we aren’t stealing or speaking ill of the First Order, we’ll be fine.” He tried to keep moving, even pulling you along gently, but when you remained planted to the dirt he paused. “Y/N? What is it?”

“I can’t be seen by them,” you said quietly. A million questions raced through Khwaabi’s mind, but he knew he couldn’t ask them now. He looped his arm around yours and pulled you to the opposite end of the market, behind a stall that was selling dark purple fruit.

“What’s going on?” he asked. He was often joking and smiling, but he was serious now, more serious than you had ever seen him before. You were grateful for it.

“I can’t be seen by them.”

“Why? We’ve got nothing to hide,” he said simply. You let out a deep sigh and looked up into his kind, golden eyes. “Does this have something to do with your mysterious pirating past?” he asked, garnering a gentle laugh from you.

“Not exactly pirating, but yeah,” you said reluctantly. “If they see me, I’m as good as dead. I’m on the run from the First Order, and the Resistance,” you added after a pause. Khwaabi’s eyes were wide but he only nodded, his long dark braids bouncing easily.

“Alright. I can get us out of here, but you have to promise you’ll finally tell me about your past. Once we’re safe and all.” You rolled your eyes but nodded.

“I promise.”

“Great. There’s a fence behind that shop down there,” he said, pointing to a small building a couple feet down. Easy enough to hop, just have to make sure no one’s watching. And then we’ll have to run.”

“Run?”

“Well, the First Order ships are parked on that side of the marketplace. If any of them see us we’re as good as dead, so we better make quick work of it.”

“This wouldn’t be the first time running for my life, I’m sure I’ll be fine,” you said. Khwaabi smiled at you widely.

“I’m very much looking forward to hearing your story, Y/N. Let’s go.”

You made your way down to the shop and Khwaabi helped you over the fence. He was right, the First Order ships weren’t far off. The second he dropped down next to you, the two of you ran and didn’t stop until you got back to Marsa’s place. She gave you each a questioning eyebrow, but went back into her house a moment later.

“Alright, pirate, now it’s time for your story.”

“Let’s get some water first,” you said breathlessly. Khwaabi nodded his head and followed you into your quarters. Once you had each caught your breath, you began telling Khwaabi the long-winded story of your life, up until the horrendous meeting you had with Poe back on Taris. Khwaabi didn’t speak or move for a while, but when he finally did stand, he picked up the pillow at the end of your tiny bed and hit you over the head with it.

“Ow! What the hell was that for?”

“Because I would kill to live your life, Y/N! You’re a princess!”

“A queen,” you muttered quietly, trying not to interrupt his rant.

“You have love! The only thing standing in your way is you!”

“That’s not true, there are my parents, the First Order—”

“You’re just making excuses, Y/N,” he said, sitting down across from you. “You could make a real change. The only reason the Resistance and the First Order are looking for you is because you can make a difference, and you’re running away because you’re scared.”

“I’m so sick of people saying that!” you said, standing up and beginning to pace. “I’m not scared, I’m just thinking practically. I can see where this all is going to go.”

“I think you’re just being paranoid. You have an entire family within the Resistance ready to fight next to you and keep you safe,” he said. You sighed and looked away from him. “Look, I only just heard your story, so maybe I don’t know everything, but it sounds like you ran away instead of fighting.”

“Isn’t that what you did? When you left Kashyyyk?” you asked, turning to look back at him. He frowned at you.

“Not at all. I am fighting. I’m fighting to make my life better so that I am deserving of Leoro. Once I reach that goal, I’ll go back. Are you really telling me you’re going to run forever?”

“I don’t have a choice,” you said.

“You could go back and fight. Fight for your home and your love and your life.”

“You know, I think you’d fit in really well with the Resistance. They all really like giving long, inspirational speeches,” you said. He laughed and nodded his head.

“Maybe I can check it out with you.”

“I can’t go back now. Not after everything I said to Poe,” you said, shaking your head.

“No, you can’t go back now. Not with nothing,” Khwaabi said. You raised an eyebrow at him.

“And what exactly am I supposed to go back with?”

“I don’t know. Like I said, I just learned your story. But I’m sure you’ll figure out what you can do to fix all of this mess with the First Order and the Resistance and your husband,” he said, looking at you with kind eyes. You couldn’t hold his gaze for long and looked away, nodding your head gently.

“Thank you, Khwaabi. For getting me out of town and for this.”

“No problem. Now, that run was exhausting, so I’m going to get some rest. If you decided to leave for the Resistance, at least wake me up before you go.”

“Will do,” you said with a laugh.

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Khwaabi had really expected his talk to work, because the next day he was so surprised to see you, he nearly choked on his breakfast, and for the rest of the day he didn’t speak to you. You understood his frustrations, but he had only just heard your story. He didn’t know all the ins and outs of your situation. There was no way you could go back to the Resistance. There was too much pain there. In your head you could hear Khwaabi saying ‘There’s pain here, too,’ but you elected to ignore it.

It took a couple days, but eventually Khwaabi came back to you, acting normally. He never brought up what you told him, although sometimes when he would talk about his love for Leoro, he would give you strange looks. You realized he only did this when your mind started to wander off, but it was hard to listen to him talk about his gorgeous man, when you had once had one, too.

You figured that Khwaabi knew what he was doing, but you didn’t much care. The longer you stayed away from the Resistance, the harder it got to keep on course and remember why you left. Of course, every night you went to bed, knowing that if your dreams slipped to Ren’s again, you’d have to be on the run once more. But listening to Khwaabi talk about love and life made you feel a little bit at home, and let you remember what it was like to have those hopes.

A week after the incident in the marketplace, you and Khwaabi were back, picking up a parcel for Marsa. You had briefly told her what happened, so she had been the one to make the last few trips. She had said that the First Order was gone, but when you arrived in town, you could see they were back.

“How in the fuck?” you muttered under your breath, making Khwaabi laugh.

“That’s not how princesses should talk,” he said with a laugh.

“I’m not a princess,” you said, trying to turn around. Khwaabi grabbed your arm and kept you walking forward. “What are you doing?”

“They’re looking at us,” he said, smiling so it didn’t look like he was talking to you, “If we turn around they’ll come after us. Just keep your head down. They’re not even doing a checkpoint. We’ll be fine.”

You nodded your head and quickly took hold of his hand, holding it tight as you passed the Stormtroopers. They looked you over quickly but said nothing. You let out a sigh once you were away from them, but that moment of relief was quickly squandered when you heard a scream.

You and Khwaabi both turned around to see a young girl, no more than sixteen, on the ground. Two Stormtroopers were standing over her, mocking her. It was clear that they had just hit her, seeing the way she held her stomach. As they geared up to take another hit, Khwaabi pushed the things in his hands into yours and raced forward.

“Stop! What has this girl done?” he asked, pulling back the hand of one of the Stormtroopers.

“Keep walking,” the Stormtrooper muttered, pulling his hand away.

“She is just a girl! Surely, there is another way you can get what you need from her,” he said.

“I said, keep walking,” the Stormtrooper said, much firmer this time. Khwaabi stood his ground, and you watched, along with the group that had gathered around the commotion, as the Stormtrooper hit Khwaabi across the face.

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” the other Stormtrooper said. They marched off, and just like that, it was over. The crowd started to clear and Khwaabi helped the girl stand. You walked over to them and Khwaabi gave you a cold look.

“What did they want from you?” he asked the girl.

“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head, “They said I gave them a disrespectful look, and then all of the sudden I was on the ground.” Khwaabi shook his head and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“Are you going to be alright?”

“Yeah, I think so. Thank you.”

“Forget about it. Any respectable person would have done the same.” You thought for a moment that the cold look he gave you before might have been a mistake, but it was clear from his tone, Khwaabi was furious with you, and you had no idea why.

The rest of your visit to the marketplace was silent. You passed by the same Stormtroopers on your way out, but if they recognized you or Khwaabi, they didn’t care.

“Okay, I can tell you’re mad. Can we talk about it?” you asked once you had cleared the town and were on your long walk back to Marsa’s.

“Why didn’t you step in?” he asked, looking at you with a new look in his eyes. Possibly disappointment?

“What was I supposed to do? They’re two Stormtroopers, I have no weapons—”

“Neither did I. Neither did that girl.”

“I don’t know what you want me to say. I told you, I’m running from the First Order, I’m not about to get tangled up with a couple of deadbeat Stormtroopers just because . . .”

“Just because what? Finish that sentence, Y/N. Just because an innocent girl was getting beaten? Just because your best friend now has a black eye?” he asked.

“I don’t know if I would say best friend . . .”

“Y/N!” he yelled, grabbing hold of your arms. “You can make a difference. You can help millions of people. And yet you run because you only care about yourself.”

“That’s not true,” you said, taking a step back.

“I don’t know, what I do know is that if I had the power you do, the influence you do, I wouldn’t be hiding out. I’d be facing down those bullies and sticking up for the innocent.” You looked at him with wide eyes but he only shrugged. “It’s whatever. Like you’ve said, I don’t know the whole story. Maybe hiding out here in the middle of nowhere is the best idea.”

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You knew he was right. You knew Poe was right. The second you had stormed away from the Resistance, you knew you were in the wrong. Running away was the move of cowards, and you had never wanted to be one of those. It took some time for you to admit it, but you were a coward. You were completely afraid of what would happen if you did fight, if you did everything in your power to help bring peace back to the galaxy, and it was all for naught.

When you ran, you thought you were doing what was best for Poe, what was best for you. You realized now that you were punishing everyone you cared about because of a decision by your family and Broden.

When you became queen, it was because you thought you would be helping people. You knew you had done good during your term, even if the whole thing was concocted by Broden. But now, you felt that the only thing you could bring to the Resistance was your connection with Kylo Ren.

You sat up in bed immediately.

Why had you been so stupid? The connection with Ren had been the thing that caused you to become queen, and the reason you were finally able to figure out Broden’s betrayal. If there was anything else you could offer the Resistance, it was your connection with Kylo Ren.

When you rushed into Khwaabi’s room, he was already up.

“What?” he asked.

“You’re right. I’ve been selfish, but there is something I can do for the Resistance, for the galaxy, but I’m going to need your help.”

“And why should I help you?” he asked. He was teasing, but it was also clear that he was still mad about what had happened in the marketplace.

“Because if you get me to where I’m going, you can keep my ship. That’ll get you somewhere nicer than here, where you can make a life for you and Leoro.” He looked at you for a minute but then smiled.

“Alright, where are we going?”

“Kylo Ren’s fortress on Byss.”

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