#i tried my best with lighing and shading | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

the-milk-monarch · 5 months

Text

[𝚂𝙼𝙾𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚆𝙴𝙴𝙳]

Summary: General headcanons.

[𝙼𝚒𝚔𝚎]

He'd be very hesitant to try any illegal (or legal, depending where you live) substance.

You gotta be on very close terms, and he needs to trust you a lot.

Would be surprised, first of all, when you offered.

I imagine he was a "good boy" throughout his life, so he'd have to think about it.

But if you finally get to it, he'd be quite fun.

After he goes through the several coughing fits, of course.

You make sure to bring him something cold to drink though, to help with the burning throat.

I imagine he'd focus on all the touchy-feely aspects of weed, like enjoying soft fabric, the euphoria, better music and so on.

It'd be quite an adorable sight of him "discovering" those.

The both of you had already prepared everything for a good smoking session, or so you thought. You noticed you didn't have a tv remote nearby to change the screen to Netflix, so you had to leave Mike alone on the couch for a moment. Mike felt all tingly and slightly dazed, nothing he had ever experienced before. It was both terrifying and kinda cool. He patiently waited for your return, but as he got slightly bored, his eyes began to wander around. His focus got fixated on a fluffy blanket you were supposed to cover yourself with. He gently picked it up with curiosity. His fingers just touched the nicest fabric known to man. It took you a while, but you eventually found the remote. Which was left in your room. You should really watch where you put your things while stoned. You couldn't hide the smile you had on your face as you noticed Mike getting comfy with the fluffy blanket. He made his lower half into a burrito, fidgeting with the tip of the blanket with his hands. After he noticed you staring he immediately stopped, though. "Oh- You're back." He smiled nervously. "You mind sharing that blanket?" You smiled back, nearing closer to the boy. "Right, of course, you can come here." He changed his position as he quickly reacted. You got under the blanket with the remote in your hand, sitting next to him as your side touched his. "It's- very comfy." He quietly remarked with a shy smile as a fact, but also to explain his "weird" behavior. "Not as much as you." You joked as you leaned your head on his shoulder, flashing a silly smile. His face flushed a slight shade of red as he chuckled.

Not that he'd demand it, but... If you pet his head, he'd appreciate it a lot 👉👈

Do it please, he'll melt.

[𝙼𝚊𝚕]

Surprisingly, he never tried it.

Ok, he may have, once or twice, but it was with a bad crowd most probably, so that doesn't count.

He'd also have to trust you quite a lot to be exposed to such an activity, it'd leave him vulnerable, after all.

But if you're close together then it wouldn't be such a big deal for him.

Weed paranoia might set in if the vibe in his mind ain't right though.

Then he'd be closed off and not really having fun.

But if not, he'd be quite chiller version of himself.

And you try your best so he'd be comfy.

"So- How do you feel?" You asked, looking at him. An idea has already formed in your head, but for now, you try to test the waters. He reciprocated the stare briefly, taking a second to process what has been said to him. "I'm- fine. Why do you ask?" "Do you wanna feel even better?" You ambiguously (in his pov) asked. He raised an eyebrow at you. You could've worded yourself better, but it's what you have to roll with now. "I mean-" You tried to explain yourself, but it's hard to form words in your state. At least you and him are both stoned, so it's unlikely Mal would cringe too much at you. "Since we're watching a movie, and I see you sitting so tense, why don't you- lay down?" You lightly suggested. He shot you yet another confused stare. "You care a lot about my comfort now, huh?" He asked you in a bit poking fun way, but it was all lighthearted - at least you thought so. "I'm very hospitable to my guests, what can I say?" You smoothly tried to save your face. He rolls his eyes at you, after which he smirks slightly. "Alright. But what about you? What if I take all of the couch space?" He raised his brow in a bit amused manner. "You know, you can just put your head on my lap." The words spilt out of your mouth. You got some surprised yet entertained at your boldness stare. "Don't think it's gonna become a habit." He 'warned' you before hesitating for a second and carefully placing himself down. His head awkwardly leaned on your lap. He wasn't used to being in such position. "And that's supposed to be comfy?" He was laying on his back as he looked you straight in the eyes with a halfly playful and doubtful expression. You noticed it was your cue, so you gently raised your hand to touch his hair. He got slightly alarmed at what you're doing, but after your fingers touched his hair and made the first pet, his expression softened a little. His face remained neutral, although it was visible from his body language that he actually enjoyed the closeness. "...So? Feeling comfy yet?" You playfully asked, playing with his hair. It was quite fluffy, as you expected. "Hm... I agree it is enjoyable to have a useful pawn at your disposal." He joked with a slightly silly smirk.

Surprisingly enough, he'd be quite funny when watching some shitty movies.

Like this guy has some sick ass roasts for the bad characters + stupid plot mixture.

Sorry but Mal strikes me as a hidden comedian.

Of course, it's only funny if you're into his humor though.

Loves listening to music high, the lyrics just flow in his head.

Are you up for listening to My Chemical Romance with him??

[𝚅𝚒𝚝𝚘]

This boy must have smoked some before.

Or at least seems like the type who would.

He'd be way more annoying with his flirts.

Weed gives him confidence, and it's already oozing out of him enough while sober.

An opposite of Mal, in a sense that Vito just cannot be funny.

You may only laugh at how bad his jokes are (respectfully).

This won't stop him from having a good time and laughing at his own jokes though.

To be fair, on weed everything is way funnier, so Vito passes the hilarity scale anyway .

He also laughs at the dumbest things.

Show him funny videos compilation and he'll have a good time.

Would get even lazier.

Expect him to be all over the couch.

Oops, guess there's no place to sit now.

Better go cuddle with him.

You just came back from going to the kitchen to get some more food and here you saw your place on the couch taken. "Vito." You shot him a half-serious glare, to which he just stretched more comfortably. "Hm? Oh, did ya really like that spot on the couch?" He said looking at you, playful and smug. You rolled your eyes at him, waiting for him to move. He didn't. He just looked at you, as if testing your patience. "Sorry, I look too good right now to move from this place." He playfully stuck out his tongue with a smirk. You took it as a challenge, so you just squeezed yourself in-between the couch and him, making him almost fall off the couch when he lost balance. "Aye, yo- you gonna drop the goods-" He quickly remarked as he got his balance back. You chuckled and caught him with your arm on his side, supporting his body so he wouldn't fall down. He readjusted into a comfier position, facing you. "Ain't it better laying here?" He said with a smirk.

Perfect fit to watch movies while cuddling.

Especially some cool, action ones.

That way he can tell you how he's as amazing as those guys in the movie, and that he could do anything, like that guy from Need for Speed.

If you disagree, he'll be very disappointed.

[𝚂𝚟𝚎𝚝𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚊]

It'd be... an usual sight to see her smoke.

I mean, she's so active and energetic-

It kind of translates to something else when she's high.

She loves to talk on weed.

"Vant me to tell you zat one time I got a golden medal?" The enthusiasm was fully visible on her face. "Of course." You nodded lazily but with curiosity. "Oh, great! It vas near the time I performed my first backflip!" She reminisced and continued. "I'll tell you about zat too!"

She's so social, talkative, expressive and overall joyous.

You think it's quite adorable, and you don't mind listening.

You forget everything she said after few minutes anyway.

Don't worry, she'll say it again, with the same enthusiasm.

But don't take her as a selfish one, she'd love to intently listen to your stories too!

She'll try her best to remember them as well.

On a funny scale, Sveta is most likely the 3rd funniest one, I don't make the rules (I do actually)

She can be a bit- savage, if she wants to.

Especially when it amuses you.

She loves to see your smile.

She's also such a cuddlebug!

Loves to stay close to you, you're like her personal pillow.

You noticed the window to your room being open. You didn't mind a slightly colder room, but you wondered if Svetlana was bothered by it. "Hey, Sveta, are you cold?" You asked casually, gaining her focus. "Are you?" She looked at you like a concerned mother. "Nah, I'm fine." You calmed her down, although you couldn't deny the dirty truth. "I mean, maybe a bit, but I'm too lazy to go close it." "Oh, zis is unacceptable-" She scooted closer to you as she said halfly-jokingly and embraced you tightly. She gently laid you down with her body weight and put herself on your chest. You felt her arms holding you as she had a warm smile on her face, giving you a nice source of heat now. "Is zat better?"

[𝚂𝚌𝚘𝚝𝚝]

He'd be a total dork.

He has never smoked weed, but will act like an expert.

"Hey, Scott, you sure you're gonna handle that much?" You asked, concerned about Scott's wellbeing after you noticed his share of weed. "Psh, I'm gonna be fine!" He brushed you off with a simple gesture with his hand. You watched as the boy with freckles on his face got the bong in his hands and started to inhale the smoke. He tried his damn best, but he couldn't stop the attack of sudden coughing it gave him. "Ih'm- Good-" He managed to cough out.

After trying to appear cooler, he'd behave a lot more dumber.

Which made it harder for you to stop giggling after each of his response.

"So- Whatchu wanna watch?" You asked him lazily. "Wha- Huh-" He looked around, thrown off of his thoughts. You laughed softly at his state. "...What was the question again?" He looked at you, really dumbfounded. "What movie do you want to watch?" You repeated with a chuckle. "...One that has moving pictures in it."

He also wouldn't be able to resist the food.

The pure joy in his eyes once he took a bite out of the pizza you ordered before smoking-

Is also a lot more excited for things, like "Woah, there are still onion rings left? Amazing!"

Is also down for like, anything you suggest.

Wanna watch a movie? Got it.

Wanna watch the paint dry? Sure thing.

(He used to it for fun as a child, anyways)

Wanna sit on the floor, stopping whatever you were doing to pet your dog/cat? Count him in!

His whites turn so red because of his blue eyes- (I experienced it first hand)

[𝙶𝚠𝚎𝚗]

She totally smokes weed on her own, from time to time.

So she's not as afraid to do it with you for the first time.

Her social anxiety would be slightly lowered, and so she wouldn't be as self-conscious to get vulnerable around you.

She would probably have a good time.

Also would get more touchy, she rediscovered her biggest weakness, affection.

She usually doesn't receive much of it, given her closed off and calm body language around others.

She'd be the one to ask for permission to touch your hair (if you're close, of course).

She loves to play with it, you're like a personal kitty to her.

Loves watching horror movies with you!

Whether bad or not, she's up.

Her favorites are Scream, Nightmare on Elm Street and Scary Movie series, which she enjoys a bit ironically (not all of the jokes from the movie aged well).

If you're scared of horror though, she'll light up the mood with silly jokes and lots of cuddling.

She looks the best in her cozy pajamas, laying on the bed with you.

Sorry Gwen-fans, no little situation bit for Gwen 😔 I'm feeling uncreative on this one

[𝙽𝚘𝚊𝚑]

You wouldn't expect him to actually agree to smoke weed with you.

Turns out, he's up for it.

I mean, he never saw it as anything spectacular, but could understand why people do it.

Never planned on doing it himself, but since you offered, he's slightly curious to try.

Que nonchalant coughing after inhaling too much on the first try.

Don't make fun of him.

Would internally salivate after the hunger hit him like a train right when he finished smoking.

"So- What do you want to eat first?" You casually asked. He waited a bit before answering. "Anything works, really." You passed him a very good looking, chocolate donut. He took it into his hands, looking at it a bit before taking a bite. His eyes opened a bit wider while experiencing the explosion of flavor from it. "I never thought I'd know what Owen feels like on the daily."

Would get like, 10x funnier.

Watch a movie with him, it'll be a blast.

He's the type to sarcastically comment on a cheap 3D during a movie scene. "Geez, if I wanted to watch a bad production, I'd watch Total Drama."

Would probably cringe after the smoking session was over though.

As if he shown "too much of his bad side", which he usually smoothly tries to hide.

But it wouldn't be such a big deal, he just isn't in the mood to hear your teasing at something silly he might have done then.

Actually would be up to smoking again, it seems like a blast.

[𝙲𝚘𝚍𝚢]

Yes he smoked all the weed, everytime and anywhere.

Don't actually let him smoke too much though, he'd get obliterated.

He has never tried weed, but wanted to try it with you, since you offered, and he thought it'd be a good idea.

But he found out he's slightly paranoid after it.

And his awkwardness doubles.

I mean, how can he not, he has to show his best self to you!

He calms down once you put him in a good place mentally.

He can't stay in his limbo of intrusive thoughts if he's got a bad joke to laugh at.

His honest laugh is so pure.

He didn't even know how much of a sweet tooth he'd become after smoking.

He likes sweet to a relatively normal degree while sober, but boy oh boy that chocolate bar is looking good right now-

He won't stop eating them unless you tell him to leave you some, to which he'd embarrassingly chuckle at. "Sorry-"

If he's feeling brave after all of that character development, he might subtly suggest snuggling together.

He just got to see how amazing it is to have a heightened sense of touch, and he's not gonna waste it.

"Do you- also feel a bit cold?" He asked, trying to be casual. "No, actually. Do you?" You responded honestly, leaving him a bit out of options as to what to say. "Um... I- kinda- do-" He stayed 'nonchalant' as he fidgeted a little with his hands, trying to keep his body language neutral. You didn't think a lot before responding back. "You can come closer, I don't mind." You casually said. You didn't really mind the close proximity while high, you liked having someone to casually lean onto. And you certainly didn't mind it with him. "Oh, that's fine then-" He scooted over to you in a smooth, yet a bit hesitant manner. You felt Cody's warm side beside yours. "If it's not weird with you, you can like- comfortably lay on me, if you want." You lightheartedly and carefully suggested, not wanting to seem like a weirdo, in case he's not as open to physical touch. Cody's eyes widened a little, but he wasn't about to decline your offer. "O-okay!" He exclaimed, trying to contain his excitement, not to seem too desperate for any sort of affection right now. He entangled his arm slightly into yours to get even closer, after which he leaned his head on your shoulder. "Amazing..." He mumbled to himself with a goofy smile, hoping you wouldn't hear.

If you're like his best friend and he's comfy around you, prepare yourself for a karaoke night of stupid songs like California Girls.

This boy can get silly.

74 notes · View notes

hazard-queen · 4 years

Note

Did I say I love your writing? I'm sure I will, but I'll never get tired, so I say again, I LOVE YOUR WRITING AND YOUR HC's 💞💞 well, how about a day at the beach with the dorm leaders? And how would they react seeing the (female) reader with a bikini or a swimsuit? I think that would be so hilarious (forgive my bad English)

Thank you for your lovely words it made my day >_< 💖

It's ok with English it's not my main language too don't worry ^^

Have a good day and take care~♡

• A day on the beach was the best thing you would ever imagine since going to this college, can we really go there? Are we all going? You were happy like a small little puppy back then but...do you actually have a swimsuit?

• As you of course didn't bring one when you came here cause you didn't even know you're going or how you came there, of course they are not selling those in all boys school do they?

• And that's when you decided going to vil to ask for help and he of course would love to help, taking the required measurements he began working with fabric telling you to leave it all to him!

• " You will take it by tomorrow morning before we set off!" Said vil with a wink as he waved to you not to worry oh what a relief, or......

• You began packing what you will need in such an occasion happy enough to think about anything but this trip! You couldn't even sleep, also thinking about the swimsuit vil was going to make you drove you even more excited.

• "WHAT.....IS.....THIS?!" your face turned 100 shades of red on seeing what vil designed you.

• "What? It's amazing isn't it?" Said vil with a closed eyes smile

• "Y yeah.....but...isn't it abit..?"

• "Gorgeous? Wonderful? Yeah sure it is! Now go to your room and get ready!" Oh boy!

• You all went to the beach ready to enjoy one of the most rare holidays in NRC....let's hope so! They were settling everything, umbrellas, beach chairs and now done...but You're still out of seen!

• "Where's (y/n)? Did you see her here?" Asked riddle who looked for you left amd right till he could hear your voice, "i I'm here!" Riddle turned around to see you and wish he didn't, the heat exploded into his face and ears,you know they expected you to be wearing a swimsuit but you know vil's taste!

• "(Y...y/n)? Cater rised his face from his phone along with trey who almost dropped the plate from his hand.

• "What?" You asked with a blush knowing exactly what it is! It's a purple swimsuit with two ribbons from the sides and you know the rest ( I'm going to let this for your imagination :D )

• Did it stop here? Nope! Kalim decided to join the party along with azul!

• "WAAAAHHH! (y/n) you look amazing!" Our baby dorm leader seemed to like the style and has no other opinion but someone please lend azul a new pairs of glasses cause his glasses got broken for no reasons!

• "Shi shi shi shi leona san take a look!" Ruggie pointed to leona who was asleep on his chair enjoying the tan with the sun, here leona and jack took a look but each one had a different reaction you know! Leona's smirk was from ear to ear " oya oya that's a sight! Ruggie! Take some pictures!"

• "DON'T DO THIS, THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE!" yelled jack who was in a much worse case than ridde taking the phone from ruggie's hand

• Who's next? The albino boy! He of course won't go speak to anyone since he hates sun , people and everything, he was sitting under a huge umbrella burrying his face into his knees that he was hugging, "hello (y/n) san!" Shouted ortho waving for you, you were having your breakfast with others but it's not like idia will come into such an occasion with anyone, idia rised his face and wish he didn't ,oh have some Marcy on this poor boy!, idia was a hot mess the second his eyes landed on you! His face turned fully red and he immediately covered it with his both hands screaming oh dear!

• "Ummm hello ortho...idia?" You talked to him but he didn't answer, he moved a finger to uncover his eyes and once his golden eyes met yours he squeezed them shut again, you sigh since you had enough for this day...but someone is missing....

• You felt something covering your arms, you look back to find a ligh silk black robe, malleus placed it on you to finish the whole thing, yeah his face was all red too but he had to do this.

• "Better?"

• You noded with a wide smile but vil of course didn't like this, vil was standing a far holding a huge black umbrella, of course he won't risk his fare, flawless skin.

• It was so fun spending the day with them but did you mention you can't swim well? You got hit by waves almost three times and each time you get hit floyd swims after you, "hey! How about we hold hands and jump when there's a wave so we can have more fun?" That was kalim who noticed how embarrassed you were for being sinking like a rock each time and they all agreed....and by all let's don't count idia who held into ortho when you tried to ask him to join nor malleus cause they don't like sun so much and also vil who was still mad at you for changing the masterpiece he did for you "No talk to me I'm mad at you!!!"

• Lunchtime was the best! Everyone was working with grill stuff, seafood, meat , vegetables and kebab! After finishing the grilling process you stood there holding a plate unsure what should you eat then some grilled vegetable were put into your plate "you should eat some vegetables!" That was riddle who did this and you were on your way thanking him before you found some grilled seafood and mushrooms in your plate, " try some of our grilled seafood, jade and floyd make the best of them!" That was azul with a wide smile.

• "Oh thank y-"

• "Try some of the kebab i made (y/n) san, you will love it!" Jamil joined the food wars and of course he won't lose this, but there's someone also overhead this! You blinked twise before the huge meat stick that was put over all of the food and you can hardly carry the plate tho "a herbivore like you should try eating some meat to become strong like me!" Said leona proudly, "shishishi i don't think she wants to be like you,leona san!" Ruggie said what you almost was thinking of but didn't dare to say it out loud.

• You blinked to the plate in front of your hand, what should you eat or how to start, you totally need help with this! But whom would help you? You looked around to find epel sitting alone but...why he's not eating like them, you asked him if he can join you into this plate, he looked left and right making sure vil isn't watching this then he nodded quickly! "Vil would never allow me to eat this, he said it's high in fat!" Said epel disappointed yet chewing more of the food into his mouth....if vil know you will miss epel so much!

• After lunch idia suggested playing boardgames with him and totally agreed! It's not every day you get to see idia! Azul joined and everything was going good! Till it was ice cream time and everything was a mess! You hardly got a douple icecream stick, you should thank ace for handing it to you, And that was for your luck cause trey ran out of ice cream...did i mention that it was made by him? But in this mess your eyes landed on malleus who didn't join this or wasn't invited, you walked towards him to see.

• "Didn't you have one?"

• "I wasn't invited as usual!" Said malleus pouting looking at the happy group , you sblit your ice cream and handed one to malleus, "here! I didn't forget about you!" You gave him a big smile and left, his eyes widened on your words, looking at the ice cream into his hand he smiled to himself before shoving it into his mouth.

• It was almost the happiest day you spent in your life since you went to this world, you smiled to them as how happy and joyful they were....

• "So! Should we go back now?" The peaceful moment didn't last for long cause you almost jumped from your place seeing the headmaster coming out of the sand that was still covering him since he spent the whole day taking a tan.....

#twisted wonderland imagines #twisted wonderland #disney twst #disney twisted wonderland #idia shroud #malleus draconia #azul ashengrotto #leona kingscholar #riddle rosehearts #kalim al asim #vil schoenheit

77 notes · View notes

dndeviants · 5 years

Text

More discovery

Linda followed after Strahd upstairs, and broke off to investigate an L-shaped piece of furniture. She looked around: To her left was a heavy oaken door, to her right were pieces of furniture that had been smashed or were rotting away.

Books were scattered about, most of them appeared holy in nature, but strangely, they had full sun symbols on their covers, and not the half-sun that she associated with the Morninglord.

Aric followed after Linda and saw the books as well. Both of them reached for one to read...

Linda’s book was damp to the touch. She opened it and saw that the ink inside was smudged. She tried to read it, in spite of herself, and furrowed her brow at the incomplete words and passages:

...Father Sun, Auman--or, being the Ke-per of Law, S-n, and Ligh-... we are b-t serva-ts to thee...

Aric picked up a book. This one had a clear title, and it was "Aumanator, Keeper of the Sun." He opened the book to read the opening passage, some of the ink had faded in time:

Aumanator, Father Sun... being high above all other gods of T--il, are the bringe- of Law, Order...

Aumanator, He recognized the name from his extensive study of Faerunian history. He was the Sun God that helped to found the Faerunian pantheon before his death, and subsequent reincarnation as Lathander Morninglord.

He was the god of a people that came before the Chondathans, and preceded the Tethyrians, and most importantly, he was a god of a people that the Calishites had gone to war with, far back in history before the Dale Reckoning.

Odd... those people’s culture died out long ago... why would records of their god be here? Aric thought.

He decided to voice his confusion, "These books speak of a God that was worshiped by the people of Toril long ago, back to the founding of the pantheon of Faerun,” he added, “I know time flows strangely here, but I can't understand why these records are here.”

Linda raised a brow, "Who is the God?"

“Aumanator, God of the Sun,” answered Aric, “After he was reincarnated, he was known as Lathander Morninglord.”

Linda vaguely recalled from school that the reason Aumanator became Lathander was because he was not so much “Good” as he was “Law,” and that he lost several followers because of shadow magic that altered the face of Faerun... Shadow magic that ripped the Netherese Kingdom off of the face of the continent, and shadow magic that altered the Western Heartlands...

The people who worshiped this god, she recalled, were people who were recorded as “Talfir,” by the elves. “Talfir” meaning “conquerors” in their tongue.

"His followers were called the Talfir by the elves if I remember correctly,” Linda added, “Those people don't exist in Faerun anymore. Why is their God recorded in these books here in Barovia? Unless...."

Linda made a face in thought.

"Do you think they came from here?" Aric asked.

"Either that or the opposite,” Linda looked to the genasi, “They came from Faerun."

"I suppose either is possible,” Aric admitted, “but how does this fit into everything going on here?"

"Well...” Linda thought about what she knew about the Barovians, “It makes sense that their faith was supposed to be based on law instead of goodness. Which could be why the Abbot wasn't taken kindly to- the Barovians don’t seem to care so much about goodness.. and that may explain why the Abbot became so.... awful."

She furrowed her brow, "But why would the Abbot keep the books?"

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

Strahd let the two explore the ruined library. He paced around his old fort and noted the changes that had occurred within.

Decayed, dismal... much like the rest of Barovia. He looked at the damage to the room... A fight had happened here, long ago.

It didn’t surprise him.

When he had turned into his undead self, one of his closest companions, his faithful friend, Lady Ilona had fled here, taking up residence in this fort that he had intended for the priesthood, for his brother...

To her credit, she amassed a very decent following, and taught many the clerical and healing Art... and one of her best students was a girl, Aurica Markovia-

Saint Markovia, Strahd corrected himself with much ire.

Lady Ilona passed on, and left the fort turned abbey to her favored pupil... but apparently, that was not the only thing that she passed on.

The knowledge of Strahd’s true nature was only known to three people: Victor Wachter, Leo Dilisnya, and Lady Ilona herself... but as Lady Ilona passed on, she gifted- or burdened, rather- Aurica with the knowledge of Strahd’s transformation, the truth...

She honed her powers, Strahd nodded to himself, made a name for herself as a miracle worker, and was referred to as a saint by the people of all Barovia. Many came to her...

Many to join her Holy Crusade. She did come for me, came right up to Castle Ravenloft... what she considered the source of all evil here-

Perhaps, in a way, she was right. Strahd admitted to himself, But it was still such a shame... I had no interest in the church, she could have lived a long life if she so chose. But no... I was naive. So long as there are the faithful here, I will never know peace.

He grimaced as he thought of their battle. Her loyal dogs fell easily, but her... He rubbed the side of his leg with remembered pain. Her, not so much.

But what is done is done, and all that remains are... her remains. Remains that he made certain would be sealed away in the crypts of Castle Ravenloft for all time... her faith had imbued her bones with holy power, and he was not allowing anyone to venerate her bones as they had with St. Andral...

He looked back to the furniture in disarray. The priesthood here was weak without their leader. They turned on each other, all vying for power... sullying the Abbey, Ilona’s hard work...

Killing each other. He sighed. It was long past. But in the end, the girl still had her victory. She had shaken his power for just a brief moment- and to quell the inconvenient inquiry into her disappearance, he was forced to canonize her as a legitimate saint...

He walked over to a small chest and looked through it, seeing a few magical scrolls. He parsed through them with disinterest. Nothing quite new- oh? A scroll with a Spell for Raising the Dead... Interesting. Of course, he couldn’t use it himself... but perhaps it would be a great bargaining chip in the future. He gently slid the scroll into his pack, and decided to end his stroll through memory lane.

He turned to his two companions who were having a conversation over ruined books. Curiosity overwhelmed him as we strode over to him, "Find anything interesting?"

Aric nodded, not looking up to Strahd, “These books speak of an old god from Toril, Amaunator, later known as Lathander Morninglord,” he explained, “The faith was based on law, which explains the Abbot’s odd behavior, but we don't understand why he would keep the books."

Strahd blinked, "The Abbot didn't bring anything here. These books were standard for the monastery. They are from my time as a human general... I had forgotten the name of Father Sun proper, but it would hurt me to say it... the god is from... Toril, you say?"

Linda nodded, "He is from our world. He was an old god,” she paused, “If I remember correctly, he lost several followers because of Shadow magic that altered the face of Faerun... And he was reincarnated into Lathander."

Strahd shook his head, "The names you speak mean almost nothing to me. I fought a war here to preserve our people's religion and our nation's sovereignty from those desert-dwelling invaders, the Tergs. I spent half of my life on the battlefield in the name of that god and my father. A lot of good it did, if he ended up dying anyway..."

Strahd walked through the debris, bitterly, "And a lot of good faith did for us."

Linda shrugged, "I still don't get how you have a god from Faerun in your history."

Strahd tilted his head, "Probably the same reason there are many countries in the Shadowfell. We were all pulled from somewhere...” he locked eyes with Linda, “Perhaps we were from your world once. Is that hard to imagine? You are speaking Balok right now."

"Balok?” Linda shook her head, “I'm speaking Common."

Strahd raised his hand, "I didn't have to use any translation spells to understand you, like I have those from other worlds."

Linda blinked, feeling numb, "So Barovia is from our world..."

"It may be so. Or perhaps not,” Strahd shrugged in frustration, “What does it matter now? We are no longer part of any world. And escape so far has proven fruitless. In any case... it certainly did not help the Abbot that the people here have confused the faith.”

Strahd’s eyes narrowed dangerously, “Here, I am the Law, I am the Land. Gods have very little sway here."

Linda looked away from him and sighed, "Let's just look around more."

Linda stood, and walked over to the next room, Aric and Strahd following her lead. She opened the oak door...

The room had several beds... and as soon as they entered, six shadowy forms emerged from under them, hissing and clawing at the floor...

Linda leveled her gun and fired rapidly, Aric pulled out the Sunsword and it’s light evaporated the shades. It could hardly be called a fight.

Strahd and Linda groaned in unison. Strahd in pain, Linda in exasperation.

“Well, something of import must be in here for all that..." Linda muttered.

Aric noticed Strahd covering himself from the light, and quickly dismissed the Sunsword’s blade, "Sorry about that Lord Strahd, I'm going to have to be more careful about using the sword!"

Strahd shrugged his cloak away from his face, sighing, "It's alright. It's a tool. And it is useful against such infestations like those. I'll just be mindful of you."

They explored the room. Strahd found nothing of interest to him, but Linda took a sack of silver ball bearings, good enough to use as ammunition. Aric found a pack of herbs, and stored it in his pouch for Jeeves to examine later.

They made their way over to three doors. Aric opened the first of them, and saw a plain room with a table in its center. The table was covered in blood, and there were limbs strewn about. He slowly closed the door.

Linda checked the room next to him. There were old, wrecked cribs in this room. She looked beyond and saw a nun in white and blue robes by the window. Linda blinked, and when she opened her eyes, the nun had vanished.

"Huh..." was all Linda could say.

Linda peered into the next room, finding it empty except for a raven on the windowsill. It cawed at her and flew away.

Linda turned to Aric, "Welp.... I got nothing," she grumbled, "I hate this place."

Aric folded his arms, "I found a table covered in blood and body parts. Did you find anything... less horrific?"

"I found a raven and possibly a ghost," she replied.

Linda went to check the door on the other wall, and opened it. On the other side was an open walkway that overhung the courtyard below. It seemed that someone had put up several fearsome looking scarecrows along the abbey walls.

Linda walked out there, Strahd walked alongside her.

Aric stayed behind, as Jeeves caught up with them, and he wanted to catch up his companion.

Strahd examined the scarecrows with amused interest, "Not bad. I could do better. These would make a good prank at the Castle."

Linda rolled her eyes and ignored him. She wasn’t having a good time at the Abbey, and his nonchalant, flippant manner was starting to wear on her.

They passed by another scarecrow. Strahd commented, "Ah another one. I've always wondered why they were deemed scarecrows... they seem to frighten humans more so than they do crows..."

Linda sighed, "And it seems they fascinate more vampires than they do humans."

Strahd tilted his head toward her, "No. Well, perhaps... I'm just looking for things to help keep people away from my home. Less gruesome ways."

Not even pausing, she asked, "What were the gruesome ways?"

"Impaling trespassers that tried to destroy me or my consorts on the gates of Castle Ravenloft."

Linda was sarcastic, "Sounds like those ran few and far between."

"The gates are a little sparse now," Strahd admitted.

They passed another. Strahd clapped his hands together with enthusiasm, "You know what would really get them running? An animation spell on the scarecrows. Make them look like corpses... then when trespassers try to brave the gates- have them start moving and moaning...”

Strahd lowered his voice to a playful, scratchy hiss, “Turn back now, beware the Devil Strahd... things like that."

Linda looked to him and raised a brow, "Sounds like a lot of effort."

"Not at all actually. Just animate objects and a minor illusion spell- you...” He looked at her expression and quieted, “You aren't actually interested in these things, are you?"

Linda snickered at Strahd’s expression and opened the door they had reached at the end of the walkway.

Strahd huffed, and pulled out a notebook to jot something down before following her into the dark room.

The room was almost too dark for Linda to see... she heard the same violin music from before and swiveled her head to the source... A mongrelfolk with two heads and a lobster claw was chained to a desk, clutching the violin.

"What..." She took a step toward the mongrelfolk and tripped over a stray femur. She stumbled and fell, cursing. She looked up to see a dark red chalk pattern on the floor, "What the fuck is that?"

Strahd knelt down to help her up and glanced at the chalk, "Be careful. That is a teleportation circle...” He paused and thought aloud, “I suppose we know how the Abbot was able to sneak people in..."

Linda blinked at the vampire, "What happens if I touch it?"

"You get sent to wherever this portal is connected to," Strahd replied.

Linda looked back to the chalk, "Can we find that out?"

Strahd paused, then nodded, "Let me do some reading on the circle."

Strahd helped Linda move a safe distance away from the circle as he examined the chalk on the floor. He murmured a small incantation. The chalk glowed. He turned to Linda, "I think... this is a portal to the werewolf den. I'm almost certain of it.”

He rose, calculating, “I think this is where the real invasion is going to begin... we can destroy the portal, or go through it."

Linda stood up, "What do you propose?"

Strahd listed their options, "Well, we could destroy it and throw off the invasion attempt... or we could go to them and destroy the portal on their end, and disrupt their ranks there like they intend here. Ironic victory."

Linda thought, and gave her opinion, "I think the second option will lead to a better chance at stopping the invasion."

"Perhaps...” Strahd cautioned, “but we will have to be careful going into the den of our enemies."

"Is everything alright you two?" Aric called into the room. He and Jeeves had finished on the other side, and had come to check on the vampire and the monster hunter.

Strahd folded his arms, "Other than her almost tripping into a portal to the werewolf den. Things are great."

Linda looked to Aric and Jeeves, "We are going to go through a portal straight into the den."

Strahd looked surprised.

Linda looked straight into his eyes, her voice serious, "I'm going through it."

"Through the portal to a den of werewolves?” Aric felt uneasy, “That doesn't sound like a good idea."

Jeeves folded his arms, "No, it does not."

"Thank you," Strahd indicated the boys.

"Sounds like a good one to me," Linda smirked, keeping her eyes on Strahd, she walked over to the circle, “So?”

She picked her foot up and held it above the circle.

Strahd furrowed his brow at the woman, "That's foolish."

She raised a brow, "Are you going to stop me?" she lowered her foot closer, "Or follow me?"

Strahd sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He was weaker than he would like to be... tired, fatigued, his magic power almost at its limit. It would be suicide if any of them were caught, outnumbered...

But for some reason, the thought of Linda getting killed...

"It appears that I am also, in this moment, a fool..." He tiredly stepped forward.

Linda put her foot down...

The chalk flashed purple. One moment they were there, the next they were gone. Aric sighed, "I suppose we should follow them in case they need help."

Jeeves and Aric steeled themselves before walking through...

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

A cave... running water... The group looked at their surroundings, trying to get their bearings. There was a gash in the ceiling that allowed the gray light and cold drizzle from the outdoors to seep in... torches lined the walls of the cave. Just in front of them, an underground spring seeped forth. It appeared to be forty feet across, and a five foot ledge looked over it. Perched on that ledge was a single werewolf in hybrid form that happened to be looking in the opposite direction of where they were gathered.

Wasting no time, the group clung to the shadows, approaching the lone werewolf. Linda and Aric snuck up on it, and knocked it out. It collapsed, and returned to its human form.

Another werewolf just beyond flicked its ears backward. Jeeves moved forward with his shortsword, ready to pounce. He struck the creature twice before Strahd moved forward and punched the beast square in the muzzle, knocking that one unconscious as well.

As that one fell with a clamor, the group quickly tried to hide once more...

Strahd felt his fatigue, and let go of his physical form, opting to travel as a thin mist... it would be harder to spot him this way, at least.

He crept along slowly, beside them as they passed through rocky formations. Linda peered forward and saw ten werewolves, and two of the mutant werewolf hybrids.

She whispered, “Large group. Two mutants. Ten werewolves...” She looked for a path... if they moved to the right, they could make it to the next ledge. She pointed it out to the boys, "We can make it there."

Slowly, they moved by the lycanthropes... that group seemed to be speaking about battle plans, but it would have been too risky to linger. Linda moved past them...

Two werewolves in hybrid form were speaking, both female. One of the large mutant kind, and one normal werewolf. The large one with white fur spoke in a low growl, "Ingrid. Kellen has to fight. To make the pack strong. There is no exception."

Ingrid, the other werewolf, hissed, "But he is a child! They shouldn't fight! Kiril is your mate, Bianca! Make him see reason! There are so few of us already, we can't afford to sacrifice our young- even if it is for strength!"

Linda focused on moving forward... A werewolf was cornering a small child as the females fought... She saw steps leading down to her right. She moved up, and saw that down the stairs there was a statue of a woman with a wolf’s head, surrounded by coins, a dead man and woman, and cages of children...

Timothy! Linda saw him, cramped and huddled down with five other children. But she had to wait for the opportunity to get him.

Aric’s hearing became sharp and unnaturally crisp... He heard Mehmet’s voice... He turned to face the source and saw his cousin with two other people far across the way...

"Yes, the circle should have enough charges to get everyone in and out. I just checked it upstairs," Mehmet placed his hands inside his robes.

A huge lycanthrope unlike anything Aric had ever seen hulked by Mehmet. His skin was twisted and purplish, eyes a jaundiced yellow, dark fur missing in some areas, with intense scars punctuating his body. This must have been the leader of the pack: Kiril.

He growled, "It better. I've wasted too much time at the walls for this to fall through. Dilisnya... what of your end? Will we be able to count on your... guild?"

The man Kiril referred to as Dilisnya was plainly dressed. A young, handsome face framed by curly brown hair, and cold blue eyes spoke with a silvery voice, "You've dealt with us long enough to know that my guild always follows through with its promises,” He made a gesture, “You have gotten stronger from it, you became pack leader, and now? Krezk will fall."

Mehmet seemed skeptical, "That's only if your angel friend can learn to keep a level head."

The man seemed unworried, "It'll be fine, we can still do it with or without him. He's almost outlived his usefulness anyway."

Mehmet seemed to shudder, "About time..."

Kiril growled, "Agreed... and what of the... mongrel-folk?"

Dilisnya waved dismissively, "They are just there to stir confusion, and horror, and despair. Useless as soldiers. I've already field tested them and found them... wanting."

Meanwhile, Linda looked to the mist that was Strahd. It reached forward, uncollected, almost unaware of everything around him... Her heart sank in realization, This is why he didn’t want to come! He’s... out of it. Tired... Why did you come, you stupid man?! Was it for... me? She looked around with worry, if someone noticed the mist....

Growls and the sound of fighting rung out through the left. Aric saw a werewolf approach Kiril, "Kiril! Ingrid and Bianca are at each other's throats!"

Kiril growled, "She would come to blows with my mate?! Now of all times? Let me deal with this dissent..."

Kiril pointed to the guards next to him, "Come with me."

Dilisnya sighed in distaste as Kiril stormed off. He spoke to Mehmet, "I'm going to the Amber Temple, to clear a few things up. Just make sure he doesn't get too carried away."

Mehmet nodded, "Right. And the mage?"

"Let him keep thinking what he thinks. And guide him toward the orchards... any luck, he'll think the trees are Strahd's minions, and the orchards will be razed in seconds," Dilisnya turned and departed upstairs.

Mehmet fidgeted with his hands and muttered, "I did not come here to be a servant. We'll get past this soon enough...” He paused as if he were listening to something, “Yes, understood, Great Pasha..."

Mehmet Rein murmured and walked up the stairs slowly.

Linda seized the opportunity and bolted down the stairs to the children’s cages. The children wept and shrieked at the sound of the fighting wolves. Timothy simply covered his ears and closed his eyes.

Strahd all but stumbled out of his mist form and pinched the bridge of his nose. He collected his bearings and looked at the children.

Linda rushed over to the cage with Timothy in it, pulling out her tools, trying to unlock it. She called to her party, "We need to get everyone out."

Strahd replied, "We need to get everyone quiet."

Linda looked to Strahd. She didn’t care if he used his vampiric powers for this task, "Get to it then. I'll do what I can."

Linda focused on her apprentice, worry in her voice, "Timothy, Timmy. You need to help me quiet everyone. I'm getting you out of here."

Timothy opened his eyes and looked to her, shocked, "Miss Linda! How did you-? Oh gods, I left the shop unlocked, I'm so sorry..." He teared up.

Linda nodded, trying to calm him, "It's alright, I locked up."

Linda unlocked the cage and opened the door. Timothy stood, but the other children cowered.

Strahd stepped forth. Linda commanded Timothy, “Timmy, close your eyes.” Timothy did as told.

Strahd walked forth to the children and made eye contact with them. His eyes flashed red as he reached his influence over them. He spoke in his most soothing voice, "It's alright. You are going to be safe soon. Just lower your voices, children. Shhhhh...."

As he shushed them, they stopped their crying, their eyes glazed over. He had them under his control.

Linda took Timothy’s arm, “Come on... I’ll explain later. Help me get everyone else...”

Aric, Jeeves, Linda, and Timothy worked to free the children as Strahd calmed them with his supernatural influence.

Linda ushered the children, "Alright. Now upstairs we go. Quickly now...”

Aric guided them to the entry he saw Mehmet pass through, pulling back a curtain of human skin. There was no time to be disgusted. Escape was all that mattered. They walked up the stairs and came to an outside opening... There was a portal just on the ground, surrounded by a pile of stones.

Mehmet was there, facing the lake that was under them. He turned around, speaking tiredly, "Kiril, did you finish with the-”

His face contorted in fear and confusion, “Children?! What are you doing out of your cages?!"

Linda pushed the children forward, “Go, through that! Quickly!”

Timothy and the other children ran through. In a flash of purple light, they were gone.

Mehmet made a gesture, summoning bright energy around him, "You will not disrupt this!"

Linda raised her crossbow, "Yes we will," she fired a shot with her crossbow, but the energy seemed to slow the bolt near him, and made it glance harmlessly off of his side.

Aric grabbed his light crossbow and fired, trying to back away from his dangerous cousin, but he tripped over.

Mehmet looked to Aric and Jeeves, anger contorting on his face, he twisted a ring on his hand, cursing, "Damn you! I will be Syl-Pasha... because I have the greatest of Pashas on my side... Pasha of Pashas, Memnon! I summon you!"

A blast of heat struck them backwards... a swirl of fire emerged from the ring, manifesting into an unusually large efreeti... His skin ashen gray, and his szulduar angular and crackling. The efreeti, Memnon roared, only Aric could understand its cry:

Freedom.

The rock around them turned into sand, flames nipped at their feet.

Jeeves panicked, "How do we destroy the portal? And more importantly- do we have a way out?!"

Aric turned to Strahd, yelling over the wind and fire, "Can we destroy the portal from the other side?!"

Strahd looked to the creature, horrified, "No. We won't have the time! The portal will take us to somewhere else in the Abbey, and it won't guarantee that thing won't come through!” Strahd raised his cloak to cover his face from a stray ember as the efreet took one large step, “I have a spell- my last spell- to get us out. To destroy the portal, just destroy the symbols."

Jeeves didn’t have to be told twice. He drew his shortsword and ran over to the portal, trying not to burn his feet as he struck at the chalk on the ground.

Nothing. The symbols remained.

Strahd stepped forward and slammed a fist onto the ground, cracking the stone beneath, and shattering the integrity of the circle.

Mehmet and the efreeti roared in unison as the efreeti summoned more fire around them... the smoke was starting to choke...

Strahd stood, and pulled Jeeves back with Linda and Aric.

“Stay near!“ Strahd warned as his fists glowed purple...

The Abbey... Strahd willed the spell, Bring us back to the Abbey-

A swath of flame licked at his back, just as the purple light enveloped them... Strahd cried out in surprised pain, his thoughts warped, his concentration lost...

I want to go home!

Drifting. Floating... Bliss... then stillness.

Everyone looked around them. They were... not in the Abbey. They were in an open area of what appeared to be a castle. A long red carpet lined a stone floor, with marble columns reaching to the ceiling. On top of the columns, gargoyles regarded them with leery expressions. Candles of red wax lighted the gray stone from golden sconces. Skeletons assembled to perform mundane tasks, sweeping the floor, dusting paintings...

A chill swept through the hallway as it grew slightly darker in the room...

Linda grabbed onto Strahd’s shirt, anger overcoming her caution, "What did you do?! Why are we here!?"

Strahd pinched the bridge of his nose in a haze. What had happened...? He thought of the flame against his back, the pain... He sighed, "I suppose... I may have been... slightly off target..."

Aric looked around him, "Where is ‘here’ exactly?"

"Home,” Strahd all but whispered in tiredness, “Welcome... to Castle Ravenloft."

#story update #curse of strahd #linda tacklemeyer #aric rein #dnd #writing #strahd

2 notes · View notes

bellatrixobsessed1 · 5 years

Text

Wan High Weeping (Part 40)

Dies a little on the inside because I can’t remember if I gave Katara and Sokka a last name already. Wishes I had my notes document and hopes that I didn’t, because I couldn’t find one while combing through my previous chapters.

Also, like Sokka, Yue has been aged up for the sake of the plot. I really wanted to give her a place in all of this.

Azula dropped her suitcases by the stairwell. The manor had such a different aura than the one Ozai’s took on, right down to the aromas. As opposed to sharp spices and incense, the house smelled of violet and lavender and other floral odors she didn’t have names for. It smelled fresh, even approaching the last week of November. She was dropped off with a stern lecture about making the most of things, being as so many strings had to be pulled to get her there so quickly. But she was in no mood for making the most of things; not only did she have to worry about adjusting, she had to worry about the charges she was going to be pressing on Chan and Usha. Moreover, she was in a constant state of dread. Somehow he would get to her.

She knew that he would.

Ursa had money but Ozai had more of it. His lawyers would be better. They would have her sent right back to him and she didn’t know how to feel about that. More than anything she craved the affection he used to give her. Even though the academically outstanding part of her screamed against it, Azula clung to the hope that she could still make things right if she could just fit herself back into the image he desired. But, lord did the prospect terrify her. He would tear her apart for the grief and struggle she was causing him now.

She stood awkwardly in the doorway, not sure if she was supposed to enter and make herself at home or if she was supposed to wait for her mother to greet her. She thought of retreating back to her car. But then, where would she go? Back to the hospital? She could pester TyLee for a place to stay, but that look became her just as poorly as binging in front of everyone had. She also couldn’t imagine that her relationship with the girl had been repaired enough for that to happen. She shut the door and opted to leave her luggage where she had initially set it down for the time. She wandered further into the house, trying to get a sense of it.

There were paintings everywhere of lush scenery and sprigs of rosemary. On hallway coffee tables were vases teeming with jasmine and lily. She wondered how long it would take before she came across a picture of Zuko. But then, her mother had cut Zuko out just as readily as she had cut Azula out.

She came to the backyard veranda. The door leading out to it had lacey white curtains that fluttered in the deep autumn gusts. The garden must be magnificent in the spring. There were so many trees, she could only imagine their flare and splendor a few weeks ago--painted with the fiery hues of autumn. She could only imagine how green and rich they were months ago when the air was still hot with summer. Now they were simply dead, spindly and twisted against a stonewash sky. Dead, grey, bleak, and waiting for snow to come and re-awaken their glory. But somehow they were still beautiful, forlornly beautiful.

Azula’s fingers curled around the veranda railing. It was lined with budding winter rose and amethyst ice, their vines and leaves brushed against her palm.

Ursa never stuck her as a gardener, but then, she’d never put much thought into the woman since she divorced Ozai and filed a restraining order. No thought save for wondering why the woman never bothered to reach out. Perhaps it was that she was afraid that her ex-husband would track her down through she and Zuko. It seemed logical enough, Ozai had the money and material to do so. Still she had a sneaking suspicion that she didn’t want to hear from Azula.

She recalled Zuko mentioning an anonymous call or two every so often, a few months after the woman had fled, but he never picked up numbers he didn’t know. After that, the calls stopped coming. She hadn’t expected her mother to try to get in touch with her, she was too much like the man her mother had fled from.

Until now, she had put it out of her mind entirely, the sting of being unloved by her own mother. Now it was just another glaring failure amid the rest--perhaps it had been the first indication that she would fall and amount to nothing.

Azula reached out to touch a low hanging branch.

“There you are.” Came a voice. Hearing it for the first time in years was haunting. The timbre of it was so startlingly similar to her own. “I saw your suitcases, but couldn’t find you.”

“I never tried to find you.” Azula spat, harshly. She would love to know how much effort the authorities had put into doing so.

She heard Ursa sigh. “Can I help you carry your things to your new room?”

“Do I look helpless to you?” She grumbled. “You can tell me where my room is.”

Ignoring Azula’s protests, Ursa picked up two of the few suitcases and led her daughter up a few flights of stairs, to the third floor. She motioned down the hall. “I decorated three rooms for you to choose from…”

Azula’s tummy fluttered at the thought that her mother had gone out of her way to do so. She fought to cling to her anger. To her dignity. “I’m sure you would have redecorated the whole house for Zu-Zu.”

“Azula…”

She made her way past Ursa and dropped her suitcases into the third room. The one painted in soft shades of blue. Wallpaper trim depicting silvery and turquoise blue strands of lightning caught her eye. The room was furnished simply; there was a canopy bed draped with pastel blue organza fabric and an organized heap of silk pillows that rested atop deep blue silk sheets. Next to the bed sat a white night stand with a crystal lamp in the same shades. Off in the corner was a sizable bookshelf that probably came with the night stand. A decorative velvet rug blanketed white carpeting. She figured that the rest of the decor was up to her. “When you were little, you liked to have strings of lights hung in your room. I didn’t know if you still liked those so I bought some for you just in case.” She motioned to a few boxes. “You can go through those and see if you want to use any of it.”

Again, Azula’s stomach knots. The woman remembered what she liked as a child. Ursa was making it harder than she had anticipated, to hold her grudge. She reminded herself that the woman hadn’t even tried to reach out to her.

Azula’s curiosity got the best of her so she rummaged through the box some. She spied organza curtains to match the canopy as well as dark blue velvet to match the rug. Ursa was giving her options. And that was only the things she had bought for this room. “I like these.” She stated simply, lifting up the velvet curtains.

Ursa picked them up. “Would you mind giving me a hand?”

She didn’t want to, but she didn’t want to risk not having curtains either, so she picked them up and helped Ursa arrange them. That would do for the time being, she might finish adding her own style to the room later. Frankly she liked to think that this was a temporary arrangement that she didn’t need to invest much time into.

WIth the curtains in place, Ursa stepped back to inspect them. When that was done she decided to inspect Azula who folded her arms over her chest. Ursa’s expression dimmed and she reached an arm out. Azula swatted the had away with a curt, “don’t touch me.”

The woman’s face darkened further. “He hurt you.”

And Azula knows that she had caught a glimpse of the fading bruises Ozai had left on her cheeks.

“What did he do?”

“Nothing that you tried to protect me from.”

.oOo.

Xi River Academy was very different from Wan High. From the layout to the deep scarlet and vivid gold colors. Wan High took a wolf-bat hybrid for its mascot. What Xi River had was more of a crest. A gold plate with elegantly engraved tiger lillies. If Azula were to guess she’d say that they’d simply take a tiger for an animal mascot if requested.

The campus itself was different, much more elegant. A cobblestone path led to a fine brick building with faux gold embellishments. A stark contrast to Wan High’s concrete foundations. It didn’t occur to her that Xi River Academy could be a private institute until she was swept up in a crowd of girls. Only girls. A female only, student body. At once, she wondered why her father had left her to a shabby public school when he could have sent her here, or at least a place like it. A two hour commute to and back would have been a hassle.

It seemed to settle more and more, that he didn’t care for her as much as she though he did.

The elegance of the academy only distracted her from her fears for a brief, yet merciful, window. As soon as the awe faded, it settled in that she was in a new crowd. A crowd that had never seen her at her best. The notion that they’d only see bruised, chubby, tired eye’d version of her was more than enough reason to retreat. Even more so, knowing that this would be their first impression of her. She could bury herself in all of the make up she wanted, it wouldn’t hide what she sought to cover the most. Suddenly her new uniform felt so tight and constricting. She could already feel the weight of their judging gazes--heavy and scrutinizing.

She tried not to speak with anyone and no one tried to speak with her. She opted to pass on finding her locker until after hours. The school was too large and she had a class to get to. She hadn’t anything to fetch or put into her locker anyhow.

She entered the class room as quietly as she could, lingering about, trying to scope out what seat hadn’t already been claimed. A poor plan in retrospect, when she found herself being the last woman standing. Her new literature teacher walked in. “You must be Azula.” He noted quietly. His voice had a familiar ring to it, one that she couldn’t quite place.

Has gaze was soft and inviting enough, blue eyes scanning the classroom. “It looks like you get to sit next to Zirin.” With a light smile he added a very quiet, “good luck.” A little louder he said, “perhaps Ms. Nishimura will pay more attention to the lessons with a stranger sitting next to her.” This roused a round of chuckles.

“Or…” Zirin spoke up. “Ms. Nishimura will neglect the lessons to get to know the stranger.” Another round of laughter.

“Feel free to give her a nudge or two if she becomes a pest.” The man rolled his eyes. His demeanor struck Azula as familiar, just as well has his voice. Still she couldn’t place where from. She turned to take her seat but he stopped her. “Before you sit, would you mind introducing yourself? Name and...hmm...something you enjoy doing in your free time and a fun fact.”

Fully aware of the eyes on her, Azula muttered her name. “I used to play volleyball.” It wasn’t a very fun fact, but she added, “and then I broke my ribs.”

“I’m sorry to hear it.” Her teacher apologized.

Azula shrugged and headed for her seat. She wished that they would stop staring at her. She no longer liked being a spectacle.

“I believe you all are really going to like Azula.” The teacher proclaimed. “Considering we will be taking a break from our very engaging read…” a collective groan resonated about the room, “...to go around the room and introduce ourselves.”

“Hell yeah.” Came a mutter from behind. “Anything to avoid reading that hell novel.”

By the end of the hour her brain was loaded with names and faces she probably wouldn’t remember the next day. She supposed that she’d just have to get used to them, as she would everything else. Again her new teacher stopped her as she was leaving. “Can I talk to you for a moment.”

Azula frowned to herself and perhaps her dissatisfaction was apparent because he added, “don’t worry, I’ll give you a hall pass.”

She re-entered the classroom.

“I just wanted to introduce myself, since the bell rang before I could.”

Azula stood silent and waiting.

“Though I feel like I know you decently already.” This, Azula didn’t understand. “Katara, has mentioned you a lot.” And her heart thrummed against her chest. “You are that Azula, correct?” She could already feel her grade in this class dipping.

“Depends, what did Katara say?”

The man laughed and then his face went hard. “She pointed you out a number of times on various social media, usually while crying…”

Azula let herself go numb, she was already off to a horrible start.

“Which is why I was surprised to hear that she was worried about you.” He paused. “If you need to talk about anything, I’m here after hours on most days.”

“I don’t need to talk about anything.”

The man nodded. “My daughter came home crying you know…”

Azula didn’t want to hear anymore, she didn’t want to know how much damage she’d caused.

“...When she thought you were dead.”

That wasn’t where she thought he was headed and it took her aback.

“She saw that you were on my roaster and asked me to make sure you were doing alright.”

Azula swallowed. “She asked about me?”

He nodded and held out his hand, “Mr. Nanouk. But feel free to call me Hakoda, everyone else does.” Azula returned the handshake. “Welcome to Xi River, if you need to know anything about the school, feel free to ask. I’ve been working here for over ten years now.”

Azula nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Nanouk, I’ll keep that in mind.”

She turned to leave again, halting when he called, “Oh, one more thing.”

She looked back.

“Katara is having a little welcome back party for Sokka, she told me to let you know that you’re invited.”

Azula wondered just how many times she would be left with an optimistic but nerve-wracking flutter in her belly. The little reminders that, perhaps, she had been seeing things wrong all along--that people did care for her. They startled her and put her off guard just as much as they comforted her. She wasn’t used to people being so outwardly affectionate with her. Their gentleness had her somewhat flustered, silently so. She appreciate the sentiment very well. Even still…

“I’ll think about it, I have a lot going on right now.”

“I can imagine.” Hakoda replied.

Between all of the lawsuits and the transfer...and her mother…

Even without that baggage she wasn’t exactly up for another party. It would only bring back vivid images of the night she had made up her mind that it was time for her to go. She felt obliged to add, “it’s nothing personal, I’m just tired of the party scene.”

.oOo.

The lunchroom was crowded, everyone was well into their routines. Everyone save for her. She was alone again and this time she didn’t have a Teo. All of the tables seemed full. She tried reading faces, looking for the most inviting one. Her eyes fell upon someone who she could write off right away, she carried herself in the same way Usha did. In the same way Azula herself used to. With any luck she could just bleed herself into the background until her time at Xi River Academy was through. Unnoticed would be better than what she had at Wan High. Evidently, she was already unsure if she could manage that. She decided that she would pass on lunch today, she didn’t want to make that kind of scene on her first day. She’d been eating too much at the hospital anyways.

“Hey!” She spied a waving hand. It took her a moment to realize that the display was directed at her. It was that Zirin girl. She didn’t see any other options so she answered the girl’s gestures. “Earlier today you mentioned that you used to play volleyball?”

“Yes.” Azula replied, taking a seat.

“I just so happen to be a member of Xi River’s team!” Zirin declared, “and I’d like you to meet the rest of the girls.” She motioned around the table. “This is Ikue, Chinami, Shoko, and Ryoko.” They were quite a variety. Ikue with her side shave and Ryoko with her black and white dye job. Chinami was a small and adorable thing, smaller in height than even she. And Azula was probably the smallest woman she knew. Shoko was a heavier girl, the kind she would have targeted before her accident. “And this is Nagako.” She pointed to the most unremarkable girl of the group. She wasn’t unattractive by any means, she was more or less ordinary. “She just quit the team.”

“Why?”

“Eh, I get tired of doing the same thing all the time.” Nagako replied. “Besides, practice ate all of my free time.”

“In other words, we could use a new player.” Zirin offered.

“You don’t want me on your team.” Azula mumbled.

“Sure we do.” Zirin insisted.

“I’m no good anymore…” Azula trailed off. “I haven’t played since my accident.”

“That’s fine, we suck anyways.” Ryoko shrugged.

Chinami agreed. “Yeah, we lose pretty much every game.”

“Xi River is known for our outstanding academics not our sports program.” Ikue put in.

“We can all suck together.” Zirin declared.

“I can’t wait.” Azula grumbled.

“So you’ll join us then!?” Shoko asked.

Azula sighed, the more she mulled it over, the better it sounded. She supposed that joining the team would buy her at least a little more time away from her mother. That alone held an appeal. It would probably do her well to at least try to get back into things. And from the sound of it, she wouldn’t have to worry about looking like a fool alone. Still, the idea of putting herself back on the court in such an out of shape state was daunting. It practically screamed for mockery. “I’ll think about it. I have...things to do after class.”

She certainly wasn’t ready to confess that she was going to therapy. Outpatient had been the decision, with a heavy warning that if she gave even the slightest indication of self-harm she’d land herself a prolonged inpatient stay.

“What do you have to do?” Zirin asked. “Coach is usually pretty good at working around schedules.

“I’m still trying to get settled at my mother’s ma...place.” Azula lied, also deciding that it was probably better to leave her status out of the equation.

“I’m sure coach can work with you.” Zirin said again. “I’ll let her know that you might be interested.”

“Don’t jump the gun, Zirin! She hasn’t said yes yet.” Shoko spoke.

“I know, I know. I’m just going to mention it. No guarantees.”

Ryoko looked to Azula, “did you forget your lunch?”

And so it began. “I did, yes.”

“Want some of mine?”

“I think I can last the day.” She had lasted much longer than that and she would do so again. She looked at her knuckles, the scabs had just begun to flake away and she was going to pick them again. She had to, or else she’d never see her trim figure again. She noticed that the conversation was going on without her. It seemed that way anyhow.

“So, why did you transfer to Xi River?” Chinami asked.

“I. It wasn’t my choice, my brother ran away from home and the CPS got involved.” She supposed that a half truth couldn’t do much damage.

“I’m sorry.” Chinami replied.

Azula waved her off, “we didn’t get along anyways, I’m sure I’ll see him again some day or another.”

.oOo.

She didn’t know why she was doing this to herself, but curiosity was gnawing at her. She didn’t know if it would be better or worse to know exactly how much damage her hospital stay had inflicted. She searched the bathroom, finding no scale. She wondered if her mother had been informed of her diagnosis. She had to have been. Azula grimaced, now she had no way to gauge if she was on the right track. No way save for a glance in the mirror. A mirror that tells her that she had, indeed, grown even softer since her stay.

Turning away from the mirror, she stipped off her uniform and tugged on her day clothes. Clothes that fit just the same as they had before she had landed herself in the hospital. She smoothed the wrinkles out of her shirt quickly ran a comb through her hair.

“Are you sure that you don’t want me to come with you for your first session?” Ursa asked.

“I’m more than capable of doing things on my own.” Her grip on her car keys tightened.

“I just thought that you might want some support.”

“Where was your support when I was in the hospital? Surely they told you how I got there?”

“Yes.” Ursa confirmed. “I know that we...I didn’t leave on the best terms with you. I was afraid that showing up would have made things worse for you.”

Resentfully, Azula noted that her mother wasn’t wrong. A sudden appearance from her probably would have set her off again. She found herself entirely conflicted. “You could have at least tried.” It stung, in retrospect that she hadn’t. Azula knew that she would have turned her away, but at least Ursa could have used an attempt as proof of care. “It wasn’t worth it to you, was it? You knew that I’d turn you away so you didn’t waste your time.”

“Azula.” Her voice is annoyingly level. A stoic demeanor so agitatedly like her own. “I didn’t want to upset you.”

But she had. “I’m going to be late.”

Not that she was actually eager to get to her appointment.

.oOo.

It was hard to believe that her therapist wasn’t completely burnt out already. Thirty minutes into their hour and a half long session and Azula hadn’t said a word. They could make her attend, but they couldn’t make her speak. The woman, Yue, was nice enough, but Azula had no interest in spilling to a stranger, what had taken a good while for Teo to pry out of her. ��The woman only knew what the other doctors did; that she refused to eat and threw it up when she finally caved. That was all she needed to know.

She had already tried asking how her first day of school was, how she was adjusting to her new home, and if it was difficult to settle in. She tried asking what had driven her to take the pills and if death was what she had really wanted. It took everything in Azula to not, shout that, of course she didn’t really want to die. And then the woman was bold enough to ask if her struggle with bulimia went hand in hand with the attempt.

Each question struck Azula with more unease and fury. Fury she refused to express so openly. The woman was trying many tactics. She tried firm questioning, she tried kind questioning. She tried telling stories of other patients. She tried speaking of her own experiences. She tried returning the silence.

“You’re a pretty girl, Azula.” Now she was trying flattery. She was only saying it because she had to. Azula resisted the urge to correcter with an, “I was a pretty girl.” She wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. “Can you help me understand why you think that you need to throw up?”

Azula hated her bluntness, it made her almost uncomfortable. Evidently she didn’t even know why the woman needed to ask, it was very plain to see. The woman was just taunting her, trying to coax a reaction. She wouldn't so readily give one.

“Does it have anything to do with your father? I am aware that child protective services have gotten involved in your case.”

That struck a nerve. “It has nothing to do with him!” She might as well have said that it had everything to do with him. Yue’s face told Azula that she knew it too.

“He put a lot of pressure on you, didn’t he?”

She tried to save herself, but she probably only dug herself deeper in. “He didn’t say anything I didn’t agree with.”

“So you put pressure on yourself too. Whose idea was it?”

“Was what?” Azula scowled, folding her hands over her chest.

“Did you make the decision to start throwing up yourself, or did your father suggest it.”

She didn’t like that question either. Even less, she liked the implication that she could be forced to do anything she didn’t want to do. “Of course it was my idea! It was only supposed to be once or twice. I just needed to...fix myself to make the team.”

“The team?”

She was saying too much. Maybe she could redirect the conversation. “I was in volleyball.”

“Volleyball.” Yue nodded. “A good sport. Which playing position was your favorite?”

She allowed the conversation to drift away from her disorder. “I enjoyed them all. I was good at them all.” She thought for a moment. “I liked being the setter or the outside hitter the most.”

Yue nodded. “I don’t know that much about volleyball, would you mind telling me what those positions include?”

Azula took no issue in discussing this. Ideally she could chip away the rest of the session time.

She launched into an in depth explanation of the six positions and the game play. Doing so only took up about twenty minutes. Leaving her with a good forty-five left to kill. She tried to think of anything she may have missed. But Yue came up with something faster.

“So you started throwing up to get yourself back in shape for the team? You wanted fast results, correct?”

Azula groaned to herself. “Yes.”

“Understandable.” Yue replied. “But have you seen any changes since you started?”

At first she was inclined to fess up and say no. She would have rather said no instead of coming to the dreadful realization that, if anything, she had seen her weight go up. She shifted uncomfortably. Another mistake, Yue picked up on the motion quickly. She loathed her for it, she was just as good with mind games and reading people as Azula herself. She was going to have to tread with more care.

“You’ve probably seen an increase haven’t you?”

Azula remained silent, but at this point, even that spoke volumes.

Yue’s face hardened and Azula knew that she was done playing nice. Kindness, hadn’t worked up to that point. “Throwing up doesn’t get rid of all of the calories, Azula. It doesn’t even get rid of most of them.”

Her discomfort swelled and would only continue to do so as Yue kept speaking.

“You do realize that there have been many studies to show that a good number of bulimics reach their highest weights during the cycle.” She paused to let it settle, drawing the quiet out for a good while. “Purging is only an illusion. It makes you feel like you’re preventing something, but that isn’t the case. Is it, Azula?”

She felt her cheeks color. The facts that Yue laid out, leave her feeling naked and helpless. She wondered if coming here was a good idea at all. It certainly didn’t feel like it. Perhaps Yue really wanted to set things in stone because she continued. “Your doctors wouldn’t release any details of your stay. But I imagine that, at some point, your hands must have been swollen. Maybe your ankles and your jaw too. Do you know why this is?”

Azula shook her head.

“It happens because your constant vomiting leaves you dehydrated. Your body is trying to cling to the water it has.” She paused again, leaving it to turn in Azula’s mind. “Your throat hurts, doesn’t it.”

“Not as--not that badly.” Her unease was making her speech less careful.

“Not as much lately? Do you think that, that could be because you haven’t thrown up recently.”

She did, but she wouldn’t say it.

“It has only been a little over a week since you’ve last thrown up, and you’re already feeling that much better for it.”

Azula swallowed a lump in her throat.

“You’re lucky the tooth decay hasn’t begun to set in yet. And luckier still that you haven’t developed any intestinal problems. Or heart problems. I’m sure that your doctor has talked with you, at least a little, about electrolytes.”

Lord, was she tired of hearing about those. “Heart problems?”

“Among other things, yes. Low potassium can lead to heart problems.”

And lord knew that they had tested her for that in the hospital. She stared at her arm, a faint patch of pink still decorated the area the IV had jabbed into.

“Of course, those are long-term effects. I would guess that you haven’t done any permanent damage yet, but that can easily change. Do you think that you will be able to make the team with an irregular heart beat or kidney failure?”

The question answered itself.

“You wanted instant gratification. You wanted fast results. Do you like the results you’ve seen?”

“No.”

Her head dipped.

And Yue’s expression softened. “Of course you don’t. You’re hurting yourself. Do you know what will get you fast results?”

Azula looked up.

“Exercize.” Yue replied simply. “You enjoyed volleyball, you still enjoy it, right?”

“I think.”

“Pick up the ball again.” Yue replied. “And if you still like the game, then weight loss should come very easily and naturally to you. From the sound of it, you have a very natural talent.”

“But I’m hungry all the time.” She couldn’t imagine that, that would do her any favors.

“That’s what happens when you restrict your diet. You start to think of what you can’t have, you hold off and hold off until you can’t take it anymore. And then when you do eat, you eat to make up for days of not eating anything at all.”

It seemed so simple, she feels like a fool for not thinking of it on her own.

“You’ve gotten into a habit, Azula. The sooner you break it, the easier things will be.”

“But--”

Yue left her with no room for that. “Right now you’re going to have to rip the band-aid. Typically I go easier on patients, but I feel like babying won’t work on you, will it? I don’t think you want to be babied.”

“I don’t.” She agreed.

“So I will be blunt with you.”

She didn’t want any babying, but she didn’t particularly want her to be so straightforward either. Yet, it was what she needed.

“I want you to start eating again. Like you used to before…”

“I broke my ribs.” Azula filled in.

“I want you to start eating like you did before you broke your ribs.”

It sounded easy enough. It should have been easy. “If I do, I’ll just...” Azula trailed off.

She didn’t need to finish for Yue to gauge the direction. She’d probably seen it dozens upon dozens of times. “ You’ve thrown your body into starvation mode. Right now it is going to cling to everything you put in it. So yes, you’re right, you probably will see another increase in your weight.” At least she wasn’t sugar coating. “Eventually your body will get used to a healthier diet and you’ll level out again. After that, it gets easier--you’ll start to see the drop you’d like.”

Azula’s fingers tighten over her kneecaps.

“I’m willing to say that if you stick to a regular volleyball and workout routine, the gain will be minimal, perhaps it won’t happen at all.”

She didn’t know if she believed that.

“I promise you that if you go back to the very basics, a healthy diet and regular exercise, you’ll see much faster results than throwing up will ever get you.” She paused. “So, let me ask. How do you want to do this? Do you want to take baby steps or do you want to rip the band-aid.”

“I want to rip the band-aid.”

Yue nodded. “If that doesn’t work then we’ll have to take baby steps.”

“Fair.”

“Alright then.” Yue clapped her hands together. “We’re running short on time so I’m going to take you through this quickly. I’d like you to join the volleyball team again. Start slow if you have to. I’d also like you to follow a diet plan…”

.oOo.

It was a lot to absorb and that was only their first session. But she had requested tough love. Apparently their next session was going to focus wholly on re-learning nutrition facts. She supposed that, that wouldn’t sting too much, it would do her well to have a more concrete understanding of such. The only thing she had going for her was that she didn’t have the burden of stress-related eating habits.

She fell upon her mattress. It was hard enough handing Ursa, of all people, that night’s meal plan. Granted the woman was in ass kissing mode and eagerly accepted the task of cooking it. Azula rubbed her hands over her face. She was completely unready to face another possible spike in her weight. She was frustrated to the point of misty eyes. She could smell the crisp of chicken, it met her nose so invitingly. Her empty stomach yearned for it. Habit alone left her feeling disgusting for craving it so badly. She sighed, it was going to be a tedious task to sort out what a normal food craving felt like verses the impulsive uncontrollable desire.

Apparently, that was going to be a topic of discussion in the next session as well.

Azula loathed to admit it, but she wanted to see Yue again. The woman was firm with her in a way that didn’t leave her feeling ashamed of herself. She was forceful but she left the final decision with Azula. The woman could talk all she wanted about eating well, but at the end of the day it was on Azula to follow through. “You can make me empty promises if you want. At the end of the day you’re only going to hurt yourself. No matter what you choose to do with this diet plan, I’m going to go home, watch some Netflix, and pet my cats.”

But something told her that it would hit Yue hard if Azula fell deeper into her disorder.

Ursa shouted up that the food was ready.

And Azula felt absolutely ridiculous; she shouldn’t feel this nervous about a simple dinner. The kind she used to eat without issue. That’s what she clung to as she ate her share. That she wasn’t over doing it, that this was normal. That this was the amount everyone else ate, a decent cut of chicken with a side of corn and a glass of orange juice.

With an empty plate, she pushed her chair in. She headed back to her room with an impulse to purge. She halted in front of the bathroom and forced herself past it. She attempted to turn her thoughts elsewhere. So she opted to text Teo and TyLee about her first day. And she let Katara know that she was still deciding if she was up for a party.

The window between their texts left her with too much time to think. So she stood up again, picking a fight with Ursa ought to do the trick.

She wouldn’t have done it if she knew her mother was going to just stand and listen. Stand listen, and sometimes agree.

She threw accusation after accusation. “You never loved me.”, “You were selfish.” “You left us behind.” The woman would occasionally flinch. “You didn’t even try to contact us.”

“I was selfish.” She agreed, after Azula’s onslaught. “And I was afraid. I was afraid of your father…”

“You were afraid of me.” Azula muttered.

Ursa drew in a sharp breath. “You’re a lot like your father. The way you talked to your brother…” She trailed off. “I was afraid of you, yes.” The confession was like a slap in the face. “But I still loved you then. And I still love you now.” She laughed to herself and Azula couldn’t fathom why. “I can’t believe it took me so long to realize that you’re more like me than him. Believe it or not, I have some fire too, Azula.”

Azula furrowed her brows. “Then why didn’t you try to talk to me?”

“I did. You had me blocked. Every time I found your number, you blocked me again.”

The confusion Azula’s her face so closely resembled Ursa’s expression. Because she swore to God, that she had done nothing of the sort. She hadn’t even blocked Chan and Usha. Much less her own mother.

“I don’t know why I didn’t take you and Zuko with me. It was bad enough hearing that Zuko was in rehab.”

Azula couldn’t tell if Ursa was talking to her still or if the woman was musing to herself.

“And then I find out that you were in the hospital. And with bulimia...what was he doing to the two of you?”

It truly settled in, how dire the situation was. What had he done to her?

“I should have stolen you both away.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“I had no money. It was all his, I lost everything in that divorce court. And they weren’t going to award two children to a mother who couldn’t even feed herself.”

Azula stole a look around the manor.

“I worked really hard and got really lucky” Ursa noted her glance. “I’ve been working on a novel since I met your father. It just so happened to gain a large following overseas…”

She could fill in the rest.

“It had a movie adaption. It should be released here, some time this year.”

“Why didn’t you come find us then?”

“I thought that you were happy with Ozai.”

“I was…”

“Until he wasn’t happy with you.” Ursa filled in. “That’s how it is with that man.” Before Azula knew it, she was in Ursa’s arms, the woman running her hands over her hair. It was such a stark contrast to Ozai’s coldness.

Azula fought to hold onto her resentment.

#Avatar #Azula #Zuko #Ursa #TyLee #Mai #Ozai #Katara #Sokka #Aang #Toph #Suki #Fanfiction

4 notes · View notes