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jadoue1999 · 3 years

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The X-Men and the member they lost - Chapter 8

Summary: Wanda perfected a spell meant to help them feel better, but she gravely underestimated the mind of a speedster.

Previous parts: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8

Chapter 8: Trouble

Wanda had changed, it wasn’t very hard to see either. Peter wasn’t sure what had caused that change, perhaps she was getting over her grief or just sinking deeper, but her whole behavior didn’t match the woman he had known back in Westview. She seemed surer of herself and yet was still riddled with sadness. She didn’t zone out when they talked about Vision and the twins, but he could tell she did miss them. Also, their late-night talks had become a little more spaced out. Which were frankly one of the only things he looked forward to these days, so that really sucked. He hoped she wasn’t regretting her decision to come with them. He wasn’t sure if he could lose another person, especially his sister. Her sudden need of space was all that was on his mind. Erik had noticed it and had tried to help as much as he could. But a father wasn’t the same thing as a twin, multiverse or not. Still, he really wanted to know why she had distanced herself all of a sudden. Thankfully, he didn’t have to wait too long as the redhead came barging into his room one night. She had a book in her hand, which he realized with a shudder of fear that it was the very same book that had been in Agatha’s basement. The one she had consulted to find a way to control him. Yet, Wanda didn’t seem to be weary of the spell book, instead she wore an expression of excitement.

“Watch this,” she gleefully said, waving a hand in the air, letting her wiggly woos fill the room.

His surroundings suddenly changed. The room doubled in size and he was now sitting on a plaid couch, a coffee table was in front of him. There was a television with three remote controllers laying in front of it, as if they were only waiting to be used in a game. On his left, there was a tall stairway with a white ramp that led to an unseen upstairs. He could see the familiar kitchen a few feet away. He knew that place, but they couldn’t possibly be back. His heart was beating to a rhythm that definitely wasn’t a healthy one as he puzzledly looked at Wanda.

“Wait for it,” excitedly said the redhead, “the best is about to come.”

She seemed so happy; he hadn’t really seen her that way after the whole Westview incident. They were both too deep in grief to let themselves be, Peter charted this as some kind of survivor’s guilt. Something was definitely amiss. He didn’t have time to question her before a double set of footsteps hurried down the stairs.

“Uncle P!”

“Uncle P, you’re back!”

The twins ran to him and jumped on the couch before squeezing him in a tight hug. Peter didn’t react, it felt so real, but there was no way it could be. They were gone, they’d never existed in the first place. Billy was excitedly telling him how he could now move objects with his mind and Tommy kept running around the couch, rambling about how much faster he was.

“Almost as fast as you!”

This was wrong, none of it could possibly be real. They weren’t even in the right universe. Had Wanda found them somehow? He couldn’t continue wondering on how the boys could possibly be there as he spotted Vision going down the stairs as well.

“Well, he does look surprised to see us, doesn’t he, darling?” He asked to Wanda with an amused smile.

“Yes, he does,” chuckled the redhead in response.

“Wanda, what’s going on?” The twins being there, there was a possibility, maybe their souls had been transported some place where they were trapped, but Vision? The android had been the one thing that was for certain a pure creation of Wanda’s grief, he couldn’t possibly be standing next to her.

She smirked and gently took her husband’s hand, looking at him lovingly before turning her head back to him. “I’ve been practicing with the Darkhold, you wouldn’t believe all the knowledge it contains!” She seemed so giddy; he wasn’t sure how he should react. The last person to have used this book was Agatha and she came close to destroying them all. She had to be careful, who knew the traps it could contain. She let go of Vision’s hand and opened the book. “You don’t have to worry about it, Peter, none of it is real. It’s just an illusion.”

The speedster didn’t move, all of this… was wrong. The book was obviously pure evil, she couldn’t trust it. It would definitely corrupt her in the long run. Wanda seemed to notice his hesitation, she frowned. “If you’re not satisfied, I can always show you what you missed!” She motioned to the twins, telling them to hold on to him as she flipped a few pages. Ominous orange energy glowed from them. This was so wrong; how could she be blind to this? She muttered a few words in a language he couldn’t understand, and the surroundings changed once more. The stairs disappeared first, the floor morphed into a carpet and then a step appeared. There was a chimney next to an exposed brick wall and a rectangle diner table was in the middle of the room. The couch changed to an L shaped one and the television changed to a vintage one. The most unsettling thing was how everything was in black, white, and various shades of grey. He, Wanda, the twins, and Vision were dressed in old fashioned clothes. It was so strange; he didn’t know how to react. The others seemed unfazed, and Peter had to remind himself that none of it truly was happening. Tommy and Billy grabbed him, each one holding an arm and were trying to get him to his feet. They were talking about wanting to show him their drawings, but Wanda stopped them.

“Now boys, remember what I told you,” she warned them, “leave your uncle some space.”

“Oh right, I forgot!” said Tommy as they let go of him. Billy fidgeted with his fingers and apologized to both him and his mom.

“Wanda, why are you doing this?” He looked at the boys who were now staring at him with wide eyes, probably waiting for him to play with them.

“Y-you asked me if I’d go back to Westview if I could. You agreed with me when I said I would if it didn’t hurt anyone.” She sat down next to him and took his hands. “Well, I achieved it. No one is suffering. It took me weeks of practice, but I wanted everything to be perfect. So, you could see the boys again, so you wouldn’t be the only speedster.” She looked down at the floor in disappointment, “I thought you’d appreciate it.”

Great, now he was feeling bad. He didn’t really know how to feel. on one hand, he was glad to see his nephews again, but he was well aware that nothing there was real. He supposed that it was because Wanda was still learning, but it felt wrong. A bit how his mind had been screaming at him when Agatha was puppeteering him around. He suddenly had the urge to run and flee, but it was ridiculous because she was his sister. Even his alternate universe sibling probably wouldn’t hurt him. Well, now she wouldn’t. She knew better.

His mind went into overdrive and it caught the redhead off guard. He understood why, obviously she had figured he would be happy. Tommy and Billy were asking him why he looked so distressed, probably an extent of Wanda’s consciousness. They couldn’t truly be worried because they were never real in the first place.

He could hear Wanda starting to worry, telling him how he needed to calm his mind because it was a lot of energy to maintain the illusion, but he didn’t listen. He was stuck in his thoughts; he hadn’t realized just how much his experience had scarred him. He couldn’t shake the feeling of how wrong everything was. He didn’t like this, he hated it. He wanted to be happy because it was certain that Wanda would not repeat this experience after his meltdown, but he couldn’t bring himself to calm down.

Vision and the twins faded away, along with the weird unsaturated room. The new place was a lot darker. And he was alone. There was a weird humidity in the air and Peter’s heart started beating even faster because he knew those pillars, and those stone walls with the creepy vines covering them. There was a beam of light coming from a small window on one the wall. He could hear footsteps and he barely had the time to turn that Agatha herself was looking at him with malicious eyes. He took a step forward but couldn’t get anywhere because he was trapped in the vines again. The witch took his chin in her hand, a wide grin on her face. She was gloating, he could tell she was delighted about the situation he was in. She was telling him all about her master plan to break out of Wanda’s spell.

“You know, Wanda’s mind was too shielded for me to do anything, but you,” she smirked as she narrowed her eyes at him, “you, with all your suffering and your self doubts. I can slip right through those cracks. Make myself home.” She leaned in close to his ear, “we made a great team before Wanda changed the spell to make you her own.”

His heart was practically beating out of his chest now. This couldn’t be happening, they had escaped, hell they were in another dimension. There was no way she could be there; Wanda had taken care of her. Yet, everything felt so real. Agatha’s fingers had felt so harsh on his skin, the air was so stale, and the vines were practically choking him. Had Wanda’s spell failed? Could he really be back in Westview?

“You know, I waited.” She took a few steps back dramatically. “I waited for weeks, for your sister to delve into the book. To read the pages and feel its power.”

“No…” He closed his eyes in denial, he had thought about it before, but it couldn’t be. She couldn’t mean-

“Yes,” she grinned, a menacing glint in her eyes. “You see, I always plan in advance. The more she uses it, the more her grip over me weakens. Soon enough…” Agatha suddenly stopped talking. Peter opened his eyes, unsure about what he would see. To his horror, she had changed, and Wanda was now standing in front of him. “… she’ll be just as corrupted as I was.”

He could hear someone calling his name, but he was all to focused on the witch who was cackling like a mad woman to make out who it was. It felt so wrong to see Wanda acting so evil, but was Agatha right? The book was evil, he had seen it himself. Could it be changing Wanda without her noticing it? He didn’t have time to dwell on his fears. Everything disappeared around him and he was back in his room. Wanda was looking at him with a concerned gaze, she was holding him by the shoulders. She had probably tried to shake him awake.

“Are you okay?”

Peter didn’t answer her, he was trying to get his heartbeat and breathing under control. Was he really back at the mansion? It certainly felt real, but so had Agatha’s basement. He slowly got up and stretched his arms, making sure he truly was free. He had never felt so vulnerable in life, even with the blue fake god. At least, he had only faced him once. He turned to Wanda, who was still looking at him.

“W-what happened?” he stammered, still a little confused about the whole experience.

She took a deep breath, “the spell enabled me to create an illusion. It worked when I was level-headed and focused; I didn’t expect you to react that way.” She squeezed her eyes in regrets. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t able to follow. You brain was going so fast; I couldn’t keep up. The spell just fed on your mind and transported you to whatever you were thinking about. I-I had no idea she had treated you that way, you never said a word. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped.”

She pulled him in a tight hug and continued muttering apologies. Peter hugged her back, still not sure about the whole situation. “It felt so real. I really thought I was back.” They let go and he looked at her in the eyes. “Agatha, she… she told me stuff about you, well us, but I’m more concerned about you.”

“Peter, as real as it might have felt, the spell is nothing more than an illusion. It was fuelled by your subconscious, your thoughts, and your fears. In the end, none of it was real.” He could hear the unspoken ‘like Westview’, but he didn’t mention it.

While his sister might have been right, but there was still the fact that Agatha was very old and very powerful. “She talked about a link she had with the spell book, how they were still connected. She said- she said that the more you use it, the weaker your magic is on her. She’s trying to get free.”

Wanda looked at him with a reassuring gaze and smiled. “Don’t worry, I am being careful. My mental shields are up at all times.”

That did make him feel better, but he reminded himself that the witch had told him of her backup plan. “She... she said she would possess me again because my shields weren’t as strong as yours. She said you’d never suspect a thing.”

“It was turning all your fears against you, none of it was real,” reassured Wanda. “By the way, I think we have the same mental resistance, except that you don’t even have to think about it.”

He hated this, why had the spell backfired? He could have had a nice reunion with his nephews had he been able to control himself. Now, he was just stuck with fears of losing Wanda. She had to be aware of the risks. “But it brought up some valid concerns. The book is dark magic, what if it corrupts you? I don’t really want you going to the dark side.”

“Don’t worry about me,” she winked at him. “I’ll do like Luke, resist it and eventually destroy it.”

A knock on the door made them both jump. Erik’s head popped in, he looked concerned. His gaze hardened when he spotted Wanda next to him. “I- Charles heard your distress, I wanted to make sure you were alright.”

Of course, the telepath would have heard. He pitied the man, feeling what he had been feeling mustn’t have been a good experience. Especially in such early hours of the morning. Peter motioned him to come closer, he wouldn’t mind having his sister and his dad finally getting along. Their relationship was strained to say the least. Wanda didn’t want to intrude; she had decided to let Erik do the first steps. He had told her that his dad was way too stubborn to make any sort of first contact, but she had been okay with that. Since then, they had barely exchanged more than five sentences. Erik sat on his desk chair, looking warily at the redhead that was sitting next to the speedster, on his bed. He chose to turn to his son. “What happened?”

“Its my fault,” interrupted Wanda, making the metal bender turn his head sharply in her direction. “I tried a spell and underestimated my control over it.”

Peter could see how the man clenched his jaw and how the bits of metal in his room started clanking. Erik was getting mad. He had to make sure he wouldn’t hurt Wanda. “Dad,” he whispered, making him turn to him. The man was still surprised every time he called him that. “You can’t blame her. She tried to make me feel better; it’s my crazy fast mind that screwed everything up.” His father looked at him, unconvinced, but at least, the metal around them stopped moving. Peter counted that as a win. He cleared his throat, “dad, why do you hate Wanda?”

The question made the man froze for a few seconds before he answered. “I don’t… I don’t hate her,” Peter raised an eyebrow at him, Erik sighed. “It’s true, I don’t hate her. But what you did only served as a reminder that I’m just as powerless to protect my family as I was when the Nazis killed my parents and when the authorities murdered my wife and daughter in front of me.” He didn’t look at them in the eyes. His shoulders were hunched over as if a cloak of sadness and grief was draped over them. “We are similar in our loss, but you took my son away, stripped him of his identity and made him into your puppet. We had to watch, uncertain of his future, if he even had one. For a moment, I was certain we had lost him forever.” Erik finally met Wanda’s eyes, who looked at him apologetically. “So, no, I do not hate you, but you almost took the only family I had left. Not only that, but I have to live with the fact that he is your brother the same way you are my daughter, and I cannot accept this. Not right now at least.”

With that, the man swiftly got up and left the room. Wanda and Peter didn’t say anything as they were left alone once more. The speedster was deep in thought, he had never seen his father in such a fragile light. He really should have controlled his mind.

***

Notes: So, this was a chapter I wasn't sure I was going to include since it sort of opens up storylines I don't want to explore, but I loved it a lot so I hope you did too! One of my personal theory of how Agatha could come back with the darkhold is one I only put in because I hope to see it happen XD Next chapter: Erik and Wanda have a talk

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echoes-of-the-clockwork · 3 years

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Book One: Gold (Prompto x Reader) Chapter XXIV

Prompto drove the snowmobile out of the facility. The vehicle sped across the snow as they tried to find a safe place away from the empire. (Y/n) unwound one of her arms from around him and conjured a few flaming throwing knives. She tossed them at the soldiers that were trying to stop them, knocking them out of the way. "You focus on driving! I'll handle the enemies!" She shouted over the engine.

"Gotcha!" Prompto guided the snowmobile through the opening she created. He tried his best to avoid the paths littered with imperial forces, but some of them he couldn't avoid at all.

(Y/n) continued to use her magic even though it was weak. They didn't make it far before they were being followed by airships. Seeing the incoming bombs, she instructed Prompto on which way to go in order to avoid being blown to smithereens. While giving him directions, she managed to conjure a large fiery vortex that consumed many of the airships. It was weak, but powerful enough to take down the air vessels.

Her body slumped against Prompto's back once they were in the clear for a short while. Her breathing was shallow and he could tell. "Hang in there a little longer, (Y/n)."

"Whatever they drugged me with hasn't completely worn off." She smiled weakly. "But I'll do my best."

As he drove off a ramp and off the cliffside, her grip tightened around his waist. She could feel the extent of her exhaustion and shook her head, trying to stave it off as long as she could. She was pulled from her tiredness the moment she spotted MA Hoplomachuses in the distance. Holding up her hand again, she formed her own fiery missiles and used them to intersect the mechs' projectiles. She saved them from being blown off the snowmobile.

As they sped past the mechs, (Y/n) could see the edges of her vision were turning black. She was beginning to lose consciousness and barely couldn't keep her eyes open. She closed her eyes for a brief second, but they shot open when she heard another MA Hoplomachus. Lifting her head from Prompto's back, she watched as the mech landed in the snow and blocked their path. It fired a barrage of missiles at them, which she was unable to protect them from.

Prompto expertly dodges the first three missile, but the fourth hits the ground just behind the snowmobile as he drove off a cliff. He lost his balance due to the blast from the explosion and wound up losing control of the vehicle. They both flew off the snowmobile and crashed into the snow at the bottom of the cliff. (Y/n) lost consciousness, her body slowly being covered with the fresh snowfall.

On the other hand, Prompto was still conscious. His body was in pain from the crash and he laid in the cold snow for a short while. Then, he slowly rolls onto his back and lays there looking up for a moment at the falling snow. He shuts his eyes for a brief moment. "Catch ya later, Aranea..."

After a quiet moment passes, Prompto pushes himself onto his hands and knees and crawls over to (Y/n). He checked her for injuries before sitting beside her with a heavy sigh once seeing she was uninjured. "At least I'm not alone..." Standing up, he pulled the snowmobile out of the snow and placed it right-side up.

Next, he returned to the spirit and scooped her up into his arms. He carries her over to the vehicle, placing her unconscious form behind him. Patting his pants, he found the bandana that was once tied around his arm. He grabbed her wrists and tied them together with it while they were hooked around his waist. "Hope it isn't too tight, (Y/n)," he whispered. Leaning forward, he grabbed the handles and started the snowmobile.

Carefully, Prompto drove the rest of the way to Decratom Haven. He parked the snowmobile right beside the runic stone before untying (Y/n)'s wrists and carrying her the rest of the way. He placed her down on the cold ground, already missing her warmth.

His next course of action was to start a fire. He managed to locate some sticks and ignited them by striking two rocks together. He tossed the rocks aside, huffing out a grunt. "What I wouldn't do for fire magic right about now..."

With the campfire now burning bright, Prompto searched for any provisions left behind by previous campers. Luckily, he found a single can and a spoon. He sat down beside the curled up (Y/n) and popped open the can to enjoy its contents.

As night fell over Eos, Prompto lowered the can. He wasn't particularly hungry, but he knew he would need sustenance after what all happened and what is to come. He took a few bites before leaving the rest for the spirit. "Almost as good as what Iggy used to make," he chuckled feebly. He sets the can down and looks around. His eyes landed on the unconscious girl. "Well, at least it's quiet for a change and you can get some rest, (Y/n)."

Prompto stared into the bright flames of the campfire for a moment before pulling up the sleeve of his jacket to reveal the barcode on the back of his wrist. He grunts and grits his teeth, then begins frantically trying to scratch the barcode away. "Damnit!" He cursed after seeing it was futile. Looking back into the fire, the boy reaches down and picks up a burning stick. He looks down at his barcode and begins lowering the stick toward it. He holds the burning wood above his barcode and begins breathing heavily.

Just before he could press the burning wood against his skin, it was snatched out of his grasp. His head shot up to see (Y/n) was conscious and had stopped him. He stared into her golden eyes with his turmoil-filled cerulean ones. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came from him.

"What were you planning to do, Prompto?" She demanded, her tone lower than he had ever heard before. She was scolding him like a child.

"I just... I just want this thing to go away," Prompto confessed, eyes looking back at the barcode on his wrist.

Her eyes narrowed. "And you thought burning it would be a good solution?"

"Yes..."

She quickly got to her feet with the burning stick in her grasp. "Let's test that solution then." She combed her (h/c) locks aside and pulled down the collar of her outfit to reveal the barcode on the back of her neck. She brought the burning stick up to it, but she was immediately stopped by Prompto.

"Stop!" He bellowed, flying to his feet and grabbing her wrist. "Please, don't burn yourself, (Y/n). I... I realize how stupid of an idea it was."

"Don't tell me you thought that would work," they heard Aranea say. Prompto releases the spirit's wrist and takes a few steps back from her to look at the ex-mercenary. (Y/n) kept her back to her as the woman addresses them both. ""Prompto" and "(Y/n)," right?"

The guardian turned around with an amused smile, tossing the stick back into the fire. "Wow, you actually used my name."

Aranea guffawed as she sits down by the fire. "Don't get used to it, firefly."

(Y/n) remained standing while Prompto sits down. The blonde didn't say anything and hung his head. This didn't go unnoticed by either woman. The youngest one said nothing while the older one tried to lighten the mood. "You could at least look happy to see me."

The (h/c)-haired girl hugged herself. Not only had the boy learned the truth of his origins, but hers as well. "It's...been a long day, Aranea."

"Hasn't it for all of us," she sighed.

Prompto just continues to look down, saying nothing. Aranea tried to spark up a conversation with him. "I ran into your buddies in Tenebrae." This got his attention and he looked up at her. "You and your girlfriend got 'em worried sick."

Prompto looks back down, his melancholic gaze focusing on the ground. He remained silent.

"You both gonna go see 'em or what?" Aranea questioned.

"I think we should," (Y/n) said, voicing her opinion.

The boy looked up at her for a brief second before hanging his head. "I... I can't."

The spirit's eyes widen in bewilderment. She could tell he was in despair over learning the truth, but she never expected it to stop him from seeing his friends ever again. "Prompto..."

He didn't dare look into her eyes as he explained why he couldn't see the others. "I can't... I'm not like them. I was born here—in Niflheim. All this time and I've never told them. And that's not even the worst part. I wasn't born into a happy family. I was made—created in some laboratory. The entire reason I exist is to make Noct and all of them miserable. How could I possibly see them? They'd never accept the real me."

The same went for (Y/n), but she had come to terms with her origins years ago. Unlike her, Prompto just learned the truth behind his existence. Feeling guilt knew at her heart, she turned and left the haven. She could feel eyes on her back as she trudged through the snow towards the nearby frozen lake.

Prompto and Aranea had both watched her leave, but the boy couldn't tear his eyes away from her until she was a mere speck in the distance. He turned his grief-stricken gaze back to the fire. While his words were meant to describe him, they also described her just as well. However, his emotions were torn asunder unlike hers who seemed to be intact.

Aranea, after a few moments of silence, smiles. "You spent all that time driving around together and you still don't know what kinda guys they really are. In case you forgot, your princely pal and I weren't always on such friendly terms. But you know what? He put all that aside and asked me to make sure you and firefly were safe."

Prompto was taken aback at the news. "He did?"

"Think he'd do that for someone who "makes him miserable"?" She remarked.

Prompto swallowed the lump forming in his throat and asked, "Is everybody okay?"

"All things considered, I guess. Sounds like they've been through a lot since you and firefly left, but they're still dead set on getting to the capital."

"Hope they make it..." He mumbled.

"They'd have a better shot with you two around."

Prompto became even more curious. "Did they say anything else about me or (Y/n)?"

"Not that I can recall," Aranea answered.

"Right..." He clutched his hands together tightly.

"His Highness was so worried about you two that he could barely speak, but don't worry—I whipped him into shape."

"So...he doesn't hate us after all..."

Aranea saw the turmoil of emotions in his eyes, but she could tell what he truly desired. She stood up with a sigh. "Look—I can tell you want to get back together with them. So why not let them know?" She begins walking away.

"You think they'd let me and (Y/n) back? After all this?" Prompto retorted. The ex-mercenary stops and turns back toward him. After a brief silence, he speaks again. "And even if they did let us back, we'd probably cause them nothing but trouble. I don't know how we could live with ourselves."

Aranea exclaims in frustration and begins walking back toward himself. "Because you're doing such a great job of living with yourself and firefly now." She kicks him onto his back and crouches down over him. "What do you want then? You worry so much about what other people want from you that you don't even know what you want anymore! Your life isn't yours to live! You're too busy wallowing in your own self pity that you can't see what's right in front of you! Are you really so blind that you can't see the one person who cares more about you than any other person on Eos is already here?!"

She grabs both sides of his face in her hands. "Forget about what everyone else thinks for a second. Figure out what it is you're really after here and see what you already have." She stands and takes a few steps back. "Now get your ass up and go talk to firefly. If you don't realize how lucky you are to have her, I'll take her off your hands."

Prompto's eyes widen at Aranea's declaration. He pushed himself off the ground and stood up. Looking towards the frozen lake, he saw the guardian was still there. Thanks to Aranea, he finally realized he wasn't truly alone in this world. Even if Noctis and the others didn't accept him, he still had the one person that mattered the most—(Y/n).

Leaving the warmth of the campfire, Prompto went to speak with her. Even with no light source, the snow provided the entire area with a semblance of illumination. When he reached her side, he stared out across the surface of the frozen lake. Before he could even say anything, she spoke up. "I'm so sorry, Prompto," she mumbled sorrowfully. Tears were forming in her eyes, her body shaking slightly. Prompto turned his head, eyes widening when seeing her current state. He reached out to touch her, but his hand froze midair when she continued. "I'm sorry for keeping everything a secret. I didn't want you to find out this way. I wanted to tell you about who we truly were years ago, b-but I could never build up the courage. I was afraid that if you learned the truth, you would want to get rid of me and you'd shut yourself away from the world. I should've told you so you would've been able to sort through your feelings and come to terms with it sooner. This is all my fault..." The floodgates were destroyed and tears streamed down her cheeks. Her body shook with sobs.

Prompto's heart shattered at her words. He felt his own tears forming and took action. He turned her so she was now facing him and cradled her face in his hands. He wiped away her tears, leaning his forehead against hers and staring into her tear-stricken eyes. Taking a couple steps closer, he pressed his body against hers. "None of this is your fault, (Y/n). Even if I did know sooner, there's no way I'd get rid of you. You mean too much to me, even more than the guys. You've been my world since we first met. Aranea's right... I'm the luckiest guy on Eos because I have you. Even if Noct and the others don't want us back after telling them the truth, we'll still have each other."

"Prompto..." (Y/n) whispered his name between sobs.

"I still need time to come to terms with all this and sort through my feelings. Will you help me, (Y/n)?"

She smiled through her tears. "Of course I will." She placed her hands over his.

"And if you don't mind... I'm super curious about you now. Think we could talk?"

"Yeah. Let's head back to the haven."

Back at Decratom Haven, Prompto and (Y/n) sat beside each other near the campfire. The girl hugged her knees to her chest as she listened to the crackling of the firewood. "I am...was the guardian of Verstael Besithia. What you saw was a warped version of the man I once knew. I used to help him with his research until his methods became inhumane. My plan was to betray him and share his secrets with Lucis. Verstael learned about my plan to betray him and...killed the real (Y/n)."

"So, that memory echo the guys and I saw in the quarry..." Prompto's voice trailed off.

"Was of my death. After killing the real (Y/n), Verstael dedicated most of his time to recreating her in his own image. His main goal was to overwrite her memories and have her remain loyal to only him. From what I discovered in the facility, he failed over and over again. For years, he continued to try and recreate her, but he would only make it so far before the clone perished. Even after so many failed attempts, he wouldn't give up. After many years passed, he eventually made an exact copy of (Y/n) with no memories of the past."

"And that's you," Prompto mumbled. "Then how do you remember all this if his experiment was a success?"

"He wasn't able to erase my memories, only lock them away. When I turned twelve, I remembered everything. When I first saw your barcode after I regained my memories, I knew exactly who you were. Of course, I never said anything and look where we are now..."

Prompto hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her into his side. "Well, now I understand why you're four years older than. I didn't question it at first until you told me the truth about guardians. If you were supposed to be a fragment of me, how are you four years older than me? But now I know." Remembering what Ardyn said earlier, he chuckled and leaned his head against hers. "Thank the Six both of us were taken away from the facility. I'm not sure what my life would be like without you."

"I wonder the same sometimes," (Y/n) confessed. "A life being raised by Verstael with those horrid memories in my head would've been awful..."

Prompto suddenly yawned. He snuggled closer to her and closed his eyes. Although his emotions were still a mess, he was more composed thanks to his chat with the guardian.

Seeing he was tired, (Y/n) released her knees. "You should get some rest, Prom."

"So should you. I can tell you're still exhausted," he said.

"You've no idea..." She huffed, laying down on her back once he released her. "That drug they injected me with is still kicking my ass..."

Prompto laughed before falling onto his back beside her. Although he was laughing and smiling on the surface, he was still a mess on the inside. He stared up at the cave ceiling for a few minutes, falling into deep thought. It wasn't long until he was brought back to reality when the chill of the snowy landscape gnawed at his bones. Not even his current set of clothes or the campfire could stave off all the cold.

Turning over onto his side, he faced (Y/n). He realized she had curled up on her side, facing away from him. It was the perfect position. Scooting closer, he snuggled up to her with an arm lazily wrapped around her waist. He pulled her closer until her back was flush against his body. Feeling her warmth made him sigh with content. "You're so warm, (Y/n)," he mumbled. When receiving no response, Prompto figured she was already fast asleep. He tucked her head under his chin. Her warmth eventually spread through his entire body, brining him comfort. Closing his eyes, he fell asleep.

Previous Chapter || Next Chapter || Masterlist

#ffxv #ffxv x reader #final fantasy xv #final fantasy xv x reader #prompto argentum #prompto x reader #prompto argentum x reader

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night-time-writing · 3 years

Text

Robin Can Sing?

https://archiveofourown.org/works/27827248

Word Count: 2,189

Summary: The Young Justice team finds out that Robin can sing.

The team was absolutely exhausted after their mission. It was supposed to be an easy stake out, just sit, watch, and report, no big deal, right? But of course, it never works out like that.

They were watching a group of illegal weapons dealers. They had the same pattern. They would set up, find a buyer, and after the deal they would pack up and move locations. Every time they were reported all evidence was gone before the police could arrive. So, the team was tasked with gathering evidence to give the police. However, as they were watching the client showed up earlier than expected. The team then chose to jump in, knowing if they didn’t the dealers would be packed up and gone before the police could get there. Of course, on top of having to deal with a couple dozen, heavily armed people, against the six of them, it was also pouring rain. So, by the time they finished and got back to the cave, they were all battered, bruised, and covered in a thick layer of mud.

When they were finally back at the cave and done giving the mission report to a very unhappy Batman, though to be fair Batman was never happy, everyone headed directly for the showers. All except Wally and Robin. Wally ran off with a pocket knife that he stole from one of the goons that tried to pull it out on him as a last resort, to add to his souvenir collection before heading to the showers himself. Robin went to the kitchen and poured himself a bowl of cereal since he had to wait for the others to finish their showers before he was able to take his. That way he could take off his mask and not worry about anyone figuring out his secret ID.

By the time Robin was done with his cereal, the rest of the team, now clean and no longer in there costumes, started to filter into the communal area in order to hangout and relax after the mission.

Wally walked over to Robin, bumping his shoulder lightly. “Showers all yours Rob, I think we left you some hot water.” Wally joked.

“Wow thanks, how considerate of you.” Robin rolled his eyes, turning to fully face his best friend after placing his bowl in the sink. “I am forever in your debt.”

Wally laughed and his antics as Robin bowed slightly at Wally before walking away with a little chuckle.

When Robin got to the showers the first thing he did was lock the door, just to be safe. He then took off his mask, no longer having to worry about his secret ID. He then grabbed a towel and put it close to the shower. He left his clean clothes in his locker so that they would stay clean and dry. Then he was finally able to get out of his dirty costume and step into the nice hot water to get rid of all the dirt he was caked in.

Once he was finally under the water, he began to relax. It felt so good to let the hot water wash away the blood and mud, exposing the extent of his injuries, which weren’t that bad, just a few cuts and burns from the grenades the goons threw at him. He would need to bandage himself up after his shower, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. The hot water was relaxing his aching muscles, making him feel so much better.

As he was scrubbing soap into his hair, he started humming the tune to one of his and Wally’s favorite songs. He then started to sing the words, like he often did back at the manor with no one else but Bruce and Alfred to hear him.

…

Artemis realized while she was sitting on the couch that she had left her bow in the ship, in her hurry to take a shower she forgot to put it away. So, Artemis excused herself to go and put it where it belonged before she forgot to do so. She stopped midway to the hanger, getting distracted by singing.

The voice was soft, but she could hear it clearly. It was coming from the boy’s showers, and it didn’t take a genius to figure out that it must have been Robin singing. But, what made her stop was just how good it was. It surprised Artemis that he was such a good singer, considering that she knew that he had been fighting crime since he was nine. She doubted that between school and being Batman’s sidekick, and the young justice team, that he had much time for anything else but training. Artemis barely had time to sit down with her mother, let alone practice singing. Robin also didn’t seem like the kind of person to sing, or perhaps Artemis was just associating Robin with Batman more so then she should.

As she stood there, listening to him he started to sing louder. He was definitely getting more into the song. She found it quite enjoyable to listen to, and just continued to stand in the hall, her bow long forgotten.

Back in the commons, Wally was getting worried that it was taking Artemis so long, so he decided to go bug her. He got up from the couch and headed for the hanger, on his way out he called out a promise to be back for cookies and that M’gann should make an extra batch. He was surprised to find Artemis just standing in the middle of the hallway. However, as he approached her, he could hear the singing coming from the showers.

Wally already knew that Robin could sing. Whenever the two of them hangout as just Wally and Dick instead of Kid Flash and Robin, the radio was usually on and Dick often sang along to whatever caught his interest. Wally liked to listen to Dick sing, but he also liked to tease the younger boy. So, Wally decided to stay and listen with Artemis, just to see what would happen if Dick caught them standing outside once he was done. Wally walked over to the wall, and without saying anything to Artemis, leaned against the wall and listened with her.

The next person to come looking was Kaldur. It didn’t take long for him to get worried, since M’gann was making cookies, and Wally never missed a chance to try and sneak cookie dough while she was making it. However, he also knew that Wally was easily distracted, so he didn’t make a big deal about it, deciding to investigate on his own.

He was very surprised to find both Wally and Artemis standing outside the boys showers, not saying anything to each other. He walked over to them and went to ask them what they were doing. Before he could get the words out, Wally lifted his finger to his mouth, signaling for Kaldur to be quiet. Kaldur was confused, but complied with Wally’s wishes. Kaldur then listened to his surroundings, which is when he heard the singing. It was definitely nice to listen to, but it didn’t explain why it gave both his team mates pause. In order to better understand he decided to join them in listening to the singing, and leaned against the wall.

As Kaldur listened he found himself relaxing to the sound. It was nice to listen to and the voice was very smooth. He found himself feeling a bit more at peace the longer he listened.

‘Perhaps this is why’ Kaldur thought to himself. ‘It’s just so relaxing.’

M’gann and Connor got really worried when Kaldur didn’t return. Kaldur wasn’t easily distracted and should have just gone to check on Wally and Artemis and then come straight back. So, the two of them left to go and find their missing friends, only to find them all standing quietly outside the boy’s shower room.

M’gann was the first to really notice the singing, and she understood. The beautiful singing was drifting into the hallway from the showers, where she knew Robin was currently. It was kind of surprising to learn that he had such a nice voice. Sure, he wasn’t as up tight and stone faced as Batman, as a matter fact, Robin was constantly making jokes and playing with words. Based on Robin's personality, it was surprising that he would be singing, it was just that he seemed like someone that couldn’t carry a tune. Or perhaps that was just M’gann trying to find something he was bad at. A person who was both a great fighter and extremely smart needed to be bad at something, for example, Batman was horrible with people, but Robin on the other hand was quite good with people.

Connor had heard the singing before he could even see his team mates, but it didn’t mean anything to him. Once he did find his team mates, and could guess that the singing is probably what gave them pause, he didn’t understand why it would have.

“Why are you all just standing out here?” he asked.

“We are listening, Connor” M’gann answered. “Doesn’t it sound so nice?”

“I guess, but what’s the big deal?” Connor was still confused, M’gann’s explanation didn’t help in clearing any of his confusion.

“I think everyone’s just surprised that Robin can sing so well, he just doesn’t seem like the type” Artemis supplied, and M’gann quickly agreed.

Connor frowned, he still didn’t get it. Why would Robin being able to sing cause all of his team mates to stop outside the showers to listen? However, before he could ask more questions the door in front of them opened to reveal and equally confused, wet Robin.

While they were talking, they didn’t notice the singing had stopped and the water turned off. Robin had heard talking outside the door as soon as the water was off. He then quickly got dressed and went to investigate.

Robin looked around at them, very confused by their presence. But before he could ask them why they were there, they all realized they were caught and rushed off. M’gann mumbling something about the cookies in the oven. Their actions confused Robin further. Robin watched as his friends all headed back to the commons. Wally stopped midway down the hall, turning around as sending a knowing smirk towards Robin. Robin shook his head at their confusing behavior before heading back into the showers so that he could patch himself up before heading back to his friends.

Robin decided that his friends must have heard him singing to himself. However, Robin couldn’t figure out why they were all crowded outside the door. Wally made a little bit of sense, he liked to tease the younger boy when he got carried away and started belting out the lyrics to songs they heard on the radio. But Robin could not figure out why the others would have been there. Unless Wally made them, but that still didn’t make sense.

After Robin was all done cleaning up, he walked back to the commons and found the team sitting around the TV, except for M’gann who was pulling cookies out of the oven. Robin walked over to an open chair and plopped himself down before turning to question the group.

“So… does anyone want to tell me why you guys were all crowded outside the showers?”

“Nah, I’m good, but thanks for asking.” Wally joked. Robin just rolled his eyes.

“I don’t know why." Connor supplied, shrugging slightly.

“Well everyone got distracted by your singing. It’s quite nice to listen to.” Kaldur answered.

Robin frowned. “Everyone gathered outside the door while I was showering, because you like my singing?”

“I stopped because I was surprised that you can sing, but the more I think about it, the more I’m not sure why it surprised me. You're good at everything. Is there anything your bad at?” Artemis asked.

“I don’t know what you mean. I’m bad at a lot of things.” Robin was even more confused now.

“Really? Like what? Because your good at fighting, acrobatics, your extremely smart good with people, actually funny, and apparently a good singer.” Artemis moved to fully look at robin, and held up a finger for every item she listed.

Robin was shocked. He didn’t know how to respond to that. “I can’t cook to save my life” was all he could come up with while Artemis was staring him down.

Wally snorted. “That’s true, never eat Robin’s food.” Wally’s face contorted into a look of disgust at the thought of Robin’s cooking. He then shook his head, as if to get rid of the memory. Everyone laughed at his reaction.

“Cookies are done” M’gann announced, carrying a couple plates over to the group, setting them on the coffee table.

“Yes!” Wally exclaimed and then proceeded to shove several cookies into his mouth at once. “Hey, how ‘bout we watch a movie and chill after that mission?”

Everyone agreed happily before Artemis and Wally started arguing over what movie to watch.

request for @eurovisionfan12

#young justice #robin #dick grayson #artemis crock #kaldur'ahm #connor kent #wally west #superboy #m'gann m'orzz #kid flash #aqualad #miss martian

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autumnblogs · 3 years

Text

Day 16: Preoccupied by the same things as trolls

https://homestuck.com/story/2792

Not actually a whole lot of substance for all this dialogue, but we’ve got a few things.

I forgot how hostile Kanaya became toward Vriska, and it sounds to some extent like that’s how it is toward Tavros too? Girl really knows how to hold a grudge - Kanaya is a generally sweet girl, but she’s got a pretty uncontrollable temper when it comes to matters of the heart.

More after the break.

https://homestuck.com/story/2805

Rose is not a Prince, and if the inversion theory is true, she wouldn’t invert into one either, but the parallel between them here is about as clear as it can get. By Trolling Rose, Eridan makes it irritatingly obvious to Rose just how dangerous and uncooperative she’s becoming in her pursuit of knowledge and power by drawing these comparisons between the two of them. Ridiculous as they are, Eridan is right - Rose is becoming something of a villain, or at least a dangerously unstable anti-hero.

Rose, unlike most of the main characters who might be called antagonists, does not actually do anything especially heinous. She doesn’t kill anyone who doesn’t deserve it like Vriska does.

But she’s definitely turning into an antagonistic force nonetheless, and one whose actions will ultimately lead to the creation of the Green Sun - something which has to happen, but which nevertheless makes her Scratch’s dupe just like Vriska.

https://homestuck.com/story/2809

If Rose is a parallel to Vriska, and Aradia is a parallel to Vriska, perhaps there are some parallels between Aradia and Vriska. Not the least of which is being severely pessimistic young ladies who engage in reckless, self-destructive behavior to cope with their feelings of helplessness.

https://homestuck.com/story/2818

Gamzee is the reverse of Dave here, in a way.

Gamzee and Dave have both been under the influence of Lord English, more or less directly, their entire lives, and in time, Gamzee inherits Lil Cal. Gamzee’s crisis of faith turns him into a villain, and he exits the story as a character, becoming more or less a plot element.

Dave will also get to enjoy his crisis of faith before long when Bro dies, and separated from him, he’ll have the opposite experience - becoming a far happier and more chill person, but pretty irrelevant to the plot.

https://homestuck.com/story/2825

Dave gets trolled by Trolls along the same basic lines Rose does. Equius’ preoccupation with Hierarchy may not seem like it reflects on Dave, but Dave is clearly unsettled by his relationship with John as second banana in terms of power - there’s no way he can catch up. Dave is not the hero, in spite of all the symbols associated with him that should make him the hero. He’s the sidekick.

https://homestuck.com/story/2836

Here’s a fresh take. Dave’s Broken Symbol, and his Broken Sword, are both emblematic of the fact that he “flunked” Bro’s training. Dave is not the strongest. He is not the most badass. He is not even all that cool.

But what Dave is is genuinely creative. He’s a cunning lateral thinker. Practical, to the point, reliable. Dave isn’t the aloof guy who always wins that Bro tried to turn him into, and having his sword broken and his disc scratched are both symbols of that failure - but they are also symbols of transformation, and of coming into one’s own strengths after becoming disillusioned with a false sense of pride.

Dave might not be able to pull the sword out of the stone - he’s not the destined King. But there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

https://homestuck.com/story/2848

Let’s do some more theme association.

If the Squiddles are the Dark Gods, and Squiddles are also symbols of intimacy, maybe there’s some degree to which the impulses stoked by the Dark Gods are unifying impulses - the desire to become tangle buddies with your pals are at basic odds with the fact that you are a separate individual with your own body and your own will. The union of the real, one, unique self, Skaia, with the realm of all unrealized possibility, the Furthest Ring, is what the Dark Gods are after, but that union would be destructive to Skaia - perfect unity with the Horrorterrors would have it cease to be Skaia at all.

https://homestuck.com/story/2850

Following the same pattern to analyze this set of troll-human relationships.

I wonder if Jade comes across as cloying and condescending as Feferi does to her friends? Is she afraid that she does?

https://homestuck.com/story/2853

If we’re paying attention to these particular conversations because of the Trolls’ preoccupations with the same things that the characters are anxious and preoccupied about is any indication, Jade’s psyche is in way worse condition than just about anybody’s right now.

What I’m saying here is that the Trolls almost certainly contact the kids and have far more conversations in general than we get to see - Act 5 has already started to play around with skipping conversations and interactions that aren’t mission critical, and only paying attention to the ones that are relevant to the overall character arcs.

Karkat contacts Jade and airs the grievances that she’s currently feeling internally - Karkat all but literally is Jade’s monster headache. The two of them are frustrated over their sleeping situation and have had the exact same response to encountering the Dark Gods.

Jade is, in pretty short order, going to have to confront the same self-loathing and anger issues that Karkat has too, and this conversation serves as an immediate prelude to that.

And while it’s a pretty short line, Karkat is right - Jade suddenly understands Jack Shit.

Prospit’s destruction has completely shattered her expectations.

https://homestuck.com/story/2868

Wow! And just like that, those anger issues come right to the surface. Jade is noticeably nastier to John than she’s ever been to just about anybody but Karkat in this conversation!

https://homestuck.com/story/2880

Jade and John are task-focused, and don’t really talk much with each other about what’s going on inside of their heads - they talk about the events that are happening to them, and what they’re doing.

Which is to say that of the pair Problems and Feelings, Prospit Dreamers are more about Problems, and Derse Dreamers are probably more about feelings.

https://homestuck.com/story/2887

Now that we’re getting a chance to know the real Jade, one of the character traits I’m immediately finding she shares in common with Feferi is their sort of motherly disapproval of their friends’ choices - one of the conversations I’ve had recently with some friends about this (including @bladekindeyewear) has pegged one of Jade’s flaws as being “smothering” and it comes out in the way that she dunks on John’s preferences.

I’m going to show my ass here a little by making this reference, but it reminds me of Rarity from Friendship is Magic just a tiny bit. Maybe Rarity is a Witch too, although of what Aspect, I wouldn’t be able to tell you right now.

https://homestuck.com/story/2922

It’s extremely easy to forget that Rose pretty much unilaterally decided on the behalf of the rest of the team, more or less without consulting them, to sabotage their game of Sburb, and while it was always destined to fail, the fact that Rose chooses to destroy the game instead of playing the game is suggestive of the fact that she bears some level of accountability for the misfortunes throughout.

I’m not trying to play the blame game so much as I am trying to draw connections to help explain why I see Rose and Vriska as being fairly alike, and not just by merit of being Light Players, but also in terms of the role that they play in Act 5 - they are both manipulating and organizing timeline events in order to get the other players to do things that are contrary to their seeming interests, neither of them listens to the pleas of the people who love them to stop, and their actions ultimately lead to (at least temporary) catastrophe.

Rose is dangerous to herself and her team, and she doesn’t much care.

Or she at least tries hard not to feel too bad about it while having serious and obvious misgivings about her own actions. Knowing that there is a problem and ignoring it anyone is like looking at your face in the mirror and immediately turning away and forgetting what your face looks like.

https://homestuck.com/story/2927

And with that, we’ll pause for the evening. Not as many pages as usual, but a hell of a lot of text.

Cam signing off, Alive and not Alone.

#liveblogging #commentary

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moderndaybard · 4 years

Text

2020 Weekly Ficlet 16/52(? We’ll see?)

Never Quite My Style (CR Campaign 1 Ficlet)

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

They didn’t talk about kids at first—the first several years of the Shorthalt-Trickfoot household were spent slowing down and figuring out what the status quo was, rather than rushing to change it. Pike and Scanlan let Grog and Kaylie be the ones pursuing change (and education—that still seemed the strangest thing about their new life: a literate Grog), and let their home in Westrun be the touchpoint, the anchor that the two of them could come back to and ground themselves.

(Percy and Vex, on the other hand, wasted no time at all; but then: as humans/half-elves, they had a few less centuries in the long run.)

That had actually been a tipping point: except for Keyleth, the two gnomes would likely outlive all of their friends. If they waited too long, some of the shorter-lived members of Vox Machina wouldn’t be around to meet any kids they did have.

(Grog wouldn’t be, and that realization was the final piece Pike needed to make up her mind.)

Still, it was important for Scanlan to talk the matter over with Kaylie—to make sure his little girl knew that he wasn’t ‘replacing’ her or ‘doing over’ everything he’d failed and/or missed in her life and childhood. He’d messed so much up with her before, he couldn’t jeopardize all that they’d built, now.

(“‘Bout damn time,” she’d laughed, tone dancing with mischief, eyes steady and honest. “I was hoping to be a big sister before I forgot all the fun stuff I’m gonna teach ‘em. Troublemaking runs in the family, after all.”)

Eventually, though, they were ready (whether or not the world was), and soon Juniper Rae Shorthalt-Trickfoot entered their lives, followed a few years later by Willhand Stone Shorthalt-Trickfoot.

When he held his children for the first time, Scanlan, who’d never considered himself a fearsome fighter or warrior of renown even as he traveled with Vox Machina (his skills lay in other areas, after all), felt as though he could be: if this tiny gnome child in his arms needed him to be, or asked him to be…

(I can’t promise success, but I swear I’ll try to be everything you need.)

A bard’s repertoire is an ever-expanding, ever-changing thing: they travel and learn new material everywhere they go, they adjust sets for each audience’s taste and preference, and as they themselves grow and mature as artists, certain songs or bits will rise into or fall out of favor.

But some pieces remain standards out of sheer popular demand.

As Scanlan caved to his audience’s plea and launched into ‘The Kooky Chroma Conclave’ (A nonsense ditty only tangentially based on historical events, in which the dragons were reduced to nothing more than ridiculous, incompetent figures that clumsily tripped into their own downfall—a bard’s best revenge), he couldn’t help but smile.

Juniper danced around the nursery with the small tambourine that Keyleth had given her at Winter’s Crest, keeping time as best she could (which was actually pretty good, for her age—he’d have to apologize to Pike eventually for the chaos a budding percussionist would loudly bring) and singing along enthusiastically, while little Willhand sat on the floor, gurgling happily and clapping his hands.

Abruptly, the energetic strains of a fiddle joined the cacophony, and Juniper cheered as Kaylie all but leapt through the doorway to join the fun, winking and smirking at her dad (who really hadn’t meant anyone over the age of eight or so to hear this ridiculousness passing as a song) and gesturing for him to keep going.

He did, and Kaylie played along, improvising around the simple, silly melody while Juniper and Willhand laughed and danced.

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

Early on, even before Juniper could really even follow the stories her parents were reading to her, Scanlan grew…well, bored with the simple children’s books available. Sure, when she began to learn to read, they’d be a good, easy starting point—but in the meantime, they were hardly any sort of interesting bedtime tale!

Well, any bard worth anything at all knows how to solve that problem, and from that night on, Scanlan simply ignored the books and made the stories up himself.

“And so the Bugbear, thoroughly confused and completely convinced he was an Owlbear, left the village alone and ran off into the woods, trying his best to hoot all the while.” He finished off the tale with a garbled screeching noise that did, indeed, sound like a very bad ‘hoot’, and was rewarded by the sounds of giggling from two small beds.

As he moved to tuck the children in, it occurred to Scanlan that there’d also been a deep rumbling sound in the hallway.

Hiding his frown, he doused the lights and poked his head out the door to see a sheepish-looking Grog sitting just outside, leaned against the wall beside the door. The goliath looked over at his friend and grinned.

“Dat was really good, Scan-man. Funnier’n last night, but I still fink da one about da hag n’ da ogre in da ballgown is my favorite. G’night!”

And with that, Grog lurched to his feet and shuffle doff to his room, paying little mind to the baffled (and slightly embarrassed) bard still in the doorway behind him.

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

The Princess Caramel Sundae With Sprinkles On Top (of the Royal House of the Land Of Sweets And Desserts And Goodness) adjusted his tiara to a slightly more comfortable position, then turned just in time to grab the Grand Duke Of Sugar Cookies And Gingerbread Men (two great houses, now united into a singular political powerhouse) just before he took a flying leap off of the Sheer Cliffs Of Delicious Despair.

The Grand Duke Of Sugar Cookies And Gingerbread Men was swiftly and safely deposited down and distracted from further acrobatic attempts by the Mystical And Magical Orb Of Candied Cherries On The Side, then Princess Caramel Sundae With Sprinkles On Top turned back to Her Majesty, Queen Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Frosting And Strawberries Inside, ruler of the Land Of Sweets And Desserts And Goodness, as she finished explaining that they were about to be attacked by the terrible armies of the King Of Nastiness And Meanies.

“What are we going to do?” Princess Caramel Sundae With Sprinkles On Top dutifully asked.

Queen Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Frosting And Strawberries Inside looked up at Princess Caramel Sundae With Sprinkles On Top, and gave him a mischievous grin. “We shall defeat them,” she declared grandly, “with the Battalion Of Banana Cream Pies and the Legion Of Lemon Custard Tarts!”

And they did (sound effects cheerfully and enthusiastically provided by the grand Duke of Sugar Cookies and Gingerbread Men), which was a good thing, since Queen Chocolate Cake With Chocolate Frosting And Strawberries Inside had an important tea-party meeting with representatives from the Realm Of Stuffed Toys And Pretty Dolls that she simply couldn’t miss for such trivial matters as the King Of Nastiness And Meanies latest failed invasion.

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

Pike watched and listened from the doorway as the happy trio launched into the next chapter of their game. She’d soon step in, the gallant knight, Sir Whipped Cream And Honey, returned form her quest to… chase away the terrible dragon that was roasting and eating the Marshmallow Men And Chocolate Rabbits Of Marshmallow Marsh, if she was remembering correctly. (If she wasn’t, Juniper would correct her.)

But for now, she let herself enjoy the scene.

So long ago, they’d both thought that their kids would need them to be brave warriors standing between them and the dangers of the world until they were ready to face them (and, to some extent, they did so they were), but what they’d learned in the last few years was, more than that, Juniper and Willhand needed them to be parents—

And sometimes, that meant just being a little silly.

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

(Also on AO3, with my other ficlets)

#critical role #critical role fic #cr fic #Vox Machina #scanlan shorthalt #pike trickfoot #kaylie shorthalt #grog strongjaw #my post #writing challenge

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alvaar-aldaviir · 4 years

Text

Wondrous Tails: Cooking Together / Teaching Eachother

Time Frame: Post-Stormblood. Spoilers for 4.4

Notes: Platonic nonsense. Because hell yea friendship.

Alvaar is what I call 'aether inept' for lack of a better term. He's horribly inefficient at trying to cast spells to the point he was written off pretty hard as being a lost cause at it when he was young. I believe every class utilizes aether to some extent for their skills, so it isn't as if he lacks it or the capacity, but how casters focus their aether just doesn't work well for him and gets him slapped with the label. He's much better suited to physical classes and knows a handful of tricks, but he's a Bard main through and through.

“Your presentation may need some work, but I have to say you have excellent cutting technique. I’m ready for the onions and garlic if you would please?”

“I forgot we were baking for the Empress and not throwing a bunch of random roots into a pot,” Alisaie shot back even as she held the cutting board to him so he could sweep the cubes into the soup pot.

“Say what you will but I never get anything that consistent and I’m frequently told I’m “very good” with sharp implements,” he replied carefully. “So pop quiz, why do we pan sear the meat?”

“Looks and flavor?” she answered, giving him a curious look.

“Good. It also adds some depth to the textures. Once we finish softening these vegetables up, we’ll toss in most of it save the carrots and popotos, then set it to braise for... oh, two hours?”

“This seems terribly involved... And you’re certain this is really a useful recipe? I can’t imagine I’ll find several hours to spare for a meal...” she asked skeptically.

“All good things take time. Besides, you can’t expect to make all your meals off trail food or over a campfire. It’s good to make something involved with your own hands once in a while. How else are you going to impress your significant other with recipes from around the globe if you don’t start with the basics?” Alvaar teased lightly, flashing a bright grin at the Red Mage. “I’ve gotten at least three proposals off this dish. It’s surefire.”

Blinking at him she scoffed and looked away with a low grumble, taking the bag of popotos off to wash so the Bard wouldn’t see the steadily staining color of her cheeks.

“Cut those in half when you’re done,” Alvaar continued cheerfully before pausing to regard her a moment.

It hadn’t been all that long ago that Urianger and Y’shtola had fallen to whatever call had been steadily cutting down their numbers. And as the days continued to pass without word from Alphinaud...

Sighing to himself he stirred the pot again before cutting off the heat on the gas stove. Given recent events and the understandably somber mood of Alisaie the last month, it was nice to have a bit of a distraction he mused. And while she may not overly appreciate his quips now, being a bit miffed at him was still better than whiling away the time anxiously waiting for news.

Besides... it was also doing him a world of good as well. Cooking was always more interesting with help and if she happened to learn something along the way and be able to forget her troubles for a few minutes then he’d certainly done his job.

Casting a glance over at her as she diligently scrubbed away, he breathed a deep and steadying sigh before steeling himself for the next part of this plan. While Alvaar didn’t fancy himself as being particularly sensitive, he still didn’t care for the notion of openly making a fool of himself in front of people who looked up to and relied on him. But, as far as he had reasoned, being a fool would be a small price to pay if it might cheer up his friend in these dour times. And it never hurt to learn a little bit more about different fighting techniques, right?

Once she’d returned with the cubed roots, he gestured for it to be put on the table and tested the oven temperature before setting the pot in whole and flashing a grin at her confused expression. “It’s fine. Part of the process and less dishes.”

“Hm. So do we reconvene in two hours then?” she asked, raising a brow but not overly interested.

“We could, but if you’re up for it I think fair is fair,” he returned, voice lilting with mischief and making her blink.

“Oh? And what precisely are you getting at then Alvaar?”

“You’ve been willing to learn from me, so I think it’s fair that I learn something from you. Seems only right that I let you see the Warrior of Light fumbling about like a novice after enduring my nonsense. I’ll make an absolutely piss-poor Red Mage given I’m aether inept, but hey, it could be fun and if nothing else it will kill some time.”

Her expression shifted to one of baffled surprise. “I was under the impression you had no training in black or white magic. But you wish to learn a fighting style that relies on knowledge and understanding of both?”

“Mmm, not particularly. Like I said, I’m aether inept, I’ve no talent at all for casting white magic at the least, maybe a bit of black at the best. But being inept doesn’t mean I can’t try to learn anyway, and besides. I didn’t say I wouldn’t cheat,” he returned with a shrug before holding his hands out and summoning in the basic mythrite rapier with the same ease as he called his tools and instruments. Patting the rapier that was wrapped loosely in sturdy cloth he set it on the table carefully before procuring a carefully crafted leather glove from the mix. Pulling it on he turned it to flash the job stone embedded safely into the leather on the back of his hand where it rested warm against his skin.

“I may be a terrible mage, but I’m told I have quite the knack for these. It won’t remotely make me anything approaching good, but if nothing else it may prove enlightening. Besides, I’ve an interest to learn fencing and if you’re willing to teach it, that suits me fine. It will let me lay a proper beat down on the next noble that thinks challenging me to a duel of close combat over ranged is a good idea. So, what do you say? Ready for a laugh or would you rather pass and I irritate you with archery practice instead?”

Staring at him silently, the Red Mage scrutinized him for a long moment before crossing her arms over her chest and drawing herself up to her full (still noticeably short) stature. “You will address me as “Master Leveilleur” while under my instruction, is that clear?”

Blinking at her in surprise he chuckled and bowed formally. “Yes, Master Leveilleur. I am in your expert care.”

#alisaie #alisaie leveilleur #alvaar aldaviir #wol #stormblood #ff14 #FFXIV #wondrous tails #wondrous tails of ffxiv #writing #mywriting #final fantasy 14 #drabble #platonic

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goldgrave-and-glory · 5 years

Note

I don't know if this has been done before, but can you do the main 6 finding out that the MC self harms/used to self harm?

TRIGGER WARNING: SELF HARM, BLOOD

So I just want to preface this by saying that I have had (and still have) issues with self harm in the past, and some of the methods I’ve used may not really be seen as “conventional” methods of (or reasons for) self harm. This, combined with the fact that my apprentice is also known to self harm, might not make it exactly what you expected it to be. I hope you still like these anyway though.

Asra

Asra remembered that Mc used to have issues with self harm back before they died

However, they had stopped years before the plague started after some therapy

When they came back, it started again

They doubted their abilities to read the cards and were always hard on themselves at any mistake

They’d never do it in front of him, but it wasn’t uncommon for him to find them practicing on their own and having issues

They would curse their stupidity and try to “punish” the parts of themselves that weren’t working: their hands and their head

They would punch stone, bend and bite at their fingers, crush them with something, sometimes even burn them

As for their head, they would bash it against the closest wall or just smash things over their skull

It never got bad enough to knock them out, but Asra’s become good at fixing broken fingers

After their memories were revealed, Asra made sure they knew just how talented and valued they were and always had been

Now it rarely happens and not nearly to the same extent

They always know that if they have any urges, they can go to Asra for help

Nadia

Mc was worried about Nadia isolating herself more and more often, especially in her room and in bed, so they decided to come clean

They told her how they used to spend days, sometimes weeks without leaving their room for more than a few minutes at a time

They would forget to eat, drink, bathe, they’d ditch plans, just wasting the day away

They couldn’t sleep and their back hurt from lying in bed so often

Sometimes though, they would spend the whole day eating and sleeping to make up for the past few days

Kind of going in and out of consciousness every few hours and eating a bunch of junk, usually desserts, without any nutritional value

Nothing ever got done and it messed up a lot of the relationships they may have had before

Nadia was shocked to hear all of this from Mc since they seemed like such a lively, extroverted person most of the time

She promised them that she’d make sure to get out for at least one hour every day and eat three balanced meals

Mc would remind her if she ever forgot, and many times they spent more than an hour out on a date with her in the town

Julian

Little things had happened before, but Mc really started having a problem after Julian came back from being hung

They had failed to defend him in front of the people and it had gotten him killed. What if he hadn’t been able to come back?

They had to do better. They had to be better, for him

They started working night and day trying to defeat the Devil

After that, it still didn’t stop. They started researching the law from every book they could find, just in case

It reminded Julian of how he used to be and reminding Mc of this made things a bit better

But it got so much worse after Julian got into a particularly bad bar fight

They scrapped the books and replaced them with weights

They created a ridiculous diet and exercise plan for themselves with the goal to get stronger so they could protect Julian in the future

Of course, since Julian was a doctor, it was easy for him to tell just how unhealthy this plan was

Not enough food or nutrients, not enough sleep, and they were obviously working their body way too hard

He wrote out exactly what was wrong with their routine, and they promised to change it if he promised to also work on his sleep schedule and diet as well

They collaborated to create a routine they could do together and that would benefit both of them

Muriel

Muriel understood how irritating it was to be surrounded by a bunch of loud people, but he’d never seen a reaction like Mc’s

They were out in the marketplace when he left to find Asra, who had gotten separated from them in the crowd

He came back about ten minutes later to Mc panicking and scratching at their ears so much that they bled

He immediately took them by the arm and led them to a quiet, secluded place to calm down

Once they were calm enough to speak, they described how they had been going through sensory overload

Everything seemed too bright or smelled too strong, but mostly, everything was too loud

They entered a state of panic where the only thought was to remove the problem��their ears–by tearing them off

Muriel remembered times in the coliseum when he had similar feelings

The next time they visited the marketplace, Muriel reminded Mc to bring some good earplugs

Portia

Mc was home alone at Portia’s cottage while she was finishing up some work at the palace

They’d always had issues with anxiety, but they’ve never been able to figure out many good ways to cope with it

When the sun started to set, they got more and more worried about Portia. She was never usually this late

They could feel their chest tightening and their breathing pick up

They needed a distraction, now

The first thing they did was dig through the cabinet for Portia’s sewing kit, pulling out as many needles as they could find that weren’t rusty

Each one they stabbed into their arm until they found the one they “liked” the most

They used that one to carve little patterns into their skin, letting the painful sensation draw their attention away from their fear

Portia found them surrounded by bloody needles and marking their skin and she screamed

She freaked out and sobbed while she patched them up

Mc was completely taken aback by the power of her reaction. They had never considered it that serious

She ended up taking the next few days off (with permission from Nadia) to help Mc come up with some better coping skills to manage their anxiety

Lucio

Lucio has lots of scars on his body from all different things, but there was only one type of scar he shared in common with Mc

The more he learned about what he had done, the more he felt he didn’t deserve the good things he had

Mc spent a lot of time reassuring him that he deserved their love, as well as food, sleep, happiness, etc. regardless of his past because he was doing his best to make it right

But they often forgot to remind themselves of this fact too

Lucio found out about their common scars on one of Mc’s more unfortunate, sleepless nights

They lied awake next to Lucio’s sleeping form while their head ran rampant with hate

They didn’t deserve to sleep, they didn’t deserve warmth, they didn’t deserve a bed, they didn’t deserve Lucio

They deserved pain

They sat bolt upright in bed and started scratching at their arm, ripping their skin until it stung like fire

Dead skin and blood and dirt built up under their fingernails as they kept working on that one spot

It bled more and more the longer they tore. It was beautiful

This is what they deserved. The pain, and the fear, and the hate, and the blood, the blood, the blood, THE BLOOD

And suddenly Lucio caught their arm and held it away from them. His eyes were the size of dinner plates

Mc just stared. Then they cried

The next morning, after Mc had been patched up, Lucio canceled all of his meetings and pampered them with everything he felt they deserved

He also told them about the scars he had gotten from similar breakdowns

They realized they had to fight their inner voices together and constantly made sure the other had and knew exactly what they deserved and more

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atopearth · 5 years

Text

Ikemen Sengoku Part 9 - Sarutobi Sasuke Route

Omggg new pretty boys! Ranmaru is so cute though, dang. Wonder why he’s against Nobunaga and was going to kill him~ Everyone seems to truly believe he’s a faithful Page. I was going to say that Ranmaru probably had those spies attack so he could protect Nobunaga and gain his trust again (since he apparently ran away out of fear at Honno-ji and is here to apologise), but it seems like the guys always like to have some danger lurking around for fun and allowed the spies to sneak in so they could deal with them personally lol. Not surprised that the heroine is like traumatised, she’d only been there for less than a day, was examined and questioned by warlords thinking she’s a spy and that could kill her at any moment and then things go even more wrong and she witnesses Nobunaga and them killing these Ronin right in front of her. I’m glad Hideyoshi is so sweet and caring towards her mental health after this, since he knows from how she is now that she’s definitely just a normal innocent girl. Although Sasuke couldn’t find a good timing to reveal himself, at least he walked around the markets with her and cheered her up by showing her the sewing supplies and then was honest about how he’d actually been in her ceiling when Hideyoshi gave her some money to cheer herself up walking around. Nice for her to see the good side of things in a normal bustling town instead of focusing on the warlords part of this era.

It was so cool to see Sasuke protect the heroine and even be so chill about it, having cuts on his face only makes him look even cooler as a ninja, he really knows how to comfort her, keep her calm whilst handling these random people trying to attack her. It was so cute when he tried to wink but he couldn’t and instead he awkwardly blinks lolol! Awww the guys are so sweet! Hideyoshi didn’t just send her out because he wanted her to cheer up, they sent her out so that they could prepare this surprise party for her since she locked herself in her room for so long! So kind of them! It’s nice that she’s seeing such a nice side of them~ Lmao at Nobunaga asking for her candy hahahahah, and so nice of Masamune to have cooked the whole feast for her! Lmao that Sasuke was hiding beneath the floor during the party because he was still worried about her, he’s so nice. I love how from the moment Sasuke introduced the heroine to Yukimura, they all became such good friends already lmao. They tease each other, joke with each other and get along so well in such a short period of time! I love their combo already hahaha. I think it’s great to see how easily the heroine and Sasuke get along as modern people, they throw jokes with each other so smoothly, it’s hard to say they’re not made for each other haha.

Sasuke is so kind and adorable. I love how he was worried for her and wanted to see her more so he applied for a job as an apprentice tending to the garden at Azuchi Castle. Funniest thing though was when Masamune was suspicious of him and then all the other guys appeared and Sasuke became a robot because he was fangirling on the inside hahahaha, he’s so cute🤣🤣🤣 I also love how he keeps talking to inanimate objects instead of the heroine when he takes his glasses off lmao. Sweet of the heroine to give him a glasses case, he seemed to really like it even though he was expressionless as usual haha. I love how Sasuke is taking her around trying to figure out the truthfulness of the stories they have of the warlords in the modern day. Hideyoshi blushing at having really warmed up Nobunaga’s sandals in his robes so that Nobunaga’s toes wouldn’t be cold was so adorable!!! Also, lmao at Sasuke giving the heroine an ink stone and making her prepare some ink on the go so he can get Ieyasu’s signature hahahaha. HAHAHA, I love how Ieyasu is Sasuke’s best boy out of all the warlords lmaooo. Enough that he’d chase Ieyasu down for the autograph even though Ieyasu is trying to run away from him hahaha. I’m sure anyone would cheer up doing all these random things, the beauty contest with Ranmaru was pretty cute too hahahah. Nobunaga in the new fancy robes for the noh performance was so cool! He looked so good! I think it’s great for the heroine to have such a good buddy like Sasuke to show her all the things that were great back in this time.

I completely forgot that the heroine doesn’t know who Sasuke’s fighting for, but it was nice of her to recognise that Sasuke showed himself to the warlords not because of his own curiosity about them, but because he wanted to ensure that she was comfortable and had a friend she could trust even though it was dangerous for him to do that. It was so cuteee when all the guys tried to cheer her up when she felt sad from avoiding Sasuke since she wanted to be more independent so he wouldn’t have to endanger himself for her, so sad for Sasuke when she rejected his company and mochi😭 I’m glad the heroine recognised her mistake and apologised to Sasuke, so glad Mitsuhide was watching out for her and Nobunaga and got Sasuke to go save her… I’m so glad the heroine told him properly why she avoided him and they both communicated that they’re in this together and that it wasn’t just her that was reliant on him, he relies on her too. It’s nice to get these things out in the open to know that they both appreciate the other. I found it so cute that they talked until sunset holding hands, and even when they finally noticed, they decided to keep their “illicit hand holding” lmao!

I guess it was expected to happen soon, it was inevitable that Sasuke’s cover would be blown and the heroine would be dragged into it as his best friend from the same hometown. It’s saddening that they’re enemies now, but I’m happy that they could tell that Sasuke’s feelings of admiration and respect for them were genuine and that the heroine wasn’t really a spy. Yukimura is always so considerate and protective, he’s so nice😫 On the other hand, I guess I can see why the heroine would feel worried that one day Sasuke might actually be as apathetic towards her as he was towards becoming the enemies of Nobunaga and them even though he admires them a lot, but I think it’s a bit unfair to think like that? Sasuke knew they weren’t his friends and could never be, but he will always admire them and he won’t hate them for trying to kill him because that’s how it is in this war. However, the heroine is his friend, he wants to take her back to their world and he obviously cares about her, otherwise he wouldn’t have risked his life to run away with her etc, so it’s a bit weird and unfair of the heroine to think of Sasuke like that when she knows how kind he really is.

It’s so nice to see the heroine get along with the guys here as well. It’s different from Nobunaga’s castle, but it’s just as fun haha. So cute when Sasuke went on a mission somewhere and then Yukimura and her went to wait for him and pick him up, so sweet!! So nice to have such a good bro and a girl that cares for you so much hahaha. It’s always so funny when the clueless to love duo (Sasuke and Yukimura) discuss heart pounding, seeing people glowing as some kind of serious problem with their eyes and heart hahahah. It was pretty hilarious when Kenshin realised they were in love with each other so now he wants to duel with the heroine to get the old emotionless Sasuke back from her hahaha. I don’t think I really ever realised the extent of Sasuke’s feelings and thoughtfulness towards the heroine. I can’t believe he learnt all his skills as a ninja and with the sword from Kenshin and everything because he wanted to save the heroine and protect her when he finds her. It was really touching that he decided to do that when he didn’t even know her. I guess he felt responsible for dragging her into this.. It’s saddening that she didn’t tell him her feelings yet, but I acknowledge her reasons, the war is starting and I guess it’s not a good time to jumble up his emotions with this love business when he’s so clueless about his feelings. So funny that Kenshin’s kinda warmed up to her now and keeps showing her his favourite sword everyday hahahah. It’s so cute how Kenshin uses her just to get Sasuke irritated and serious about fighting with him lmao.

Logically, the heroine being the mediator between the two armies for a ceasefire in order for them to focus on going after the group trying to incite conflict between the two sides is for the best, as usual. The story was set for her to be loved by both sides and to be the only one that would have the power to sway them. I don’t blame Sasuke for refusing to let her go, it’s definitely dangerous, and it’s very likely that people will target her if they were to know of their plans. But I agree with the heroine, it’s high risk, it’s dangerous, but it needs to be done for the both sides and for the people that are dying because of these low cost firearms going into the market to cause disruption, conflict and death on both sides. I’m happy that Sasuke voiced his dissatisfaction though, it shows how much his emotions have been affected. I also love how Yukimura and Sasuke are usually silly buddies, but when it comes to things like this, Yukimura evidently understands him well by knowing where he would go after such an argument, and that he could tell that Sasuke wasn’t really mad, but actually sad. He even shared his sleeve for the heroine to cry on since he didn’t have a handkerchief! He’s like such a great guy to know how to care for Sasuke by telling the heroine his perspective on everything to help her understand Sasuke’s feelings. Happy to see them apologising and talking it out properly, and I loved it when the heroine acknowledged that she was scared, so she hopes that Sasuke would come along to protect her because she trusts him.

I kinda feel sorry for how conflicted and tormented Ranmaru is between Nobunaga and Kennyo. He ended up betraying Kennyo to save the heroine’s life though, I guess her innocence and just how she was really saved him even though he was hiding under a facade all this time. I’m glad Sasuke finally told her why he’s so adamant on saving and protecting her at the cost of his own life, it’s because she saved him from being struck by lightning right before they got sucked into the hole and travelled in time. I kinda feel like this part was unnecessary though since it was never really shown in the prologue, and I don’t think it was very eye opening of a reason for him to be so persisting in protecting her. I feel like with just him wanting to save her because he dragged her into all of this was enough of a reason imo. It was cute how Sasuke confessed to her after the war with Kennyo. It was really sweet when he said that she was the only one he couldn’t brush off losing her as fate, she was someone he wanted to stay with no matter what.

Romantic ending: So cute when they were making rice gruel and they took turns playfully kissing each other~~ So nice to see their relationship so happy and open, even though Sasuke always has his deadpan face😆😆 Lmao when all the warlords were telling the heroine to sit next to them, loved it when Kenshin said she had to sit with him or he’d kill her🤣 They’re so childish about little things haha. Not surprised that Kenshin’s not taking Sasuke’s announcement that he’s going back to his “hometown” very well, but I wonder if Sasuke really does want to go back? I see, Kenshin fought with him to make Sasuke leave without worries since he was hesitant. That’s very kind of him. I guess we have a new kidnapper replacing Kennyo from now on! Motonari the pirate kinda guy! I loved seeing Yukimura and Sasuke work together to save the heroine, they’re such great friends that can truly trust the other with their backs, it’s so cute and sweet~

I’m so glad that Sasuke and the heroine were able to tell Ranmaru was just going to find a place to die, so they stopped him and told him that they’re sure Kennyo wanted him to live since he never told Nobunaga that Ranmaru was actually a spy for him. I’m sure he’s still wavering on whether he can forgive himself considering that he did betray Nobunaga, so he probably can’t find it in himself to go back just like this, especially since he’s still faithful to Kennyo and I’m sure seeing him in the dungeon jail wouldn’t be nice either. I hope he finds his solace somewhere… It’s nice that Yukimura took Sasuke in as his vassal, but I honestly think Kenshin would have been fine with taking him back since he loves him so much lol. Oh well, as long as they’re all happy and partying as usual lol.

Dramatic ending: I thought it was so sweet of the heroine to ask for Ranmaru to be accepted back with Nobunaga and them after all this. Ranmaru has suffered so much being torn between the two sides and I think it was really nice of her to request that, so that Ranmaru would always have a home with them. Although it was silly how they got on to Motonari’s ship, it was sweet to see Ranmaru and Sasuke team up haha. Sasuke and the heroine’s love for each other is off the charts with how much they need to physically express it though lol! Well, Sasuke and the heroine turned out way more “kinky” and affectionate than I thought, it was kinda a weird transition tbh considering that they barely knew how to understand, tell and receive each other’s feelings before. The dramatic route kinda just seems like they came back to the modern world for a holiday and then decided to go back to the Sengoku period hahaha.

Overall, Sasuke’s route was okay, very meme-y and modern. Personally, I enjoyed the beginning more because it was nice to see them bond so well as fellow people from the same era and you could really see how they connected through that and how they felt comfort in each other through it. However, afterwards, I guess it kind of went into the usual heroine gets captured by the bad guy, they solve it etc and become happy, and then they get hot and affectionate with each other lol. The usual formula that really didn’t seem to diverge from the other routes even though the guy’s personality is different, and yet I felt like I was just reading the same thing, so yeah, not a fan haha. In terms of the ending, I guess I prefer the romantic one more? I feel like things were more meaningful and connected there, whereas the dramatic one was kinda more focused on Sasuke and the heroine themselves and their affection which I didn’t really feel for. So yeah, all right route but not my type and not the best haha.

#ikemen sengoku

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beccas-a-cipher · 5 years

Text

Leader of the Spero (AU)

Originally posted: 27 August, 2018

I. FORGOT. ABOUT. THIS. AU. How? I flippin love this AU! I think that at one point I had been considering adding more to it, but ended up not for some reason...

AU where before Ichiro went after the White Stone he kidnapped Melissa in episode 109 and trained her for several years to become the next leader of the Spero

Everston. She gazed up at the tall front entrance. It's been a long time.

"Harmony, you copy?" A voice said into her ear. Melissa shoved her hand into her pocket as the blue aura appeared around it.

"I do, Duality. How's everyone else doing?" Melissa said quietly. Everyone on the team had a small device in their ear that vibrated specifically at one of Melissa's unique frequencies, allowing for her to be a sort of receptor and pass communication between everyone during their mission.

"We're good. Fever, Lord, and I are waiting for our cue."

"It might be a little bit, but be prepared for my signal," Melissa ordered before cutting the signal and turning to her partner. "You think this will work?"

The aqua-eyed boy grinned. "Totally. There's been so much planning in this, there's no way it can't work!"

Jax joined the Spero a few weeks after Mel arrived there. He first joined because he was angry that his best friend had ditched him for Magiclica friends, but was very surprised to find her training her powers in his first training session with him. They had since rekindled their friendship and were an inseparable duo.

Melissa glanced at the hustle and bustle of the crowd around them. "I wouldn't be so sure... There's a lot we couldn't prepare for. Remember, if something goes wrong and we can't fulfill the mission, forget it and get out of here ASAP." Jax's good mood dimmed as he nodded.

They wandered in silence for a while, looking like fairly ordinary Everston students. Technically, they were a year older than what they needed to be to go to school here, but they had still donned their old uniforms and pretended to be registered students at the prestigious school once more. They also had identification for their allies: Melissa wore a large black hat with a stripe that was white and the color of her powers that she had tucked her giveaway hair into. Jax had two thick, black wristbands with the same style of white stripe but instead of a sky blue, there was a bright rainbow.

Melissa spotted someone. "I'll be right back," she said quietly and slithered her way to the tanned boy that was glancing every which way and looked very uncomfortable. She tapped his shoulder, making the boy with the bandana around his neck with four colors- red, yellow, blue, and green- with white borders in a black fabric, jump out of his skin.

"H-Harmony! I-I didn't see you!" Kai stuttered. His stumbles statement jogged something in the back of Melissa's mind, although she couldn't place what exactly.

"Are you looking for your boyfriend?" She questioned with a rather serious tone. Kai tensed.

"No! I-I don't have a..." he caught Melissa's dubious stare. "Alright maybe... I'm not trying to mess up the mission, I... I promise." About six months after Melissa joined the Spero, Kai had come down with a mysterious condition that left him with migraines and periods of severe weakness, along with the inability to use his aura without extreme pain. He very occasionally came on safer missions as an emergency support, but even Ichiro agreed that Kai should not use his power if possible.

Melissa rolled her eyes, a quick smile playing across her lips before returning to her serious face. "Go find Quinston. But don't tip him off," she pointed a finger accusingly at him. Kai jumped and nodded.

"Y-yes Harmony!" He nodded vigorously before rushing off.

Melissa sighed and shoved her hand into her pocket again. "Keep an eye out for Kai. He went to find to one of the Magiclicas he knows."

There was a series of "Roger that, Harmony." from the other Spero scattered around the school. Melissa paused before adding, "If you see him, leave him be unless it looks like he's disrupting the mission,"

"Are you sure that's a good idea, Harmony?" Ichiro's calculating voice asked. Melissa tensed as she was put on the spot by her father.

"I think so, Lord. He's unfortunately not able to help much here. He's a lookout, so I think it makes sense. Besides, everyone deserves happiness every once in a while." While most people knew Kai was in close relations with several Magiclicas that went to this school, only Melissa and Jax really knew the full extent of their relationships since they also knew the people Kai was friends with.

There was a hum of acceptance from the leader of the Spero and then silence.

"Harmony, want to meet up?" Jax's voice came through the device.

"Let's split up, Prism. Make us look less obvious." Melissa declined.

"Roger that. See you at the meeting spot once we start." Jax said and cut the connection.

Tonight was open house at Everston for the new students. During the past White Stone Festivals held here, the Spero had been able to track the movement of the White Stone back to its resting location. Now they were working to disable the security and traps set up to protect it. They figured it was going to take several missions during public events, where there was so many people they could easily blend into the crowd and sneak in.

Most of Everston looked the same to what Melissa remembered of it. The only difference she could see were two bronze statues in the main hall. On closer inspection, she was mildly surprised to recognize the two depicted. She jogged over to them and read the plaques.

Melissa Jane Harmony

A Magiclica Who Grew Up As a Cipher

Wrongly Taken by the Spero

Return To Us Soon

Jax Kollman

A Cipher That Went Missing

Forever in Our Hearts

Return To Us Soon

This hit Melissa hard. The past five years had been such a blur, she had never really looked back and thought about the consequences of her actions and joining the Spero. She figured Jax had never really looked back, either. She was also confused by the line "taken by the Spero." I chose to join, didn't I? Because I found my real father.

"It's been a long time," a rich voice with a slight accent said from beside Melissa. She glanced out of the corner of her eye to recognize the chocolate hair and bright green eyes of Quinston. He was in a uniform similar to that of Everston Faculty, although it had a different badge that Melissa didn't recognize.

"I'm sorry, so I know you?" Melissa feigned confusion. She saw his face flicker with doubt, before it settled into resolution again.

"I believe you do, Melissa." His voice dropped to a whisper as she said her name with a uncertain tone.

She took a sharp breath. "Okay, you got me," she sighed. "How's it been, Quinston?" She sent him a smile, trying to feign being oblivious. He wasn't buying it.

"You're up to something. I know where you've been all these years." He stated coolly. Melissa internally cursed at herself- Kai.

"You're little sweetheart tipped you off then," she growled.

"Not directly. There are several factors to this revelation. Your hat is one of them," He jutted his chin to her Spero hat. "And your eyebrows are another." Melissa wad slightly disturbed that he noticed her aqua eyebrows that even she forgot about. "And guessing from the fact you're wearing your old uniform, the Spero are trying to sneak in."

Melissa cringed and turned to face the dual-elementaled Magiclica fully. "Am I not allowed to reminisce?"

His hands glowed both red and blue. "Unfortunately, no. CHICKEN!" Quinston's face morphed into one of surprise and confusion at the word that just came out of his mouth. Melissa smirked as she pulled her glowing hand out of her pocket, letting him see what was going on. Quinston's face turned to panic as he stepped away and raised his hands to his mouth.

"BOW BOW'S LOOSE!" He yelled instead of whatever he was going to say to warn of the Spero. Melissa switched to her personal frequency.

"Someone break the pink Wither out of its case, quick. We're going to have to be quick and efficient. O'Kouzlo recognized me," she said. There was a flurry of responses. A few seconds later, she heard the sound of glass shattering down one of the hallways and mass clucking, along with shrieks and screams as Bow Bow flew into the main hall.

Quinston shot Melissa a glare and thrust his blue hand out, ice quickly forming around Melissa. She shivered and the cold completely encased her and watched as the Magiclica sprinted off to deal with the runaway matchmaking Wither.

Once he was gone, she used her own power and sent it out at an extremely high frequency to the thinnest spot in the ice. It quickly shattered, leaving a hole in the cold dome.

"Harmony! Where are you?" Haiden's panicked voice demanded.

"Be right there, Fever. Had to deal with the Magiclicas," Melissa's tone of voice had changed in that statement.

No longer was she the friendly girl to her teammates, or greeting an old friend after not seeing him for years. Now, this was her true colors. A Miscela, the secret weapon of the Spero. The daughter of Ichiro and the future leader of his organization.

——————————

Word count: 1680

I’m 99% sure I had a part two to this SOMEWHERE and I need to go look for it because I remember what happens and it’s pretty cool

Quick code names-

Melissa= Harmony (in this AU she took up the last name Hamura, so it’s sort of ironic?)

Jax= Prism

Haiden= Fever (like hay fever, but looking back I sound have done Draco lol)

Reina= Duality

Ichiro= Lord

#magiclicas #qutejakey #au #alternate universe #spero

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fableweaver · 5 years

Text

Arc of the Dragon Keeper

Iounn stood over the star maps and papers covered with numbers and calculations, Hors on her shoulder. Zaire sat using an abacus with one hand and a pen in the other. The mage had thrown herself into the calculations with such fervency she often forgot to eat or sleep. Iounn knew this to be the symptoms of grief; Zaire was trying to forget the death of her lover. Iounn was forced to take the abacus away, for a moment Zaire’s fingers continued to tick along as if it were still there. She stopped and looked up, her eyes large behind her spectacles.

Iounn almost scolded her, or ask when the last time she had slept, but the look in Zaire’s eyes stopped her. Zaire looked up at her not with anger, but with an exhausted confusion as if she didn’t understand why Iounn had made her stop. Iounn sighed and sat down next to her, Hors climbing down to sit on the table.

“So have you found anything yet?” Iounn asked and Zaire blinked slowly, her tired mind taking time to process the information.

“Sers,” Zaire answered.

“Yes you said before you already narrowed it down to that month,” Iounn said patiently.

“Right,” Zaire said shaking her head. “Give me a moment to just…”

She started to shuffle through her papers and at last pulled out one of the maps and laid it over the rest.

“This is the Hunter and the Golden Bow,” Zaire said pointing to two stars on the edge of the map. “It hardly ever rises above the horizon; the last record was centuries ago before the Kingdoms were even formed. Before this the constellation was hardly known other than a few mentions in old texts. Five more stars have risen to join these two, three of them showing the curve of the Golden Bow.”

Iounn nodded, Zaire had gone over this before but her exhausted mind seemed to be telling this to herself not to Iounn. Hors was watching like a cat watched a mouse.

“Xavier pointed out that there might be an arrow to the bow, and I realized Dione will move to that position. It didn’t take me long to calculate when, Dione will be in position as the arrow in the month of Sers, the last weeks near the Summer Solstice. Xavier wanted to know where it will point but Dione will move along the arch of the bow for several days and point several places.

“These calculations are what took me the longest,” Zaire said wearily and spread more of her papers out. She pointed to the star map to the lines she had drawn. “Dione will ride the bow for about five to six days and point to five different places in that time. First to the star known as Sybrael to the Sect, one of the Arch Angels. Sybrael is the angel of balance and scales. The next it points at nothing, then it will point at Baere the brightest of the angles, then at Atarah the crowned angel, and lastly at Urs the bear.

“The night of the solstice Dione will point to Atarah, it is this constellation that I think will be the most significant. Atarah, known as the crowned angel, is said to be Lun’s daughter crowned like her mother. Despite this myth the angel has little attention from the Sect and little more is said about her other than a few lines in some religious texts.

“The mages have never believed these myths or religions. When we arrived in Miread it was to find the sky and stars different from what we knew. We used the maps and names given to us by those here, the Sect had been the only one with complete enough records to our liking so those have been used in academic work and the names stuck. The Hunter and the Golden Bow were the only ones to escape these works because at the time they were only two stars on the horizon.

“The Hunter and the Golden Bow came from Daunish records of the time. I found them side by side with the writings of the Phay.”

“So that is what you have found so far?” Iounn said and Zaire nodded.

“I’m still calculating some more movements of Dione before and after she reaches the bow however,” Zaire said.

“So what does this all mean?” Iounn asked. “How does it relate to the Phay?”

“I don’t know,” Zaire said looking at Hors. Hors was staring at her charts, his tail swishing back and forth pensively.

“We never made study of the stars or the affect the aether has upon them,” Hors said at last. “We should have, the stir in the aether has moved the stars. Zaire I believe you’ve just calculated the movement of the aether in response to the song, something I did not think possible. I think the second ring will come when Dione as you call it points to the constellation Atarah on the next Summer Solstice.”

“That makes sense,” Zaire said nodding. “I believe I need to keep up my calculations. I want to keep calculating where Dione will go after the bow, and I believe I should calculate where Atarah will be as well.”

“Calculate the others as well since we are not sure what role they play either,” Hors said and Zaire nodded. Iounn glared at Hors for giving Zaire more work, but the dragon child ignored her. “They may answer when the third will ring.”

“What is the Phay’s mythology of Atarah?” Zaire asked.

“Like I said we never followed the constellations,” Hors answered. “To us they were just shadows of the stars we saw in the aether. I suppose after seeing those stars, the ones of Miread hardly kept our attention.”

Iounn had seen Tir Aesclinn; she could understand how the sky in Miread seemed plain to the Phay.

“Do what you can, but do not over work yourself Zaire,” Iounn said sternly. “You are the only mage we have right now and I will not risk your health.”

“Yes milady,” Zaire said but the determination in her voice spoke for her. “How goes your search for the song?”

“There is both too much and too little,” Iounn answered regretfully as she looked to the large stack of books. “There are plenty mentions of songs, but I have no way of knowing if they are the song we seek.”

“All we can do is continue,” Hors said.

“Yes,” Iounn said wearily. “For now however I need to go see to the King, I have other duties here in court that I cannot neglect.”

“I think I will stay here and read,” Hors said. “Zaire can get books for me.”

“Very well,” Iounn said, knowing Hors could read Nyrgardic just as well as her.

Iounn walked out of the dusty study and through the hallways and stairwells until she returned to the gathering hall. The day was growing late and many had gathered to the Court of Legends. Sten now sat to the side so that his son Roland sat in the center of attention. Roland talked with the other lords, speaking of battles long gone and present matters of the kingdoms. There were few lords wintering here, only those that could reach their own keeps and Hólmsted during the winter were here.

The snows had begun and already the mountains were buried in a blanket of white. Passes were closed, sailing out of the question with the winter storms, and trade all but stopped. It was a time to sit around the fire telling tales and drink away the day. The other princes were doing just that, but Iounn noted with pride that Roland was remaining sober to an extent. Soren however had also become popular in this time; he had a crowd of people around him to tell tales.

Iounn joined them and stood by listening as Roland related the story of the Epic of Jónah.

“Having sailed the seas all the way to Lir and back Jónah returned home to the adoring cheers of his people,” Soren said. “He had mapped his way and told others of how to travel the seas. Many thought him mad but others could not refuse the opportunity to open up trade with the east. Jónah however had grown bored with the lands of men, and set sail once again.

“ ‘But Jónah,’ his poor wife cried. ‘You have sailed to Lir and back, you have traveled all of the Wandering Sea. What more is there to discover?’

“ ‘What more you ask?’ Jónah laughed. ‘Why I seek our homeland across the sea, I seek the lost isle of the mages, I seek new lands no one has ever dreamed of! Wait and see, I will bring you back the world!’

“And so Jónah set sail once more out into the sea, but he did not return. His ship returned months later, the crew telling all who would hear them of Jónah. Out on the ocean upon the waves during the worst storm they had ever seen, Jónah sailed his ship through the storm with an ease as if he and Tempest himself were close friends. He laughed to the winds and the god shook his fist of thunder at the sailor. But it was the god who got the last laugh, for out of the waves came a whale of such size it could have crushed a castle it was so huge. The beast loomed over the ship and Jónah only laughed more.

“The sailors all swore to their graves that Jónah did not flee from the whale, but jumped into his open maw. Some say he sails in the whale now, through the seas and between the stars, seeing lands no man has ever dreamed.”

Everyone applauded the tale and the teller, Soren taking a bow. Iounn noticed Lofn then sitting next to Modi on the floor by Soren. Modi leaned over and whispered in Lofn’s ear and the girl nodded in turn. They sat close together and Iounn wondered then how close her daughter had become to the young prince. Nora sat with them but next to Lofn with her knees drawn up. Iounn made her way over to them as Soren prepared to tell another tale.

“Lofn, I want to have a word with you,” Iounn said and Lofn looked up at her. She simply nodded and stood to follow, Modi and Nora watching Soren. Iounn led her daughter out of the keep and towards the wall that surrounded it. The yard was swept clean of snow or ice, and the guards were all heavily dressed in furs and cloaks. Iounn pulled her own sleeves down over her hands, already wearing a fine mink fur cloak which had been a gift from Sten. Lofn walked after her mother reserved, obviously anticipating a lecture.

Iounn went up the steps to the top of the wall, nodding to the sentry who nodded back to her. Iounn went down the wall until they were out of earshot of any of the guards. They were looking out over the city now. The dark stone was a stunning contrast to the white snow piled high on roofs and unused streets. Smoke spiraled out of chimneys to settle in a haze over the city that the sea winds slowly pushed inland. For a moment Iounn stared out over the city buildings feeling the change in her life.

“Lofn, do you know what your duty is?” Iounn asked.

“I do mother,” Lofn answered somberly. “To guard Hors when you die and to give birth to the next that will watch him after me.”

Iounn looked at her daughter and saw her staring out over the roofs as well.

“Do you not want that?” Iounn asked.

“I want it but… It is strange knowing my fate and having it all planned out.”

“Nothing is guaranteed Lofn,” Iounn said. “Who knows when or if the Phay will march, and after they do… Can you imagine what will become of the world with the return of these people to Miread?”

“No,” Lofn said softly and looked up at Iounn. “Will it be wonderful?”

“It will I’m sure,” Iounn said feeling just as small then. “Ah, well what of Modi?”

“What about Modi?” Lofn asked puzzled.

“Will he be the father of those children you spoke of?” Iounn asked and Lofn made a face like she had just suggested a badger as her future husband. “You don’t like him?”

“Not like that,” Lofn said. “I thought my husband would be more…”

“Handsome?” Iounn prompted.

“Older,” Lofn answered to Iounn’s surprise.

“You mean like me and Goran?” Iounn asked.

“I love father,” Lofn answered. “I want someone like him.”

Iounn was a little surprised, but not that much when she thought about it. Goran had loved his children greatly, doting on them so much Iounn had to become the voice of authority over them. Memories came to her of Goran with their children, and even the times he had wept over the lost ones that had died from fever or in the womb. Iounn suddenly missed him, his strong reassuring comfort, the way he would snort as he laughed, or even the habit he had of picking his teeth.

Iounn felt Lofn take her hand and they stood watching the sun sink in the sky, silent in their private mourning. Eventually they returned inside and to dinner which was much the same as always. They found Zaire asleep in their quarters when they returned, asleep on the small cot she had. Hors though was away lying by the fire, turning as they came in.

“How goes the reading?” Iounn asked sitting next to him. “Lofn get ready for bed.”

Lofn nodded and went to wash her face. Colm and Nora appeared silently and joined Lofn in getting ready for bed.

“Not well,” Hors said. “We need a better way to get other stories. All we have here are Nyrgardic legends. If only there was someone who knew the stories of the other kingdoms.”

Iounn thought suddenly of the Rhodin and the strange fortune teller named Kree. At the thought of the woman Iounn felt a strange mix of emotions, attraction and fear, that didn’t seem like they belonged together. Hors noticed the look on her face and she could feel his eyes on her.

“There are the Rhodin,” Iounn said at last. “Many have wintered here in the lower city, Nyrgard is so starved for traders we welcome the Rhodin often. They travel over all the kingdoms.”

“They would be perfect then to ask about the song,” Hors said, but his tone prompted her to say more.

“No, they do not speak much to outsiders,” Iounn said, even though it was the truth it felt like a lie on her tongue. “We’ll never get them to even tell one tale.”

“Perhaps a Daunish face will make them more comfortable,” Hors said looking to Colm who heard him. “Colm do you think you could convince the Rhodin to speak to us?”

“Nowt, they ken I work fer the Lady Iounn,” Colm said. “Iounn went already n tried talkin ta them bout news. Turned her away.”

Iounn could not look at Hors who was watching her carefully.

“Iounn are you hiding something?” Hors asked. She thought about lying, but the feeling of being a child caught in a lie felt wrong.

“There was a fortune teller there that unsettled me,” Iounn said. “I felt… I don’t know what I felt.”

She felt her face burning with a blush and Hors watched her with unreadable eyes.

“Do you think she will talk to us?” Hors asked. Iounn hesitated, unsure if she wanted to talk to the strange woman again. But Hors’ need was great, and she had set out on a quest of her own, she couldn’t shy away now just because she felt odd when she met a fortune teller.

“I don’t know but we could try,” Iounn said.

“Tomorrow then,” Hors said. “We’ll go see this fortune teller.”

Iounn nodded hiding her apprehension. The next day they followed up on Hors idea, this time the dragon child accompanying them hidden in a basket under a blanket. Colm still followed Iounn as they made their way down the mountain and to the Rhodin camp. Iounn hoped the fortune teller had moved on but it was still winter and the passes would have closed by now. Sure enough as they walked into the camp they found the same indigo wagon with stars.

Iounn knocked on the door and waited with her heart in her throat.

“Come,” the muffled voice said within. Iounn sighed and stepped up into the wagon, Colm standing guard once more. Inside hadn’t changed since the last time Iounn had stepped into the wagon, it even still smelled of myrtle. Kree emerged, this time wearing a fine Lirian silk robe. Iounn stared because Kree had let the robe hang open enough to show the swell of her breasts. She looked away quickly wondering why she felt such embarrassment with another woman.

“Ah, the Baroness of Stóstund,” Kree said, her accent something implacable of the kingdoms. “Welcome Iounn.”

“Thank you,” Iounn said blushing. “I’m afraid I left prematurely last time. I had hoped to talk to you about news and tales that you have heard over the kingdoms.”

“Of course, sit,” Kree said indicating the tiny table. Iounn sat and Kree went about making and pouring tea. Iounn was so distracted by her own inner turmoil that she didn’t notice what was wrong until she raised her cup. Kree had poured three cups not two.

“Would our other guest like to join us?” Kree asked. Iounn sat frozen unsure of what to do, but Hors crawled out of her basket onto the table to sit next to the third cup.

“Your people are as observant as always,” Hors said dryly.

“To be fair I already saw the ripples of your power in her aura the last time she was here,” Kree answered. “I hoped you would come back to visit.”

Iounn felt her face burn as Kree looked at her with a wicked smile.

“So we have,” Hors said. “My name is Hors.”

“Kree Deladoria,” Kree said and Hors flicked his tail.

“Your full name,” Hors said impressed.

“No, Aldan names have a hole in the middle,” Kree said. “A gift from my father.”

“It is rare those two races have managed to mingle,” Hors said. “As I understand the result is often unfair for the child.”

Kree’s eyes took on a slight pained look which was quickly hidden by bravo. Iounn felt a twinge of pain at the look in her in Kree’s eyes, and a desire to comfort her.

“I am sterile, in both womb and power,” Kree said. “I barely have the Rhodin gift of reading auras. But I was able to see your mark on this lady all the same. You’ve changed her fate dragon.”

“I changed her luck not her fate,” Hors said. “And through no part of my own.”

“Well I am honored to meet the reborn king of the dragons,” Kree said nodding to Hors. “And you are fortunate you found me. I know of the Phay’s plan to march.”

“How?” Hors asked.

“I see the signs, all Rhodin do,” Kree said. “There is news of storms over the Ocean of the Lost. Animals have been migrating to strange places at strange times. The dead sing a song just before they pass a marching song. And I’ve heard tell the dunes sing in Xin. We Rhodin saw the signs before everyone else, the Phay will march.

“But there is something much worse I must tell you. While I was in Daun I met a green witch named Bailey.”

She told them then about the witch and her husband and how they had survived a dragon attack. She told them about the birth of their children and how a dark spirit stalked them. Then she told them about the curse of the king and the birth of the Holly King. Then she told them about Pepper, the dragon blade, and the news she bore from the north about the race of Orcs. She told them about how these twins were the lost heirs to the High Throne and their travel to Alda with Taras Law. Hors listened, his wings quivering.

“Melanthios, you are sure that is the name of the dragon?” Hors asked.

“It is the name Bailey gave him,” Kree said. “She said it fit him.”

“Do you know him Hors?” Iounn asked.

“Yes, and I grieve that he lost his life because he sought me,” Hors answered. “Worst yet it was truly because of the Crippled One controlling him.”

“The Crippled One must be powerful then,” Iounn said and Hors nodded.

“I had wished to make Melanthios my successor,” Hors said. “But now that he is trapped in the form of a sword he can never take my place. You said they are heading for Alda?”

“They were,” Kree said her eyes dark now. “I received word from other Rhodin, the Corvus Army has fallen, the Legion now controls their resources. The ranger I told you about was going there last I heard, rumor tells me he is dead. I do not know what happened to the witches, though I hope they escaped. The Rhodin have cut all ties now with that organization. We have chosen to flee, Kingdoms like the Mark and Regis are no longer safe. Most of the Rhodin are wintering in the north or in Dridia now.”

“What about Lir?” Iounn asked.

“There is war, Feng Loe has killed Son Rue and taken over Lir,” Kree said.

“How do you know this before we have heard the news?” Iounn asked astonished. “The passes are closed.”

“We have messenger birds like you,” Kree said. “We Rhodin communicate a lot more than you of other races. Many saw this war coming anyways, Loe is in league with the Legion as well and all Rhodin make it their priority to be aware of who deals with the Legion. The Legion has hunted the Rhodin since they were formed a few years ago, as they grew the more we grew to fear them. We avoid their territories now.”

“I need to tell the king of this,” Iounn said about to stand but Kree’s hand on hers stopped her. Iounn met her eyes and felt her face flush again as Kree looked at her.

“Sit and finish your tea,” Kree said. “There is time to tell the king later.”

Iounn sat and took a sip, trying not to let her hands shake. She glanced at Kree again and saw she was staring at Iounn with a slight frown.

“I think we met in a past life,” Kree said at last. “We knew each other well.”

“Love does that to spirits,” Hors said, looking at them both as if he knew everything. “Lovers in past lives will often meet again to become lovers; it is a common thing since spirits are reborn. Even if in the next life they are both women.”

Iounn felt heat rise to her face even more and suppressed the desire to run out of the wagon. She had of course heard of those who lay with the same gender, it was a common thing in Kingdoms like Hyria or Lir. In Nyrgard however it was nearly outlawed, there were no laws against it but it was culturally abhorred. She had never met anyone of that persuasion, and felt almost disgusted by the idea of it.

She looked up at Kree to find her gazing at Iounn almost thoughtfully.

“I’ve never lain with a woman before,” Kree said. “Though a Hyrian sailor once offered and I was tempted. When I look at you Iounn…”

“Do not speak my name so familiarly,” Iounn snapped insulted. “I am not some… I would never… I had a husband and I have children…” She was at a loss for words and unable to meet Kree’s eyes as pain took root in them. She looked at Hors to find him almost glaring at her with reprimand.

“Spirits are reborn all the time and sometimes to a body that is not the same gender or race as their previous life,” Hors said. “Fors wheel tips the scales towards luck; you are born on a whim and chance alone. Just because you are what you are now does not change what you once were or will become.”

“Nor does that mean we cannot be what we want to be,” Kree said. “What we once were is in the past, and we choose how we may forge on. I cannot regain my past memories but I do feel a deep connection to you Lady Iounn. Whether that be as lovers or simply friends, I would like to get to know you better and help you in your quest. You need only come and visit me; I’ll make you tea any time.”

Iounn was wary of the offer, but while she was confused and afraid of these emotions she also enjoyed Kree’s company. Maybe they could be friends; there was no need to cross that line if she didn’t want to. Iounn rarely had any friends her own age and gender, all had been servants or far away nobles.

“I’d like that as well,” Iounn said at last. “I will try to come and visit.”

Kree smiled and then blushed, her hands going to her cheeks as she laughed deeply.

“I would be glad of the company,” Kree said.

“I will come back when I can,” Iounn said. “I must go now.”

Kree nodded and Iounn stood, Hors hiding in her basket once more. They left the wagon and Colm fell into step behind them, if he had overheard anything he said nothing.

“Do the Phay have lovers of the same gender?” Iounn asked Hors as she walked.

“Of course,” Hors answered. “There are those of the Phay who don’t really care about sex since it is not how the Elder Phay reproduce. The younger of the Phay however never cared about gender. Like I said when reborn we often find our old lovers again and join once more no matter the gender of the next lives. There are some of the Elder Phay however that enjoy sex just for the act, Ghillie Dhu comes to mind. He often lay with whatever he could, man or beast, male or female, he often changed his shape to enjoy the animal pleasures as he called it. He sired a lot of strange animals because of that.”

Iounn let that churn around in her mind, but she still could not find acceptance. A woman belonged with a man, picturing two women together or two men seemed wrong to her. Yet Hors made her feel guilty for this feeling, he looked at her as if he had expected more from her. Yet Iounn didn’t think she was wrong about this, men belonged with women.

“Kree gave us valuable information,” Hors said.

“What will we do now then?” Iounn asked.

“Continue our search,” Hors answered. “If we can get free of the mountains however I would like to head to Alda then and see if I can meet these witches and Melanthios. We need to unite and make a plan to fight the Crippled One and they like us stand against him. They may have information on the song beyond what they learned in the old records. They only discovered that the song came into possession of Hyrian pirates who had stolen it from the Daunish tribe. Maybe they have learned more.”

“Maybe,” Iounn said nodding. “But we should not stop our search through our records, maybe the song found its way to Nyrgard.”

Hors did not answer, and Iounn was left to think over her encounter with Kree and the strange feelings it had invoked. The next month was spent in study, and Lun’s Day came in another flurry of activity and a feast. Though not as universal as Isra’s night or as well-loved as Tempest’s Day in Nyrgard, Lun’s Day was still anticipated with excitement. It was an excuse for a feast and drinking, and Nyrgarders didn’t need much of an excuse to drink. Iounn expected Zaire to at least look forward to Lun’s Day, but she was still withdrawn into her calculations and so missed the feast.

Iounn could almost sympathize; she threw herself into her readings to forget the discomfort of thoughts of Kree. She avoided going down to the Rhodin camp again despite Kree’s offer. Yet occasionally she caught herself musing about the Rhodin fortune teller, a curiosity had taken root she wasn’t willing to acknowledge. One day they were sitting reading or calculating as always, when the door burst open. Lofn came bursting into the study, her cheeks flushed from running. Hors, who had been cat napping, nearly jumped off the table.

“Mother!” Lofn said excited. “Ingrid’s here!”

“Ingrid?” Iounn said for a moment lost as to who Lofn meant and then realizing. She leapt to her feet, not waiting for more of an answer she ran out the door leaving Lofn, Hors, and Zaire to follow. She ran down the halls and stairwells, down into the main hall where a crowd had gathered in excitement. Iounn spotted a group of men gathered before the king, at the edge of this crowd stood a young woman.

Iounn recognized Ingrid immediately, but was confused as to how she was here. How had she gotten through the mountains in winter? Were these men her guards? But Iounn did not recognize the men; they were far too short to be Nyrgarders. They were waiting for Roland to show up, Ekkehard and Soren already welcoming the men. Then Ingrid turned and Iounn saw an old green bruise over the left side of her face. Iounn realized then that Ingrid had not gotten through the mountains unharmed, the way she stood with her arms wrapped around herself suggested she had suffered a great deal of pain.

Iounn saw red then, and her hand fell to her brother’s hammer she wore at her belt. It was common for nobles to go armed even in the king’s court, and Iounn carried her brother’s hammer to remember him with. Now was the first time she drew it. She marched through the crowd and they quickly parted startled. She reached the dais clear of the crowd and Soren looked at her surprised to see her wielding a weapon.

“Lady Iounn!” he shouted but Iounn did not heed him, her eyes were on her target. Iounn shouted wordlessly, aiming for the man closest to her daughter. He turned but not in time to dodge, her hammer ringing against his helm and felling him like a tree. Another came up by her right and Iounn lashed out with the butt of the hammer, catching him in the gut. She brought the hammer up, catching him in the jaw felling him.

“Mother stop!” Ingrid shouted before weapons were drawn and blood was spilled. Iounn stopped from braining the next short man, turning to Ingrid. Her daughter was weeping and Iounn reached out to her, taking her into her arms as she dropped her hammer. She held Ingrid close as each of her daughter’s sobs sent a knife of pain to her heart. Iounn realized she was weeping as well.

A soft touch at her elbow made Iounn turn and see Soren standing over them looking a bit white around the eyes with shock and sorrow.

“Milady perhaps you should retire with your daughter,” he said. “There will be no council now that you have knocked out two of the ambassadors.”

Iounn turned to see the two men she had attacked lay unconscious, their two other comrades kneeling over them. One looked up and met her eyes. He stood to face her, crossing his arms over his chest. He was barely five spans tall, Iounn standing a full head and shoulders over him. He was handsome, deep blue eyes, dark hair and beard, and a straight nose.

“You felled two of my finest warriors,” he said in the trade tongue, a strange accent to his words. “I am Donar, Chief of the Emir clan and emissary for King Runi. Who are you?”

She gaped at him a moment caught off guard and in no mood for formalities. Yet this man had an air of command that only kings had, despite his height Iounn had the urge to bow to this man.

“Mother, they saved me,” Ingrid whispered and Iounn felt shame that she had let her anger blind her. She let go of Ingrid to bow to the chief.

“I am Iounn Baroness of Stóstund. I apologize from my heart for injuring your men and attacking you so. Thank you for saving my daughter.”

“Accepted,” Donar said easily. “I only meant praise when I said you bested my warriors. I do not blame you for having a mother’s heart.”

Iounn nodded to him relieved and flattered.

“I think we should retire and see to the injured,” Soren said.

“Wait,” one of the other men said and Iounn turned to see that there were two Daunish men here as well. One was obviously a knight, wearing the strange ceramic mail and tunic that marked him as a knight of Daun. The other was a minstrel telling by the musical instrument strapped across his back.

“We have dire news to speak to the king about,” the knight said.

“I would rather wait until Darin and Hakk are awake Sir Conor,” Donar answered him. “And I would like to hear the Lady Iounn’s opinion on our news; we have things we have to discuss with her. All this can wait until hearts are less raw. Another day will not make much of a difference.”

Sir Conor looked angry at this, but nodded.

“Then we will retire,” Iounn said putting her arm around Ingrid and pulling her away. Lofn appeared at her side looking worried. Iounn did not pay attention to the stares or whispers as she led her daughters away back to their rooms. There Iounn lit the fire and pulled pillows from the bed. Setting them before the fire she wrapped both Ingrid and Lofn in blankets, doing the same for herself. She had done this before during the chill of winter, and she could tell the familiar comfort sent barriers breaking.

Ingrid curled against her and wept, Iounn holding her daughter as she let out her pain. Eventually Ingrid told her about how she fled home to travel the road, and how she had met with the bandits. Iounn bore the tale stoically, but the pain of hearing her daughter speak of what happen to her was like she had to endure it herself. Iounn was almost thankful that Ingrid could not go into detail.

“It’s alright now,” Iounn said soothingly, rocking Ingrid back and forth.

“No,” Ingrid said pulling away. “It’s all my fault! Aren’t you going to yell at me? You told me that I couldn’t be a bard and I didn’t listen. I’m a failure.”

“No Ingrid I just never want to see you hurt,” Iounn answered hugging her close. “I wanted you to have your dream, but this is not your fault.”

She could only repeat this as Ingrid wept. Lofn sat next to them silent, probably unable to say anything. Eventually grief wore them down and Ingrid fell asleep in Iounn’s arms. Lofn slept on her other side, and Iounn sat feeling her heart ache as she stared at the flames.

“I’m sorry,” Hors said and Iounn turned to see him sitting like a cat nearby. She didn’t have the strength to answer, only nod back at him. “Had I not come along…”

“But you had,” Iounn said. “And I would not do things any other way. I do not regret, I only hurt.”

Hors couldn’t answer that, his eyes turning away. He stood and walked away, leaving Iounn and her children before the fire. Iounn fell asleep there, lying out with Ingrid and Lofn curled against her like kittens.

Iounn woke feeling weary, and then she realized she slept alone by the fire. Startled she sat up and looked around to see Ingrid and Lofn were already at the table eating their breakfast which a servant had brought.

“Good morning,” Ingrid said with a bit of cheer. Iounn could tell she wasn’t forcing herself to be happy, she wasn’t overly cheery but neither was she melancholy. Iounn stood, unwrapping herself from the blankets and joined them at the table.

“How are you feeling?” Iounn asked carefully.

“Better,” Ingrid answered. “Much better mother so thank you. Please don’t treat me like I might break or coddle me, it only makes me feel guilty.”

“Well I’m your mother,” Iounn said with mock ferocity. “It is my duty to worry, coddle, and smother you until you can’t stand it any more and run screaming for the hills.”

Ingrid actually smiled at that and Lofn laughed.

“I need to send word to your brother however,” Iounn said realizing this. “He must be worried sick.”

“He probably didn’t even notice I was gone,” Ingrid said bitterly and Iounn rapped the table next to her.

“Your brother loves you and I am sure he’s been tearing the mountain up by their roots looking for you!” Iounn said. “I’ll see a letter is sent by bird, I just hope he gets it.”

Iounn could tell that Ingrid only felt guilty now for her actions and Iounn sighed and turned to her meal. During the winter the food had turned from fresh to preserves, no oranges this time. They had simple porridge and sausages for their breakfast, though these were still of a fine quality given they were from the king’s stores.

“Where is Hors?” Iounn asked looking around.

“He said he had to speak to the dwarves,” Lofn said. “He asked Zaire to take him.”

Iounn was a little hurt by this, until she realized Hors was probably trying to be considerate for her. Still she wanted to be part of these discussions, and to apologize to the dwarves she had attacked.

“Lofn show Ingrid about the keep,” Iounn said. “I need to talk to the dwarves.”

Iounn went to the clothes chest and changed from her rumpled clothes. The king had gifted her with several new gowns and furs, Iounn too practical to decline the offer.

“Can’t I come too?” Ingrid asked Lofn looking like she agreed. Iounn wanted to argue, but could think of no reason other than wanting to protect them.

“Alright, but do not speak out without permission,” Iounn said. The two girls nodded and quickly finished their meal. Both were already dressed so they were able to leave quickly. Iounn realized then that she didn’t know where the dwarves were and turned to Ingrid who shrugged.

“They’re just down the hall,” Lofn said pointing.

“Thank you,” Iounn said to her and let Lofn lead the way. Voices drew them though and they stopped at a door down the hall from them. Iounn knocked and discussion stopped. The door was opened by the dwarf with the spectacles, who bowed to her.

“Greetings milady,” he said.

“Greetings,” Iounn said following him into the room with Lofn and Ingrid. The dwarves all sat at the table near the fire, their breakfast already finished and set aside. Zaire sat with them, Hors sitting in the center of the table.

“Lady Iounn,” Donar said as he stood to welcome her. “I’m glad you could join us, Hors was just finishing telling us about his travels so far and what they have learned. Come, let me introduce you. That is Bgrim by the door. I think you remember Hakk and Darin?”

Iounn looked to the two dwarves. Hakk had a growing bruise under his chin which was mostly hidden by his beard. He was the biggest of the dwarves, his hair woven into dreadlocks. Darin was fairer in looks than the rough Hakk, his dark hair and beard neatly combed and braided in places. His blue eyes were focused and clear, telling Iounn that he had suffered no lasting damage from her blow.

“Milords, I apologize deeply for assaulting you yesterday,” Iounn said as she bowed to them. “I let my anger blind me.”

“I am the one who owes an apology,” Darin said looking to Ingrid. “I said I would help you face your mother and failed.”

“No, you did more than enough,” Ingrid said softly.

“Enough,” Hakk growled, and then said something in a language Iounn had never heard. The others nodded however, including Hors.

“Come and sit,” Donar said. “There is much to tell.”

Iounn, Lofn, and Ingrid joined them at the table sitting by Zaire who seemed to be bored.

“They’ve been speaking in the language of the Phay the whole time,” Zaire said lowly to Iounn and Hors turned to her.

“I am sorry Zaire, we did not mean to exclude you,” Hors said. “The dwarves do not speak the trade tongue well and we wanted to save time. It was nothing you didn’t already know however; I’ve just been telling the dwarves my end of the tale.”

“Answers we had not expected,” Donar said darkly. “I had no idea the Crippled One had such a horrendous birth.”

“I should never have tried to take this burden on myself,” Hors said sadly. “Had I stopped Lyl or even informed the other Kings and Queens…”

“Yet you had not,” Donar said. “I understand your shame Hors, and why you hid your failure to protect Lyl from the others, but it is time to move on from it.”

“And now perhaps we should tell you ours,” Donar said. “Unless there was more Hors?”

“No go on,” Hors said flicking a wing to him. Iounn wondered how much Hors had told the dwarves, but she suspected it had been everything. The dwarves seemed unusually polite to the dragon child, deferring to him as if he were an elder or a king. Then she remembered that he was a king.

“Right,” Donar sighed. “Well I’ll start with the Orc army first.”

He told them haltingly, occasionally searching for a word which Hors provided, about an army of monsters far to the north and how his people had warred with them for centuries. That brought them to current events of the choosing of the dwarven king, the witch Pepper, and the forging of the dragon blade Melanthios.

“We were informed much of what you’ve said already,” Hors said.

“By Pepper?” Darin said so excited he leaned forward.

“No, a Rhodin fortune teller by the name of Kree,” Hors answered. “However this woman had met Pepper and her sister Bailey. She had little knowledge of the Orc army, but she knew about Melanthios. She said the twins traveled south with Taras Law, a Ranger of the Mark, heading for Alda since Bailey and Pepper are apparently the heirs to the High Throne. They ran afoul of the Legion of Creed, a cult we believe to be run by the Crippled One. Kree does not know what became of them after that.”

Darin’s face was white as a sheet and he stared at his hands as if he could not remember who he was anymore.

“I believe they are alive however,” Hors continued. “Melanthios would have made sure they escaped, I know him well and even in the form of a sword he would have had the power to protect them.”

Darin sighed and nodded, drawing himself up again.

“Pepper is a warrior, she is strong and I have faith in her ability,” he said it with confidence, enough that Iounn realized he really believed that. “Go on with the rest Donar.”

“Runi sent us south to seek the song and Eileen,” Donar said. “On the way we decided to warn Daun that the Orcs might strike into their lands. With Mímisbrunnr gone the other cities will be threatened and open war will come. The Orcs can move better overland with the long nights of winter in the north. The dwarves will do their best to do battle but the Orcs may seek to break into the lands of men.

“Daun is poorly defended; the king seeks to ask for aid here in Nyrgard. We used an old Dwarven road under the mountains to get here; we can use the same road to get an army to Daun.”

“That you will have to bring to Roland and Sten,” Iounn said.

“You sound so sure an attack will come on Daun,” Zaire said. “Only you said yourselves that the Orcs will be busy fighting the Dwarves in the north.”

“We thought the lands of men could defend themselves,” Donar said. “When we saw the current state of Daun however we realized that they would never survive if the Orcs did decide to strike south. I’m not saying an attack will come soon, though I certainly made the Daunish believe that, but if it did Daun would be destroyed in a matter of weeks.”

“I think an attack will come,” Hors said. “Kree also told us about Feng Loe and his connection to the Legion. He has gained control of Lir to the east. The Crippled One must have planned two armies, one to the north and one to the east.”

“He wants to destroy the dwarves,” Darin said. “But they are united now against him, I don’t think he will defeat the dwarves easily no matter what force he has at his disposal.”

“True, but the Crippled One is anything but patient,” Hors said. “I think he will let the Orcs wage their war against the dwarves for the winter, but then grow impatient and send them into Daun. He had planned on Arnor taking control of the dwarves and weakening their army so he could walk all over them. Now that plan is up in smoke the Crippled One will lose patience and head south.”

“That leaves us little time then,” Donar said.

“I can’t say when the Crippled One will send his armies south but it will be before summer,” Hors said. “If what you say of the Orcs’ hatred of sunlight is true. But there will be time through the winter to prepare since the Orcs are distracted by fighting the dwarves.”

“Even if the Daunish get the help of Nyrgard they are still up against creatures they know nothing about,” Darin said. “We know how to fight the Orcs, the Nyrgarders don’t. Telling them won’t give them the experience they’re going to need to fight them.”

“Our duty is to seek out the song not go to war,” Donar objected. “Runi sent us away so we would not get caught up in battle.”

“Most of the dwarves with experience in combat against the Orcs are lost anyways,” Hakk said. “They are underground. Runi cannot spare warriors.”

“He is right,” Hors said. “We need to think of a way to coordinate with the dwarves if we are to win this battle. I have an idea, but I am not sure it will work. We need to get a message to Runi to send some dwarves south, she could send no combatants south to help the Daunish. She can spare one or two to be advisers to the Daunish and Nyrgardic forces to the south. Maybe once the mountain passes are clear they can send forces to help her as well.”

“Unlikely,” Iounn said. “It will be hard enough convincing Sten to send aid to Daun, let alone the norther wild mountains. And if the Daunish are so ill prepared it would be best to keep them in their own borders.”

“Will you talk to Sten and Roland?” Hors asked. “We need to send the Nyrgarders to Daun if this war is to be won.”

“Of course,” Iounn said. “But I think it will go better if I go only with Sir Conor. He was sent by his king and so will have the power to negotiate.”

“Leave this to Iounn Donar,” Hors said when Donar looked ready to argue. “She can handle this far better than us. Let us let her settle this.”

“Then I leave this matter to you Lady Iounn,” Donar said bowing his head to her.

“I will go fetch Sir Conor then,” Iounn said and Donar directed her to the next room over. She stood and left, going out into the hall and knocking on the next door down. At her knock the minstrel answered much to her surprise.

“Lady Iounn,” he said surprised as well. He bowed to her and ushered her into their small room. Sir Conor sat at the table apparently waiting for her, or someone else to come so he could talk to the king. He stood quickly at her entrance, but refrained from seeming too eager. Both men were the typical Daunish, dark skin, red hair, and green eyes. Iounn stood taller than both men by a few knuckles, yet neither seemed to find this disturbing.

“It is a pleasure to meet you milady,” the minstrel said. “I am Ronan, Donar and his men picked me up in Dun Glas to be their guide. This of course is the King of Daun’s knight, Sir Conor.”

“Milady,” Conor said bowing to her. “I am sorry what happened to your daughter. I’ll have you know we slaughtered every one of the scum the night we saved her.”

“Thank you Sir Conor,” Iounn said, finding a bit of disappointment that she had no one she could vent her rage on. “Lord Donar informed me of the danger that Daun faces, and I am here to be your ambassador to the king and prince. They hold my council in high regard and my word on your side will help greatly in swaying them to Daun’s aid.”

Conor looked utterly relieved and appeared on the verge of thanking her when Iounn held up her hand to stop him.

“That does not mean we will convince them to send aid,” she cautioned and Conor looked grim again. “Tales of Phay and monsters will not frighten them or move them. Let me do the talking Sir Conor, you just need to press the point that you were sent by King Rawn. You are his representative here. I also need to warn you that this aid will not come cheaply. The trouble you are going to have is convincing the king and prince that you can afford their army.”

Conor paled and suddenly looked out of his depth. Obviously he had thought to come with the truth and heartfelt plea and the king would just turn his army over to him.

“We are going to be talking logistics most of the time Sir Conor,” Iounn continued heartlessly. “Even with this pass through the mountains we are going to have to feed a lot of men and horses, and we will need ships to carry them over water. You will have to say you can not only feed them but pay them as well. In winter this will be a hard task.”

“All of Daun is being rousted,” Conor said. “We will give what we have to defend our people.”

“Noble words Conor but I’m not asking you to give away your lands,” Iounn said. “Let me be the voice of reason here, you are here for Daun’s interest. Argue payment and food for Daun’s interest; do not give Sten whatever he asks for. If you do he will take whatever he can, just because Nyrgard is your ally does not mean it won’t rob you blind.”

“Yes milady,” Conor said.

“Perhaps I should come as well,” Ronan said gravely and they both turned to him. “I could provide some insight.”

“No offense master Ronan but unless you are a lord of at least of a duke in rank the king will not heed anything you have to say,” Iounn said.

“You are only a Baroness,” Ronan said.

“I am a lord of Nyrgard,” Iounn answered. “A king must respect his lords no matter what their standing. I am also a beautiful woman and Sten is weak to the wiles of a woman.”

Ronan laughed at that and bowed to her.

“Very well milady I concede to your wisdom and beauty,” Ronan said. “I’ll contend myself with consoling your daughter.”

Iounn glared at him with such heat that Ronan flinched back. Conor tapped her on the shoulder and held out her hammer to her.

“You forgot this milady,” Conor said mildly and Iounn grinned as she took the hammer and turned back to Ronan.

“I meant it in all propriety milady,” Ronan said hastily.

“I’m sure you did master Ronan but I would appreciate it if you left my daughter alone,” Iounn said coldly. “Instead keep the dwarves in their room and make sure none of them get into any trouble. You can entertain yourself by talking to my pet dragon instead.”

Both men looked at her with a certain amount of surprise, but said nothing on the matter of Hors. Iounn knew then that she was in for another long negotiation and wondered at the turn in her life that she was negotiating with kings and knights. Her life was not her own anymore it seemed.

#fantasy #series #writing #please read #dragon #fairies

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courage-a-word-of-justice · 5 years

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Rolling out the tags soon.

Sacred Beasts 2

“Sissy” always pissed me off as a nickname for your sister. It’s clearly meant as a term of endearment in some cases, but it also is the equivalent of “wuss”, y’know???

I’ve seen mushroom soup out of a tin…that don’t look like mushroom soup in that case.

Uh, random question…she has th same surname as Will, but is Schaal herself adopted???

Y’should’ve followed Hank, Nancy…(is her name Nancy or Schaal? Schaal is her middle name, yet she seems more commonly referred to as Schaal…hmm.)

*sees synopsis* - No one mentioned Nancy’s hometown was called Livletwood Village…

I pause my shows a lot to get down these notes…then Crunchyroll or my internet (or both!) cursed me with regular buffering (that can sometimes play video and subs through it, but generally sets down a few seconds after unpausing and lasts for a minute) and made it a pain in the butt to make these notes. But you do realise I basically have notes for almost every show I’ve ever watched under this system? These notes are special to me, which is why I put up with the buffering. It also means impactful scenes lose their impact, meaning well-paced shows get favoured in my picking process on CR these days.

Astra 2

Yup, the 2nd time we talk about how to scavenge for food this season – gotta remember this…in case I ever get into a situation like that. You never know! (creates “The More You Know” star with hands)

I-awwwwwww…I never thought I’d see the day where the Luca Javelin would get animated, much less Astra as a series. Dang, is this a dream???

Eyyyyy. Nothing like endangering your little sister to really understand why you love her…much less understand that you love her in the first place. (partially sarcastic)

Given 1

This is my second rodeo with BL anime (I’ve only read one BL manga and it was pretty darn mediocre, but the one BL game I tried was okay)…hopefully it’s good.

Was there the ticking of a clock in the background???

…and cut to OP. Yay! I can predict when the OP happens now…(It only took me years of training…okay, I’m kidding.)

I think this OP is like a music video…and I think that’s the point.

Kaji??? Is this Eva (LOL)?

I’m no band person – I was merely a solo pianist in my time with music, although notably I did have to sing for one of the musical pieces – but “Thom Yorke” and “Keith Richards” sound familiar. Why???...Okay, so it seems Thom Yorke is part of Radiohead and Keith Richards is part of the Rolling Stones. I’m familiar with those bands by name, at least.

Lemme guess…this guy (Ritsuka) sucks at improv.

I had to go back and find out what Yayoi said a few lines ago…and love her already because she’s like “You suck”…she’s just like me, to be honest.

Early husbando predictions say Haruki is my dude of the season.

Seeing manly dudes act like blushing schoolgirls is great…!

Yushiro-who???...Okay, Yushiro Ishihara is apparently that’s a singer that’s already passed away, but has a bit of a rep behind him.

Is it just me, or is Ritsuka basically a lesser Bakugo…?

Come to think of it, it would be hard for me to teach someone piano now that I haven’t properly played since the end of 2014…almost 5 years. Geesh, that’s a long time.

Welp, that was…actually pretty good. The only thing that sucks is that this ED isn’t rock, to go with the rest of the show.

DanMachi II 1

Another counterintuitive name for a sequel anime season…this is my last premiere before I wrap them up, or at least until Machikado Mazoku (or whatever) land on CR.

…and of course, it’s back to Big Boobies (aka Hestia). She’s probably the worst part of the show for me.

Why does Bell need an advisor anyway…? I never thought about it when watching s1.

Who’s this Naza-sama, anyway…?...Okay, it seems she’s a doctor from the Miach Familia. I don’t remember her from s1, really.

I’ve forgotten who Asfi is as well…Oh yeah, that blue-haired woman from the Hermes Famlia. Hermes seems like a bit of a loose cannon – the sort who wouldn’t have a Familia if given the chance – though.

I think we saw Freya in s1…just scheming behind the scenes…

Hermes looks like a sleazebag half the time he’s on screen…

I forgot how much I loved Miach’s character design in s1...and to a lesser extent, Takemikazuchi.

Demon Slayer 15

…Zenitsu is annoying again.

I didn’t think Tanjiro was scared of anything…excpt maybe losing Nezuko again.

Oh! I just realised Natagumo has a hint in its name…The “gumo” can be read “kumo”…as in cloud or spider, but it’s given with the kanji for spider so it can only be a spider-related problem on Mt Natagumo.

I’d hate to have Smellovision on this show…(What’s Smellovision, you ask??? Here, read up on it…at least, I was thinking of the Google variant, so read up on the Google version.)

Ukogi appears to be a type of plant known as eleutherococcus and ukogi rice is rice with ukogi leaves.

Dr Stone 2

Episode 3’s title is like “Weapons…of SCIENCE! *cue Bill Nye the Science Guy theme song*”

Ooh, nice angle! (on Senku and petrified!Yuzuriha being protected by Taiju…and not just because Yuzuriha’s butt is showing…)

“You can eat lion?” – No duh, Taiju!

“I want to give thanks to the circle of life…” – Sorry, but can I interrupt with a meme here? *cue ululations that ae meant to imitate the iconic song from The Lion King, y’know, the one that goes “Ahhhhhhh zee bun yah… (etc.)”*

Tsukasa’s frickin’ tall, man! Look at him tower over Taiju and Senku…

Having read the manga before, I just realised Tsukasa is mighty suspicious when he says Senku could be able to rebuild civilisation from scratch. That was harder to recognise in manga format though, I think.

I also didn’t realise, but the shell tale is talking about Tsukasa! Hmm…interesting.

Dr Stone’s ED…never in my life did I think it was going to be a rap song. Unless, of course, it’s a science rap…(There’s hydrogen and helium and lithium, berrylium…uh, I don’t remember the words after that…)

Oh, that next-ep font takes me back…it reminds me of the 90s, where terrible WordArt font like that was everywhere and I had to get by on Lucida Calligraphy.

Fruits Basket 14

Oh, crab meat…these CGI cars look absolutely terrible…

Pay attention to the relationship between Kyo and Kyoko…you people who don’t know about manga!Furuba are in for a real revelation on that front.

Wow, the effects on the flowers are really pretty for the ED…

Cop Craft 2

That OP is just so good…*swoon*

Well…they spelt “Unknown” wrong…on Kei’s phone.

Hmm…I think the insert song was in English.

Astra 3

Oh…something didn’t make sense. It turns out the word the subber is using is “attitude” when it should actually be altitude…

Given 2

Ooh, Haruki does coffee in the OP! I didn’t notice that, since I had to skip it…there’s some kinda suckish buffering on CR, which is why I have to skip as much as I can.

Welp, I’m a pianist. I’m as clueless as any other non-guitar player when it comes to guitars, so I don’t mind the lesson but also don’t need it.

Given this is a BL/yaoi (no pun intended), I think Akihiko and Haruki should pair up…but maybe I’m just going nuts with the shipper glasses here.

“You’re going to have to do something about that soon.”

Aye…I relate, Mafuyu. When you’re younger, you can beg your parents for money, but equipment, books etc. really costs some hard cash. I remember having to go to Hong Kong to find a pearl pink metronome on the cheap…the poor thing isn’t getting much use now. (But still, I think the more I watch and see Haruki in action, the more I like him. Not necessarily as a husbando, but more in the sense of that one cool dude you gravitate towards.)

It randomly cut to Salon Harusame…don’t tell me this is how Haruki gets his money???

I think the comment that said “lolol” actually had 超 in front of it, so that would be “super lololol” or, in my personal way of saying it, “major lololol”.

Oh, so that’s what was in the OP!

I swear Uesama (LOL) should just get a job as a guitar tutor to little kids…well, that would work if he were in college/uni, maybe.

Hey, a girl! Didn’t expect one in a BL work…(LOL, my standards are so low for BL/yaoi, eh?)

Hmm…I get the feeling amateurs get their hands on acoustic models instead. I know a guitar player, y’know (although again, that doesn’t mean I know the first thing about playing a guitar).

I love how the show turned green all of a sudden. The colours match the mood, basically.

Demon Slayer 16

This episode’s titlecard only has a wave pattern…I probably know what the pattern is called, but I’ve…probably forgotten that name.

Hey, a Demon Slayer girl! (My standards seem to have been lowered in regards to seeing gals in leading or even supporting roles…It’s more acceptable for Demon Slayer, given its historical setting, but still, how sad it is to not see many girls…)

(TW: abuse) Why…for some reason, this feels like an abusive household, specifically where the father does evil things to the mother…but this time, the son’s part of the problem.

I find it funny Zenitsu just calls Inosuke “Wild Boar”. To be fair though, I don’t think Inosuke introduced himself to Zenitsu, way back when they were meant to.

This scene where Zenitsu is crying and has his back turned to the “camera”…they clearly used a CGI model for him.

It’s a BODY! Holy s(BLEEP)!

“Chu-Chu chuuuuun!” Oh my glob, Ukogi is so adorable~!

Hey…where was Ukogi hiding before he chose to come out again?

Another CGI model when Zenitsu walks away from the camera. It’s so dark, nobody can see Ukogi…I don’t think he has a CGI model and that’s good.

I had a weird thought, but…I think Tanjiro would be a good breakdancer, if he were living in 2019.

Inosuke, you did it! But I wonder if those stats are correct and Inosuke’s going to call his name properly at climactic moments…?

Cop Craft 3

Brother Kenny…you’re just lewd.

“…O or V or A.” – Aside from OVAs, hmm…O would be (CENSORED), V I don’t know about and A…I don’t know either, but I guess it’s (CENSORED).

Kei Manoba (sic).

Doreany seems to be humanity…Did they already introduce that? I forget.

This show looks pretty bad, but the story makes the stay worth it.

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carterthornton · 7 years

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The Third Wave | Chapter Two: Yuko

Aiko arrived safely at home at around two in the afternoon, after accompanying Salvador to the hospital via ambulance. She took a bus home— coincidentally located right next to her workplace —and refrained from fiddling with her newfound power. Though, admittedly, the temptation was palpable. She was mostly concerned with how to break the news to her father, as the sheer absurdity of the situation would surely hit him like a meteor. He was a short-fused man at times, but he was rational in situations like this. With how she handled the situation with the police, Aiko banked on her father's rational side, hoping it would be the first face she saw as she came through her front door. To her dismay, however, she made a poor investment.

"You told them what?!" Aiko could see the steam shoot out of her father's ears as she finished her explanation, hissing like a boiling kettle. "Why the hell would tell the police that you have a Mark?!"

"What? Do you think they'd believe some normie Asian kid kicked a Mark-user's ass just like that?!" Aiko huffed, crossing her arms defiantly. "Dad, I had to defend myself... and you know I'm incapable of telling a good lie."

"Yeah... yeah, I know, Koko..." He took a couple deep breaths to regain his composure, then held her tightly in his arms. "I'm glad you're okay... though, I can't say the same for Salvador."

"The doctors told me his wounds aren't too severe. That beast guy's claws didn't damage any internal organs, and he woke up a few hours after they treated him. Though, he'll still have to stay for quite a while..." Aiko trailed off, staring down at her feet as she took a seat at one of the stools by her kitchen island. "I wish I could've-."

"Don't. Don't start blaming yourself, Koko. Salvador made his choice; he wanted to protect you." Aiko's father reassured her as he sat down on the nearest stool beside her own.

"Still... what about the store? Salvador is injured, and I'm hardly qualified to run it by myself..." Aiko sighed, looking down at the Mark on her hand.

"I'll figure something out with him, Koko. Leave that to me." Her father insisted as he took a closer look at the peculiar Mark. "So... what does it do?"

"I'm not so sure yet. It hasn't been identified in any of my books. Although, based on what I've seen in Sal's store, I think this thing might be an Alteratio-type Mark— the ones that alter the environment but not the user. I'll have to test it out to really get to understand it." Aiko clicked her tongue as she looped around the island and grabbed a mug from her cupboard, setting it out on the island's granite countertop. "If I'm right..." Aiko tapped the countertop with her right hand, then visualized the same arm she had created out of the ceramic floor earlier. To her surprise, the granite began to spawn more of itself. At first, it formed a small bulb, then, it rapidly expanded, forming a very human-like arm entirely composed of the polished rock. "Ah-ha! So it's a Construction Class!"

"Holy hell..." Aiko's father marvelled at the strange limb as it mimicked Aiko's moving hand, twiddling its thumb in a circular motion. "How did you figure this thing out?"

"Well... thinking back to my encounter with the homeless guy, I had touched the floor numerous times. I just made an educated guess." Aiko then looked back down at her Mark, trying to make sense of its symbolic meaning— the larger figure standing behind the man like it was some kind of minion. "I don't think this is the extent of this Mark's power..." Aiko focused again, imagining her body emerging from a pool of water. As she did this, the arm extended until a shoulder popped out of the granite, then a face, then a torso. Slowly but surely Aiko constructed a moving, articulate statue out of the granite countertop. Yet, the counter itself didn't seem to reduce in size at all. "What-..." Aiko trailed off as the golem turned to face her. "She looks like-."

"Jesus-..." Her father was the next to notice as he looked up at its face.

The granite construct, while retaining Aiko's body type, was much taller and better built than Aiko herself— almost seven feet in height. It wore nothing, and though feminine in form, it lacked any detail on its breasts and was completely sexless. However, the most frightening part of the statue was its face; it was not Aiko's, but her mother's round face, similar to the one in photos Aiko had, photos of her in Okinawa when she was in university. The golem's hair was done up in a ponytail and was also made of granite, yet it flowed the same as if it were liquid— all the way down to her hips. Both Aiko and her father were rendered speechless as the eyes of the silent statue simply stared down at its master from atop the counter, awaiting her command.

"Yumi..." Her father cupped his mouth with his right hand as the statue looked his way, copying his daughter. "Aiko... how did you-...?"

"I-... I didn't do it on purpose, dad! I'll try and-!"

"No, don't-..." He smiled as the statue's familiar face brought him back to his youth. "Her face looks the same as when I met her in the harbour all those years ago." He chuckled under his breath as he saw the rest of the golem's giantess body. "And the rest of her...?"

"I don't know... maybe I don't have control over that. Maybe it's just naturally... big...?" Aiko said as she waved her hand to the side, motioning to the golem to step down from the island. It obeyed without any hesitation. "It seems to follow my commands."

"You know what this means, right?" Her father asked as he sat back down on his stool.

"We have to get me a registration card?" Aiko replied.

"Most definitely. Now that the police know you've got a Mark, they'll be some registration officer phoning here any minute." He nodded, grabbing his smartphone from his pocket. "Now, where the hell is that phonebook...?" Aiko's father rummaged through a few drawers before he unknowingly bumped into the golem, who he forgot was still in the room; it was blocking the last drawer right next to the fridge. "Um... can I get through?"

"Dad, I don't think she speaks-..." Aiko was cut off by the golem, who gave her father a nod, then took its place behind her. "Oh."

"I'll make a call here, alright, Koko?" He said, sifting through the sea of numbers in the thick book. "Hopefully I can book you an appointment at the town office sometime tonight."

"Um, hey, dad..." Aiko awkwardly scratched the back of her head as the hulking golem carefully followed her, making sure not to drag its abrasive feet across the wood floor. "Can I go out and-?"

He scowled at Aiko immediately, rolling his eyes as she leaned against the golem, who stared at him with a blank, stone expression. "Aiko, you're killing me! You just got a Mark and-..." He let out a long sigh as the sound of elevator music welcomed him to the call line. "Huh... son of a gun..."

"What?" Aiko wondered.

"Well, I didn't think there was even a hold function on the registration line..." He said as he scratched his chin. "There must be a ton of people calling in right now."

"So then those news reporters were right? About The Third Wave?" Aiko added.

"For a change, yeah..." He chuckled as he stared down at the floor before looking up at Yumi's stone face.

"Ah, go-... go outside if you want. I'll call you in once I get an answer from the office."

"Thanks, dad..." Aiko said with a warm smile as she put her runners back on, grabbing her satchel and books. She turned to her new minion and patted her on the shoulder before opening the door. "C'mon, Yuko."

"Yuko...?" Aiko's dad raised an eyebrow at the name.

"Well, I figured since she looks like both mom and I, I'd combine our names...?" Aiko suggested as she walked through the doorway, waiting for Yuko to follow. Sure enough, it opened the door by itself and met her on the other side, much to her surprise. "Did you see that?!"

Admittedly, Aiko's father was practically screaming on the inside. The angry dad side of him wanted her to stay in the house, to get rid of the silly statue. But he couldn't find it in himself to say something like that, not when he could see his wife's face just a few meters away. Aiko was the kind of girl who would walk her path alone, independent. She got that from Yumi. And now that she had a Mark of her own, he could see even more pathways open up for her. On one hand, the multitude of possibilities frightened his rational side, shaking him by the shoulders, telling him to intervene. However, on the other hand, with all the knowledge she already had, and her mother's spirit guiding her, he just couldn't step in front of Aiko. She was eighteen, and despite his best efforts to get Aiko to stray from her goal, he couldn't stop her. Just like her mother, Aiko wanted to be an IMOP officer. Like it or not, he had to face facts.

****

Aiko's backyard was dominated mostly by the large creek that ran through it year round into a pond at the bottom of a ravine. Even in the winter, the weather would always be warm enough for her to wade in the clear stream. As a child, she would often make paper boats with her father, then race them down the stream to see who would make it down the waterfall at the end.

"Okay, okay... let's try something here..." Aiko dunked her hand into the creek, grabbing a rock about the size of her hand. Yuko stood firm in the creek, unmoving in the currents as she watched her master juggle the rock about. Aiko held the rock up to Yuko's face, making sure she saw what she was holding. "Alright, Yuko... show me what you can do. Think fast!" Aiko tossed the rock at her stone minion's face, and as she predicted, the golem blew it away. But not only did it do that; as a showcase of its strength and precision, it flicked the rock with its index finger, smashing it to pieces. "Holy shit!" Aiko shielded her eyes from the flying debris as the piece exploded into a grey mist. "Damn... you're strong." In fact, the force of the impact was so great that the golem's finger had been completely blown off.

Aiko wanted to try something else, something more intense. She grabbed a piece of white shale from the drier rocks along the banks of the creek, then followed the stream and jumped down into the ravine, marking a large boulder near the pond with a big white 'X'.

"Smash this rock," Aiko ordered her golem, slapping the large stone before taking a good few steps back for safety.

"Ha..." The golem muttered as it raised its left hand over the stone. "Ya!" Faster than Aiko's eye could track, the golem's hand slammed into the stone with incredible speed, smashing it like a piece of porcelain. However, it lost its left forearm in the process.

"Huh... looks like you need some repairs..." Aiko scratched her chin for a moment as she thought, searching the banks for a larger rock. Sure enough, she found a sturdy looking black rock— polished by the gentle currents. "I wonder...?" She tapped the stone with her finger, causing her golem to morph and change. Yuko lost her grey and became obsidian black like the stone in Aiko's hand, and she took on an even more polished sheen. Her forearm and finger also regenerated as well. "So I suppose I'll have to keep switching between substances to get the most use out of you, huh?"

"Uh." The golem nodded, standing tall and at the ready.

"Can you speak English?" Aiko asked the giantess, to which she received no reply. "Guess not... but you seem somewhat capable of individual thought. Where do you come from exactly?"

"Un..." The golem replied, pointing at the black stone in Aiko's hand.

"Well, yeah, I know that..." Aiko grumbled as she tossed the stone back in the creek, running her hand through her hair, realizing how insane the whole thing was. "Oh my god, am I talking to a rock...?"

"Uh," Yuko mumbled.

"Well, anyways... let's try some other stuff."Aiko climbed up the hillside into her backyard, scouring the ground for any other materials. "Where was that-? Ah!" Aiko grinned as she came to her father's axe; it was embedded in a two-by-four lying on the ground. She removed the axe from the wood, placing her hand on the metal head as she watched Yuko closely. As expected, the golem's body became the steel on the edge of the axe— a little faded but still metallic. "Oh, this should be good. Let's see how fast you are now..."

"Un." Yuko nodded, raising her fists and readying herself.

Aiko scooped up a handful of rocks, tossing them at Yuko all at once in a grapeshot volley. "Think fast!"

"Yaaaaaaaaaa!" Yuko screamed as she unleashed a barrage of punches, so fast in fact, that the speed of the punches kicked up wind, and her arms appeared to be simply silver streaks in the air. Each punch obliterated a stone flying at Yuko before Aiko could even gawk at the impressive feat. With a nod, Yuko ceased her flurry, her hands hot from the friction of scraping the air at such high velocities.

"Holy hell... even when she's made of steel she's fast..." Aiko marvelled at the steam radiating from Yuko's hands. "Her hands must've been going at least six-hundred kilometres an hour!"

"Un," Yuko grunted in her low but still feminine voice.

"Hey, Koko! I got through to the registration office!" Aiko's father called out to her as he stuck his head out of the door.

"What did they say?"

"They're clogged up until tomorrow morning I'm afraid. There's a ton of new Mark-users in Port Renfrew from what I've heard." He answered, motioning to Aiko to come inside. "C'mon. Let's have a bite to eat in that case." He then stopped the door with his foot to let them both pass. "Hey, is your statue thing steaming?!"

"Uh." Yuko groaned as she followed Aiko inside.

****

Aiko's father served his famous grilled cheese and mushroom soup that lunch, a Rodger Schmitt trademark dish he was awfully prideful of. And truthfully, it had the taste to back such pride. Aiko and her father sat at the island like they always did, and Yuko stood in the living room, eyeing the TV like a mystified child as 'The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly' played on TCM.

"Uh?" Yuko paid close attention to Clint Eastwood's character as he dispatched a multitude of cowboys with his revolver. "Un..."

"Uh, dad... don't you think she should be watching something a little more light-hearted?" Aiko asked as she watched Yuko pace about the living room carpet, mimicking Eastwood's stoic walk.

"Nah, she's a big girl. Besides, you've got her under control, don't ya?"

"Well, yeah, but..." Aiko swallowed nervously as Yuko began made a fake gun with her thumb and index finger. "I'm not so sure how independent she is."

"If she has both you and Yumi in her then she won't hurt a fly, trust me." He insisted, taking a sip of his coffee as he unfolded the newspaper, opening up to the 'world politics' section. "Ah, what the hell are the Russians up to now?"

"What? Did they annex anybody?" Aiko inquired.

"No, nothing like that. That didn't go over too well the first time. That Brokov is a tricky bastard, let me tell you... he's breathing down the neck of China again. The guy won't quit!"

"Geez, are the Russians crazy? Why don't they just get him out of power?" Aiko suggested, taking a peek at her father's newspaper.

"From what I've learned in books, those Russians like being oppressed. Besides, their president has an entourage of Mark-users around him at all times. Any assassin going after him is either a loon or has a death wish."

"Oh yeah... doesn't Brokov have Crimson Inferno as his right-hand man? I heard that guy once melted a whole town just by walking through it." Aiko recalled her days as a high school student when news of popular IMOP agents would trickle through social media and enter the classroom. "I think he had a Productorem-type Mark."

"He's a disgrace to the badge. He thinks he's some kind of god just because his academy won the M Games two years ago." He scoffed at the thought of him. "Most of those First Wavers are just a bunch of cocky assholes."

"First come, first to rule I guess." Aiko shrugged her shoulders, then took a long sip from her glass of milk. Her eyes wandered, staring over towards Yuko, who was clapping her hands vigorously at the sight of Clint Eastwood with a stogie in his mouth.

"Huh... she has good taste in movies." Aiko's father grinned as he finished off his coffee.

"You seem fairly lax about this whole thing, dad. I mean... there's a seven foot tall, naked metal woman sitting in your living room watching old western movies, and you're not even flinching." Aiko said as she gathered all their dishes and placed them in the sink to rinse.

"Eh, your mother told me crazier stories during her time in the IMOP. You've heard em'." He chuckled, folding up his newspaper and laying it out on that table as he tucked in his chair.

"Not all of them." Aiko pried, wishing to unravel this side of her father.

"There's too many to count..." He bit his tongue before his excitement got the better of him, and he tossed his coffee mug in the dishwasher, tending to the dishes in the sink that needed to be washed off.

"You would think." Aiko backed off, realizing the package she was unwrapping.

"Aiko? Would you toss these dishes in the washer? I'm gonna go out for a walk." Her father muttered as he shuffled past Yuko, who tugged on his pant leg curiously. But he shook her off. "It's fine."

Yuko unfolded her legs and stood up, wandering over to Aiko, who watched as her father stormed off without a goodbye. "Uh?"

"It's taken me four years to get that far with him... four." Aiko crossed her arms uncomfortably, glaring at the ground to vent her frustration. "I want to know what he's thinking when he's like that... just once." Aiko was met with a long silence as she sat on the edge of the kitchen sink, Yuko standing just a foot away. "Oh, what the hell am I doing? I'm talking to a giant hunk of metal now..."

"Ko..." Yuko raised an eyebrow at Aiko as she peered into her eyes; they were the same as hers. "Ko."

"Yeah, that's what my dad calls me. Koko." Aiko nodded, jumping off the sink.

"Koko?" Yuko grunted as she stared down at her own hands like they were those of an alien.

#manga series novel author tags outoftagideas gettingbored sobored

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