#[ her dad went from being so happy the town had the guild at the start of his term to hating it by the end ]

[quiiscnt]

@scarletbellator said :

Meta - Family

meme // always accepting

🕯 ❚❙❘ Chico's family is just her, her father Ruchio, and her grandmother Hilda. But her family as a whole has a deep history in Magnolia. Her magic was one that use to be passed down every generation, but over time the magic in their bloodline got rare. Chico is the first in a while to have these abilities. The last one before her was Hilda's cousin, Gloria, whom she was very close with.

Gloria was a Fairy Tail mage in its early days, and was the one to originally build Fairy Hill. She was young at the time but very motherly, wanting to care not just the ghosts of the town like all the mages in her family before, but the children who started to call Fairy Tail home. Hilda was hired to help out, more so when Gloria started to get sick. And when she passed Hilda took over, a bit grouchier than her cousin but with all the same level of care.

Chico does not remember her mother, nor does she know what happened to her. Hilda raised her, along with many of the other Fairy Tail girls. Ruchio ran for mayor of this town when she was young and once elected put a lot of his time into that job. It wasn't that he didn't care for his daughter, but he was never one to be in tuned with his emotions. Between him and her crabby grandmother, it is no surprise the girl tends to come off as dark and blunt sometimes.

Her father, while he loves her, never really understood her want to join Fairy Tail. He believed that it was a phase, and time to time tries his best to lead Chico out of it. Mainly out of a place of worry, especially when the Tenrou Island group vanished, he realized he wanted his daughter in a safer, more stable, job. He retired from mayor and opened a cafe, slowly trying to get her to work for him. This has put a large rift in their relationship, and although she does now run a location all on her own and enjoys it, it wasn't without some bargaining on his part.

It doesn't please him that she rejoined Fairy Tail once they relocated back into the city, but at this point she is an adult and he doesn't feel like he can dictate her choices. He knows during the seven years she put a lot of her savings into keeping Fairy Hill running, and she also invested in the guild hall being rebuilt time and time again. To him the guild isn't the best influence, and still not safe, but he is glad she is happy at least.

[sorathemasterofmasters]

Have any of the Foretellers or Luxu ever called MoM 'dad' or anything close to it? You've referred to them as your kids in the past, so is their relationship with him a father-children one (adopted/father figure/etc) or a mentor one that sometimes blurs into being a parent figure?

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Master Report – Adopting Ava It seems my mother was right in her sentiment of my ability to take in strays or rather my inability to not take in strays. Since arriving in this world, I have spent the time researching for a way to return to my own timeline, reading multiple libraries worth of content as well as anything the Moggles can be convinced to lend me. Indeed I’ve formed quite a fine working relationship with the Moggles though that may be my decision to share advanced potion recipes from the future. Anyway back to my ability to take in strays which only Riku with his infinite patience and cold hard logic could ever dissuade, It was not a particularly conscious decision on my part, I had just celebrated another birthday by using the kitchen of the local bakery to make a rather nice cake. I headed to the bridge overlooking the river to eat it in peace. I did not react as fast as I could have to what happened next mainly because I had never been a victim of such an audacious daylight robbery before. I gave chase and soon cornered the ambitious thief only to be surprised by the culprit, Clad in scruffy clothes and more than a little undernourished, the thief in question was a small child. She was a tiny little thing and I could tell not proud of her theft despite the fact that she had clearly not been eating right and consistently in a long time, she clearly begrudged the act though not the necessity. Coaxing her out to the nearest park bench we began to talk. The child, emboldened by the cake or more likely the sugar in it told me about her life. Of her life as an orphan and the near squalid conditions of Daybreak Towns orphanage and the uncaring matron to her eventually wandering on the streets. Now had Riku been here he would have likely tried to stop me from my next course of action, had Kairi been here she.. would likely be cheering me on the entire time. Nevertheless, I maintain walking up to that orphanages doors and walking out with the adoption papers for my little Ava was the most righteous act I have performed in my entire life. I expected the actual process to be much harder but I am known in this town as a respected figure in good standing with the Moggles Guild and a skilled warrior both so that very likely sped up the process.

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Master Report – Adopting Ira, Gula and Invi In my own time, they talk about The Age of Fairytales like the entire era was a utopian ideal, it was not, I cannot stress that fact enough. Thankfully neither Ira, Gula or Invi remember their families and perhaps that is for the best, at most they know that their traveling convoy was ambushed by monsters on the roads between settlements, not an uncommon tale, unfortunately. That is enough, I see no need to put them through more senseless trauma in explaining the whys and hows. For the first time in a while, I used my Keyblade to travel between the settlements looking for any living relations who could take them in, I was unsuccessful. I already knew the deplorable state of Daybreak Town’s orphanage, my daughter Ava still wakes with nightmares, and knew they would not get the care and support they desperately needed there, at least this way I don't have to bother with the paperwork though and Ava will be pleased to have some playmates.

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Master Report – Adopting Aced and Luxu I get the feeling that at this point even Kairi would be agreeing with Riku on the issue of picking up strays. Two boys both recent arrivals in Daybreak Town, were left behind when one of the trading caravans left without them, thinking it an accident I used the Keyblade to catch up with the group and left them more than a little infuriated by what I found. The boys had been left behind intentionally, Luxu’s parents who had been members of the caravan had perished recently leaving him as an extra mouth to feed with no one who cared for him. They called him an extra expense, I call them scum. Now, while leaving Luxu behind in an established settlement safe from monsters is preferable to abandoning him in the wilderness their next action with Aced was reprehensible. Aced was left behind because he was loud. He is a six-year-old child. Rambunctious and happy as can be child and they left him behind because they wanted to save money on monster repellent. ‘They’ being his father, grandparents and older sisters. I don't even have the words for how furious I was then I heard that. I told them to leave Daybreak Town and never return, else I would deal with them. As far as Aced and Luxu know the entire caravan left them behind by mistake and was set upon by monsters leaving no survivors. They are mine now.

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The Master of Masters sighed exaggeratedly placing his hands on his hips “I seem to have lost something” He announced loudly, quiet giggling alerted him to the location of one hider. “Oh Ava, Invi, Ira, Aced, Gula, Luxu” The Master of Masters called “Where have you all gone?” More giggling “Sshh, quiet Gula! Papa’s gonna find us!” The Master of Masters grinned and dramatically swooned in place with faux woe “Its so sad, without my children I fear allll those warm chocolate cookies I baked might just go to waste” The Master of Masters paused for dramatic effect “I suppose I’ll just eat them all myself then” Aced barrelled into his legs from behind with a warcry of protest to the dismay of the other hiders, The Master of Master reached around as he stumbled and fell and grabbed the squealing child mercilessly tickling him into gales of laughter. “Oh Lookie Lookie I found a ticklish little bear cub, Looks like I’m not going to be eating the cookies alone after all” The Master of Masters stood up putting the pouting Aced under one arm like a bag and noogieing him gently “Let us go cub, for chocolate awaits!” The Master of Masters paused and looked closely at the couch cushions reaching a hand in to pull out “Ohhh look cub, a snake hatchling, how adorable!” The Masters cooed Invi blushed as she was also picked up. The Master of Masters yelped as Gula sprinted out of cover from under a table and leapt onto his back scaling his way up until he sat on the Master of Masters shoulders gripping his hair like reigns to keep his balance “I gotcha papa!” Gula announced triumphantly “Yes, you did little my little sky leopard” Gula pouted The Master of Master paused then had a idea “I'm so very short, can you see any unicorns or foxes running about from up there, Little Sky leopard?” Indignant cries of “Papa!” and “That's Cheating!” rang around the room and two missiles collided with both his legs Ava staring up from his left with a pout and Ira looking up reproachfully from the right the Master of Masters laughed “Oh dear, I must have forgotten the rules, there's only one thing for it” The children looked confused before their expressions brightened to glee as the Master of Masters announced seriously “Cookies and milk for all and a bedtime story!” the children cheered loudly “Wait? Where's Luxu” asked Ava confused The Master of Master paused thoughtfully then gasped as though stunned “It seems Luxu won at hide and seek that means he gets to choose the bedtime story this time” The five children groaned as the Master of Masters chuckled and lowered the children carefully to the ground “Now if I go get the cookies and milk ready will you find Luxu and tell him to pick a story?” Five sets of eyes shone happily “Yes Papa!” Chorused the group before they scattered around the room looking for Luxu, The Master of Masters chuckled warmly and went to the kitchen wondering what story Luxu would pick this time.

This was way before MoM!Sora started to get visions of the future, at this point in time the Foretellers and Luxu are teeny tiny tots and toddlers (I am leaving the ages ambiguous) This is my headcanon territory in this AU and Nomura can rip it from my cold dead fingers. As far as MoM!Sora is concerned they're his babies and he’ll happily murder anyone who suggests otherwise which make what's about to happen in the future all the more heartbreaking.

Suffice to say I was in a big mood when I wrote this.

[petri808]

Maguilty Ice

For the Rarepair event @ftguildevents​ Day 7, Future prompt

Meredy x Lyon family fic *bonus art of the kids under the read more*

It was becoming a tradition for the two families to meet up on the anniversary of Ur’s death, not to mourn, but to celebrate family.  For Lyon and Gray, making sure their families were close was like keeping her memories alive.  The Vastia’s and Fullbusters would choose a different place each year but kept it to areas where the kids could enjoy themselves and the parents had a chance to catch up.  

They wish they had more time to see each other, but living in different towns, their jobs, and the hustle and bustle of raising a family made it difficult sometimes.  The kids being in their teen years kept the parents busy with education and magic training, especially with the older ones chomping at the bit to go out on their own missions.

“We’re here to have fun and relax,” Lyon reminds their boys Logan and Caspian.  “Try not to kill each other or Arashi or Nieve.”

“Pfft, as if dad,” Caspian rolls his eyes, “when do we ever try to kill each other?”

“Just last week,” his mother Meredy responds.  “If I remember correctly, you tried to make an ice spike on his chair, just as he was about to sit down.”

Caspian feigns a gasp, holding his hand above his heart in an exaggerated fashion, “it was a slip of the hand, I’m still learning.”

She rolls her eyes.  “Boys, just listen to your father please.”

“Of course, mom,” Logan steps in with a smile and kisses her forehead.  He grabs his younger brother by the arm to drag him down the beach.  “We’ll behave.”

Nothing beat a day of relaxing with friends and hanging out at the beach.  Since they were closer, the Vastia’s had arrived first and began setting up an area for the adults to relax.  Beach chairs and an umbrella, towels, a cooler with drinks and lunch, along with a volleyball, just in case the kids would like to play.  Meredy was ready to lounge in the sun and catch up with Juvia, while the men will probably swim for a portion of the day.  She wouldn’t be surprised if a competition erupted at some point.

Lyon plops down next to his wife and survey’s the area.  They were lucky to find a nice spot with a few palm trees to provide a little bit of shade right at the edge of the sand.  The waves were a little choppy with it being high tide, but nothing too dangerous, and the skies were an endless sea of blue.  He could see their sons near the water semi horsing around, ‘probably just waiting for the others to get there,’ he muses.  They have always enjoyed hanging out with the Fullbuster kids, especially Caspian.  He leans over and whispers to his wife as he watches the pink-haired boy in his periphery, “I’d bet anything that once Nieve gets here, our son is gonna ditch his brother for her.”

“Who Caspian?”  Meredy chuckles, “I think he has a crush on her and it’s just adorable.”  She leans against her husband’s shoulder, “they sure are growing up quickly.”

“I’m just glad they haven’t had as a hard a life as we did,” he leans his head against hers too.  “And I hope they never will.”

“Mmhmm.”  She had to agree.  Both she and Lyon had lived through the loss of their parents at early ages, done some bad things in the past in order to cope with it, but time and the support of their friends like the Fullbusters had shown them there was always another way.  Meredy closes her eyes and harkens back to the first time she met Juvia.  The water mage was really the first person to crack the wall she had built up allowing her to start seeing the world a little differently.  She knew for her husband, Gray was more like a brother than just a friend, who’s forgiveness and support is what brought Lyon back from the brink of turning evil.

They were lucky alright, and now what they had to show for it were two handsome sons who would do any parent proud.  The oldest, Logan, was already 15 years old.  Smart and kind, with a very friendly disposition, that despite inheriting his father’s hair and eye color was all over his mother in terms of temperament.  Because of his higher level of controlling his emotions, it was to him that she decided to pass on her Maguilty magic.

Caspian was their youngest.  Quick-witted and cool in personality like his father, the ice-mage in training would open up when he’s around other’s that he is comfortable with.  The boy was quite popular at their school even though he tended to stick to a small, select group of friend’s.  His pink hair and piercing green eyes, not to mention his fashion sense, got him noticed a lot.  Yeah… she was proud of them both for who they were growing up to become, she just wished they wouldn’t grow up so quickly.

“Juvia!”

“Meredy!”

As soon as the Fullbuster’s arrive, the two women immediately embrace, jumping up and down excitedly while their husbands just chuckle at their exuberance; their own acknowledgment no more than a simple fist bump.  Gray sends the kids, Arashi and Nieve to look for Caspian and Logan with instructions to return for lunch, then he and Lyon set up a few more of the beach gear that was brought along.  With the two women deep into their own conversation, the men follow suit.

“How’d you find this place?” Gray questions his friend.  “Seems out of the way.”

“That’s what made it perfect. We have the place all to ourselves.”

Gray didn’t know why, but the name of this area rang a bell.  He scans the shoreline hoping to jog his memory, to no avail.  It was frustrating that he couldn’t remember why it felt as if he’d heard of it before.  But he puts it aside, assuming someone may have just mentioned it back at the guild or something.  “So, how are things at Lamia Scale?”

For a couple of hours, Meredy and Juvia take advantage of the sun and layout on beach towels.  They talk about the kids mostly.  How are they doing in school?  Arashi went with his father on his first simple mission, while Nieve’s still learning how to hone the water magic.  To Gray’s dissatisfaction, Arashi’s been hanging out a lot more with Nashi Dragneel lately.  The pair have always been close since they were babies, best friends even, but Juvia was pretty sure her son had a crush on the girl.  He denied it adamantly of course and Nashi was completely clueless about it.  The mother almost felt bad for the boy but didn’t want to push too hard about it.

Meredy laughs, “these teenagers, but you know, I’m pretty sure Caspian has a small crush on Nieve too.”

“Ehhhh!” she clasps her hands over her mouth in surprise, “but Juvia thinks they’re too young!”  

“I know,” Meredy chuckles, “don’t worry the boy is way too shy to do anything yet, but he just thinks the world of her.” She leans over and whispers, “he also thinks I don’t know, but the way he talks about her, it’s pretty clear.”

“Juvia doesn’t understand?”

“He’ll say things like, wow Nieve is learning so quickly, she’s so amazing, she’s so smart, I need to learn quicker so I can impress her, stuff like that.” She chuckles again, “he’s like a happy puppy whenever he’s around her, just look,” she points at the kids playing near the water.  Logan and Arashi are in the water swimming, but Caspian stayed behind with Nieve building a sandcastle, because she didn’t feel like swimming.  “I know he wanted to swim today, but he won’t go unless she does too.”

“Aww,” she giggles, “Juvia thinks that is so sweet of him to keep her company!”

Unbeknownst to the women, their husbands who were walking along the stretch of beach were also talking about the kids, but in a much different way.  Gray was just bitching and complaining about his son’s infatuation with Nashi.  Their friends used to tease when the kids were babies that just because the two fathers had a love/hate relationship going, the kids were going to end up together.  And it was coming true!  

“I’m hoping this is just a phase,” Gray crosses his arms and kicks at a ridge of sand, scattering it into the wind.

Lyon teases, “it can’t be that bad.  They make a perfect pair… you know…. fire and ice,” he grins, “just like you and Natsu.”

“Take that back!” Gray punches Lyon in the shoulder.

“Nope!” Lyon punches back.  “Look the faster you accept it, the easier it’ll be.  I mean you act like their getting married or something, but they’re just kids.”

Gray groans, “I don’t even wanna think about that.”

“You’ll live,” Lyon places a hand on Gray’s shoulder with a smile.  “We’ve survived worse.”

“Yeah…”

“Come on, you sap!” he playfully starts to push Gray back towards the direction of their camp, “I’m getting hungry.”

Along the way, the two men call the kids in for lunch.  It was a nice set up with each of the families contributing to the spread of food, and everyone was full by the end of the meal.  The adults really wanted to relax after that.  Blame the older age, but with full belly’s, even the men were ready to join their wives in vegging out under the sun for the rest of the day.  The kids on the other hand, still had energy to burn, and the food had merely been fuel.  With the consent of the adults, they decide to explore the rest of the beach.  

“Logan, Arashi,” Meredy counsels the older teens, “you boys are in charge, make sure to watch over the younger ones.”

“Mom!” Caspian interjects, “I am not a little kid who needs babysitting.”

“You’re 12 not 24,” she chides, “that makes you still a kid, so listen to your brother.”

“Ugh, fine,” Caspian pouts, semi annoyed that his mother would embarrass him in front of Nieve like that.

But Nieve just giggles and takes the boy’s hand, to pull him along, “Let’s go, I wanna find shells for the sandcastle.”

“Okay!” he immediately perks up and offers no more resistance, merely following her lead.

The water mage turns to Meredy with a big smile, “Juvia agrees, they really are so adorable!”    

With the sun setting in an hour or two, and the day winding down, the adults start packing up the belongings.  They weren’t in a big rush because the women wanted to watch the sunset and luckily the last train didn’t depart until the evening.  If anything, the men wanted a quick grab-and-go once the sun slips beyond the horizon.  Even the kids had exhausted most of their energy and were currently tinkering with the sandcastle Caspian and Nieve had started earlier to pass the time.

A strange bubbling out over the waves catches Nieve’s attention, who quickly points it out to the other kids. They watch in fascination at the large bubbles popping in a slow but irregular manner.  It was moving horizontally, maybe a school of fish following along the shoreline?  A frothy whitewash from the churning waves or rapid bubbles from fish were normal, but none of them had ever seen bubbles on the ocean like this.  Well, whatever it was, grew closer and in a short amount of time it reached the area where the kids were.  

“It stopped…” Arashi squints at the water.  “That is really weird…”

Without warning a massive sea slug breaks through the surface of the water.  It stood an easy six meters tall, towering over the kids and raining its shadow over them.  Logan and Arashi quickly jump to their feet and take up a fighting stance as Nieve screams and Caspian moves without hesitation to shield her.  Their parents who hear the sudden commotion, scramble to help their kids.

But what they were met with, was a sight none of the adults had expected to see.  

Like a beautifully choreographed routine, Caspian swiftly creates a shield dome of ice around he and Nieve to protect them.  Arashi activates his Ice slayer form while Logan bridges their magic, doubling their power.  They waste no time in sending volleys of attacks, wave after wave, gleaming slivers of impregnable ice spikes coupled with teal blades of energy bombarding the sea slug.      

Meredy skids to a halt along with the other shocked adults.  “They’re doing a Maguilty…”

“Ice!” Lyon and Gray exclaim.

No one had ever taught the kids how to merge their powers before, in fact Meredy was waiting to teach her son that Maguilty form at the end of his training because of its power potential.  They watch the two boys acting in tandem, slowly but surely pushing the gigantic creature back as it wailed in anger and pain.

That’s why this beach looked so familiar to Gray!  This is where Lucy and Natsu were sent on a bad mission years ago.  “Damn it!  Lyon, this place is home to giant sea slugs!”  Gray takes off again to help the kids.

Lyon rushes after him screaming in response.  “Hey, how was I supposed to know!  You girls,” he waves back at the women, “grab our stuff so we can get the hell out of here quick!”

Snapped back to reality, Meredy and Juvia rush to finish compiling the gear as Lyon and Gray help the kids send the slug back out to sea.  The creature sure could take a lot of blows with its dense, gelatinous body, but with the sheer volume of attacks it was taking, it had no choice but to turn and flee.  But if there was one sea slug, it was highly probable that it would come back, and worse, with others.  So as soon as it went back under, the males grabbed their kids and hurried them away.  

On the way to the train station, the families reflect on what just happened.  The trip may have ended with being attacked, but at least most of the day was perfect.  But of course, the amazing display their kids put on deserved praise.  It proved to their parents that they really were ready and had truly earned their insignias.    

“We’re really proud of you guys,” Meredy starts it off with a smile, beaming at her sons and Arashi.”

“Juvia thanks you Caspian for protecting her little girl.”  

The boy blushes wildly, hides his gaze, and mumbles a ‘you’re welcome.’

“No really,” Lyon adds on, “you guys behaved like seasoned mages in a fight.”

“With quick thinking,” Gray pats his son on the shoulder, “you all worked in tandem better than some of us pros.”

The boys are a little flustered from all the praise, ducking down in their seats in embarrassment.

“We were just trying to protect our siblings,” Logan mumbles, “like you told us to.”

“Well, you did a perfect job,” Meredy smiles and ruffles his hair, gaining a whine from the boy.  “Looks like there’s nothing more I need to teach you.”

Gray turns his attention back to Lyon now.  “Dude, I am planning the next trip.”

“Whatever,” the fellow ice mage rolls his eyes.  “At least this was exciting for once.”

“Tch,” Gray crosses his arms, “yeah, exciting to battle a giant slug.  At least we didn’t get eaten.”

“How do you know they’d try to eat us?” Juvia questions her husband.

“Because Natsu and Lucy have been here before and he was sucked into its mouth.”

“Eww,” all the women cringe.

“Okay… moving on,” Lyon pushes to change the subject.

The Vastia family is the first to embark from the train, and after saying their goodbyes, they head home.  Everyone was exhausted but not as much as Logan who wasn’t used to expending so much magic at once.  Lyon teased lightly that they would work on his stamina, but before sending the kids off to rest, praising them once again of the outstanding job they did that day.

“We did a good job raising those boys,” Meredy leans her head against her husband’s shoulder as they unwind on the couch.  “They were really amazing to watch.”

“Agreed.”  Lyon turns and places a kiss on her temple.  “Couldn’t be prouder than I feel right now.”

Meredy shifts her body again so she can snuggle closer, then closes her eyes with a contented sigh.  “I bet even Ur is smiling down, just absolutely proud of you and Gray and what you’ve accomplished.”

“Thanks, but I couldn’t have done this without you,” he smiles, hugs his wife, and closes his eyes.  Of all the times Ur used to tell he and Gray how proud she was of them, he never fully understood it….

‘Until now….’

Commissioned art.  Logan & Caspian Vastia   *artist @chiire​

Arashi Fullbuster

Nieve Fullbuster

For other FT Next gen characters of mine with art

[keyvan-firedrake]

Hey uh, anyone want a NaLu fic that’s not written as a fic and instead is basically an outline of an entire story?

I wrote it out a long time ago and I know I won’t get to write it so I figure, why not share?

So here you are....might be little things that don’t make sense or are grammatically incorrect since it was just me jotting down the whole story as fast as I could so I didn’t forget.

Basically set as if Lucy is a princess and being married off to someone. Medieval times and such.

START:

Dragon Princess

Lucy on way to “meet” future husband. Traveled many days- in outskirts of Fiore instead of her home country. Cart attacked by bandits (no relation to anyone).

She fights/escapes into the woods. She still holds her ground and even rips her dress so she can maneuver better.

Before she passes out from a hurt leg and a busted head she’s saved. (By Natsu)

She wakes in a cave surrounded by furs. No idea where she is she attempts to get to the entrance but she’s dizzy and stumbles. She realizes the cave entrance is literally at the top of a fucking mountain and panics. A rumble alerts her to someone and she finally comes face to face with a dragon. Fire dragon. As it slinks out of a cove at the back, the sounds of things falling in that area vaguely like coins. Her suspicions correct when a few gold objects cling to the dragon and fall off as it moves closer to her.

She screams and attempts to throw a rock which bounces off his nose. He snorts about it and rumbles.

Makes her realize he’s not going to hurt her. Then grabs her in a claw and takes her back to her “bed”. Tells her she’s hurt and needs rest. (Provides some clothes to her from stash of treasures that she doesn’t know about yet) blue cat is his companion (Happy)

Spends a few days resting in and out of consciousness as her wounds heal and finally irritates the dragon enough to fly her down to a river so she can bathe. He does so and gathers some food while she’s doing that.

He sees her naked but she doesn’t care since he’s a dragon. (She will later ;)) she washes the clothes she has and puts on the clean he let her borrow. He flys them back up and he asks her questions about herself as she’s finally more aware and healing.

She tells him she’s a princess and that she had been on her way to meet her arrangement marriage partner. But the bandits had attacked the cart.Typical Natsu and happy behavior happens. On the 5th? Day or so he leaves while she’s sleeping to get foods and supplies. She wakes and is looking for them and stumbles around the cave. She find his hoard room. Full of treasures beyond imagine: now she knows where he got the clothes too.

She’s reaching to touch one big pile when she hears a growl/snarl. She whirls around only to face a man with deep red horns, pink hair, red wings, and scales down body (tanned human skin on the undersides of his body ref pic).

Eyes angry and smoke coming out of his mouth. She screams and backs into the hoard. Big growl and he comes in close. Yanks her away (not roughly to hurt her) and tells her not to touch his things. Smoke spilling out of his mouth.

She realizes it’s Natus, a little less raspy. Apologizes and Happy gets her out of the room whole Natsu calms down. Explains Natsu doesn’t like his treasures touched and she can’t go in there. That it’s okay but to give him time.

She’s sulking a bit when Natsu comes out again and looks at her likes she’s grown 3 heads, calls her weird and teases her. She gets annoyed and banters with him.

Then she asks about his appearance and he explains he can transform into this body and back at will. She gets blushy as he’s seen her naked which she slams her fist down on his and Happys head when they both poke fun at her and yells at them for not telling her.

Happy falls asleep and she tells Natsu she couldn’t give two shits about his treasure room and won’t go in there or touch anything. He rumbles and smiles/pats her head. She asks how he found all that and he tells her about the big abandoned castles from the past in the outskirts of the country.

Said he found one recently before he found Lucy and would take her with when she heals enough. One day, after Lucy teases him for losing a hunt (deer escaped) but barely, he challenges her to a game.

If she could hide from him he would let her browse his books (in his treasure room) if he wins she has to do his bidding. She accepts and puts on a ton of clothes. He flys them to the forest below and gives her an hours head start.

She evades him for a long while, but tripping over herself he catches her and throws them both off a small cliff with a pond/lake at the bottom. They play with Happy in the water for a while before she feels her leg becoming sore from all the activity it hasn’t seen in a long time.

As she sits on the bank Natsu comes up and heats his hands up and massages the leg. He notes to himself she doesn’t flinch from his claws. Typical behavior happens

She helps gather up the clothes she left about and changes so she’s not cold anymore. Shen Natus carries her up its princess style and she blushes about that. Noticing how warm he his.

He lets her have a book anyway, ignoring his bargain. And asks her about the stars as she seems enamored with them as usual. He has been invading her personal space as usual. He provides her items from his treasures (things he’s gathered even though he has no use for them. Even went out and got her soaps).

He takes her to the castle he recently found a ways away. Happy and he have find treasure hunting and he turns into a dragon to be able to carry it all. Lucy herself finds a few things she’d like to keep-good hair brush nucknacks but doesn’t grab anything flashy.

She even find something just to give it to Natsu which he won’t say but it makes him rumble in happiness.

They have fun traipsing through the castle and even camp out. Then go home.

Natsu shoves his hand in his pockets one day when he notices her sighing. She obviously is bored and wants to do something. But he’s apprehensive. If he takes her to town what if she wants to stay? Not wanting to come back with him?

He figures he’ll have to just spill the beans and take her. She’s obviously needing to get out. He finally goes up to her and mentions the town. She is excited about it. Asks him why he didn’t mention it sooner. He says it’s due to her injuries but she had been healed for a long time so she’s suspicious.

Natsu takes her and happy to the forest floor and they walk some ways to get to a dirt road. Natsu hides his dragon features completely. To which she is surprised. He says no one knows he’s the dragon. It makes it easy when he comes to town to get supplies.

They go into the main town center building, (Fairy Tail guild basically). People are happy to see Natsu and happy and meet Lucy. She meets everyone and starts making friends. Makarov does have a conversation with her about Natsu, knowing he’s the dragon.

She makes friends with Levy and Levy even gives her a spare journal and pens for her to write with. Natsu buys some fruits and vegetables (Lucy’s idea) and he is surprised when she suggests it, planning on a meal or two “at home”.

Natsu to her surprise has Makarov turn the power on to his home. She’s confused about that, but it’s explained that a long time ago he had power lines run through the forest and trees (they are well hidden) and covered from weather and wind damage to his cave. He hasn’t had a need for it to be on in a long time.

But he has a fridge and some lights. Lucy is annoyed, finding out he has a kitchen all this time and he hadn’t told her. (There is a small water fall area for bathroom purposes). But when they get back she’s happy to have some lights not lit by fire and to know they will have a space to keep foods good. (He just used to get blocks of ice from the mountains).

He clears (just moves stuff over) space for her in his treasure room if she wants to write at a table he has in there. He sleeps on his treasure when she’s writing sometimes.

They have an interesting time with her being flushed around him as he gets naked or semi naked during time at the lake. Her noticing that she’s enjoying his company a lot. They play around and goof off. Natsu loving teasing her.

When she’s eating a peach one days he’s curious about it as he’s never eaten one. She lets him have a bite and delights at his childish excitement at its taste. Happy didn’t want any as he prefers his fish. She ends up take a bit ore two more before giving it back to Natsu for him to finish.

She tells him that she’s happy. That she finally feels like herself and she’s not trapped by her dad. She says, that when she feels safe she won’t force her presence on Natsu and happy anymore. But Natsu immediately shoots that down. He says this is her home. Not telling her it makes him want to roar thinking about her leaving his/their den.

One day he takes her down for her to bathe and he goes off hunting again after teasing her and making her flush-common occurrence lately. After her bath she takes a stroll, knowing Natsu will find her when he’s done. Happy and her talk and banter. She begins to write while in a small clearing and happy naps.

They get attacked, she and happy try to protect each other but she ends up sending Happy to find Natsu. The bandits are human traffickers. She does get a bit her and does fight back.

Natsu comes in with a roar. He’s angry as hell and his dragon features are out, body tense. He’s snarling and he uses his fists, claws, and fire to beat the traffickers. He’s ready to kill one when Lucy stops him. She’d stepped in front and hugged him. Holding him back.

The bad guy is spitting blood and angry, talking shit even though he’s lost. She feels Natsu tense up again as he had relaxed a little in her hold. She turns to glare at the bad guy and Lucy kicks him. Knocking him out. She stumbles and Natsu catches her by her waist.

Happy is crying at her blood and she hugs him to her chest while wobbling. Natsu won’t let go and his chest is still rumbling with growls. He lifts her up and she stops him, her bag has her stuff and he huff. He takes off for home, it speaking. He sets both her and happy down on one of his treasure mounds and snarls at them to stay put and not move.

They both nod and he leaves. Lucy sits up and hobbles to her area in the cave. Happy is nervous as he tries to tell her not to leave but she ignores him in favor of looking for a bandage, she gets her wound wrapped and hears Natsus wings flapping.

He skids in, crown still on his face eyes wild and drops her bag onto the floor by the entrance of the cave when he sees her. His body is tense and his nostrils flare. Smoke comes out of his mouth as he eyes her and he growls.

He stalks over to her and she tries to back away but he tosses her over his shoulder and carries her to his room again. She pounds his back but he ignores her.

He grabs a thick beautifully designed royal looking blanket/tapestry and throws it down over a post on his mound. He tosses her onto it and face plants into his pile next to her. Arm draped over her middle in a vice like grip.

His grumbling hasn’t stopped as he says “I thought I told you not to move”. She huffs and tries to pry him off but his grin tightens and she snarls. She stiffens. Not afraid of him, not really. But she hadn’t heard him like that since that first time she came in to this room unannounced.

Happy floats over. He explains that when Natsu feels his things are threatened, after he takes care of the threat he curls over his hoard and rumbles on it for a few hours before he feels better.

She sputters and says that makes no sense as why she has to be in here. And happy just snickers. Natsu rumbles deeply and steam comes off of him. Eventually she is able to free herself but Natsu doesn’t move. Instead he almost slithers into the mound.

Hours later, sore but hungry she starts making some food. Happy chatting happily near her. She limos around the small kitchen Natsu finally showed her. When the food is almost done she calls out knowing Natsu can hear her. Telling him if he wants to eat he needs to come out.

She smiles as she hears coins moving and objects shuffling. The dragon wiggling his way out of his mound of treasures. She laughed when his stomach growls. She turns to him and smiles as he scratches the back of his head in a sheepish way. Mood back to normal it seems.

Natsu teaches her how to do some climbing, trees, rocks, and some survival skills.

They visit the town some more, bathe regularly. Natsu gets a bit more clingy and happy meets Carla. It’s nice a quiet for a bit.

One day in the town Lucy is cornered by knights. They had gotten a tip she was here and her father exits a cart. Her arranged marriage partner was also in the cart. They demand she come home with them and they have an argument about it. Natsu, Happy, and Fairy Tail help her as back up and the knights retreat for now.

Natsu reveals his dragon nature and everyone backs him up.

Her dad mentions this will cause turmoil between lands and she feels responsible as she sits inside the guild hall after all is said and done.

Natsu and gang start a small party/fight and it’s getting crazy. While that’s happening, someone sneaks in and passes some letters to Lucy.

The letters display the AMP power and the gun net ships he has. Along with dragon hunting weapons like harpoons/nets/poisons. It even shows pictures of the Cave Natsu lives in off in the distance. The writing tells Lucy that the AMP currently has a prized gunner ship in the harbor it’s gun trained on the mountain cave and several smaller cannons trained on the city. Within a few days the other ships would be dispatched and would arrive. They also had land based artillery in select places that will wreak havoc if she doesn’t comply.

She takes a longing look at Natsu and Happy. Smiling and laughing, fighting with their friends and causing a ruckus. Tears in her eyes she makes a decision. She crinkles to papers into her pockets when she opens the guild doors to exit they fall out. She doesn’t notice and heads for the harbor.

There she enters the boat AMP is waiting on with her dad and they quickly set sail.

The guild party goes on and on, had been someone’s bday and it’s not until someone finds the letters they notice something is wrong. They alert everyone Natsu included who is furious he didn’t notice. He had been so preoccupied with his fighting and drinking that he hadn’t noticed she left. In fact, since her coat was left on her chair he scent remained so he thought she was still around.

Thinking she maybe went upstairs as she sometimes does to find peace in the guild Library. He furiously leaves the guild to get to the harbor but it’s too late. The fast ship is long gone. He begins to transform but is brought to reality by Makarov. Natsu, as strong as he is won’t be able to fly that distance.

Lucy, once they are out to see is put into chains. Her father is also put into chains and they are taken “captive”. The AMP plans to go through with the wedding. Lucy and her dad would have an unfortunate accident and the would take over both countries. (Lucy’s original home country is closer than Fiore)

When they arrive at the harbor of AMP, she is taken to the harbor castle. To the very top tower room. She thinks it’s cliche. She is chained to the wall by her hands and as she looks down out the window she can see the harbor. See the gunner boats he has and his artillery. She’s disheartened.

Knowing no one will know where she went. AMP comes in and scares her, tells her he plans on firing on Fiore anyway. That he’s going to take it as a power move just to spite her as she embarrassed him in public.

When he leaves she chooses to fight. She finds a thick nail is loose in the wall from one of the shelves. She gets it out and tries to use it to break the chains holding her as a wedge.

(Dead of night)

It takes some time, but while she does this she notices the boats. If she can get to them, turn that giant canon of one towards the others, she could fire it and send the boats crashing into themselves. It would take out the fleet.

Natsu and gang are traveling by boat to where Lucy is. He’s sea sick but desperate to get there. Another boat carries several more of them as they are heading to flank the harbor, as the ground support.

Lucy gets free of her chains, and has to scale the rocky castle wall. She uses the small tips Natsu had taught her. She slips a bit but makes it most of the way down. She slips and luckily lands in a haystack with a groan.

A girl in chains who is cleaning the pen area is startled and starts to raise alarm but Lucy covers her mouth. She hands the girl the nail she had used and told her to free herself. And asked her not to tell. The girl agrees.

Lucy, deer bleeding and hands bleeding gets herself to docks. She sneaks avoiding guards. She gets to the main boat. Aboard she goes to the room that has the controls. She had seen them moving the switches when she was chained up on the ship.

She starts to get the big gun moving and aiming to the other boats when the alarm gets raised. Rushing she hears boots coming for her along the boat. She hits the fire button and the boat rumbles, she falls back as it kicks with the explosive power of the gun.

She stumbles as yells begin and runs. She avoids the men and gets to the top of the boat. She sees flames and explosions are going off, the boats are rolling one by one into each other like dominoes and debris is flying everywhere. Alarms are raised. Fires spreading.

The boat she’s on had also caught fire. Seeing reinforcements coming she bolts to the front of the ship to hide. Still undetected. She hears a roar and a big creature is flying overhead. It’s Natsu.

Men scream and shout about him, but they aren’t fast enough. Natsu flys past and breathes fire on their harpoons and giant crossbows. Some do try to fire at him but it’s pointless. He sucks up some of the fire produced by the boats to fuel his rage as he roars. He even transforms into his smaller form as he barrels into the castle big tower.

Lucy feels happy but sees the ground crew from the forest coming in with their nets and weapons. She sees them aimed at Natsu and the tower. Screaming his name she alerts him. She thinks she’s too far but he whirls around and knows right where she is. But the get one arrow through his shoulder and she cries out for him. He grunts at the pain of it going through him but ignores it the best he can.

The guilds boat fires on the harbor, and the boat Lucy is on. They didn’t know she’s there. The boat begins to split and explode. Lucy screams and runs straight off the bow.

Natsu catches her as he roars her name. The guild ground team takes out the rest of the AMP reinforcements. The battle won.

Growling at the smell of her blood Natsu clings to Lucy. And gets her to some friends. He eats the remaining fire (heals his wounds) and Happy cries but hugs Lucy.

When it’s over, AMP is in chains and Lucy’s dad has respect for Natsu. Makarov notes that Natsu is their king (wasn’t ever talked about but he is technically).

Lucy’s dad says he will allow her if she’s happy to stay and won’t try to force her to go home. They get onto the Fiore boats and head back. Natsu being sick as all get out, Lucy comforting him/letting him sleep on her lap. Wendy healing/helping her while on board.

When they get home Natsu waits until she says by to her dad and whisks her away. Happy not far behind. Lucy tries to squirm away when they land at the cave but Natsu ignores her. He sets her down on his hoard and tells her to stop.

He’s growling and holding himself back. Tells her that he NEEDS this and begs her to just STAY. She relaxes and lets him hold her and his hoard. Happy brings a blanket and puts it over then before curling up with them. Hours later Lucy wakes up alone. She slides down and finds Natsu at the cave entrance talking to Happy.

Happy ends up leaving to go visit Carla, his excuse. Natsu asks Lucy if she’s like to go bathe. She agrees but isn’t sure what’s going on with his mood.

He takes her down and turns away when she starts undressing. She frowns as she usually has to almost beat him to get him to turn away. She slinks into the water enjoying the temperature and getting clean.

She startles when Natsu gets in also. Naked. He semi ignores her though as he dunks himself and brushes his hair back out of his face before leaning against some rocks. Face pensive.

She asks if he’s okay and he said he’s fine. It’s quiet for a bit. Lucy not knowing what to do. And nervous to be so close to him while naked.

Natsu finally speaks, asking her why she left. She stumbles over her words to explain and he gets mad but doesn’t yell. Tells her that he didn’t care about the cave, if she had told him they would have planned and she gets mad. Telling him he doesn’t understand she wanted to protect her home. Him.

They both clam down and apologize to each other. Just happy to be together. Natsu makes a lewd joke or comment and Lucy gets flushed. She splashed water at him and he laughs before splashing her back. They play.

He even does a canon ball and drags her under the water to tease her. Eventually comers her. He makes her shiver with his proximity and his lips brushing her ear as he talks.

Tells her he needs to hoard her, like his pile of treasures. Kisses her ear and neck. Tells her she drives his instincts crazy. Nips her.

Cue smut?

Ending: them cuddling, his head on her chest as she runs her fingers through his hair. Happy coming in saying “they love each other”.

[raijindork]

Double Trouble

Summary: Bickslow and Lucy decide to expand their family, but get more than they bargained for. Part of my HWHL (Happy Wife, Happy Life) Universe. Pairing: Bickslow/Lucy (BixLu) Rating: T Words: ~3.4k

Read on FF.net.

Chace had only been six months old the first time they’d talked about having another baby.

Bickslow had taken his first overnight job since their son had been born. Bickslow had hated leaving more than Lucy had—she’d wanted the bed to herself for a night—but the job had only been a few towns over and Laxus had practically all but dragged him out of the apartment come time to leave in the morning. Lucy had been all to happy to lock the door behind them, too.

Lucy had enjoyed the alone time with Chace. She hadn’t even gone to the guild that day. She’d just been catching up on all the baby cuddles and overdue laundry and there hadn’t been a single thing wrong. But then the night had come. And Chace’s bedtime had come. And Chace had decided that he just wasn’t going to sleep that night; that he would just cry, and then cry some more, much to the displeasure of all the other residents of the building, Gajeel included.

At one point, Lucy had thought that maybe Bickslow was the favourite parent. Because, sure, she had the boobs and food and the softest cuddles ever, but… Even Lucy had to admit that Bickslow made bath time look fun. And reading time. And, well, most of what he did with their son, actually. Lucy had accepted the fact that she wasn’t necessarily going to the fun parent though. She’d realised that it was a lost cause when they’d figured out that sometimes, the only thing to get Chace to stop crying was to have him watch Bickslow yell at the babies when they were being jealous little lost souls.

But after a while, Lucy had just thought that maybe Chace just really missed his dad. Nothing else had seemed to make him happy again, and Lucy had tried everything she could think of. Even Gajeel, at four o’clock in the morning, having had no chance of sleeping when his neighbours had the demon child from hell, had tried his best to get Chace to stop crying.

Nothing had worked. And no matter what Lucy did, she just hadn’t been able to get Chace to stop crying for more than a few minutes at a time. Not until he’d just tired himself out so much that he eventually went to sleep early in the morning.

But it was when Bickslow came home that afternoon, finding Gajeel on his couch and watching Chace play on the mat, and then Lucy curled into a ball on their bed, that they’d first talked about whether they’d have another baby.

Because after that hellish night (one Lucy did, in fact, later realise the cause for), Lucy hadn’t been sure she wanted to go through that again. Chace had been a nightmare from the moment he’d been born, and as loved as he was, the kid had nearly broken her in one night.

So Lucy had proposed that maybe they don’t have another baby at some point down the track. Maybe they just have Chace and have their perfect, albeit chaotic little family. And Bickslow had agreed.

But it was when Chace was two that they talked about it again. Because as much of a handful Chace was, Lucy hadn’t been able to help but start to look back on all those firsts she’d been to see and remember how much she’d loved them. So she’d brought up the topic again then, over breakfast one morning as Bickslow had been getting Chace’s food ready.

There’d been no suggestion that time—no telling Bickslow that she probably did want to have another kid at some point. It had merely been a question. Because they’d already both agreed that there wouldn’t be another, and it had been so long since then that Lucy hadn’t know if Bickslow still felt the same.

So she’d asked him, over the slices of apple and banana and burnt bits of toast, if he still thought that their family was perfect the way it was.

And Bickslow just hadn’t been sure at that point.

But it was when Chace was nearly four, that Bickslow decided he wanted to revisit that fated conversation once more.

It had been a month since they’d released Georgia the bat back into the wild, and Bickslow still couldn’t help but visit the tall trees by the cave every now and then to see if he could maybe spot his beloved sky puppy. He knew better, of course, but a part of him still hoped that he’d look up one evening and see his favourite leathery-winged-friend hanging from a branch and maybe waiting for him.

It was morning, though. Chace was still asleep and it was quiet and Bickslow didn’t want to do much else other than just lay there silently, enjoying the comfort and serenity of home until he actually had to get out of bed.

Lucy pressed a kiss to his cheek before curling around him, and Bickslow smiled softly, keeping his eyes closed still. “Good morning,” she murmured. “The big three-oh today. Happy birthday, baby.”

“Mm-hmm. Thanks, Cosplayer.”

“Did you want to do anything special?” Lucy asked. She sat up on an elbow slightly, rubbing small circles on his chest with her other hand still. “We could take Chace to the park, have a picnic or something.”

Bickslow liked the park. “That sounds perfect,” he mumbled. He breathed slow and deep, just enough that he was sure he’d fall back asleep if he was even capable of sleeping late those days. His wife’s touch and soothing voice kept him awake, though.

“Chace will be up soon. Do you want something to eat?”

“No…” Bickslow sighed, only moving to stretch out his toes and his arms above his head. “I want a baby,” he mumbled. Maybe he was still a little too asleep.

“A baby?” Lucy laughed, a gentle sound to his ears. “You can’t eat a baby, Bicks.” Or maybe he could. But she’d be deeply disturbed if he did. Unless, that was just his weird way of asking he wanted a super weird baby-shaped birthday cake or something—at which, Lucy would still be disturbed by if it was the case.

“No, not food.”

It took Lucy a moment to click, but then it did. Her hand stopped moving in the small circles on her husband’s chest and her smile quickly faded. “Oh.”

He hadn’t meant to bring it up right then. Soon, maybe even later that day, but not first thing in the morning. But caring for the bat the last year had made him miss how much he’d loved Chace when he’d been little.

When they’d gotten married the first time, and even when he’d found out Lucy was pregnant with Chace, Bickslow had always pictured their family together as something a little… bigger.

He’d forgotten that at one point, not long after Chace had been born and it had all been so chaotic and horrible, and for a brief moment in time, Bickslow had regretted them having Chace at all—a fact he wouldn’t admit to anyone. But it had been years since then, and Bickslow liked to think he was a better dad than he had been back then. He could deal with the chaos.

If Lucy could, at least.

He finally moved, rolling onto his side to face Lucy who could still only stare at him and process the kind of bombshell he’d dropped on her. “It’s been a while since we’ve talked about this.”

“Well… We’ve been busy,” Lucy said, although it wasn’t an answer she was sure of and the silent question mark at the end didn’t go unheard.

“No, we haven’t.”

“You had Georgia.”

Bickslow would give her the point for that one. Looking after a bat probably did count as busy. “Fine, but I don’t anymore. So are we going to talk about this?” Because Bickslow wanted to talk about it then. Even if he got completely shut down, it was still better than not having that conversation at all.

But it was Lucy’s turn to be unsure. It had been hard to think about whether or not another kid was something she wanted when she’d had to deal with a bat flying around the apart every damn day for a year. And then even with Chace getting older, he was still a menace might as well have been a pet tornado, and Lucy’s only time to herself those days was when she decided to go and take a job by herself for a night or two.

But Lucy had never minded that. She tried telling herself she had, especially after the last conversation where she’d mostly taken Bickslow’s maybe as a no. Another baby would mean another nine months of being host to a parasite that had every chance of being just as much of a nightmare as Chace, if not worse.

Or they could be the most adorable, sweetest baby in the whole world and perfectly fill that second child shaped void in the family picture in her head.

Really, Lucy didn’t care which. They were the same to her.

She just didn’t want to be let down, and the last thing she wanted was for Bickslow to be the one to realise that Chace really was all they’d needed after she’d already gotten her hopes up.

“No,” Lucy said before quickly correcting herself, “I mean, yes, of course. I want to talk about this. Really, I do. I just… I don’t think now is the best time, is all.”

But Bickslow didn’t see that. “Not the best time to talk about it, or not the best time to be pregnant?” he asked. “Because those are two entirely different things.” And it wasn’t like he’d said anything about wanting another baby right away anyway.

“To talk about it.” She needed at least one cup of coffee in her to have that conversation properly.

And if the tiny footsteps just outside were anything to go by, Lucy would wager that the conversation was about to come to a screeching halt anyway.

Chace ran in squeezing his bat plushy. “Mama, I hungry!”

Bickslow tried not to roll his eyes too hard when Lucy gave him just the hint of a proud smirk, knowing full well she’d gotten herself out of the rest of it.

“You’re hungry?” Lucy gasped dramatically, clicking her tongue. “Well, we can’t have that! I suppose we should go and get you something to eat, huh?”

“Uh-huh.”

“But first…” She sat up against the pillows, leaning forward and curling her finger to beckon Chace closer. “Why don’t you come up here and—“

Chace wasted no time and bounded up onto the bed, climbing over them both settling into the gap just big enough for a nearly four year old to fit. Bickslow quickly pulled his son into a tight hug, tickling his sides and kissing his head as he squealed and giggled loudly.

“You know, it’s Daddy’s birthday today,” Lucy said. She smiled as she watched them; smiling seemed inevitable whenever she watched them together. “Are you going to say happy birthday?”

“Happy birthday, Daddy!” Chace beamed. “You old now?”

Bickslow tried not to be hurt by his son’s innocent question, but it stung, just a little bit. “Why, thank you! And I am old. Can you guess how old I am?”

“Nine?”

“…Close enough.” Bickslow shrugged. Not that Chace could count much higher than that, but still, Bickslow would take it.

Lucy stayed for a few more moments before finally pulling herself out of bed, grabbing her dressing gown to wrap it around herself first. Breakfast needed to be made, so she couldn’t just sit in bed with her favourite boys all day.

Bickslow couldn’t quite help himself though. So when Lucy got up, he didn’t miss the chance to quietly get in, “All I’m asking is if you want to have another one day. And we can talk about the rest of that after.” Because  that was still all Bickslow needed right then. He just wanted to know if it was something he could maybe look forward to.

“I do,” Lucy answered.

###

Lucy just about skipped down the hall after putting Chace to bed. She’d been waiting all day to be able talk to Bickslow properly. At one point, she’d considered telling him her news in the guild, just to watch him freak out, but try not to freak out too obviously and cause people to ask questions, and see what kind of nonsense he could come up with on the spot.

He was in the living room, tiny tins of paint sitting on an old sheet on the coffee table and the babies’ wooden forms all laid out next to them and drying. If the floating plushies and toys above his head were anything to go by, Lucy suspected he’d borrowed some of Chace’s toys earlier so he at least had something to house the babies in until the tikis were all shiny and new again.

“So,” Lucy began, sitting down next to him on the sofa. “I have some good news. Well, maybe good news.”

Bickslow glanced to her as he continued carefully moving the thin paintbrush dipped in red paint along the carved wood. He was just a little worried about her expression—that nervous smile and her hands compulsively squeezing her own knees wasn’t exactly reassuring when he had genuinely no idea what Lucy was about to tell him.

“Yeah? What?”

Lucy took a deep breath, announcing quickly, “I think I might be pregnant.”

That explains it. Bickslow’s head snapped back to her, quickly forgetting the wooden doll in his hand and the paint slowly forming a drop at the tip of the brush. “Wait, for real?”

He’d heard that before, though, only a few months earlier. They’d decided to wait another year or two before trying to have another baby after they’d properly talked about it after his birthday, but then Lucy had been late, and it had been just slightly disappointing when it had been nothing more than a false alarm. So their plan had gone out the window, and now there they were, with Lucy telling him again the same thing she had months earlier.

She nodded. “Well, I think so.” Lucy hoped so, too.

“But… You know, last time you thought that—“

“I know, I know,” she dismissed him quickly, rolling her eyes. “This is different, though.” It wasn’t like she told him every time she was a day or two late anyway. That would just be stupid. She knew better than to jump to unlikely conclusions. There was a difference between days and weeks, and Lucy liked to think she knew her body well enough to suspect if she was knocked up or not.

Bickslow knew better than to question her judgement, even if he refused to let himself indulge on the excitement that his wife was clearly feeling then. “I mean, okay. Uh…” He finally set the tiki and the paintbrush down, briefly looking up to the babies zooming around the ceiling. “Well, what’s next then? I mean, have you taken a test, or—“

“No, not yet, but…” Lucy shrugged, offering Bickslow a sheepish smile. “That’s what you’re for!”

“You want me to look?”

“Well, duh.” Lucy wasn’t sure why she wouldn’t. Bickslow had the ability to do something she could only dream of being able to do.

And sure, Bickslow had loved being able to find out about Chace, although maybe not before Lucy had herself, but that had been different. Finding out about Chace had been… weirdly relieving, mostly because it just meant Lucy hadn’t actually been dying of some mystery illness. Then, though? Bickslow just didn’t want to not see, well, anything. He didn’t want Lucy to be disappointed again.

But he couldn’t really say no to her then, either. They had to find out at some point.

So he turned on the sofa, tucking his foot under his knee and moving the cushion out from behind him to get comfortable. “Fine. But, you have to promise me that you won’t hate me if I don’t see anything.” And he doubted Lucy would hate him, but still. That was his price.

“Bicks, I promise,” Lucy said softly, reaching out just to squeeze his hand briefly. She had to admit that the pessimism was getting just a little frustrating. She’d wanted him to excited, not worried about every tiny little detail. “If I’m not pregnant, then we just keep trying. That’s okay. Now hurry up.”

Bickslow sighed loudly, taking just a moment to tell himself that it would be fine no matter what he did or didn’t see. “Eyes, then,” he mumbled. Lucy quickly covered her eyes with her hands, only peeking through her fingers for a second before covering them back up after a frown and a glare from him. And then he looked, blinking quickly as his eyes adjusted again. He saw Lucy’s soul first, before looking down to where he’d seen his son’s once, and… “Oh.”

“Oh?” Lucy echoed. She tried not to peek again to try and see what kind of expression her husband was wearing right then. But she could already feel her heart sinking just from one little syllable. “Bicks? What did you—“ She reached out with one arm, blindly reaching for him while keeping her eyes covered with her other hand. “I’m not pregnant, am I?” she asked softly, right as Bickslow caught her hand.

“No, no… You are,” Bickslow chuckled almost nervously as he rubbed his eyes. There’d really been no denying the fact that she was pregnant—something that was beginning to make him feel just a little giddy and exactly like how he’d felt when he’d seen Chace. “You can open your eyes again though.”

“Wait, I am? Oh, god… Then… Why did you say it like that?!” she shrieked, grabbing a cushion to throw it at him. Somewhere at the back of her mind she realised she should be questioning just what it was Bickslow had seen, but for a moment, Lucy was just going to ride the relief and excitement because she was knocked up and that was totally the entire point.

“Because, there’s not—Cosplayer.” Bickslow swatted the pillow away before grabbing hold of it and stealing the soft weapon away, grabbing Lucy’s shoulders to hold her steady. “It wasn’t just one soul.”

Lucy’s eyes widened as she stared back at the growing grin on Bickslow’s face. “You mean…”

“Uh-huh.”

She only continued to stare in silence and shock for a few more moments before she squealed so loud it probably woke up her son. “Twins?!”

The babies zoomed and chanted above them as Lucy jumped and threw herself onto Bickslow’s lap, laughing almost hysterically with him through a tight embrace.

But then it seemed to properly sink in, that Chace wasn’t going to be a big brother to just one new sibling. She pulled away, panic quickly growing. “Oh god. We’re having twins. Can we even manage that?” The questions came from her lips as soon as they appeared as thoughts in her head. “Oh god, do you think Chace will hate us? Oh, and the babies!”

Bickslow’s face fell just as quickly. “I mean, sure, of course. We’ll be fine! We’ll make it work. I think. Yeah? Yeah, we’ll make it work. Chace will be fine,” he said, nodding and trying to reassure himself from than anything. They could handle two babies, plus the kid from hell. They were them. It would be fine. Right?

But then Bickslow remembered the babies. The babies that, when he looked up, were circling a little too close to his head and far too menacingly.

“Babies, no. Don’t you—“

Lucy was smart enough to take the opportunity to flee right before the babies began their bombardment on their master, curled up on the lounge and enduring the onslaught. Apparently they weren’t too happy about having to share Bickslow’s attention with another two human babies.

[thegreatpikminzx789]

Yggdrasil’s Nexus: Prologue (Chapter 4) - Etrian Odyssey Nexus Fanfiction

Wattpad|Fanfiction.Net (Will upload later)|Ao3

Summary: The Refulgent Guild bids their farewell to Tharsis as they begin to board the Maginia. But the Outland Count gives them one last surprise before they go...

Previous Chapter|Next Chapter

AN: Well, this started as one long chapter, then I decided to split it off. Expect much longer chapters from Chapter 5 onward. Possibly.

Drayce (mentioned) belongs to @theshatteredrose

As the day begins anew, Shira looks back upon the now relatively empty guild house. Everyone's possessions, including pictures, had been brought with them. To Shira, this place was a secondary home. A place free from the air that was the Cloudy Stronghold. Even then, there was that lingering sense that she'll probably never return back to Tharsis. To tackle it head-on was not favorable to her.

Rather, she needed time to think about what was going to happen in the future. Despite everything that had happened then, the future was all that she needed to worry about. It was no use to fret over the past now. She lets out a sigh as she takes one final look at the lobby of the guild house.

"I'm sure going to miss Tharsis. It feels almost like it was a second home to me." Shira spoke to Shirota, once she had finished looking around as well.

"Me too, Mom," Shirota began, looking up to her as she held her hand. "But new explorers will be there to protect Tharsis in our stead. They don't have to worry about the Titan or the Yggdrasil Curse like we have. All they have to worry about are the monsters and keeping the town safe."

Shirota's words were comforting to her. Ever since the incident with Baldur, Shira was worried the Yggdrasil Curse would spread out to other people, making things worse for the man she worked for. But had it not been for the Refulgent Guild, Tharsis wouldn't have survived, much less had a chance to fight against the Titan that awoke from its slumber.

Hell, Shirota probably would have never reunited with her had the events after the Titan's awakening took a different route. Silver armor was no easy feat for an Imperial to have, and she wanted to make sure her family came first, rather than her duty. That was her mistake for vanishing after the crash, and it was one she would never repeat again.

"Come on, you two. We're going to the Maginia." Wufan's voice interrupted the silence between mother and daughter, their eyes darting to an impatient Wufan. "R-Right! My apologies for keeping you waiting!" Shirota apologized as Shira closed the door behind her after making sure everyone was out of the guild house.

Several groups of guilds were making their way to the Maginia, ranging from at least two guild members to a full group of thirty guild members. Some people were ecstatic to go, others were worried about Tharsis, and some were seeing their friends off on the Maginia, praying for their safe return. This type of sight typically wasn't shown before in Tharsis, but Korey took it as a sign that he'll return safely to his home place once this journey was complete - and to mend the missing time for his family.

The Refulgent Guild, along with some members of Korey's previous guilds, began the walk to the Maginia. Occasionally, they'd look around and see people waving at them. Some would say "good luck" or "come back safe and sound". Whether or not those were aimed at someone or to them, he wasn't sure, but he felt safe knowing that some residents care for the explorers that came to Tharsis.

As they approached the entrance, a voice called out to them, "Heeeeyyyy!" Korey stopped as he turned to see the source of the outburst, followed by his group stopping and turning to see what he was looking at. A Fortress approached them, having the same skin color as Shira and Shirota, with light brown hair and a black shield with a white "X" pattern on it, almost out of breath.

"Dad!" Shirota gasped, running up to the Fortress and gave him a hug. Though the man seemed exhausted, he seemed to have the energy to hug her back. Shira soon approached the two of them, making eye contact with the Fortress.

"Sorry I'm late... I wasn't quite sure where to find you, so I went back to the entrance in hopes of finding you, and... well, here we are." He breathed, trying to get some air back into his lungs. Simon approached him with water, to which the man gladly took as he took a few sips from it.

"I suppose you're Shirota's father?" The gray haired Medic asked, to which the light brown haired man nodded in return, giving him back the cup of water. "The name's Saral. I suppose you're already familiar with my wife and daughter." Saral replied, wiping his mouth as he stood up firmly.

"Indeed. My name is Simon Yorke. Pleased to meet you, Saral." Simon introduced himself, shaking hands with him. Saral noticed the large guild a few feet behind Shirota.

"That's a mighty big guild you've gotten yourself into, girls." Saral commented, rather surprised at the amount of people in the group. Given he had never met any of them, he wasn't sure which of them were a guild or which one wasn't a part of the guild.

Shira couldn't help but giggle at her husbands comment. "Well, we are going somewhere which may be just as big as us. We'll need all the help we can, even from among Korey's previous guild members." She hummed in delight, making Sarel tilt his head in confusion.

"Who the hell is Korey?" He asked, trying to spot him in the guild behind Shirota. "That would be me." Korey spoke, making the Fortress jump a little in surprise as he quickly turns to see Korey behind him.

He was honestly quite surprised to see him appear out of nowhere like that. "Jeez, do you always surprise people by approaching them from behind?" He questioned the Highlander, who shrugged in response to his question.

"Not really. Just happened to pick up on that trait from a few Necromancer friends who tend to do that to keep me awake." Korey spoke, backing away from Saral to give him some space as he did so.

"I-I see..." Saral sighed, before turning to him. "A-Anyway, I'm-"

"Saral." Korey intervened, making Saral flinch in surprise upon him suddenly hearing his name. "Don't worry, I heard as I was approaching." He explained, not bothering with an introduction of his own since he assumed Shirota and Shira sent the Fortress a couple of letters here and there about Korey.

"I assume you're joining us for the trip?" Korey asked as he looked into Saral's eyes, making Saral flinch a bit. "W-Well," Saral stuttered, a bit nervous from the Highlander's stare. "I-I was just going to see my family off, but-"

Shirota sighed when she heard her dad starting to make an excuse. "Oh come on, dad! I want to see you back in action!" She exclaimed, holding her father's hand. "You've told me stories where you kept Mom safe against monsters and Imperial weaponry, the least you can do is come along for the journey!" Shirota pleaded, as the silver-clad Imperial held Saral's other hand, his ring visible to Korey and Simon as she lifted his hand.

"Come on, honey, it'll be fun... And dangerous, but this may probably be the only chance we'll ever explore as a real family! You wouldn't want to miss out on one last journey now, do you?" Shira asked, making Saral sweat nervously, stuck in a situation that doesn't seem like he's capable of getting out of.

Saral eventually lets out a sigh in defeat. "Oh, alright. Who am I to deny one last adventure?" He spoke out, feeling Shirota and Shira hug him the moment he finished speaking. "Agh-! Too much hugging, too much hugging!"

Saral could only squirm in place as Korey and Simon chuckle at the situation before them. Korey felt Hilda's hand touch his shoulder, turning his head to face her before quickly looking back at the squirming Saral. "Such a happy family they are..." Hilda hummed, leaning her head onto Korey's shoulder.

"I couldn't agree more, Hilda. I suppose we might get to witness some more marriages in our journey." Korey trailed off, as Hilda looked up at him in surprise. "What makes you say that?" Hilda inquired, wanting to know his train of thought.

Korey shrugged his shoulders again, like that was the only response he had to the question at hand. "I dunno. Just a gut feeling, I guess." He added, making Hilda roll her eyes before looking back at Korey with a smile on her face.

"Ah, what wonderful timing. For a moment I thought we'd be late." The familiar voice of the Outland Count, along with Margarita's barks caught the group's attention, as they turned to see the Count approach, with Kirjonen, Wiglaf, and Ciaran. Shira and Shirota quickly let go of Saral, who takes deep heavy breaths upon being freed.

"Terribly sorry to delay you, I forgot to mention one thing; these three will be accompanying you on your journey." The Count remarked with his typical smile. "They are?" Korey asked, surprised he didn't bring this detail up any sooner.

Kirjonen nodded as if to respond to the Highlander's question. "After all that you've done for us, we figured it'd be the best way to help you out in return." He added.

"It never hurts to have more people to help you out." Wiglaf began, adding on to what Kirjonen said. "Things get done quicker around with more explorers around." She continued.

Ciaran smiled as he placed his arm around his tool bag. "Besides, with two airships on the Maginia, somebody's gotta be around to repair them in case they get damaged!" Ciaran remarked, seeming to know that another airship, apart from the Refulgent Guild's own Solgaleo airship, was being brought along.

"Well, that's true. The more experience one has, the more valuable they'll be to anyone." Korey murmured to himself, recalling Drayce speak a line similar to what he said.

He looked up to the three of them with a smile on his face. "We'll be glad have the three of you accompany us." Korey spoke, making the three of them gain smiles on their faces.

"Excellent. We won't let you down, Korey." Kirjonen hummed as he approached his guild, with Wiglaf and Ciaran close behind him.

The Count had to stop himself from bursting into tears as he looked at the guild before him. "Looking at all of you about to leave for a grand adventure is satisfying, yet sad. This place is going to be somewhat quieter without the Refulgent Guild around." He groaned, before quickly recoiling his face due to Margarita trying to lick his face.

"Well, hopefully new explorers will be able to fill in that gap for us. The time we'll spend on our journey is inexplicable, but we'll do our best nonetheless." Baldur reassured, patting the Outland Count's shoulder.

Logre simply nodded in agreement. "Hey, are you guys done chatting up a storm over there? We need to get on soon." Akhos called out to them, making Shirota and Shira turn to where Akhos stood.

"Sorry, Akhos, we're coming!" Shirota exclaimed, quickly grabbing Saral's hand and rushed towards the Maginia, causing Shira to giggle before running up to catch up with her daughter and husband. Baldur, Logre, and Simon both follow after them.

Korey begins to turn around to follow suit. "Korey, I have one question before you leave." The Count spoke to him, stopping him from fully turning and turned his head to face him. "What is it?" Korey inquired.

"Will you return to Tharsis once this journey of yours end?"

Such a simple question, yet... It had so much weight to it. Korey was at a loss of words, that he had to look at the ground for a moment to try and think of an answer.

"I'm... afraid not."

Although Korey's answer was simple at best, the Outland Count couldn't help but feel the sadness in his heart take over for a moment of this particular part in time. "It's just... Tharsis isn't my home. I have a home somewhere else; and it's Iorys." Korey began, walking to the Outland Count as he allowed Margarita to take a few licks of his hand, and some strokes through her fur.

Hilda silently placed her hand on her chest, rather astonished Korey remembered Iorys... A mix of proud and sadness was struggling in her heart, and she wasn't sure how to feel about the scene before her. It felt like she was recalling the same sadness multiple times when she was in Iorys...

"While it is nice to explore lands I have never seen before, having no real means to return to Iorys was quite difficult for me to deal with. Since the Maginia is here, this may be my only chance to return to the place I know is my homeland." Korey continued, taking a few steps back once he was finished petting Margarita.

He sighed before continuing further. "I can't say the same for the other members of the Refulgent Guild, for this adventure may change our lives. There may be some changes to their lives that may want them to remain close to the ones they love... As much as I want to give them a definitive answer for them, I can only confirm that I will not be returning to Tharsis."

The Count wiped a tear from his eye with a tissue. "I understand, Sir Korey. If some members of the Refulgent Guild do return, we'll see to it that the Guild Leader position be changed." He assured him, able to at least give the Highlander a little smile on his face.

"I wish you good luck, Highlander Korey." The Count beamed, outstretching a hand for one final handshake. Korey, though hesitant, gladly accepted it, and shook his hand in return. "Thank you for all you've done for us, Count. The hospitality and warmth when we first met shall never leave my heart."

Margarita whimpered a little, as if sad to see Korey go. "I'm afraid destiny calls, Margarita. I'll make sure to keep an eye out for everyone I care for." Korey spoke, patting her head one last time before starting to back away from the Count to stand next to Hilda's side, grabbing her hand and intertwining it as Hilda gave him a reassuring smile.

"Farewell, Count. May Tharsis strive to tell the legend of the Refulgent Guild and the Yggdrasil Titan." Korey exclaimed.

The Outland Count simply nodded in response to the Highlander's last request. "Please make sure Prince Baldur doesn't die out there." He replied, not wanting the Imperial Princes' return to be in vain.

"Don't worry, we'll do our best to keep him safe." Korey reassured the Count for the final time in his time in Tharsis. "Farewell!" He exclaimed, waving his hand as he and Hilda began to catch up to the others. Wiglaf, Kirjonen, and Ciaran all begin to wave at the Outland Count as well.

"Take care!" Wiglaf yelled from where she was on the Maginia. "We'll keep Korey and the others safe!" Kirjonen added.

"And I'll be sure to teach these folks the knowledge on how to repair their airships so I can return to Tharsis safe and sound!" Ciaran exclaimed, as the three of them hear Margarita barking at them. "Save travels, explorers!" The Outland Count beamed, waving goodbye and seeing off the remaining explorers that were going onto the Maginia.

Korey and Hilda walk up to where the three of them were, as Korey took one final look at Tharsis. "I'm gonna miss this place... like I did with Etria, High Lagaard, and Armoroad." He sighed, seeing Kirjonen, Wiglaf, and Ciaran approach him.

"We're gonna miss Tharsis too." Wiglaf sighed, but quickly perked herself up. "But hey, many explorers, including the Vessels, Sentinels, and Imperial troops are coming along. It's like we're taking a part of what made Tharsis thrive along for the ride." She continued.

Korey looked at all the approaching Vessels, Fortresses, Nightseekers, Sentinels, Imperials, and all the other classes that were found in Tharsis' large amount of guilds. "I suppose you're right." Korey sighed, looking at where the others may be.

"Come on, we need to catch up to the others. They're probably waiting for us." Hilda suggested, taking the initiative and walked forward, with Korey, Kirjonen, Wiglaf, and Ciaran close behind. Sure enough, they were waiting for them further into the Maginia.

"Took you guys a while..." Yukina declared, getting up from a nearby bench as she approached him. "We were afraid you guys might've forgotten something." Sakuma added, though was quickly stopped by Hilda.

Korey and his group continued on, soon coming off of the bridge to see the a bunch of buildings together - this was likely the city that Korey and a couple of members from the Refulgent Guild saw when the Maginia first landed next to Tharsis. "Members of the Refulgent Guild, welcome to the residential district of the Maginia." Hilda announced, as the members of the Refulgent Guild looked around in wonder and amazement.

"This place is so big!" Korey gasped in excitement, looking around at the sight of the bustling city. "It really feels like a utopia for explorers..." Baldur beamed, looking to see the happy faces of explorers he doesn't really know.

Eliza gulped as she tried to focus on the road ahead, making sure where it goes and what she can see as far from where she stood. "Oooh, this is gonna take some time to get used too..." She groaned, already feeling lost as Anai giggled excitedly. "If I may ask, Hilda, where are we going next?" Korey asked, as the Arken woman beamed elegantly at him.

"Iorys is next on our destination." She answered, seeing her husband's surprised face. "Iorys is next?!" He exclaimed, before jumping around in joy.

Hilda could only giggle in response to seeing his reaction. "You're quite excited to see our homeland, aren't you?" She asked, stopping him before he became dizzy from spinning around.

"I've been far away from home for too long, I just want to see my mom and dad again!" Korey breathed, as Misaki soon walked up to him. "Don't worry, they're staying in Jenetta's Inn as we speak. We'll be sure to head there once we land in Iorys." She assured him, patting his shoulder as she did so.

Korey smiled as he patted Misaki's shoulder. "Alright, Misaki. Sounds like a plan." He hummed, seeing Misaki and Hilda walk on ahead of him. Korey places a finger on his chin and stares at the ground.

"Although, I still don't recall how I vanished from Iorys to High Lagaard..." Korey murmured to himself, trying his best to recall the details, but isn't quite getting anywhere with it. "It feels extremely weird how I can't break this chain to remember who did it. I don't understand why..."

No matter how hard he tried, he was just unable to recall the exact event that led him to vanishing from the face of Iorys. Not that he'll recall in time, though. Best to just take it easy for now.

"So, where do we go, Simon?" Ricky inquired, as the gray haired Medic turned to her. "We'll be heading to Vivian's Inn. Raquna, Arthur, Fafnir, Flavio, Bertrand, Arianna, and Chloe are there, as well as some other members from Korey's first guild." Simon replied, as Korey blinked upon hearing some of his old guild members mentioned by Simon.

"The Gungnir Guild is here?" Korey spoke in astonishment, as Shreya and Karim were jumping in joy. "Papa's gonna be reunited with his friends soon!" Shreya giggled, seeing Karim starting to lead the way.

"Come on, dad! This way!" Karim exclaimed, slowing down and stopped to turn to his father. The Highlander goes to follow Karim...

Wham!

"Gaaahh?!" Korey yelled, along with another voice as he fell onto the ground.

...Was this deja vu?

[yoosungiib]

I love your blog! Can I have a request if you don't mind? Can you have MC leave town for a few days to visit her family so she left her spouse(RFA+V+Saraen+Vanderwood) in charge on watching their child(ren)? Let's just say hell breaks loose and stuff goes down, but in the end it turned out okay. You can use "hell breaks loose" however you want! Btw... I love you ^^

I love you too, hun!

I ended up only doing the RFA because this was getting suuuuper long and other things started piling up on me. If people really like this and want me to do the minor trio as well, feel free to request it and I will get to it. :)

RFA troubles when left alone w/ their child while MC is away for a few days

~~~

★ Yoosung ★

“Bye, MC! See you in a couple days!” Yoosung kissed you goodbye, his lips lingering against yours before pulling back only so he could kiss your cheek.

“Bye, mommy!” Your 4 year old son chirped from below, his little arms reaching up for you. Happily, you lifted him up and pulled him into a tight embrace, kissing the side of his head before handing him over to Yoosung.

You gathered your things and turned the two you loved most in this world and waved goodbye, promising to bring them both back some souvenirs.

Yoosung smiled at your son who had a toothy little grin whilst looking at the cookie jar on the counter. Yoosung shook his head before setting him down and watching him run to it.

“You can have one, but only one, donut,” Yoosung said handing him a chocolate chip cookie, which the little boy ate greedily. “Daddy has to take a shower real quick but then we can do whatever you want! We’re gonna have fun this weekend, right?”

“Yeah!”

Yoosungs lips curled into a large smile once again. “Good! I’ll put some cartoons on for you, so just sit tight.”

While Yoosung was taking his shower, the little boy sat on the couch but after five minutes he got bored of what was showing on the television.

He wanted to play with his toys so he pushed himself off the couch and went to his room to get his toys. But a colourful array of figures suddenly caught his eye.

A small gasp came from the small boy as he saw the collection of LOLOL action figures through the doorway of yours and Yoosung’s room.

He remembers times seeing them before when running to you guys after a nightmare, but he never got to see them up close before!

These LOLOL figures are the only thing that Yoosung has organized to be honest, and he takes pride in that. As he’s told you numerous times when you go to dust the shelf, “No! They’re in the wrong order! They need to be organized by guild, here let me do it.”

The little boy rushed into the room and immediately grabbed for them.

No restraint.

Curved his arm and pushed them all onto the floor, following the toys to the ground and immediately beginning to play with them.

However, your son messes up the figures more than you ever have. He’s tearing off the heads and arms and mixing them up.

He puts a few in his mouth and leaves quite a few nasty teeth marks on the bodies.

“Donut? Where are you?” Yoosung calls now done with his shower.

“Honey, where are-” He stops mid-sentence, his jaw dropping to the floor as he walks into his room to see his son sticking two LOLOL monsters up his nose while smiling at his father.

“Daddy, look!”

Yoosung is frozen in place for a few moments, a look of horror on his face as he stares at his precious figures a mess on the ground.

Finally, he lets out a child like squeal before running towards his son, pulling the figures out of his small hands and nose.

“No! These aren’t to play with- Guild leader johnnnn, nooo!”

When you come home after what was a long weekend of Yoosung trying not to break down over the loss of his figures, you see your son sitting grinning on his lap while the two watch the Lego Movie.

After your son gives you a hug then runs to his room, you plop down on the couch next to Yoosung and cuddle up to his side. You look up and see the frown displayed on his face.

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

That’s when the tears come.

Smol boy is a mess on your lap, bawling his eyes out.

“They’re gone, MC! Every single one of them! They’ve all gone to heaven! Half of them drowned in snot!”

“What’s gone?”

“My LOLOL figures!!!”

♪ Zen ♪

Zen never liked when you left for long periods of time, but he understands you wanting to spend time with your family.

He decided to look at the bright side of things. For one, he was finally going to be having quality time with his daughter!

A whole weekend just for the two of them,

And he was totally gonna spoil his princess.

“Remember, her bedtime is at 7 o’clock. She is not aloud to watch tv past 6 o’clock. Her favorite book to read before bed is Goodnight Moon, and you have to leave a glass of milk on the bedside table-”

Zen shut you up with a loving kiss that was broken by the fact he was smiling so much. He stroked your cheek, chuckling before saying, “Don’t worry, Jagiya, I know what to do. You go have fun with your family. We’ll be right here in one piece when you get back!”

The moment you left through the door, Zen lifted his giggling daughter over his head, spinning her around. “Ready to have some fun!?”

He loved his daughter’s laugh. It was so high pitched and sweet, always filled with joy. He asked her what she wanted to do first.

One of her most favorite things in the world was listening to her father practice his lines for his upcoming show because he always made funny voices and extravagant motions.

Zen sat the little girl on the couch, gave her a bowl of ice cream - now that you’re not here, your not able to stop him from giving her too much sugar - and began to present his script.

Everything was fun and going nicely until Zen stopped at the sudden buzzing against his leg.

He frowned, looking down at the screen reading his director was calling.

He put the script down and told the girl who would be back in a little bit.

For about ten minutes, she waited in the other room with her legs swaying back and forth as she listened to the muffled sound of her dads phone call.

She looked at the script left on the table, a small smile appearing on her face as she rushed to get her coloured pencils.

I’m going to make it pretty for daddy!

She dumped all the pencils onto the ground, picking up batches at a time, scribbling all over the skript to the point nothing could be read.

These were not proper drawers but absolute scribbles, a failed attempt at a rainbow.

Zen finally finished his call and was walking back to his daughter, but he gasped when he saw her starting to tare at the script.

“NO! Honey, what are you doing?”

“I’m making it pretty!”

He flipped through the pages and the script was completely destroyed and unreadable. He sighed, putting it down and looking at his smiling daughter. He put a fake smile on his face, lifting her up and declaring they were going to go for a walk.

“What about finishing the show, daddy?”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that now, honey.”

❀ Jaehee ❀

The little girl you and Jaehee adopted shortly after you two got married was incredibly jealous that you were getting to fly on an airplane to see your family back in your hometown.

Ever Since she was two, the little girl was fascinated by airplanes!

The best gift she ever got, thanks to Mr. Han even with his resentment of Jaehee quitting, was a trip in his private jet.

Jaehee was really sad to be honest when you told her that you were going to be staying with your family for a bit. Mainly because she was going to miss you. But she was looking forward to the quality time she was sure to spend with her daughter.

The little girl gave you a hug before practically climbing up Jaehee who had to find a way to situate the girl on her hip while she hugged and kissed you goodbye.

“I’ll see you both in a few days! Be good you two!~”

“Bye, mommy!”

When you left, Jaehee looked down at the little girl with a small smile on her face. To be honest, Jaehee was a little nervous to be taking care of her all by herself while you were away, but even so, she was more excited than nervous.

Just as she was about to say something, her phone starting to ring in her pocket. She rolled her eyes a bit when she saw it was one of the waiters at the cafe. “Ah, just give me a minute, mouse,” She says going to the bedroom and closing the door.

The girl shrugged, lifting up her toy airplane and pursing her lips so she can make a vroom sound as she runs around the room, lifting the plane up and down in the air.

All was going well, however, until she accidently knocked Jaehee’s cup of coffee all over her computer.

She quickly put the plane down and rushed to clean up the mess, but only being four, she grabbed what was closest to clean up the mess,

Which was Jaehee’s paperwork.

The flimsy paper did nothing but make more of a mess, pushing the liquid down onto the floor.

Panicking a little bit, she tried to hide the mess by taking some of Jaehee’s books and putting them over the puddles of coffee.

But oh god, she forgot all about the computer which was completely dead now.

The girl thought if she got rid of the computer, Jaehee wouldn’t notice anything was wrong. So she tried to pry the computer off the desk, which only resulted in pulling the whole entire desk to the ground.

At the loud bang of the desk crashing, Jaehee dropped her phone and bolted to the main room in which you were in, and let out a loud scream at the mess everywhere.

At her scream, the little girl started to cry afraid that Jaehee was going to be mad at her.

I mean, Jaehee was not happy whatsoever but she couldn’t be mad at her daughter, especially when she was crying.

When you came home, you were surprised to find the main room looking empty now that the computer and desk was gone.

When you asked Jaehee about it, she just shook her head and said that you guys needed a new computer and desk.

☂ Jumin ☂

Jumin kissed your temple, his hands lingering just above your waist. “Driver Kim will you have you at your parents house in less than three hours, and he will be there to pick you up when you’re vacation is over on the dot.”

You let out a small chuckle, pulling your husband in for a proper hug. “Don’t worry, it’s just my parents. Nothing is going to happen. No need to be so protective. Just enjoy the time you have with our son.”

Jumin nodded, looking down at the little boy who clung to your leg with a few tears in his eyes.

You frowned, kneeling down to kiss the boys head. “Don’t worry, honey, mommy will be home in a few days. You and daddy are going to have a lot of fun together.”

The little boy nodded, moving to cling onto Jumin, who grinned at the affection your son gave him.

It always made him happy when the little boy clung to him.

“I love you both, I’ll see you in a few days!” You said gathering your things, helping Driver Kim to put them in the car.

You waved goodbye through the window, and soon, the car was off in the distant and Jumin was left alone with his son.

He picked the boy up, bringing him back up to the penthouse and putting him down on the couch, turning the tv on for him.

“I have quite a bit of work to do, but I promise you when it’s done we can spend some time together. Just watch some TV for now and do some colouring.”

So much for enjoying the time you have with your son.

Markers, coloured pencils, scissors, coloured paper and glue was put in front of him and the TV was turned on to his favorite channel.

The little boy watched Jumin disappear down the hallway before entering his office and closing the door to work.

The boy began working on his arts and crafts, not really paying attention to the TV.

He stopped working though when he heard a small mewl and looked down to see Elizabeth the 3rd looking up at him.

“Kitty!” The boy claimed, sharing his father’s love for cats, and grabbed poor Elizabeth the 3rd who struggled a bit onto his lap.

His pets were kinda rough, but it was harmless! He loves Elizabeth as much as Jumin does.

The boys eyes lit up when he remembered a time that Jumin mentioned over dinner how much he wanted a scarf made of Elizabeth’s fur. The boy thought if he could glue together a scarf of Elizabeth’s hair, than maybe daddy would stop working and come play with him!

Grabbing the pair of scissors from the table, he started to cut Elizabeth’s hair, right down to the skin. Of course, he didn’t hurt Elizabeth though.

And at this point Elizabeth had basically given up on struggling and just accepted her fate, letting the little boy cut her hair.

When the boy was done, Elizabeth had some fairly noticeable bald spots.

The boy tried to glue together the hair in the shape of a scarf, but of course, it wouldn’t work, and the innocent boy began to cry as he found his project was a failure.

Hearing his son crying, Jumin immediately stopped his work and rushed to his son, but he stopped dead in his track as he saw all the fur scattered everywhere.

He then looked towards Elizabeth’s bed and let out a howl at the sight of all the bald spots and her fur cut off.

“S-son, what did you do?” he asked looking down at the crying boy.

“I wanted to make the scarf you wanted,” he said rather defeatedly.

Jumin sighed, calling the maid to come clean up the mess. He lifted his son up and decided work could be done later. He needed to spend time with his son now.

And then he would have to think of some way to make it up to Elizabeth for enduring the manhandling she surely would have faced.

☺ Seven/Saeyoung ☺

“I’m going to miss you so, so, so, so much!” Seven squealed swinging your laughing form around in his arms, the little girl that mirrored him laughing as well at her father’s silliness.

You grinned, bending down to kiss the top of her little head, her red hairs tickling your nose slightly.

“You’ll come home soon, right mommy?” The girl peeped.

“Of course,” you grinned. “You have fun with Daddy now. I’ll see you guys in a few days.”

The last thing you heard walking out the door was a squeal of joy as Seven lifted the little girl over his head and spun her around before running into the bunker.

He set the little girl down on the couch next to Saeran who was trying to watch tv.

“Now, little hacker, daddy has to do some work for a couple hours or Ms. Vanderwood - “Oui!” - will get mad at me. Can you be a good girl and sit here with your uncle and watch TV?” Seven asked with a cheeky grin and a higher pitched voice that had a little bounce to it.

The girl nodded, cuddling next to an uncomfortable Saeran. Seven gave her a nodd and a thumbs up before skipping off.

The little one did as her father asked for about an hour until she got really bored and Saeran had dozed off at this point.

She untangled herself from a blanket, careful not to wake her uncle, and went to the kitchen to get a snack.

She could hear the vacuum coming from the ‘headquarters’, which is what Seven calls his work room, so she knew that Vanderwood would not be there to stop her from getting any food.

Carefully, she climbed up on the counter and started rummaging through the shelves.

All that was in there were honey buddha chips.

Not really meaning to, she kinda… brushed them out of the shelves, and not expecting them to be open for god sakes, Saeyoung chips started flying every way and scattering all over the floor.

Panicking a little she jumped off the counter, landing on chips and ran to get Vanderwood for help. She didn’t want her father to see the mess she made.

However, Vanderwood had a bit of a mental break down when he saw the mess, and that ending up getting Seven and Saeran’s attention.

Seven wasn’t mad, he found the whole thing hilarious, and enjoyed taking pictures of the distraught Vanderwood in a pile of potato chips.

He became upset when he was tased though.

~~~

Check out my masterlist page to see rules for requests!

Masterlist

[arkus-rhapsode]

My Version of the Avatar Arc

For me, Avatar was a massive waste of potential. So I’m deciding to rectify that.

So it’s a year after the events of my Tartaros arc, and Lucy is working for sorcerer weekly. One, because she refuses to work for any guild at the moment, and two, is trying gather information on where a lot of FT members went over the last year.

Lucy is gets an assignment from Jason (who is busy covering the GMG), to go down to Crocus for an interview with the King of Fiore and this was special as the king requested it.

Lucy arrives and meets with the king and Hisui who are amazed it’s her working for sorcerer. Lucy asks why the king wanted an exclusive aand says he feels it’s time to unveil something to the world.

The King explains how he, Dalton, and Arcadios, had spent the last year mauling it over and have decided to release the Eclipse Gate to the public’s attention. (The Eclipse Gate was hinted at and given a brief glimpse at the end of the GMG arc)

The King explains how the Eclipse Gate was a gift to the first King of Fiore (Toma’s ancestor) when the king had acquired the land that would be the kingdom of Fiore. The first king was given the eclipse gate from immigrants and these immigrants were from Alverez.

The person who brought it there said it was a powerful magical item and that it would forever be under control of the Fiore family.

The immigrants were all celestial spirit mages and Lucy is curious why. Toma says it’s because a group of Celestial mages were the only ones who could open it. They said they would, but not until, “the time was right”

Lucy asks if they know what it does and Toma says it was activated once in his life time and says the one who opened it was a band of Celestial Spirit mages and their leader was Layla Heartfilia.

Lucy stops and is very puzzled by this. Hisui commenting that Lucy does resemble Layla and had the last name Heartfilia, but since she has no concept of the Eclipse Gate Hisui assumes that Lucy was never told.

Lucy says this isn’t about her, but the Eclipse Gate and they say what came out of it was a dragon. (there’s a small panel to show the dragon coming out was Igneel)

Five Dragons left the gate and after the events of Tartaros where the whole world witnessed dragons, they said they needed to explain. Toma said the dragons would not hurt anyone and they said they were here to “die”, but needed to leave something in this era

Lucy examines the eclipse gate and notices that there are 12 holes and thinks a bit about them.

He then says the only time since it’s resonated with magic is the GMG where Lucy and Yukino participated in.

Hisui says it’s getting late and says that Lucy will be staying in the palace tonight, and that it’s an honor due to her being a former champion of the GMG.

While walking away, a random knight sees where the king, Hisui, and Lucy came from and smirks evilly

At night, Lucy is thinking about the eclipse gate and her mom, curious of what she got into and why her dad never told her, but then remembers that her dad isn’t here anymore to answer that. She then thinks about Aquarius and picks up the broken remain of her key and wonders where a new key might be (Capricorn stated that keys will be reborn after their destruction, but they could show up anywhere in the world)

She then hears something and notices no guards on duty on the hallway. She notices three figures entering the chambers to the eclipse gate

 The three turn out to be Drake, Hiroshi, and Rala. Who are here to steal the valuable Fiore treasure, they are then shocked to find how big the eclipse gate is and think about all the time they wasted casing the joint. Drake says they’ll just change their target to the crown jewels of Fiore. When they try to leave, Lucy is there.

They remember her from Sun Village and she wonders why they are here

Drake explains after they failed to capture the eternal flame (and that it no longer exists) they were kicked out of Sylph Labyrinth, but in the one year they bounced back and created their own guild known as “NEO Sylph Labyrinth”

Lucy asks why they are here and they explain it’s as a new guild they are going jump start their career’s with something big. Lucy however defeats them with her Celestial Spirit magic.

Hisui is very impressed and actually thanks Lucy for the extra help, and Hisui invites Lucy to come with her to the GMG

There is a small moment where Lucy is watching the game and thinks about her time in the games. The winners are declared, but then some hooded stranger comes into the area. The figure turns out to be Natsu.

Mato says Natsu is too late and he can’t participate due to the games being over, but Natsu says it’s okay, he isn’t here to win the games, he just wants to see how strong this year’s winners are. THe entire winning team accepts Natsu’s challenge and he just jobbers them all.

The crowd is stunned, but Natsu sees Lucy and asks if happy can fly him up

Lucy has so many questions for Natsu, but Jason runs up and starts pestering Natsu and how cool he is.

Natsu and Lucy get to talk on a bench together, Lucy saying how she’s been working on some new magic and Natsu says he has been as well, and even says “If I showed you it, you’d burn apart, and I wouldn’t want that”. (And yes Natsu is keeping the long hair)

Lucy is curious what he was doing over that one year and Natsu says there is no point in hiding it, he’s been training to kill Zeref. Lucy is shocked, but Natsu says that was the goal that Igneel left for him and wants to complete it. Lucy says then why is he here and he says he wants to know how his team has been and he even asks if Lucy joined another guild. Lucy says no, and she kept her guild mark as a reminder of FT and Natsu says if it means that much then why doesn’t she just revive FT herself.

Lucy then slaps Natsu, and yells at him, that FT wasn’t just a guild it was a family and he should remember that. She says that most members of FT, won’t get into contact, and some don’t even want to come back.

They seem distant till Natsu comes to help Lucy pack and he says that he’s sorry. Lucy is a little offput and asks why he doesn’t just go find Zeref, and Natsu says that he didn’t think that his family would be reeling this badly, and that he can’t standby thinking about his family separated

Natsu lights the words “Fairy Tail” in the sky and he says that he doesn’t have a lead on Zeref, but that doesn’t matter, his priority is bringing back FT

This starts making news, with a montage of people reading the article on Natsu returning. We see Mira in a bar reading it, Sting in his office reading it, Cana (wearing a lot of cloaks over her body) pass by a copy of the article on a news rack, Juvia reading it in the pouring rain, and then it gets to Gajeel who is in Era reading this article and laughing his ass off.

It focuses on Gajeel as Panther Lily asks what’s so funny, Gajeel says that Natsu has finally resurfaced, they are interrupted by Levy who has returned from a mission and we find out that Gajeel, Levy, and Lily are all RUne Knights, with Lily and Levy being squad leaders, and Gajeel being a division commander.

We get a little reflection from Levy who talks about how things have changed with the wizards saints all have taken seated positions on the Council (Except Serena) and that Doranbolt is now Rune Knight General.

Doranbolt checks on Gajeel and when Doranbolt leaves, this new guy shows up.

This guy is Carlos (only the design, the ‘real’ carlos was a character who appeared in the last chapter of Rave, but for the purposes of this rewrite, he is here in this universe) who also holds the rank of Division Commander. He makes a few cracks at Gajeel, flashes his Telekinesis magic, and makes a few veiled passes at Levy, but ultimately he just leaves.

Gajeel is a little angered and Levy wonders with Natsu back, what’s going to happen.

We cut to Fiore and in a small town Natsu and Lucy are stopping by because Lucy says she knows where Wendy is. As Natsu and Lucy are talking, we see this big teenager run away from Romeo of all people.

Romeo knocks the guy down with his fire magic and then forces te guy to hand over this stuffed bear.

Romeo grabs it and returns it to this little boy who asked him to get it back after the teenager took it. Natsu walks up and surprises Romeo and his reaction is to latch onto Natsu and starts talking about how much he missed him

While he’s hugging Natsu, Lucy notices that Romeo doesn’t have his guild mark anymore.

Natsu asks if Macao is around and Romeo stops smiling saying he’s not with his dad and that he hates him. Natsu and lucy are stunned and Romeo says he hates his dad for being weak and disbanding the guild after the Tartaros incident. Romeo ran away and lived a town over from Macao, where he’s been bunking as a woman’s house who’s letting him say in exchange for manual labor. He then mentions how he’s becoming a stronger fire mage and his saving money to go to Saber Tooth’s hometown and join them.

Natsu asks Romeo why he doesn’t make amends with his dad and Romeo storms off saying he thought Natsu be proud about strong he became and not how his dad is doing.

Lucy is upset, saying that Romeo shouldn’t hate Macao. Macao may have broken up the guild, but it was only out of the thought everybody would e better off. Even if he was misguided, there was some truth to how a lot of shit happened to FT that they’ve only gotten by on the skin of their teeth.

Natsu goes to find a sulking Romeo and Romeo says that he’s never going to see his dad again and that’s final. Nats then says that he’s never going to see his dad again, he watched Igneel die and he knows he’ll never get the time to be with his father again, but Macao is still alive and Romeo can still salvage a relationship with him.

Romeo is silent and then Natsu brings up how not to long ago there was a kid in Fairy Tail crying asking when his dad would come home. Then he was so happy when he heard that his dad wasn’t only back, but also beat 29 Vulcans. Natsu says it’s hard for him to believe that same kid, now hates his dad.

Natsu tells Lucy they should go find Macao. As they leave Romeo is following behind them, but he’s hiding so they don’t notice him.

Natsu, Lucy, and Happy make it to the town of Thistle, where at the local bar, Macao is getting roaring drunk. Macao is drunkenly complaining when the bartender says he’s cutting Macao off, and Macao starts ranting how he used to be the master of Fairy Tail.

Natsu and Lucy reveal themselves and Macao is shocked, they ask about romeo and Macao says he feels like a giant jackass. He says everything Romeo said to him about how he was weak and broke up FT was right.

Outside, Romeo is listening to all of this, and frowning.

Macao starts apologizing and Lucy says how she’s okay with Macao’s decision, and that they are now trying to revive FT. She says that they are going to need a Master, but Macao says he’s not master worthy. If he can’t handle his own kid then how can he hope to run a guild

Natsu asks the bartender for cold water and then dumps it on Macao, trying to sober him up.

Macao is now sober and yells at Natsu for doing that. Natsu says he wants Macao to give him that same answer, but not drunk, this time Macao can’t and instead gets up saying to forget about him.

Romeo still eavesdropping, just thinks about how stupid his dad is.

Lucy and Natsu are bummed, but Happy brings up the very real possibility, not everyone wants to come back.

There’s a sound outside and suddenly there is a bunch of men with this guild mark on them:

The guild is a dark guild known as Abyss Horn

Abyss Horn’s guild operate in this town, Thistle, and often lord their power over them.

They’re here for Macao because in his drunken stupor, he set one of the AH mages on fire after insulting their guild.

Now that guy he set on fire is back and he brought, help from the Master of Abyss Horn

The Master is Cranch (Yes I know he’s from the twin dragons of Saber Tooth manga, but purposes of this rewrite, yadda yadda)

Master Cranch sees Macao and asks abut all the insults he threw at his guild. macao says he apologizes, but Cranch tells him to shut up and he’s here for revenge

Cranch’s magic is called Red Beast, a type of fire magic that creates a wolf head out of fire and send it at a target, which then bites on to the target and sets them on fire.

He hits Macao with Red Beast, while yelling how Fairy Tail is trash, that they were weak, and that there’s a new guild on the rise.

Natsu and Lucy jump in and knock a couple mages down. Cranch yells what the hell are they doing. Natsu says that he not only beat up an old man and also insulted the FT guild.

Cranch says that they are going to die and that they are out of their league, but when he sent out his Red Beasts at Natsu, Natsu just eats them.

Romeo watches this fight in shock

They start to fight the fodder easily, but then Macao actually tries to fight Cranch.

Natsu and Macao blow down Cranch, but Cranch fakes going down and Natsu is happy to see Macao back up and fighting. Macao smiles and wants to see Romeo again

Cranch tries to run up and attack Macao, yelling how he won’t be humiliated by an old man, but Romeo comes out of nowhere and punches Cranch in the face with a Purple Flare coated fist (clear homage to Natsu’s Fire Dragon’s Iron Fist)

Macao is shocked to see Romeo and they both say they’re sorry to each other and hug, Lucy tells Macao to go back Magnolia, and try to get the plot of land for their guild building back, because they are reviving FT.

Natsu, Lucy and Happy are traveling from Tuly to Margaret and on the way they begin to talk and have a bit of comedy, like Natsu’s sickness and Lucy showing off Lacrima phones

Lucy still tries to ask Natsu about his bandage and he just says it’s new magic. Lucy says she’s been working on something new as well.

They make it to Margaret ad catch the thanksgiving day festival and see Wendy as an idol, Natsu, Happy, and Lucy’s reactions are the same.

After the Sky Sisters show, Natsu and Lucy see Wendy and she’s happy to see them and they same they’re bringing FT back. Lyon saying it must be time for Wendy to leave.

But Wendy says she isn’t going back to FT. Everyone is shocked and Wendy explains that Lamia Scale was there for her after Tartaros and it’s her guild now.

When Happy is about to argue, they see carla who now has human transformation. Natsu says she should look like Panther Lily (all big and muscular) and Carla knocks him over the head.

Carla says it’s Wendy’s decision and that’s final.

At their Inn, Natsu and Lucy feel defeated, but Natsu really is bummed because of all the memories he shared with Wendy and Lucy says they shared memories with everyone, but it seems not enough to make remake FT

At the home of Wendy and Chelia, they talk about how Sherry and Ren got married and now Sherry is a Blue Pegasus mage, Chelia says it is a bit lonely.

Wendy says she understands, which prompts Chelia to ask why didn’t Wendy go back to FT

 Wendy says it felt like being abandoned by them and it hurt a lot. Now she feels like if she leaves Lamia, she’s doing the same thing to Chelia and them

Chelia says that the difference is Wendy’s heart will always be in Fairy Tail.

The next day they’re starting the second part of the thanksgiving festival, only to be attacked by beasts.

The people are attacking are Orochi’s Fin and Ooba explains that Orochi and Lamia were built around the same time, but Lamia became more famous even getting Jura in it and they became obscure. So now they spend their time messing with Lamia mages or missions.

Lucy kinda compares them to Twilight Ogre and Phantom Lord. But, Ooba says that even though they hate each other, Orochi’s Fin knew where the line was, and would never escalate it this far

The one controlling the beasts is the Monster Tamer.

The Monster Tamer sends these wolves at the towns people and Lamia starts fighting back. Natsu and Lucy help and Toby yells saying it’s not their business, but Yuka says they need all the help they can get.

Wendy and Carla try attacking from the sky and beat a few of the mages hiding behind the beast tamer, but then Wendy Falls to the ground.

It is then revealed that Bluenote Stinger is an Orochi’s Fin mage. He survived Tenrou and now is a legal mage for the guild, Natsu rescues Wendy similar to how Gildarts saved him and Cana on Tenrou.

Wendy says she’ll help fight, but Natsu says that Wendy’s guild is now Lamia and that she needs to protect it and be with them. Wendy is shocked, but with Carla flies off to help.

Natsu and Bluenote fight with it being very similar to how Gildarts vs Bluenote went.

It cuts to Lucy using Star Dress to help Lyon defeat more monsters, but then the Monster Tamer reveals his most powerful monster: Jet Black Wolf: Fenrir

Lyon yells to the Tamer on how he’s taking things to far and they’ll become a dark mage, but the Tamer repeats the philosophy of Grimoire Heart on how being in a legal system, will strip many of their dreams, and Bluenote has taught them they needed to cast that legality off and complete their dream, destroying Lamia

Lucy and Lyon say he sounds like he’s been brainwashed

Wendy arrives and with Chelia faces down Fenrir, the beast is srong, but Wendy shows she can use dragon force temporarily and beats Fenrir.

It cuts back to Natsu fighting Bluenote, and Natsu says he’ll have to use some of “that” power and defeats Bluenote

Orochi’s Fin retreats and Wendy meets with Chelia. Wendy and her make small talk, but Chelia says that Wendy should go with Natsu and Lucy. Wendy is shocked and Chelia says she saw it today, she had wanted to help Natsu before wanting to help defend Lamia

Wendy says she’s sorry, but but Chelia says it doesn’t matter because they’ll always be friends and Wendy says that her heart will be with every friend she’s made.

Wendy is back with the team and they are curious where they are going next.

cut to the Orochi guild and Bluenote is in several bandages and the Monster tamer is just drinking trying to figure out what’s going to happen to them now.

A an walks into the Orochi guildhall and it’s Jerome from Avatar. Jerome says that they didn’t go through the trouble of keeping Bluenote a legal mage because giving it to a low rank guild to turn it into a high class dark guild would be a good asset, but Bluenote failed

The Fiore knights and the Rune knights arrive and see that all of Orochi’s Fin have be corroded to death.

Back with the (kinda) team Natsu, Lucy reveals they are going to Desierto

Happy is curious why and Lucy says it’s because the only person to write her a letter over he 1 year was Cana, who revealed she’s now in Desierto

Natsu and Wendy cringe because the way they’re taking to Desierto is the same way they took to Pergrande with Mystogan, long as hell boat ride.

While on the boat it cuts away to Blue Pegasus, where we see the Thunder God Tribe, who have been getting used to the guild over the year, but they are a little upset ow closed off Laxus seems.

Freed is upset on how Laxus has only been taking jobs and training because he wants to be able to protect them all, but he’s now so distant

Bickslow says they only time he’s really hung out with Freed is training with him.

Laxus walks in, and Ichiyais like, “do you wanna spar” and Laxus just says they’ve done it twenty times and he’s beat Ichiya every time Laxus grabs a job that’s for simple body guard work in a village near the Blue Pegasus town.

This village has a festival that’s not only a celebration of their villages great treasure, but also a big swap meet where several vendors come and exchange things 

Laxus is in charge of protecting the villages sacred treasure, a stone that was a quote “gift from the 18 battle gods”. While in the festival, Laxus feels reminded of Fantasia and what it was like for him as a kid.

He asks the village leader and she says that the treasure was a gift from the gods, who blessed a stone 400 years ago when there was chaos. The stone is said to posses a kind of black magic, but they have no idea what it is capable of because they haven’t needed it in years

Laxus is looking over the stone but notices the wind seems to have changed and then grabs the village leader, quickly dodging a wind spell.

Laxus sees that the one who cause it was Erigor (who has his post timeskip design from key to the starry night) and he’s actually become much stronger since he’s been gone.

Laxus says Erigor should’ve been locked away and Erigor merely says he escaped, now he is an enforcer for Avatar.

He says Avatar craves advancement in Black Magic and this stone of the gods will be used for Zeref.

Laxus kinda shit talks Erigor saying that Erigor is just a punk who keeps getting passed around by several dark guilds and all because he wasn’t happy he rightfully lost his legal status

Erigor is pissed and the fight is almost like a storm. Erigor tries to use the stone, but Laxus beats him, saying that a mage like him will never be able to defeat him. (Laxus remembers Tempester and vowing not to be weak)

The village is happy and Freed then calls Laxus and talk about the return of FT, but Laxus smiles while talking to Freed saying he’s not coming back to FT till he’s strong enough and Laxus wants to come back and have Freed teach him Jutsu Shiki

 Cut to the boat where Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Wendy, and Carla are dropped off at the Desierto port town of Dune.

They start to venture, with Wendy and Happy moaning about the heat. The team eventually makes its way to a town square, they see there is a fortune teller, and it turns out to be Cana.

Lucy and Cana hug and are happy to see each other. cana saying she’s been doing fortune telling to make cash.

After the fight with Sayla, she left the Strauss’s feeling like she needed to find Gildarts, she had met up with Gildarts and Natsu said he ran into Gildarts in Magnolia and Cana says the reason he was there wasn’t because he had another quest, but he is now protecting the Lumen Histoire. They’re all shocked and Cana says that it was the last thing he was tasked with.

Also over the one year, Cana has mastered Fairy Glitter (She didn’t get it on Tenrou, Mavis only let her use it for the GMG as a secret weapon.) She says she wanted to master it as it felt like it could’ve helped in the fight with Sayla, but also is an extra piece of FT to carry with her

Natsu is curious about Lumen Historie, but Cana doesn’t know much about it. Cana then breaks down and apologizes to Lucy, saying that she’s sorry for leaving. After everything thy went through she should’ve done more than just write a letter

Natsu then smells something odd as a cloaked figure passes by Cana’s little business and runs after it, saying he knows that scent.

Natsu finds the guy in the cloak and it turns out to be Cobra.

He is curious how Cobra is out of prison and it’s because of Yajima who set them free during the Tartaros stuff

Cobra says he’s here to find and destroy a dark guild trying to help Zeref. Natsu is shocked, but Cobra says this doesn’t concern him and that Natsu should leave. Natsu agrees saying he’s got a ton of people to find and bring back FT. Cobra walking off and saying that his name is Erik and that he wishes Natsu luck on remaking his guild.

Natsu comes back to Cana and Cana says that she knows where Mira and Elfman are. They never left Joya after the Tartaros stuff.

Lucy asks if she’ll be coming with them, but Cana says no, she’s heading straight back to Magnolia, because she wants to help rebuild the guild.

They then are off to Joya, but it cuts away to Cobra and he’s surrounded by dark mages, revealing themselves to be a branch of Avatar. Cobra asks about their mater plan.

They say they have something more scary than a demon in store for the world and Cobra takes them all out

It cuts to Joya where in their capital, Diamanté, there’s a bar called “Bar Ivory” where Mira is working. They all talk, Loke even showing up to flirt a little.

Mira says that she and Elfman have been training during the last year and they have mastered new souls. Mira explains that they’ve been living above the bar and have been working to get by while they train.

Natsu asks where Elfan is and it cuts to a forest like area in front of a beautiful waterfall. This place is known as “Crystal Falls”

Elfman is there and he sees Natsu, the two exchange banter, Natsu pointing out how Elfman cut his hair, but Elfman points out Natsu’s now long hair

Natsu is happy that they want to join FT, but Elfman says before he goes back, he wants one spar with Natsu like they used to.

Natsu and Elfman spar and Mira comments on their strength. Natsu even saying Elfman is stronger than Bluenote.

The fight ends in a draw and they both start laughing. They say they’re going back to FT, but it’s getting close to sundown so they can stay the night.

Before bed Mira talks to Natsu about the death of Igneel and she compares it to Lisanna’s death. She says it may always hurt, but when we come to accept it, it not only makes people stronger, but drives it to never happen again

Natsu says that’s why he wants to bring FT back together. for their family to be back together

The next morning, Mira explains how she can make some calls and get minor characters back like Nab, Wakaba, and Vijeteer, but she doesn’t know where bigger named people are.

The team and the Strauss’s all head back to magnolia together

We cut to Era where Doranbolt and the seated members on the council are discussing recent events: a former dark mage in custody had escaped and tried to steal a valuble treasure (Erigor), A legal guild turned dark with the help of a former high ranking balam alliance member (Bluenote), and now a dark guild within Desierto was captured with many indication it’s a branch of a bigger organization (the Dune branch of Avatar)

The seated members are curious about this Avatar and speculate that they have assumed control of the magic underworld, due to the power vacuum created by the fall of the Balam alliance.

Hyberion says they should focus on the case of Erigor’s escape and Bluenote joining Orochi’s Fin.

Hyberion says that Erigor escape came because of a cell transfer that he took advantage of. Bluenote’s record of being a Dark Mage was also wiped completely clean.

Both of these actions could only be completed by someone with that influence and both those transactions could be completed in Era, meaning there’s likely an informant for Avatar who holds a high enough rank

Wolfheim say they should see who made the cell transfer, but it was destroyed in the archives presumably along with Bluenote’s record as a dark mage

They also show off a specific communication Lacrima taken off of Erigor that seems to be used by Avatar agents on a secure network

They then begin to wonder who it could be. Explaining that due to the deaths over the Tartaros war, many new division commanders were made. But the two who moved up the highest was Gajeel and Carlos

They interrogate the two both coming up clean, checking their quarters and again it’s clean.

They check anyone who has had access to the archive room and one of them was Levy.

They check her room and in a bag in her room is the Avatar Lacrima

Levy is put in custody, Gajeel yelling how it’s a lie and that Doranbolt should back him up, but Doranbolt says personal feelings aside this is for the good of Ishgar.

Levy is interrogated and she says that it isn’t hers. Doranbolt says that Levy has used the archive room on several assignments from the Rune Knights and did most the paper work. Her solid script also gives her plenty of options to destroy the records or hide them

Levy tries to prove her innocence by saying that even if she destroyed the records, she doesn’t have the authority to sign off on a prisoner transfer, which is how Erigor escaped.

But that doesn’t priove her innocence only making it possible there are 2 traitors. Doranbolt disclosing Levy’s relationship with Gajeel, making it possible that he’s a traitor

Gajeel is trying to help prove Levy’s innocence, by checking her room. Lily says that Lacrima they found had a chip in it meaning it had to hit something

Gajeel notices where the bag the lacrima was pulled out of is placed and it’s under the room’s vent.

Lily notices a dent on the metal of the vent and Gajeel says that could be where the lacrima got chipped

Gajeel uses his knowledge of the ventilation of the building and says someone could’ve used the vent system to drop it off in Levy’s room

Lily says that the vent shaft is too small for anyone to shrink down and move about, Gajeel adding to the fact no Rune Knight has shrinking magic

Gajeel puts it all together an confronts Carlos. Laying out all the clues and says that Carlos has the authority to make a prison transfer, he used the archive room, he knows the inside and the outside of the Rune Knight building, and he has telekinesis which would allow him to move the lacrima through the vents, but he only knew the route so when he dropped it off in Levy’s room, it chipped.

Carlos says Gajeel isn’t as stupid as he looks and attacks Gajeel. The two fight Carlos gloating about his magic power

Saying that in the new era he’ll be be rewarded with siding with Avatar

Gajeel yells why and he says they have a weapon the likes of which can’t be predicted

Gajeel over powers Carlos, but as a Rune Knight division commander he is strong, but he is suddenly paralyzed by Hyberion’s vampire magic

They take Carlos away and they get him to reveal where the main branch of Avatar is, but unfortunately it’s in a highly concentrated population, so they can’t use Etherion

While being put away, Ivan makes an appearance and a smartass remark how he’ll just have to wait 14 more years and he’ll pay FT a visit

We cut to the seated members agreeing to ban to send Rune Knights to take down Avatar and the division they’re sending is Gajeel’s

We cut to the team traveling back to Magnolia on carriage, but they notice when entering Amefurashi Village, it’s raining really hard, but only here. They ask to stop the carriage and find the home of Juvia

Juvia has become a recluse since he disbanding of FT. Feeling alone and hollow. She had to visit the wreck of the guild on saw no one there

Natsu tellsher they’re bring back the guild and she hugs him crying about not wanting to be left alone,

Mira puts Juvia to sleep so they can take her back to Magnolia and Lucy says that they need to find Gray, Erza, Mytogan, Laxus, Gajeel, Levy, and the other big names

It then cuts away to Malba City, where Rufus is fighting a dark mage near the Mikage forest outside of Malba

Rufus struggles and asks why, as the dark mage turns out to be Gray. Gray walks through Rufus calling him weak.

Gray tells Rufus to limp away and not forget this

At Magnolia, we see that guild is somewhat coming together, Macao was able to get his hands back on FT’s old plot of land and Elfman is helping build it.

They also find out Jet and Droy are still in Magnolia, but they refuse to come back because Levy isn’t back (both tried to join the Run Knights, but Droy failed his entrance screening and Jet says he’ll never abandon Droy as they’ve been friends forever)

They are all surprised when Happy has a newspaper and shows that Rufus has been beaten up and that confirms the dark mage to be Gray Fullbuster

Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, and thee exceeds go to Sabertooth where they meet up with Sting and everybody

Lyon also reads this paper in Margaret and goes off to Mikage

Orga is standing over Rufus’s bedside and swears he’ll take down Avatar and crush Gray

Natsu however says that’s wrong and Gray isn’t evil

Minerva gets a bit to talk with Lucy and Yukino

Natsu tries to argue with Sing as Gray is their responsibility, but Sting refuses to allow a dark mage to critically injure a mage of his and not be punished.

Natsu says that Sting knows Gray and that this isn’t him, and if it’s anyone’s responsibility, it’s FT’s because this happened after they broke up

Rogue says they shouldn’t squabble and go to Mikage and destroy Avatar along with Gray

Natsu tells Rogue it’s crazy and Rogue says a person can change a lot in a year

Minerva comes up with a compromise and says she’ll give Team Natsu 45 minutes to get in and snoop around, but if they aren’t back in those 45, Wendy (who’ll not go with Natsu and Lucy), will report to Saber Tooth who are waiting on the edge of town

Cut to Avatar headquarters where they are talking about their branches falling, but also Carlos being captured. Arlock says they’ll need to increase their schedule and tomorrow morning, they’ll begin the purification

The members get a word in and Gray says he’s here just because he wants to meet Zeref because he has the book of END

We cut to outside the headquarters where Natsu, Lucy, and Happy are. When discussing the break in, Natsu and Lucy run into Lyon who knows about Gray and says he wants to talk with him

Natsu claims he and Gray are friends, bu Lyon says he and Gray are like family and Natsu begrudgingly agrees.

Lyon says he’ll make a distraction while Natsu and Lucy break in

Lyon fights Gray and lyon loses

Natsu and Lucy are found out by Goumon, but Natsu says he’ll handle him

Lucy is snooping around but runs into Jerome and Mary. Jerome shows off his sword’s powers, but then Loke shows up to defend Lucy say that corrosion stuff won’t kill a spirit like him

But Jerome points out that as spirit, he’s bound to his summoner and Mary takes out lucy, causing her spirits to vanish

Natsu beats Goumon into the floor, literally, but the room the land in is the prison room

Goumon runs from Natsu into one of the cells, but when Natsu follows Goumon slips magic cancelling cuffs on Natsu

Goumon knocks Natsu out

They all look like they’ll be tortured, but Gray tells Arlock he’ll stay behind because there could be more mages sneaking about while they’re gone

Gray frees everyone after beating Goumon and reveals he was an inside man. He was still doing this all for END, but he knew about Avatar on the rise

Wendy reports t Saber Tooth and they all agree to fight Avatar. Half will confront Avatar and the other half will evacuate the city

The team arrives and it’s about time for a big battle

Wendy, Lyon, and Gray fight all the fodder

Minerva and Rogue fight Able who tries to use mr kursey on Frosche, but when Minerva takes away the doll,  ROgue is balistic and beats the crap out of Able

Orga and Sting team up to fight D-6

You remember D-6, right?

Then Yukino fights Briar

Lucy fights Mary and Loke fights Jerome (battle of the pretty boys)

Natsu goes for Arlock

They all battle with the good guys beating back Avatar, but Arlock shows off his master weapon, Ikusa-Tsunagi

He activates Sacrificial Summoning Magic, and all we first see is the Blade destroy Avatar mages and suck up their souls

Minerva explains that that’s a battle god of Yakuma, but Orga says if it’s a god he can take it down

Orga notices that it’s odd that his attack isn’t doing physical damage, only making the battle god fade

Minerva realizes the key to Sacrificial Summoning magic. It’s different from celestial spirit magic which requires magic to keep the spirit bound to the world, but Sacrificial requires a constant amount of souls to keep it bound to this world

They can’t fight the god head on and Natsu thinks he could, but says he doesn’t want to risk losing “it”

The battle god swings its sword down trying to hit the people still evacuating. Minerva stops the swing with her territory and yells for everyone to help keep it away and have it burn up is already devoured souls

Gray uses Ice-Make: SIlver, Lucy and Loke use dual regulus, Wendy gets in a roar with Sting and Rogue, Orga fires off lightning, and Natsu fire punches the god

The god fades and Arlock cries in failure (Orga just blasts him)

Gajeel’s division arrive and they all arrest the Avatar mages. Gray asks if Gajeel will arrest him too, but Gajeel after hearing everything, pardons Gray

FT is starting to come together with Gajeel and Levy agreeing to come back with Gray. Gray also pays his respects and asks Rufus for forgiveness, Laxus writes a letter saying he and the thunder god tribe will be back, with Levy agreeing to come back Jet and Droy return

Lucy says there’s only tow people missing and it’s Erza and Mystogan

Lucy and Natsu ask Kagura where Erza might be and she says she came by Mermaid Heel to see how they were doing after the war. Risley offered Erza a position, but Erza turned it down

Erza went to fix her armor that was mostly destroyed in Tartaros. The place she went to fix it, Pergrande

Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Wendy are off to find Erza

In Pergrande, they are welcomed with open arms by Coco and Dan

Dan is really boosting the country’s image and their budding guild system is starting and the on helping over see the new guild system as representive to the Magic Coucil and head of the Pergrande branch of the Council, Mystogan

Mystogan in my mind would have resembled this version of Timeskip Jella after, well, the timeskip

Their happy to see each other and Dan mentions that he offered Mystogan the title of King, but he refused.

Mystogan says it isn’t his and there is more rewarding feelings nursing the growth of guilds

Lucy asks about Erza and he says that Erza has been working in Pergrande’s forge and learning how to make armor

She wants to rebuild her armor herself this time, and they visit Erza to find her as she usually is.Natsu asks for a fight right here before they return and Erza reveals that she now can manipulate armor and weapons from separate sets together

The reason is that as she learned to forge her Armor, she learned every nuance of her armor and now knows what she’s doing with requip perfectly

They fight to a draw because Gray yells they should all go back to the guild

Mystogan says that he’ll say , but Dan says that he knows Mystogan’s feelings on Pergrande and repeats what he said 8 years ago when the first liberated Pergrande

They all come back to FT, everyone is there and Gildarts of all people also arrives with the Lumen Histoire

Lucy starts crying realizing that not only is FT back, but every member is under one roof

They decide to make Erza the guildmaster and Gildarts says he’ll explain the lumen histoire to Erza. Elfman sees that Laxus is back and they have a small back and forth, Gajeel and Levy have to go to Era to fully resign from the rune knights and Natsu cries happy he has a family again

It ends with Zeref meeting Acnologia and Acnologia says that there are still dragons left and he’s been licking wounds for the last year

Zeref offers some words of comfort saying that he’s spent the last year putting a plan in motion that will lead this world into having a black future

END of the Avatar arc

[kappasigmalife]

Desolate Caladium: Chp 2

Desolate Caladium : chapter 2

Falls on me

The dead of night came quickly for us, I was able to use some of my savings to get us out of port on a cargo ship going to neighboring islands. The kingdom is in an uproar and caladium is terrified. While on the hold we were finally able to rest and I watched as he tossed and turned the entire night. Of course I wanted to tell him everything was fine but in truth how could it, losing your father, cast from your kingdom like a leper, and your only company is a guy you saved 5 years ago, and is wanted for the murder of the king. When he woke up I found him eating a basket of fruit some of the sailors gave him, tossing me a banana, he told me to eat it plenty of it considering scurvy is a thing in the high seas. Eating the fruit I notice that caladium is taking out a long dagger and looking at it.

“an azoth dagger, meant for mages who completed their training as novices and attain the rank of casters, only given when one slays a beast, never thought I’d ever unwrap the cloth to use it.” “it’s a beautiful blade prince, but why take it out now” As I ask I notice hime cut it into his long locks of hair and sees it change color, from dark brown, to a light tan.

“as of now, my name is callum, and drop the prince, I don’t have use for it no more.” When we got to port he asked me to get him clothes that were civilian instead of royal and as we walked I saw him eyeing the guards around us, looking for me.

“don’t worry if anyone notices you, ill keep them away alright.” “being a mage must really be cool.”

“well it’s the hard work that pays off.”

His hair almost looks better shorter, but of course the hair that fell off just burned away, no doubt to just simply keep from being tracked later on. He grabbed my by the arm and brings me to the marketplace where he places some cents on a man’s table asking for a place for the night. The man tells him money is no good for him as the merchants guild has been struck down by the fallen kingdom and requires assistance more than anything. He gave us the room in exchange we bring his caravan to the next city 5 miles away. Gladly accepting, callum looks at me and smiles knowing that were safe another day. That night he slept more soundly and I kept watch outside once again. I began notice the sound of a horse galloping fast around the market and place it as nothing more than rounds being done by the police force. My real concern was watching callum just sleep as the night drags on. He woke around 4 am telling me he will take over and for me to rest before we must leave again. I can tell his very focused as he doesn’t even blink as he gazes outside, his auburn eyes under the moon glistened as I looked at him before drifting off. Although my time with him has been short we have been through more than enough to know the confines of needing one another to survive in this world. He promised me that we would be okay and in retrospect we are, together we stand against the illegal acts of the coup de ta    while also running from our fate at the hands of the gallows. Forbidding himself from magic, he relies only on his brawn to keep us safe.

While the night persisting into the early morning we were able to rest enough to be ready to head out with the caravan. He took the reins and whisked us away from the market all the way to the next town in only a matter of hours, with one horse and supplies. As we arrived he received a large sum of cash that he stashed into his satchel to get us another room. Instead of a nice room in an inn, we chose to stay in the stables free of charge in order to recuperate and regroup our route away from the kingdom. His idea is to become a merchant only to provide protection as well as favors for cash in return for living quarters and start a new life. While I would like the idea of having a new life with him, it is not fair he is the one doing all the work. I requested to be sent to the local apothecary to work as a medical official and help townspeople with licensing from the city. The issue is that I need an alias as well, but callum assured me that desmond is so common it wouldn’t be an issue and effortlessly got me an emblem signifying my alliance to a med corp. as tears ran down my face I saw that he was smiling and wiped the tears from me.

“your eyes, I didn’t notice they were green, the color of life, a perfect fit for a medic.” “I never really noticed callum, thank you.” “we should celebrate, lets splurge a bit at the bar.” we drank til the hour grew late and we laughed at the expense of our new life, although much of it was running thin on the confines of time as we needed callum to still earn a living with the merchants guild. As a mage he could easily be a noble or even king, but his life was gone and he looks like hes okay with it.

“why are you so happy callum?” “huh, that’s no issue des, I just love being happy.” “but you have lost everything you had in a matter of days and you see the brighter side so quickly.” “of course I do, its because deep down the more I see the pain and anguish the easier it is for me to learn from it and become a better person throughout my life”

“why help everyone but yourself, you act like that’s your purpose.” “as a mage that is how I am born to be, to use magic as a way of helping instead of destroying as my master would say, but now I cant without being outed by the guards.” As I think back at all the things hes had to endure its more prevelant now that I merely only know one minute of his life aside from the entirety. He went on to tell me of his childhood, when his mother died when he was born due to the inheritance of her magic, his father showering him with affection even though he was king, spending time with other kids his age accidently hurting them only to have one friend who understood him.

“I fear that he may come soon, he is the most powerful knight of my fathers council and his bloodline is laced in carnage and bodies.” “how come, isn’t he your friend.” “because its his duty to protect the kingdom, as of now were seen as fugitives and at the same time as victims of conspiracy, but that doesn’t matter to them, they wish to seek control and end the kings familial bloodline one way or another.” “you really are a brave man, I don’t get how you could ever…..” he cut me off placing his hand on my mouth and gesturing me to leave with him. Sneaking out the back he pulled me into a back aisle in the road where he snuck behind the crates. A large hulking figure was looming around stopping in the aisle before moving on. I knew something was different, he was reeking of blood and seemed like the type to end a many for simply arguing with him.

“already found us, and not even three days passed, well done black knight, may we settle our debate tonight or shall I continue to elude you.” As I blinked the man came between us narrowly slicing me with a odd weapon, a sword and staff combined. He looked at both of us and kicked me into the crates as he went to take on callum, whose leaped in the air to the rooftops grabbing his azoth dagger. The man followed suit and I could only watch as they continually fought clashing blades and running after one another.

“for a man who is the kings lapdog, it’s a surprise you didn’t decide to kill him.” “true I didn’t, but given the price I can easily take his sons hide as my own trophy.” “always the morbid talker, taking any price for the job, taken any price for a rescue.” Callum had blasted him off right at my feet landing on his head. As soon as I thought he was dead, he rose back up cracking his neck into place and laughing.

“losing your touch caladium, you really surprise me without your true magic showing.”

“its callum, and what did I expect from the son of the impaler, or as I call you guys, the failed kinship.” “ouch most damage you ever gave me” Callum was getting more and more serious in this fight and all I could do was watch as the two moved more quickly than ever at each other. The metal of the blades going back and forth like a wavering dance of who would lead next, until chris began incantations.

“caelum hoc urere flammis bestia”

“oh goodie breaking out the dead language that gonna be fun.”

A burst of flames erupt from callums blade and strikes the man into the wall allowing him to grab me and run. The man gets up and gives chase merely cornering us and getting to grab my by the collar as I tried to run. Putting his blade to my neck he asked for me to drop mine and come with him. Doing so callum gives into the demands and leaves. I pick up his azoth dagger and glows in the direction he left with the man. Following the signal I come to see the man with piercing red eyes and golden hair curled with a massive beard. The two are drinking together near the shore and I sneak to see what is going on.

“its been years bro, how have you been?” “tough, but you know what its like in the kingdom.” “yeah true I don’t get it either but they pay well, and again im sorry to hear about your dad.” “he was old and things happen, but thank you for the sentiment.” “pleasure now that I know your good on your own, im gonna tell them your dead, and so is that nurse fellow.” “thank you for this, Trev” “least I could do after busting your ass to get me the knights gig, a vampiric knight of the council god everone flipped.” “those were the good old days.” I watched as callum got up and hands over a emerald pendant as the black knight rises and takes it from his grasp.

“payment for this favor, you know the drill.” “ill find two loathsome vermin in town your size and axe them off, then you disguise them yourself, that will act as proof of your death.” “not the first time we did this, go to the east district that where most of the mongrels live.” “good to know, and by the way, why hang around that kid.” “I see something in him innocent, that’s been masked for a long time, also his smile is adorable.”

[bdfanfic]

Dodger: Continuation (4)

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK  KNOCK

She waited a moment, then put the key in the lock and opened the door. Yellow-Eyes was still on the bed but awake as she set the plates down and locked the door behind her.

"Everything okay?" he asked taking a plate.

"Yeah. A couple of guys tried to pick my pocket, but no problem. I didn't have any money there anyway, thanks to you. Apparently there's a Thieves Guild in this town!"

"Of course. Not uncommon in a city of this size."

"They called you 'Kem'."

Yellow-Eyes didn't even pause. Between mouthfuls, he grunted, "Yeah. They call me that here."

"Which is your real name then?"

"Neither. Can you get me some water from the table?"

Dodger crossed to the table, filled a mug from a pitcher there, and brought it back.

"Well, what's the plan? Are we going to see your friend?"

"No. She'll come here."

"She?"

Yellow-Eyes looked up. "Yes. She."

“But you said...”

“That was before I knew you were coming along. Besides, it’s always best to hold some details back, or confuse them.”

Another note for her notebook, Dodger thought. "When?"

He resumed eating. "Don't know. Maybe tonight. Maybe tomorrow."

"So, we're just going to stay here?"

"I am. You do whatever you want. Go see the city. Just watch yourself."

Dodger sat on the floor cross-legged and dug into her dinner in earnest. Once she started eating, it was all she could do to keep from wolfing it all down at once. It was as if her body was reminded how long it had been since she'd last eaten - and how little it had been even then. It wasn't till her plate had been picked clean that she looked up. Yellow-Eyes was watching her.

"You okay?" he asked.

Dodger wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "Fine. Sorry. I was pretty hungry I guess."

"I guess!"

"Well, I think I'll take a look around anyway. You're really just going to stay here?"

Yellow-Eyes nodded.

"Okay. I guess I'll see you later."

"Two knocks, then two," he said as she was walking out, though this time she looked both ways down the hallway before she turned back.

"Wait, we're going to change the knocks every time? Why?"

"Someone might have heard you last time."

"You're paranoid. You know that, right?"

"Two knocks, then two more. I'll keep the key and lock up behind you." he said.

She tossed the key back to him, but he let it hit the floor without making any effort to catch it.

"Lazy too," she said.

"Dodger. If you get in trouble, I won't be looking for you. You need to know that. You're on your own here. Be careful."

"Alright DAD."

"That's the point. I'm not your dad. I'm an architect. I wish you well, Dodger, but I'm not even you're guardian here. You don't have a guardian."

"Okay, okay. Got it. I'll be back in a couple of hours."

The hallway was still clear when she closed the door and by the time she got to the stairs at the end of it, she heard the latch turn. She went back down the stairs. In the public room, the place was getting busier. She took the plates to the end of the bar. Mr. Broad was talking to someone at the other end of the bar, but he noticed her and nodded so she set the plates down and walked out.

The stars were just coming out as she stepped into the cooling air. The streets, though far from deserted, were certainly less bustling than they had been earlier. Yellow-Eyes, a.k.a. Kem, a.k.a. who knows what had given her a fair idea of the city layout with the tower in the center. It did make it easier to navigate though.

But mostly she just watched the people. Such a variety of people. And not just the variation in races she had read about, but the sizes, ages, clothing styles. It was like the vines back in the Marsh - no two were exactly the same.

"No wonder humans think we all look the same. In comparison with them, I guess we do!" she thought. "Not many kids though. I wonder if they keep them indoors?"

She found herself back in the area with the graves. When she came near the one Yellow-Eyes had placed a rock on, she noticed it was gone. At least, if it was the same headstone. They were all so similar she might be wrong, but she didn't see any rocks on the other nearby headstones either and she was fairly sure she was at the right place.

"Must be some sort of signal," she thought. "He puts a rock up there and his friend notices, and comes to that inn as a pre-arranged meeting place. Gotta write that down."

She sat and scribbled some notes about the two men and what they'd told her of the Guild as well as what she'd learned from Yellow-Eyes. The locking of the door and the code knocking she could use too. Even the nasty restroom could be handy. This trip was turning out to be a bounty of ideas!

When she'd finished her notes, she just sat back and watched the people go by. There were certainly Argonians as well as Orsimer occasionally, but they were still a minority compared to the humans with their swirly ears and their patchy hair. She began to notice patterns though. While there were exceptions, the males tended to keep their hair cropped short, while the females' hair was usually longer and more elaborately kept. Also, the older the males were, the less hair they tended to have if they weren't completely hairless.

Yet facial hair ran the opposite way. In fact, she finally decided that the females didn't have facial hair at all! She saw not a single case in which a female sported any below the nose or under the mouth. That must go beyond style and be an actual physical trait.

She also noticed that the females tended to dress to emphasize their breasts, while the males wore loose fitting trousers as a way of de-emphasizing their own sex. She thought back to Yellow-Eyes and his comment about only needing a jacket. She saw no Argonians here without a full outfit though - minus the footwear. Humans may just see a crocodile in a jacket, but he really should have a full set of clothes. She decided to see if she could find him some pants.

Of course, she actually did have some coin. But she certainly didn't keep it in her pockets like those cutpurse's seemed to expect. Yellow-Eyes had seen to that long before they got to the city. The problem was going to be to find a clothing store with clothing for Argonians that would fit Yellow-Eyes. She stood up and began to wander around, now with an eye to finding such a store.

However, she began to realize that the storefronts were all closing down for the night. Only the taverns and brothels seemed to stay open much after dark here, so she gave up on that idea and came at last full-circle back to Luther's. She climbed the stairs, having only elicited a couple of glances by the patrons and knocked the pattern. Within she heard the lock turn and the door opened. Yellow-Eyes was still alone.

"No friend?"

"Not yet."

Dodger noticed the room had been rearranged somewhat in her absence. A new set of bedclothes had been arranged on the floor among other things. Yellow-Eyes sat atop those, leaving the bed empty for her. She sat down on it.

"You need clothes, Yellow-Eyes. No one walks around without pants here."

"I'll get some as soon as I can."

"I was going to buy you some, but all the shops are closed after dark."

Yellow-Eyes turned to look at her. "You don't have to do that. I'll make my own way."

"I know. I wanted to," Dodger said, laying down and turning to the wall.

"Well... thank's Dodger," she heard as she closed her eyes.

"No problem."

She drifted off to sleep then, probably as happy as she could ever remember being. She was on an adventure for the first time in her life, and the next day would bring more adventures without a doubt.

Suddenly she was awoken by knocking. Three knocks, then one. She looked over at Yellow-Eyes, but he was already up, sword in hand and standing at the door. He signaled for her to be quiet, and she backed up away from the door with her feet pulled up.

[lousylark]

blue lace

Part 1/?.  Story of Seasons, primarily Klaus X Minori.  Special tumblr early release; will be posting the full chapter one at some point this week, but here’s a sizable preview.  Enjoy! :)

1.

Winter 31st.  Oak Tree Town.  4:00 PM.

It was cold.

Minori buried her hands deep in the pockets of her coat.  She had forgotten to bring gloves for the walk to Lillie’s house, and, after several minutes of exposure to the frigid temperature, her fingers were going numb.  

She sighed, the air leaving her mouth in a puff of white.  The Inn was only mere minutes away; she had just passed the bridge into Oak Tree Town.  Hopefully Lillie would have a fire in the hearth and hot coco ready for drinking — or at least a pair of gloves.

Really, it was something of a wonder that Veronica hadn’t decided to cancel the New Year’s Festival that evening.  Although it was officially the final day of Winter, it was obvious that Spring would arrive late in the upcoming year.  At least six inches of fresh snow still blanketed every roof, windowsill, and street lamp.  Ice rendered every street a “proceed with caution” zone.

But Minori had never heard of Veronica canceling any of Oak Tree Town’s festivals, let alone a festival as important as that evening’s New Year’s party.  The guild-master had decided early in the season to open the festival to the general public for the first time, meaning that their attendance numbers would soar.  The town’s heightened publicity was a result, Veronica claimed, of Oak Tree Town’s farmers’ hard work over the past two years.  

And it was true.  Minori knew that she, Elise, Giorgio, and Fritz had contributed greatly to the growth of the town.  The New Year’s Festival was a way for them to look back and reflect on their accomplishments as well as a way to look forward to whatever challenges the new year held.  So, as much as she would have liked to have been at home snuggled up near the fireplace with her cat and a good book, she didn’t mind braving the cold if it meant making Veronica and the rest of the town happy.

Maurice’s Inn soon came into Minori’s field of vision, and she breathed another sigh — this time of relief.  The building’s brick chimney spat out steady puffs of gray smoke, which meant that someone had heard Minori’s prayers and stoked a fire.  (She would have to thank Dessie later.)

A few snow-crunching steps later, Minori stood in front of the door.  Scarcely had she raised her fist to knock, however, when it swung open before her.

Melanie, Maurice’s youngest child and Lillie’s sister, stood in the doorway.  Her brown hair was curlier than usual, tucked neatly behind the band of her earmuffs.  A navy blue trench coat, too big for her thin frame, hung from her shoulders.  It was likely a hand-me-down from Lillie.  Melanie loved few things more than wearing her older sister’s clothes.  

“Minori!” she greeted.  Her smile was dazzling, all white teeth and shining eyes.  

“Hi, Melanie,” Minori replied.  Melanie moved to one side, allowing Minori to step inside the lobby.  She wiped her slush-caked boots on the doormat.  “Cute earmuffs.”

Melanie twirled a piece of hair around her finger, pleased.  “Thanks!  Dad told me to bundle up, ‘cause it’s so cold out.”

Minori tilted her head to one side.  “You’re heading out already?  The festival doesn’t start for another two hours.”

“I know!”  She sidestepped Minori, heading toward the open door.  “I’m just going to Lutz’s house for a bit.  Lillie’s up in her room waiting for you.”  She looked over her shoulder at Minori and flashed another smile.  “See you tonight!”

Minori barely had the time to utter a response before Melanie slammed the door behind her, pushing in a rush of cold air that made her remember the numbness in her fingers.  

She glanced at the coatrack and then at the door leading to Lillie’s room, debating whether or not to remove her winter gear.  She was still freezing, and the fireplace was in the kitchen, not her friend’s room.  She wanted to leave her coat on for a bit, at least until she was warmed up, but she didn’t want to leave a trail of melting snow and slush everywhere she went, either.

Eventually, she decided on taking off her shoes, her scarf, and her hat, but leaving her coat on.  She was halfway through unlacing her boots when the kitchen door opened, revealing a very flustered-looking Maurice.

“Minori!” Maurice cried.  He, unlike his youngest daughter, was not at all put together.  Rather, he had on a white shirt and a pair of rumpled black pants.  Wrapped around his neck were two different ties, one a rich blue and the other black with little yellow stars on it.

Minori grinned.  “Hi, Maurice.”

This was not the strangest circumstance in which she had greeted Maurice.  Once, about a year ago, she had walked in on him trying — and failing — to bake a cake for Lillie’s birthday.  He had burned it to a crisp, of course, and had proceeded to beg Minori to help him make another one.  

In front of his customers, Maurice was a very regal and kind man.  With his daughters — and Minori, who may perhaps have been considered as such — he was like many other single fathers: endearingly bumbly.

“You’re good at clothes, Minori,” Maurice said, gesturing to the ties hanging from his neck.  “Which one?  The blue or the black?”

Minori finished unlacing her shoes and tucked them behind the coatrack.  Then, she stood up straight and gave Maurice’s ties another once-over.  The blue one, she noticed upon closer investigation, had little silver stripes running diagonally across it.  But the black tie was more charming and playful — and it matched his pants.

“The starry one,” Minori decided.

Maurice’s eyebrows drew together in a look of severe concentration.  “Are you sure?  It’s not too gaudy, is it?”

“It’s the perfect amount of gaudy, Maurice.”

The Innkeeper let out a hearty laugh.  “See, that’s why I like you, Minori!  You appreciate my gaudy ties.  If you were —“

Whatever Maurice was about to say was interrupted by loud chimes from the grandfather clock in the corner.  Minori counted four tolls.  The Festival would start in exactly two hours.

“I need to finish getting ready,” Maurice said.  “Thanks for the help with the ties!  Lillie’s in her room.”  

Minori nodded.  “Thanks, Maurice.”

He disappeared back into the kitchen area, and Minori couldn’t help but smile a bit as she finished taking off her hat and scarf.  Obviously, the cold weather was doing nothing to deter Maurice and Melanie’s excitement for the Festival.  It was like Starry Night all over again.

After arranging her scarf and hat neatly on the coatrack, Minori made her way across the lobby to Lillie’s bedroom door.  She grabbed the knob and pushed it open, poking her head through the door.  

“Guess who?”  she greeted.  

Lillie was looking in the mirror, but as soon as she heard Minori she turned toward the door.  She was wearing casual clothes — jeans and an oversized pink t-shirt — which was a rare occurrence.  As a weather reporter, Lillie had the potential to be recognized on the streets by total strangers.  She was something of a celebrity in Oak Tree Town and the nearby cities, so she always looked her best whenever she was out in public.

“Hi, Minori,” her friend said.  “You’re just in time to help me decide what dress to wear tonight.  Did you bring a change of clothes?”

“Yep!” Minori shifted her rucksack off of one shoulder and unlatched the main flap.  Inside was a neatly-folded midnight blue dress and a pair of sparkling silver shoes.  

Lillie moved closer to look at the outfit. “Oh, it’s lovely, Minori!” she cooed.  “I absolutely love the color.”

Minori smiled.  She was rather proud of the dress — her mother had helped her pick it out.  They had made a day of it two weeks before, stopping by every major dress store in Norchester, which, due to the size of the city, had ended up being about six hours straight of dress shopping.  

“Thanks.”  Minori plopped her rucksack near Lillie’s dresser, but laid the dress neatly over a nearby chair.  “So, which dresses are we choosing between?”

“I’ve narrowed it down to two,” Lillie began, gesturing to her bed.  Two dresses were laid out on top of the covers.  One was a rosy chiffon, the other an emerald silk.  “I just don’t know which one —“ She paused, giving Minori a quick once-over.  “You know, you sort of look like Rudolph right now.  Can I get you some tea or hot chocolate?”

Minori’s chest deflated with a heavy sigh of relief.  “Oh, Lillie.  This is why you’re my best friend.”

Lillie smiled.  “Of course.  Come with me to the kitchen and we’ll get you warmed up, okay?”

Winter 31st.  Oak Tree Town, Elise’s Mansion.  5:15 PM.  

As far as festivals went, New Year’s was, by far, Elise’s least favorite.  

Her reasoning was simple.  Since the festival took place at the end of Winter, it was always cold.  The nature of the festival made her obligated to stay until midnight, and, for someone who liked beauty sleep and hated the dark, that was terribly daunting.  And, finally, it was a straight-up boring festival.  Who wanted to stand around in the cold, dark, miserable weather and participate in tedious idle chatter for hours on end?  She certainly didn’t.  

The harvest festivals and the animal festivals were more her speed.  After all, Elise was nothing if not competitive.  She liked the field conquests for that reason.  Of course, she crushed Fritz and Giorgio in battles for the fields so often that it could hardly be called a conquest anymore.  At least Minori had learned to put up enough of a fight to occasionally sate her appetite for competition.  

A sharp, tingling sensation just above her ear drew Elise from her thoughts.  

“Ah!” she yelped, her hand flying to the spot.  

Her favorite hair stylist, Jenny, nearly dropped the curling iron out of fright.  “Miss Elise!  Did I burn you?”

Elise winced as she traced her wound with her pointer finger.  “Yes, you did.”

Jenny practically dropped the curling iron on the vanity, taking little mind of the silver comb and the hairpins littering its surface.  “Oh, dear.  I’ll get some ice!”

Elise waved a hand.  “No, that really won’t be necessary, Jenny.  It’s vital that you finish my hair soon; I must speak to Miss Veronica before the festival starts at six.”  She shifted in her chair, causing a few blonde locks to fall over her shoulder.  “You’ve made no other mistakes recently, so I’ll spare you the reprimanding.  Just finish my hair, if you will.”

“Yes, Miss Elise.  Thank you.”  Jenny picked up the curling iron and started toying with the back of Elise’s hair again.  

As the stinging in her ear subsided, Elise's gaze locked on her own reflection in the mirror. Her hair was naturally wavy, but she still liked Jenny to curl it. It gave her the chance for some  introspection before the festival; a chance to gather her thoughts on how best to work the night's social activities to her advantage.

That was what she needed to discuss with Veronica.  Elise’s father would be running for governor that upcoming fall.  He already had the vote of the upper class. It was the lower class majority that he needed to win over, and the Farming Appreciation Society’s backing was surprisingly vital to winning that constituency, considering that Norchester and the other big cities in the state were surrounded by large farming populations.

Incidentally, FAS members would be attending the festival that evening.  Elise's mission, as deemed by her father, was to do anything possible to endear herself to them as a farmer as well as a politician’s daughter. If they wanted information, she was to oblige.  If they wanted a tour, she was to oblige.  Anything they asked for, she was to oblige.

Her father's politics were admittedly interesting, but sometimes it was exhausting to be his pawn -- especially when the schmoozing didn’t directly benefit her.

A few more minutes passed, and Jenny set the curling iron down on the vanity once again.  "There, Miss Elise.  All done.”

Elise narrowed her eyes at her own reflection.  Her makeup was fine, though a bit plain.  The curls in her hair were even more ringlet-y than usual.  She had a tube of lipstick that would match her dress wonderfully, but she was restricted to only lipgloss that night.  Anything stronger would ruin the innocent, almost child-like facade she needed to achieve for her father's plans to hatch.

"Is it to your liking, Miss?" Jenny asked, her voice growing smaller and higher in pitch with every word.

Elise gave a short nod. "Yes.  That will be all.  You're dismissed."

"Thank you."

Jenny scurried out the door like a mouse running from a cat, leaving Elise alone in the room.

She turned the latch on the door, locking it.  She hated being alone in unlocked rooms.

Her gown for that evening was plain in comparison to her attire for other events, but it would still cost more than any of Oak Tree Town's other residents' outfits.  Even Giorgio's designer fashions couldn't top her father's money.  

This dress was from Silk Country.  It was a gentle pink: easy on the eyes, but not unflattering.  It hugged her figure just enough to lure the eye, and the white lace near her collarbone matched her elbow-length gloves.

She slipped out of her casual dress and undid the clasps on the gown, slowly, so as not to risk breaking any of them.  Though she knew next to nothing about farming, sewing, like politics, was a subject in which she could claim mastery.  She knew the simultaneous sturdiness and delicacy of this gown.  Its lasting wear depended on the way the article of clothing was treated.

Moments later she stood in front of the mirror with the dress on, smoothing out the skirt with her hands.  She sighed at her reflection.  Oh, it was terribly plain, and she hated it, but it would have to do.  

It was 5:45 before she felt comfortable enough to leave her room.  The house was quiet and empty, likely because she had given her servants permission to leave work early and attend the festival.  She didn't usually allow them that luxury, but she supposed New Years’ allowed for special circumstances.  

She descended the stairs quickly, thankful that her outfit didn't include high heels.  If her dress looked plain, at least her feet wouldn't hurt the whole evening.  She had just reached to open the door and leave when she heard a voice from the front parlor.  

"Hey, that's a pretty nice dress.  Did daddy pick it out for you?”

Elise's mouth tugged into a scowl.  

Nadi, her landscaper, stood in the parlor doorway.  Their relationship had always been terse at best and absolutely vexing at worst.  He was the unfortunate outcome of another of her father's business ventures; Nadi's employment was a favor to one of her father's political allies.  

"Please," she said with just a hint of venom.  She didn't even bother to turn and face him.  "Spare me, Nadi.  I have many more important things to deal with than your petty attempts at clever sarcasm."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself."  Then, as Elise grabbed her winter coat from the rack, he added, "See you at the festival."

"Yes," she said, turning the knob of the front door, "unfortunately."

The air outside was bitterly cold.  Elise didn't get excited about many things, but this year she couldn't wait for spring.  Snow in Oak Tree Town was beautiful, especially compared to the dirty stuff in Norchester — she could give it that much credit.  But spring weather was more her speed.  

From the raised grounds of her farm, Elise could see that Veronica stood in her usual spot just outside the festival grounds.  The guild master greeted every person who passed under the archway into the Trade Depot, but, other than that, she seemed fairly unoccupied.

Elise made her way down the stairs and into the main part of town, grateful that she was bundled up in her winter coat.  She was less recognizable this way.  Hopefully no one would stop her for a "chat" before she could get to Veronica; she found idle prattle so terribly boring these days.

Though she almost slipped once or twice on the ice, the trek to the festival grounds was fairly uneventful.  Soon enough she was within ten feet of Veronica — and what she saw there struck her.

“Hello, Elise" Veronica greeted. Three people stood next to the guild master, two men and one woman.

Somewhere in the back of her mind, Elise knew she ought to respond, but she was, for once, so dumbfounded that she couldn't quite find the words.

Her father had mentioned the presence of FAS members.  He hadn't mentioned which members.  Standing with Veronica was the President, Vice President, and Treasurer of the board, arguably the three most influential members of the organization.  Elise knew them from the FAS magazines, letters, and television interviews.  She had never met them in person before.

Anxiety fluttered in Elise's stomach, but she pushed it down.  Finally, she raised her hand in greeting, and took several steps closer to Veronica and the FAS board.

"Elise," Veronica began, her steely gray eyes warmer than usual, "have you met the FAS board before?"

Elise gave a polite smile. "No, I can't say I've had the pleasure."  

"Well, allow me to introduce you to Mr. Pierce, Miss Holland, and Mr. Jenkins."

Elise shook each of their hands in turn.   Seeing them in person, she was struck for the first time how different they each were.  Mr. Jenkins was a jovial, hearty man.  He couldn't be more than two inches taller than Elise herself, and he carried most of his weight in his belly and chin.  Miss Holland was the exact opposite: tall and thin, with trendy red glasses and perfectly manicured nails.  She was the perfect picture of Norchester's secretarial staff, but rumor had it that the young woman had brains and cunning to rival most company CEOs.

Then there was Mr. Pierce.  He was the president, and every bit of it was reflected in his demeanor.  He was a quiet and honest man, but proud, too.  While Mr. Jenkins and Miss Holland were dressed in their Sunday best, Mr. Pierce donned a simple pair of jeans and a flannel shirt under his winter coat.  He was, according to critics, one of the best and most innovative home farmers of the modern agricultural age, with his net worth reaching almost as much as her own father’s.  Of course, you wouldn’t know that by looking at him.  Somehow that made him all the more impressive.  

"A pleasure to meet all of you," Elise said as warmly as she could manage. "I'm Elise Buchanan, in case Miss Veronica didn't already tell you."

Miss Holland raised an eyebrow.  "Buchanan?"

Mr. Jenkins' face lit up with a smile.  "Ah hah!  You're Todd's youngest, are you not?"

"Yes, sir."

Miss Holland still looked confused.  "Todd Buchanan?"

“Mr. Buchanan is one of the candidates for governor this fall,” Mr. Jenkins clarified.  "A very established man in Norchester.  I played golf with him once."  He looked at Elise and winked.  "A right legend at golf, your father.  Two hole-in-ones in one game!  How does he do it?"

Elise smiled, hoping that it touched her eyes.  "With determination and practice, sir.  And quite a bit of luck."

Mr. Jenkins laughed, a big, belly-heaving burst of joy. "Ah, yes.  Anyone who succeeds at anything needs quite a bit of luck.  So, Elise my dear, what is a princess such as yourself doing in Oak Tree Town, hmm?"

Elise resisted the urge to shoot him a glare.  She hated when people called her a princess.  But her smile remained unfaltering as she replied, "I'm one of the farmers here, sir.  I own the lot closest to town."

This caught Miss Holland's attention.  "Really?  Interesting.  You don't look like a farmer."  She paused, realizing her error, and added, "What I mean by that is — well, your dress.  It's made of silk worm thread, isn't it?  It's beautiful."

Elise was actually mildly impressed by the observation.  It was difficult to distinguish the silk of a silk worm from other similar brocades by sight.

"Yes, it is silk worm thread,” Elise replied.  “Thank you.  It was a Starry Night gift from my father.”  Not entirely untrue, but, considering the ulterior motives of the dress, Elise wasn’t sure the dress could be classified as a “gift.”  It was better described as an asset, or an investment.

Miss Holland opened her mouth to speak again.  She was interrupted, however, by a quiet clearing of the throat from Mr. Pierce.

"The festivities are beginning soon, I believe."  His voice was deeper than Elise expected it to be.  He was always quiet during TV interviews, but in person it resonated like a church tower bell.  

Mr. Jenkins slid up his coat sleeve to glance at his watch.  "Oh-ho, indeed they are!  Shall we?"  He offered his arm to Miss Holland.  She took it.  Then, looking to Elise, he asked, "Will you be joining us, Miss Buchanan?"

Elise nodded.  "Yes, momentarily.  I have some affairs to go over with Veronica before I enter the festival grounds."

"Then we'll see you later, won't we?"

"I look forward to it, sir."

The FAS members moved away after some short goodbyes.  Elise watched them go, her eyes wide with wonder.  

Once they were out of earshot, she whirled on Veronica.  

"Veronica," she hissed, not wanting anyone to hear, "what are they doing here?"

Veronica wasn't taken aback by her quick change in behavior.  After all, she had known Elise for almost four years now, and her father before that for more than a decade.  

In fact, rather than flinching away from Elise's sudden venom, Veronica's face glowed with excitement.  "They're here to select an agricultural representative for the Green Leaf Competition."

"The Green Leaf Competition?"  Elise asked, taking a step closer to the guild-master.  She lowered her voice.  "And what do you mean, select an agricultural representative?"

Activity bustled around them.  Tourists and town-dwellers alike were making their way through the archway to the festival grounds.  Some approached Veronica to speak but, upon seeing Elise's grave expression, turned away and disappeared back into the crowd.  

Veronica took a deep breath.  It seemed as if she was going to go into a long explanation, but then she exhaled.  “Elise,” she said, we have much to discuss.  Would you like to walk the festival grounds with me?"  She leaned in close, and added, "We'll find more privacy there."

Finding privacy in a public event.  The concept was not unfamiliar to Elise.  Sometimes she forgot that, as guild-master and standing mayor of the town, Veronica was somewhat adept in the political world.

Elise's ever-present frown transformed into a slight smirk.  "That sounds lovely, Veronica."

Perhaps, if she could get the right information out of Veronica and impress the FAS members, being her father’s political pawn would end up serving her directly after all.  

Winter 31st.  Lillie's House.  5:45 PM.  

Minori had just finished zipping up the back of Lillie's dress when there was a knock at the door.  

"What's up, dad?”  Lillie called.

"Uh, actually, it's Raeger."

Both girls brightened at the familiar voice.  Lillie bounded across the room and flung the door open.  

There stood Raeger, his hair considerably wind-tousled, his smile bright, and his cheeks rosy from the cold.  He had yet to take off his coat, but Minori could see a white collar and a red tie around his neck, which meant he was already wearing his chef's uniform.  

Lillie threw her arms around him in a bear hug.  Raeger was fully prepared for this, judging by the way he squeezed her so hard her feet lifted up off the ground.  They hadn't seen each other since even before Starry Night; Lillie had left two weeks before the end of winter to visit with family and Raeger had gone to Norchester on some restaurant business a day before she had gotten back.  

Minori knew that they hadn't spent that much time apart for several years, and she knew firsthand how hard it was to live without a close friend nearby for more than a few days at a time.  After all, she had left her farm in Giorgio's care for only two days to visit her family during the holidays, and she had spent every minute missing and worrying about her animals.  

Lillie and Raeger broke apart, and Minori stepped in to give Raeger a slightly less aggressive side-hug.  He returned the favor by ruffling her hair.  

"Raeger!" she protested, though there was a broad smile on her face.  She swatted his hand away.  "Lillie just finished curling my hair, please don't mess it up."

Raeger just chuckled, though he did remove his hand.  "Sorry, Nor."

"Don't apologize to me, apologize to Lillie.  This is her masterpiece, not mine."

Raeger turned to his childhood friend and gave her a sheepish grin.  "Sorry, Lillie."

Lillie smiled.  "I'll forgive you, but only if you stay and tell us about your trip."

He sighed.  "I can't, actually.  I'm a bit short on time, I've got to get to the festival grounds so I can get my catering equipment set up."

Raeger had only started offering his catering services to Veronica a year ago, but he had provided some snack for each festival since then.  Last year's New Year's noodles had been a hit.  This year, however, there would be at least five times as many visitors at the festival -- if not more -- because it was open to the public.  Raeger had been stressing about getting everything ready for weeks, Minori knew, because he had lamented to her every time she ate at the restaurant.  

Lillie tilted her head to one side.  "Isn't the company you hired for help supposed to do that?"

"About that," Raeger said, and his mouth turned downward in a rare scowl.  "The company bailed on me last-second.  Something about a conflicting deal in the city."  He dug the point of his shoe into Lillie's rug.  "I'm guessing someone in Norchester hired them for more money, and they decided that gig was more worthwhile."

"But that's rotten!" Lillie looked up at Raeger with eyes the size of teacup saucers.  "Why would they do that?"

Raeger shrugged.  "It's business, I guess."  He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest.  

Minori nodded.  "If the company wants to sacrifice their reputation for money, that's their choice.  It'll come back to bite them in the end."  

She stepped away from the door to sit down on the edge of Lillie's bed.  A thought occurred to her. "Raeger, if your company bailed, you should find some other help for tonight.  There's supposed to be a big crowd because —"

“—Veronica opened the festival to the public, I know."  He ran a hand through his already-messy hair.  "Actually, that's why I'm here.  This is a huge gig for me.  I need to make sure the publicity that the restaurant gets is positive, not negative."

Minori grinned.  "Ah, so you're here to mooch off our friendship and ask for help, is that it?"

Raeger sucked in a breath.  “You caught me.”  He looked between Lillie and Minori.  “So?  Think you guys can help me?”

Minori looked at Lillie.  Lillie looked back.  Minori turned to Raeger, her arms crossed defiantly.  

“Yeah, we’ll help.  But we want a free breakfast,” Minori said.

“On a Sunday,” Lillie added.  

Raeger frowned.  “I…well, fine.  I suppose that’s fair.”

Lillie and Minori high-fived, and the deal was sealed.

Winter 31st.  Norchester Train Station.  6:00 PM.  

Klaus Schultz was not an impulsive person.  He was, generally speaking, driven by methodical thinking and logic process.  He rarely let his emotions take control; he made judgement calls based on justice and not mercy nor vengeance.  

Years and years before, he might've described himself entirely differently.  But that version of himself was dead and buried.  He had been a new man for a long time.

It was for that reason, then, that he was so perplexed as to why he had convinced himself that catching a last-minute train to Norchester on New Year's Eve was a good idea.  

The train platform buzzed with activity.  Vendors, tourists, and natives alike flooded the station.  The moment he stepped off his train and onto the sidewalk, he tightened his grip on his luggage.  

"Well," he murmured to himself amidst all the noise, "at least Marian is easy to spot in a crowd."

The exit terminal was a short walk away.  Hopefully Marian would be on time.  The doctor had a habit of running "fashionably" late to everything other than his own scheduled appointments.  Klaus had always found him just a little hypocritical in that way — the one time every year that he was late to his biweekly appointments, Marian chewed him out for at least half an hour before proceeding with the normal checkup.  

Klaus lifted his suitcase onto an escalator step and leaned against the railing.  It had been a very long train ride, filled with deep thought and research notes.  He'd spent the week at a Perfume Connoisseur Convention in Redford, a city several hours west of Norchester.  As ridiculous as the convention sounded (especially to Raeger, damn the master chef and his infectious laughter), Klaus had gone with very specific intentions in mind — and he had not come back empty-handed.  

In fact, the fruit of his efforts was still in the breast pocket of his sports-coat: a small, leather-bound book.  Its yellowing pages were filled to bursting with handwritten notes about rare plants used to make 'magic' perfumes.  He wasn't sure he believed in magic, but he did believe in the healing properties of certain scents.  

The escalator fed out into the top floor of the train station, where family members and friends waited for their loved ones to arrive.   Klaus made an immediate right to stand against the wall.  He wanted to search for Marian without getting in the way of other outgoing passengers.  

He scanned the crowd for the familiar head of bright pink hair, but Marian was nowhere to be seen.  Klaus frowned.  He should have expected this.  

At least, he reasoned, he could read his book while he waited.  The handwriting of the author was so difficult to decipher that he had only managed to get through about half of the journal during the train ride.  

Just as he was pulling out the notebook, a familiar looking man started making his way toward the very wall Klaus was standing near.  Klaus regarded him over the top of the pages.  He was certain he had seen this man somewhere — his strangely styled gray hair, his unique golden coat, the poise as he walked.  Yes, Klaus was certain he knew this man, he just wasn’t sure how.

His suspicions were confirmed the moment they made eye contact.  The man gracefully changed his course; instead, he now walked over and reached out a hand for Klaus to shake.  

"You are Klaus Schultz, are you not?"  he asked.  

His accent was European, Klaus realized.  French, maybe, but there was some sort of Italian twang hidden in the taller vowels.  

"Yes, that would be me."  Klaus shook the man's hand before.  "I apologize.  I know we've met before, but I can't quite place when or why."

The man straightened his back.  His lips stretched into a lazy smile.  "You would know me if I were in costume, my friend.  I am Del Cossa; I have judged the fashion contests in Oak Tree Town for several years now."

"Ah, of course!" Klaus gave the man another once-over.  Yes, this was certainly the world-famous fashion designer who judged the competitions in Oak Tree Town.  The contests were never quite Klaus's favorite, but he still went to be supportive of the townspeople, particularly his friend Minori, who often entered her designs in an attempt to beat Elise or Giorgio.  

"It is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, sir," Klaus continued.  He put the journal back in his breast pocket.  "I understand you and Marian are old friends?"

Del Cossa nodded.  "Yes, yes, the doctor and I have known each other for quite some time.  He speaks very highly of you."  

"Thank you.  He speaks highly of you as well," Klaus replied.  

Del Cossa crossed his arms over his chest and hummed.  "As he should.  I custom designed many of his clothes."

Klaus did not particularly wish to delve into fashion — he, unlike Marian, had little to no knowledge of the subject — so he quickly decided to change the topic.  "Do you have any New Year's Plans, sir?"

"As it so happens," Del Cossa began, "I will be accompanying you and Marian to Oak Tree Town for tonight's festival.  I returned from my European tour last week and I haven't seen Marian since before I left.  Our friend was insistent that I come to the party in Oak Tree Town."

This news did not surprise Klaus.  Marian had mentioned something about picking up another of his friends at the train station.  Del Cossa was saving him from forcing Marian to make an inconvenient trip to Norchester; Klaus was supposed to have taken the train back to Norchester tomorrow.  His sentimentality, however, had gotten the better of him.  He wanted to be at home for New Year's Eve, so he had purchased a train ticket that morning.  He figured he was rather lucky that Del Cossa was arriving in Norchester the same evening, or else Klaus might've caused Marian more trouble coming to pick him up than it was worth.  

A bright flash of pink appeared in Klaus's peripheral vision.  He shifted his gaze toward the crowd.  There, about ten feet away, he could see Marian making his way toward them, a huge smile plastered on his face.  

"Klaus, Del, my darlings!" Marian called.  His outburst won several stares from families waiting for their arrivals.

Marian gave each of them a hard smack on the back.  Klaus was used to this type of greeting.  Judging by Del Cossa's quick stumble, the fashion designer was not.  Surprising, if he and Marian really were old friends.  

"Klaus, good to see you again," Marian said.  "Del, how was Europe?"

Del Cossa nodded.  "Oh, it was quite a trip.  Europeans know their wines."

Marian winked at him.  "Ah, yes, indeed they do."  He grabbed both of their arms and started ushering them toward the door.  "Come, come, my friends.  The festival just started; we have a long way to drive if we want to make it before darling Raeger closes up his noodle assembly line!"

[bingo-springo-blog]

Brienne was a rogue on a mission that went so far south, it lead her party to hide out in the Elemental Plane of Air for a while. Long enough for her to become acquainted with a Djinni (Air Genie) named Ujut. They quickly became more than just acquainted and things happened and she became preggers. Unfortunately, the party’s failure caught up with them and they had to make an expedient retreat at the cost of one of their party members, Krrook. Ujut stayed behind to buy them time, but they never saw him again. A few months later, Brienne gave birth on the road to a healthy Air Genasi child that she named Zepphoni. She knew that a life on the run is no place for a child, so when they found shelter at the monastery outside of Parnast, she knew she’d had to leave her daughter there. At least until the party was no longer in danger. She left the child in its crib and made sure to leave a note saying that she would return. Fraysis Elmhollow, a dark-skinned, grizzled looking Half-Elf, brought her to the head monk, Luan-Qi, asking them if instead of her staying with the other children, that he may bring her up as his own. Luan-Qi said that was fine and Fraysis became her new dad. Growing up, Zepphoni trained with her father and excelled in her martial training. Most of the monks studied The Way of the Open Hand, which she was always in awe of, due to the raw power some of the more devout monks possessed, but she wanted to follow the tradition her father followed, The Way of the Four Elements. She would train with him and the other children at the temple and was never short on companionship. However, there was one girl who stood out more than the others. Regina Crevitz. She would often challenge the other children to fights and could surprisingly often hold her own. She beat Zeph the first time they fought and, due to her Genasi pride being bruised, she immediately challenged her to a rematch, which she won. Regina decided then and there that they were best friends and she left for the night. Years past and Regina and Zeph’s relationship grew into something more. As their feelings grew for one another, so did their reputations. Regina had lived with the blacksmith in Parnast for the past 10 years. He ‘adopted’ her, if you can call setting up a large tent for her on the outside of his forge. She made money by helping him out and when she annoyed him, he’d kick her out and she’d stay with Zeph for a few days. She and Zeph would often go into town and she’d often get into or instigate a bar fight with someone just for the fun of the fight. Regina wasn’t hated by the town, but she was beginning to become a problem. Zeph, on the other hand, had begun teaching the younger students in the way of martial arts. She was quickly working her way up as a teacher at her temple. One day, Regina approached Zeph excitedly and told her about an agent that saw her fight and wanted to recruit her into a fighter’s guild. She didn’t wanna leave without Zepphoni and the agent said the Genasi could come along. Zeph was super happy for her, then along came Fraysis with news for Zeph. He told her that Master Luan-Qi wanted to appoint Zeph to a higher ranking and begin her training in The Way of the Elements. Ecstatic, she turned to tell Regina, but she was gone. She searched and searched for the human, but couldn’t find her. The next day, she went to the blacksmiths and found a note addressed to her in the now mostly empty hut. Written in Regina’s almost impossible to read chicken scratch, it read that she didn’t want to hold Zeph back from her dreams while she was just on the road punching people. Zeph broke down into tears and made her way back to the temple. A week had past and Zeph’s depression was starting to turn into anger. She began lashing out at other monks and yelled at a student. She realized what she had done and left in tears again. Fraysis found her and talked to her, saying that maybe she should take some time away from the monastery to find herself….or Regina to get some closure. Whatever comes first. So Zeph set off on her adventure from there, determined to find Regina and give her a piece of her mind.

art by @cycorgi

[fallen029]

Remember Me: Makeup and Making Up

"Daddy!"

Grunt. Laxus only closed the front door behind him as he headed into the house. Marin rushed to hug him, but her father, not being in the mood, took to patting her on the head before heading to the couch.

"Hi, Laxus," Mira greeted from where she had been seated on the floor of the living room, apparently playing some sort of game with their youngest daughter. At her father's divergence, the child just went back over to her mother, to resume whatever it was they were doing. "Fun day at work?"

Another grunt. If he wasn't in the mood for the kid, the last thing he was prepared for was the demon.

"Boy, if your grandfather could only see it," Mira remarked.

"See what?" came his grumbled reply.

"How much you actually hate being guild master after throwing a fit over it for years."

"I don't hate it," he told her, no play in his tone. "I just don't like all the inner workings of it."

"You sure like the bossing people around part though."

Grunt. Then, "Haven! Get in here. After I rest, we're going to go train-"

"She's not here, Laxus."

"What?" He frowned at that, glancing around. "Who has her? Elfman? Or Lisanna?"

"Neither," Mira said. "She and Navi are having a sleepover tonight."

He blinked. Navi. "I told you that I didn't want her around Natsu's brat so much. Or his damn cat, who I'm sure will be there."

"You sure are grouchy today. Isn't Daddy grouchy, Marin?"

The four year old nodded, glancing over at her father. "Yes."

"I ain't grouchy," he grumbled. "And how come if Haven got to go, Marin didn't?"

"She wasn't invited."

Growl. "And why not?"

"Laxus, Haven's older than Marin. Sometimes she gets to go out and do things by herself," Mirajane said as she and the child in question went back to playing with the toys spread across the floor. "You understand that, don't you, Marin?"

"Yes." She nodded. "I don't wanna go."

"You don't?" Laxus relaxed again. "Well, you wanna go somewhere else then? To see one of your aunts or something? Ever and Lisanna are both in town and I-"

"Laxus," Mira cut him off which, for the record, wasn't something he enjoyed. "I thought that with Marin staying home today and you coming home early that you two could spend some time together."

"Mmmm…no."

"Laxus."

"What?"

Mira huffed. "I'm going to work in the next thirty minutes. You two are going to be here alone. Something you never are."

"And?"

"You never spend any alone time with her, Laxus. And now you have the chance. So why don't you-"

"Because, Mirajane, I just dealt with all this bull up at the guild and I just want to rest. I don't want to-"

"You'd take the time out to train with Haven."

"Yeah, Mira, train. But not play with some damn toys that she's just as well playing by herself."

"Stop cursing."

"You-"

Marin started up with the tears then. Not so much their words, as those really meant nothing to her, but rather she didn't enjoy their tones. At all. They bothered her. She never liked to hear people argue. It upset her greatly.

"Oh, Marin," Mira sighed as Laxus only groaned.

"You're fine," he told her. "Stop it. Come here."

Mira was reaching out for her, but at her father's beckoning, the child rushed over to him.

"Stop crying." He turned his head when she was there, standing next to the couch, so that he could kiss hers. "You're fine."

She sniffled. "Sorry."

"You're okay." One more kiss. Then he shooed her away. "Daddy's napping. So keep quiet, alright?"

Marin nodded before rushing back over to Mirajane who only shot Laxus a look, letting her child move to climb into her lap.

"Come on, Marin," she said, getting to her feet. "Let's clean up your toys and go play in your room, huh? Then I have to get ready for work."

"Okay." All was better then and the girl was happy to help her mother. Laxus was just glad they were getting gone. He wanted some peace and quiet.

Which he got. For a little while anyhow. About an hour later, Mira was shoving his shoulder gently.

"What?" he groaned.

"I'm leaving. Marin's playing with her toys in her bedroom. I'd really appreciate it, Laxus, if you at least-"

"I know how to deal with my own kid, alright? Stop trying to tell me what to do. It's not working."

"Just behave today, Laxus. She's already upset. And you have to feed her dinner."

"Stop telling me about my kid. I can care for her. She's mine too. You're acting really high and mighty today."

"I'm disappointed in you is what I am."

"What did I do?"

"Gee, Laxus, maybe tell Marin the other day that you like Haven better?"

"When did I-"

"I don't know," Mira said. "But that's what she told me today when we were playing."

"I never said that. Why would I tell her that?"

"I don't know, Laxus, but you better fix it."

"Fix what? I didn't say it!"

"But you know that it's true."

"It is not."

"Laxus-"

"It's not."

"You spend way more time with-"

"And you spend more time with Marin!"

"Because Haven's always in trouble."

"And whose fault is that, Mira?"

"Gee, maybe her father who gives into her every whim?"

Snort. Then, "I don't give into her every-"

"Laxus."

"Well...I don't treat Marin any different. So-"

"Laxus."

"Stop saying my name," he complained. "And go to work! Seriously, I-"

"Both your daughters deserve your attention, Laxus."

He knew that the only way to get her out of there was to let her have the last word, so he kept his mouth shut then, just glaring at her. It only took a minute before she was gone.

Good riddance.

Trying to tell him his business. Like he didn't know how to deal with his kids. He'd only been raising them, oh, their entire lives.

But…he couldn't get back to sleep after she left. He tried, he really did, but he jut couldn't get comfortable.

With a groan, he got to his feet.

"Damn it, demon," he grumbled, headed immediately down the hall and to the room that his daughters shared.

"Marin," he announced as he pushed the cracked door open fully. "What are you doing?"

She was seated in the center of the room, between her and Haven's beds, with some of her toys spread across the floor. When he entered though, she glanced over at him and grinned.

"I'm playin'."

"You are?" He came further into the room. Then, because he figured he wouldn't be able to rest until he got it over with, he said, "Can I play?"

Marin didn't even need to think about it. Only nodded ecstatically, happy to have a playmate.

"What are you playing?" he went to slowly sit down in front of her, the little girl pushing some of the toys out of his way to accommodate him. "Marin?"

"Mmmm…a game."

"I know that, silly."

She began picking up certain toys then. Two of them. "This is the mommy and this is the sis'er." She grabbed another, smaller one. "And this is the baby."

"Uh-huh."

"And…this is their dog."

"Dog, huh?"

She nodded. "They're at the store."

"Oh." Man, his kid sure was boring. Glancing around at some of the other toys, Laxus easily picked out the action figure of him that he had given Haven from the souvenir shop, back when she was a little kid. Mira always called him conceited for it, but hey. Reaching out to pick it up, Laxus said, "Why don't I get to go to the store? Ain't I the daddy?"

Marin only stared at him for a minute before shaking her head and reaching out to take the figurine of him from his hands. Then she sat it to the side.

"You're not there."

"Of course I am."

"No."

"Then where am I?"

"Workin'."

He blinked. "Well, I got off. So I wanna go to the store with you guys."

"Daddy," she complained. "You don't play right."

"How am I not playing right? These stupid toys are supposed to be us, right?"

"No."

"Yes, they are. Except the dog, but-"

"No."

"Fine," he said. "Then this dad still got off and still wants to go to the dang store. What's wrong with that?"

Marin shook her head, taking it from his hands when he tried to pick it up again. "He's sleepin'."

"What? I just said he got off work-"

"Then he went home and went to sleep."

"Marin-"

"You're not playin' right!"

"Okay, okay." He gave up then. "Which doll do you want me to be?"

So he got stuck being all these stupid dolls, like the shop keepers and stuff. Even the family, that's supposedly not theirs, had some dang relatives show up at one point. Aunts and uncles.

But did Laxus' doll get to play?

No.

Eventually, the dolls went home.

"You can be the dog," Marin offered him.

"Well, they're home. I get to be the dad now, right?"

"Mmmm…no."

"No?"

"He's still sleepin'."

"But he woke up and-"

"Okay." Marin giggled then, moving to pick up what she kept referring to as the sis'er doll before taking the Laxus toy from his hands when he picked it up. Then she sat them off to the side by themselves without saying anything about it. "Now Mommy has to make dinner. The baby helps. And the dog."

"But…Marin," he said slowly. "What am I doing?"

"You're dog," she told him, tilting her head slightly at the question. "Daddy."

"No, Marin," he sighed. "I meant my doll and the…sister doll. What are they doing? Why can't they help make dinner?"

"Oh." She giggled before going back to making the mother doll move around. "I dunno."

"What do you mean you don't know? You're the one that made them go off by themselves."

She shrugged. "They like it."

"Marin…" Ugh. "Well, they want to come help make dinner, so-"

"No."

"Why not?"

She only glared at him. "You're playin' bad!"

"Marin-"

"Stop it."

"No. I get a say in things too, don't I? I want the dad to- Marin, don't start crying."

She was still glaring at him, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't wanna play with you no more."

"Well, I want to play with you, but you're-"

"Go away! Go take a nap."

"Marin-"

"Leave me alone!"

"Don't talk to me like that," he told her, perhaps a tad too harsh. "I'm your father. And… I don't like Haven more than you, alright?"

She was sniffling. "I wanna play."

"Marin, stop making me feel bad," he grumbled, looking off. "Look, your mom told me, okay? About how you think that I don't like you as much? When did I say that?"

She just stared at him then. "I dunno."

"Well, why did you tell Mira that?"

"I dunno."

"Marin-"

"I wanna play, Daddy."

"I just want you to get it, okay, kid? I love you. So much. And yeah, sometimes I might spend time with Haven, but that's because I'm teaching her magic. And when you get older, if you wanna learn, then I'll spend time with you." When she wouldn't say anything after that, he sighed. "Come sit in Daddy's lap."

She didn't want to, he could tell, but she knew better than to defy him. Dropping the toys n her hands, she moved over to him before getting into his lap.

She was starting to get too old for it. Like Haven. He didn't want that.

"Sometimes it might seem like I like Haven better. Or that I'm favoring her. And maybe I am. But I don't mean to. You're my baby. You know that."

Leaning back against him, Marin didn't say anything. With a sigh, Laxus leaned down to kiss her head.

"I love you, Marin. And we do things alone together. Like…right now! Or when you're sick and you come sleep in bed with me. Or…well… I'm busy, okay? A lot. And I don't mean to put being with you on the backburner, I honestly didn't think I was, but if you feel like I am, then we'll spend more time together, okay? Doing stuff that you like. Without Haven. Okay?"

"Like what?"

"Uh… I dunno. What do you wanna do, kid? You wanna go get some ice cream? Huh? I know you like that. You-"

"I wanna paint nails."

He blinked. Then he frowned. "Oh. Well-"

"Gotta clean up." She shoved her way out of his lap before going to her toys and beginning to put them back in their toy box. "Come on, Daddy."

Sigh. So he had to clean up too, huh?

It took a minute or two to get all the toys back in their proper place. Then Marin went over to the nightstand next to her bed. One of the drawers housed all of Mirajane's old makeup and nail polish, which, instead of throwing away, she'd give to her daughters to play with.

Not that Haven liked it though. She called it stupid.

Marin was all over it though. Sometimes Mirajane would do it all for her. Marin thought it made her pretty.

"Here." She came back with a couple of bottles of nail polish, all different colors. Handing them to him, she sat down.

"Oh." He blinked. "You want me to…to paint your nails? Wow. Okay. Daddy's not very good at this though, so-"

"You don't wanna play?"

He blinked. Then he sighed. He had told her that they would do whatever she wanted. "I do. Just don't get mad at me if these don't turn out right, huh?"

So he went to work on getting the little girl's fingernails painted. While he went to work on them, she told him all about what she had done the previous day when Lisanna and Bickslow had babysat her.

"You really like your aunts and uncles, huh?"

"Yep." Marin nodded her head. "I love 'em."

"You do?"

"Mmmhmm."

"Who else do you love?"

"Mmmm…Mommy."

"And?"

"Haven."

He blinked. Now, he loved Haven too. She was his kid. But… He came behind Haven on Marin's list of people? Seriously? The girl tormented her most of the time!

"And?"

"Mmmm…Natsu and Lucy. And Freed. And-"

"Me, Marin," he told her. "Don't you love me?"

She giggled. "Daddy-"

"Well, don't you?"

"Yes," she told him. "I love you."

"I love you too."

When he finished painting her nails, they had to let them dry some, in which time, Marin expressed to him her desire to have a pet.

"I don't like animals, baby."

"But-"

"I just don't," he told her finally. "I'm sorry."

That was quickly pushed out of her mind though as the second her colorful nails were dry, she presented him with the next item on their list of things to do.

"What? Marin, no."

"Yes, Daddy."

"No. I'm not…a girl. I'm a boy. Boys don't-"

"Daddy!"

"Marin, I'm not painting my nails. I'm sorry."

"Please?"

"I'm a boy. A man. Men don't-"

"Daddy," she whined, staring at him. "Please?"

"Well…is there a way to get it off?" he asked her then. "Before tomorrow? When I have to go to work?"

"Mmmm…yes."

"Marin," he said. "Is there?"

"Uh-huh. Polish 'mover."

"Polish remover, huh? You think Mira has some of that?" Probably. "Alright then. You can paint my nails. But it comes off before I go into the guild tomorrow. Deal?"

"Deal," she giggled.

"Do I get to pick my color?"

"No, Daddy. Each one's a color."

He only sighed before holding out one of his hands to her. "Do your worst."

It was dark in the house when Mirajane got home. The first place she went was her daughter's bedroom, to make sure that she was fine and asleep. Glad to find her actually in her own bed for once, Mira only went to press a kiss to the child's head before heading to her own bedroom.

Laxus was asleep.

Sigh.

Coming closer to the bed, she undressed slowly before slipping into the sheets.

"You're home late."

"Mmmm. I thought you were sleeping?"

"Nope."

Mira shifted closer to him. "Are we still fighting?"

"I dunno." He only laid there on his back, staring up at the ceiling. "Are we?"

"I don't want to be."

"Then we're not."

Taking that as a good sign, Mira moved to lay on his chest, head tilted up to stare at his face in the darkness. "You know, we should have sent Marin to Ever and Elfman's or something. Given ourselves a chance to really be alone."

He chuckled softly, reaching up with one hand stroke her cheek. "Trust me, demon, I-"

"What is this?" She grabbed his hand. It was dark, fine, but there was moonlight coming through the window and his nails looked… "Laxus, are your fingernails-"

"No." He jerked his hand away from her. "I-"

"Yes, they are." Mira was scrambling across him then, over to the lamp sitting on the bedside, to turn it on.

"Aw! Demon! Too bright!"

"What- Oh, Laxus." Mira had moved to straddle him then, grabbing one of his hands in her own. "Your nails are all painted. Did you and Marin-"

"Things occurred," he said, shaking his hand free. "Bad things. The kid promised me that there was some nail polish remover, but we couldn't find it."

"I don't have any," she told him with a giggle. "I don't paint my nails that often anymore. Besides, Laxus, why would you paint them only to have to spend forever and a day scrubbing at them to get them off?"

"Uh, because I love my daughter? Something that you seem to not get?"

Mira was in full annoying mode then. Ugh. He just wanted to go to sleep then. Forget the sex.

Man, if those dang kids hadn't fucked up his life. He couldn't recall another time, before them, that he would think that.

"She wanted to paint your nails? That's so cute!"

"Mira, be quiet before you wake her. And go to sleep. You have to get up early in the morning and go find me some remover."

She was still mewling though and ignored that. "Thank you, Laxus, for-"

"Don't thank me for spending time with my daughter," he told her. "I didn't do it for you. I did it because I love her. It has nothing to do with you. Got it?"

"Don't try to act all gruff now, Mr. Nail Polish."

"Mira-"

"Oh, Laxus." She was moving then to grab his cheeks in her hands. "I just love you so much. Especially when you do something sweet like this."

Huh. Maybe those kids were onto something.

"I also let her do my makeup," he was quick to add, scrambling to sit up some. "I just washed it off. And…and we made dinner together! And-"

"Aw." Mirajane rested her forehead against his. "You're such a good father."

Hell yeah he was.

Did it ever need to be disputed?

"-know why I have to listen to this," the little boy complained. "Why do I care what you and Navi did at your sleepover?"

"Because, Locke," Haven told him. "We're talking what we did yesterday."

"But I don't care," he insisted. "At all."

"You're just mad that you didn't get invited."

"Na-ah," he said, shaking his head. "I don't care."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not," he said. "Me and Dad and Pantherlily hung out together all day, since Mom's out on a job. We went fishing and-"

"I don't care," Haven told him.

"Oh, gee, you mean like how I don't care about what you did?"

There they all were, gathered around a table in the guildhall. Navi was sitting quietly, listening to her friends both bicker. Her mother always told her just to stay out of it when they fought.

"Laxus and Gajeel can't get along either," Lucy would sigh. "That's where they get it."

"But I get along with everyone," Natsu was always quick to add though Lucy would only shake her head at that.

"Aye, sir," Happy would agree because, well, duh.

Navi really liked her parents and Happy.

At the moment though, her father and mother were over at the request board, seeing if there was any quick job they wanted to take, while she was stuck with Haven and Locke.

Sigh.

They were still stuck in their heated battle, taking to glaring at one another, when the Master showed up, his youngest daughter in tow.

"Hi," Navi called out as Marin rushed over to the table.

"Hi," the younger girl giggled, scrambling into a seat. Locke greeted her as well, but Haven wasn't feeling up to it in that moment.

"Hey, brat," Laxus grumbled to Haven as he passed the table, reaching out to pat her on the head. Haven usually would have rejected this and call him old or something, but the feeling of his hand on her blonde head was…different. Not right.

"Laxus." She reached up to grab his hand before he could pass. "How come you're wearing gloves?"

"Hey, let go." He tugged at his hand. "And how come I can't wear gloves?"

"It's not winter," his daughter said. "So it's stupid. Take them off."

"Stop telling me what to do, brat," he said, jerking his hand away from her.

"I'm not a brat!" Turning her rage at Locke, who had taken to listening to Navi explain what she and Haven had done that night (he was much more willing to listen when the words weren't coming out of the blonde's mouth), onto her father, Haven reached back out to snatch his hand again before pulling the gloves off.

"Haven," he growled. "Why did you-"

"What is this on your nails?" Haven frowned before staring up at her father. "Did you paint your nails, Laxus?"

"No! I-"

"I did," Marin giggled as both Navi and Locke took a look as well. "Now Daddy's pretty!"

"Ew." Haven handed over the gloves. "Put it back on."

He only gave her a look. "I don't need your permission, brat."

"And how come I was never allowed to paint your nails?' Haven went on.

"You never asked!"

"Because it's stupid."

"Well, there's your answer."

"Wow, Master," Navi giggled. "Your nails as nice. Good job, Marin."

"Thank you."

Locke reached up to scratch at his unruly black locks. "You paint your nails now, Master?"

"I just said-" Then he growled. "I don't have to explain myself to you kids!"

Haven shook her head. "I bet Gajeel and Natsu wouldn't paint their nails."

"Who would want them to?" Locke asked.

Navi though, with the idea planted in her head, immediately jumped down to go ask her father if she could paint his.

Marin was still all giggles. "I think Daddy looks nice."

"Well, he doesn't," Haven told her. "You messed up again. Surprise, surprise."

"Haven, behave," Mira sighed as she came over from the bar, passing them with the beer she was bringing to Bickslow and Lisanna's table.

"I paint my nails, boss," Bickslow told him. "Err, I used to. When I was younger. And going through a phase."

Lisanna giggled. "Maybe Laxus is having a midlife crisis."

"I'm not at the middle of my life!" he growled. "I-"

"Daddy." Marin was frowning then. His tone didn't sound as perky about the whole thing the night before. He had told her that she was so good at painting nails and putting on makeup. "I thought you liked them?"

"Kid," he groaned, reading her tone. "I-"

"My daddy said when we get home tonight, I can paint his nails!" Navi was back, rushing over to the table with a giggle. "He said I can paint his toenails too! He said that he wants them to be red and blue."

Laxus snort. Damn Salamander.

"Well…if everyone else is doin' it, maybe my dad would like it," Locke said, glancing over at where the man was seated with Lily as they awaited the return of Team Shadowgear. "But I don't wanna paint them for him. Maybe Mom can."

Haven only shook her head. "You're stupid, Laxus."

Growling, he went ahead and took the gloves off. "You be quiet. And Marin… It's like I told you. Boys don't wear nail polish."

"My daddy does," Navi announced with a giggle. "I should have asked him a long time ago."

Laxus rolled his eyes at that before turning to walk away, over to a table off by himself. "Mira, I need a beer."

"Of course, Laxus."

Bickslow was snickering then as he took a sip of his own beer. "The boss sure his funny, eh, Lissy?"

"Mmmm." She shook her head before glancing at Marin. "You did a real nice job on them."

"Thank you."

Haven snorted as Bickslow's dolls took that as meaning they could come over and bother the kids. Or, well, mostly just Marin.

"Real nice job," they all told her. "Marin."

It was about then that the guildhall doors opened and Evergreen came rushing in, immediately headed for Laxus' table.

"I have the nail polish remover you wanted," she said as she approached him, setting a bottle down on the table. "But why- Oh, Laxus."

"Give me that," he grumbled. "And demon! Bring me a paper towel."

Elfman, who had come in with his girlfriend, approached the table as well. "You painted your nails? I mean, I never took you as a man, but this-"

"Fuck off, Elfboy," Laxus grumbled. "And Ever, get this paint off my nails. Now."

"You want me to-"

"Are you ignoring an order?"

"N-No!" She quickly took a seat next to him as Mira appeared with his beer and a towel. "Of course not."

Elfman, dejected and disgusted, headed over to the table his younger sister was at. "What's up with Laxus' nails? Why would he do something so unmanly?"

"Hi, Elf," Lisanna greeted with a giggle. "And Marin painted them for him. Didn't it look so good?"

"W-Well-"

"Elf," Marin called from the table next to them. "Daddy's taking off the polish!"

"I know. Because men don't-"

"Can I paint your nails?"

"Marin," Haven scolded as Locke snickered. "Elfman doesn't-"

"Well, kid," he said slowly. "I'm not-"

"You can paint mine!" Bickslow was quick to interject. Then he stuck his tongue out at Elfman. "You know, since I'm your favorite uncle."

Oh, it was a competition was it? Lisanna giggled at the look on her brother's face.

"You can paint mine too then!" he declared loudly. "You too, Haven!"

"No thanks," she quickly declined.

"I'll paint 'em," Navi told him with a grin. "But we don't have any nail polish."

"Go ask Ever," Lisanna told them with a slight smile. "She might have some in her purse or something."

The two little girls rushed off to do that, leaving Locke and Haven alone. She only shook her head.

"Little kids are so stupid," she said though, honestly, there weren't that many years separating her and her sister, even less between her and Navi. Locke, older than even her, only shrugged.

"I think it's funny."

"That's because you're stupid."

"I think you're just jealous," he told her.

"Of what?"

"Of Master letting Marin-"

"Ew, gross. Like I even want to come close to him to begin with, much less have to paint his nails."

"Your mad that your sister had more fun with your dad while you were with Navi than he would have had with you."

"Shut up!"

"And then Navi is going to have fun with her dad tonight, when she gets to paint his nails," Locke went on. "And I have fun with my dad every night because he's awesome. But you? You're not-"

She tried to shove Locke out of his seat, but he was starting to get too heavy for her. Then, with a huff, she only left the table and marched over to the one her father was at, Ever, after handing off her purse to rifle through to Navi and Marin, still scrubbing away at his nails.

"Laxus," she said, standing at his side. He hardly glanced at her.

"Brat, if you're about to tell me something stupid-"

"I wanna paint your nails."

He blinked. Then he frowned. "Do you not see what we're doing right now?"

"I know. You need to get all of Marin's stupid paint off so that I can paint them."

Ever giggled. "Aw, Haven, are you jealous?"

"Gross. No."

"Why would she be?" Laxus grumbled. "Huh? Haven doesn't like this stupid girly stuff, do you, brat?"

"N-No," she said quickly. "But-"

"She's just trying to make me do something I don't like, thinking she can guilt me into painting my nails again. But you can't. So buzz off."

Haven only stood there then. So what? Marin got to do something that she didn't? That wasn't fair! That-

"And brat," he grumbled as she turned to walk off, defeated. "You skipped practice yesterday. I cam home ready to train. And where were you?"

"Mom said I could spend the night at-"

"And? Just for that, when I finish up here today, we're going to go home and you're gonna train your little ass off. Got it?"

"No cursing."

Grunt.

But she smiling then as she made it back to Locke. And even though she immediately set off on berating him about something or other, she couldn't wipe the grin off.

So maybe Marin got to do stupid things with Laxus, like paint his nails. Who cared?

She got all the important stuff. Like training and being, as he put it, his protégé. And what was more important than that?

To Marin, a lot of things. And as she painted Bickslow's nails, she knew that it was okay that Laxus was taking off the polish. Because of the promise he made her last night.

"From now on," he'd said as they were in the bathroom, him admiring (hating) the makeup she'd applied to his face. "You and me? We're gonna spend a lot more time together. Alright?"

"Daddy," she'd giggled.

"I'm serious, Mar," he said. "I love you. And we don't do enough stuff together. And if you wanna…put on makeup sometimes, after I finish with work, we can do that. You did such a good job, after all."

"You look pretty."

"Thanks." He patted her head. "So do you."

See? Marin didn't need training or anything like that with Laxus. Because she has her own special stuff to do with him too.

He loved her.

And what more needed to be said?

Full Series 

[riverofmemoriesft]

. Between the Lines . 159

Lucy's eyes snapped open, staring blankly at the ceiling above her. Her breath came in harsh gasps and she shook a little as she came to terms with reality. After a moment, she let a soft breath of relief out and threw an arm over her eyes.

Nightmares were a pain in the ass.

And since she'd joined Fairy Tail, they were all she dreamed of.

Her hand smacked something warm and there was a snort of annoyance. She stiffened irritably as a muffled voice mumbled, "Stop, that hurt."

"What the hell," she seethed, "Are you doing in my bed, Natsu Dragneel?" Awake, she turned and slid up to rest on a propped elbow. She glared down at him and he blinked tiredly up at her from shadows onyx eyes, his pink hair hanging in his face. Furious, she scowled down at him.

An entire week of avoiding her and he decided it was okay to crawl into her bed?

Bastard! I should kick you to the curb!

Natsu didn't seem to know - or care - what he'd done wrong, because he simply squinted at her and then grabbed her by the waist. She squawked in surprise when he merely tugged her down and buried his face in the pillow. "Tired."

She squirmed, smacking his shoulder. She received a wisp of flames in her face for her efforts. "Natsu," she hissed again.

"M'sorry," he slurred, ignoring her when she tried to squirm out from under his arm. She was a bit annoyed with how easily she was pinned, to be honest. She went still, narrowing her gaze. He rolled his head to he could peek up at her from beneath his bangs, looking a little anxious despite his exhaustion. "Didn't mean to. I was thinking."

Lucy took a deep breath, struggling to hold onto her anger while he stared at her with large puppy-like eyes. Finally, she let it go. Rubbing a hand down her face, she rasped, "I'm mad at you, you jerk."

For a week now, Natsu had avoided her. Not that she could blame him entirely; the horrified look on his face when she'd quietly informed him that her mother had died sealing his father away at an unknown location was enough to tell her that he didn't know what to say. It had still hurt walking into the guildhall only to realize he'd left the moment she'd turned onto the street.

When the guildmaster had demanded a group go out to show magic to the expectant town, she'd volunteered alongside Levy and Erza, fully expecting him to go with her. She'd been hurt when he'd remained silent, onyx eyes locked on a space above her head.

Lucy knew that everyone had noticed.

But they'd said nothing, respectful.

Even Mirajane had said nothing, only a quiet, "Make up soon, okay?"

"I'm sorry," he repeated, voice clearer this time. He watched her nervously now, as if concerned he'd be removed from where he was comfortably arranged. "It's...your mom died 'cause my dad asked her to. I didn't...I don't know what to…" He made a frustrated sound and hid his face in the pillow.

As per usual, however, Lucy understood fully.

"I know," she muttered, running her fingers lightly over his head. She flushed when he squirmed so that he could lightly rest his chin on her shoulder, studying her expression. "It's hard to figure out how to react to that kind of thing. There's nothing you or I can do, so why don't we just keep on the path we were on before? We need to focus on the Games. And why would you not go to the couch?"

"Because the bed's comfy?" He scoffed as if it was common knowledge. "I took my shoes off. See? And I took my scarf off, too, since I know you don't like when I sleep with it on."

She smiled a bit. Lucy prodded his naked shoulder with amusement. "And your shirt, apparently. Infected with some of Gray's habits, are we?"

He scowled playfully at his blonde girlfriend and then demanded, "It's the middle of the night. Why'd you wake up?"

"Nightmare." She wrinkled her nose and he puffed out smoke playfully. Lucy bit her lip before admitting, "Dreamed about the guy from Tenrou. He was...I don't even know where to begin describing what happened." She shuddered, not wanting to, and fell silent for a few seconds. "It was bad."

Pricking, prodding, ripping at the flesh of the person beneath him, all in the name of his country…

Natsu snorted and then closed his eyes, tightening his grip on her. "I've got ya Luce. I won't let anyone hurt ya. I'll protect you with my life if I need to."

Despite her annoyance, she smiled a fraction and made herself comfortable, her head resting against his.

"I know."

The guild seemed to release a huge huff of relief when they walked into the guildhall together the next day. Lucy glared when Levy practically sobbed her relief, crying, "You're okay, I'm so glad. It was like I was suffocating. Gajeel took a job without me because of it."

Natsu gave her a look, bewildered. "The hell are you talkin' about? Of course she's okay."

"Lucy!" Mirajane called, her voice strained. Lucy's head snapped around and she blinked when her friend gestured for her to come over. Natsu furrowed his brow, torn between going with her and figuring out if Happy had gone to Wendy and Charle's like he usually did when Natsu ended up wandering around at night.

"Just Lucy," Mirajane added, giving him a glare.

"Okay." Lucy flashed her boyfriend a smile and then sidled over to the bar, watching as he frowned and went to search for Happy. "What can I do for you, Mira?" Levy slid into a bar stool beside her, ignoring Mirajane's irritated frown.

"I want to help," Levy told her. "I've got nothing to do, remember? Gajeel and Lily are out, and Jet and Droy want to try a harder job on their own. I told them I'd pay for lunch if they did it successfully."

"...I think it's smart, but...Master doesn't want her to have the assistance," Mirajane admitted and then turned to Lucy. "We're leaving for the Games in precisely two weeks. Master requested that you take Cobra on a job outside of Magnolia in that time - without Natsu. The Council is demanding a report on what he's been doing, and Kinana's needed here. They'll trust your report more, anyways."

"Because I'm of royal blood," Lucy said bitterly and then propped her chin on an open palm. "I don't mind, actually. It'll be interesting enough as long as he learns to shut up and watch what he's doing. Is this another one of those test missions?"

"In a way." Mirajane's lips twitched into a smile. "Master's curious on how you'll do without your team, and he thinks that you'll do the best when it comes to getting along with him outside of Kinana."

"Huh. I see. Does he know yet?"

"Nope," Levy snickered, cutting in. Her hazel eyes danced with amusement. "They left that to you."

"Why do you know so much about my work?" Lucy asked, giving Levy a playful glare. She poked the short woman. "What else do you know?"

"That Natsu finally got himself back on track with being a good boyfriend?" Levy shrugged. "Happy likes to talk."

"...I'm going to throttle that blue cat," Lucy said with a dark look on her face as Mirajane cooed. "Alright, where's that bastard? I might as well get to telling him that he has to do something other than sit there with Kinana."

"He's actually been looking bored." Mirajane giggled. "He might appreciate this. I'll see to Natsu if he doesn't listen. Erza won't mind helping me deliver punishment."

Lucy shuddered at the images that conjured. Leaving her friends to do what they wanted, she hunted down Cobra, surprised that he'd arrived so early. He was grouchily sipping at a glass of water, watching her approach from narrowed eyes. When she got close enough, he snipped, "What are you? My babysitter?"

Lucy arched a brow. "What are you? A baby pouting because you have to be supervised? We know that you're trying to help us now and not try to use me as fuel for some ancient creation, but the Council doesn't entirely believe it. We're going on a job so that I can create a fantastic report to give to them."

Cobra scowled in a moment, thinking about what she'd said, and then gave a curt nod. "Fine."

"Good. I'll find one for us and let Natsu know that he's not allowed to come." Lucy moved to go and talk to the dragon slayer, and then paused when Cobra snickered.

"Good luck tellin' him he can't come. Dragon slayers don't like when they can't see their treasures, Blondie. Don't forget that." Cobra received a shocked look and he shrugged his shoulders. "What? I don't have a hoard, but I know about 'em."

"...mind your own business," Lucy muttered, frowning. She tilted her chin up proudly and crossed the guildhall back to Natsu. The dragon slayer was happily slurping down a drink that Mirajane or Kinana had offered, but when she came over he looked up. "Hey, Natsu," she began.

"Yeah?" He set his glass down, as if expecting that he wasn't going to like what was coming. "What do ya need, Luce?"

Still annoyed with him for his behavior over the past week despite him apologizing, she retorted, "Don't ‘What do ya need?’ me, Natsu. I'm taking a job with Cobra for Master. The Council wants a report on how he's doing. You're staying here with everyone else."

Natsu's jaw dropped for an instant and she wasn't surprised when began to try and argue. "But, Luce! You never go on jobs with other people! I'm your partner, why can't Erza or Gray or someone else do it? We're a team!"

Lucy snorted to herself. "Master asked Mirajane to ask me and that means I need to do it. And they'll trust my opinions more than someone else's in the guild, we think. I was and still am the princess of Heartfilia family. Natsu, my word holds a lot of power in things like this. To top it all off, I'm the one Cobra tried to hurt to begin with. Cobra's really changed - for the most part, I know you're eavesdropping you bastard - and I think we need to do what we can to help him. That means that you need to stay here and behave while I'm gone. It won't be more than a day or two."

Natsu glowered at her, onyx eyes blazing with anger. "It's not fair!" he snapped. "You're my partner! Not anyone else's! It's not like me going would be bad! I could help, Lucy!"

Aware that people were starting to look over and be nosy, Lucy scowled. "I said no, Natsu. Mirajane's going to make sure you stay here, by the way, just thought I'd tell you." He barely flinched at the subtle threat. "Have you ever thought that I might want to try a job on my own? This'll be - in a way - my first solo mission. I've only ever taken work with you guys."

"So?" He clenched his jaw, smoke leaving his nostrils. "It's better that way, we have fun-"

"We do," Lucy cut in firmly. "I love going on missions with you and the others, Natsu. Usually something goes wrong, but I have fun. But sometimes, I need to test how much farther I can go without having you trying to step up and protect me from every little thing, okay? I have my Spirits. The arrogant jerk who's still eavesdropping-" She spared a glare at Cobra. "-can do a decent job of helping. So just...stay here. We'll do something when I get back, before we go to the Games."

Natsu opened his mouth to protest some more, and then clamped it shut, scowling irritably. "Whatever," he huffed, and then pointedly turned away from her. Instead, he looked at Happy, who'd arrived mid-argument, and the blue cat jumped.

Lucy ran a hand down her face and shook her head. Levy gave her a sympathetic look while the silver-haired woman gave Lucy a proud look.

From where she sat beside Wendy at a table, Jellal across from both of them, Erza stared openly at Natsu, a look that promised violence should he act any more out of hand on her face.

Lucy decided against sitting at the bar and instead went to join them. Erza gave her a warm smile as she slid into the seat beside Jellal, a groan escaping her as she planted her head on the table. "Natsu's always been annoyingly clingy to those he is close to," Erza murmured, reaching over to rub her back.

"It's part of being a dragon slayer," Wendy said apologetically. "His instincts consider you a part of his hoard. Your hair really doesn't help. It's the closest color to gold that I've ever seen. It's natural for him to try and keep an eye on you at all times."

Charle sniffed. "What a brute."

"He needs to know that he can't be around like this and say that I can't go off without him," Lucy muttered into the table. "Especially after he avoided me for a week."

"Why was he avoiding you?" Wendy asked. Erza gave her a curious look as well and Jellal tried to keep from looking too interested while sipping at some tea.

Lucy hesitated. Loke had told her to be careful about the information she gave away. Taking a deep breath, she admitted, "Um, my mother...Igneel requested something of my mother. Wendy, you know my mother and yours met."

Jellal choked a little at that, but said nothing.

"Mhm," Wendy hummed. From where Charle was sitting irritably beside her on the table, there was a snort.

"Well...let's just say that my mother is the reason all of the dragons have disappeared." Lucy kept her voice low, not wanting Gajeel to hear. Wendy's eyes flashed with shock. "And because she did what she did, she died. When I told Natsu, I guess he saw it as his father being the reason my mom is dead. He didn't really know how to react."

Erza nodded thoughtfully. "He's never really had reason to worry about the feelings of others when it comes to his actions." Tucking a lock of scarlet hair behind her ear, she said with a sigh, "We'll keep an eye on him while you work with Cobra."

Lucy gave her a long look. "Mira told everyone."

"Of course."

The blonde moaned, and then looked over when Charle suddenly gasped, her eyes going blank and searching the empty air. "Charle?" Wendy said anxiously, her eyes filling with concern when she recognized what was happening.

For some reason, Jellal recognized it, too. He set his cup down and studied Charle closely. "...a vision."

When Charle snapped out of it after a good moment or so, her gaze found Lucy's first.

Her paw lifted and covered her mouth, tears filling her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "The blood...it was...oh, no…"

No way to turn… There was smoke everywhere, filling her mouth, her eyes, her throat. A scream left her lips as she sobbed over the crumpled body beneath her, its eyes staring blankly at nothing as blood pooled around it. A shift of imagery, and a woman appeared. Her soft skin was slicked with her own blood, one arm gone. An agonized scream from a man as he fell to his knees beside the woman who knelt there in shock. A woman with her head thrown back, hair fluttering around her as magic rushed through her veins, burning her from the inside out...a flurry of panic as people fought for their lives...a dark smile...the roaring of creatures that no longer walked the earth…

The look on a black-haired man's face as something new emerged from the white light.

Lucy's face, soaked in tears as she sang a song of defeat.

A man of black and white rising from among the ashes, a blank-looking girl at his side.

The scent of death on the air.

The next few words that Charle uttered chilled each and every one of them to the bone:

"We're all going to die."

[flynnraider-blog]

angst bros 4 lyfe

who: Leonardo Flynn, Damian Briggs tagged: @brigadierbriggs​ what: Leo and Damian attempt to bond where: Tavern when: 02/08- 02/14 word count: 4211 ish warnings: no formatting and time stamps because what is effort

[2017-02-08 11:57:09 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo sat at a table in the back of the tavern, running his finger over the rim of his glass idly. He’d invited Damian here on a whim, wanting to get to know him more if he was going to be hanging around Sophia as much as he was. But Leo had forgotten to factor in his lack of conversational skills into the mix and now he was quietly panicking, part of him hoping that Damian would never show. It would be easier on his heart, at least. [2017-02-09 12:01:12 AM] Di: The tavern. It was a joke. Had to be. His whole life was a fucking phenomenal laugh. A recovering alcoholic at the tavern. Then again, he'd been there every day that week without so much as a second thought. He couldn't put his finger on what about today made him all that more desperate for a drink, only that no amount of cigarettes could kill the longing. He breathed in as he stepped into the tavern, ignoring the sting of the scent of liquor before locating Leo and sitting across from him. "Hey." [2017-02-09 12:09:48 AM] Ro (is trash): Looking up abruptly, Leo tried for a smile. “Uh – hey,” he gave awkwardly, cursing himself inwardly. Should he give his hand to shake? Would that be weird? What did you even do in this kind of situation? In the end Leo just wrapped his hands tightly around his glass to prevent any weird movements. [2017-02-09 12:10:44 AM] Di: Sitting, Damian raised brow at the weirdness of his body language then smiled. "What'd you need, Leo?" He asked with a pleasant if sterile smile. [2017-02-09 12:20:36 AM] Ro (is trash): Shifting in his seat, Leo smiled back. “I just thought we could try to get to know each other a little?” It ended up coming out more like a question than he had originally intended. [2017-02-09 12:21:39 AM] Di: "Because of Sophia? Or your deep burning curiosity in me?" Damian grinned. [2017-02-09 12:56:14 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo simply shrugged. “A bit of both I guess. Can you really say you aren’t the slightest bit curious about me?” [2017-02-09 12:56:42 AM] Di: Damian shrugged and breathed out, hunching over a little. "You're your own business, Leo." [2017-02-09 12:59:03 AM] Ro (is trash): Finally, somebody who had some sense in them. “”I couldn’t agree more. But for the sake of Sophia, we should learn to get along. She has some idea in her head about us questing together as one big happy family.” [2017-02-09 12:59:42 AM] Di: He snorted, "I'm sure she'll drag Daphne along as well." Damian leaned back, "IT's not a bad idea. Start a party. Form a guild once we get there." [2017-02-09 1:01:07 AM] Ro (is trash): He raised a single eyebrow. “Daphne?” Clearly Sophia had been busy. “The more the merrier, I guess,” he grumbled, not really meaning it. “Having a larger variety of classes should be useful.” [2017-02-09 1:02:32 AM] Di: "She is a druid," Damian tapped his fingers against the table. "Eventually we'll probably bond. I can be her dog in a more literal sense after that." [2017-02-09 1:03:36 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo choked on the sip he was taking. “I – you’re a werewolf then, I assume?” he asked, regaining his footing. [2017-02-09 1:04:27 AM] Di: He laughed and nodded, shrugging a little. "Liked the idea of being changeable to the moon. Might bite me in the ass in a few days... Could you do me a favor Leo?" [2017-02-09 1:05:41 AM] Ro (is trash): The sudden change of pace took him off-guard. “A favor? What kind of favor?” he countered suspiciously. [2017-02-09 1:06:48 AM] Di: "The full moon is coming up, you and Sophie should high-tail it out of here... and the favor is can you take Daph with you? Watch out for the mouthy little brat?" [2017-02-09 1:08:11 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo observed the other man through narrowed eyes. “And go where? Surely the main town is going to be safer than some random forest where the wolves are gallivanting about?” [2017-02-09 1:09:46 AM] Di: "Somewhere where the NPCs would be more in your favor. Like the Mage's palace shit or the Elves homeland BS." Damian murmured, "IF you left within the day, you should be okay." [2017-02-09 1:11:36 AM] Ro (is trash): “You really think the elves want anything to do with me? Unless this is a thinly veiled way to get the two others there while I just rot outside,” Leo snorted. He didn’t appreciate being told what to do with his own sister. [2017-02-09 1:14:24 AM] Di: "Well, you- Sophie's an elf." He pointed out then rubbed at his face. "Most players haven't left this area, Leo and not everyone will be as careful as me." [2017-02-09 1:16:24 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo regarded him coolly. “I suppose I could take the onboard a ship with me. On the water we’d be away from everything.” [2017-02-09 1:16:47 AM] Di: "That would be the most reasonable... Are you a pirate?" He asked after an awkward beat. [2017-02-09 1:18:13 AM] Ro (is trash): “Yup. Figured it made sense, growing up on the coast.” He explained with a shrug. Figuring he should at least put some effort in, he turned it on Damian. “You?” [2017-02-09 1:20:04 AM] Di: "Fighter." He cracked his knuckles then laughed, "Starting to regret it though. All I want is a damn bow." [2017-02-09 1:21:42 AM] Ro (is trash): “Good luck with that. I can’t imagine a fighter is going to have much success with a bow,” Leo said lightly. “But I can’t help but agree. Close range is not turning out to be something I enjoy." [2017-02-09 1:23:39 AM] Di: "I don't mind the close range, I just... I was real good with a bow. Well I haven't grabbed one since my twenties." Damian huffed. "Fuck I'm old." [2017-02-09 1:44:04 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo’s interest was piqued. That was the first personal thing Damian had shared. “You were an archer back home?” Hesitating, he couldn’t help but add “How old are you anyway?” [2017-02-09 1:47:40 AM] Di: "I did say all I want is a goddamn bow, didn't I?" He laughed a little, "Ironically Archer was my mother's maiden name." He hummed a little, "And yeah, I was back in the day. Before I hit my thirties." [2017-02-09 6:30:39 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo whistled lowly. “I can barely imagine surviving my twenties let alone hitting my thirties.” [2017-02-09 6:32:54 PM] Di: Damian laughed and rubbed his face, "I guess I felt that way once. Angsting on the fire escape while avoiding Tony." [2017-02-09 6:34:45 PM] Ro (is trash): “I can’t imagine you hiding to avoid anyone. Who’s Tony?” [2017-02-09 6:35:35 PM] Di: "My ex." He breathed, "From a long ass time ago." [2017-02-09 6:37:15 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo paused. The tone of voice he’d used hasn’t been a friendly one. “Seems not even big bad veterans are free from relationship regrets. Pity.” [2017-02-09 6:42:31 PM] Di: "I mean," Damian rolled his shoulders, "At the time I was neither a veteran nor a big anything. Bit of a twink honestly." [2017-02-09 6:43:56 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo bit his lip to try to contain his laughter. “Now that I’d pay to see. You kind of own the large and scruffy thing like you were born into it.” [2017-02-09 6:45:12 PM] Di: His laughter bellowed through him and he shook his head. [2017-02-09 6:48:16 PM] Ro (is trash): “Alright, alright,” Leo threw up his hands, trying to scowl. But he couldn’t help his small smile. “What ever happened with this… Tony?” He said the words like they were bitter in his mouth. [2017-02-09 6:50:47 PM] Di: Damian raised his brows up high and looked at him. "Have a problem with my ex?" He teased and leaned back, "I went home. It seemed as good as an excuse as any to break it off." [2017-02-09 6:52:34 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo simply grumbled in response. This is why he didn’t get friendly with other people. “Went home? As this conversation drags on I become increasingly aware of how little I really know about you.” [2017-02-09 7:02:05 PM] Di: "I'm from Michigan. I grew up in a little tourist trap till my dad died then moved to Ann Arbor with my mom and her wife." Damian leaned in. "I have... a step-brother who rightfully hates my guts and like one friend. Two with Sophie I guess." [2017-02-09 7:05:55 PM] Ro (is trash): That was a lot to take in. “Michigan…” Leo rolled around the name in his mouth. “Sounds… exciting. I’m sorry about your dad, though.” It came out stilted and awkward, unsure about how familiar he should be. “I’m sure the situation with your step-brother isn’t as dire as you’re making it sound, though. I have like, one friend. And that’s if Sophia counts.” [2017-02-09 7:07:17 PM] Di: "Oh, but it is." He breathed out and shook his head. "I'm sure you have more than one friend. What about the mage?" [2017-02-09 7:09:01 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo sucked in a sharp breath. “Yeah, no. No. That’s…. just no.” No was a understatement. Bei took off like a bat out of hell, there was no way they were anything remotely close to friendly. [2017-02-09 7:11:47 PM] Di: His eyebrows shot up and he leaned in, sniffing him. "Weird." [2017-02-09 7:12:30 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo leaned back quickly in response, expression middy offended. “Did you just…. sniff me?" [2017-02-09 7:14:54 PM] Di: "I guess wolves can sniff emotions now or something." [2017-02-09 7:15:15 PM] Ro (is trash): "...do I even want to know what you just smelled on me." [2017-02-09 7:18:31 PM] Di: "Regret." Damian shrugged and wrinkled his nose. "Also lots of booze here." [2017-02-09 7:19:57 PM] Ro (is trash): “Regret is… an accurate way to put it.” Leo left it at that. “But one would expect that, it is a tavern. I’m used to it I guess, worked at a bar back home.” [2017-02-09 7:24:42 PM] Di: "I mean I'm no stranger to lots of booze but it's different." Damian breathed out, "When you're trying to stop I guess." [2017-02-09 7:26:12 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo caught his meaning. “I… apologize. I didn’t know. We could go somewhere else?” [2017-02-09 7:26:41 PM] Di: He snorted, "Nah. I might as well, ya know." [2017-02-09 7:27:18 PM] Ro (is trash): He raised a single eyebrow. "You really think Sophia is gonna like that answer?" [2017-02-09 7:28:11 PM] Di: "Like what answer?" Damian asked. [2017-02-09 7:45:25 PM] Ro (is trash): "She'll get all righteous and Oh Damian please, you can't go," he tried to mimic her voice best he could. "I worry about you." [2017-02-09 7:45:51 PM] Di: "I am so confused right now man." [2017-02-09 7:46:24 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo just shook his head. "Forget it. What were we talking about again?" [2017-02-09 7:46:53 PM] Di: "Bei." He laughed. [2017-02-09 7:47:45 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo grimaced. “This isn’t anything to say.” [2017-02-09 7:48:17 PM] Di: "He thinks poorly of himself." Damian breathed after a moment. [2017-02-09 7:48:52 PM] Ro (is trash): “Yeah, well he clearly doesn’t think too highly of anybody else either,” he couldn’t help but snort. [2017-02-09 7:51:00 PM] Di: "Leo... when you're fucked up, your entire view of the world is twisted." [2017-02-09 7:51:52 PM] Ro (is trash): Fuck. This wasn’t what he had planned on talking about. “Yeah, well, he isn’t the only one with issues. It’s not an excuse.” [2017-02-09 7:52:34 PM] Di: "No, but excuse isn't the same as an explanation." Damian shrugged."Fucked up people are bad at communication." [2017-02-09 7:53:43 PM] Ro (is trash): “He must be really fucked up then. Because his communication is nonexistent. And that’s saying something, coming from me.” Leo himself was bad at the whole feelings thing but this was a whole new level. [2017-02-09 7:54:25 PM] Di: "He's a vet. We're all real fucked." He huffed. [2017-02-09 7:56:28 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo just scowled and glared at the wall. “I can’t be blamed for something I didn’t even know.” It wasn’t fair for him to be expected to keep that in consideration when no one ever even told him. [2017-02-09 8:03:33 PM] Di: "No. You're right. You can't and I'm not blaming you." Damian replied, "I'm just... saying have a little consideration. Not a lot. Just... maybe ease up on the stink of disappointment." [2017-02-09 8:05:36 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo bristled. “I’m not disappointed. I’m angry. Upset. Hurt. Any or all of the above. I told myself I’d never let myself be treated like that again.” He crossed his arms defiantly. “If he wasn’t interested he could have just said so. I’m a big boy. I can handle it.” [2017-02-09 8:06:43 PM] Di: "You're right, he could have said so." Damian looked at him. "Did he?" [2017-02-09 8:07:16 PM] Ro (is trash): “Did he what? Say so? I think it was pretty damn obvious.” [2017-02-09 8:08:32 PM] Di: "How so?" [2017-02-09 8:11:01 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo went silent. He didn’t want to get into the details with somebody he barely knew. “Trust me. I know. He was terrified at the damn sight of me. I think I said something, I dunno.” [2017-02-09 8:12:49 PM] Di: He nodded and leaned forward, hand on his chin as he leaned on his elbow. [2017-02-09 8:14:39 PM] Ro (is trash): “It’s just… whatever. He’s clearly not interested and I did something wrong, let’s just drop it.” [2017-02-10 1:04:24 AM] Di: "Or he is interested and you both fucked up." Damian said softly. "which is allowed by the way. I guess you just have to decide if you want to live with that." [2017-02-10 1:11:53 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo regarded him evenly. “Last time I thought someone was interested regardless of the signals I got it very wrong.” [2017-02-10 1:14:56 AM] Di: "Last time I fell in love with someone it was so inappropriate that you'd have shat your pants if I told you," He replied without skipping a beat, "But that's not going to keep me from hopefully falling in love again some day." He didn't mention that first he'd have to go through the trouble of falling out of love. Of getting rid of the tight chested problem that burrowed in his core. "Sometimes, you fuck up Leo. Now you're over sensitive to reading things. It's easer to ask." [2017-02-10 2:06:29 AM] Ro (is trash): “A story for another time then,” Leo replied with eyebrows raised. “I know how that feels.” Sighing, he played with his glass. “I don’t even know how to contact the damn guy. Lord knows he doesn’t want to hear from me.” [2017-02-10 2:09:30 AM] Di: "Don't stress." He chuckled, "This place has a way of bringing people together. Just... be open to it. To talking it through even if it doesn't feel easy or good or comfortable." Damian licked his lips. "I wish that someone had told me that running didn't solve shit. That it hurt more people than it helped." He looked at him, "So now it's my job to tell you." [2017-02-10 2:17:16 AM] Ro (is trash): “You sound like the dad I never had,” he said with a small smirk. “Or at least, the one that wasn’t a pezzo di merda.” Leo corrected as an afterthought. “I make no promises, but I’ll keep it in mind. Tone down the general grump and all that.” [2017-02-10 2:19:12 AM] Di: He laughed and shook his head. "Sophie insisted on calling me papa orzo? So I guess it's a fad. Dad Damian." [2017-02-10 2:22:22 AM] Ro (is trash): “Papa bear? Jesus, sounds like her. I got saddled with Da Vinci so consider yourself lucky I guess.” Leo looked at Damian with a wicked glint in his eye. “Hey, got any dad jokes?” [2017-02-10 2:23:30 AM] Di: He snorted, "No. But I told your sister that while Twinks are not snack foods, they are full of cream on occasion." He sipped his water after delivering that line with a straight face. [2017-02-10 2:25:00 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo choked, thankful he hadn’t been drinking anything. “Wow okay that is not something she needs to hear. Please tell me you're fucking with me.” [2017-02-10 2:25:31 AM] Di: "Nope." He popped the p, eyes glittering with amusement. "She called me papa bear, Leo." [2017-02-10 2:26:58 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo gave him a once over with a critical eye. “…Well is she wrong?” [2017-02-10 2:28:07 AM] Di: "Probably?" Damian shrugged as he thought back, "Honestly I can't remember the last time I had sex." [2017-02-10 2:30:14 AM] Ro (is trash): “Ugh, this is so not something I want to talk about with you. And it just makes me think about my nonexistent sex life too,” Leo grumbled. [2017-02-10 2:32:51 AM] Di: He snorted and shook his head. "Fix things with Bei and i'm sure you'll get some action." [2017-02-12 1:58:16 AM] Ro (is trash): “Fixing things with Bei is not all about getting myself laid,” Leo rolled his eyes. “It’s about not having some guy hating my guts wandering around. That can only go poorly.” [2017-02-12 1:59:32 AM] Di: "I doubt he hates your guts." Damian laughed, "He's more the hates his own guts type." [2017-02-12 2:03:24 AM] Ro (is trash): “Ah, finally something we share in common,” Leo grumbled while he fiddled with his drink. [2017-02-12 2:03:45 AM] Di: He stared at him for a long moment. "Leo?" [2017-02-12 2:06:14 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo looked up at him, eyebrows raised slightly. “Damian?” [2017-02-12 2:07:37 AM] Di: "If you like the guy?" Damian said leaning forward, "Really liked the guy then you should make an effort. Because I've met Bei. Down to his core, he's something good. If you don't, then apologize and move on. But leave the man alone if ain't something." [2017-02-12 2:09:13 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo frowned, hands tightening and knuckles going white. ”I should apologize? I should leave him alone? That’s rich considering he came onto me.” [2017-02-12 2:10:10 AM] Di: He held up his hands. "I'm not saying he didn't. I'm saying that whatever happened, both parties had a hand in fucking it up. Miscommunication takes two buddy.' [2017-02-12 2:15:20 AM] Ro (is trash): His scowl only deepened. Leo wasn’t interested in sitting around to be told he’d done wrong when he didn’t even know what the fuck was going on. “I think I should go,” he stated blandly, reaching for his inventory to pay Jonathan. [2017-02-12 2:17:00 AM] Di: "Hey," Damian grabbed his hand, "I'm not trying to be an ass." He whispered, "I just think... Maybe it doesn't matter what I think." He released him with a thin smile. "I should stop putting my face in other people's business. I'm sorry." [2017-02-12 2:21:59 AM] Ro (is trash): “I’m just not so keen on everyone telling me to fix shit when he bailed on me,” Leo said bluntly. Yeah he felt like he’d done wrong, but ultimately Bei was the one who took off. That sent a very clear message. [2017-02-12 2:23:12 AM] Di: "Do you want me to talk to him?" Damian asked. "Cause I'll probably see him again when he runs out of death sticks." [2017-02-12 2:24:31 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo laughed incredulously. “And say what, exactly?” [2017-02-12 2:24:58 AM] Di: "Hey Bei, I don't know what happened with Leo but he's upset you bailed out of no where and doesn't understand what went wrong?" [2017-02-12 2:26:07 AM] Ro (is trash): "Well if you say I'm upset then I just sound like a pansy." he grumbled. [2017-02-12 2:26:38 AM] Di: Damian rolled his eyes at him and punched him in the arm. "Stop being such a fuck boi." [2017-02-12 2:28:17 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo yelped at the hit. "A fuck boi? That implies I'm getting a lot more ass than I am. And not my sad record of one boyfriend - kind of." [2017-02-12 2:29:15 AM] Di: "Kind of?" He asked, brows shooting up. [2017-02-12 2:30:26 AM] Ro (is trash): “It was like 4 months. He wasn’t gay. And had a girlfriend.” [2017-02-12 2:31:44 AM] Di: He patted his back, "Could have been worse." [2017-02-12 2:32:56 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo hunched over and scowled. “Yeah, thanks. I’ll keep that in mind while I’m dealing with my trust issues and emotional wounds from the trauma. I’m sure it’ll help.” [2017-02-12 2:38:17 AM] Di: He fell quiet for a long moment, watching him before sniffling. Holding out his arm, Damian pulled up his sleeve and tapped against the ink on his arm. "If you look closely enough, you can make out some of the cigarettes burns. Not many. He didn't have to do it often to make his point." [2017-02-12 2:41:52 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo peered over, observing quietly. Staring down at the table he ran his fingertips over the grain of the wood. After a while, he opened his mouth hesitantly. “He didn’t need to do anything physically to make his point. He just liked to keep me waiting, prove he was in control. Throw me out of his apartment at random times, leave me waiting for hours at a coffee shop…” Leo trailed off. [2017-02-12 2:43:19 AM | Edited 2:43:24 AM] Di: He nodded quietly before reaching out to squeeze his hands. "Sorry I assumed..." Damian fell quiet. "That he led you on, not that. Not gas lighting." [2017-02-12 2:47:45 AM] Ro (is trash): “I mean, I probably should have done something about it, like left maybe, before… before his girlfriend showed up one day.” Leo winced. That was not a pleasant memory. [2017-02-12 2:48:22 AM] Di: "Leo," Damian whispered, "My mom died and I didn't leave." He shook his head. "It's never that easy." [2017-02-12 2:51:58 AM] Ro (is trash): “…yeah, yeah it’s not.” He admitted eventually. It all seemed so obvious when he wasn’t in the situation, but Leo knew it was different at the time. “Don’t tell Sophia. She doesn’t really know that much about it.” [2017-02-12 2:59:49 AM] Di: "I won't." He shook his head, "I know... something like that, it's private." [2017-02-12 3:00:40 AM] Ro (is trash): Trying to lighten the mood, Leo attempted a small laugh. “She’d probably hunt him down and tear his eyes out anyway. Can’t have her going to prison.” [2017-02-12 3:01:13 AM | Edited 3:06:28 AM] Di: "Are you kidding me? I'll do it for her. Or just send him giant dildos at work." [2017-02-12 3:04:12 AM] Ro (is trash): “Giant dildos- “ he sputtered with a laugh. “That would do the trick. Too much of an attack on his violently masculine heterosexual persona. He’d probably combust.” [2017-02-12 3:06:12 AM] Di: "Or anal beads?" He laughed loudly, "A gag or something? Get into the real freaky shit as you go along." [2017-02-13 12:04:55 AM] Ro (is trash): “Okay, now I’m going to combust. Jesus, you don’t do anything halfway.” [2017-02-13 12:06:56 AM] Di: Damian waggled his brows. "I'm a real sexual fiend." [2017-02-13 12:07:46 AM] Ro (is trash): "Yeah, I really get that from 'honestly I can't remember the last time I had sex'" Leo said with a roll of his eyes. [2017-02-13 12:08:22 AM] Di: "I can't. Part of it having to do with a missing limb, but ya know." [2017-02-13 12:09:16 AM] Ro (is trash): He immediately sobered up. "I'm sorry. You doin' okay?" [2017-02-13 12:11:30 AM] Di: He snorted, "Yeah I'm fine. But when you're an amputee, people are either grossed out or way to into it." [2017-02-13 12:19:35 AM] Ro (is trash): "Way too into it?" Leo repeated in disbelief. "Jesus.... there are some weird people out there." [2017-02-13 12:19:57 AM] Di: "Waaaay," Damian replied as he shook his head. [2017-02-13 12:25:58 AM] Ro (is trash): "Sorry you have to deal with that man. I assume you just tell them to fuck off?" [2017-02-13 12:27:00 AM] Di: "Pretty much." He huffed. [2017-02-13 1:05:11 AM] Ro (is trash): "Hey, at least you have it back in game?" he tried, going for optimistic. [2017-02-13 1:06:11 AM] Di: "For now." Damian laughed, "It's fine. I'm okay." [2017-02-13 10:31:47 PM] Ro (is trash): "For now? You planning to do anything that's going to result in loss of limbs?" [2017-02-13 10:32:59 PM] Di: "Getting out of this game for one." [2017-02-13 10:33:44 PM] Ro (is trash): "Ah. Well, take Sophia with you on the way out, will ya?" [2017-02-13 10:34:17 PM] Di: "You too," He nudged him with his shoulder. [2017-02-13 10:36:37 PM] Ro (is trash): "Yeah, me too," he agreed with a small smile. Honestly, he put Sophia's well being over his own. [2017-02-13 10:36:59 PM] Di: He stared at him a long moment and patted his back. [3:14:29 AM] Ro (is trash): Sighing, Leo flagged down a waiter. "I should probably go. Sophia will be wondering where I am by now." [3:16:38 AM] Di: "Good night, Leo." [3:18:39 AM] Ro (is trash): "Night, Damian." [3:19:16 AM] Di: "Good night."

[entergamingxp]

Meet the Final Fantasy 14 players who marry in the game

It all starts with a ritual called the Ceremony of Eternal Bonding, a special rite of passage for two individuals who wish to pledge to each other a lifetime of devotion in massively multiplayer online role-playing game Final Fantasy 14.

Players venture to the Sanctum of the 12, where they are permitted to host a matrimonial service accessible to any in-game friends they’d like to invite. From stunning flower arrangements to special ceremonial chocobos, these in-game marriages often result in quite the party. So much so, that players sometimes seek to replicate them in real life – eternal bonding and all.

Final Fantasy 14 player marriage isn’t as uncommon as it may seem, and in fact it’s gone on for years. But it’s rare that two players who marry in the game go on to marry in real life. One player, named Andrea, intends to do just that. She met her real life fiancé in Final Fantasy 14, married him in the game, and now intends to get married in real life next year.

“He ended up helping me get some weekly clears and I remember picking on each other constantly about our performance and teaching each other,” Andrea remembers. “It got to the point we were doing everything together.” Eventually, they started making silly excuses to keep playing together long after everybody else logged off.

Six months later, Andrea told him she was going to be in town for E3 2017. They arranged a meetup ahead of time, and as they booked plans for LA, they decided to get married in Final Fantasy 14 – something all of their friends were already encouraging.

After a while, the in-game marriage – or Ceremony of Eternal Bonding – started to lead to some exploratory conversations. Andrea says it started to feel like they were officially dating. “It’s weird to feel that close to someone without having met them yet, but there’s a closeness that happens when you’re talking to someone on Discord for hours every single night for months that doesn’t happen with casual dating,” she says. “We didn’t have the option to grab coffee or meet for a quick lunch, so we did all of these activities together that require spending way more time with each other than quick dates.”

Andrea recalls times when the pair would talk until two in the morning, half-asleep, waiting for a dungeon to reappear so they could complete it together. Even after being on a call for eight hours straight, they would sit somewhere in the city of Ishgard and take cute screenshots together, hanging out with one another as if it were real life.

Then came the in-game marriage. “The ceremony made me weirdly emotional, like a total doofus, because it felt like a way I could tell everyone this was a thing I was proud of and happy about,” Andrea adds. “It was a way to share with friends that we considered ourselves to be dating at that point.”

Andrea says it felt slightly awkward telling friends they were going to give it a shot after only having met in person once. “But it felt right,” she explains. “When we finally met, it was like seeing someone I’d known for years. We instantly clicked. Our meeting at E3 2017 changed my entire life, and I’m so happy I got over my initial fear of jumping into this. I’ve moved on from feeling embarrassed or silly to thinking it’s super cool.”

Eventually, Andrea and her partner decided to one-up their in-game marriage. Andrea packed her things and booked a one-way flight from Mississippi to California. “It stunned my parents, but they love him now too and support it,” she says. A year later, the couple got engaged at Disneyland. They plan to marry in 2021, and Andrea already has some ideas for incorporating Final Fantasy 14 into their real-life wedding, including inviting in-game friends, ordering His & Her cakes, and playing tracks from the game’s soundtrack.

Andrea isn’t alone in finding real love in the virtual fantasy of Final Fantasy 14. Another player, who goes by the Reddit handle legenddairybard, actually married someone she married in the game. “Over time, we just started hanging out and playing the game more and I eventually gave him my phone number,” she explains.

“He was very kind, funny and supporting,” she tells me. “He asked me if I wanted to do the Ceremony of Eternal Bonding. I told him sure, it looks fun. Plus the rewards are really helpful.”

Legenddairybird remembers joking with friends who had never played the game about the whole situation. “I’m getting married Saturday, you should come,” she told them. “Needless to say, no one showed up.”

Six months later, legenddairybird flew cross-country to meet her in-game husband. “The first time meeting him, I had that feeling, and it grew even more when we got to hug each other for the first time,” she recalls. “I remember him shaking really badly, I thought he was going to faint.” They spent Christmas together that year, and met up again for Valentine’s Day, at which point the topic of real-life marriage came up.

Legenddairybird recalls her family’s excitement when she flew home and told them, although notes they initially had a different reaction when she suggested meeting up with him.

“At first, people looked at me like I was crazy,” she says. “It’s funny to look back at, but in hindsight I understand why they felt like that. I know there’s a stigma when you meet people you’ve been talking to online, especially with people making up personas. We don’t always quite know if people are who they say they are on the internet.” But after legenddairybird’s family and friends realised her Final Fantasy 14 love genuinely cared for her, they lightened up, and the pair got hitched – in real life this time – in October 2019.

“At first we thought, big wedding, both families, everyone there! We’ll have a Final Fantasy wedding with Moogles and Chocobo decorations everywhere and we’ll walk out to the Prelude!’ legenddairybird says. Instead, they went with a different approach.

“We kept it a secret from everyone for months,” she says. “The day was coming up and we had to sell a story so no-one suspected anything. We told his parents we were going to a music festival in the city and he needed the days off work.” They got married in a private ceremony with only a reverend in attendance, and had a cake that was half-vanilla, half-chocolate. “Our topper was the A Realm Reborn meteor, with bard and white mage soul crystals,” she says. “While it wasn’t exactly a Final Fantasy-themed wedding, I made us small badges to put on during the ceremony, since I was a bard and he was a white mage.”

“After the wedding, we told his parents we wanted to show them photos of the festival we went to,” legenddairybird jokes. “It was a photo of us holding a sign that said Just Married with a paopu fruit [from Kingdom Hearts] behind it, and their initial reaction was, ‘Wait, where’s the festival you said you were going to?’ “

After announcing their marriage, her husband’s dad asked, “… like, in the game, right?” However, legenddairybird quickly confirmed it was the real deal. “His parents both cried and told us how happy they were,” she says. “They were still initially upset because there wasn’t really a music festival,” she jokes.

This phenomenon is double-sided, however. Some couples have rekindled their real-life relationships in Final Fantasy 14 – or even replicated past video game marriages in the game. A Reddit user who goes by the handle “LollipopTechno” tells me when Final Fantasy 14 2.0 launched, she rebuilt her 2009 guild from Ragnarok Online with her real-life boyfriend in-game. Interestingly, that very guild was where they’d met. “I was browsing the market area of a city, window shopping, and I received a private message from someone, asking if I had a certain hat that was recently released in the game,” she explains. “I did not. But I offered to help him comb through the market to find someone with it.”

They found the hat, he thanked her, and they went their separate ways. However, they stayed in touch and eventually became friends. A few months later, LollipopTechno took a nine-hour trip up to California, where they spent their first few days together. “He refers to it as ‘trial by fire,’ ” she says. “We got some really bad food poisoning for a few days, thanks to some pizza we picked up right after he got me from the train station, so we both looked our absolute worst on day one. We did our best trying to take care of each other, and after I had finally recovered, I was like, yeah… I like this guy.” Two years later, they were living together.

Despite already having been married before – in Ragnarok Online �� conversations about the Ceremony of Eternal Bonding in Final Fantasy 14 cropped up. “We redid the marriage just to get our actual anniversary dates on our rings, making them more special,” LollipopTechno says. They plan to get married in real life someday, but are in no rush at the moment. Weddings are complicated, according to LollipopTechno, and they prefer to keep things simple.

When we think of married couples renewing their vows, we often think of holiday hotspots, such as at a castle, a hotel or even at a ranch. But couples are finding the exotic locales of Final Fantasy 14 just as sweet a destination. Redditor sUnit_Alpha tells me after his wife fostered her own interest in Final Fantasy 14, the couple replicated their real-life marriage in its virtual world.

“It was similar in that our real wedding was also small, just close family and friends,” Alpha says. “In Final Fantasy 14 we didn’t have anyone attend because we don’t know anyone else who plays, so we kept it just her and me and focused on our love for each other. We always glamour our wedding rings onto our left hands with every single outfit to show our commitment.”

It’s lovely to see stories such as these, where people meet their partners-to-be in Final Fantasy 14, or reinforce an existing bond by spending time together in-game. And the developers of the game have taken notice. Naoki Yoshida, creative director of Final Fantasy 14, is well aware his game and other MMOs that came before it are capable of bringing people from all over the world together.

“Back when I was playing Ultima Online, I actually attended a wedding ceremony for two friends who had met in the game,” Yoshida tells Eurogamer.

“In Japan alone I have received reports about over 80 couples who met in the game getting married and have sent out many messages of congratulations.” In fact, Final Fantasy aficionados in Japan are now able to have officially licensed Ceremony of Eternal Bonding weddings. You even get a prop weapon for the reception.

“There is no real difference between people who hit it off when they meet through other hobbies such as surfing or snowboarding and then go on to get married, and those who meet and hit it off in online games,” Yoshida continues. “However, I often do think that something unique about meeting in online games is that because you cannot see the other person’s real face or appearance, you are not swayed by unnecessary information and can understand their inner values and intentions more directly, making it easier to make a mutual personal connection. Either way, I am always delighted when two people who have met in the world I created come together in this way.”

It’s an important detail to consider, especially in these troubling times. With most social gatherings deemed off-limits for the foreseeable future, virtual meetups are more important than ever. For some this amounts to an upsurge in wine parties on Zoom. For others, this means traversing boundless fantasy worlds together, exploring bottomless fonts of magic and mystery while overcoming divine adversaries against the will of destiny. And, if you’re so inclined afterwards – or during! – it means getting married.

Speaking of Final Fantasy 14’s Ceremony of Eternal Bonding, Yoshida says it’s a way for people to come together and pledge their bonds to one another “regardless of race or gender”.

“I am overjoyed to see it being used in this way and can only wish these two players every happiness in future!” he says. “I think it is great!”

“I don’t think there is anything particularly special in there, but the Ceremony of Eternal Bonding moves away from real world value systems, religious and educational perspectives, and was created with the idea that I wanted the intentions of the two people involved in the ceremony to be more free and more down to them,” Yoshida continues. “That it has been accepted by many different people from around the world makes me very happy as a game designer and I am very proud of it.”

Andrea, too, is proud of the ‘how we met’ story of her relationship. “I spent the longest time awkwardly confessing to friends how I met him and even lied to some about our story,” she says.

“If you’re talking to someone online, of course be safe about it,” she adds. “But for us, we realised that not physically meeting for six months wasn’t the big deal we originally thought it was. We spent hours talking to each other every single night up until that point because Final Fantasy 14 was part of our daily ritual. You learn about someone’s likes, dislikes, happy memories, trauma, childhood, career, everything, when you spend time together like that. We covered it all.

“It was such an incredible rollercoaster, and for a girl living in the middle of nowhere in Mississippi, it’s not often I run into someone I’m compatible with. I’m so lucky I found him. The best thing that ever happened to me also just happened to be waiting for me in my favourite game. I hope other people can find the courage to take the plunge and don’t be embarrassed about it.”

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/04/meet-the-final-fantasy-14-players-who-marry-in-the-game/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=meet-the-final-fantasy-14-players-who-marry-in-the-game