#... clocktower actually scares me bad
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You didn't ask
It's an idea that came to me in a dream and I posted on AO3 a few days ago: Vaugardians have the capacity to turn into dragons. There's some brainstormed lore too, but I'd rather leave it open for any future additions.
I call it Draconic Vaugard AU!
Again, thank you, @chimerical-daydreams for the designs
You wake up feeling like shit.
No surprise there. You heard the Head Housemaiden tell you to rest and not use craft for a while, then used craft again not even plural hours later.
Not that you regret it.
Your body is stiff and sore, but you can still move your neck enough to look out the window. It's clearly well into morning now. The House doesn't loom over you like a haunted castle anymore. The birds once frozen mid flight now cross the sky as free as nature intented.
On the bed besides yours, Odile is already awake and flipping through the familytale you got her two days ago. Her craft exaustion is not as bad as yours. She didn't loop through time hundreds of times then cut through the House alone then turned into a wish craft titan. But she did stop you from looping. That took strenght.
You hear footsteps up the stairs. Careful, but still noisy.
"Frin!"
Despite the soreness, you smile.
"Bonbon."
They're not as careful now, marching to beside the bed you're in. They have a tray in hands, and an excited look on their face.
"The tall lady said you need to rest, so I didn't wake you up, but you still have to get your strenght back, so you better eat too! But Dile also said you must have had my snacks a bunch of times, so I made a breakfast I'm sure you didn't have in forever school!"
My, someone's hyper. Not that you can blame them. You have to get better, than you all can get on your way to Bambouche.
"Thank you, snack leader, for providing."
Bonbon nods with pride, and puts the tray on your lap.
You try to sit up. Your arms give in before you can rise too much.
"Oh! Right! I have to tell everyone you're awake!"
You hear them rush down. The weight of the tray a tempting thing over your lap. What's this? Punishment?
Odile smirks at you. She must have noticed. Traitor.
"Good morning."
"Please, spare me. I just woke up."
"I haven't said anything. Yet." She marks and closes the book, her attention fully on you now "How are you feeling, Siffrin?"
"Like I got stomped on by many horses."
Odile nods, serious.
"Thank you for your honesty. Please be honest with the person taking care of your medication, too."
"I only lied two times!"
"You've been like this for a day and a half. And spent half of that time unconscious."
She's got you there.
There's footsteps again. More than one set this time. Bonnie bursts into the room like it's a competition. You're kind of scared they'll hit their face on the foot of the bed for a moment but they stop on time. Mira and Isa come in at a more reasonable speed.
"See? They're still awake! And tried to move, too!"
"Already?" Mira looks actually glad. Good "You really recover fast, Siffrin. Uhn, don't force yourself to get good faster, though. You might strain yourself."
You try to give her a thumbs up. Your arm is sore.
"Need help, buddy?"
Embarrassing~
You still nod. Isa gets beside you to help prop you up and sit against the headboard. You can see your breakfast now. No wonder there was good weight! Bread, jam, juice, cut fruit, even a couple chausson aux pommes. Someone takes the "regain strenght" expression seriously!
"Thank you." You offer your best smile and scoop up a piece of peach with the spoon "You're a peach."
You got a laught. Morning victory.
Chomp!
Stars, without the smell of burning sugar lingering all the time you can actually taste food!
"So, Siffrin..." Mirabelle sits on the bed, opposite side from Bonnie "Where are we?"
"In the clocktower."
"What happened two days ago?"
"We unfroze Vaugard."
"And why are you and Madame in bed rest?"
"Craft exaustion."
"He is conscious. Good!"
She claps her hands and straights her back.
"Am I losing something?"
On the other bed, Odile put the familytale on the headboard.
"You see, we intent to-"
"WE'RE GOING TO NILLE AS SOON AS YOU CAN STAND!"
"Boniface!"
"Sorry! But yes! You just need to get to stand again!"
"Well, being able to stand is just the The reference. Walking would be much better." Isa adds, and gives a half chuckle.
You swallow your food and look at him just to have a focus point.
You know just because you can walk doesn't mean you should walk long distances, specially as soon as you're able. Sure, if your friends want to go as soon as possible you can endure it, but...
"Isn't that a little risky?"
"A little, but it's faster." You can't argue with Mirabelle on that "That's why I think you should go on Isabeau." Wait, what? "He's bigger and his shape makes it easier to get a grip lying down. You can get some rest! I guess? You should probably do a test first? I know Madame Odile will be better too so she can go on me."
What?
Beside you, Isa nods.
"Right... Are you really okay with flying, Madame?"
What????????
"I'll survive, I guess. As long as Mirabelle doesn't mind getting more ties than a race horse."
"He, I'll survive too."
"Wait? What?! Fly?!?!"
Bonnie pouts.
"Of course we'll fly! The birds unfroze too, so it's safe now!"
"No! I mean, I know, just-!" You take a bite of one of the apple pastries. Delicious "How are you even going to do that?! And you're talking like it's no big deal!"
"Because, it's not?" Mira is looking at you with confusion "Wait, you don't know?"
"Don't know what?"
"We can turn into dragons."
...
You pinch your arm with nail.
Ow.
You're still here.
Wait a minute!
"You're pulling a prank on me!"
Odile opened her mouth. Before she spoke, Bonbon took a leap back, and-
It wasn't done in a flash, but, once it was, Bonbon was like a big eel with wings.
You think you're going crazy.
"Wh- I- You- Why didn't any of you do that all this time?!"
This time Isa responded.
"We didn't need to? Sure, flying is fast traveling, but you saw the birds, we didn't want to risk it. Tents and inns made to accomodate dragon forms are too expensive for long traveling. And, you saw Bonbon just now, it's not exactly puf and done, so not a good option when ambushed by an angry sadness."
This makes so much sense it's somehow making you feel crazier.
Little dragon Bonbon landed beside your legs on the bed, legless body slithering over the sheets. They look adorable.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Mira looks embarrassed. Oops, you said something wrong.
"I thought you knew." She looks away, fidgeting with her fingers.
How would you know when nobody tells you?????
"And, it's not like we talk about this all the time. It's weird!"
When your bafflement wears off, half of the breakfast is gone.
"How is it weird to talk about being dragons?!"
"Well Sif, think." Isa places a hand behind your back "It's just how Vaugardians are. Just another part of our lives. It would be like going to a place where people are like "Hello, I'm human", y'know?"
You nod.
...
No. You're not petting Bonnie like a dog. That's still a person.
You down the rest of your fruit.
"Why did you need the orbs, then? Couldn't you just, break down the gate?"
Silence. Were... Were those months of traveling for no reason?
Mira visibly holds back from picking at her nails.
"Siffrin, do you know what the orbs are?"
You're quiet, then shake your head.
"They're craft breakers. Very powerful craft breakers."
"Okay, what does that have to do with not breaking down the gate?"
"Houses of Change have shield craft on the outside. It's a particularly powerful craft, made by multiple people at once. So nobody can be made to break a House from outside. Even if multiple people do so as dragons."
... Oh.
"Combine with the time freeze, and it would be a lost battle. Thankfully, five orbs were enough to break the time craft. But, if they weren't, hopefully they would be powerful enough to break the shielding."
Oh.
Just... outside? Does that mean that the insides are breakable?
They are. You know they are. You broke that counter. Does that mean the other doors were breakable, too?
If... If you weren't so hasty to freeze yourself, would them decide that turning to try and break the door was an option?
"Something on your mind Sif?"
LIGHTLESS CODE LIGHTLESS CODE THINK OF SOMETHING!
"So all those stories about hoarding dragons are racist?"
Mira gives you an awkward smile.
"I, don't really want to say yes. Every tree bears bad fruit, and the loud ones get more noticed. If there's any type of predisposition, it's to get hyperfixations. For exemple, you can say I "hoard" classes."
You hear Bonbon make a noise, and see them wiggle and land on the floor. A bit of time, and they were a smiling human again.
"Oh! Oh! I guess I hoard recipes, then!"
"Interesting." Odile hums, and her gaze gets in your direction. What- "Do you hoard anything, Isabeau?"
Isa gives a big nod.
"Friends!"
Mira's face goes from awkward to pondering, and then realisation.
"Wait! So those cuddle piles after getting the orbs...?"
"Sleeping over my hoard."
You can't help but chuckle. He looks so proud, too!
"Why the surprise? Isn't your room on the last floor with dorms, Mirabelle?"
Mira starts stuttering. Poor lady. On the other side, Bonnie pouts.
"That's dumb. I don't sleep over recipe books."
"Maybe your time will come. You don't know."
Mira's turn to give a mischievous smile.
Stars, you could hear them for hours.
"Okaaaay, so, I'll have to see if I can safely ride Isa?"
You hear a squeak, and the hand on your back gets taken off so fast you hang way from the headboard for a couple of seconds.
"Sif! Don't say it like that!"
"Why? It's what I'll do, right?"
Odile is smiling so broard. What?
"Young one, you need to learn some Vaugardian idioms with urgency."
You blink.
You've been really left out, haven't you?
--------------------------------------------------------------
You're able of walking! A little bit. You need help to walk more than a couple of meters, but it's progress! Progress enough to do the test, it seens.
Bonnie lets go of your hand and gives you a pat on the side.
"Ask to get down if you need to, okay? Don't need you falling off and needing extra rest to recover from broken bones!"
Of course that's how they say it.
You nod.
"Alright, Za! Do the thing!"
"Your wish is my command!"
Just like before, it's not a snap of fingers.
You're not sure what you were expecting. You didn't expect Bonnie to be a winged eel. You think whatever came would take you aback.
Isa looks like a large lizard with wings, scaly and with a set of horns. Curiously, still regornizable. You... actually like that.
He lays on the floor, and moves his tail, inviting. Mira helps you get on his back, then backs off to where Odile is waiting with a saddle and chains. You can't judge her.
Another little scene, and you see Mira in all her glory. She looks like a mix between a snake and a bird, full of feathers. Regornizable. Bonnie too. All three are regornizable on those forms.
Hum, maybe that's why body craft is still prevalant. Maybe they don't really control how the forms will be without it.
You're unsure of what to do with your hands, then finally decide to just grasp the horns.
It's not so odd when you feel him lift into his paws. It is when he spreads his wings and starts lifting. And lifting. And lifting. You see the ground get farther. Without thinking, your grip tightens around the horns.
You... think there's an ulterior motive to choose this.
They must have missed flying.
#isat#in stars and time#isat spoilers#in stars and time spoilers#isat fanfic#in stars and time fanfic#isat au#in stars and time au#Draconic Vaugard AU
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(never) a question of trust | Batman
"Do you trust me?" Always, Jason doesnât say. I never stopped, Jason doesnât say. I want to, but Iâm scared and I donât know how even you can fix this, Jason doesnât say.
Part of my Writing Wheel Challenge; this was a fill for Whumptober 2021 Day 4: Trust Fall that I... haven't really touched since, until today.
Tags: Bruce Wayne & Jason Todd, Good Parent Bruce Wayne, Self-Sacrifice, Stab Wound, So Much Medical Inaccuracy (for maximum angst), Ambiguous Ending
- ⢠- ⢠-
Bats were notorious for planning. They did their best to cover every eventuality, to make contingencies for every situation gone awry. A Bat-led operation was an operational thing of beauty, with layers upon layers of back-up plans with their own back-up plans. While no plan survives first contact with the enemy, or so the saying went, the Batsâ collective skill and talent for strategy and tactics meant that more often than not, even when things went wrong, they were ready for it.Â
But there were always exceptions. It was just Jasonâs luck the latest exception fell on his latest op.Â
Heâd been so careful too, and so uncharacteristically cooperativeâ or so heâd thought, at least. And look at what his latest attempt at working with the Bats had gotten him: a brand-new stab wound in his side, a concussion, several other minor wounds, and backup scattered across the city chasing after red herrings.Â
The next time Dick or Tim ran after him babbling about teamwork and trust and other stupid things, Jason was going to stab them and see how they liked it.Â
âPlease donât make plans to stab your brothers in front of me.âÂ
Oh and of course, the cherry on top of the cakeâÂ
(Wait. That felt like the wrong metaphorâŚ)Â
âDo you mean cherry on top of the sundae, or icing on the cake?âÂ
Both? Both were good. Or either.Â
Batman snortedâ because that was the icing on top of this particular cake of catastrophes, that of all the Bats that could have come to his aid like heâd planned, the only one who actually managed to make it was Bruce.Â
Bruce, who tensed and ducked moments before a barrage of bullets flew through the space theyâd been just moments before. Jason was grateful not to be a pincushion, donât get him wrongâ it was just hard to express that gratitude when his side lit on fire and it hurthurthurtâ
âIâm sorry, Iâm sorry chum, just give me a moment.âÂ
Jasonâs pretty sure he blacked out for a few moments, because the next thing he knew, Bruce was laying him against a cold, hard surface and pressing against his gut. Jason writhed, clenching his jaw to avoid screaming, because ouchâ
It felt like an eternity of pain, each second stretching into infinity, though Jason knew it was probably a lot shorter than that. But eventually, Bruce leaned back on his haunches, a terrible look in his eyes. Jason took one look at his eyes and knew.Â
He chuckled wetly. âThat bad, huh, old man? Time to cut your losses.âÂ
âJasonââ
âNo, look,â Jason swallowed. âIâ we hadâ haveâ our differences, but the others still need you. So you need to get out of here, B.âÂ
âJasonââÂ
âI know what a fatal wound feels like, B,â Jason snapped, a little sharper. His heart was racing a little faster already, and he hatedhatedhated it, because things had just started to get good. Sure, he and B still werenât on the best of terms, but heâd mended bridges with Tim and Dick, and he had bonding-sparring sessions with Damian, and Babs let him join her and the girls for movie nights in the Clocktower, and he had tea-time with Alfred every Thursday.Â
It sucked, because heâd just started to be happy again.Â
âJason!âÂ
âWhat?!âÂ
It was kind of funny, Jason thought hysterically, how even while whispering and avoiding detection they somehow managed to end up (whisper) screaming at each other. Kind of went to show how good his chances were of ever getting back on good terms with Bâ
"Do you trust me?"
Everything stops.Â
Itâs a loaded question. Thereâs a million scenes flashing behind Jasonâs eyes, from Befores and Afters: the Pit, the Tower, Bruceâs Death, Jasonâs reconciliation with the family, all of them stretching out before him and flashing out within the space of a second andâ
Always, Jason doesnât say. I never stopped, Jason doesnât say. I want to, but Iâm scared and I donât know how even you can fix this, Jason doesnât say.
âI thought we werenât asking stupid questions,â he says instead, voice hoarse. Thereâs the slightest twitch in the corner of Batmanâs- no, Bruceâs- lips as he completely breaks character, shoulder slumping ever-so-slightly as he runs a hand over Jasonâs hair. Jasonâs breath catches in his throat- both from the tenderness and vulnerability in Bruceâs eyes and the pulsing of the gunshot wound in his side.
âYouâll be alright, son,â Bruce says softly, clipping a small emergency beacon to Jasonâs vest.And then he stands, and Jason watches, speechless with horror as the Batman- the worldâs greatest detective, one of the best strategists and fighters alive, his father- walks outside the room and deliberately yells for attention before leading their pursuers away. - ⢠- ⢠-
A/N: You know that scene in Kung Fu Panda 2 where Po's mom leaves him in the turnip box and then leads the wolves away. That's this scene :DDDD
#batfam fanfiction#batfamily#jason todd#bruce wayne#starsonthewalls writing wheel challenge#no beta just vibes and an hour of writing before i force myself to post whatever i can
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I would like to add to Isafrin's propaganda. Is this how I do it? Anyways. Big spoiler warning for ISAT, stop reading now if you wanna play it! (You definitely should!)
So the biggest thing to me, personally, is that throughout the game you are constantly reminded of the fact that Isabeau has feelings for Siffrin. Every time you go to the clocktower (which IS optional after the first few loops, but you can do it on every single loop if you want), Isabeau tries to confess while SHARING A BED with Siffrin, but chickens out.
The same continues every time you beat the King. Isabeau will try to confess, but get interrupted, cut off, or otherwise not be able to say it.
Isabeau's crush and confession is, dare I say it, one of the major plot points; it is consistent through loops, no matter what you do.
And in later sections of the game, Isabeau is one of the most caring and attentive party members to Siffrin, rivaled only by Odile, where he'll very often ask Siffrin if they're okay, if something is bothering them, etc. all because Siffrin's deteriorating mental state is obvious to everyone BUT Siffrin, and especially Isabeau, who is always paying attention to them.
On top of this, both of them, as mentioned by the original propaganda, want the safety and happiness of each other over all else. This is a double-edged sword, especially in Siffrin's case, but they both care immensely and will do whatever they can to try and make it easier for the other to get through whatever they're dealing with (even if sometimes misguided, also especially in Siffrin's case).
And finally, one of the final major situations in the game is when it's all over, and Isabeau actually manages to confess. This is the penultimate moment for it, as well, because the final loop involves Siffrin actively burning all of his bridges, saying cruel, out of pocket things, etc. in a really fucked up, hopeless mental state. And even after ALL that, Isabeau's feelings aren't any different, and he tells Siffrin absolutely everything he loves about them, probably something they REALLY needed to hear after convincing themself of how awful they are for potential months, or even a year or two if you loop enough.
I know this is very Isabeau centric but Siffrin is an incredibly emotionally repressed individual, and the thought of being forward with their own feelings is something they literally describe as "life-ending" at one point, but through their inner monologues you can very easily tell that they feel the same, admitting it to themself is just a massive hurdle, and they're probably scared of messing up and losing Isabeau somehow.
Anyways. Uh. They're good! You should vote for them!
Addendum: Isabeau is horrendously down bad to the point of being jealous of completely platonic stuff. He loves his traveler so so so much. Also he gets more flustered when Siffrin is intense and that fact alone is hilarious to me. Thank you. :)
Thank you for your Isafrin Propaganda!
Current Isafrin (Round 6) Poll [HERE]
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(full game in stars and time spoilers)
(also this text has discussions of death and abandonment)
Family Quest
TTOS version of Tutorial Quest (Bonnie's friendquest) from ISAT
(Odile is standing here, seemingly consumed by her book.)
Loop: "Odile."
Odile: .... Odile: Oh, heyloop. Odile: .... Odile: What do you want.
Loop: (...)
"Clocktower, sleepover"
"Worrying about tomorrow?"
"Anything weird happening lately?"
"Can I help you with anything?"
"Nothing!"
Odile: ...
(Odile seems to be contemplating you question.)
Odile: Don't you have anything better to do? Odile: ...No?
(Odile sighs heavily.)
Odile: Fine. I do need help with something. Odile: It might take a while, though...
Loop:
"I have time!"
"Maybe a bit later..."
Odile: Okay. Follow me, then.
(Odile brought you outside of Dormont.)
(There are some weak Sadnesses roaming in the distance.)
Odile: Loop. Odile: The reason I decided to let you help me is that you're less responsible than other adults.
Loop: (???) "What does that supposed to mean???"
Odile: Well, I think the others would be a bit against this. Odile: ...I need you to help me learn to fight.
(Oh!)
Odile: I know Boniface said I will be helping you tomorrow but... Odile: I want to fight. I don't want just just be on the sideline and shout mean things like I usully do. Odile: I mean, I know how to fight, just....
Loop: "What, too scared to face a Sadness on your own?~"
(Odile looks at you like she is going you use you as the first target for her training.)
Odile: No. Odile: ...Just.... To be safe, I need someone else here.
(That is fair. Would be kinda bad if Odile got hurt alone in this forest.)
(One of the Sadnesses approaches you.)
Odile: Look, I can show you!
(She immediately engages. You are forced to join.)
<BATTLE START!>
Odile: Scissors type. Well that's not good.
(Odile looks through her book...)
(TRISTESSE attacks!)
Odile: O-OW..!!!
(ODILE...!!!)
(Without hesitation, you strike)
<TRISTESSE is defeated.>
(You breathe in, and out.)
Odile: Nghhh....
Loop: (You can't help but yell.) "ODILE, BE MORE CAREFUL!!!"
Odile: Shut up, I am fine....
(You inspect Odile.)
(Miraculously, she doesn't seem hurt.)
(She is clutching her book too hard.)
Loop: "...I shouldn't have yelled." Loop: "Breathe with me?"
Odile: ....Okay....
(You breathe in and out, slowly, making sure Odile breathes with you.)
(You need to calm down, too.)
(Slowly, she relaxes her clutch.)
Odile: Hah..... Odile: .... Odile: Thanks.
(She gets up.)
Odile: Well, that didn't go super well.
Loop: "It did not, no."
Odile: ....I shouldn't have rushed into battle like that. Sorry, I guess.
Loop: "Wow, Odile apologising? That is a rare sight."
Odile: Shut up. Odile: ..... Odile: We should fight another one.
(You nod, and point to the nearest Sadness.)
(Odile nods in agreement.)
(You jump in.)
<BATTLE START!>
Odile: Okay, so...
(Odile looks at the hand of the Sadness.)
Odile: Oh, Rock type. Odile: Weak to Paper, which is my specialty, we are in luck.
(Odile smirks a little, preparing her book in advance this time.)
(You smile with your eyes, and take an attacking stance.)
<Exchanging blows with the Sadness, until it gives in.>
Odile: Heh. I'm pretty good at this, actually.
(You clap, trying to not do it sarcastically.)
(You breathe in, and out.)
Odile: That was fun, Loop. Thanks for assisting me.
(You've never heard Odile thanking you, either.)
(You decide to not mention it.)
Odile: ...
(Odile is looking up at you.)
(You look back.)
Odile: ....Why do you hide your face?
Loop: (HUH???) "Why are you asking?"
Odile: Because I'm curious and have never had a chance to ask you directly. Odile: Mirabelle, Isabeau and Boniface also don't know, so.... Odile: I mean, I have a myriad of questions about you, actually, but the face bugs me the most.
(Hm. Others have tried to ask you this in the past, but you never gave a clear answer.)
Loop: (And you're not gonna give one now.) "You'd be blinded by my beauty, teehee!~"
Odile: ...ew.
(She does smile a small bit, though.)
Odile: I don't believe you one bit, but I will get off your back, for now at least.
(....)
Loop: (Actually, you have a question yourself.) "What is that book you're carrying?"
(You always assumed it was a spellbook, but she seems to be writing in it as well. Also, it is way too big.)
Odile: Hah, as if I would just tell you.
(Well, was worth a shot.)
Odile: But you did help me, so maybe you deserve an answer.
(Oh!)
Odile: This is a familytale. You probably never heard of it, because you're not from Vaugarde. Odile: It's a book passed down in a family, and each generation writes their own stories in it.
(Oh! Interesting. So that is why she is writing in it.)
Loop: (But also...) "Wait, arent you from Ka Bue? Why do you have one?"
Odile: Oh, it's from.... my mother....
(Odile suddenly becomes sad.)
(No, no, no, you know why, she is an orphan, why did you--)
Loop: "Odile, I'm so sorry--"
Odile: No, it's fine. Odile: You couldn't have known. I haven't told this to anyone yet.
(Odile closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.)
Odile: It's okay. I promise. Odile: ... Odile: Actually, I have one more thing to ask of you. Odile: Always wanted to do it. Odile: High-five?
Loop: (?) "What?"
Odile: I defeated a Sadness just now. I think it's pretty appropriate.
(Oh.)
(You guess she is right.)
(You both take out your hands and do a high-five.)
Odile: Crab yeah!!!
Loop: "Crab yeah indeed!"
Odile: ....Should we fight another one, for good measure?
(You nod. Why not, right?)
(You spot the next Sadness and attack)
<BATTLE START!>
(You and the Sadness exchange blows.)
(This is different from usual.... You are not used to fighting outside anymore.)
(The ground is uneven, and there are stones and sticks everywhere.)
(Oop--)
(...You tripped on a branch.)
Odile: !!!
Odile: LOOP!!!
(The Sadness saw you fall, and is running towards you to attack!!!)
Odile: Oh no you don't!!!
(Odile strikes the Sadness with her book!)
<TRISTESSE is defeated.>
Odile: Ahh...Ah....
(You breathe in, and out.)
Odile: LOOP! LOOP, ARE YOU OK?!?
(Odile is breathing heavily.)
Loop: "I'm fine, Dile! I just tripped."
Odile: Are you sure?...
(You nod.)
Odile: ...You haven't called me Dile in forever....
Loop: (Whoops.) "Odile."
Odile: I didn't say I dont like it! Odile: ....Are you sure youre okay?
(You nod, again.)
Odile: ...Sorry. I just got scared. Odile: It reminded me of the.... last time.
Loop: (Last time?) "Last time?"
Odile: Yeah. Have you forgotten?... Odile: It was a while back. Odile: When you protected me against a Sadness, you know.
(Huh?)
(What Sadness does she mean? You don't remember...)
Loop: "Which one?"
Odile: Which one?!--
Odile: The one which got your crabbing eye, you--
(Oh!!!)
Odile: I knew it!! You did forget!! You crabbing-- augh!!!
(Odile seems to run out of insults.)
Odile: You think it doesn't matter that you got hurt! And you keep getting hurt because of it!! Because of me!!
(Right.)
(You remember, now.)
(It was after you all met Odile. Before she stopped talking to you almost at all.)
(She wasn't careful, and a Sadness was about to hurt her.)
(She is so frail. No one was close enough to do anything.)
(You are the fastest.)
(So you ran, and got in front of her, and...)
Odile: Why did you do it, Loop?!? Why did you protect me?! I don't understand!!! Odile: You could've just stayed put!! I could've taken care of it myself!! I would have been fine!!! Odile: But noooo, Loop thinks that I'm still a child!!! That needs to be protected from everything!!! Odile: And now you can't see from one eye!!! You bump into things and trip all the time!!! Because of me!!!-- Odile: You're such a crabbing idiot for thinking it doesn't matter!!!--
(Odile kicks a rock in frustration.)
(She seems very angry at you.)
(But--)
Loop: "It doesn't matter that much, though?"
Odile: It does, though!!! Odile: You got hurt because of me, and I don't like it!! Odile: And I don't want it to have happened!! You should've just stood there and let me take it!!!
Loop: "But you would have died."
Odile: Wha-- No I wouldn't!!! Odile: See, this is what I mean!! You treat me like I'm useless and can't do anything by myself!!
(Odile throws her arms up in frustration--)
(...!)
(Several pages of the familytale fly out and get carried away with the breeze.)
Odile: !!!
(Odile manages to catch one of the pages.)
Loop: "Odile, I'm so sorry, let me--"
(You almost start chasing after the pages, but--)
Odile: ...No, it is fine.
(Odile lets go of the page, letting it fly away with the rest.)
Loop: "Wait, but your familytale--"
Odile: It doesn't matter, Loop. Odile: Those were my mother's pages.
(?)
Odile: ...You know, I've never actually told you all what happened to my parents. Odile: Well, with my dad, it's pretty simple. He died when I was a still preteen. You probably assumed that. Odile: But.... my mother.... Odile: She abandoned me even before that. She never wanted to have a child. Odile: .... Odile: When-- When my dad died, I... couldn't stay in Ka Bue anymore. Odile: That country... My home... It carried too many bad memories for me. Odile: And I thought-- Maybe, I could live here. In Vaugarde. Odile: Where my mother came from. Odile: ....But, alas, this place also didn't feel like home. Odile: Makes sense, I guess. My mother hasn't left me with anything. No pictures, no letters, no last words. Certainly didn't make me feel connected to Vaugarde when she was with me. Odile: But.... she did leave one thing. Odile: This familytale. Odile: Passed down to me from my mother, and to her from her parents, and so on. Odile: And I thought maybe this was it! This could help me connect to this place! Reading my family's tales, reading about how they lived, their adventures... Odile: ...But I was wrong, still. Odile: I did not feel like I was in this family. Odile: My mother severed that connection from me. Odile: The people who wrote this book are strangers to me. Odile: I've even tried writing my own journey in here, but it always felt so...wrong. Odile: .... Odile: And then, after The Scary Lady took over this country.... Odile: I met you all. And it felt... different? Odile: Like I actually belonged in this group? Like this was supposed to happen all along? Odile: ...Only now I realised what it was. Odile: You all are my family.
(!!!)
Odile: I don't need to cling to my roots like that, they were never there, basically. But you all are here. Odile: And I care about you all! About Isabeau, about Mirabelle, about Bonbo-- Boniface!!! Odile: And I care about you, Loop! And I don't want you to be hurt, you crab! So stop pretending like it's all fine!!!
Loop: "Dile....." Loop: "Yeah, it's not fine that I got hurt." Loop: "But it has already happened. We can't do anything about it." Loop: "...But I can promise to try to not get hurt like this again."
Odile: .... Odile: Heh. Odile: I almost believe you, actually. Odile: .... Odile: Just.... let me help more. Not just you. The whole group. So no one has to get hurt this much.
(....)
(Despite you saying what you said, you can't promise that.)
(You would get hurt again.)
(If it meant that Odile is okay.)
(If it meant that everyone is okay.)
(But she knows this already. She is not just a child.)
(And because of that....)
Loop: "You can help. If you also promise to try to not get hurt."
Odile: ... Odile: Shake on it?
(??? Huh???)
Odile: Shake on it. Like all the, haha, important adults do.
(...)
(You let out a snicker and outstretch your hand.)
(Odile firmly shakes it, visibly trying not to laugh.)
Odile: Can't believe you actually did it, Loop. Odile: ...But I do promise. And I actually believe you. Odile: We won't get hurt. And the rest of us won't. If we try together. Odile: .... Odile: Heh, all this feelings talk has tired me out. Let's get back to the village, before I call you a crab again.
(You laugh and lead the way back.)
#in stars and time#isat#isat au#ttos#in stars and time spoilers#catastrophic levels of yapping#the time of stars au
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My Full Thoughts since I remember people following me for NG art [ spoilers for the game & ending ] :
I may be biased as I wasn't the biggest fan of Death Mark 1 either - and I very much love love love Spirit Hunter NG - but this game felt...rushed?
I'll start with things I liked cause it's Unfortunately Smaller Than What I Disliked:
I liked the final Departed design! I think overall I actually enjoyed the Departed more than Mary and Kakuya, along with the folklore of Mushikabi, and the ancient rituals for old gods, it felt like my alley of horror. Mold and Insects are kind of generally overlooked in horror, so it was real neat. Kakuya had that flavour too, and Mary....I found Mary's final form bad. Sorry.
The environments are super pretty, and I particularly liked the Fox Forest a lot. Fox Laccata made for a very eerie backdrop to a lot of the scares
I didn't quite expect it but the game takes a very mature and hard stance on student/teacher relationships and explains very well why it's inappropriate. After so many VNs just casually having them, it was surprising to see. Good for them!
Horror atmosphere is good as usual - they have really good grasp of how to describe things in a really creepy and unsettling way. Just reading some of the shit made my skin crawl.
THE SOUND DESIGN....my god the ambience and the noises the ghosts make are fucking horrific in a good way. It gives such an unsettling feeling to hear the spirits voices, I wish more games went with the kind of distortion they go for.
Michiho's room being untouched since August after the clocktower incident. I think it's a great story telling beat, I just wish it came earlier and was a little more subtle. Overall I think it's an excellent way to show someone's is being possessed.
The horror of interacting with two girls only to find out they're literally just flesh piloted by an angry spirit.
Now things I Disliked:
First of all - it relied extremely heavily on you caring for the characters from the first one. It didn't develop or flesh them out at all, and considering it's been some time since Death Mark 1, I hand on heart didn't remember a lot of them. Spirit Hunter solved this by having a consistent cast that stayed with you the entire game and that's why you felt...compelled to save them. They're your friends. You KNOW Hazuki, and Amanome! That and well - the obvious of the cast being way too fucking big. Like physically what was the purpose of Abe, aside an extra name????
I know the game wanted you to develop a fondness for Michiho and Himeko, but i forreal just felt uncomfortable with them, especially with constant pushing of their company onto a Grown Man that very much told them in plain text "you make me uncomfortable. Stop it." It's extra bad because the game takes a hard stance on their relationship to Yashiki, and he constantly tells them no, and it just felt...icky. I KNOW they're possessed by the spooky ghost, but it just makes me so confused when the game tries to pull 'their innocent smiles ...their gentle reassurance' on you, like I'm sorry we talking about Mrs. Harassment over here?
Speaking of the girls but my god was it obvious. Guys. Come on - you're better than this. It was so obvious they might as well have worn a stamp on their forehead saying 'IM THE DEPARTED'
This leads me to the...fanservice....It's bad. I don't think I need to expand on this... It's bizarre how bad it is considering NG took a massive step back from it. I don't know why they reverted back to it in full force.
The ghosts were also...underwhelming to put it mildly - and plain goofy to be frank. Again I hate to keep comparing to NG but....bro. I genuinely don't like a single spirit design from the main ones except the Departed.
The end felt weirdly rushed with how quickly we found out everything about the Departed in 1 chapter while doing fuckall for the previous 6. I think getting teeny hints through out the entire game would have been more satisfying in solving the mystery...that and I wish it wasn't LITERALLY SPELLED OUT FOR YOU.
The true end is bad. There. I said it. I hate how it brings back the girls with all their creepiness (derogatory), it cheapens the horror of interacting with a corpse, and kind of is just...bizarre. The normal good end is the best one and fits the tone of the series. I can tell the girls were the writers favourites and Its So Unfortunate When You Don't Like Them.
Anyway play Spirit Hunter NG. Death Mark 2 isn't bad because I do still enjoy the series, but I think it's a downgrade from the second one. I'd put it around the same as Death mark 1, with maybe slightly above because I did like the atmosphere and the Departed, might draw them. Spirit Hunter NG still sweeps.
Finished Manlys run of Death Mark ii and man I love this VN series...it's a shame that their marketing is almost entirely Japan exclusive, I wanna buy merch đ
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based on true experiences of whichâs memories came back to me after someone reblogged posts about it and i got stressed out when i saw em.
#ghs#ghs oc#JP/Judgement's Prophet#gregory horror show#... clocktower actually scares me bad#i posted it here cuz this blog needs more posts
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Halloween Event
[You may use any Song or music in the Event!]
* Reaper was taking some guardian bags[Bags that can carry anything to Titan sized and Planet or universal size] for him and his lover and A few for his brothers and little kids[The children will be going to the Guardian Halloween Special Festival] but remembers that some of the SCP creatures and creepy-pasta Creatures even Bendy and the Ink Creatures will be all over before Halloween starts and he can use his bad boy form for Protection for his lover and he tells his brothers to use it if necessary as reaper makes a Mask that is only compatible to the bad boy form and it looks very Horrifying that scares anyone but not his lover*
Reaper:Almost done just need some Alternate Universal Death Dust I can ask my father for that and then some Cosmic and Aether Scraps and some Divinity Energy and so itâs complete * The mask looks like a Dark purple with black lining Skull with reaperâs name on it as he kept trying make some tweaks and some Modifications and some Adjustments so everything is Absolutely perfect and reaper already made two for Blaze and Angel*
Reaper:My bad boy form is Accepted and is Compatible to this Mask just need to be finished until the day starts then those Creatures will know that you will never mess with this Guardian!
* Reaper gets The rest of Materials as he finishes on the mask as He goes into his bad boy form then he wears the mask as he looks at the mirror as the mirror Shatters Instantly and the room was Dark as there was a Echoing Laughter*
[Not really the Mask but Very close!]
* Reaper goes back to normal as he takes off the mask as it looks normal again* Reaper:Just what I Needed but⌠FockâŚ
* Reaper Makes the Right adjustments and modifications on the mask as he also finishes up his lovers Universal mask* Reaper: as Beautiful as the universe
* The SCP and Creepy-Pasta and Bendy and his Ink Creatures are now Roaming around the Neighborhood and The Guardian City [ Imagine New York City but Beyond any number Sized City] yet only one SCP creature is in the Guardian Halloween Festival SCP-999*
[SCP-999 is just a very Friendly and Happy orange Slime!]
Reaper:Wait Does the Mask Also Makes her into her? I gotta Give it to her to seeâŚHm?* DING DING! The Clocktower from outside at the middle of the Palace is that itâs The evening and It has Started!* F-FockâŚ. Time to send some of these masks to my brothers and just these two masks are for me and my Love
* Reaper Puts on his clothing [He wears a Black All Elemental Immunity Existing or non existing Buttoned shirt and Pants ]* Reaper: Letâs Have a Majestic Early Halloween!
Bad Boy Reaper: And to scare the Fock out of Focking Monsters!
@saphirafoxgirlspost1
* Reaper sends the Mask that actually resembles the Universal Goddess to his lover and a Note saying: Hello my Lovely Kitsune~ I made a Mask that looks as beautiful as the universe and itâs for you, I love to see you wearing it, Iâm doing an early Halloween! Meet me outside the palace at the main Gate!
Your Bad Boy Reaper~~*
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Haunted Towers and Hidden Truths
Phic Phight prompt by @lexiepiper
Write a more traditional ghost story. How would things change if ghost powers werenât super powers, but closer to old horror movie tropes?
âWe shouldnât do this Danny,â Sam said, ever the voice of reason. âThis place isnât like our usual haunts.â
But Danny shook his head, âNo Sam, I have to do this. I have to know what that dream meant, if it was really a dream or something else.â
He moved to take a step forward when his other friend, Tucker, grabbed his arm, âI donât know man, I think sheâs right. There isnât a possessed item to destroy, or an overactive ghost to try and calm down, heck even Vlad has a weakness we can exploit, we donât know anything about this place. What if we donât make it out of this one?â
âCome on Tucker,â Danny argued, his own confidence nothing but a mask, âIt canât be as bad as the haunted video game right? You die in the game you die in real life!â
Tucker didnât laugh, âthis is serious Danny, I know that dream had you messed up, but what if it was just that? A dream?â
âOr,â Sam cut in, âWhat if itâs a trap? Remember how Desiree tried to get us with that monkeyâs paw when she realized we were getting involved with every scary story and urban legend in town and she didnât want us to find out about her?â
There was also the time a ghost discovered Dannyâs secret and decided to haunt him personally and make his life a living hell until he and Tucker were able to exorcise it. It had involved a gorilla, a lot of research into dead safari hunters, and one of his parentâs inventions that they rigged to do what they needed before destroying it so it couldnât be used against Danny himself.Â
âWe made it through all of those things together, remember when we first saw Cujo? And we thought he was to blame for Valerieâs mother?â Danny said.
Sam deflated, âand then we did research and discovered that Cu Sith only foretell death, not cause it⌠But Danny, we tried to research this place, remember? We found nothing. Itâs like it doesnât exist.â
âYeah man,â Tucker scratched the back of his neck uncertain, âI couldnât find so much as a blueprint. No building plans, nothing. The only thing we have to go on are stories from reckless kids trying and failing to spend the night.â
âYou donât have to follow me, the last thing I want is to put you both at risk. Especially after last time.âÂ
Tucker groaned, âDanny you know we arenât going to let you do this alone right? Especially not after Walkerâs prison. Who knows what would have happened if we didnât come in and save you?â
Danny smiled, âI probably would have starved to death to be fair, but yeah, Iâll try to avoid getting locked in any metal cages, deal?â
âTo be fair,â Sam said, returning his smile with one of her own, strained though it was, âyou probably would have died of thirst first.â
Chuckling at his friends' attempts to lighten the mood once they realized his mind wouldnât be changed, Danny finally let himself look up at the place in question. It was a tall, crooked looking clocktower with old, brittle wood and peeling paint. In the low light of the evening it looked almost purple and with the dust and cobwebs covering it, it was clear no one had been inside for quite some time.Â
The Clocktower was a recurrent presence in his dreams, the ones heâd started having since the accident that made him the way he was: different from any person, but not quite anything else. It was always there in the background, but heâd never gone inside.Â
Once, during a particularly dull recurring dream where he relived the life and consequent death of a warehouse worker, heâd walked away from the endless piles of boxes and tried to go inside the clocktower instead. But no matter how far he traveled, it was always the same distance away. He just couldnât get to it.Â
Danny couldnât shake the feeling though, that something inside might have the answers heâs been searching for. So he stepped forward, and knocked on the door.
There was no answer, of course, and Danny almost felt foolish doing it, but also, ghosts and spiritual beings all had their own rules and perceptions of what is or isnât polite, most of which Danny had stumbled into learning the hard way, and it really didnât hurt to check.
âNo answer,â Sam said and Danny nodded, turning the handle. It was old and brass and when it turned it made a loud grinding noise that vibrated along his arm. But it did open, and without Danny needing to persuade it, so that had to be a good sign right?
Unless it really was a trap.Â
âMaybe we should leave someone outside, in case it really is like Walkerâs prison.â He offered, but both of his friends shook their heads and stepped past him. It was dark, musty and smelled in a weird way, like a library. If a library had locked its doors and not let anyone enter for a good century or so.Â
Sam took the lead, her flashlight catching on unfamiliar shapes and shadows. âDo you know what weâre looking for?â she asked, her voice uncertain.Â
Danny shook his head, âNot really, just⌠answers.â
They looked around the ground floor at first, but if it held anything particularly supernatural or important, it wasnât going to be found. âThis just looks like my grandma's living room.â Tucker complained, taking the sheet off of one of the couches, âwe need to go further in if we want to actually find something.â
He wasnât wrong, Danny looked over to the spiralling staircase in the back of the room, and then to the other doors that surrounded it on the first floor. âItâs probably better to do this systemically right? Go through every room on each floor and move our way up?â
âYou mean like in a video game?â Sam asked, âsure, we can do that.â
They started on the left, but that room wasnât much better when it came to finding any kind of clues. It held a kitchen, a very old kitchen, with a stove and oven that Danny had only ever seen in period movies. ButâŚ
âWhy does it smell like cookies?â Danny asked, turning to his friends who both looked at him like he was crazy.
âCookies? Yo, Danny this place smells like straight up death. Not cookies.â Tucker said, backing away from the oven and starting to open up cabinets.Â
Sam rolled her eyes and did the same on the other side of the kitchen, âit doesnât smell like death you dolt, it smells⌠like a graveyard.â
Danny walked to the middle of the room, towards the oven- he always made sure to be the one seeking out the more dangerous or suspicious things in the haunts they went to- while the two of them bickered. They tended to start these smaller, petty arguments when they were scared, it took the edge off.Â
âDuh?â Tucker said, and Danny heard him slam one of the cabinets shut, âgraveyards are death? What does it smell like to you? Your Momâs perfume?â
âNo, it smells like someone dying, you know all hospital chemicals and gross stuff.â
There wasnât anything in the oven, but oddly, Danny had felt a wave of warmth when he opened it. Almost like it had just been used. But, ghosts didnât need to eat, right? And there couldnât have been a person living here, theyâd notice that. At least, Danny hopes they would notice that. After being in dozens of life or death scenarios hinging on whether they noticed important but minute details, theyâd become pretty good at that kind of thing.
âUgh! Donât talk about hospitals, Iâm still not over North Mercy, that was horrible,â Tucker turned to Danny, leaning on one of the counters and ignoring the cabinet he opened right behind his head. âWhat do you think death smells like Danny?â
Danny walked over and closed the cabinet, he didnât want something to suddenly appear inside of it all twisted limbs and empty eyes or for something to crawl out and scare them, or even have it slam shut on Tuckers head, like some ghosts were known to do. He didnât have to put much thought into his answer, âIt smells like burnt flesh, electricity, and polished wood.â
Tucker paled, âoh⌠right. Sorry.âÂ
He shrugged, âanything yet?â
âNot unless you count cobwebs, dust, and deteriorating cooking books,â Sam answered, walking over to both him and Tucker.Â
Danny looked around at the kitchen, it looked normal, even some dying light shone in from the one window along the outer wall. The only thing weird was the shape and that was because it was at the bottom of a spiralling clocktower. There was nothing particularly scary about the place, and frankly Danny didnât know what to do with that.
âLetâs move on, this place is giving me the creeps,â Sam said, crossing the room and going to the next door.Â
Danny and Tucker followed, unwilling to be left behind, or to let her go on her own. The next room was the same size as the other two, but it had an extra window and was crammed absolutely full of books. Just books. Stacks and stacks of them where they didnât fit on the shelves, which were completely packed themselves, and Danny had the thought that this was probably what he was smelling when they first walked in.Â
It was a library. A personal one, but without any room to sit or anything to sit on despite the genuinely impressive display of books and Danny found himself gently stroking his hand against the cover of a book on the top of the nearest stack, When Ghosts Speak: Understanding Earthbound Spirits.
âPlease tell me we arenât reading all of this,â Tucker whined. Danny frowned, why wouldnât he want to read these? It was a treasure trove of information, these books could have countless, researched, answers to questions theyâve been asking since the start of everything!Â
What if one of these books could tell them why Amity Park seemed to attract the supernatural, why they seemed to gain power within the cityâs boundaries, why Danny wasnât dead. He wanted nothing more than to grab any one of these books, walk into the next room, with the couches and comfortable chairs, sit down and read and read until he found something, anything he could use.Â
These books might even be able to help him deal with the supernatural threats that plagued their town. Mostly theyâve been surviving through luck and half baked internet searches with the occasional trip to the town library. And while it had been enough so far, Danny was practically salivating at the thought of being properly, genuinely prepared for something for once.Â
âOf course we arenât,â Sam said, dragging Danny out of his fantasies of maybe knowing what he was doing, âtheyâre completely deteriorated. If we even tried to open one it would probably fall apart.â
Danny frowned, and then looked down at the book heâd subconsciously grabbed. It didnât seem as bad as Sam was describing, but he also didnât want to risk it either. Heâd realized early on there was a difference between what he was seeing and what was actually real. He set it down gently and looked around the rest of the room with his friends.Â
âAre we so sure this place is haunted?â Danny asked. By then, the sun had set entirely and the only light left was their flashlights. High powered and with fresh batteries they were still little use against the encroaching dark and Danny wanted to move on to the next floor already if he wasnât going to be able to open a book.Â
Tucker stood up from behind a precariously leaning shelf and dusted himself off, âDude youâre the one that said there was something here and we needed to investigate. Remember, like an hour ago when the two of us were trying to stop you from going inside?â
Danny scoffed, âthatâs not what I mean.â
âWhat do you mean then?â Sam asked, stepping closer so she could meet his eyes. There was something in her expression, curiosity or suspicion, Danny couldnât quite parse.Â
âIâŚâ Danny stopped to think, what did he mean? Was it just that the place didnât feel haunted? There wasnât anything here trying to scare him away, no ominous winds or loud knocking, but theyâve gone into haunts before that took a long time to start actually reacting to them. âThereâs no, I donât know how to explain it. Usually when we go somewhere haunted, that a ghost has a claim to or whatever⌠thereâs this feeling that Iâm trespassing? I donât feel like Iâm trespassing here.â
That probably didnât make any sense, and despite everything they didnât usually act on Dannyâs gut instincts as a group without evidence. The issue with the circus and itâs terrifying owner was a lesson too well learned after all.Â
True to expectations neither Sam nor Tucker looked convinced. They shared a quick âwhat nowâ look between each other and Danny resisted taking a step back and sinking into the wall. Not that he could do that, as far as he knew he couldnât do that. Only actual ghosts could do something like that and despite everything Danny was still human- well, still had a physical form.Â
Permanently.Â
âLetâs move on upstairs,â Sam reasoned, âif Dannyâs right there wonât be any harm in it, and if heâs not weâll find out once whateverâs here starts actually reacting to us, right?â
Perfectly reasonable and logicked as always. Danny nodded and walked to the next door, if he was right it would lead into the room they had first entered with the staircase that twisted and climbed higher and higher into the heart of the tower. That was the next place to go. He knew that.
Tucker gently patted his shoulder as they walked towards the base of the stairs, âyeah, maybe the ghost doesnât consider this bottom part his haunt? Maybe he just likes the clock on top?â
Danny smiled, âlike the hunchback of Notre Dame?â
Smiling back, Tucker nodded, âexactly! Oh man, we gotta find out if that guy is real one of these days.â
âWe have our hands a bit tied with Amity Park without going after disney characters,â Sam said, pushing the two of them from behind so theyâd actually go up the stairs. âNow let's get a move on, I want to be back home before breakfast so my parents donât realize I snuck out again.â
There was something Danny could say but he bit back the comment about how at least her parents would notice and quickly walked up the stairs instead. As soon as his feet touched the first step a bubbly feeling lifted in his chest, and it made him want to go higher as fast as he could there was someone up there waiting for him-
âDanny!â Sam called out, grabbing him by the arm, âcalm down!â
Her grip on his arm was tight and Danny looked down to see what had her panicked only to find his feet had left the stairs entirely and heâd started floating upwards instead of walking. Like a human. Like his friends. Like what he was supposed to be.Â
He swallowed and let himself sink back down, forcing the feeling in his chest back as much as he could. It was like trying to kill the fizz in a shaken soda by screwing a cap back on it and he struggled with it for a moment. Heâd never felt like this before- sure, most ghosts and other supernatural entities tended to broadcast emotions to a higher degree than humans, and with them also being natural empaths and Dannyâs unfortunate situation it often led to him being overtaken by emotions that werenât necessarily his own.Â
Itâs just, theyâve never been this overwhelmingly positive before.
Even with Vlad, as human as he was, his emotions were always tinted with obsession and desperation. His need to have Danny and his mother for his own colored every interaction heâd had with the man and it often left a bitter, strained feeling in his chest. Right now, Danny felt almost giddy. And he wasnât even sure it wasnât just his own emotions, reacting to the environment around him. It was a nice environment after all.Â
But Danny was good at ignoring things like that.Â
âMy bad. Iâll try and keep my feet on the ground from now on.â
Sam looked conflicted, âDanny you know we donât mind you using your powers,â Danny nodded, theyâd told him so many times over and over again, âBut we donât want to lose you to them. You promised to stay with us, remember?â
Danny smiled, âI remember. I wonât end up like that, I promised. Thatâs why weâre here right? To stop it?â
Sam nodded and let him go.Â
The second floor was similar to the first, in that it had three rooms leading into each other with the spiral staircase in the center. Danny started with the door on the right. It was a study. There was a desk, paperwork, and a bottle of ink with a quill and Danny found himself wondering just how old this clocktower really was. And how long it had been since its occupant was truly here, alive, if ever.Â
They split up and started looking around, eagerness exposed in their movements. This was the most likely place to have something useful, especially if whoever spent their time here was as studious as the lower floor suggested. Danny went for the desk.Â
There was a note on it, in perfect, looped handwriting and the ink was still glistening, fresh from the bottle if the smell had anything to say about it. Danny ran his hand across the words hoping to smudge it, but it had dried already, if barely.Â
Itâs nice to meet you, little anomaly.
Danny grit his teeth.Â
âGuys,â he called out, holding the paper, âIt knows weâre here.â
Sam and Tucker rushed over, and Sam grabbed the paper from his hand to read for herself. âLittle anomaly? Isn't that kind of insensitive?â
âYeah,â Tucker agreed, âyou just have weird ghost powers right? Vladâs the same way itâs not like youâre the only person on the planet like you.â
Hesitant to correct him, Danny bit his tongue. It was true that Vlad was a person who had unfortunately gained the abilities of a ghost, things like floating, making objects move with his mind or using his spirit to control people while he slept safe and sound at home. And heâd gained them in a similar way to Danny as well, trusting the wrong people and delving into things he never fully understood and still didnât.Â
It was just ⌠less true for Danny was all.Â
But he wasnât going to tell them that, he wasnât going to tell anyone that. So how did whoever, or whatever this was, know? Or was it just saying things to get under his skin, that was pretty par for the course when it came to ghosts. So why wasnât it doing anything else? Trying to get them to leave? Was Sam right? Was it really a trap this entire time? What would happen if they went back downstairs and tried the door, would it open?
He grabbed the paper and shoved it into one of his jackets pockets, there was plenty of time to freak out over it later after all. âLetâs keep looking around, there has to be something here that itâs trying to distract us from.â
Unfortunately, there wasnât anything more useful than there had been downstairs. Just what one would expect from a normal office. What papers he did find had detailed extensive notes, yes. But they were in a language Danny couldnât read and neither Sam nor Tucker even recognized. It was infuriating!
Almost like whoever was haunting this place, was telling them it had all the answers they wanted but wouldnât give them any. He just wanted to know how - Danny shook his head. There had to be something. He wouldnât have been led all the way here, had all those dreams, if there was nothing he could do at all.Â
He threw one more frustrated look around the office before he threw the stack of papers heâd been digging through on the floor and marched over to the next door. It was unlocked, again, just like all of the others and it only served to increase Dannyâs frustration.Â
âWait, Danny,â Sam noticed him leaving and quickly followed, the door slammed shut behind them, locking Tucker inside the office.
âNo,â he whispered, this was all his fault, he shouldnât have let this ghost get in his head like this! He never should have let his emotions take him over, he knew better. It led to bad things. Horrible, terrible, things.Â
There was a loud bang on the door, someone was pounding against it and Danny flinched. Was the actual haunting finally starting? Was everything really just a way to lure them deeper into the tower and away from each other?Â
âGuys?â he heard Tucker call out from the other side of the door, âdid you seriously just leave me behind? Donât we have like, a rule against that?!âÂ
Danny sighed in relief, it was just Tucker. âAre you okay Tuck? Did anything happen over there when the door shut? Any oozing walls or flying papers-â
There was another thump, probably Tucker banging his head against the door, âI know what to look for Danny Iâve been doing this the exact same amount of time as you.â
âYeah yeah,â Danny acquessed. âJust get to the stairs and weâll meet you there.â
He exchanged a glance with Sam, she was glaring a hole into the side of his head and he felt guilty for being the cause of everything going wrong, again. So he apologized and ignored her exaggerated eye roll when she said he should have known better, because well, he did. But what was he going to do, apologize twice?
The room they were in was a simple one, likely some kind of storage space that he and Sam could dig through for hours on end, but it was more important to get to Tucker than to try and make sure they didnât miss anything.Â
Which, in hindsight, was probably exactly why theyâd been separated.Â
A cold breeze tickled at Dannyâs hair and he felt himself relax despite it all. It felt nice, the cold, and Danny liked when the haunts they went to leaned towards the chillier side like this. Sometimes, especially if Vlad was involved, it felt like he was walking into an overwarm swamp when he entered a haunt and it made him itchy and uncomfortable the entire time. Vlad never seemed to notice, and his friends complain equally about both, so Danny had mostly kept it to himself.Â
The entire tower felt nice, cold dry air, the smell of books, ink, and cookies, even the playful, excited feeling that seemed to permeate throughout the tower. Like someone had designed it to appeal in every way to both sides of Dannyâs instincts.Â
It was unnerving.Â
He followed Sam out of the room and back into the middle where the stairs were, but Tucker wasnât there.Â
Sam pulled out her phone, and Danny held his breath as it rang, once, twice, and then a click and Tuckerâs familiar, annoyed voice came through the speaker and Danny sighed in relief. âUh guys? I couldnât get out the door so I tried to climb out a window, and there was uh, a ladder. So Iâm outside right now. Come get me?â
Danny met eyes with Sam and nodded, they headed back down, âweâre coming Tuck,â he said.
âCool, cool, actually rather than coming to get me, can we just go home? Come back later, like in the day time? How come we never do these things in the daytime?â
âYou know thatâs not how ghosts work Tucker.â Sam said, bored, as they walked to the front door. Danny felt a tug, something like a hand on his shoulder and turned to see what was behind him. There wasnât anything there.Â
He turned back around to see that Sam had already walked outside, and was holding the door open for him, one of her eyebrows raised. Awkwardly, Danny jogged a little, so as to not hold them up too long. But before he could actually walk outside the door slammed shut.
Sam screamed.
âDanny! Are you okay!â Tucker asked, his voice panicked and muffled from the other side of the door.
âIâm fine,â Danny said, gritting his teeth and turning around. The room didnât look or feel any different. There was nothing screaming at him to get out or anything else malicious. If anything it seemed even cosier than before, and Danny didnât really know how to react to that.Â
He looked back at the door. There was a way, no. He couldnât do that. Danny pinched at the bridge of his nose, the only thing to do, really, was to see who had invited him in. Thatâs what it was right? Some kind of weird ghostly invite?
âIâm going to go check upstairs,â he called out to his friends before walking back towards the staircase.Â
They pounded on the door, âDanny donât you dare go up there without us! Just wait, weâll find a way in! Itâs dangerous alone!âÂ
Ignoring their protests Danny took the stairs two steps at a time, fighting the rising excitement in his chest and firmly planting his feet against the polished wood. There were answers waiting for him, he knew there were. He just had to find them.Â
The third floor had a bedroom, it was nice, cozy and the bed even looked inviting. Danny didnât bother to stay long. Whoever it was that called him here wasnât in this room, nor were they in the next or the one after that. Just two bedrooms and a bathroom on that floor and Danny quickly made his way to the next.Â
This room was different from the rest. For one there were windows, everywhere, that seemed to play different scenes of different people from all over the world. If Danny strained his ears, he could even hear them speaking different languages. On the other side from the windows was an entire wall of clockwork that chimed and churned as the gears moved, keeping the face of the clock on the outside ticking along in sync with the rest of the world.Â
When Danny stepped into the room properly the carpet sunk easily underneath his feet and he felt a nice, cold breeze that came from a purple flamed fire housed properly in a fireplace in the middle of the room. He hadnât even noticed a chimney from outside.Â
There was a man in front of the fire. He was tall and hooded and he carried an equally tall and gnarled staff in one of his gloved hands. Danny felt himself freeze, he had never seen a ghost this solid before. There was always a little bit of transparency, no matter how powerful, they didnât have physical forms afterall. Not like Danny.
âWho are you?â he asked. His voice was dry and soft and Danny was thankful when it didnât crack on his question. How embarrassing would that have been?Â
The man turned around, his face changing as he did from old and aged to a younger one, closer to his parentâs age, a large jagged scar marking itâs way through one of his eyes and down his cheek. He smiled, âI am Clockwork, Master of time. All that was, All that is, and All that will be. I understand you have many questions for me. I hope to answer them.âÂ
A thousand questions ran rapidly through his mind, why did you call me here? Did you call me here? Why get rid of my friends? What are you and why havenât I seen anything like you before?
âHow do I prevent myself from becoming that.â Danny asked the most pressing question first, desperate. The man-ghost-Clockwork, sighed and gestured for him to sit. There was a comfortable looking couch with an equally comfortable chair across from it and a plate of cookies set on an elegantly carved coffee table between the two.
âThatâs easily answered, sit, have a cookie.â Clockwork floated over, crossing his legs and settling into the chair before grabbing a cookie for himself.Â
Danny glanced at them, uncertain, before taking a seat. The couch was even more comfortable than it looked and he found himself sinking back into it, confused. The room was a nice, cold, temperature as well, despite the fire clearly burning in the fireplace.Â
He grabbed one of the cookies, âcan I eat these?â he asked, looking over at his host.
âOf course,â Clockwork smiled, taking a bite of his own before leaning back, âI made them for you. Though your friends would have to be more careful, Iâm not sure what food like this would do to a human.â
âI am human,â Danny argued, placing the cookie back on its plate. He had to, denial was all he had left at this point.Â
Clockwork frowned, âyes, well, I suppose weâll get there next. You wanted to know about your dreams.â
Finally, Danny nodded, âtheyâre different ever since- uh well⌠ever since the incident.â
âItâs natural to not want to talk about oneâs death,â Clockwork said, he leaned forward and tilted his head, âor oneâs birth.â
âMy dreams,â Danny asked, avoiding that conversation with all the grace of a blind hippo, âwhy are they different. You know right?â
Sighing, Clockwork nodded and leaned back, âyes, I know everything. Theyâre different, frankly, because theyâre dreams. Itâs unsettling to you because itâs new, youâve never dreamed before.â
Danny scowled, âthat doesnât make any sense, I had plenty of dreams when-â
Clockwork interrupted him, disappointment plain under his hood, âYou can lie to your friends Daniel, but I already know the truth. Just as you do.â
âI was astral projecting. Like what Vlad does⌠but then why-?â Danny bit his tongue. He couldnât say it, not outloud. It was too difficult, heâd spent too long hiding it, pushing it away and doing everything he could to keep anyone from noticing.Â
âWhy canât you do it anymore?â Clockwork answered for him, Danny nodded. âThe simple answer is that you arenât like Vladimir, despite what he believes and would like you to believe as well. But thatâs something else you already know. Ask me a question you donât have the answers for.â
Danny grabbed another cookie, biting into it fiercely just to have an excuse not to speak. It tasted really good, better than anything heâd had in a while and Danny wondered if maybe there was something in it meant to sate his less human cravings. The thought didnât help his inner turmoil.Â
Clockwork smiled softly at him though and sighed, âFine, in order to answer your question, first I have one of my own.â
âDidnât you just say you know everything?â Danny mumbled before shoving more cookie in his mouth.Â
âWhat good is a teacher that only lectures?â Clockwork said in retort, âdo you remember how you died?â
He did, of course he did. âKinda hard to forget that. Lab accident, electrocution, nothing fancy.â he said, curling in on himself. Clockwork had been right before, it was painful to talk about. But he wanted, no, needed the answers to his questions. Heâd survive this.Â
âWell, thatâs where your first mistake lies. Yes, that is what stopped your heart, and likely the most memorable part, but you didnât die from that Daniel. What killed you came after.â
Danny frowned, âthat doesnât make any sense? What happened after?â
âYour spirit was never particularly bound to your body in the first place, likely due to your parents dabbling where they shouldnât for as long as they did before you were ever born. There was a summoning, I think you remember, that your parents were holding when your accident happened on the floor below them.â
It was frustrating, that he was right. That he knew it. âI remember them recognizing me, my spirit. I remember them finding my body and shoving me back in. I remember the pain, and waking up and seeing-â Danny choked on the realization. It couldnât be...
âSeeing the world in your dreams?â Clockwork asked, âthe way you saw it when you were a spirit, free from the confines of your body, correct?â He floated over the table, sat next to Danny, and placed a hand on his back. Danny realized he had been shaking.Â
He grabbed the fabric of his jeans in a tight grip and tried to stop, âItâs all real, right? It isnât⌠Iâm not still dreaming? Please, I need to know.â
The hand on his back pulled him close, tucked into Clockworkâs side and Danny felt comforted despite himself, he fought to blink away tears that had been building behind his eyes as he tucked himself into Clockworkâs side. He was so solid, unlike any other ghost Danny had ever met and he seemed to radiate comfort where most just gave off fear and hurt.Â
âYouâre not dreaming Daniel, you never were. The world is different when you see it through our eyes, that is all. When you woke up, you werenât human anymore. Of course you wouldnât be limited by a humanâs sight.â
Danny curled into himself tighter, despair clouding around him and likely leeching unpleasantly into the air. It would be a wonder if Clockwork didnât feel it. âSo Iâm a ghost.â
âHardly,â Clockwork said and Danny stopped breathing, âDo you think the world is so simple it is split between what is ghostly and what is not?â
âIâŚâ Danny had actually assumed that. So far everything theyâd dealt with so far, short of Vlad, had either been a ghost or spirit of some kind, or a human that used magic or ghostly artifacts. Even Vlad had simply been a person who had learned how to control his own spirit the way a ghost would. If Danny wasnât a human, and he wasnât a ghost, then what was he?
Clockwork ruffled his hair, âI suppose youâre young. It is easier, afterall, to think of it that way. But Daniel, ghosts donât have physical forms. They can possess one, or control one, and sometimes even mimic one, but they are spirits.â
He sighed, âyou are something entirely different. Youâre something remarkable.â
Danny leaned back, using the sleeves of his hoodie to quickly dry his tears so he could look Clockwork in the eye, âWhat am I?â
âYouâre new.â
Danny shoved him, âAgghh, I knew that you jerk!â It was probably a bad idea to attack or antagonize someone as clearly powerful and knowledgeable as Clockwork, but really heâd been asking for it. And Dannyâs patience was only so strong.Â
Clockwork didnât fight him back though, nor did he get offended. Instead he just smiled that soft smile that Danny was starting to realize was affection, and said, âdid you? Werenât you trying to read my books to find out if there was anyone else like you?â
âWell yeah-â Danny stopped, âOh. There wouldnât be anything would there? If Iâm the first?â
He groaned, that really was just his luck. Heâd never figure out anything at this rate. Clockwork, the bastard, just hummed and grabbed another cookie, offering it to him. âNo there wouldnât. But youâre not the only one who was the first or only of their kind. Who had to figure out on their own, who and what they are.â
âYou mean Vlad?â Danny asked, the thought left a sour taste in his mouth, wow he really hoped he didnât mean Vlad.
Clockworkâs smile turned brittle, âI donât mean Vlad.â
Danny chuckled, his thoughts turning mischievous, âI donât know, he seems pretty unique, what with all those different abilities he has and the way he can choose to be human or ghost-â
âOh please,â Clockwork interrupted, âthereâs plenty of humans like Vladimir Masters, you were fully capable of astral projecting like that from birth, no black magic necessary. Just because he found a way to twist-â
He stopped, then looked down at Danny who was trying and failing to hold back a shit eating grin. All at once the air seemed to leave him and he deflated, the irritated look on his face replaced with open and honest affection and Danny felt it sing in the air around them.
âYou were messing with me.â
âTo be fair I didnât think it would work, all knowing and everything.â Danny said, unable to fight the bubbling feeling in his chest as it rose to meet the affection around them. Usually it sucked having the empathy of a ghost and being near one or at least, something with the same traits. The negative emotions tended to bounce between him and them and amplify and it always made Danny struggle to parse his own emotions from theirs. But right now, in the top of a clock tower with the most powerful entity Danny had ever met, he felt happiness and joy to a degree heâd long forgotten. It was dizzying. He was almost giddy with it.
Clockwork patted him on the head, purposefully messing his hair, âyes well. I think in time, it will be more obvious just how different you truly are, how crucial every small coincidence was that came together that night to create you. But until then, you had another question? I can answer it now.â
Danny frowned as he realized what Clockwork meant, âYou! I asked that question first! How did you only answer the one you wanted to!!â
âIt was important,â Clockwork said, relaxing into the couch next to Danny, âto answer that question I had to be sure you knew what you were.â
He sputtered, âBut I donât?! Iâm just something new! Something different!â
âSomething physical that exists with the laws of the spiritual.â
âYeah!â Danny said, âWait, what?â
Clockwork nodded his head, âa physical entity that exists within the realms of spiritual possibility. It must be such a struggle, to deal with both sets of instincts like that.â
Dannyâs head hurt, it was too much to try and understand the details of all of this. Maybe Tucker was right and he should just have let it be, learn to live with the new normal his life was now. Wasnât that kind of what Clockwork was suggesting anyways? Then again, unlike Tucker, he did seem to thrive off of all of Dannyâs questions, whether he actually answered them or not.Â
âYeah, I have to fight my more ghostly instincts all the time. Itâs exhausting.â he said, leaning into Clockwork. It should have been embarrassing, seeking comfort like that, but heâd already cried into his shoulder and there wasnât really any way to come back from that so Danny did as he pleased.Â
He felt Clockworkâs hand return to his back, a solid comforting presence, âNow why would you do that?â
Danny tilted his head in confusion, âwhat do you mean?â
âWhy would you fight against one half of yourself so thoroughly? But embrace the other side entirely?â Clockwork elaborated. âDid you think there wouldnât be any consequences in fighting against your nature?â
âBut,â Danny struggled to speak, pieces of the puzzle heâd thought hopeless putting themselves together in ways he had never expected and didnât quite understand, âmy nature is bad.â
Clockwork frowned and turned to look at Danny properly, âDaniel, itâs your nature. There is nothing good or bad about it. It is only as it is. Everything is as itâs meant to be.â
This was too much, Danny sat up fully and turned entirely towards Clockwork, âare you saying, the way I become that thing from my nightmare, is by⌠doing what Iâve been doing to avoid becoming that thing?!â
âYes,â Clockwork answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world.Â
He blinked, the answer really couldnât be that easy. âBut in my dream, I, my instincts-â
Clockwork grabbed a cookie and placed it in his hands, âeven humans react poorly, when they starve themselves. As you exist now, you simply need a different kind of sustenance. One youâve been denying.â
Danny felt dread crawl down the length of his spine, âwhat kind of sustenance?â
âSpirits exist for reasons, and they exist differently from humans. In order to keep existing they need emotions, experiences, something to keep them held together. A spirit that has no reason to exist will simply disappear, youâve seen such before it is relatively common after all. But you canât do that, since you are physical in a way that they are not. You can starve yourself endlessly, into madness even if youâre desperate enough.â
âI do it to myself?â Danny asked, flustered and frustrated. It was true then? He really was his own worst enemy?Â
Clockwork shook his head, âit is not inevitable Daniel. As you were, it was the most likely path forward. Yes. You would have noticed the symptoms, seen yourself losing control and then, in reaction, suppressed yourself further. Starved yourself further.â
Danny cringed, yeah, that sounded like him. âHow do I stop it then? I just embrace what makes me ghostly? What about my parents? If they think they failed the resurrection, that Iâm not human anymore, theyâll kill me for real! Or worse!â
âThat is indeed troublesome, and the paths of the future where they know your truth are twisted and sharp, every small decision every tiny change causing a greater effect on their reactions as a whole. But you do not need to reveal yourself to your parents to live your truth.â
Relieved, Danny fell back into the couch. He hadnât even noticed heâd floated off of it, was that good? Bad? He shook his head, this was all too confusing. âHow then?â He asked, maybe this time heâd actually get a straight answer.Â
Clockwork ruffled his hair and stood up, er, well, floated up and over towards the fire. âYou continue doing what youâre doing with your friends, protecting your town and interacting with the truth of the world around you. AndâŚâ He turned around, âyou can come visit me. Itâs quite lonely in the clock tower they trapped me in, and there is much I can teach you about becoming. I had to learn such things about myself once after all.â
âYouâll let me come back? To visit you?â Danny didnât know what to say. He could come visit, ask more questions, get more answers. It seemed too good to be true, and Danny found himself eager and excited at the prospect.Â
For some reason, the entire conversation, heâd thought this would be a one time thing. That the clocktower would disappear behind him and leave any question he didnât ask unanswered. To find out that wasnât the case, that he had somehow, against all odds, made some kind of ghostly ally, was beyond expectations. âYouâll help me?â
The answering smile had Danny floating out of his seat, âOf course Daniel. Iâll even bake cookies.âÂ
#Danny phantom#Clockwork#clockwork dp#Phic Phight#phic phight 21#sam manson#tucker foley#op#Bee's writing
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Dear Diary,
A lot has happened and I donât want to write about it all but⌠I guess I should. Itâs March now, my birthday month. The second triwizard task has passed and things are supposed to be calm now until it gets closer to the next one but theyâre not really.
Tom sent me a birthday gift earlier this week. The first gift of the year. I didnât even know he knew when my birthday was, but he sent me a unicorn soft-toy and itâs holding a heart that says âYouâre Magical!â Iâm going to pin the note here, but I donât think heâs very good at writing, so donât make fun of him.
 Deer Faryfayce,
Happy Birdday!
Your big frend,
Tom
 I honestly canât believe he remembered my birthday never mind that he got me a gift. Iâm really glad he did though, I mean, it must mean Iâm important right? Like, we really are almost best friends? Maybe we can be actual best friends now. I was really happy about it until I found out that he got Talula a necklace for her thirteenth birthday. That's such a grown up gift. It's the kind of gift you get the girl you like, not like a soft-toy. You get your little sister a soft-toy. I know I shouldn't care, it's not like we're dating or anything, I'm dating Jamie and I like Jamie. I don't like Tom. But it still bothers me. Maybe it's because he called me a baby.
Anyways, Lionâs Den happened on Sunday and⌠Well, it started out okay, if you pretend Alasdair wasnât there. And Dumb Vicky⌠but Dumb Vicky brought sea salt caramel cake and we were all meant to be celebrating March birthdays like mine and Andie's. I gave Andie some cake and she ended up knocking the plate into my face. I was covered with icing and cake so I jumped over the couch and smeared cake on her too and everything was just fun, you know? Andie wasn't being mean to Jamie. There was no fighting. Artie and Dumb Vicky and the prefect, Bree, all left and so it was just us and Lex and Alasdair and Ramon who came in to eat cake but he started picking on Andie and so she and I teased him back. At some point though, Andie was teasing and going at Ramon, so I ended up full body binding both of them. I really only meant to get Ramon but then Andie stepped in the way. Anyways, Alasdair and Lex left and I asked Jamie if they had a marker. I was hoping theyâd go back to the dorms so I could release Andie but Jamieâs an artist so they actually had a marker on them. And they were all like âI donât feel good about this, you should let them go, Ressy.â Which sounded like a terrible idea because theyâd both be real angry at me and if they were free, theyâd be able to curse me back. Anyways, Jamie got all serious and was like âIâm going to wait in the clocktower. I know youâll make the choice thatâs right for you.â And so when they were gone I freed Andie. But Andie thought I /tried/ to curse her and so she was real mad at me. Or maybe it was because it took a whole lot of tries to free her, Iâm not sure which. I told her that I was going to free her anyhow when Jamie left but that didnât work out so anyways, we tried to free Ramon and it took us both forever and her spells kept failing and apparently it hurt Ramon when they did. Well, anyways, I finally got him free and he started yelling and cursing at us. I felt like crying but then instead I started to laugh, I really donât know why. It was like, I couldnât help but to laugh at the whole stupid day. And I mean, I was glad that I was laughing instead of crying in front of Andie and especially instead of crying because this dumb boy yelled at me but then he started calling me a freak and talking about my eyes. He called me an alien and an abomination and said that I was lucky I wasnât a boy because he wouldâve smashed my head in. He also called Andie⌠some not so nice stuff...and a donut? Anyways, I donât know if itâs because he called me a freak or if itâs because he was insulting Andie or if it was because I stopped taking my calming draughts when Professor Mac told me I should but I ended up shoving Ramon and telling him to try it then. Andie freaked out and grabbed me so I couldnât punch him in his stupid face even when he kept calling me a freak and calling Andie names too. Iâve never been that angry in my whole life- even before Hogwarts, before calming draughts. I just wanted to hurt him and I told him I hated him and tried to kick him but Andie was pulling me away. I ended up remembering I had my wand in my hand and I hit him with a knockback jinx and Andie made her gum fly up his nose. He ran away and Andie left to go back to the dorms but⌠I hate him. I hope heâs afraid every moment until we graduate and that heâs always looking over his shoulder afraid that weâll curse him, /really/ curse him like the Fae in my books.
I left after that and went to meet Jamie in the clocktower. I really feel like maybe Iâm not as good a person as they think I am. I couldnât tell them that though. I told them about what happened though and about how tired I am of always being yelled at because people think I wonât do anything about it or being told that Iâm a freak or a beast because Iâm part veela. Iâm tired of being told I should just let people be mean because theyâre just scared or because I might get hurt! I told Jamie everything and they agreed and hugged me and I think theyâre honestly the most good a person could ever be. I could tell the conversation bothered them so I asked them about the birthday gift they had for me and so they dug in their backpack to get it and⌠Well, it was wrapped in this blue-green shimmery fish-scale paper and it had a bow on it that reminded me of mother-of-pearl and when I opened it it was this mechanical mermaid! She swam out and she kind of floats around and everything. Jamie said they wanted to bring a piece of the ocean to me which is one of the nicest things anyoneâs ever said to me. Itâs up there with being called fairy-face and being asked if Iâm a mermaid. I loved it so much I couldnât even tell Jamie how much so I just hugged them really tight. Of course, when I was hugging them, I remembered I had cake on my face and told them I should clean up and ask if they wanted to go to the commons with me.
On the way to the commons, we ran into Everlina and⌠That was not really good. You remember that boy Rubicon? I wrote about him before, heâs the one who told me my violin sounded like a dying boggart and also he doesnât like me because Iâm part veela? He and Everlina have been friends since before we were even sorted, when his house burned down, he went to stay with Eve and her family⌠Well, he only just realised that sheâs halfblood and ended up totally losing it when he found out! Everly says he basically went crazy and started talking about how non-purebloods just want to kill purebloods and steal their magic and how he started to hurt himself and was crying and stuff and she wanted him to go to the Hospital Wing with her but he just wouldnât! Anyways, Everly was really upset about it and so I gave her a hug but really I want to find him and curse him too for making her cry. I donât know why people in this school are just allowed to get away with this stuff! I just donât get it! I think Iâm going to write Professor Green about it, sheâs his head of house. Maybe she can do something about it, unlike when Professor Rask told us Octavia was just scared. Talula warned me to stay away from Ruby himself though because weâre too evenly matched, being in the same year, and he might really hurt me but Iâm not afraid of him! We all decided to disperse and head back to our commons when the Head Boy caught us. I think Jamie expected us to get in trouble but he was really nice.
I ran into Tom in the Great Hall the next day and I thanked him for the soft-toy and gave him a hug and everything. He and Talula (and Eve too, though I didnât find that out until later) got these letters from these dueling clubs telling them they were interested in them when they graduate. Thatâs really cool, right? Tomâs club was the Dragons which he says is a really cool team and that they must be interested in him because his da must be one. I know Tom really likes his Da, so maybe thatâs why he was so excited. They even sent him a t-shirt that he put on and started dancing in. Heâs not really a good dancer but thatâs okay, I told him he has wicked cool moves anyhow. He and Talula started talking about starting up dueling club again though which is really cool. Maybe, since the only spells I can really do are body binds and knock-backs, I can actually get good too. It felt really bad listening to everyone talk about their dueling invites. I know they all deserve them and theyâre all really good, I just keep thinking about how I failed my charms exam last year and the practical part of the DADA one and how Iâm just really bad at casting magic in general and it makes me feel worse and worse.
Anyways, I remembered that I donât know Tomâs birthday so I asked him when it was and he said heâd give me his address so I can send him something. I was thinking about sending him a dragon soft-toy but then he said not to send him one. I might send him one anyhow and something else, something cool too. His birthdayâs on the 21st of August. He also said I could come visit him in Surrey over the summer when I told him he could come visit me too. He says his mumâs almost never around so maybe heâd like the company? Jamie said I could come visit them too in a muggle community, so that cool too! Maybe Iâll actually do something this summer instead of just being sent away.
I think thatâs everything I have to write about this time, but it wonât be long before I write again.
#Gryffindor#Harry Potter#harry potter roleplay#harry potter rp#roleplay#second life roleplay#second life
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Training Days
FFN | AO3
Summary:Â "Oh, and by "us," I mean me and Lea. He's really sorry for all the trouble he caused. I told him it's fine, but he won't stop apologizing. I'll admit that I was a little scared of him at first, but I've gotten to know him better. All he wanted was to help his friend. Honestly, it's hard not to like him."
A peek into Kairi's and Lea's days of learning how to use the Keyblade. Written for Step Forward: A Kairi Fanzine
A/N: I would very much like to thank @kairizineâ for letting me work on this project. You guys are absolutely amazing and I couldnât say how much I enjoyed being a part of this zine. For all my followers who havenât had a chance to pick up this lovely zine, a second round of pre-orders is dropping on July 5th, so you guys should check that out for sure! Also tumblr fucked my formatting press f to pay respects.
It had been two weeks since Kairi started training with Axel. Or at least, it felt like it had been two weeks. Merlin said that the world they were training in existed outside of time, so it probably wasnât that long to everybody else. But for her at least, it was valuable time. Time where she could learn how to use her Keyblade properly, and to finally get her chance to fight.
She also had time to interact with the man who hadâat one pointâkidnapped her. That was something she was still coming to terms with. Axel saved Sora and apologized for what heâd done to her, but it still didnât make it any easier to be training with him.
âYo, Kairi.â Speaking of Axel, the redhead showed up once more, looking almost uncomfortable with the idea of having to pull her from her thoughts. If there was some reassurance to all this, at least Axel was just as bad with handling talking to his former victim as she was talking to her kidnapper. âThought you could use some company. Merlin said youâd just finished learning about how to use Fire, and as the resident fire elemental, I call myself an expert in the subject.â If it werenât for the fact that his hand was running through his hair, a sign of nerves, Kairi wouldâve been sure his discomfort was perceived on her end given the way he didnât seem bothered.
âIâm fine, Axel, I donât need teaching from a âfire expertâââshe raised fingers, making air quotations at Axel to show she didnât really buy itââto learn how to use a Fire spell. Merlin has it all covered.â
âRight.â She noticed the way Axel slightly deflated at her refusal to train with him. When he spoke, his voice sounded more hollow. âHey, Kairi, just so you know, I really am sorry. About kidnapping you, and all that. I know Iâve said it before but I wanted to say it again.â He left, and Kairi couldnât help the unpleasant feeling that arose in her heart.
-x-
Another few weeks of training passed, Merlin said it hadnât even been a day in the real world. Which was fair, it meant Sora and Riku wouldnât be missing her too long, at least. And it meant another month around Axel, training. She was slowly feeling competent: Merlin had decided that it was time to start training her in using her light as a weapon. It was a sign of progress towards becoming a Keyblade Master.
What was odd was that when she stumbled upon the normally energetic pyromaniac this time, Axel seemed to be a little less upbeat than normal. Heâd continued his stream of apologies, expressing how much he regretted what heâd done, but Kairi doubted thatâs what had him down. Deciding it was finally time to return his interest in getting to know her, she sat down next to him. âWhatâs on your mind?â
Axel jumped, having not noticed her approach. âItâs nothing,â he waved her off.
Kairi frowned, looking at Axel skeptically. He raised his hands in defense of her stare. âOkay, so maybe it is something, but itâs not really something you need to worry about. Just that I canât shake the feelingâŚâ He shook his head, almost as though he couldnât believe what he was saying.
âFeeling?â Kairi asked. She didnât really expect him to give him an answer, but she wanted to know. It was obviously something a lot more important than he was letting on. When he didnât answer after another moment, she smiled. âI didnât know you had any of those.â
âHa ha.â Axel gave a sarcastic laugh, but also a small smile at Kairi, grateful for the joke. âHey, yâknow Iâm not a Nobody anymore. I can feel, just as much as you can!â It seemed he wasnât willing to confront what was going on, and she couldnât blame him for that. It wasnât like sheâd given him any reason to believe she trusted or wanted to help him.
And to be fair, she wasnât sure that she did trust him. She may not have been mad over it right now, but despite his regret  Axel had still kidnapped her. It seemed like a good idea to not press for now. âSure you can, just like you couldnât when you were a Nobody.â
âI couldnât!â
Kairi laughed at his protest. âYou donât kidnap somebody to see your best friend again if you donât care about them a little.â
Axel sat there for a moment. âRight, sometimes I forget that even if I couldnât feel guilt over what I was doing to you, I still felt something.â Maybe it was his way of justifying it: he couldnât feel. He couldnât feel bad over what he had done because he couldnât feel. But he seemed to be feeling the regret of that now. âI know youâre probably tired of hearing it, but Iâm sorry, about all of that.â
For the first time, she acknowledged his apology. âI know.â
-x-
Two months of rigorous training. Two months of her only company being Merlin and Axel. Although they still werenât close friends, things had started getting easier between her and Axel. Kairi found herself talking to him more since sheâd found him that day, or at least she was more willing to talk to him. For one, she almost believed his apologies in that he truly did regret his actions.
This time as Axel approached Kairi, he seemed slightly more at ease. âHey, howâs training been going so far?â
âHey Axel,â Kairi smiled. She couldnât believe that she was at least appreciating Axelâs presence for once. âIâm pretty sure soon Iâll be ready to take you down. What about you, think you can take me on?â
âNah, not like I have years of experience on you. Anyways I wanted to see if you were up for a bit of a break.â He reached into his pocket, pulling out two light blue bars of ice cream. Kairi couldnât help the way that her eyes lit up as soon as she saw them. âWhenever we finished a mission, Roxas and I would go to the clocktower back in Twilight Town and share these.â
Kairi grabbed the ice cream bar, taking a small bite and wincing as the cold hit her teeth. âI like that tradition.â
âI figured we could resume it, now that weâre training together.â Axel grinned, seemingly relieved that she was willing to enjoy it. âOr at least thatâs what Merlin said, starting tomorrow weâll be training together.â
âIâll look forward to it. Donât think Iâll go easy on you either.â Of course, that revelation couldnât help but make her a little nervous. But Merlin wouldnât have her fight Axel if he didnât think she could hold her own against him.
âWouldnât dream of anything less.â It seemed Axel was at least willing to go along with it. âHey, Kairi, I just want you to know-â
âYouâre sorry, I know.â Kairi smiled, leaving Axel looking at her in surprise.
âIâve said it that many times now?â
âI think I got it memorized.â
-x-
After yet another loss to Axel, Kairi and her sparring partner decided to enjoy a treat. There were still quite a few losses in their practice fights, but she did have a couple wins to her name, and that was progress enough for them to be celebrating. He reached into the cooler, handing her an ice cream bar as they sat on the cliffside watching the sunset. Axel told some stories from the Organization to keep her entertained.
âSo I mentioned how I got sent on solo missions all the time for the Organization, stuff that needed to be kept...under the radar.â He seemed hesitant to fully explain what that meant, which made Kairi all the more curious about what he was trying to explain. âSee, a lot of those had me going to Castle Oblivionâterrible place by the way, more boring to look at than The Castle that Never Was and impossible to navigate, anywaysâI was chasing down some chamber for our boss. Not sure what was in it, but what I do know is the Castle did not want us finding it. So this one time I wasââ
âCastle Oblivion...â Kairi frowned, causing Axel to pause in his account. Sora had never mentioned the castle in his stories, and Riku had only mentioned it a couple of times in passing, yet the name brought with it a feeling of dread⌠âThat means you know NaminĂŠ?â
Axel nodded. âThatâs right. I was one of the people who was guarding her while she messed with Soraâs memories.â Before Kairi could say anything more, Axel raised his hand, stopping her. âDonât worry, I wasnât one of the ones hurting her! I was actually the one that helped her.â
He...what? Kairi stared at him in confusion. âRight, Sora...probably wouldnât have been able to tell you. I was the one who let NaminĂŠ go.â
Although she couldnât communicate directly with the blonde to confirm Axelâs story, she felt NaminĂŠ faintly in her heart, confirming Axelâs story: âHe did. If it werenât for him, Sora might be lost forever to the Organizationâs trapâŚâ
âReally?â
âI think it was because he didnât want the Organization to win. For my freedom, I owe him, almost as much as I do SoraâŚâ
âHello, Kairi! You in there?â Axel waved his hand in front of Kairi, pulling her attention away from NaminĂŠâs presence, which had once more gone dormant in her heart.
Kairi smiled. âJust getting a message to pass on. NaminĂŠ says thank you.â
Axel looked at her, and his eyebrows slightly raised in surprise. She wasnât sure if he hadnât expected NaminĂŠâs thanks, for the two of them to have any form of communication, or for Kairi to pass on the message.âShe did? I donât suppose she left a message for you to accept my apology this time, did she?â
Kairi paused for a moment, as though she were conversing with NaminĂŠ once more before smiling. âNope, nothing on that one.â
Lea laughed at her answer, and it wasnât long before Kairi found herself laughing too at his reaction.
She was still a long way to forgiving him for what heâd done, but maybe Lea wasnât so bad.
-x-
It became a tradition to meet up after training to snack on some ice cream and talk about whatever thoughts crossed their minds. Most of the time, conversation flowed between Kairi and Lea easier than she would have ever suspected when their training had first begun, but right now the exchange seemed more one sided than ever. Lea appeared lost in thought, and Kairiâs attempts at getting him to talk about the various details of his life were earning no results.
Normally she would have been content to leave that where it wasâLea wouldnât have confided in her anyways. But now she could tell there was something bothering him, and she didnât feel right leaving it alone. âLea, are you alright?â
âHuh?â He shook his head before giving a laugh, running his hand through his hair as though nervous. âI guess Iâm just distracted. I was thinking about an old friend.â She stayed silent, and after a moment Lea continued. âYou know SaĂŻxâIâm serious, stop staring at me like Iâve grown a second head or something.â
After another quiet moment, she finally managed to find her voice: âWhat!?â Lea was friends with SaĂŻx? How could Lea be have been friends with him of all people? SaĂŻx kidnapped her!
...Just like Axel had.
The realization that sheâd nearly forgotten that Lea had kidnapped her was sobering, but it did manage to put a damper on some of her surprise at least. âYou and SaĂŻx were friends?â
âI know, a big shocker now, but back when we were kids, Isa was my best friend.â Lea seemed quick to play if off. âWe used to get into a lot of trouble back in the good old days. Most of it was my idea.â A low chuckle escaped him. It sounded bitter, like Lea still couldnât believe just how much things changed. âWe would sneak into Ansemâs castle so we could get a peak at his experiments, or just to cause some problems.â
âThat doesnât sound like SaĂŻx.â Kairi pointed out. But it made sense. They had both lost their hearts, and the Lea in front of her felt as different from Axel as the Isa he was describing sounded from SaĂŻx.
âLosing your heart changes you.â Leaâs answer was simple, but he had a point. Even if they had hearts, neither he nor SaĂŻx learned that fact until it was already too late.
Kairi nodded. âThatâs why you both drifted apart?â
âPart of it.â For once it looked like Lea was getting uncomfortable with the direction they were going in. Isa, it seemed, was a much more touchy subject than Kairi wouldâve guessed. âHe changed for sure, but there was also the way he treated them. Roxas andââ
âAnd?â
Lea didnât respond. He wasnât sure of who the âandâ he was referring to was in the first place.
They ate their ice cream in silence, neither of them sure how to continue for a few minutes before Lea finally spoke. âYou know, when I first saw you, you reminded me of somebody. I donât know who just...somebody important.â
âNaminĂŠ, maybe?â It made the most sense, NaminĂŠ was her Nobody. Lea knew her. That had to be it. Except he shook his head.
âNah, not her. Iâd know if it was her I was thinking of. I just donât remember. Thatâs why I was so quiet that day.â Kairi knew which one he was talking about. The one where theyâd had their first real conversation.
The way Lea looked now reminded Kairi a lot of that day. Sheâd never seen him so muted before, and it was still an uncomfortable look for him now. âDonât worry, Lea. Once we beat Xehanort, Iâll ask NaminĂŠ help you with your memories, and weâll find whoever they are.â And she would, she didnât turn her back on her friends so easily.
âRight, thanks.â Lea turned to her, still frowning in thought for a moment.
He grinned shortly after, though Kairi wasnât sure if it was a realization about who he was forgetting or a joke until moments later when he said, âhey, have you ever thought of dying your hair black.â
âWhat?â
Lea raised his hands up in defense. âI just canât shake the image of you with black hair it sounds right.â
âLea, thatâs not funny!â
âSure it is!â He laughed, and she lightly smacked him for the joke. âSorry, sorry, alright Iâll let it go...for now.â
âLea!â
-x-
It didnât take Kairi long to realize that their time in the training world was coming to a close. Her fighting was as flawless as one could get when kept out of the heat of a real battle, and Lea had stopped trying to throw his Keyblade every ten seconds. To her surprise, he had adjusted to close combat and swordplay remarkably well. Merlin had told Riku would be there with some new equipment in a few days. It all made it feel very real, and very final.
Which was why Lea and Kairi had returned to their cliffside hangout, trading stories and sharing idle conversation. Lea told stories of teaching Roxas about the worlds and his adventures in Radiant Garden, and in return Kairi told stories about her time on the islands. It was the best they could do to keep their mind off the battle that was looming ever closer.
âSora was so surprised when I told him I couldnât swim. He tried to teach me but his idea of teaching me meant having me just start flailing my arms in the water,â Kairi laughed as she remembered the story from a couple months after arriving on Destiny Islands. âIf it wasnât for Riku, he mightâve drowned me with how bad his instructions were.â
âYouâd think Sora would know how to swim better than that since he lived there. Hard to believe he couldnât even explain the motions he was making.â
âHis heart was in the right place, at least.â Kairi smiled. It was a fond memory of her friends, one she wouldâve liked to think on a little longer.
Lea laughed as well, and they fell into an easy silence as Kairi started searching her mind for the next ridiculous story of her adventures with her friends.
âHey, Kairi.â Lea raised his hand hesitantly, almost as though he were regretting what he was about to say. âI just, ya know, in case everything goes wrong, I just wanted to say sorry again. You know forââ
âI know.â She cut him off before he could ramble further. Sheâd heard it more than enough times over the course of their time training together. âAnd I forgive you.â
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Eveâs Diary - Entry #57
Date: 4th of April, 2027
Dear Diary,Â
Happy Saturday! I think, anyways. I had some weird dreams, and thereâs some mandatory school assembly we have to go to⌠And also I heard that the doors and stuff are still locked from last night? So I have no idea whatâs going on⌠I feel a little scared and worried about it, but itâs probably nothing, so Iâm gonna just focus on the normal, positive stuff!Â
I had history of magic and sat with Misha and Aloy, though Iâm still completely lost on where we are in that class, to be honest. Itâs my own fault, really, I have such a hard time paying attention lately.Â
In herbology, Dracheblume gave us a prank exam for April Fools with a bunch of weird questions, and then we went into the long gallery and celebrated Professor Eastwoodâs birthday. There was a lot of pinatas with candy and toys and dragon plushies everywhere, and colourful cakes and balloons. It was cute! I hope he had a good birthday. Â
In dueling, I watched Persephone and Bonnie duel. Bonnie enchanted Persephoneâs sweater to be like⌠in love with her or something. Then, Bonnie dueled the Head Boy. He tried to debone her, so she conjured a bird to take the spell, and then threw the boneless bird at his face. It was kinda funny, but I feel bad for the bird. His name is Lump, and this ravenclaw girl Jo is taking care of him while his bones grow back. Sheâs been our sort of healer person in dueling club, which is cool. I dueled Aures, and I won! So thatâs two wins nowâŚ
In Arithmancy we talked about that thing where if you keep multiplying a thing by two over and over itâd be a lot. Like, one, two, four, eight, sixteen, etc. And then Professor Rask cast the gemino curse on a goblet. Aloy threw it, and it kept multiplying until it was a big pile of goblets in the center of the room.
In Divinations, we did ovomancy, which is working with eggs! First, Gallo had us do the diving part. I saw a campfire, which Bonnie said meant community and warmth. Then, to not be wasteful, we cooked the eggs! I made these super soft scrambled eggs where you keep whisking them and stirring them on low heat until theyâre cooked, instead of a hard scramble, which I think is like a french thing? I know thereâs such a thing as a french omelette, anyways.Â
In Charms, Idylwild had us meet on the pitch under this giant tent. Some students needed to practice a spell called bombarda, while others practiced one called ascendio. Since Iâm just a first year, I stayed under the tent and practiced lumos. Iâm happy to report that my spellcasting has improved! I still fail a lot, but not as much.Â
And then we talked about souls and how they correlate with wand cores, in Magical Theory. I had brought my fairy doll with me, and she was a snoop about Caseyâs notes! I didnât know she could be so nosey! I hope the fairy I had made friends with all that while ago is doing okay, speaking of.Â
I made banana bread on Thursday and sent it to Talula, Casey, Abigail and Aloy. Casey sent me back a sweet letter today, and told me that Aloy and Abigail had actually been fighting before the incident, and were friends again now. So thatâs good at least! I hope that I can finally put that incident behind me, and be more careful in the future.Â
Yesterday, I got a lot of mud everywhere, and practiced the scourgify charm on it. I failed at first, and made even more mud, but I got the hang of it eventually. I also started talking to this muggleborn Gryffindor boy named Arthur, who is also a first year. He says he lives on a farm back home. I think itâd be lovely to live on a farm.Â
Thatâs pretty much everything. I had just woken up, and I walked to the clocktower to see if what everyone was saying is true, and⌠it is. The gates are still up and the doors are still locked. Last night, I had dreams about⌠fire, explosions, spiders and⌠frogs? I dunno, there was a lot of frogs in my dream. I think I might just be overthinking things, though. Most of it seemed like nonsense. Just, chaotic and violent nonsense.
Anywho, I suppose it is time to start my day. Iâll write soon!Â
Much love, Everly
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LETâS (attempt to) FIX/REWRITE KH 358/2 DAYS
Let me preface this: I love Roxas, Xion, and Axel A LOT. I have been thoroughly blinded by nostalgia as much as you have and I donât really care. Iâll continue to love them even after Iâm finished destroying their game here. Keep in mind Iâm not hatinâ. And, fun fact, I think that Days is perhaps the best written game in the series regarding character writing. Still doesnât mean I think itâs actually good though.
Iâm going to start off saying something kind of controversial. Axel, Roxas, and Xion weren't that great of friends.Â
Yes they were the best friends that they ever had, but when you're constantly surrounded by the melancholic mundane, any sort of friendship is the great friendship. They weren't that great at being friends to each other because they dealt with conflict in the most incompetent way possible. As far as I know, there was barely any communication whatsoever between them, which is really disappointing because Roxas is like the most understanding person ever. Most of their conversations concerned small talk. Not necessarily boring small talk, but small talk.
I really wish we could at least have gotten a talk between Xion and Roxas when he was on that mission to chase her down before Axel came in and knocked her out. The only real communication about Xionâs situation is between her and Axel, and we rarely get to see any camaraderie between her and Roxas. We do see a decent amount between Roxas and Axel but Iâll just attribute to the fact that theyâve existed as characters longer than Xion has.
Xionâs inherently pretty bad at communicating. To Roxas especially. Even though Axel tried to talk her down, she didn't really explain herself much. Axel honestly had to figure it out himself.
If Days gets remade I hope to death that we have at least one scene of Roxas and Xion having more meaningful talks. Alone. They were close. Its just that Xion kept stonewalling, and Axel would always be dodgy with his answers, which makes you question if theyâre truly all that close. I mean, you wouldnât just not tell one of your best friends anything about something youâre really struggling about.
Though I guess you canât blame them since they had no memories of their past and were learning based off of watching those around them, and they did live with the organization
And to be fair, youâre a part of an organization with a leader the answers basic questions like âWho is Sora?â with vague af answers like "the connection".
Also theyâre stupid teenagers. Iâm already giving them the benefit of the doubt.
Honestly I would normally be fine with her lack of communication and accept it as an character flaw. Â In fact, under normal circumstances, it would be a reason for me to be invested in her character. But the truth is that we don't see enough scenes of him and Xion having meaningful bonding time for me to be accepting of that lack of communication. There was that one absolutely adorable scene of Roxas and Xion on the clocktower discussing about how much they worry about each other...but the rest of the time they spent together is superficial, mostly consisting of just kind of empty small talk. Itâs kind of rare that we see them actually talk about their relationship and/or any chemistry. A lot was just them sitting next to each other eating ice cream or on missions and we did have a lot of skips of one of them being asleep or missing.
The main problem KH has in its writing is that it really likes to display the cute little quirks or tressings of a relationship but absolutely fails to write any core to that relationship. Like, for example, the seashells they leave for each other when theyâre sleeping is absolutely precious, but thereâs not that much of a core dynamic between these characters that this really cute character interaction can be built upon. And in the end, but just because something is tragic doesn't mean it has substance
Because Days doesn't give me enough meat of writing to bite into, it just ends up as a frustrating tale of Roxas just being confused the whole time. Sure, Roxas is the main character, but he literally has almost no agency throughout the entire game. And I find that pretty insulting to his character. This guy is literally one of the most well written in the series. And no, Iâm not pulling the âxionâs a mary sue stealing the spotlightâ card. Iâm totally fine with her existing, but dang if I had the opportunity to change ONE THING about Days I would totally rewrite the cutscene Fracture on day 298, the day when Xion was captured.
So the original scene goes like this: Roxas tracks her down, asks her to come back, he tries to comfort her, asking why she wonât come back to him. She just says "I can't" and GETS SCARED WHEN THE MOST TRUSTED PERSON IN HER LIFE REACHES OUT TO HER. Okay. breathe. I understand if sheâs scared. Itâs a bit of a stretch, yes, if we take into account that sheâs in the depths of emotional turmoil trying decide between her friends or Sora. I understand if she really doesnât want to go back to the organization. My problem is that Roxas really doesnât pose a threat to her at all here.
But then again, it could be that Xionâs a very delicate person, emotionally. And that sheâs easily disturbed and is flighty. BUT THE THING IS: We donât see this anywhere else. Days, as is, doesnât really do a good job of establishing Xionâs personality at all anyways. So we can throw that excuse out the window.
BUT. BUT BUT BUT. THE ABSOLUTE WORST WAS WHEN SHE TURNED HER KEYBLADE ON ROXAS.
SERIOUSLY I would have totally been fine with everything up to this point except her turning on him like that
Again, he is literally no threat to her at all! I can understand her being scared, but he didnât threaten to take her back or yell at her or anything
Like why. Why isnât she willing to tell him anything about the truth about her existence. It's not like she's trying to keep it a secret. I understand how jarring it must have been for her to have that sort of existential crisis knowing that sheâs just a puppet created to copy...But telling Roxas absolutely nothing is ridiculous. ESPECIALLY because Roxas was the one who always was breaking his back for her. He was the one who first approached her to join him at the clock tower, he was always trying to reach out to her, understand her. Heck, even when Xion was the aggressor, both times in Fracture and in the final battle, Roxas still sees her as the victim, the one who was in the right, and it's both very sweet and a bit unhealthy that he views her in such a positive light. He always does his best to give her the benefit of the doubt. And this is clearly shown in his actions.
I would rewrite it like this:
Keep everything the same up to the point right before she turns on him. She walks away and he stops her and everything, but after that she stops and thinks for a moment. And she asks quietly for him to let her go. Roxas, of course, let's her go because he's freaking Roxas
And she tries explaining to him what's going on in a very roundabout way, for the sake of being consistent with her established character. I'm not asking for her to explain it word for word. She's as flighty as a deer. I understand her not being direct. And then Roxas tries talking to her how they could work this out. Hell, this would be the PERFECT TIME to incorporate that scene from the manga when Roxas proposes they run away together. Xion is shocked and ask if he is serious, and he says yes. And THAT'S when Axel comes in and stops the party, and everything plays out the same till the end of the cutscene.
Also if this writing was implemented, then that would be a payoff point. The pacing in Daysâ story is kind of whack, and adding a breakthrough moment like this would be super satisfying to the viewer.
Also it makes sense that Axel would come in then because he can't just accept both of his friends leaving like that. In the og game, Axel pretty much just let his two best friends walk away from him. Â The only time he shows any protest is when he is ordered by his superiors to go after them. Xion in particular. Sure this works, as itâs implied that Axel is respecting his friendsâ autonomy by letting them go.
But maybe we could make it better by having Axel go through a mini arc where he accepts his friends' departure with a bit of a struggle. Youâll see more below.
The only change that would have to be made is that the organization would have to actively keep Roxas and Xion apart to keep them from conspiring together. Or when they're together, always have a third party member to keep a watchful eye. Iâm guessing this would mean no more ice cream time either. For now.
Xionâs communication is just a trickle the first few days, but over time it slowly opens up, gradually telling more as they interact when they have the occasional mission together. She would mutter things likeÂ
âThe organization is keeping so much from us, RoxasâŚâÂ
or telling snippits like that when the third party member/chaperone isnât watching.
Eventually, the organization takes note of this and orders for the two to be kept completely separate at all times, and Axel knows that this will absolutely kill their friendship so he does a solid by confronting Saix about it to propose a compromise. Heâs like:Â
"I'm a trusted member of this organization. Hell, I brought them back for you. Â So how about this: I'll watch them for you instead"Â
And Saix accepts that compromise. And the result of that compromise is that we get more trio missions, something we ALL LOVED. And also those would be opportunities for them to talk. ALL THREE OF THEM
Okay so the three talk on missions and at the clocktower again, Xion knows her purpose and desperately wants to leave. She wonât disclose Riku or Namine's location. Axel protests fiercely to the thought of her leaving. Meanwhile Roxas is trying to mediate as always, but he leans more towards helping Xion leave at least. However, he would still show how he emotionally would rather have her stay. He has an internal struggle when Xion tries to explain their connection with Sora and how they need to go back during a few talks with them alone that Axel allows. She needs to be the one who tells him he needs to come back to Sora. Someone who he trusts and can help him through this process. Not a stranger like Riku or Namine.
And then this time of communication all abruptly comes to a halt when the Org. starts pitting Roxas and Xion against each other in missions. Also, let's have Xion be less heartless to Roxas here and not be so eager to leave. Of course, she desperately still wants to, but Roxas is her anchor keeping her there. She knows that it'll all be for naught if Roxas doesn't go with her anyways. Also she doesn't want to hurt him by just leaving like that. She cares.
So, back to the rewrite, the talks stop when the organization starts pitting roxas and Xion against each other in those missions. Axel stops them like he did originally, and they have a talk about how crazy ridiculous this all is. Roxas agrees with Xion and Axel agrees too but hides it because he's a coward and is the org's lapdog, and just tries as hard as he can to keep them together. Roxas is dismayed that his existence is possibly ending, but at the same time agrees with Xion that this is all crazy. Axel shuts them down for the day.Â
And the next day is the day Xigbar, Axel and Xion go on that mission.
But instead of Xion jumping ship, Riku comes in to take Xion, kidnapping her without a fight because he knows he can't take survive one against two other org. members. Axel doesn't do anything to stop her because he's accepted it at this point. Also seeing Xion as Ven really made him realize the gravity of the situation.
This really upsets Roxas because he thinks Xion was taken against her will. Axel doesnât have the heart to tell him about Xionâs current extremely unstable state. And this sets him off since he's been putting up with so much BS at this point and he runs away as originally written as well as to search for Xion, because he knows the org. will never let him look for her himself. Everything plays out the same after that.
 On the clocktower where Roxas and Xion meet, there's one change. When she shows him that she's almost Sora, she *explains* as best as she can whatâs happened to her, since sheâs under the control of the org. now. She makes him realize that it's inevitable that she must die or she'll cease to be herself. And then they fight as originally scripted, Roxasâ motive for fighting being that there still might be a chance for them to go on if he finishes things himself.
When the fight is over and she begins to die, Xion's final request is that he join back with Sora. That is were it this all leads and she knows it. We're changing that because in the original she, when Roxas and Riku are fighting, for some dumb reason, retracts her final wish???? Like⌠that's got to be one of the most contrived things in this story.
Also I'd like to cut that dumb pointless plot device that Roxas forgets who Xion is right after finishing his final battle with her, Because by golly did the writing team really want Roxas to be as clueless as possible even as his best friend is dying. Geez wtf.
Honestly, you can keep the memory loss, just please make it so that he remembers her SOONER, so they can actually COMMUNICATE AND SO THAT HE CAN ACTUALLY SAY GOODBYE.
FUACK.
âPromise me...youâll come back...to Sora. That way...we can be together again...â
Or something like that, make me cry more. ăďž(ďžďžĐď˝ďž)ďžď˝Ą
But then what would Roxasâs motive be for going back to The World That Never Was and fighting Riku then? Just wait a moment and hold on to your seat because Iâm going to take the original situation and make it even more badass AND make it work with my rewrite.
Also this blog is finally almost done good job for making it this far.
Let's have Roxas know about the heartless nobody cycle. He can have learned this after maybe sifting through the organizationâs research files or something. It wouldnât be hard to stick it in the story somewhere.Â
What was the most heartwrenching thing about Roxasâs final day in the real world? I would say his rage, grief, and desperation over his entire life. So letâs take that, and multiply it by a couple dozen times. After Xion's death, his motive to destroy the organization will be more about his rage at the unjust way he was treated. Him and Xion. They messed up his and his friendsâ lives.
âWell if I die, then whatever I'll just go back to Sora. Kill two birds with one stone.â
Regardless of however you write Days, angsty, bloodthirsty Roxas is a requirement. Itâs what makes Roxas Roxas. And as a result his grief is amplified tenfold. He doesn't even care about preserving his own life anymore.
And Riku confronts him. Asks him what the hell he's doing. He tells him he's going to fuck up the organization. And Riku's like âdon't be stupid they'll just capture you and hold you hostage to keep Sora from wakingâ
Roxas looks at him, points one of his keyblades towards him.
"You don't know that."Â
"I'll end every single one of them before they get the chance. You want me to prove it..? WELL HERE'S MY PROOF!âÂ
AND THEN HE FREAKING STRIKES,
AND THATâS THE FIGHT
And let's hammer in the fact that Roxas is his own freaking person. Instead of the line "C'mon Sora! I thought you were stronger than that!" from Riku, instead he says to Roxas something akin to this:
"C'mon Sora...I know you're stupid, but not to this extent!"
And then Roxas doesn't give him a Sora-ish line.
âYouâre the one calling me by the wrong name.â
Riku sits defeated and despondent on the ground.
"...Why...? It's not supposed to be this way...Sora..."
This breaks a nerve in Roxas.
"This again?! I'm me. NOBODY ELSE. Get that through YOUR thick head!"
And the rest is history...
..................
THATâS THE REWRITE KIDS. YOUâRE FINALLY FINISHED READING THIS RIDICULOUSLY LONG BLOG. THANK YOU FOR READING \o/
Fun fact, this was all borne out of a late night discord chat with a friend of mine.
Edit: this is the headcanon for what happened in Days now. Goodnight.
#kingdom hearts#kingdom hearts 358/2 days#kh 358/2 days#kh3#kh#roxas#xion#axel#rokushi#rokushion#akurokushi#rewrite#kh days#organization 13#organization#organization xiii
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"Wow, this place has really gone to the dogs."
Anna and Doc were walking up the steps toward the front doors of Dell Valley High. She really felt silly in the Sears getup Doc had hastily helped her procure: a faded denim miniskirt with fishnet stockings, and the gaudiest top she'd ever seen in real life. A parroting of actual 80s style as interpreted by greedy outlet stores.
For some reason, "Time Warp" started playing in the back of her head.
"Remember, we're not here to sightsee," Doc hissed, trying to stuff more of his hair up into the porkpie hat he thought was 'inconspicuous'. "We have barely over one week in which to figure this out. One week in which to cement the romantic bond between your parents before sending you back home. The lightning will strike the clocktower at precisely 10:04 PM next Saturday, and that is our only window of opportunity to harness its power to-"
"Yeah, yeah," she hissed as they wandered through the halls. It looked so grimy and dingy. After a moment, it dawned on her that it was because of the renovations in 2009; before that, evidently, it had been even worse. Of course it looked bad. "If we don't catch the lightning bolt, I'm stuck here forever, or until you can grab us some plutonium. I got it."
"Good. And I would rather not try for plan B, as I'm fairly certain it would bankrupt me and land me in a federal prison. Now⌠let me know the moment you see either your mother or your father."
Just then, the bell rang, and Anna backed up to the wall and tried to look busy. It was hard without a mobile phone to check incessantly; she didn't know what to do with her hands. She glanced up out of the corner of her eye until she spotted a familiar face, then groaned.
"There's Dad, alright."
Said "dad" was currently stumbling down the hallway, an armful of books clutched against his chest. Following closely, several boys, all of whom seemed to be⌠kicking him? As soon as he turned around to have a go at them, it became obvious why: he had a huge 'kick me' sign on his back. Anna couldn't entirely suppress a groan. That actually happened to real people? He had yet to notice her â he was trying to stop the boys, and failing spectacularly. One well-placed kick to his behind had him sprawling across the floor. He stood up as quick as he could, trying to yell at the boys to pick up his books, when a very familiar face stepped into view.
"Mr Weselton?" Anna whispered, more to herself than anyone. "Wow, has he always had that godawful toupee?"
The whole scene was equal parts pathetic and terrifying. No wonder it had taken a car accident for her parents to get together; pity, it seemed, was a fairly strong motivator. Finally â as soon as Mr Weselton had stalked off to harass some other unsuspecting student â she left Doc with a shrug and went over to help him up.
"Kristoff, heeeeey!" she said in a cheery voice, helping to gather his books and papers. She tried not to snort when she saw the words 'Trapper Keeper' on his binder, but then put that out of her mind for the moment.
"O-oh, it's you. What do you want?"
Again, she marveled that he could wind up with any woman, much less Elsa Baines. "What do I- hey, listen, I just wanna follow up on how you're doing. You know, after I saved you from the car?"
No harm in a little guilt. And it did the trick; he dipped his head in shame. "S-sorry about that. What I was doing⌠I m-mean, you probably want an explan-"
"Birdwatching, right? You had those binoculars." It was the excuse her parents always gave for his behaviour, which she now knew was a total lie. But she did her best to mask her feelings of disgust. "Accidents happen all the time, my friend."
"Right." He smiled very slightly. This was probably the first time any girl had done anything besides curl her lip at him and call him a nerd. "Anyway, I'm doing okay. How about you? I saw you got hit by that car, I w-wanted to help, but⌠I don't know, that man was so angryâŚ"
"Yeah, no problem, er⌠dude." He gave a hesitant smile. Maybe this slang thing wasn't as hard as she thought. "Actually, about that. So, the guy who hit me, turns out his daughter goes here. Elsa Baines? And we got chatting, as y'know, us crazy kids do, and she mentioned like⌠seeing you around the 'hood. I'm just on my way to see her, you should come introduce yourself."
Whoa, reign it in, Anna. But fortunately he hadn't seemed to notice her terrible attempt at adapting and blending in. Instead, the color drained from his face. "You're not gonna tell her about the- the birdwatching, are you? Honest, I just like looking at her â not like that! I didn't- I fell because I didn't expect⌠to see all that. You know. I swear I've never looked in a window and seenâŚ"
When he literally got too flustered to speak any further, Anna put her hand on his shoulder. "I won't tell if you don't," she said, fixing him with a steady gaze. "But maybe⌠don't do it again?"
He nodded sharply. "Done. Never happen again."
Well, that wasn't so hard. Anna wasn't sure if it was because Kristoff was trying to be noble or whether he was so wussy that he'd agree to anything; either way, it had the desired effect. Turning on her heel, she began walking down the hallway.
Every parent-teacher interview had begun with a 'sightseeing tour' to her parent's lockers. At the time, Anna had hated it, though now she was grateful because she at least remembered the vague area where her mother's was located. Kristoff was quiet for the most part, but when they neared Elsa and her small group of friends, he suddenly became quite nervous. She felt him tug on her elbow, bringing them both to a stop halfway down the hallway. She hadn't noticed them, and Anna doubted she would if they remained there.
"Is she really⌠interested in me?" he asked, wide eyes looking at Anna. Not a bad looking guy despite his clothes and haircut. If he had a makeover and a stronger personality, she had no misconceptions that he might be able to get a girl.
She had just started to form an answer, "Of course, you're a catch!" on her lips, when she was interrupted before she could begin. As it turned out, she had been wrong about how inconspicuous they were.
"Tori?!" Elsa cried, eyes lighting up and a wide smile on her face. She took a step forward, seemed to realise how obvious it was, and then took a step backwards to compensate. "Hey, how are you this morning? How's your head?"
A reddish hue had already begun to seep into her skin. It was adorable, and it was plain to see that Elsa was the worst closeted queer person Anna had ever laid eyes on. Her heart fell a little as she imagined what small, insignificant thing she would do that might eventually clue her parents in and begin the homophobic rants that all but beat the rainbows out of her. Stupid 80s and their backwards way of thinking.
"Doing great, great. No pain. Anyway⌠um, this is Kristoff. The boy I saved?"
"Hey," he said, though that seemed to be all he could get out.
What if she split the difference? Tried to tell a little of the truth without revealing the worst parts. "He was birdwatching, but⌠I got it out of him that the reason he was by your house is because he keeps trying to work up the courage to⌠well, y'know."
But Elsa didn't know. Or it seemed like she didn't care, because instead of glancing at him, she walked forward to reach up and gently touch Anna's bruise. "You're sure you're okay, Tori? It's looking a little black and blue nowâŚ"
Suppressing a shiver, Anna stepped backward with a shaky laugh. "Y-yeah, fine! So, um⌠about Kristoff-"
"I was just telling Ariel and Jasmine about you," Elsa went on as if there had been no interruption, barely gesturing to each girl as she introduced them. The ginger with the huge blue eyes kept glancing between her friend and the newcomer, equal parts mistrustful and curious. "How brave you were, and how cool you looked. What was that shirt you were wearing? It had, like, guns and roses on it. Pretty rad."
"O-oh, it's a band." At the last second, she caught herself â how old was GNR? "Up- up and coming. Seriously, they're going to be the next big thing."
This was not going at all how she wanted. The way Elsa was smiling made it apparent that it was going the way she wanted it to, though. Crud. Anna glanced over Elsa's shoulder, looking at her friends. The ginger â Ariel, she thought â was brushing a thin comb through her hair. The other was buffing her fingernails and glancing over at Elsa impatiently.
Come to think of it, Elsa hadn't really mentioned her friends last night, which got Anna curious. Leaning forward, voice lowering to a whisper, she asked, "Do your friendsâŚÂ know?"
Elsa didn't seem to understand at first; when it finally clicked, she looked like she was about to have a heart attack. She finally looked at Kristoff of her own accord, desperate for a distraction; he was looking at his shoes and trying to make himself seem smaller than he was â a feat in itself.
She didn't even need to answer, because that was telling enough. It was probably stupid to remind Elsa of her burgeoning sexuality, because she looked like she wanted to step even closer.
"Of course they know about you." Oh God. "I was telling them how my dad hit you with his car â
how brave it was for you to save your friend Christopher from the car."
"Kristoff," Kristoff interjected, head lifting for a second. Elsa completely ignored him.
"Right, Kristoff," Anna said. Back on task. "He really wanted to get to know you, but wasn't sure how. Because obviously, you look so hella rad." Seeing their blank faces, she went on, "Rad. Just rad. Sorry."
At that point, Elsa finally looked at him for longer than a half-second, but unfortunately he had chosen that moment to glance over his shoulder at a noise that had come from down that hallway. Like a scared little mouse. 'Great going, Dad,' she thought with a wince.
"Well, it's good to meet him. And to see you, Victoria. I really⌠I want us to hang out more."
"Great! Then we'll hang out more! Right, Ariel, Jasmine? Kris?"
The girls nodded immediately, but she had to nudge her father before he started and yelped, "SURE! S-sure, yeah, it sounds great. I'd love to, um, out-hang."
Just at that moment, the bell rang. Elsa's friends gave her a nudge, but moved past her. Kristoff was already at the other end of the hallway before it had even finished ringing. This was going to be harder than she thought.
Turning away, she was only a little surprised to see Elsa still standing there. She hadn't noticed at first, but Elsa probably looked even better than yesterday. So much denim â but she wore it well.
"Uh, aren't you gonna be late for class?"
Instead of answering, Elsa bit her lip. Her eyes were wide, and her fingers twitched like she wanted something but was too scared to ask. It only took Anna a moment to figure out what: when she opened her arms a little, uncertain, it took Elsa less than that to throw herself into the hug.
As terrible an idea as it seemed, Anna couldn't bring herself to cut it short. Not when she'd been craving such a thing from her mother for so many years: genuine love and affection. Denying her would only mean denying herself.
"I'm so happy you're here," Elsa breathed. "I was afraid that after last night, you'd⌠y'know?"
"I would what?" Maybe Anna didn't want to know; the idea hurt. That she would abandon Elsa after finding out that she was queer. But maybe Elsa had been through that once before.
"Never mind," Elsa whispered, pulling back and squeezing her hands. "Um, I'd better get to class; I'd cut, but Weselton always jumps out from behind a rock to catch us. Like our own personal Snidley Whiplash."
Though she had no idea who that was, Anna nodded and patted her upper arm. "Sure, yeah. See you after class?"
"Yeah, of course." Elsa hesitated, then leapt forward to ghost her lips over Anna's cheek. "And thanks, for um⌠for keeping my little secret."
"Our little secret," Anna corrected automatically, before realising that she maybe shouldn't do that. But it was too late; Elsa was already skipping off to class, jean jacket and braid bouncing in her wake. Anna just stared after her, all the way until she disappeared around the corner.
She also shrieked when Doc came up behind her. She'd completely forgotten that he even existed. He ignored her shriek, naturally.
"Astounding," he was saying. "Your mother didn't even spare him a glance. And that look in her eyes⌠well, the very fact that no one has figured out her sensibilities is an utter mystery."
"Oh god Doc, what are we gonna do?"
But for that question, neither had a suitable answer. They began making their slow way out of the school, brainstorming aloud to each other.
"What do kids even do in the Eighties? That uh⌠hoop with the stick? Jumping jacks?"
"Please, Future Girl," Doc said. "Those were out of style before even I was a boy. No, we need somethingâŚintimate. A social event with no expectations. One where they can get to know each other and have a good time at a somewhat leisurely pace. Currently your mother has no emotional opinion about your father. That needs to change."
"Well, I did say we should all hang out. Maybe go to the mall? And that way, I can start kind of, um, pushing them together." Never mind that she felt guilty about doing that now. Clearly, Elsa was more interested in women, and even if she were going to go for a guy, Kristoff was a terrible candidate.
"That will work for a start." Sighing, he patted her shoulder. "This situation is an unprecedented conundrum, and I don't envy you. But this is of paramount importance. I want you to stay here and keep an eye on those two, while I go back to the lab and work on the DeLorean's starter. I can't take it to an actual DMC dealership with all those components on it, so I'll be doing the work myself, and I'm a scientist, not a mechanic."
Nodding, she turned back toward the school. "Good luck, Doc. I'm⌠well, I'll do what I can with what I got, I guess. Just hope this doesn't explode in my face."
                         ~ o ~
For the rest of the day, Anna skulked around Dell Valley High, trying to figure out how to do anything to influence the outcome of her parents' relationship. Nothing doing. While in classes, she couldn't even get in there without arousing the suspicion of the teachers, so she was restricted to time between classes, and lunch.
During lunch was when she ran into the biggest, meatiest roadblock of all: Hans.
She was sitting across from Kristoff, picking off his fries and trying to convince him to make the first move in inviting the girls to 'chill out'.
"I dunno. I want to but- well what if they say no?" he asked. "I couldn't take that kind of rejectionâŚ"
Anna could understand that â it was why, despite the fact that she knew Jennifer was into her, she hadn't been able to work up the courage to actually ask her out. Still, him mousing around wasn't going to get them anywhere, and she only had a week to keep herself from vanishing.
"Trust me," Anna began. "Once she gets to know you, it'll be true love! But you gotta stop wimping out."
"I know, I know. I just can't help it. Anyway, I'm pretty sure she's interested in someone else."
Anna's blood ran cold. How could he know? Did someone tell him? Clearing her throat, she asked in a very small, obviously fearful voice, "âŚWho?"
"Hah, who else?" He lifted a hand, still staring at his notebook, and pointed at her â no, wait. Somewhere behind her. "Hans."
When Anna glanced over her shoulder, she saw Hans was indeed chatting up Elsa. Not that Elsa was the least bit interested. She actually looked incredibly annoyed, if her scowl and hunched shoulders meant anything. For now, it was just talking, but she already knew that Hans wasn't above getting a little physical.
"Read some social cues, buddy," she told Kristoff flatly. "She'd rather kick him under a bus than go out with him."
"That's not really my, um, field of expertise," he went on as he bent low over his notebook, scratching out a line and beginning to write something above it.
"God, what are you doing that's so much more important than your dream girl?" Snatching the notebook, she squinted at itâŚ
And her jaw dropped in shock. All she had to do was read the line 'She put down the laser rifle and reached for his fur-clad hand' before she got the picture â which was just as well, because then the notebook was being snatched right back out of her hand.
"HEY! That's n-not something I let just anybody read, you know!"
"Kristoff⌠wow, you write fanfiction?"
But the term seemed to catch him off guard â which was at least enough to cut through his flash of anger. Pushing his greasy locks out of his eyes, he asked, "Fan⌠what? Do you mean, um, fantasy fiction? I'm more of a science fiction guy⌠b-but anyway, sorry, I'm just not ready to let anybody read this stuff."
That was interesting. Mainly because her father had literally never said a single word about writing. All her entire life, he only complained about work, doted on his alcoholic wife, and chatted about TV or movies. Other subjects were much more incidental, and never once included that he had a love of the written word; sure, he read, but he never talked about what he read⌠and Anna hadn't been interested, anyway.
Maybe the rift between her and her parents wasn't entirely their fault.
"Oh. Well, um⌠I'm sorry. But hey, maybe you could come back to your furry boy and his laser-chick after we take care of Baines over there, right?"
"I don't know why you care so much," he sighed. But then he frowned over her shoulder. "And anyway, it seems to be going fine between them."
Of course, that was the moment that Elsa's voice rang clear through the cafeteria, "Get lost, Hans!"
He didn't. If anything, he got closer. The whole room had become quiet â not silent, but the noise was low enough that now Anna could actually hear what he was saying.
"Aww, c'mon babe. You don't want the school thinking you're a dyke, do you?"
That got her. Anna could see Elsa crumple. Her heart still swelled with pride when Elsa still stood up for herself, despite how much the words had cut her down.
"I said no, Hans. Now get. Lost."
Clearly, he wasn't taking the hint. "Listen you littleâ"
Anna moved. Hans was even more of a gross pig here than he was in the future and he was not getting away with it; she would have done the same for any woman, even if they weren't as important to her as her mother was. Jumping up, she stalked over to them. Elsa noticed her first, a smile replacing the frown. "Tori!"
"Alright, Fuckboy McDouche," Anna began. Of course that was when Hans noticed her. Standing to his full height, he made for an impressively intimidating feature.
"What did you call me?"
"You heard me!" Then she noticed everyone surrounding them shared his look of confusion. Oh, right; era-appropriate lingo. "Um jerk-face. Yeah! She said to leave her alone, you jerk!"
Oh crud. He took a step forward, hand curling into a fist in front of her. Then, without any obvious reason why he should, he stopped.
"Excuse me?" Mr Weselton had his arms over his chest, bad toupee still wobbling even though he had come to a stop. "Am I to understand that you have reached a new low, even for you, Tannen? Winding up to punch a girl half your size?"
Hans switched gears immediately, smiling that slippery, conniving smile of his as he patted Anna on the shoulder. "Sorry, Teach. I was merely going to remind this girl that she shouldn't call people names. Part of my civic duty."
"If you've ever actually stayed awake through a civics class, Tannen, I'll eat my boots. Now, release the girl before you wind up in detention."
She almost hoped he would do it. Hoped he would punch her, and then end up in detention â or even better, give her an excuse to punch him back. All those years, listening to him make lewd comments about her mother, watching him push her father aroundâŚ
"Right, right." He leaned in just a little more, saying through gritted teeth, "Sorry." Then he was turning and striding away, his trio of idiot friends cackling and pounding him on the back.
"ToriâŚ" Even as the crowd was breaking up, as Weselton was stalking after them, all Anna could see was Elsa, rising from the bench and away from her two friends, who were staring at Anna as if she had literally stepped out of a Jet Li movie. Or was it Bruce Lee in the 80s?
"H-hey, don't mention it," Anna muttered as Elsa grasped both of her hands. Then a spark of an idea came to her; embellishing the truth slightly. "Actually, it was Kristoff who noticed first. I'd never have seen it happening if he wasn't so worried about you."
However, on the subject of her father, all Elsa had to say was, "Who?"
THAT didn't bode well.
"Oh, y'know, KristoffâŚ" Her voice trailed off when she turned back and KristoffâŚwasn't there anymore. He had beaten a hasty retreat when he could see a fight was about to break out. And Elsa was distracted, anyway.
"That was really brave of you, Tori. No one's ever stood up to Hans before!"
"Well maybe they should. He's only gonna get worse, right?"
Neither had a chance to say anything more because Elsa's friends swiftly came up to them. One of them offered Anna a smile and gushed, "Dude, that was pretty wicked!" It was small consolation when Anna's plans to get her parents making babies kept failing, but hey â at least she wasn't unpopular in the 80s. That had to stand for something. What was the term? She wasn't a square.
"Thanks, babes," she said, cocking her head and pointing a fingergun at them like an overconfident dudebro. They laughed, which seemed to be a good sign. "We're all hanging out tonight, right? At⌠Twin Pines Mall?"
"For sure!" Elsa spoke for them. As if they would argue with her, given the interest of the other two girls and their clearly 'beta' mentality. Her mom was the leader of the pack, alright.
"Sweet!" Another weird silence. "Sweet⌠of you to agree! With me! Right?"
Luckily, one of Elsa's friends jumped in. "We could see that new Death Wish, or the new Freddy sequel?"
"To Live and Die in L.A.!" the other friend whined. They all rolled their eyes; apparently, this had been discussed before and nobody else was interested.
"Yeah, sure! Why not?" Anna knew absolutely nothing about any of those. Why were all the 80s movies so violent-sounding? Shaking that off, she pulled Elsa aside to talk to her alone.
"Hey⌠listen. I know this might be a little weirdâŚ"
"What?"
"Kristoff." When Elsa only frowned, she went on, "He's kinda nervous around you, because he likes you so much. So just⌠I know it might be a lot to ask-"
"Don't bite his head off?" she guessed with a slight smirk. When Anna shrugged, Elsa nodded. "Okay, okay. I'll try to be nice to the nerd burger, but I can't pretend that you're not a lot more⌠tubular."
"O-oh." Oh wow. Even Punz had never been so forward â and that wasn't even really all that forward anyway!
But the worst part was, Anna couldn't blame Elsa. Not about the liking her part, shocking as it was, but about the not-liking-Kristoff part. As sad as it was, she was starting to see why her family hadn't felt like one for a long time. Why maybe her mother didn't seem to like her children, let alone herself. The jigsaw pieces were falling into place: Grandma Baines, the accident, the lack of optionsâŚ
If Anna had grown up in 1980s instead of the 2000s, she'd probably try and 'pray the gay away', too. Settle for the first guy who came along who wasn't Hans. Elsa's only choice had been to conceal her feelings and play the role of the straight woman she most certainly was not. Forever.
"Elsa," Anna said, voice barely a whisper. She noticed Elsa's friends lean in a little closer, so taking a risk, she grabbed Elsa's hand, leading her even further away. This wasn't going to be easy⌠"Look, you can't say things like that, okay?"
Elsa's whole face fell at that simple sentence. "I don't- what?"
Sighing, Anna gritted her teeth and looked away. This situation was so impossible! Here was Anna, a pretty girl straight out of her queer mother's fantasy. How could she encourage Elsa to be herself while keeping herself out of reach?
Fortunately for her, she was saved from trying to speak when the bell rang â she'd never been so grateful for a lunch break to be over.
"I um, I have phys ed," Elsa offered, when Anna didn't say anything. Her head was bowed, and she tried to push past Anna- but her conscience wouldn't let her allow that.
"Elsa, wait." She did stop, and Anna let out a sigh. "I do care about you. This is just really⌠sudden. Like I said, I have a girl back home, and⌠and I don't know. But you're definitely a hella- I mean, a wicked⌠rad⌠cool girl. Okay?"
Finally, Elsa looked up. She offered a tight smile, but at least it was a smile. "Don't worry. I'll totally be fine. I'll uh, I'll see you at the mall?" she asked softly.
There was such hope in her voice. And- well, it couldn't make it worse, could it?
"Sure," Anna said with a beaming grin she didn't fully feel. "I'll be there."
Smile relaxing slightly, her future mother touched her wrist in an affectionate gesture, and headed off to the gym. Leaving her future daughter wanting to pull her own hair out.
                        To Be ContinuedâŚ
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Open Coffin | Chapter 18: âWalking the Razor´s Edgeâ
Pairing: Kol x SalvatoreSister!Reader
Chapter Summary: With the new, yet old threat upon them, Kol and the reader plotted a dangerous and outright ludicrous plan to gain the upper hand. But as it happens with most plans, there are always variables that can´t be precalculated.
Warnings:Â whole bunch of angst, tinges of fluff, fighting, weapons, moderate cliffhanger, typical tvd violence, canon divergence
Word count:Â 3897
Tags & Author Note at the bottom. Feedback is welcomed and appreciated.
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Your name: submit What is this?
Fear.
A great motivator or the worst enemy. Like love or desperation, it makes you do questionable things. Some precalculated others impulsive and reckless, either way
It's safe to say you, as well as Kol, got wrapped in fear´s tight grasps, the realization slapping you in the face, that the moments you will create today might be your last. That is if the rumours of the white oak stake are true.
You spend the night, plotting and scheming, trying to foresee every possible outcome and strategy. What it boiled down to is a plan with help from the unlikeliest allies; Kol´s family.
Mae also offered her help, including every sparable Crow member.
But there is one simple question remaining; Â is your plan good enough?
Your fingers tip on the steering wheel, the underside of your daylight ring bumping against the porous leather. The car keys are still in the ignition, dangling with the motions as you bring the car to a hold in front of the Grill.
The wind is utterly still and the sun shines high in the sky with not a single cloud in the sky. But as it is with weather like this, there's a storm already lurking to drown out the sunshine. Just a change of temperature and the pendulum would swing the other way.
Funny how the weather reflects your current situation, as if who or whatever is in charge is holding up a big bright warning sign.
Yesterday, everything seemed so clear and it felt like things might be okay for once. And now,...you´re back where you started. Another enemy to outsmart, another fight to endure, another war to win. And you wonder if your relationship with Kol would remain the same if the wars were over. If there wouldn't be enemies to outsmart and fights to win, would you be the same?
âY/N.â  Kol´s voice doesn't quite reach you in your tunnel vision âDarling, stop.â
The touch of his hand pulls you back to reality and you´re met with a worried, but outworldly kind
âI´m sorry, I- â You take a breath âWe´re walking on the razor's edge her with all of this and I can't help but-â
âBut to wish things were different,â Kol says, sharing the same feelings.
âYeah. Is it so I just want to floor this car and get the hell out of doge.â
âPerhaps we should.â Kol shrugs. He knows that the apple pie life vision his mother orchestrated won't be reality any time soon, if at all, but he wants nothing more than to give you a moment to breathe. Because you seem desperate for a moment of utter serenity. And so is he himself, preferably as far away from the family that has nothing but forsaken him time and time again.
But for now, there's no escaping any of it.
âWhat about your siblings? If even one of them⌠â You can't even finish the sentence, so horrid the thought âI can't take that chance. I can't lose you again.â
âYou won't lose me.â Kol says, much more confident that he feels âThis will not be the end of us.â
âBut- â
âIt won't.â He shakes his head.
âHow do you know? It wouldn't be the first time fate screwed us over. Actually, Â I can roll out a list if you want.â
âA plan orchestrated by your brilliant mind accompanied by my wickedness can't possibly fail. Besides, if you´re half as determined like you were the first time I saw you, we have nothing to fear. â
âThe first time you saw me I was scared shitless by your reputation. Little ordinary me against the infamous Kol Mikaelson. I was anything but determined.â
âYou´re anything but ordinary, you´re a miracle. But that is not what I meant.â The confused look on your face raises the edges of his mouth into a smile âI saw you arrive in New Orleans with Mae. I didn't know who she was, but I knew at the first glance that you'll be trouble. I couldn't have been more accurateâ
âHey! I´m not that bad.â You extend your arm tp give him a slight push.
âYou are. You have me wrapped around your fingersâ He intervenes his fingers with yours, and brings it to his lips to press a gentle kiss on them.
âDon't tell me you're complaining.â
He shakes his head âI would never.â
âGood.â You smile at him and all the worry seems to be drowned out, like the short moment of silence when you´re passing under a bridge when it rains. Â
But this moment is as fleeting as the cover of the bridge. This time, however, it´s the clocktower in the distance, turning to another new hour.
âI guess it's now or never, right?â You sigh.
âReady?âÂ
âReady.â
The Grill is deserted, just like you wished it to be. Matt wasn't keen on leaving his workplace to you when you called him mere hours before opening, but the prospect of innocent people being harmed or killed if anyone tries to attack would be exceptionally worse.
âHave I mentioned how much I dread this town? We could be on the other side of the earth by now. Maybe at a beach somewhere with toes in the sand, or high up a mountain yelling profanities in the windâŚ..wouldn't that be nice?â
He laughs âAnd we will do just that.â
âIf we survive dealing with the evil queen and her devil son.â
We...a word so simple and comforting yet so terrifying and skin-crawling at once. Kol must admit that he would never be tired of hearing it.
âDo you think this is a good idea?â You go on âTrusting him I mean?â
No. âFor now it has to be.â Â
The door swings open, your entire being tensing up as you anticipate an incoming threat.
As it turns out you're not far off classifying the creature stepping in as exactly that.
âSpeak of the devil and the devil will come,â Klaus announces himself.
Oh, how he loves an entrance.
âNik, you made it!â Kol calls with a fake smile on his lips.
His excitement almost sounds believable. Almost.
Klaus looks around the empty chairs and booths, much to his displeasure. He wouldn't have had anything against a little bloodshed.
âAnd here I thought you two know how to have fun. What a pity.â He says
Having Klaus with you most likely is the worst part of your plan, but he's the one with the most targets on his back. You have to do whatever you can to protect him as well.
âWe do, but we don't want to trouble any bystanders with your presence,â Kol replies, barely capable of standing his brother's company.
Klaus, on the other hand, laughs, taking Kol´s obvious truth of how he feels, as a joke. Or at least he's pretending to take it as that. With Klaus, you never know his true intentions - one thing you despise most about him.
âYou´re an awfully good mood considering your mother wants to kill you.â
âSome might be scared in the face of death, me, I revel in it.â
Liar.
You saw the surprise in his eyes when you told him about his mother's plans yesterday, at the ball. He's scared shitless and you can't help but feel the slightest bit amused.
âSo are we gonna day drink, or what?â You hop off the barstool on and walk behind the fully stocked bar. Numbing alcohol might not be the most genius idea when you're expecting a fight, but what else is there to do? Besides, enduring Klaus presence only works well while not being sober.
Kol changes seats, switching from the far left to the middle to get as much space between you and Klaus. He's not taking any chances.
âSo I'm guessing, bourbon, bourbon and for me...bourbon?â You point your finger two both of them and yourself, sliding glasses over the sleek surface, filling them up generously.
The vibrating of your phone alerts you, and you look at it, reading the text message while returning to your seat âIt's Mae.â You tell your original companions âShe still searching for the spell to unlink you, but she might be able to locate the remaining white oak.â
âYou and Maeyra friends...now there's a revelation I did not see coming.â Klaus smiles, tracing his finger on the edge of his glass âPeople quake only with the sound of her name, never in my dreams would I guessed you, oh so dutiful Y/N, could be one of her Crows.â
Crows, the bringers of death...You haven't heard that name in years.
âWhat can I say, I'm full of surprises.â You shrug âBut as good as it was,  I´m not part of her group anymore, thanks to you.â
In truth, there was more to it than that, but Kol´s daggering on Christmas 1914 was certainly the turning point.
âWhat about you, brother?â Kol weighs in, turning the tables on Klaus for once âShe seemed to hate you as much as everyone else in this pathetic town. What did you do?â
âNow why would you assume I am to blame?â
âOh, I don´t know, a thousand years of experience?â
If looks could kill, Klaus would´have been buried, dug up and killed once more for good measure
âThat's not quite the accurate number, now is it? I remember there were several ... dark years.â Klaus says, the triumphing smile on his face sickening.
Kol knuckles are white with the force his fingers dig into the fabric of his pants, restraining himself from running the plan with his rage.
You grasp his hand holding it under the extended bar surface, and he calms, slowly but surely letting go of the tension.
âHow about you don't evade the question and just answer it for once. What did you do?â You weigh in.
In all the time you spend with Mae and her people, she rarely talked about anything regarding herself. There were only a few times where she talked about her past. At that time you didn't mind, you didn't really care either, but considering how she glared at him, you are more than curious
âWell, Maeyra was...difficult to control. I as former King of the Quarter and she the Queen of the Underground did not find common ground.â
Those two King and Queen of two kingdoms. Sounds like a horrifying combination.
âAnd I assume you took something from her like you always do regain said control?â You ask, knowing Klaus´ ways to well for comfort. Observing him all those years finally pays out it seems.
âI am afraid so. I took away what she held most dear.â Klaus says, his smile fading for but a second. If you don't know him better, you could think it was regret that overshadowed him. But it's Klaus. There is not a single remorseful bone in his body.
âAnd what would that be?â Kol digs deeper.
There hasn't been much Mae held dear, except her principles and her people. And one other precious part she lost. Her powers.
âYou turned her.â You conclude  âAnd with that, you took away her powers.â
No wonder she couldn't look him in the eye. How could she? He took away her identity, drowning it in blood.
âYet another victim stuck in your path of destruction, does it ever end?â Kol glares at him, disgusted by his brother actions. Kol´switch affinity makes the matter much worse.
âI presume you'll never know, will you, brother?â His voice is even, but there is no mistaking the deadly intent in it.
You have de-escalated the situation before it gets out of hand.
âLet's not bring up the past. We´re here to celebrate our newly found peace, aren't we?â You say, the word peace sickening in Klaus presence âHow about we kill time with a good ol´ fashioned round of pool?â
âNow that's an idea I fully support,â Klaus says, quickly emptying his glass before jumping off the barstool.Â
Someone seems suspiciously excited.
A few rounds of pool laterâŚ
The air in the room completely shifted once you´ve played your fourth round. The tension has fallen to a bare minimum and there were even a few laughs and jokes exchanged.
If someone would've told you, you and Kol would play pool with Klaus you'd probably punch them in the face. And then punch them again for good measure.
Luckily it's all just playing pretend.
Or is it?
Amidst the game, Klaus receives a text message, and he excuses himself for a few moments.
âIs it just me or was too good to be true?â You ask Kol as you join him on the other side of the pool table â He's scheming again, isn't he?â
âMost likely.â
Kol can't help but wonder who is on the other end of that text message. Is it his mother? Would Klaus stoop so low as to make a deal to spare his own life?
âI guess we need another bottle then.  I´m gonna go and look for the good stuff in the basement. This one is starting to burn a hole in my stomachâ You press a peck on his lips âBe right backâ
Kol leans on his hand holding the cue, looking at the current alignment of balls on the pool table. One, in particular, sparks his attention. He moves the 8 ball away from the next shot he has his eyes on, giving himself more room to win.
âI was hoping to get you alone,â Damon says, the door swinging closed behind him.
âStealing lines now, are we?â Kol says â And here I thought you learned your lesson.
âYeah, I've never been the best student.â Damon shrugs.
âVery well then.â Kol breaks the cue in half âI think I have to teach you some manners.â
The sound of breaking furniture reaches through the open basement door, your heart dropping to your knees. Panic fills your veins, as you ascend the stairs speeding into the main room almost dripping over a bloody cue.
Kol lands a hard punch on Damon´s jaw, right as you step in,  the bones cracking in impact.
All around, narrow gashes cut into the wood floor as though it is soft as flesh. The air crackles with tension, electrified with the polarising emotions in the room.
You´re frozen in place, not knowing If you should add to the tension or eliminate it. One strategy turns into two, doubles into 4 and still, you´re not moving. Â
The door swings open and Alaric comes in, armed to the teeth with various weapons including first and foremost a sawed-off shotgun presumably filled with wooden bullets.
Damon that bastard brought backup.
âY/N, go!â Kol yells as he twists Damon´s hand away from his neck. The last thing he wants is you to get hurt because if his unfortunate relationship with his family.
Damon seizes Kol´s distraction and lands a punch himself and you shift your weight on the balls of your feet, ready to lunge at them.
âI don't think soâ The clicking of Alaric's loaded gun interrupts your momentum âDon't move.â Â
The cold metal presses into your backside, but you don´t evade your eyes. You keep them locked on Kol who kicks Damon into a nearby table with his foot. He would be dead already if Kol could bring himself to kill him. But he can´t. He knows that you would never forgive him, even though you´re not on the best terms with your brothers.
While Damon groans in pain, Kol looks back, your eyes locking. Â
You share a nod, the silent communication enough to convey your strategy.
It's nothing you haven't done before.
You turn around and grab Alaric's gun at the barrel, pushing it upwards to collide with Alaric´s nose. He stumbles back and blood begins to spill from his nostrils. Â
Alaric might be a skilled hunter, but he lacks supernatural speed.
âI don't want to hurt you. You should leave.â You tell him, hoping that for once he would choose his life over his hunter duties.
âAre you alright?â Â You ask Kol looking over your shoulders briefly, the scene of Damon unconscious on the floor.
âYour brother is relentless,â Kol says, moderately impressed
âI know. He's like a cockroach sometimes.â
You turn our attention back to Alaric that groaning on the ground. Never turn your back on a hunter - the 101 of vampire survival.
But there´s another addition to that rule; never turn your back on a Salvatore either.
Kol's scream of agony feels like someone´s scraping your insides with sharp, hot nails. You turn around, just to witness the dagger's tip pierce his heart. He falls to his knees.
â1 point for cockroach,â Damon says and gives the dagger another push.
Kol´s legs give out and he falls to his knees, the whisper of your name on his lips as he loses consciousness.
âNO!â
Devastation overcomes your whole being as the same words keep repeating in your mind; It's all your fault, it's all your fault, it's all your faultâŚ
If he wouldn't have been distracted Damon would already be unconscious with a broken neck. You did this to him.
Failure
Failure
Failure
A range of emotion fills your being; Â guilt, devastation, failure - but with them another, revving emotion arises like a lifeboat amidst the ocean;
Anger.
And anger build out of fear is the most deadly forms of it all.
Not even the piercing pain of one of Alaric´s wooden projectiles, barely missing your heart nor the feeling of your knees touching the blood dripped floor distract you from the reviving qualities anger brings.
Your skin feels as if layered with a filter, red-hot burning, tipping the scale
Alaric's boots bend the floor behind you, the tips pressing into your backside.
There's only one strategy remaining: steering the boat against the current. Or to simplify it; to go balls to the wall.
âGame over,â Alaric says, his voice slightly muffled as he wipes his bleeding nose with his sleeve.
Your sinister laugh bounches of the walls, the volume surprising yourself.
âOh, really?â
Ignoring the piercing pain you slide your foot over the floor, colliding with Alaric's feet: He loses his balance, and he falls backwards, his head colliding with the floor. Â You rip the stake out of your chest with as much care as you can, the groan falling from your lips sounding more like a growl. You throw the stake to the side, the sound of it bouncing on the floor before it rolls away fills the empty room.
You crawl over to Alaric who's lying flat on his back, still heaving for air. You get a hold of the hem of his shirt, yanking him in your direction and you trap his head between your thighs, squeezing the air out of his lungs. Alaric struggles to free himself, his balled fist slamming on the floor as the air drains out of him. He struggles, shifts - even scratches but to no avail.
If you were a mere human, it would take about 60 seconds for them to squeeze another person´s air out of his lungs, luckily due to your semi-immortality, I takes much less before Alaric passes out due to lack of oxygen.
You release him and jump to your feet without any struggle.
Now to deal with your backstabbing brother.
âDamon!!â You growl, blood from your pierced intestine spilling from your mouth.
Fury colours your vision red as you growl his name, your voice echoing in the empty room. You pick up Alaric´s gun filled with wooden bullets on your way out, your gaze not wavering from your target.
TargetâŚ.that's all he is at this point.
Damon looks back and your eyes meet. Yours seem darker and scarier in the distance, and he turns around, hurrying to get Kol out of the open door into the alleyway. When he looks back a second time he's met with Klaus hands around his neck, the skin already greying from the joined effect of the dagger.
âI should've killed you months ago,â Klaus growls, ready to rip him apart if need be.
âGet your hands off him.â You say, your voice dangerously calm as you walk out into the darkening alley  âHe's mine.â
Klaus brows shoot up in surprise. He might have underestimated you after all. He lets go of Damon's neck and drugs out of the line of fire. His hands wrap around the dagger in Kols heart in an instant, pulling it out.
How ironic to see Klaus retract a dagger for once.
You close the distance between you and Damon with a few fast steps until he´s pressed against the brick wall, the barrel of the gun resting against his heart.
Klaus watches the scene unfold, observing how far you would go with the upper hand you´ve been dealt.
âYou're not gonna shoot me.â Damon shakes his head.
âOh, you vastly underestimate my character.â
In the shadowed alleyway only you can see the look in his eyes as he looks down at the barrel. Â he's terrified.
Good.
A/N: Damn. Someone needs to take chill pill, amirite? Not that I didn´t enjoy writing anger fueled action scenes :D But what did you think? Any form of feedback/constructive criticism is as always welcome.
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Lunatic
Summary: They used to be best friends. And they were still so young. Even though the lack of heart meant he couldnât enjoy it for real, Axel still appreciated any time he could get to spend with SaĂŻx - especially on this special day. Word Count: 1700 Read on FFNet | AO3
They were just kids, Axel repeated to himself. Just kids. They never asked for any of this. It wasnât even that their lives were bad: he didnât have much to complain about. Since they lost their heart, nothing really mattered to them anyway, and Axel never used to make a fuss for anything when he still had a heart either.
But everytime he looked at Zexion, he still believed that there was something wrong. The kid was only eight, and he was a zombie, never a smile crossing his face. And what about him? He was only sixteen. Kids this age were supposed to hang out all day long, rebel against their parents, something like that. He spent most of his days exploring worlds and releasing dark creatures on them - Heartless - because that was apparently how they would get their heart back. That made no sense, but he did not question it much.
As he walked out of his room, he decided to pay SaĂŻx a visit - the teenager used to be his best friend. Were they still besties? Axel didnât know, but that did not matter. As long as they still got along, he didnât care about giving a name to that.
He pounded on the door seven times - his old secret signal, back to when they had a heart. The only answer he got was âGo awayâ. He took that as a âCome inâ, and pushed the door.
The room was a mess. This was surprising, because they didnât even own enough things to make a mess, and yet SaĂŻx had succeeded in the impossible. Upon further investigations, Axel discovered that it wasnât only that anything that had once been in the furnitures was scattered across the floor - even the furnitures were scattered across the floor, shredded into tiny wooden pieces. The mattress was ripped, clouds of white foam still flying around. And in the middle of this whole white mess, SaĂŻx was sitting on the floor, arms around his knees, missing one glove, his eyes looking incredibly tired. Otherwise, he looked pretty neutral, as if this was a completely casual scene. Axel whistled.
âYou did that on your own? Wait, you did that and no one heard you?â
SaĂŻx shrugged, silent. He didnât even look at Axel. He didnât look at anything. Axel walked to him - sitting right next to him.
âDidnât like the decoration?â Silence. âWe could ask for some coloured furnitures, I guess.â Silence. âYou didnât hurt yourself, I hope.â Silence. âIf you donât answer to that youâll owe me 1000 munnies.â Silence. Then, after a couple of seconds, the tiniest hint of smile appeared on SaĂŻxâs lips. â...Never.â
Axel punched his shoulder playfully. âHe talks! Now tell me. What happened?â
SaĂŻx finally moved, his eyes scanning the room. âDo you ever wonder what weâre really doing?â
âAll the time. But I learnt not to ask. Do you?â
SaĂŻx shrugged. âI trusted Xemnas. And I still do. But after all this time⌠There is just no result. Nothing is changing. We still have no heart. The worlds are in an even worse state. Whatâs the point? What if we cannot be saved?â
To that, Axel had no answer. He shared SaĂŻxâs doubts - and he did not share his trust for Xemnas. He sighed. âLet me tell you something, though. Iâm pretty sure our hearts arenât hidden in our closets. So thereâs no point in destroying them to look for it.â
SaĂŻx rolled his eyes, but his tiny smile was getting slightly bigger. âYou never take anything seriously, now, do you?â
âNever. Thatâs my motto. Lifeâs a joke, and I want to keep laughing âtill the end. Got it memorized?â
âIâll do my best to keep that in mind. Iâll be laughing on your grave.â
Axel jumped on his feet, stretching his hand out for SaĂŻx. âAnd Iâll be laughing in my grave. Come with me. No work today. Iâll change your mind.â SaĂŻx took his hand without even thinking about it. Axel flashed him a grin, opening up a portal, his mind already set up on where theyâd be going.
âWhat is this place?â SaĂŻx looked around, stepping in this town for the first time. Axel shrugged, relaxed.
âDiscovered this place while exploring, a couple of weeks ago. Itâs called Twilight Town. It looks even more beautiful at sunset, but even in day time, it looks great, donât you think?â
SaĂŻx didnât answer. Beauty wasnât something they could identify anymore. If anything, they remembered what they thought was beautiful or not and apply it to what they saw.
âItâs quite a funny town. There are tons of underground roads leading everywhere, itâs a maze down there. Thereâs also this creepy mansion over there, but I donât know how to access it, a wallâs blocking the way. And, uh, theyâve got a game called Struggle, we should definitely try that one day! Also you can take the train for a quieter place, thatâs really peaceful out there. Anything you want to do?
SaĂŻx looked around. The town was pretty quiet, a tram circling around the place without a sound. There were a few shops here and there, with shopkeepers cheerfully talking to one another. He pointed at a shop. âThere.â
Axel looked at the designated place and frowned. âYou sure? That place looks fishy. But well, alright then! Letâs have a look!â
The shop was selling ice-cream. Not any kind, though. Not several kinds, either. Only one flavour, making Axel grimace. âSea salt, though? Are you really sure about that?â
SaĂŻx gave him a crooked smile. âScared?â
âNever!â Axelâs pride was wounded. âHey, Maâam, weâll have two of these. Youâll see if Iâm scared!â
Still, the ice-cream in hand, he was looking at it with caution. SaĂŻx sighed. âIt will melt, you know.â
âOh, I know how ice-creams work, thank you very much! I was only⌠Only thinking of a good place to enjoy it. You know, somewhere nice.â
SaĂŻx looked around, until his eyes stopped on the clocktower. âUp there.â Axel looked like he enjoyed the idea, and they soon were up the clocktower (with the help of a portal). The view really was something. If SaĂŻx tried to remember what beautiful used to mean to him, that would be a good definition.
âLetâs try that, then⌠Cheers!â Axel carefully poked the icecream with the tip of his tongue, frowned, then gasped. âItâs⌠Itâs actually pretty good! Sweet and Salty! Just like us! Iâm the sweet one, by the way.â He laughed, and even SaĂŻx let a chuckle out. The place was quiet. The view was nice. And it was true that the ice-cream tasted really good.
âYou really went berserk this morning, didnât you?â
âI guess I did. I woke up and realised I felt so helpless. That ticked me off.â
âTicked you off? SaĂŻx, you shred your bed to pieces. Remind me to never tick you off.â
âWhat would be the point? Youâd do it anyway.â
They laughed, and finished their ice-cream in silence. It had been a while since they got some time together, just the two of them. Life was mostly doing their missions, reporting back, going to sleep. The eight of them were always busy. They probably had missions waiting for them, even today, but Axel had decided they would have to wait.
âIâm glad we still get to hang out together sometimesâ, Axel said out of the blue, echoing SaĂŻxâs thoughts. âEspecially today.â
âIs today a specific day?â
âOf course it is, dum-dum! Donât tell me you forgot? Oh my you forgot. Care to guess?â
But after a minute of SaĂŻx complete silence, Axel gave up. âHappy seventeenth birthday, buddy!â
So it was his birthday? SaĂŻx had indeed completely forgotten. When you were living between worlds, time had little meaning to you. Hard to keep a calendar up to date. Axel could pretty much have made that up, too. But the redhead still rummaged through his pockets, until he got a small paper-wrapped packet out.
âThere you go! Open it, come on!â
SaĂŻx carefully unwrapped a small box. He opened it. Two golden stud earrings shimmered in the box. Axel sniggered.
âThe shopkeeper told me I would make the lady Iâd give that to really happy. Told her I had one lucky girlfriend. Here you are, darling.â
But despite the joke, SaĂŻx actually liked them, and he knew Axel had picked them seriously, and he did not wait to put them on.
âThey look good. Really compliments the⌠Pointy ears. You know.â
Axelâs laugh sounded slightly bitter. They both had noticed how SaĂŻx was starting to change - and how Axel was not. They never addressed it. They both did their best not to think about it.
âSometimes, I just suddenly feel incredibly angry.â SaĂŻx said quietly. âMost of the times, Iâm really calm, not thinking about anything in particular. Focusing on the missions. And I suddenly feel so much rage⌠I feel like I want to destroy everything. I canât explain why. Maybe youâre the cool-head, and Iâm the hot-head, after all.â
Axel smiled, nudging him. âYeah, Iâve always been the cool kid. Maybe you just needed a break from work. Iâm sure today will help.â
âYou might be right.â
They watched the town quietly, their feet dangling on the edge. A minute passed, ten, then an hour, before Axel finally spoke again.
âHey, SaĂŻx? Do you really think weâll ever get our hearts back?â
âYes. Xemnas said we would. So we will.â
Axel chuckled and got back to his feet.
âThen weâd better go back to work, buddy. Canât wait for you to have your heart back, so I can break it.â
âLook whoâs talking. Yours would probably forget how to beat and youâd die within a minute.â
âWell, youâd better learn CPR, then.â
âIâd better work on your eulogy instead.â
They exchanged a smile, opening up a dark corridor. SaĂŻx gave a last glance at the town. He felt less and less like himself, lately. But it was alright. Xemnas would save them, and then he would come back to share another ice-cream with best friend.
#fanfiction#kingdom hearts#axel#saix#friendship#buddies#I want to believe there was a time when SaĂŻx was still a bit human#and that he lost this fight little by little#one shot#organization xiii#if you didn't click read more#or you'll miss SaĂŻx's sass
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Five Times With Feeling - Part 3/5
Summary: Dick has been Batman for a week and it's been nothing but terrible.
Or four times Dick and Barbara watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer together and one time they didnât.
Written for @batfamcontentwarââs #halloweencontentwar. All 5 parts will be posted during the event.
ao3 Â Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5
Part 3 - February 2002
ââŚand I canât even turn my head in the stupid cowl!â
âUh huh.â
Barbara smiled a little as she drank her tea and that grin made Dick even more irritated than he already was. He had been Batman for a week and he had hated every second of it. The physical weight of the cape and the psychological weight of the mantle was suffocating and one of his oldest friends wasnât helping the situation with her barely contained laughter. He knew he was complaining and he had warned her at the beginning that it was all rhetorical and didnât want her to interrupt, but now he was frustrated that she hadnât said anything remotely helpful. Â All she did was watch as he paced back and forth in her living room. She was probably mocking him in her head.
âYou could at least pretend to care.â
âHey. I care.â Barbara waved at him to come closer and when he did she grabbed his hands and pulled him downwards onto the couch beside her. Â She outstretched her arm and Dick leaned his head onto her shoulder and she wrapped him in a loose half hug. Â âSorry. I didnât think you were being serious. I just thought that it was a rant, thatâs all. I didnât think I was being encouraged to participate. In fact, you specifically had told me not to.â She started to run her hand through his hair and he could feel his body beginning to relax even though his mind continued to race. âThis isnât about being Batman. Not really.â
âIt is. Â I donât want to do it. I know I have to because Gotham needs Batman, but Iâm a fraud. Iâm not him. Â Bruce is dead.â He takes a shaky, deep breath and he feels Barbaraâs hand still at the sound. âMy dad is dead.â A tear slips out of his eye, quickly followed by another one, and he know what is about to happen but canât do anything to stop it. âAgain.â His voice cracks with the last word and it was the thing that broke whatever was left of his emotional control. Barbara pulls him into a tighter hug and begins rubbing his back softly, saying nothing, as he just started sobbing and shaking with the effort; the severity of his reaction actually surprised him which just made it even worse, and he just starts crying harder. Everything that he had been pushing down and putting aside for later came to the surface and was out of his control. He had been so busy trying to hold everything together that he hadnât really given himself the chance to grieve yet. He and Alfred had spoken at length, but it was when everything was still so new that it didnât feel real, and now he didnât want to unload this on Tim or Damian who were both dealing with their own issues about it. Hell, Tim probably wonât speak to him ever again and he didnât understand Damian at all, let alone know if Damian actually cared that Bruce was gone. Â
Sheâs right, of course. It isnât only about being Batman.
It had only been a matter of time until he snapped.
Of course it had happened here when he wasnât on his guard. Â When he was in the Clocktower with his ex-girlfriend; the woman that he was still in love with no matter how hard he tried to move on, because despite it all, she always made him feel safe and secure. Being with her was home away from home. The home that his heart felt the safest at.
So he just wept as she held him.
He didnât know how long his breakdown lasted, but when he finally settled down again and was able to catch his breath he found himself to be lying down on the couch with his head resting in Barbaraâs lap. One of her hands was holding his, on top of his heart, the other one was running through his hair and he could hear her singing softly, but he couldnât place the song. Â It was nice. He didnât want to move. Not now, not ever. Not out of this quiet sanctuary away from reality.
âI canât be Batman. Iâm not Bruce.â His whispered voice now sounded low and raspy and nothing like his own. God, he was tired.
âThose things donât necessarily have to go together.â Barbaraâs tone was soothing and he felt himself calming down even more at her words and touch. She seemed to know that he didnât really want to talk about his feelings about Bruce himself and his death right now, even though probably he needed to. Â He just wanted to focus on something that he could control and fix. He wouldnât feel so overwhelmed if he could just figure something, anything, out. âYouâre right. You arenât Bruce. Â Donât try to be because you canât be him. Just be you. In a different suit. Be Batman.â
âWith a stupid cape and no peripheral vision.â
She rolled her eyes at him, knowing how much he hated fighting in a cape and how glad he had been to get rid of it the first time. âThink of it as rebranding. Youâve done that before.â
âCreating Nightwing and taking over Batman arenât the same thing.â
âBut if you were to fix Batman, what would you do? Think of Bruce as the original, but youâre the upgrade. Debugged. Rewritten code. Batman 2.0 beta rollout.â
âYouâre a nerd, Oracle.â
âThatâs why you pay me the big bucks.â
âWe pay you?â Barbara gave a little laugh and squeezed his hand a little tighter. âI canât just be me though. Thatâs Nightwing.â Dick had no idea how to move forward as Batman because every time he thought about it, he knew everyone would immediately know that it was him in the suit; little Nightwing playing dress up in big, bad Batmanâs clothes. He tried to meet Barbaraâs gaze, and the corner of his lips perked up a little when he saw the faraway look in her eyes. Â The look that meant that her brain was moving so fast that even if she told him what she was thinking that he wouldnât be able to follow. He knew a lot of geniuses, but she was just on a whole other level of processing. Â
After a few minutes of silence, Barbaraâs fingers stopped moving through his hair. âYou know what would scare me if I was a criminal who came up against Batman?â
âMost things.  Bruce was menacing, with the size and the voice and the glare⌠Are you planning on becoming a super villain?â He was trying to lighten the mood, but in reality, he knew that she would be a terrifying foe. She would be able to take down a small country from her laptop and disappear before they even knew there was a problem.
âThatâs it though. He was predictably scary.â She finally looks back at Dick and she has a twinkle in her eye, and he knew that she had a plan. Or at least the start of a plan. âA Batman who wasnât afraid to smile would be terrifying.â
Dick laughs, because what else can he do? Â Sheâs being ridiculous. âWhat?â
âThink about it. Iâm a Penguin goon and I run into Batman. Â Batman looks at me, and instead of grunting at me and throwing the usual right jab to break my jaw, he just smiles. And waits. Personally, Iâd be more concerned about that. Why is Batman smiling? What is he thinking about doing to me that is making him smile?â Barbara gives Dick a little half shrug, âThat confusion alone would scare me at least.â
âIsnât that a little⌠Jokerish?â
âMaybe, but I think its a little Dick Grayson-y as well.â
âThank you for comparing me to that monster.â
âNot what I meant.â Â Barbara sighs and swallows, apparently trying to sort out her thoughts. âDo you like being out there? Fighting the good fight?â
âWhat? Of course. I wouldnât do it if I didnât.â Sure, some times were harder than others, but he loved what he did, could do, for the city and for its people.
âWell, the Dick Grayson that I know smiles when heâs happy or having fun. He doesnât even notice heâs doing it all the time. Itâs reflex. That shouldnât have to stop because heâs wearing a mask with stupid horns on it. Take advantage of the fact that smiling might be a little creepy when you canât see your whole face. I donât quippiness is a great idea but you donât have to lose who you are completely when youâre in the suit.â
âTheyâre ears, not horns.â
âWhatever.â She starts moving her hand again and he closes his eyes as her fingers move in slow circles, and hears himself humming quietly with the motion. Â âNot that long ago you told me to pivot. You need to take your own advice, Bat Hunk. Itâs just something small that might make stepping into those big boots a little less daunting.â
Pivot. Pivoting was less daunting that starting over. Pivoting he could handle. What she was saying was making sense and it even wasnât that hard to do. He couldnât be Bruce, but he could be Batman. He could act the part with some changes. Â Maybe he could talk to Alfred and see if they could make the cape a bit lighter, so that he didnât feel like it was pulling him backwards. He probably could try and do less flips in the field as well and work on his offense.
Suddenly, being Batman wasnât such a big deal. But he had another bigger problem. A 10 year old assassin type problem. Â âWhat am I going to do about Damian? I canât send him back to Talia and the League.â
Barbara seems surprised by his question. âYou made him Robin.â
âAnd Iâm already questioning myself.â Dick sighs and he can feel the pressure building up again in his chest and heâs getting worked up again. Â This is the thing that has been stressing him out the most. He could handle training a new Robin, but this was so much more than that. âI canât raise a kid, Babs. Â And I definitely canât raise that kid.â So reactive, arrogant and murderous. Dick had no idea what to do with Damian. Â The kid would probably kill him in his sleep after some perceived slight.
âYou can and you will. You already made that choice and you canât go back on that now.â Barbaraâs voice was firm and borderline angry, and Dick had the feeling that if he hadnât just had an emotional breakdown on her couch that she would have slapped him. He probably deserved it. She paused, and must have seen something in his face, and she softened her tone. âAlfred will help you, just like he helped Bruce when he took you in. Damian needs you, Dick. More than heâs going to let you know.â He knew this, in his mind and his heart and gut. Â The situation was very different, but he knew a little bit about being a kid who had everything change on him overnight and needing someone to look after him. There was no way that he would abandon Damian or send him away. He was just scared. Dick swallowed and nodded slightly, and Barbara continued, âAll of us will help; you just have to ask for it when you need it. I know you arenât good at that, but try.â
Dick started to protest, but Barbara shut him up with a quick glare. She was right, of course. She knew that more than almost anyone. âThe thing that I didnât really notice about Bruce until I was Oracle was that for a man who was always insisting that he worked alone, he has the biggest support system of people around him out of the entire League. And those same people are there for you as well. Probably more so.â
âYou hate Damian.â
âI donât know him enough to hate him. Iâll admit I donât like him too much so far but that doesnât matter.â She tightened his arm that was across his chest a little bit and he could tell that she was trying to press her words into him. To make them stick even if he didnât believe them. âYouâre the heart of our weird, little family, Dick. We love you. We wonât let you drown in this.â
âIâm the one whoâs going to let everyone drown.â Dick finally pulls himself upright and sits beside Barbara on the couch, staring at his hands resting in his lap. âI have a hard enough time looking after myself and Iâm barely able to be a fully functioning adult on a good day. Itâs like Iâm always running in quicksand; I keep going until eventually I find myself completely submerged without knowing it was happening to begin with.â Dickâs mind is a blur, thinking of all the times that heâs let someone down. Failed them. Disappointed them because he just wasnât good enough or fast enough. When someone got hurt or worse because of something he had decided or done or missed and this was all just too much. He just felt empty at this point. âIâm pretty good at screwing up my own life. I canât be responsible for another human. Or an entire city.â He finally turns and stares into Barbaraâs green eyes and thinks of all the mistakes that heâs made with her. âI couldnât even find a way to make us work and weâre perfect.â
âYou and I are many things Richard Grayson, but we are not perfect. And it took the two of us to make it not work out last time.â Barbara leans forward, places her hand on his cheek and gives Dick a soft kiss that is both too long and not long enough and makes him feel unraveled all over again. He can feel how much she cares for him in such a small move, but he knows that this conversation wonât end the way he wants it to. âI love you.â Her voice sounds sad and he can hear the âbutâ in the air even though it goes unsaid. âYou have so many balls in the air. I just canât be one of them. You have a 10 year old to mentor and raise, a city to protect and probably a lot of Wayne Enterprises things to focus on that you arenât even thinking about. Baby steps. Pivot and prioritize. You need to focus on what matters most and right now that isnât us. Â When you need me, Iâll help you figure out that stuff first, as your friend and as Oracle. When you have all those things sorted, weâll talk.â She reaches up and brushes her thumb against his cheek, apparently brushing away another tear that he hadnât realized had slipped out. âDamian, Batman, Wayne Enterprises. In that order. Weâre the easy part. Save it for later.â
All he could do was nod. He still felt incredibly overwhelmed, but he did feel better about it. It was weird to feel so depressed and full of hope at the same time. His brain and heart felt full. âCan we watch some TV and just ignore the world for a little bit? Iâm not ready to go home.â Tomorrow. Heâd start on his new plans tomorrow. Now he just needed his mind to turn off for a while and be comfortably numb.
âOf course.â
âBuffy.â
âEven though itâs not Tuesday?â Dick nodded again. Â âSure.â
He gets up, finds what heâs looking for on her shelf and pops a random season three disk into her DVD player and then makes his way into Barbaraâs kitchen to make some more tea. He leans against the counter while waiting for the water to boil. He felt better than he did before, but exhausted. He can do this, and it doesnât have to be by himself. His family can help him. Barbara will help him.
He isnât alone.
Tea made, Dick heads back into the living room, setting the drinks down on the coffee table and he sits back down on the couch. Â He pulls Barbara close against his side and gave her a kiss on the top of her head, taking in the scent of her hair, watching the beginning of the prom episode start on the screen. A good choice - it meets his current mood of sad but optimistic. She relaxes into his embrace, and Dick canât help but smile to himself. He can do this. They can do this. Theyâll all be okay.
He gives her a small squeeze and she snuggles into him further. âYou still my girl?â
âAlways.â
#halloweencontentwar#barbara gordon#dick grayson#oracle#batman#dick!bats#buffy the vampire slayer#fanfiction#batfic#I toe the line with genfic
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