#Armament God Princess

[figurecollection]

Strarf Model Kit by Kotobukiya, from Busou Shinki

[name-s-are-not-important]

Since you got so many postive reactions, I'll also add something Your story is boring. Its too long, its too complicated, the plot is too long, nothing happens, it's not RA at all any more, it has nothing to do with canon! Halt is a joke, there is nothing left of him. This is annoying, the whole story is annoying! Secondly, you dramatize the story too much. Why is Halt's mother a child when she gave birth to him? Don't you have enough angst from the plot, then you have to add such elements and make the king a pedo? A bit pathetic, if you ask me. Why is she so young? Why would Caitlyn be married so young? Nobody did that in the canon! Second, why, for God's sake, is everyone there gay? In the Middle Ages? What's that supposed to be? Third, you don't respect your own readers. You post new chapters without any rhythm, once every week, once every month, instead of sticking to any routine. People don't want to read something so inconsistent, it's stupid, it's annoying. Oh and all those references to Catholicism in the plot in and your made up religion. Is it really necessary?

It's a shame, because this could have been a really cool story… you still have a lot to learn, good luck!

Hello, I would say thanks for contacting, but then it would probably sound ironic. Well.

I understand that the pace of the story may not suit everyone, especially people who prefer short stories. However, I made it clear from the outset that the story would be long and complex. It's a whole AU and yes, I love worldbuilding and I won't apologise for that. I care about the details, but I also care about a balanced sinusoid of action. This isn't an action movie where you'll eat popcorn and laugh at the jokes, it's a marathon geared towards experiencing the story a little deeper. If it annoys you, I'm not sure why you don't just give up reading it…. you refer to the facts revealed in recent chapters, so you've at least made it to chapter 41, even though the story annoys you so much. Why? And why should it be my fault?

Let the numbers speak for me. Jadwiga Andegaweńska, King of Poland, married Władysław Jagiełło, Grand Duke of Lithuania, at the age of 12. He was 35 years old at the time. He took his last wife at the age of 70. She was named Zofia Holszańska, she was 17. Henry VIII of England took Catherine Howard as his wife when she was 17. He was 49. The youngest queen consort was Isabella of Valois, second wife of Richard II, aged 6 years 11 months and 25 days when she was married to him in 1396. The average age at which women were given in marriage in the Middle Ages was 12-14 years. It was only at the end of this era that this age changed to the late teens (16-19). The Renaissance brought a shift in this average to the early 20s. Yes, I am aware that we do not have such situations in the canon. Probably because the canon is a conglomeration of several different visions of the Middle Ages, which the author did not see fit to separate. Armaments, schooling, lack of illiteracy, developed medicine and finally, social realities all disagree. I am sorry to have to tell you this, but no princess married a plebeian knight because he was nice and she loved him. No princess ran around in the woods with a slingshot and none of them was likely to be allowed to become a super secret special task soldier because her parents couldn't cope with her upbringing. Canon has nothing to do with historical reality. In many ways it also misses the mark with my story. It's a fanfic. It's just a story, invented by me and loosely based on canon. It's AU - Alternative Universe. Where there's magic, religious wars and various things like that. But some of the stuff in there comes as a result of my fascination with history and the development of societies in different eras. Hence, certain phenomena, such as just the treatment of women, the age at which they were given in marriage, illiteracy, pestilence, economic dualism and sending children to war, appear in the storyline. Eileen is a monument to women, girls who were given in marriage to bear children to kings, to endure their outbursts of anger, beatings, rape and other forms of violence. Her story is very important to me and no, it is not there just to add drama. I'm sorry you see it that way.

Because we are human, we have always existed and we will always exist. Because it is a story written by a queer person and because as an author I can do so. I also pointed this out in the tags. Too many queer people reading books couldn't find themselves in the plot. I only write queer stories. And if in a story about blood magic, prophecies, human sacrifice, violence, wars and betrayals, you have the biggest problem to a few queer people in the plot, it's no longer my fault.

Listen, I'm really trying not to be mean. Let me say this as gently as I can. I'm not your friend. I'm a random stranger on the internet that you know nothing about. I'm not your school mate for you to talk to me like that. I'm an adult, I work full time, I'm writing my Master's thesis and I'm taking care of two children. I'm sorry that my few hours a week that I can spend doing something for myself, are not enough for me to write a 16-19k chapter once a week. How annoying and mean of me. Wow.

I wasn't inspired by Catholicism. But it's interesting that of all the world religions, this is the one that came to your mind. If you associate a fictional religion based on blood sacrificing, heroising self-harm and sacrificing children, cruelty to captives and hateful contempt for women with Catholicism, then who am I to argue.

It's been so much fun writing to you. And you don't offend me by saying I have a lot to learn. We all have. If one stops learning, one dies. And I still have a whole lot of queer, boring, annoying stories to write. Have a lovely day! And may your toilet seat be cold af at the middle of the night :)

[meli-writes]

Truth to be Dared - Ch. 03

(First) / (Previous)

Her faun must understand its situation, the Princess Florentina is quite sure. She has enunciated a dozen-fold on the matter, in-detail even; repeated it louder and slower each time, and is perplexed as to how that could have so worsened her faun’s demeanour.

“Take this one to be bathed,” she instructs a myth-stricken handmaiden, whose courage need summon itself afore she takes its proffered leash. “Mine-own quarters.”

All the-night it had tore at the tree-bound rein — so weak the infirm, rot-soaked bark had sloughed not a motes-length — contemptuous to its prior insistence on fastening its own collar, when she had rescued it; hand thrusted forth, impatient for the dungeon-foraged band, an ostensible recognition of the fair trade she offered — that it now seems resent.

And for a faun to be a licentious creature, that enough is well-travelled truth; but to be so devious, perhaps that was particular to this one — though it follows her timorous maiden without quarrel. Such ones handled Florentina as a babe, her faun will be no trouble.

She processes into the Great Hall — heralded in courtly squeals as she tramps dried cousin- blood into flaxen-thread dresses, whose tails demise an unobstructed view of the Dwarfish- import, mudstone tile — expectant, savourant even, of an aghast countenance upon her uncle and Regent, who can hells-wells blame himself for this entire affair. Her Faun, at its merest peasant-drummed rumour; at the pricked, auric senses of his Court Magician; saw him surround the whole, autumn-wet kingswood — trapping it afore it even stepped in the snare. His arse-to-throat puppet-of-a-Bishop soon proclamating:

Whoever shalt return the Promiscuous Beast, Gods hath blessed with the seed of an heir.

Not an unclever trick; somewhat more troublesome to refuse than the next irksome suitor her once-loyal, now rather exasperated, Regent has invited. But prophecy — false-or-no — is a thicket of such tricks — and this is her throne, her body, her faun.

“Fair Uncle,” she says, stuffed ripe with boastfulness. “It is wondrous to see one so—”

“Proud?” he smiles. She looks at the dais, the woodcut lesser of three thrones; her teeth shut as a portcullis in-siege. “Unsanctioned it might be, but a successful hunt nonetheless! I regret His Grace and Her Grace, mine sister, must see it from heaven-above.”

What dare he know, that she does not?

He steps down, lowered to his proper position — looms as a summer noon. Her cast-iron expression cracks brittle and false, as he beams, “When shall I see this beast? Gods-know how there was anything left to spare, as blood-drenched as you are.”

There are courtiers — distant, pressed between columns in sullied armament — recalled from the prophetic hunt to obvious dissatisfaction. “Oh. Oh!” she feigns, her cousin’s absence is noted more-so, her uncle hears his lack of choice words too.

“Lord Relbert has passed — I’m afraid,” she continues. She needn’t mention the footman, silenced in one lung-thrust. “He attempted to intervene and aid me; ever-so-noble to the end, as chewed-to-bits as it might be—” So spiteful, deliciously so, was her faun.

Courtiers beset the Hall with unkempt murmurs. Her lips part to finish as— Clang! 

The Court Magician rattles his staff on the dais, and rounds it. “Perhaps our Princess might elucidate his Regent as to her liberation of one sacred potion? With which I must wonder how it was libated, on this faun, and not—”

The Regent turns, smiles thin, and he silences.

“I tried,” she lies, catches her smirk as he leans impatient. “It was— ineffective. I felt it imprudent to besmirch your toils with such admittance, devoted as you are to them.”

“How then does this faun fair—” her uncle asks, afore she bites him off.

“Fine!” The Princess steadies herself with one boot on the dais. “I’ve had it bathed. You needn’t see it in such a state — besides, I’d heard our dear Magician wishes to cut its horns and concoct some paste to daub on me while a suitor—” The Court Magician is set alight in the Hall’s choral, despondent flames, and he folds into a column’s shadow. “Ahh! Should I not have said that? Though it seems the court agree with me — most unfetching.”

“Suitors,” the regent intercedes. “Yes, rather the matter I wish to address.”

He’s much too pleased — and unconcerned with the dismally-concealed parricide, though she supposes no one will miss that one, other courtiers too unwise to realise it. She expects the Bishop to announce himself, reveal another twist in prophetic interpretation. Perhaps it’ll be her faun that should breed her, it has the lowers — and he’ll need to watch, no doubt.

No — she knows the means to address such rumours, she has an artisan to speak to.

“You have accepted none of twelve suitors now,” he speaks, her fake smile is buried next to the real one. Ahh, has it been that many? “Enough time has passed. As Her Grace’s brother the line cannot pass through me, though I would shoulder that burden—” And break your back upon it. “If the thirteenth does not ascend, then per ancient law—”

“Well then damn the law — give me the hells-damned throne!” she bursts out.

Not what she should’ve said either; there isn’t even a whisper to dance on the columns.

Her uncle looks to her with sorrow, “I understand your distress—” You do not. “But when the Prince arrives you must choose — and bear.” Then takes his place once more on the third, shrunken throne. “We all have our duties, that is the simple truth. I’m sorry this is yours.”

The Princess looks at her boots, at the mud-and-blood that has seeped into leathered cracks and dried and cracked itself. “It’s mine,” she sputters, so meek he cannot hear.

“I will not hand—” She swallows. Myself. Resolves. “—the crown to some—”

She chokes, and does not hear the Regent’s words. It does not matter how esteemed the fall of her dynasty is, how kind he is when he fills her, how close her grave is in-size to his.

“It’s—” Her throne.

Her body.

Her faun.

She tries to run.

---

(Masterpost) / (Next)

originally written on cohost 20/06/2024, in response to Making-up-Monsters' prompt:

Monster who was caught by accident, to everyone's chagrin

[00virtuezero]

Saturday : Nov. 11 Misc .

@fromtheboundlesssea

Neither Gods Nor Men Armaments of the Dragons :  List of Weapons used by each Dragonrider and marital warrior of the Green,  Blue, and Black Factions .

The Greens

King Rhaenor Targaryen I “The Red King”  :   Blackfrye -  Valyrian Steel Bastard Sword,  “ Fang”-  A kiliji ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilij#:~:text=Because%20of%20the%20shape%20of,did%20not%20allow%20the%20thrust ) one handed, single edged and curved scimitar blade that was taken as war trophy by Rhaenor when he killed notable Triarchy Commander, used  a optional weapon besides Blackfrye and also for the King’s rare, but at times used Dual Wielding swordmenship. Dagger of Ice and Fire : Valyerian Steel Dagger with a Dragonbone crafted hilt, passed down from Targaryen King to King.

Prince Aemond “One-Eye”, Targaryen, Heir to the Dragon: “Vilgilance”- A Valyerian Longsword that has belonged to House Hightower for centuries, gifted to Prince Aemond for the Dance and to symbolize Aemond being the Targaryen-Hightower Heir,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messer_(sword) :  Given to from Ser Criston Cole to Prince Aemond,  Messer Sword is native to Stormlands, that was designed to be  single edged sword with knife like hilt,  notable for shearing cuts, and most importantly self defense, 

Staff of the One-Eye/Scythe of the Stranger :  Design wise, the staff Rhaenor gifted is Aemond is Longstaff/Quarter staff made completely from Dragonbone basically given it a major high level durability allowing it with stand blows against armor and also swords or melee weapons as well.  Serving as offensive and defensive staff, allowing Aemond to attack and defend, overwhelming opponents with speed and blunt damage. Do to dragon bone can also potentially break bone or even slightly dent armor.

This also includes two attachable  blades that can be attached two each opposite end of staff, making it Double Bladed Staff.   Can be potentially used as psychological intimidation   given slight oddity and unfamiliarity with two blades attached to opposite ends and along possible attacking opponents on opposite side. 

The Two attachable Blades, can when not put on the staff, be used as Short Swords. Along with being oppotional for one Blade to be attached, thus making a spear and also possible javelin weapon.

Last and optional attached weapon a Single Curved Edged Blade, which would be later dubbed a “ War Scythe”.

Princess Saera “ War Rose” Targaryen :  “ Thorn”-   A Long Sword, made of finest materials found in the Reach, hilt is shape green rose.  “Flare” :  Short Sword and optional melee weapon, has flame shaped helt.   “ Sun Shield” :  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckler  Its size made it poor protection against missile weapons (e.g., arrows) but useful in deflecting the blow of an opponent's weapons, binding his arms, hindering oppotents movements, or punching them. 

The Blues

King Aegon  “ The Blue King” Velayron :  Basilisks Valeryian Steel Sword :https://www.pinterest.com/pin/437482551283112561/ ( Third Century Sparta Sword ). Color of Basiliks : Steel Sword color is Azure and hilt is Silver color, Plommel and Guard are Obsidian Black. Design of Hilt is that of a Sepertine head, with mouth pointed to where the Blade is, pommel is orbed shape with near very a large Fang like blade pointing out it ( Rumored to be an actual Basiliks Fang and can be used melee weapon and stabbing weaponSparta was ancient longsword with a straight and double-edged blade, which is sharpened on both sides to lacerate the opponent effectively. This straight blade tapers to a tip at the very end of the sword, giving it the ability to be effective in a deep piercing motion. To me that also fit’s Symbolism of of Serpents Strike and also Versatility of it as a sword, Valeryian Steel helps as well given it can cut threw almost anything. The Fang at end of Rounded Pommel is intact a actual Basilisk’s fang, taken from a large Basilisk a Velayron ancestor killed and decided to attach its Posion Fang to the Pommel, along with how the sword became known as Basiliks. Of course now a days the Fang isn’t able to produce posion because of age, but it skill can make for effective pierceing weapon.

The Smith’s Hammer :  A one Handed War Hammer that has Silver-Blue Hammer on end and other side perceing Edge on the other in shape of a Shark’s Fin.  Serving a Secondary Weapon and along capable of bashing on enemy armor to break limbs, skulls, and the like.   Rumored to be crafted from the strongest metals that House Velayron could buy.

Laena “ The Valkyrie” Velayron :  “ Shadow Spine”  :  A Silver Longsword with a dragon head shaped sigil, and up pointed guards, designed after the Valeryian Steel Sword “ Dark Sister”.   Short Sword for optional weapon if needed,   Circle Shield for Defense from both Arrows and Melee Weapons.

Prince Viserys “Warhammer” Velayron :  Bastard Sword  with skyblue colored hilt,  One handed Axe-Weapon for Melee Combat,  Long Handed Axe that is wielded with both hands,  inspired by Corly Velayron’s own Long Handed Axe.

The Blacks

Lord Jacerys “ The Unworthy”  Rivers :   Noted for carrying a total of Three different type of Swords on his person, which symbolizing House Strongs Three Swords :   Bastard Sword with a Dark Green colored Hilt,   A Long Sword with a Dark Blue colored hilt, and  a https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falchion  Cleaver Sword with a Black hilt, that has a crossguard.

Giving Jacerys different options in combat and keeping his oppotent guessing as he changes styles.  While his half brothers Aegon and Aemond are among the best warriors of the siblings, Jacerys makes up for by willing to trick and confuse his oppotents, along with a brutal and calculated ferocity.

Lady Baela “ The Siren” Velayron-Rivers :   “Venom” : A Dark Colored Long Sword with a Dragon winged shaped Hilt,   “ Silence” :  A Slight Curved Knife for Melee Combat and keep on person as side armament even when not in full armor .  Bow and Arrows for Long Range Combat, especially while on Moondancer, rumored Bow is made from Old Gods wood tree material.

Lord Lucerys “The Unjust” Rivers :   A Longsword, with a crossed guard hilt,    2 Knifes for Melee Combat and sneak attacks,  One Handed Spiked Mace Weapon.

Lord Joffrey “ The Good”  Rivers :  Bastard Sword, Long Sword as secondary weapon,  Knife as optional and side weapon,  Shield painted in all Three Colors of the Swords on House Strong’s Sigil.

[the-multifandom-oc-ask-blog]

PLEASE CHECK THIS POST!! https://www.tumblr.com/the-multifandom-oc-ask-blog/721938536742420480/hey-yall-this-is-somethingoff101s-oc-ask-blog

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[bigsoftmarshmallow]

In the modern world, what would the Ganondorfs (Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Hyrule Warriors, and Tears of the Kingdom) & Demise's preferred aircraft be?

Here’s a take on what aircraft each Ganondorf and Demise might prefer in the modern world:

Wind Waker Ganondorf:

Aircraft: Gulfstream G650

Reason: The Gulfstream G650 is a luxurious private jet known for its long-range capability and comfort. Wind Waker Ganondorf, with his refined tastes and appreciation for art and culture, would value the G650’s elegance and the ability to travel in style. It reflects his desire for control and comfort as he navigates between different domains.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf:

Aircraft: F-22 Raptor

Reason: The F-22 Raptor is a powerful stealth fighter jet, symbolizing Ocarina of Time Ganondorf's military prowess and his desire for overwhelming force. This aircraft's speed, agility, and advanced technology would appeal to his need to dominate the skies and ensure no one could oppose him.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf:

Aircraft: Boeing AH-64 Apache

Reason: The Apache attack helicopter’s durability and lethal capability mirror Twilight Princess Ganondorf's own relentless nature. It’s an aircraft designed for combat and control, allowing him to strike fear into his enemies while maintaining a dominant presence on the battlefield.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf:

Aircraft: Sukhoi Su-57

Reason: The Su-57, a fifth-generation stealth fighter, combines advanced technology with powerful armament, suiting Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf’s image as a fierce and cunning warrior. This aircraft allows for both aggressive tactics and strategic maneuvers, fitting his dynamic combat style.

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf:

Aircraft: Lockheed C-130 Hercules

Reason: The C-130 Hercules is a versatile military transport aircraft, reflecting Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf’s strategic and multifaceted approach to conquest. It can carry troops, equipment, and supplies, embodying his ability to command large-scale operations and adapt to various situations.

Demise:

Aircraft: SR-71 Blackbird

Reason: The SR-71 Blackbird is a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft known for its sleek design and unmatched speed. It suits Demise’s nature as a force of destruction that operates beyond the reach of others. The Blackbird’s near-mythical status and ability to evade threats align with Demise’s own god-like power and the fear he instills in those who oppose him.

These choices reflect the dominance, power, and strategic thinking of each character, as well as their particular preferences in how they would take to the skies in the modern world.

[pxison]

ROYAL, FANTASY ROMANCE AND SPICE @ncfertari asked: “And why, pray tell, should I make it easy?' -Reiju

Those words coming out of the princess's mouth was the nail in the coffin of the frustration she was trying to hold back. She could admire the woman's ferocity and passion for her country, but it was misplaced here when it was just between the two of them.

Germa had been the ones to approach the Alabastian royals on a deal her father felt would benefit the both of them, something that hadn't quite fell through with the princess just yet. At least Judge had the foresight to send Reiju out to speak instead of her brothers because God knows how badly they could screw something so delicate up when there was a pretty face in view.

"Because with all due respect, we know that you want your people to be well defended do you not? Germa can provide protection or even just the armaments to better do so, does that really sound so bad?"

Not wanting to let her cup of tea cool too much, she takes a sip of the poison free liquid. This was bound to be quite the discussion after all, she could feel it in her weapons-grade bones.

"Agree to our terms and you will have everything to gain with negligible loss."

[bookandyarndragon]

@tripleglitchwriting I am so glad you asked. My One Piece OC Helene Megara comes from a New World kingdom I invented based on ancient Greek and Rome. Her story is contained in Of Dragon Scales and Pomegranate Seeds. To be warned it gets dark and while things will get better for her the naritive hasn't gotten there yet. So mind the tags if you decide to read.

Megara aka Meg is interesting when it comes to personality and abilities. She has a logia that lets her turn into a breeze and observation haki to the gods. She has conquers haki that is awake and ber weakest haki is armament. Hypothetically if she were to encounter the DJD I'd put Megara as an adult at full power and size. She's devastatingly intelegent. As far personality and personal views she's complicated. She is kind and loyal but she's ruthless when it comes to protecting people who look to her for protection. She's very much a stoic. She despises the political games but she had to learn to be very good to survive her adolescence.

She also would have an interesting take on the Deceptacon Cause. She's a princess raised in the lap of luxury but in her kingdom as a woman, especially under her very abusive father's rule, she was effectively property. Including a pic of the character heights based on the acurate height refrence photo.

Mainly I see an encounter with Megara and the DJD being a headache for all parties. Meg may not be strong enough deal damage to them but she's also between advanced observation haki and her logia compleetly untouchable.

And it would drive Tarn bananas. Even as the power would intrigue him. Megara on the other hand would be praying for heavy hitters with advanced armament would show up. And that isn't even geting into Tarn the poser zelot, talking shop with a political realist and serious student of philosophy.

I realize I don’t post a lot of thoughts that often (or, like, ever), so here goes:

I am a sucker for crossovers. It doesn’t matter of what- it could be inter franchise, combing the continuities of one franchise, or pulling the ol’ undertale AU Christmas party- I don’t care. Because this is a transformers blog I’ll stick with that, and honestly I think crossovers with it has some really great potential.

I haven’t read the MLP crossover comic yet, I will eventually, but that’s an example of what I’m talking about. How would a logic and science driven character like Shockwave react to the absurd ghost-sun magic of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure? (The answer is horribly unethical experiments, probably) How would a rule following, morally upright character like Ultra Magnus deal with The Strawhat Pirates? How would a sadistic, power hungry character like Tarn handle an enemy with incomprehensible power like Bill Cypher?

The rules and culture clashing would be so interesting to think about. Some franchises are forced to avoid graphic imagery and such, so characters from something like that ending up in the IDW transformers comics would be cool to see. In some shows, movies, books, comics and more death is something that happens 24/7 all the time, so a character from a piece of media like that ending up on the lost light and just killing someone would have some very intriguing repercussions!

I know it’s been done plenty of times before in plenty of fics and even canon material, I just like to think about how those elements and personalities would mix. I have so many thoughts about this.

[mochegato]

Enemy Mine

(Part one of the Jasonette Mine series)

Red Hood heard the thud behind him midsentence, which was rude, really. They could have at least waited until he was finished with his instructions.  He hung his head and let out a long, deep sigh.  “Damn it.”  He would have pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration if he hadn’t been wearing his full helmet.  He motioned to the henchman next to him to wait a second.  He needed to gauge how bad things were before coming up with a plan. There was still a chance to save this operation, depending on who it was and whether he could distract them enough.

He turned slowly and let out a low growl.  That was not who he wanted to see.  Ladybug here was worse than Batman, it meant the rest were likely to come to back her up at the first indication of an issue.  The others he could appeal to their vanity and let them think they could handle it alone, maybe even distract them long enough to complete the mission, but she wasn’t nearly so arrogant.  Not to mention Bruce seemed to keep an extra close eye on Ladybug when she was dealing with him, like he was more worried about him than one of the other rogues.  

But ultimately, the real reason he didn’t want her here now was he didn’t want her to know what he was about to do.  He wasn’t afraid she would get hurt.  She could protect herself better than any of the rest of the bats and he would protect her if it came down to it.  What he couldn’t protect her from was seeing what he was about to do.  But it was too late to turn back now.  There was too much riding on it.  He turned back to his henchman.  “Continue on like we planned.  Get everything ready.”

“And her?” the henchman gritted out with a glare at her.

“I'll handle her,” Red Hood assured him and nodded toward the door.

As soon as the door was closed, Red Hood turned to her with a killer smile she couldn’t see under his helmet.  Time to distract.  And if that included charming the pants off of her, God he wished that could be literal, so be it.  “So you’re going to handle me, huh?  What exactly does that entail?” she asked with a teasing smile.

He let a breath out.  He wasn’t prepared for her to flirt back.  “Ladybug,” he answered as casually as he could and nodded to her.  “We've got to stop meeting like this.”

“Whenever you're ready to walk away from this life, I'll happily work with you instead of against you.”  She moved into the office and perched on the edge of his desk.  “Until then though, this is the only way we will.”

He tracked her movements and let his eyes linger on her as she leaned back on his desk.  He took another breath and let it out slowly.  He needed to focus.  Today was too important.  “That's something to consider, beautiful.”

She raised an eyebrow at him.  The seriousness of her expression was offset by the amused glint in her eyes.  “You trying to charm me out of fighting?”

He leaned closer to her.  “You saying I could?”

She cocked her head to the side as if in thought. “Hmmm.  Not today.  But by all means, continue trying.  It’s much more enjoyable than the tactics most rogues take.”

He chuckled and leaned away again.  “If I was trying to charm you, you'd be charmed, Princess.  I’m just stating facts.”

She looked down for a few seconds.  When she looked back up at him it was softer and shyer than he had seen her before.  “Does that mean I have a chance at talking you into leaving this life?”  She kept her eyes on him for a few more seconds as if trying to gauge his response, but he just sat there frozen.  Seemingly finding her answer, she moved over to the large window overlooking the warehouse floor.  “Because this is kind of a big operation to just walk away from.”

He moved next to her and crossed his arms.  “Hey, this operation keeps drugs off the streets and keeps the pedophiles away from the kids.”

Her eyes softened.  “I know,” she said gently.  Her eyes became harder.  “But that's not what this is about today. Is it? This is about solidifying your control.”

“Which I need to do in order to continue to help,” he pointed out sharply.

“This going to get people hurt.”

“We're trying to minimize that.  Try to limit it just to the people who deserve to be hurt.”

“And who’s that?  Who deserves to be hurt, to be killed?  Does just being around make a death sentence deserved?”

Red Hood scoffed.  “If one person dies it's too much, huh?  Sharing the Bat’s beliefs now?” he jeered at her.

Ladybug looked at him curiously. Not at all put off by the false persona he was putting on.   “I’m not a fan of death, I'll grant you. I never have been.  Creation, you know?” she motioned to herself with a small, wry smile.  “But I’m more concerned about who's going to die.”

“Nobody is going to get hurt but the people in that building, Pixie.”  He propped his arm on the wall next to her and leaned closer to her.  “I don’t suppose you’d trust me on that.”

She looked at him analytically for a few seconds.  “Do you know why I’m here?”

He rolled his eyes and leaned away from her.  “To ruin my fun?”

“Added bonus, definitely,” she smirked at him, “but not the original intent.” Her face suddenly took on a more serious expression.  “I’m here to warn you…”

“Oh?” he cut her off sharply.  His eyes shone dangerously as he moved closer to her until he towered over her, looking down at her with a malevolent smile.  “Warn me about what?”

Ladybug straightened up and met his eyes unintimidated.  Red Hood cursed his helmet for hiding his normal intimidation tactics.  “We know about the plan…” she continued.

“And the Bat is planning on interfering?” he cut her off again, moving even closer until their chests were almost touching, a hard edge in his voice.

Ladybug raised an eyebrow, but didn’t back away.  “And,” she started, letting her annoyance at him not getting her point and repeatedly cutting her off show in her tone, “Batman knows and intends to stop it before it happens,” she confirmed, “but how do you think we found out?  It wasn’t from one of your guys.  They know you’re coming.  They’re prepared.  This isn’t going to be as easy as you thought.”

His body went rigid.  He looked past her onto his warehouse floor watching his men as they finished the last of the preparations.

Ladybug watched him closely for a few seconds.  “Did I lose your attention so quickly?  My information not interesting enough to keep your attention? Or are you already planning something to hurt all of us?”

“Never to hurt you, Pixie.  And you’re more than enough to keep my attention,” he answered sincerely if a bit distractedly.  “But, that's not one of my guys.”

“What?”  She whipped around to look out over the warehouse too.

“I know everyone who works for me.”  His voice was forcefully calm as his eyes flicked from person to person. He pointed at someone loading a box.  “He doesn't.”  His eyes frantically searched.  If there was one, there was more.  “Neither is he.  Damn it.  This is an ambush.”

Red Hood rushed to the computer at his desk and started pressing keys to flip through security camera footage.  “Son of a…”

“What?”  Ladybug was next to him in an instant looking at the screens too.

“You were right.  They knew and they brought the fight to us,” he growled making a mental calculation of how many people were surrounding his warehouse and their weapons.

Ladybug sucked in a breath and reached up to tap the com in her ear. Red Hood grabbed her arm before she could notify the rest of the bats.  “We don’t need them here,” he growled.

Ladybug’s face scrunched up in annoyance.  “This is out of your control now.  There’s too many of them and they are too well armed.”

“My men and I can handle this,” he growled at her.

Ladybug let out a frustrated huff.  “You saw how many of them there are out there!  And some are already inside!”

“I don’t need his help.  We. Can. Handle. This,” he insisted, crossing his arms across his chest.  “We have a stockpile of armaments here.  We can defend ourselves without outside help.”

Ladybug let out a frustrated, muted scream as she pulled on her hair.  He moved closer and raised an arm intending to squeeze her shoulder comfortingly.  Instead, she turned to face him and shoved his shoulder hard enough for him to stumble back.  “You are just bound and determined to get yourself killed, aren’t you?” she hissed at him.  She stood up to her full height, her back ramrod straight, an angry frown on her lips. “And what good does that do anyone? How does that help… the street kids?”

Hood’s eyes softened, his shoulders dropped slightly.  “Just the street kids you’re worried about?” he teased lightly. “Better be careful, Pixie.  I might start to think you like me.”

She huffed and looked away.  After a second, she looked back at him with a determined set to her face.  “So what’s the plan?”

“You’re going to help?” he asked, too shocked by her willingness to help to keep it out of his voice.

“This is going to get bad, especially if they get to the stockpile. I want to contain the damage. But,” she turned to him with a warning in her voice, “I won’t just stop them.  I’ll stop everyone I come across.  I’m not going to kill or let you or your men kill and I need to be seen stopping both sides so rumors of favoritism don’t start spreading.  That wouldn’t be good for either one of us.”

Red Hood nodded in understanding and smiled at the thought of them working together, even if his hands were tied in the process.  He moved a step closer to her and leaned his head until he was just a few inches from her.  “But I am right?  Your favorite.”

Ladybug stared at him for a moment and opened her mouth to say something but quickly closed her mouth and looked back through the window.  “Let’s get moving.  We don’t have time to waste.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he nodded with a grin as he followed her through the door, guns drawn.  Ladybug eyed the guns and raised an eyebrow.  “Yeah, yeah, non-fatal shots, I know.”  Ladybug nodded and unhooked her yoyo, continuing down the steps.

<><><><><> 

“What’ll you do now?” Ladybug asked after all the Penguin’s men had been piled up in a few vans and taken back to be dropped off without their phones or wallets a long way from Gotham.

Red Hood shrugged considerably more casually than he felt.  He watched her from the corner of his eye, noting her hesitance and awkwardness. She was shuffling from foot to foot almost like she was hesitant to leave and he desperately wanted her to stay. He wanted to keep her next to him and make sure she was safe and protected, warm and smiling.  But he didn’t have time today.  Today, tonight, he had other priorities.  “Check on my guys.  Check on the families of the ones that fell.  Figure out the mole.  Move to a new base.”

Her face fell slightly, but she nodded.  “Ah.”

Red Hood took off his helmet as he moved closer to her. He cupped her face.  “You could help,” he suggested softly.

Ladybug leaned into his hand but gave him a bittersweet smile and shook her head.  “Not going to help a crime boss.”

Red Hood sighed and removed his hand.  He looked down and nodded.  “Yeah, I understand.  Thanks for not taking me in.  I guess that’s the best I can get today.”

Ladybug nodded and looked away sadly.  She gave him one last smile before she pulled out her yoyo.  “Yeah. Night, Jason.”  After a moment’s hesitation slung it out and swung into the night.

Red Hood nodded to her and watched as she swung away. His chest tightened as he watched her leave.  It was getting hard to take a full breath and getting harder the further away she got. His eyes followed her until he couldn’t make her out against the city nightscape.  “Night, Marinette,” he whispered to nobody.

Continued in Mine Protector

@jasonette-july-event @maribatserver

[embyrinitalics]

Completely Wrong sounds v interesting 👀👀👀

Ooh 🎶 this is a fun one!

First of all, totally random backstory, this one was a dream (just like Branded!), and what I used for the Handwriting Challenge from a while ago, and what prompted my Hateno Village Vegetable Conspiracy post.

ANYWAYS. It’s hard to sit down and write it because I don’t have a clear picture of where it’s going, but I for sure know where it’s starting, and that’s somewhere right over here:

People who said war and glory went hand in hand had clearly never been to war.

Yes, there had been a garish parade in his honor, and gifts of polished new armaments emblazoned with the royal crest and a beautiful charger from the castle stables, not to mention the rare and incomparable honor of being presented to the Hylian princess to vie for her hand. But that sort of pageantry was hardly the rule. He had been one of the lucky ones, and he would have gladly given up his prizes if it meant undoing the ills done to the good men who hadn’t come home.

This honor, he thought, especially. Love was the furthest thing from his mind.

The doors across the ballroom swung open and the princess glided through, a vision in blues and reds and golds that matched his uniform, spangled in jewels strung from her ears and filigree woven into her hair. The room rose to greet her, and he managed to rein himself enough that he didn’t jump to his feet. She crossed the floor, the embodiment of grace and confidence and good breeding, smiling graciously when she offered him her hand. He slipped gloved fingers beneath her own, bowing low to just brush his lips against the silk above her knuckles.

He said, quietly enough that it was just between them, gently enough that he hoped she might mistake his uncertainty for chivalry, “Your Highness.”

She said, loudly enough that everyone could hear in the pin-drop silence, “Welcome home, Captain.”

A murmur hummed around them as guests exchanged glances and remarks, as they took their seats again and feigned disinterest, as they returned to their food and wine, still watching from the corners of their eyes. She wasn’t the least bit disturbed, undoubtedly accustomed to the unwanted attention, and joined him at the far side of their table—their private table, deliberately situated on a podium at the back of the room where they would be a constant spectacle. He licked dry lips, wondering if he shouldn’t push her chair in for her, but a footman was there to attend that duty before he could embarrass himself trying. They sat down—she was elegant, he was stiff—and when the footmen retreated and the ballroom gave way to conversation again, he cleared his throat, daring to meet emerald eyes, and tried to be knightly.

“I realize this might be uncomfortable—”

“Not at all,” she said, her smile brilliant and genuine. It left him feeling distinctly outgunned. “We’re completely wrong for each other, so there’s no need to make things awkward by pretending there’s even the slightest chance something will come of this.”

He blinked, lips parting to form words that were not forthcoming. He managed in their absence, “Oh.”

Footmen filled their wineglasses and set out the first course, and the princess turned her attention easily to her bisque. He tried to follow, but hesitated at the silverware. He had never seen so many forks in his life.

“You start from the outside,” she said gently, kindly. “The soup spoon, and then the fish knife and fork, then the dinner set. They’ll bring new silverware with dessert. That’s your bread plate and butter knife.”

He loosed a breath, laughing at his own incompetence. On the battlefield, they said he was a force of nature. At the banquet table, he was a fish out of water. She was polite enough not to point out that there was only one spoon, and that he would be hard pressed to eat his soup with anything else.

“Thank you,” he said, and she smiled at him again. He didn’t care for how quickly he was getting used to that.

“Where are you from, Captain?”

He tasted the soup; it was rich, thick with cream amidst sage and pumpkins, and it made his mouth tug towards a frown. It tasted like home. “Call me Link.”

She pursed her lips around her mouthful, humming. “I’d prefer to call you captain.”

“And I’d prefer you called me Link.”

Their eyes locked softly. He doubted very much she was used to being challenged, though her expression read more intrigued than displeased. He brought more soup to his mouth without losing her eyes. If she had no qualms being honest with him about his prospects, he would have none about his newfound contempt for his rank.

“Hateno,” he told her, when neither of them seemed interested in backing down.

“I hear it’s lovely there this time of year.”

It was deep summer. Hateno was full of mosquitos and so humid it was impossible to fall asleep at night, and the pastures stank of manure ripening in the heat, and wooden handles and leather straps chafed unforgivingly against sweaty palms until they were full of blisters. It really came as no surprise that she had never been, and that, if indeed she had heard that, she’d heard it from an equally ignorant source. Gods, but he missed home.

“It is if you know the best swimming holes, and don’t mind the smell of cows.”

“Is it very much like the smell of horses?”

He restrained a laugh, grinning over his spoon. “No. Not at all.”

“That’s too bad,” she sighed. “I love the smell of horses.”

And yeah they’d bond over their distaste of this whole humiliating endeavor to put them together but the fact that she shut him down right away means that the pressure’s off, and, well. Despite leading totally different lives they have similar temperaments and are sort of perfect for each other actually. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thanks for the ask! 😘

[normal-horoscopes]

The Royal Signs II:

Aries: The first king. A colossal man with skin like freshly tilled earth and a voice that could calm the old wild things. Colossal, gentle hands. The first shepherd of rocks and clay. Molding the wild into home. 

Taurus: An exile by birthright, a king by deeds. A tale of honorable revenge and lifelong friendships cut short. A life on horseback that left in its wake an empire, and countless pillars to the dead. 

Gemini: The ghost of a princess. Ever a lady in waiting, she wanders the halls of an abandoned palace. Hands from the ash. The burning silhouette of a child. All those who seek to defile her home will know flame as she did. 

Cancer: Identical twin princes. The reigns of empire won by blood now passed to them. To the surprise of a nation, able to share the throne. Ever deliberating, never moving without consensus. Diplomats, delegates, scholars, and magicians. Memories of mother. Each carries one half of the daisho.

Leo: The high priestess. Ritually sharpened teeth. Rivers of blood washed away by conjured rainstorms. Liaison to the god that sleeps below the great temple. The speaker to the forbidden sun.

Virgo: The Witch Queen. The Wardbreaker. The Mother of Hexes. Armies from the north that could call fire from their hands, wounds healed with the sermons of foreign gods. Captured officers. Secret research in the ancestral necropolis. New magic, gentle and deep as the night. 

Libra: The mushroom king! The mushroom king! The mushroom king! The mushroom king! The mushroom king! The mushroom king!

Scorpio: The King-of-Five-Crowns. An empire won by respect and might. Retirement. Evenings spent in the summer palace, teaching grandchildren to paint. 

Ophiuchus: An empress of honey and sun-baked gold. Honored dead bound in white cloth. Eternal servitude to their holy queen. Consul from centuries of royalty now passed.

Sagittarius: The Lady of the Grove. Revelries by moonlight. Distant songs in the mist. Lost children. There is a road through the forest, it has since been omitted by mapmakers. 

Capricorn: The middle child of a royal bloodline. Exile to a monastery. A lifetime of meditation on divinity and craft. A heart of clockwork. Mummified in the calculus of the world. 

Aquarius: A penitent queen. Now an adviser to those who overthrew her son. A veil in mourning, but not for him. Deep, terrible understanding of what makes a tyrant.

Pisces: An all-to-young queen. Inheritor to a throne built on war and blood. Ceremonial jewelry that resembles the armament of her knights. A legacy of imperium and bloodshed. A vow to do differently. 

[wishingforatypewriter]

More of the fantasy AU please🐉

Summary: Erina and Souma meet once again in the days before he leaves on his quest. (Original fantasy au post here, previous sorina fic here)

Erina sat beside her grandfather in the throne room, back straight and face impassive as a parade of weary farmers came and bowed and begged for alms or a deferment of taxes because their crops had failed. All of their stories were the same—an auspicious growing season and the promise of a strong yield suddenly thwarted by a rotting of the crops, as though the soil itself were blighted.

When she was younger, Erina had often wondered if her father truly understood what he had done when he sent his curse, whether he had meant it. But now she knew with certainty that he had. If her grandfather had even a shred of weakness inside him, he would have relinquished land and title to put an end to it years ago. And if Erina herself had been any less proud, she would have begged him to.

When the day’s last supplicant, a widow, came in, flanked by two small children without shoes and begging for grain to feed them, Erina was reminded of her burden once again.

“Lady Arato,” she whispered to her friend once her grandfather had finished his last audience. “I wish to ride out to the fields. Will you accompany me?”

Hisako had always possessed the ability to read her mind, and today she seemed less than pleased with her thought process. Her eyebrows knit together in the way they always did when she worried. “My princess, it is highly inadvisable,” she said. “You’ve only barely recovered from the incident on the riverbanks. Overtaxing your magic again so soon—”

“Is my duty,” Erina said, sighing. “As the future queen, I cannot allow my people to starve when I have the power to prevent it.”

Hisako sighed heavily, and Erina knew that she was taking mental stock of her potions inventory, weighing the benefits of her various healing charms. “Still, you know that this isn’t sustainable. You need to consider your health. If it hadn’t been for that fool merchant, Yukihira, your people would be mourning you right now.”

Just the mention of that upstart peasant set Erina on edge, but she hadn’t a thought to spare for him today.

“My health will recover, as always, as long as I have you with me.” The princess clasped her lady’s hands between her own, and by the flush spreading on Hisako’s cheeks, Erina knew that the argument was won. “Will you ready the horses?”

“Of course,” she said. “Just be careful, please.”

“I will,” the princess promised. “For if I am not, you will never let me hear the end of it.”

By sundown, all the agrarian fields of Totsuki overflowed with golden wheat and vegetables, and the people drank and danced in town and farmstead, singing the praises of their princess with the power of the gods.

“You’re so unfair, Erina,” her cousin Alice whined, riding up to her and Hisako on their way back from the last field. “How on earth am I to become the favorite if you’re always pulling stunts like that?”

“Simple. You aren’t.”

“So prickly,” the Princess Alice said. “It’s almost enough to make one forget how softhearted you really are.”

“Who’s soft?” Erina snapped, then paused, taking a sip of the restorative tonic Hisako had made when the fatigue started creeping up on her again.

“Do not provoke her today, Alice,” Hisako chided as they approached the center of town.

The people threw roses and shouted praises as the trio as they rode into the town square. Alice waved and blew kisses at them, while Erina offered dignified half-smiles and Hisako kept watch for potential assailants.

“Oh look, there goes your champion,” Alice said to Erina, pointing at a particular head of spiky red hair.

“My champion?” Erina scoffed. “That person is grandfather’s pet project. He has nothing to do with me.”

“Hey, Saiba!” Alice called out to him, completely ignoring her cousin’s denial. “Saiba! Doesn’t he hear?”

“He doesn’t answer to Saiba,” Erina said before she could think better of it. “He goes by his mother’s name, Yukihira, for whatever reason.”

“You know an awful lot about him,” Alice said, smirking. “Hey, Yukihira! This way!” She waved him over to them, all smiles.

“Oh, what’s up, Nakiris?”

“You will address the princesses with more formality,” Hisako quipped, scowling.

“Ignore her. Alice is fine,” the white haired royal assured him. “What are you up to today?”

“I’m actually looking for a blacksmith,” he said. “I need to get a sword made.”

“Oh, then you need to go to Ibusaki’s place. It’s not too far from here. We can take you if you like.”

“We can?” Erina repeated, her voice dripping with disdain.

“Of course. We all have errands to run, anyway. Lady Arato has to visit the apothecary shop, and I’ve been meaning to check in with the seer, so you’ll take Yukihira to the blacksmith, right Erina?”

And because her cousin was absolutely impossible, and Hisako actually did need to visit the apothecary, Erina somehow ended up alone with the commoner.

When they reached Ibusaki’s shop, Yukihira helped her down from her horse as a gentleman would, and she was begrudgingly grateful because in her current state she might not have be able to manage the descent on her own.

“You sure you’re up to this?” he asked, taking a good look at her. “That stuff with the wheat probably took a lot out of you.”

“Keep your voice down,” she snapped, watching as he hobbled her horse. “What you’re speaking of isn’t common knowledge.”

“So they don’t know that pulling off miracles makes you sick?”

“It’s not a matter for commoners to concern themselves with,” she said. “Least of all foreign ones.”

Yukihira shook his head at her, laughing a bit as he opened the shop door. “I almost forgot about that part of your personality.”

“Next time, don’t. It will prevent you from becoming too familiar. And what does a tradesman need with a blade, anyway? You don’t expect to open casks with it, do you?”

“So you’re capable of humor after all,” he said with a broad grin, one that Erina found slightly less irritating each time she saw it. “I figured that if I’m going on a quest, I should probably have something more than a knife.”

His words made Erina’s blood run cold. “You’ve accepted it then.” She sighed. “You helped me once before, so I feel I should warn you. You may be Lord Saiba’s son and heir, but from what I can tell you’re no warrior and have no magic to speak of. If you try to oppose Lord Azami, you will die—needlessly and without honor.”

“I’m touched,” he said dryly.

“I’m serious,” she replied, crossing her arms. “My grandfather means well, but he is blinded by his memories of your father and the kingdom’s golden age. He does not realize he’s sending you into a situation far out of your depth.”

Yukihira gave her a long look, and for a moment Erina hoped—more than believed—that he would see reason. “I appreciate the advice, princess. But you’re wrong,” he told her. “The way I see it, your grandfather is just another customer, and this talisman is a highly coveted product. The Yukihira Trading Company has never failed to deliver before, and it won’t this time.”

Erina had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from returning his smile. “You’re either brave or simple,” she said with a sigh. “But I guess it can’t be helped. If you insist on seeing this through, you’ll need proper armament.”

With that, the princess walked up to the front of the shop and addressed the owner’s son. “Ibusaki the younger,” she said in curt greeting. “This one needs mail and a longsword. The blade is to be made in the claymore style with a good grip. It should be finished in a week’s time, all charges posted to the royal account.”

“Yes, princess,” the blacksmith’s son said with a small bow.

“One more thing.” Erina reached for the crystal attached to her necklace and placed it down on the counter. Then she took the dagger at her belt and made a small slice across her left palm. After a few drops of blood touched the gemstone, Erina whispered the words of old and the clear stone turned red. “Put this in the pommel.”

She looked up and saw Yukihira glancing at her incredulously. Once he had recovered himself, he ripped a piece of cloth from his tunic to bandage her hand. “Blood magic?” he asked, once he had finished.

“Protection. It will save your life one time,” she said. “Be sure not to waste it.”

[scaredofheroin]

Captain N - Chapter 3: It’s Dangerous To Go Alone

Pushing the large doors of Peach's Castle open, Captain N feels a new invigoration within him as he looks over the horizon. The sunlight on his face and the breeze brushing across his skin felt new in no way these senses ever had before. The rolling green hills, the almost cloudless blue sky, the hills in the distance formed in the shape of upside-down U's, the few birds flying around through the open air, the small mushroom-shaped houses. A completely new, unknown world packed to the brim with adventure and discovery. For the first time in his life, Captain N felt truly alien. By his side is a bird-pilot, a winged angel wielding a bow, and a magic Princess from a faraway kingdom. Behind the grand, wooden doors he just exited are currently a stern, stone-faced God of thunder, a gentle, angelic Goddess of light, and a bright and pink Princess of this kingdom. And the vehicles! While on his home world, Captain N's species have been limited mainly to cars and trucks, but within fifteen minutes of his arrival, he's seen a spaceship a fraction of the space shuttles of Earth, and mighty airships carrying immeasurably powerful armaments. Within a couple hours, Captain N has seen more impossibilities made possible than ever before in his entire, eighteen-year life. And to top it all off: the prophecy. This great revelation planted a swirling storm of emotions deep inside the newly dubbed hero. While he's finally achieved the level of greatness and importance he's desired for so long, it came packaged with more responsibility than he's ever held before. From hereon out, the lives of countless innocent men, women and children are counting on Captain N triumphing over an evil force he's only just been introduced to. Bowser, King K. Rool and King Dedede, and the armies they command. Gazing into the distance, Captain N imagines what else he could discover in this strange, new world named Yamajiro. Adventure will lurk around every corner, as will danger. He'll be thrust into more life-threatening situations than ever before, more risk than he could ever have imagined he would ever be trapped in. But at least he won't be alone. Looking to his three newfound allies, Pit radiated a positive determination to save the day, Falco seemed slightly bitter and ready to face the evils of Yamajiro head-on, and Princess Zelda displays a readiness to escape the confines of the castle and help in changing the world for the better.

"Are you ready, Captain?" Zelda asked, snapping Captain N's wandering mind back to the present.

"Ready as I'll ever be." He responded, fearing his nervousness seeping out of his words.

"Right, first stop: The warp zone!" Pit announced, pointing to a nonspecific point in the distance.

Captain N could hear Falco grumble about not being able to get to New Leaf Town in his trusty Arwing, but fortunately didn't complain to the group. Pit didn't seem to notice, however, and led the group on with determination. Zelda and Falco followed directly behind Pit, with Captain N in the back, still taking in the foreign scenery. Few conversation was shared as the group trekked through the grassy plains, eventually going through a small town of mushroom-shaped houses. Looking back, it concerned Captain N a slight bit more to see Peach's Castle, a symbol of fortitude and currently occupied by the two powerful deities Palutena and Raiden, shrink further into the distance. Not wanting to sink further into worry, he turned his attention to the strange houses. Some of the houses were only a single story, with the roof replaced with a red mushroom cap with white dots, while other houses were two stories tall. As Pit led the group through the town center, a small marketplace could be seen, but what was noticeably absent from the entire town were actual townspeople.

"So... what happened to everyone?" Captain N asked, breaking the silence.

Zelda sighed forlornly before turning to answer him.

"Once the airship raids began, the Toad people were evacuated to other, safer places, from New Donk City to the Kanto region. Fortunately, only the castle was targeted by the airships, but panic ensued nonetheless." She explain to Captain N, the slight waver in her voice illuminating that the memory is still a sore spot for her.

"Some of the braver Toads stayed behind to help Princess Peach, Raiden and Lady Palutena in any way they could." Pit added on, his voice more chipper in comparison. "Falco, Princess Zelda and I would do what we could, as well, but now that you're here, we could do a lot more good than wait around and wait for Bowser and crew to show their ugly faces!"

"Hey, uh, that reminds me: ...who are you all?" Captain N nervously asked, addressing the elephant in the room. With the group realizing that this was a good question to ask, the three turned to face him.

"Well, you already know that my name's Pit, but I'm also the captain of Lady Palutena's royal guard!" Pit announced, taking pride in his title. It did sting Captain N a little that Pit actually earned the title of captain, rather than taking it because it sounds cool. "I mainly use this here bow, but I'm proficient with pretty much any other weapon out there!"

"Name's Falco, currently the best pilot on this whole planet and I used to be with Star Fox squadron before they... vanished. Now I've just got my Arwing, my blaster, and my wits." Falco spoke up, leaning against a nearby light post. "You've got us too, you know!" Pit noted eagerly. Falco simply shrugged and responded with "Yeah, I guess so.". Zelda rolled her eyes a bit before introducing herself.

"And I am Zelda, Princess of the kingdom of Hyrule and ancestor of the mortal incarnation of the Goddess Hylia." Zelda introduced herself in a very curt and proper manner. With everyone properly introduced and their importance made known, Captain N felt even more out of place. His footing suddenly felt uneasy as the three pairs of eyes turned to him. "Why don't you introduce yourself to us?" Zelda suggested. Captain N's mouth felt dry, trying to figure out what best to say to make himself sound worthy of the prophecy.

"Well... my name's Peter Lavancha, and, uh... I'm... Captain N." was the best he could do, adding a slight shrug to the end of his sentence. Falco snickered to himself, Pit raised an eyebrow and Zelda seemed more confused to anything else. "...Is that it?" Zelda asked, prodding further. "...Kind of, yeah." Captain N meekly replied. "That can't be it! You're the chosen one for a reason! Are you good at fighting or good with weapons?" Pit asked, hoping to alleviate the awkwardness. This failed however, as Captain N shook his head in response. "You some kinda tech whiz, or know how to pilot? You had that weird car back there." Falco noted, referring to Captain N's currently wrecked car. "Not really, everyone my age can do that." He replied, with slight shame in his voice. "Perhaps you're a dedicated leader? Someone who can inspire people towards a common goal?" Zelda asked, eliciting only a "No, sorry" from Captain N. "Have you at least been in a fight?" Falco asked Captain N. In response, all he got was an embarrassed "...No". Falco leered at Pit, silently saying "THIS guy's gonna save the planet?". But before Falco could verbally make a snarky comment, Zelda spoke up once more.

"Well, then, if you're not currently a warrior, then surely you could become one along your journey. The weapon you're holding means you're the one who can defeat Bowser, Dedede and K. Rool." Zelda insisted, motioning to the laser pistol Captain N was holding. He wasn't feeling brave enough to stick it in his pocket yet. Captain N nodded in agreement, eyeing the pistol. "...Yeah, destiny can't be wrong, can it?" He replied, feeling a bit more upbeat. "That's the spirit!" Pit cheered, grateful the mood's lightened. Captain N eyed a road sign a good distance away from him before getting an idea. "I should get comfortable with using this thing, right?" He noted, raising the pistol and aiming at the sign. Holding his breath, he closed his left eye, looked down the sights, pulled the trigger, and a flash of light later, there was a small blast mark singed on the upper right corner, not the center he was aiming for. Captain N felt thrown off by the complete lack of recoil when he shot the pistol, due to there being no kinetic force involved in shooting lasers.

"Well, I'm sure you'll get plenty of time to practice soon." Falco noted, unimpressed with Captain N's lack of marksmanship. "For sure!" Pit added. Captain N only sighed to himself, hoping he'd do a little better. Turning back to the group, he examined the pistol further. "I think I'll call it the Zapper." He declared, admiring how the sun gleamed on its shiny surface. "You can name it whatever you want, but we really should be getting to New Leaf Town." Falco reminded him. Hastily nodding, Captain N joined Falco and Zelda in following Pit to the warp zone.

The group hike continued past the town and through the same green hills, with Captain N being too preoccupied taking in the scenery to converse with his teammates, as well as still feeling too out of place to consider them more than co-workers. Eventually, a group of large, green pipes sticking out of the ground came into view, with a vacant tollbooth in front of the pipes and signs next to each pipe. "Here we are!" Pit announced, turning back to the three others. "So... what do these do?" Captain N asked Pit. "Oh, right! It's simple, you just jump into one of them and it'll take you to where you want to go!" Pit explained. "...That's it?" Captain N asked. "That's it! Simple as that!" Pit answered.

Zelda walked over to the pipes, reading the signs. Falco idly looked inside the tollbooth, finding nothing of note. Captain N followed Zelda, getting a better look at the pipes. Despite how closely he looked, they were just big, green pipes. Apart from their sheer size, nothing stood out about them. They were smooth to the touch, so either they're made of some tough material or they get cleaned regularly. "Found it! Come here!" Zelda announced, motioning towards a specific pipe. Pit, Captain N and Falco quickly gathered, where Captain N noticed the sign read "To New Leaf Town". "I'll go first!" Pit declared, shooting up in the air and diving down into the pipe before anyone could object. A strange gulping sound accompanied Pit descending into the pipe, which made Captain N even more uneasy. "Looks like Cap here's got some cold feet, so I'll get going." Falco stated, climbing up the pipe and then diving down into it, the same gulping sound coming from the pipe. Captain N was left awkwardly standing with Zelda, wanting to go ahead, but not so sure about it. "...I'll go next." Captain N eventually spoke up, still standing in place. Zelda moved to look Captain N in the eyes, clearly concerned. "I completely understand your situation, Peter. I can't imagine how lost and alone you must feel, but I assure you we will be here to guide you on this quest." She spoke, sympathizing with him. Captain N nodded, climbed up the pipe, summoned the nerve to stick the Zapper in his right pocket, and after saying a silent prayer to himself, he jumped down.

The descent down into the warp pipe was incredibly rapid, and soon Captain N's view was pitch-black. The gulping sound only repeated three times, and after that the only sound to accompany the venture through the pipe was the air rushing past his ears. The further down he went, the colder the air around him became. He tried not to panic, being trapped in this seemingly never-ending pipe. Captain N closed his eyes and tried to send his mind to a more pleasant place. But before he could decide to focus on either his Middle School graduation or his last trip to the beach, the air around him suddenly became much warmer, the three gulping sounds ringed once more, and Captain N shot out of the pipe, falling on the dirt in front of the pipe. Thankfully, the Zapper had remained in his pocket throughout his little expedition, and hadn't been shot either. Taking a moment to adjust his eyes to the sudden sunlight and making sure which direction was down, Captain N carefully stood up, finding Falco and Pit standing close by.

"I'd give that a 3, what do you think, Pit?" Falco remarked. Pit shook his head, frowning at Falco.

"It was his first time using a warp pipe, I think he did great!" Pit shot back.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah! He could've vomited!"

Before they could keep going, Zelda emerged from the pipe, landing much more gracefully than Captain N. "That wasn't so bad, now was it?" She asked Captain N. In response, he mulled over the overall experience briefly before concluding that, yes, all things considered, it could have been worse. Nodding in agreement, Captain N removed the Zapper from his pocket and joined Zelda, Pit and Falco on the small hill nearby. The view from the grassy hill revealed a steep decline, with a small town visible in the distance. "That's New Leaf Town, we'll find Simon Belmont there." Zelda informed Captain N.

"Wait, so who's Simon Belmont and how do we know he's here?" Captain N asked the group.

"Simon Belmont is a famous vampire hunter, who's defeated Dracula tons of times before!" Pit replied eagerly, turning to face Captain N.

"Dracula? Really?" Captain N asked, surprised by hearing a familiar name for the first time since arriving.

"Yup! Why, is he in your home world too?"

"...Kind of. Back where I'm from, he's a fictional book character."

"Well, here he's the real deal, so you better watch yourself." Falco warned.

"As for how we know he's here, Simon is a common visitor to New Leaf Town, and his arrival is commonly followed with a delivery of copious amounts of steak. Deliveries to New Leaf Town must pass through the Mushroom Kingdom first, and we found a large amount of raw steak in the most recent delivery, a few days ago." Zelda further explained. "How can Dracula be defeated more than once? I'm really confused." Captain N asked further. "Dracula can be revived after a period of time, so it's likely we'' run into him in Castlevania if we're not careful. Now, Castlevania's exact location can be difficult to determine, but again, it will be made simpler with Simon's aid." Zelda answered. Falco was leaning against a nearby tree, clearly impatient to keep going and get to town.

"I'm sorry if I'm asking a lot of questions." Captain N apologized meekly. "Hey, no worries! This is all new to you! It's good you're with us!" Pit interjected, with Zelda nodding in agreement. "Besides, there has to be a point where you're not asking questions." Falco snarked over his shoulder. "Save your comments, Lombardi." Zelda shot at him. "Whatever, let's just get going." Falco shrugged, turning back to New Leaf Town. After being joined by Zelda, Captain N and Pit at the tree, the four carefully make their way down the steep hill towards New Leaf Town.

[pendulum-sonata]

Chapters: 3/7 Fandom: Yu-Gi-Oh! ARC-V Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Dennis Mackfield/Kurosaki Ruri, Akaba Reiji/Rin Characters: Dennis Mackfield, Kurosaki Ruri, Tenjou Kaito, Tenjouin Asuka | Alexis Rhodes, Sora Shiunin, Akaba Reiji, Rin (Yu-Gi-Oh) Additional Tags: Rare Pair Week 2019, One Shot, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Mild Smut, Pregnancy Scares, Birth Control, Caught in the Act, Well almost, poor Sora, Rough Kissing, Bad Parenting, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - Arranged Marriage Summary:

A term for the awareness of transience of things, and both a transient gentle sadness at their passing as well as a longer, deeper gentle sadness about this state being the reality of life.

Day 3: Rogue (Mechanicalshipping)

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“You left this at my car last time.” Reiji said after a quick greeting, handing her a bunch of manga and comics she had taken up to read whenever Divine wasn’t around.

“Thank you,” She said, and she meant it, because this wasn’t something he could simply deliver through Nakajima or any assistant whose message or package would definitely pass via her ‘father’. God forbid he caught her reading them and chastise her yet another unsightly hobby for a young heiress, or sometimes if he felt like dealing a low blow, he would question her commitment to college if she had time to waste like that.

“I’ll be taking my leave.” He said but before he fully turned around Rin reached for his shoulder, except he was too tall so instead she ended up grabbing his scarf.

“Uh… I meant, wait.” She swallowed before she spoke again. “Why don’t you stay? I’ll invite you something to drink or we can spare time, playing videogames or something.” Divine had blocked the networks to avoid her from using them, but she had since hacked the sorry security he hired and did whatever she want when he wasn’t around.

Reiji turned around regarding her with those same scrutinizing eyes of usual, it used to unnerve her, but she had since learned that this was simply his default face most of the time.

“Oh?” He said and his smile caught her off guard for a second. “Have the etiquette classes finally started to rub on you?”

Ugh, those dammed classes, of course he knew she took them because one time Himika sent him to pick her up from one of them, and had witnessed the disaster of her throwing a tea into the face of the instructor after she made some snide comments about her hair.

“Oh, if the mighty Reiji Akaba does not want my consideration, then he’s welcome to walk away and drive all the way to his office during rush hours.” She said with a smirk of her own, which widened when he looked to the side, pulling his scarf to muffle a laugh.

“If you insist.” He conceded and stepped in he- the apartment – never hers – with the same grace and elegance as every Akaba seemed to possess.

She pointed to the black couch in the middle of the living room, in front of the large screen… and nothing else, the place was very spare and ‘minimalistic’ as Divine liked to put it, even the walls had nothing hanging from them except for a mirror, and a random painting that was supposedly postmodernist.

Rin was quick to hide the books under her mattress and pull the console from a shoebox next to her bed.

“Well, what do you feel like doing? Killing zombies with military armament or see if you can beat me in a race with princesses, plumbers and a long etcetera?” His single raised eyebrow told her that she could choose whatever she wanted.

Zombies it was then, she really needed to release some steam.

.

.

.

“NO FAIR!!!” She yelled at the screen again, after his team had decimated hers, again, for the fifth time actually. “How did you even got that improved gear?!”

He didn’t answer of course, because he had already said once some nonsense about her having to find out herself, if not, then it truly be unfair.

“It must be those ape-like hands of yours,” Rin blurted out, slapping her hands on his shoulder. “It’s easy to reach everything with them.”

“Are you implying my hands are somehow helping me cheat?” He said, half-serious and half-incredulous.

“Bleh, for a goodie-two-shoes you’re really fond of flamethrowers.” She said sticking out her tongue out to him.

And then she couldn’t put it back.

Because he was using two of his fingers to keep it in place.

“Who would have said? It really is easy to reach anything with my hands.” Reiji had the gall to adjust his glasses as if he made some important breakthrough.

She wanted to yell at him, but couldn’t, so she did the next best thing: she pounced him.

Of course that had him rolling onto his back and then just to spite him she crawled towards him just so he wouldn’t get up, not because he couldn’t, but because gentleman that he was, he wouldn’t dare to throw her aside.

“I can’t believe you did that!” She said, half-yelling and half-laughing, “Gross, now I won’t be able to scrub the taste of your fingers off my mouth.”

Rin waited for an answer to her jab, maybe something about how he was the one who had to worry because of bacteria or something equally bookish; but he said nothing, actually he had gone very quiet.

When she looked down, his face was turned, staring hard at the wall, even his eyes were as removed from her as they probably could.

“Rin, please move.” He said in a very low tone, but the strain underneath was palpable.

She recognized that expression, and at the realization she lowered herself until her body was almost lying on him, and her face was mere inches from his.

“Really?” She asked, dropping her voice a bit. “Why?”

“You know why.” He said this time Reiji was looking straight at her, but never lower than her face.

“Maybe I want you to say it.” Rin said this lacing her voice with a playful tone, and her hands, slowly, very slowly went from his shoulders, to his chest, then to his abdomen where she was playing with the hem of his sweater.

“Rin,” He said, the strain in his voice was even more noticeable now, and he made a halfhearted attempt to prop himself up, she simply moved her hips to fully rest on top of him, his eyes closed and his hand motioned as if he was about to move her.

Or he would have if Rin didn’t close the distance between them.

They had not kissed or done anything remotely of the like since that gala, and she could tell he did not expect any of this to happen again, or at least any time soon, and he was responding slowly, almost in a shy way, his lips sliding carefully against hers and sighing when she laid her whole weight on him. His hands were leaving feathery touches on her, first on her arms and shoulders, then to rub small circles on her nape.

It was an almost reverent touch; one she was not used to at all, but it still had her trembling with anticipation.

His of his hands started to trace a path from her ear to her neck, then just above the hem of her top where the swell of her breast begun and how she wished for those brief seconds that he touched her.

Rin could do nothing but whine against his mouth when his hands barely grazed the contours and went to her back instead.

And he stopped kissing her, when she opened her eyes to ask what was wrong, his gaze was locked in hers, Rin felt mesmerized by the pure longing that she saw and she could tell the exact moment when his mood shifted because his hold tightened against her body, and when she gasped at the feeling, he restarted the kiss.

This time she can feel his hands digging his fingers almost painfully in her hips and her back, keeping her in place while their lips slide and entwine together, over tongues and even teeth; but it’s not the fast desperations that she sometimes experienced with others before, no, he still takes his time.

As if he was savoring the experience.

It was impossible that she too, would not be swept into the feeling too.

So much that she only distantly registered the door opening and the few steps given into the apartment.

In what it felt like a flash, she felt herself begin shoved back, almost a bit too harsh from him, but not hard enough to tumble her or anything, in fact Reiji’s hands held onto her shoulder to keep her steady.

But that was not as surprising as seeing the color draining from his face, his eyes wide with shock and maybe even the slightest bit of fear.

Even before she turned around, Rin already knew who had entered.

The whistle full of mockery and appreciation all at the same time only made it worse, and she was faced with Divine’s face looking on the side, but not in embarrassment, but more as If he was holding back his laughter.

“My bad,” He said, his voice filled with amusement. “I only came to check on you Rin-chan.” She hated that he called her that all the time, even when he nagged her, as if she was a child or a funny pet.

“Sir, we didn-” Both of them were now scrambling to get up and look somewhat less of a mess than they had been before, and failed obviously.

“Hey, no worries, I’m leaving already, I can see she is in very good hands.” Oh, that was definitely a low blow that had her fuming inside. “You kids don’t stop on my account.”

That was the only thing he said as he grabbed a suitcase in a nearby table and left without another word.

Rin could do nothing except let herself collapse on the couch and attempting to sink her face into a cushion and maybe die of embarrassment.

If she knew it would be this mortifying she wouldn’t have…

“You planned this, didn’t you?” Reiji said, and he was sitting on the opposite side of her now, he was glaring at her, no, not his usual analyzing look, but she could actually tell his eyes held some anger, his arms and legs crossed, as if waiting for an explanation.

Sadly, she had none.

“There is no way you could have known he was coming,” He started again, this time he was looking at the wall, closing himself entirely from her. “You’re always complaining about his constant check-ins, and then mock him because he doesn’t bother to rotate times so you can always look your best when he arrives.”

“I… I had to,” At this his glare was back on her, and she felt herself flinch, she had anticipated that he would realize – he was a genius after all – she had definitely anticipate his anger, but she hadn’t anticipated how awful it would feel to be in the receiving end of it. “he managed to get ahold of my old phone and saw me exchanging texts with an old friend – I swear he was just a friend - from… before, and he got angry, thinking I was ‘giving away myself’ for some penniless nobody, he called me ungrateful kid, and threatened me with pulling me out from college so I could focus on my goals.”

Divine saw her as barely a notch above a pretty bargaining chip, and if she wanted to survive him, then she needed to convince him how ‘serious’ she was about snatching a ‘good catch’ and in Divine had been incredibly more lenient when she caught Reiji’s interest.

Was It so bad that she used it to her advantage? Just once?

Rin only needed to look at him, his anger trying to hide the shame he felt and even the slightest bit of betrayal, to realize that, yes, it really had been that bad.

She wanted to tell him, that she had planned to tell him everything beforehand, at some point before they got caught into the stupid game.

She wanted to tell him that despite everything she had not pretended her attraction to him, not in the slightest.

But even in her head, it all sounded like excuses.

“For what is worth, I do like you,” She said, not looking at him, fearing his response. “…a lot actually.” She felt herself smiling recalling their first date when she had told him the exact opposite. “But if you feel you cannot trust me anymore, then it’s fine if you want to call everything off.”

She heard him give a long sigh and she prepared herself for the blow.

“I should apologize too,” Reiji said, and she felt him shift in the couch, he was now sitting in a contemplative position, his hands crossed in front of him. “I often forget your real position with him, and take things for granted about you.”

Rin wasn’t sure what she was feeling right not, she only knew that it was spreading from her chest to her entire body and it was making her feel light as a cloud.

“You still should have told me; I would have helped you.” When she turned to look at him, he coughed in his hand. “…obviously I would have chosen a less… exhibitionist method, but still, you played with the cards you thought you had available.”

Rin was still speechless, so she only found herself nodding.

“Maybe one of these day I will think of a method in which you can make it up to me though.” He said in a completely serious voice, but the way he smiled at her, almost in a mock-nagging way made her laugh.

She still felt light-headed for the entire day.

[phankill]

Phankill Summer End Festa 2019 Campaign

On the 3rd Missions tab, rewards based on doing certain activities are available to grab. If you answer all of them, you can gain a 5* Fairy Ticket (random element) from the missions tab! The God Killers are all eager for their Masters to help them with their problems! The riddles are: 1. It’s so hot... why don’t we go shopping in a cool place? (Buy an item from the Zenny Shop) Reward: Element Discs x100 (Select-able)

2. Where are we going today? Please guide me, Master. (Bring a Killer Princess on a Date) Reward: Armament Type Disc x100 (Select-able)

3. What kind of present would you give a young woman? (Give a Present to a Killer Princess) Reward: Discs x100 (Select-able)

4. Free Research? What would you like to make, Master? (Fuse an armament) Reward: Vertex Disc x2

5. Hehe... wonder if I’ll make my Summer debut..? (Unlock an Class Change) Reward: Element Innocent (Select-able)

6. We can still make it! Let’s finish our Summer homework! Clear all (1-5) Reward: 5* Elemental Fairy Ticket (Random)

[jasperlion]

would alm have changed his thinking if he knew celica was in danger or he would still continue his own path??

Hmmmm… I think it’d change depending on the timeperiod he learned of this and how much, exactly, he knew. If it was after the whole fight they got into, there wasn’t much he’d have been able to do, essentially cut off from helping Celica because of the landslide, as well as enemies from Rigel and Desaix’s side of the Zofian army threatening to retake territory. It’d have certainly put him on the spot, unable to do much to help aside from sending supplies and armaments to her through traveling merchants. 

If it was when they had their fight, I think it’d still depend a lot on how much, exactly, he knew. A lot of their argument stemmed from Celica’s wish to keep Alm safe and away from what she had envisioned would be his death, and Alm’s desire to help (what he assumed was) his country against invaders — something he believed firmly could not be solved by having an audience with Mila. He believed he had to keep  going because there was no one to take his place, the Deliverance had put him in a place that wasn’t easy to step down from in the first place.

I suppose one would have to look at Alm’s motivations: -He joined the Deliverance in Mycen’s stead both to do something about the problem and to prove Mycen’s honor and integrity as a knight (even if vexed as to why he’d have refused and straight up left, something that would trouble him for a time and would not even be addressed by the man himself later on when they meet again). If the Deliverance would not get Mycen, they would get his young prodigy. This was his most impulsive motivation.-He felt a calling, a calling he later linked to Mila after obtaining the Turnwheel, that should he not carry on that path Zofia would die.-He had always wanted to see the world for himself instead of staying cooped up and waiting for something to happen.-He wished to see Celica once more and hoped his journey would allow them to finally cross paths.

And now, onto what Celica wanted to do:-She wished to see Mila about the failing harvests and bounty.-She wished for Alm to stop leading the Deliverance, for she had a vision that foretold his death at the hands of Rudolf (who, in her vision, seemed to have given his soul to Duma). This was one of the catalysts for her anger, for she was trying to stop him from getting hurt and he wouldn’t listen.-She wanted to stop the war without further bloodshed once she had gotten word from the Gods, words that is considered law in both countries.-She had hoped to see Alm in her journey and at least confirm his safety.

From their dialogue before the fight, Celica and Alm played catchup, telling each other what they had been up to before arriving, of their own journeys. However, Alm only made mention of pirates, and I have a feeling Celica tactfully omitted her run-ins with the Faithful and their apparent want to capture her. 

So, let’s assume she told him about that instead of leaving it buried to do her usual ‘I Will Shoulder This Alone’ martyr habits. He might try to talk her out of going more than he already did, might even suggest maybe some of the Deliverance split to help her along (even if it’d be a bad idea when trying to repeal an invader), but I’m not sure he’d offer to go himself. Not when he has no idea who could replace him, especially when Alm likely feels indebted to Clive and feels like he should accomplish the duty entrusted to him. After all, one of his motivations to continue to lead the Deliverance is to continue to prove Mycen’s candidacy and his own… so it’d be a real complex matter. 

I’m not sure it’d be enough to make him back down his stance, but it might be enough for him to at least suggest they join forces for a while, stop the invasion, THEN help grant her safe passage to Mila’s temple. At least, that’s how I kind of see it. Alm considered, in his dialogue, the invading forces and Rigelian occupation to be the immediate threat, especially with the power vacuum Lima IV and his lack of living offspring (aside from the suspected surviving princess) left behind. It might not work, especially not with Celica’s own stubborn streak.

In short, I’m not sure it’d get him to want to change paths and, perhaps, follow Celica’s pilgrimage, but it might make him want to at least convince her to follow the Deliverance until the immediate invasion is cleared, and then offer her escort to the east? He might even argue that he’s pretty sure Mila set him up on this path, so he should probably… get that done. Basically, at this point he feels its his responsibility both because of the Clive n’ Mycen thing, but also because Mila herself said so. Would that convince Celica? Who Knows. 

Additional thing: I’m not sure if Alm even told Celica of his own vision. Maybe it’d have even changed their whole argument to tip on his behalf. Maybe. Only Maybe.