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reiven2017 · 3 years ago

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Delicate steel.

Chapter 3.

Lately, she felt worse than usual and listening to the words of the teachers, Rachel knew that she should listen, or at least not be distracted, but all she had the strength to do was just slowly watch from the side as her brain turns off and her soul leaves her mind. It was a strange state of emptiness. If only old death would mock her, taking away, then returning life and watching it as if it were a scene from a TV series. Rachel just snorted at the flow of bad thoughts. But no matter how much Roth tried to deny reality, reality did not want to leave her and Raven had to admit to herself that after unsuccessful attempts...she's getting worse.

Rachel barely flinched when the disgusting ringing of the school bell reached her ears and shivered again, shifting in her chair. It was chemistry, this subject had never caused Raven any problems or not ligaments, but now she frowned at the barely completed test and in one quick movement shoved it into the pile of others, wondering what would happen after. The figure should not worry Rachel much, but for some reason she felt like a fool.

Raven clucked disapprovingly at her behavior, attracting the attention of some people. If she's going to keep whining, she should at least wait until she gets home. She looked around the audience, stumbled upon the fact that half of the class had safely left the lesson, and the other was intensely discussing the test and finding nothing interesting for herself, pushing her chair back with a creak, began to collect things.

For some reason, this action aroused the silent interest of her classmates. They gave her a close look and Rachel was sure that she heard the word "Mouth and strange" several times in their sentences, but decided to keep it to herself, only smiling with one corner of her lips at this. She was quite calm in such situations. Rachel never tried to have communication with someone and this was the norm in her behavior, even when it caused disapproval from society, she simply allowed people to call herself a country. The only mistake in the conversations at the last school made much to be desired and left some scars on her, so Raven with firm confidence did not want to repeat this. Rachel winced wearily, feeling a subtle tingle in her temples and she stopped in the doorway of the classroom.

Of course, we didn't need Rachel Roth's migraine for a full ass.

======

The road to the house took no more than half an hour and Raven breathed a sigh of relief when she saw a white fence in front of her and a strange garden gnome who reminded her of a homeless man. She slipped through the fence, hoping that she did not fall under the attention of her very sensitive neighbor, Mrs. Rogers, who considered it her civic and even heroic duty to monitor every plot standing on the street. Rachel glanced at the windows in the neighbor's house, noticing that the lights were not on anywhere and mentally thanked God for such luck.

Mrs. Rogers was a plump lady, in the very, as she herself said, the dawn of strength and energy, with a rather fancy nachos on her head resembling a poodle. She had narrow blue eyes, but she always looked at everyone with a squint that seemed from a distance it was only two blue stripes. She had a button-up nose, like the most aristocratic lady, and she always kept white gloves on the belt of her floral dresses. In general, she was such a not very kind, but very curious woman with an overestimated sense of elegance and royal chic. So when Mrs. Rogers saw Rachel on the eve of the party in shabby jeans and a stretched T-shirt and Oh my God!without a bra, it seemed to the girl that she was declared war without any warning.

For this reason, now the Mouth was trying very hard not to catch her eye. She didn't care much about this woman's opinion, she always felt like talking to her during an interrogation and wondered if other people had the same thing, but it was easier to get around the problem than listening to an hour-long monologue about how Lady should behave.

Rachel darted across the yard just as quickly, almost hitting a flower pot and killing lilies, when the front door finally closed behind her. She cast a frown at her sneakers, with the remaining pieces of earth from the battle with the lilies, and was reaching to take them off when she heard her mother's voice coming from the kitchen. - Ria, is that you? She heard her mother talking to Ben in the kitchen, too quietly for Rachel to hear, but enough to arouse suspicion and the girl mentally tensed. From the kitchen there was a variety of different smells of food and it was quite strange for an ordinary Friday. Rachel finished with her shoes and was about to dive to the second floor, annoying herself on the topic of why her mother was so prepared, when the doorbell rang behind her, and voices were heard on the street. She could recognize this voice from a thousand others.

Oh, no.

Mrs. Rogers.

Raven was ready to literally howl with despair.

Angela came around the corner in time, dressed in a blue dress and with perfectly smoothed brown hair, which was a rarity, and clicked disapprovingly at her daughter's martyred expression. - Don't make such a plaintive look, honey, yesterday I told you that I invited our neighbors to our house for dinner. - Rachel stupidly patted her eyes looking at her mother. Mrs. Roth's eyes narrowed menacingly. - Just don't you dare say that you forgot. Raven batted her lashes again, but her mind was still racing.

Oh, yes, that day you decided to listen to Rachel Roth.

- We will talk about this topic again, young lady. - her mother finished sternly, and Raven realized that her death was close and was willing to at least die at the hands of her own mother than from the chatter of Mrs. Rogers. Angela pulled a smile to her ears, rushed to open the door to the guests. Rachel wearily lowered her gaze to the floor and her eyes involuntarily widened. Hands.

Fuck.

Rachel continued to pick at the vegetable stew with her fork, remotely listening to the conversations of adults. It had been an hour since their friendly neighborly gatherings and Raven was ready to personally dig a secret passage with a spoon to escape. At first, she received a contemptuous look from Mrs. Rogers, then she found out that Mr. Rogers was quite silent and neutral in his behavior, which Raven immediately liked, the next shock was that this woman has a child and even more, the same age as Rachel, and this gave way to a conversation on the topic " They will become friends!".

Raven lifted a despondent gaze from her plate and looked at the opposite side. Amelia Rogers. Yes, if Rachel imagined her neighbor's child, then everything was not so sad in her thoughts. Her curly blonde hair was pulled back into a tight bun and tied with a pink bow, a white cardigan, a mint knee-length skirt from probably Grandma Raven's time, and shoes. A set like from the TV series Poirot for some flower seller whose husband died on the same flowers. Not that Raven was the one who judged people by their clothes, but she judged by Mrs. Rogers. She carefully watched how Amelia sits, sometimes says something quietly, and then buries herself in her plate. Rachel couldn't stand it. Mrs. Rogers didn't even stop watching the girl as she ate.

Probably in my mind calculating whether she holds her elbow at the right angle.

The thought made Rachel chuckle softly, and she immediately regretted it when Mrs. Rogers ' narrowed gaze fell on her. Raven swallowed hard. She was ready to sink through the ground even if only to avoid the beginning tragedies from this look.

- Mrs. Roth, I heard from Amelia that your daughter has become one of the best students in the school in such a short time. - Rachel appeared, or she heard the teeth of this stone woman grinding. She cast a quick glance at Angela, who was smiling broadly like any mother, pleased with the praise of her child, looked at Amelia sitting in front of her, holding her breath, and mentally groaned. This was the beginning of a great tragedy.

- Yes, Rachel can be proud in this regard. Studying has always been quite easy for her. Raven smiled tightly at her mother, hoping that everyone present would believe this, but she continued to watch Mrs. Rogers carefully from under her brows. She looked sternly at her daughter, pursing her lips, seeming to accuse her of something that was clear only to them, and Rachel frowned. And what was that just now?

- It's wonderful, it's great when children spend time studying. Angela would have liked to put in a word, but Mrs. Rogers continued sweetly without paying attention to her. - Although, when I first saw Rachel, I did not think that Amelia meant her. - The woman smiled sweetly, covering her rather unpleasant words and sipped her tea as if nothing had happened. - Jeans, a split T-shirt and hair...I will always be categorical against an unnatural hair color and I could not even imagine that this girl would overtake my daughter over the past few weeks. Raven was sorry she hadn't put laxatives in her tea. She looked at her mother, who was taken aback for a moment, not knowing how to react to these words, but then she caught herself and tried to put a friendly tone in her voice. "Rachel, honey, would you be so kind as to show Amelia your room?" At the sound of her name, Amelia jerked her head up and looked at Rachel for the first time. Roth thought she saw a flicker of interest in her eyes. Rei nodded dryly to her mother and did not even look at the guests as she left the table. Raven waited for Amelia to follow her before leading her to her room on the second floor.

As soon as the door to her room closed, Rachel wasn't the only one who breathed a sigh of relief. - Fuck.

Fuck.

Raven did not immediately realize that these words came from the mouth of that sunny girl Amelia. Who had not uttered a word at the table under the gaze of her mother and who was now sitting impressively cross-legged on her bed. Amelia continued in a tone that didn't match her outfit at all. "Sometimes?" Raven arched a questioning eyebrow at her, receiving a short laugh from the girl in response. She shook her head thoughtfully, and then smiled wryly. - Okay, always. - Amelia.. - Amy. Call me Amy. I can't stand being called Amelia. after a pause, she added cheerfully. - I feel like a flower in a flower bed. Raven smiled with one corner of her lips. She liked Amy better than Amelia.

Amy stood up, her eyes caught on the poster on the wall and smiled.

- I'm glad to find someone in this hole who appreciates the Rolling Stones band. Amy Rogers is always at your service. she held out her hand to Rachel in a friendly gesture, and Roth returned the gesture. She smiled wryly, looking at this handshake, but inwardly shuddered with panic and mental pleading. Her heart began to beat faster, and Raven swallowed hard, unlike Amy, her palm was not so perfect. Raven hoped that this would go unnoticed by her new friend.

- Rachel Ariella Roth. But you can call me Raven. - she saw a playful smile flash across the face of her new friend.

- Wow. I thought they called me shit. Rachel rolled her eyes at this comment, her palm remained in Amy's grip and she still felt the tension in the muscle from this contact. She noticed how Amy was carefully examining her from head to toe, lingering on Raven's hair, which was scattered around her shoulders in disarray, and was already ready for another portion of ridicule.

- And to be honest, the hair fell off the heads. Is it pink? Or purple? My conservative maman will probably allow me to paint mine only in the next life. - Amelia continued cheekily, releasing her hand from her mouth and from her grip and sitting down on the bed again, tucking her legs under her. Raven hoped that Amy didn't hear her soft sigh and glanced at her palm, crossed her arms over her chest. She swallowed convulsively, thanking God that everything was fine.

- It's not paint. Raven cleared her throat, and Amy stared at her questioningly, eager for an answer. Rachel already mentally regretted that she continued this topic, and did not say her usual "oh,yes". But to some extent, she really liked Amy, which is already difficult to do, especially considering that they have only known each other for a couple of hours and it will not be possible to return their words. - I was born with this hair color. - Cool. Amy said in surprise, but immediately grabbed the phone when the melodious symphony of the bell rang. Raven smiled to herself. She was sure that Mrs. Rogers had chosen the bell. Roth saw a flash of displeasure on Amy's face and she made a displeased grimace at Raven. - Yes, Mom...I got it, okay, I'm already going down. - Amy dropped the call, muttering something else into the phone with displeasure, and Rachel could almost feel how she swore so dirty. Amy jumped to her feet deftly, straightening her skirt and straightening up, smoothly walked past Rachel. - Well, what? Do I look like my maman? Amy asked, twirling her eyebrows merrily. - No...and this is good. - Amelia laughed. - I like you, Raven. - she said honestly, and Raven stared at her stupidly, having no idea how to react. - It was nice to meet you, I hope I'll see you at school tomorrow?

Rachel smiled softly at this and nodded curtly. Amy seemed satisfied with this answer, and with a parting wink at Raven, she headed for the exit. Just as she was leaving the threshold and closing the door, Amelia suddenly stopped and nodded at the box in the corner of the room. - And what happened to the mirror? Rachel swallowed dryly and suddenly felt like she was running out of air. - I squeezed my mouth out of myself, and bit the inside of my cheek, trying to show something like a smile.

======

Last night, she found herself really looking at her figure in front of the mirror. Her skin became several shades lighter, even having a natural dead pallor and convinced that there was nowhere else to go on white, Rachel looked at herself in the mirror with mute surprise, noting how ghostly and angular her body had become.

Not that she considered herself an ideal of beauty before, no, Raven was normal, and her hair was quite abnormal, it was a riot of colors from the roots to the tips, but now it was strangely frightening to look at her body and not recognize it in the reflection of the mirror. Her numerous tattoos contrasted so vividly with her skin that they seemed to glow with black funnels and Rachel was unable to understand and determine the time when her body became alien to her.

The girl gently ran her fingertips along the curves of her body, circled the roughly protruding collarbones, followed the bone on her wrist with her eyes, and with a contemptuous grimace, pulled her hand away as if from fire. It was painful, scary, and completely unexpected to look at myself.

It's disgusting.

The sarcastic voice of reason sweetly reminded her that this was her handiwork, it was only her own fault, bothering and bothering her every day, it seemed with the sole purpose of driving her crazy and Rachel got angry. Her fists clenched involuntarily, and her knuckles turned white from such pressure, and in the dry silence of the night room, the wet sound of blood drops hitting the tile was cut through. Raven looked down at the floor and bit her lip, feeling the salty taste of tears and tried her best to restrain the plaintive moan that was ready to break from her lips as emotions one by one flooded over her. She frowned, opened and closed her eyes, squinted and threw her head to the ceiling, as if trying to bring back tears from shame, from guilt and excitement, from a caustic feeling of euphoria, but she continued to feel stupid. Oh, Gods, she was so stupid. What happened in the past should not matter in the future. She kept repeating it to herself throughout the whole evening, like a memorized mantra.

And she almost believed it, picking up the fragments of the bloody mirror from the floor.

#ravenrot #damirae #raven #damian x raven #demonbirds

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starkeaton · 4 years ago

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the adventure zone: graduation character list

Well, i accidentally deleted the original graduation character list post, so here i am making another one. Oops. And as always, if anyone has important details i should add then feel free to suggest them!

Here are all the characters introduced in episodes 1-25. Named characters only!

Also i can’t hide spoilers! So, um..... I can’t put spoilers on this one. If you need the version with spoilers try this version of the post that i made on the adventure zone subreddit but youre not missing out on much.

# -EPISODE 1- (19 characters)

Hieronymous Wiggenstaff (he/him): Head of the Hero/Villain school. at least 400 years old. wears shining blue armor with gold accents. also an elf. according to Tomas, he led the charge at the "battle of blood valley", brought the Kingdoms of Rickart and Dawnbreak to a peace treaty, and founded the school. a little boastful, a little prideful, [SPOILERS OMITTED], and overall a pretty good dude.

Higglemas Wiggenstaff (he/him): Head of the Sidekick/Henchperson annex, cranky old elf. has a dog named hero who shows no signs of anything strange at all, ever.

Gary (he/him): friendly room gargoyle. pseudo-hivemind.

Groundsy (he/him): the groundskeeper. a pretty nice fellow. don't go in his shed.

Hernandez (he/him): beautiful centaur professor of animal handling.

Jimson (he/him): human battlegrounds trainer for sidekicks/henchpeople, world famous featherweight champion, wields a staff. married to crushman.

Crushman (he/him): silver dragonborn with a sickle, and self-described beefy boy! heavyweight blood champion married to jimson. never lost a match for 8 years. full name Frostus Crushman.

Rolandus Fontaine (he/him): former prince, son of deposed king, kind of an asshole, maybe. wears a cape (important detail)

Zana (she/her): "terrifying" tiefling villain sorcerer, friend of rolandus. barkept the test tavern in ep2

Rhodes (she/her): hero ranger, friend of rolandus.

Buckminster Eden (he/him): hero guy. son of "The Iron Lord". their dad is stronger than rolandus's dad. his wiki page says rogue so i think hes a rogue? i never caught that and ive listened more times than i wish i did

Leon (he/him): softspoken buff, bald "fighter" (although i dont remember any clarification on how exactly he fights), sidekick of buckminster, around 28. anyone else keep forgetting he's bald? i keep forgetting it. >!gets sorta-drafted into becoming a falcon for higglemas and so far hasn't done much else.!<

Rainer Michelle (she/her): cheerful villainous necromancer with a floating chair. also, her name is pronounced "rainier" despite not being confirmed as such? travis ships her with fitzroy.

Tomas (he/him): human man with "kind eyes" and a good (psychic???) memory. guidance counselor.

Stewart LeBoeuf (he/him): brawny human man. serves food. there is no joke here, i promise

Mulligan (he/him): teaches potions. mentioned but doesn't appear yet. and we're like 25 episodes in. maybe we'll see him someday

Germaine, Victoria, Rattles (he/him,she/her,???/???): Skeleton crew. They live in the training room i guess, and as a result can never die, because "no one dies in the training room!" (note: someone now HAS to die in the training room). also their races are never explicitly stated but i guess they're probably human? in episode 3 travis brings up something about how many bones are in "the human body" and at this point i think i'm looking too deep into this so i'll just forget about it and you probably should too.

# -EPISODE 2- (9 characters)

Riveau (he/him): halfling, blame-taking teacher.

Mimi (they/them): gnome sidekick who builds cool robot prosthetics

Bartholemus (he/him): owl aarakocra accountant teacher, known for being the best accountant in the land and having a face some might describe as "smoochable". very pro capitalist :’( hope he gets better

Ramos (she/her): goliath teacher of shieldwork. *

Dip (she/her): sidekick, half-orc twin of pip

Pip (she/her): hero, half-orc twin of dip

Festo (they/them): fairy with "beautiful gossamer wings", independent study teacher of magic, loves to party

Snippers (he/him?): Let me tell you my story about Snippers the magic crab. When Travis gave the list of animals that Griffin could choose as Fitzroy's familiar's current form, he listed crab near the start, and this gave me excitement. Now i knew that crab was pretty unlikely but god i hoped that he would choose it. When the list went on- Bat, Cat, Crab, Frog, Hawk, Lizard, Owl, Poisonous Snake, Fish, Rat, Raven, Seahorse, Spider or Weasel- I nearly lost hope. I was hoping so hard that Griffin would choose the crab, but i was ready to accept a non-crab familiar. It was just buried in that list. It wasn't the most useful animal and it was an obscure pick. And as Travis informed him that it didn't have to keep the form for the whole campaign, Griffin said those five words i wanted to hear so, so badly. "Well then it's a crab." Folks, I do not often react physically when something happens in media. But in that moment, i remember very clearly, i fist-pumped and yelled, "YES!!!!!!"

so anyway, Fitzroy has a crab.

Jackle (he/him): kenku teacher of sneakery. creepy dude. apparently knows something about argo? also his name is not spelled "jackal" for some reason. Also in later episodes theyve started calling him "The Jackle" for some reason??? *

# -EPISODE 3- (1 character)

Dakota (they/them): tavern instructor, clad in black/red leather. no race stated? probably human. *

# -EPISODE 4- (6 characters)

Gerry & Tom (she/her, he/him): shopkeepers at barns and nobles who seem to have very bad names. also constantly competing for customers? these guys got dropped faster than the heathcliff quests, which is honestly just sad.

Barb (she/her): the bartender. runs Springs Eternal in Last Hope. has a sweet seeing-eye hawk familiar.

Jaryd Reginald (he/him): owner of Reginald Ore. Wants the workers to be held responsible for the damage caused by the xorn. (fun fact: originally i wrote down "Jerrod" because i wanted it to sound like a fantasy name, then realized it was probably "Jared" because theyre named after listeners, but i was pleased to find it confirmed that it's actually "Jaryd")

Candice (she/her): A Miner. thought those werent allowed in bars but, i guess not. Wants the mine owner to be held responsible for the xorn's damage.

Jade Johnson Esq. (she/her): lawyer.

# -EPISODE 5- (1 character)

Xorn: a big hungry gem eating guy from the plane of earth Low-Down Deep with 3 arms and 3 legs. why did travis just say "multi-armed" instead of specifying it was 3? who knows! Anyway it leaves

# -EPISODE 6- (3 characters)

Osric (he/him): the man, the myth, the bursar. finally shows up after being mentioned in episodes 2 and 4. he's an elf.

breeze through the willows (she/her): Pegasus attacked by demons, lost her parents. introduced in ep1 but gets a name here so fuck it. also in ep>!16!< we find out shes a "white arabian pegasus" and i dont think thats a spoiler bc we shouldve really known it from the beginning

Sabor (he/him): Librarian/research teacher. also a TORTLE. Really good at recalling stuff, i guess. kinda reminds me of Tomas's memory thing but i'm sure that's just a coincidence... *

# -EPISODE 7- (1 character)

Mosh (he/him): The goliath blacksmith who welcomes argo into the unbroken chain. Also, and this is specific to the tumblr version of this post, all the characters with an * at the end of their descriptions are also members of the unbroken chain. if someone knows how to do spoilers on tumblr please tell me

# -EPISODE 8-

# -EPISODE 9- (2 characters)

Eeiïäá#æ&éñn (pronounced like "Ian") (he/him?): an imp but without a shitty voice. also happens to not be violent. what a coincidence?

Terence (he/him): a chain devil with a real demonic name. minor boss of the imps. very convincing and very threatening. has the frightening ability to make you zone out during his fight

# -EPISODE 10- (2 characters)

Althea Song (she/her): elf with autumn-orange hair. representative from heroic oversight guild. i'd like to personally thank travis for spelling her name out.

Crabtree (she/her): Artificing teacher. Long gray hair with a long grey beard. no mentioned race, one might guess dwarf but that would be an assumption i suppose. also unbroken chain member, presumably the dwarf argo didn't recognize in episode 7.

# -EPISODE 11- (3 characters)

Marie (she/her): Grey-haired elf woman. She's the school's physician, i guess. Member of the unbroken chain.

Dendra Maplecourt (she/her): Fitzroy's mom. Has hot mint gum, i guess. She was mentioned earlier but i wasn't convinced she was a real person until this episode

Cool Gary (he/him): AYY ITS ME GARYR

# -EPISODE 12-

no new characters again!

# -EPISODE 13- (7 characters hhhyyyuu)

Kale (???/???): Head of the Placement Department, in charge of real world assignments. First mentioned in Ep4 but i missed that the last few times bc it is so brief. Gives exposition about missions i guess????? is that the only reason this chara cter exists

satyr thief (unnamed) (he/him): tries to rob thundermen, dies instantly

Ogre (he/him): teamed up with the satyr. his name is ogre.

Moon (he/him): A Sidekick. small pale sullen guy. no mentioned race. Why is there another FUCKING sidekick WE HAD ENOUGH hhhyuuuuuu

Deanna (she/her): A bigoted centaur with an obnoxious voice. Malwin the Strong's second in command.

Malwin the Strong (she/her): Leader of the centaurs of the scarlet woods. Wants to appease the spirit of the scarlet woods so that thecentaurs of the scarlet woods will be protected in the scarlet woods. Had a relationship with Arturas in the past but their clashes are currently known to get pretty heated.

Arturas (he/him): Leader of the Centaurs of the Valley, i guess. Had a relationship with Malwin. Centaur. Did i mention centaur? i cant think of anything else about this character

# -EPISODE 14- (2 characters)

Calhain (he/him): Human wizard, Malwin's magical advisor. Kind of an amateur wizard in a job high above his skill level. Graduated Wigginstaff's as a hero.

Spirit of the Scarlet Woods: A spirit who requires sacrifice in order to keep Malwin's herd safe and prosperous. Not keen on dubiously canonical combos, i guess. i wouldnt be either. also apparently the sacrifice depends on personal value, not how much value it has to the spirit.

# -EPISODE 15- (2 characters)

Sylvia Nite (she/her): Fitzroy's magic theory teacher at knight night school, who he turned into a catfish by accident. oops!

Chaos (they/them, maybe more): Presumably a deity, gave Fitz his powers and wants him to give in to his chaotic desires. (physical desc: 9 foot tall, iridescent 'mother of pearl' skin, pure white eyes, fine burgundy cloak with gold/onyx lining. their physical form beyond that seems to change every time they show up.)

# -EPISODE 16-

none -w-

# -EPISODE 17-

some demins happened. the big dudes are called "Pit Fiends" and the armored demon ladies are called "Erinyes", by the way. that was incredibly hard for me to figure out the first time, especially without headphones, i thought travis was saying "pig feet" and i just could not discern what the other things were

# -EPISODE 18- (6 characters)

snow on the mountain: shire horse pegasus

storm at sea: peruvian paso pegasus, vehement defender of The Guardian. doesn't have a goofy voice.. but he could have....

thaw of the spring: a winged horse

night of no clouds: a winged hhorse

The Guardian: "An ancient and powerful being that guards the unknown forest." Has protected the flock from demons for many many years. apparently is the voice that was talking to our firbolg in episode 1?

Grey, the Demon Prince (he/him): wants to cause a war, originally wanted to kill hiero and higgs, forces the heroes to build an army to fight his. As "Fauxronimous", he has skin the *color and pattern of* (but not necessarily made of) slate splashed with liquid, pointed ears, sharp teeth, shining eyes, horns of unspecified shape. 12 fucking feet tall. wonder if the slate-looking skin is related to garys. plot twist detected? Also i recently looked at the episode descriptions and found out his name is spelled "Gray", but really does it truly matter?

# -EPISODE 19- (2 characters)

Shabree Keene (she/her): Argo's mom, killed on the Mariah, possibly by the Commodore. Long auburn hair, green eyes. Mentioned earlier but described here, so fuck it.

**Thomas** (he/him): Argo's first mate on the Mariah, as the Kraken, in his chaos-dream. may or may not actually exist.

# -EPISODE 20- (1 character)

The Commodore (he/him): Reknowned hero of the seas, military regalia, great naval hero, presumably responsible for the death of Shabree Keene. No mentioned race. Seriously, they never mention this guy's race. The only thing described about him is how he's dressed and his evil smile. Does that mean he's human? Elf? Dwarf??? Who knows! maybe it just doesnt matter.

# -EPISODE 21-

none

# -EPISODE 22-

not any of them. not any.

# -EPISODE 23- (1 character)

Ozymondelius (sp???) (it/its): A warforged teacher who just so happens to like war or something? i guess its in the name. only mentioned in this episode, doesnt show up yet.

# -EPISODE 24-

they have a fight in the training room but nobody dies :\\ maybe next time. also no new characters. pog

# -EPISODE 25- (4 characters)

Gherkin (he/him): Tall lankier skeleton, has a scimitar and a merkin, which is a pubic wig... and he wears a jerkin? which i guess is a kind of coat? also i think hes mute

Tibia (she/her?) : Shorter skeleton with gold teeth, and long canines. i think both of the skeletons are mute actually.

The Lich King aka Gordy (he/him): Rainer's dad. Commands armies of the undead. lives in The Crypt. described as a hooded, skull-faced man with intricate black lines on his face, but changes to a shaved-head man with dark skin and vetiligo. Abandoned as a babby, raised by traveling parents, had necromancy powers, took Rainier in. Not actually very scary at all i don't know why he did the creepy laugh. Kind of a warm fatherly figure actually. hm. also people are speculating Gordy might be short for Gordita and his parents are maybe supposed to be lup and barry but THAT S JUST A THEORY.

our firbolg's father (he/him): A firbolg who lived by the code and was there when our firbolg was banished. Came to respect our firbolg's interest in a new way of life, in his final moments.

TOTAL: 72 NPCS! (well, including 2 extra PCs, i guess.)

Average: 2.88 NPCs per episode.

i was gonna not include the bone-PCs and have it be 69 but our firbolg's dad was just too important to not respect with a spot on the list.

anyway as always make sure to smack me with a blunt object if i forgot any characters!!!!!

#the adventure zone #taz #taz: graduation #taz g #sir fitzroy maplecourt #argonaut keene #taz firbolg #i dunno what else to tag this with #text post #keatposting

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kurahieiritrjio · 4 years ago

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Original Raw Chapter

Synopsis: Equinox company find themselves taking on a feral child who has an innate magic needed to wield a legendary Crystal weapon forged by the Elder Gods for sealing away demon kind from their world. Demon kind seeks her extermination so the Evil Kings may return to devour the lands of Gyeteras. Equinox must protect the young girl plus find the Tiger’s Eye Scales of Judgment. The magical scales become a double half moon axe capable of stopping hordes of evil from overwhelming their world.

Sparkles of silver light ricocheted off mismatched buildings slipping in and out of Betlic Jetren’s feverish sight. Glimpses of Clear Brooke River and community flashed between trees like a heart felt greeting. Thick tree trunks of hickory, oak, red maple, and paper birch shaded the wide stone road of Caravan Highway. Betlic ignored alarmed calls from wagon teamsters and outriders moving in the other direction. This stretch of highway was well maintained so underbrush hindering Betlic’s sight was thinning the closer Equinox Company got to the Clear Brooke Station entrance.

The growing clamor tickled his ears with promises of medical aid. Light gusts brought delicious stomach rumbling scents into his sweat, dust, old blood, and beast musk numbed nostrils. Large stable shed complexes full of activity was flashing between trunks. All of Betlic’s remaining focus sharpened on the promise of safety and aide for the remnant of his hunting group.

Familiarity with Clear Brooke Station had Betlic envisioning throngs of gnomes, humans, dwarves, the odd troll, lesser giants, and elves bustling around multitudes of cornicuses with diverse horn configurations and foot types. His ears could hear people shouting, most likely from the open air market surrounding the merchant’s guild. It was the time of day when the market was most crowded. Behind the city loomed the deep shadows of ancient Brackenveil Forest’s mighty towering trees.

Soon long overdue medical care would be had. Better yet Clear Brooke Station was well known to Equinox Company. Betlic hoped their long standing reputation would save their lives. Unusual circumstances, broken contracts, unwanted bartered goods for payment, and time crunches continued plaguing Betlic’s demon hunting team. However, he hoped Equinox’s dubious luck was improving. Having Master Inek Copperwell hire them to escort his cart with Seth Grace and Gillian Stockton’s unconscious bodies inside his wagon was one stroke of much needed luck. If only their luck would hold long enough to get Seth and Gillian back on their feet!

Strands of saturated lentil hair flopped into his eyes. Betlic yanked it out of the way and used his tunic sleeve to swipe away sweat. The motion of his arm unleashed pulling and burning needles which left him wincing. How was it so hot when the sun had not been up very long? Were his wounds causing fever? He needed to focus on the road and his surroundings since it was his temporary job. He, Dreng, and Eldwyn only agreed to be cargo guards to get Seth and Gill the help they needed.

Betlic turned his head and felt a fluttering buzz erupt through his skull and sluice down his body like a building wave crashing on a beach. The odd sensation had him swaying in his saddle. Getting light headed was a very bad sign. Almost there. He would hold on as long as needed.

“Ho there! Looks like you’re the group needing emergency aide.” A gnome teamster bellowed from his front perch on a massive eight wheeled stock wagon. He and a pair of outriders pulled the twelve ram head heavy drafts to a stop. “Did bandits do this to you and your beasts?”

Refocusing, Betlic noted accumulating guards and outriders were staring and muttering to each other. No doubt they were looking at the sorry sight of the last of Equinox Demon Hunter Company stationed around Inek’s cart or trailing behind. Vallin was on foot pulling along their remaining cornicus mounts. Betlic did not have to look back to know several beasts were stumbling under the rocking motion of huge loads.

Betlic shook his head trying to clear his mind and almost fell off Squirrel’s back as thrums of cold electric current swirled and cascaded the length of his body a second time. Was the man talking to him?

Eldwyn’s mellow voice carried over the jangle of harness, heavy clopping hooves and quadcorn talons. “No. We ran afoul of a demon troop. Equinox Company won the fight at heavy cost. Trying to get to Crone Nelda to deal with the magic taint. We have crossed swords with three bandit groups so far. We handed them over to the magistrates in Resin Town and Lofty Oaks respectively.”

Someone yelled, “By the Thrice blasted tree! All know Equinox is the best demon fighting group in the lands but don’t you think fighting a war troop is a bit extreme?” Must be an elf in the crowd.

“We were lied to about a job we took. We found ourselves under surprise attack and surrounded. You try facing several greater demons determined to get even some time and then say we were being extreme.” Dreng’s guttural voice thundered over the babble of onlookers.

Betlic was tired of having to defend his companions. At least when told the truth most caravan owners moved out of the way of Master Inek’s cart so they could jog their beasts around the slower wagon trains to get to Clear Brooke quicker. Let his co founders deal with the chatter this round. Betlic simply wanted to be done with this trip and sleep for a week. Not that he would get to slow down before arranging everything his group needed. The idea of a bath and long sleep in a real bed was all he craved.

“We were sent by a concerned outrider. You look to sore need us.” A tanned gnome with her hair in a bun jumped in front of Squirrel reaching for his hackamore nose band. Betlic clung like a bur to Squirrel’s back as the big buckskin shied from being caught.

“Thank you for the offer, Matron. We are almost there, and short of funds.” Betlic answered once he found his balance.

“What do you think emergency aide means, young man? You won’t make it without us. Your cornicuses are bad injured and failing. They need to be brought in and tended. We will get you into town. You need the witches because you’re about to fall out of your saddle.” The older woman chastised him with such obvious fear in her voice Betlic struggled to focus on her.

Infuriating to hear, but all too true. “In our defense, Equinox has never had thirty companions and half our combat trained mounts killed in a single fight before, Ma’am. The Overseer Guild in Cryslatta called a war troop of sixty odd demons a nest. To the best of my knowledge, such has never happened before.” Several knife and lowhorns with riders were clustering around them. “Then the guild refused to make good on the outstanding debt after failing to give us accurate information. Never mind their idea of a healing guild which denies magical taint exists so we lost even more of our number while getting stripped of our funds.”

“Ignore Betlic’s sharp tongue, good people. He looks like a poorly sewn patchwork quilt under his clothes and maille. Master Inek Copperwell is helping us get our worst wounded to Clear Brooke before they die of demon taint. So please forgive him his cruel words this morning.”

“Let them take your over burdened animals and gent Vallin in. All know your reputation, Mister Jetren. Equinox Demon Hunter Company keeps it’s word and all who know you will vouch for you.” One of the outriders yelled.

Betlic argued “we’re almost broke. I cannot change reality. We are without choice but to race to Clear Brooke. The closest city with a witch enclave capable of saving their lives.”

The big buckskin Betlic rode lurched around the gnome woman still trying to grab his nose band or reins and pitched into a jog toward the city despite heavy billowing sides.

“Stop, Betlic. Our beasts are failing. They can’t finish the distance.” Eldwyn yelled from behind.

Trayhern’s voice had Betlic pulling on Squirrel’s reins. A deep groan bordering an offended whistle pulsed through Squirrel’s triad of horns as he slowed to a walk but refused to stop. A hard shake of the buckskin’s head rattled his ridge bones beneath thick cream hide.

“Looking forward to a big bin of ground meat and diced vegetable aren’t you, Squirrel?” Betlic gave his mount an affectionate rub above a seeping gash on the animal’s shoulder. Squirrel’s long ears wagged back and forth. Tired as Squirrel was he knew their location and was eager to arrive.

Needle sharp throbs of pain tore along his torso as Betlic's arm lifted so he could use his tunic sleeve to mop runnels of sweat from his eyes. His vision wavered again. Blinking rapidly to clear his sight, Betlic wondered whether grand master wizard Aulon would still send funds if Seth died. Would the protection oath ever be given by Aulon to new members of Equinox? Could Equinox even recover from this insidious blunder?

Squirrel jerking to a stop tore Betlic from disjointed thoughts. He almost toppled from the saddle yet again. “Bet, yer not a’right. Squirrel’s taking ya fer a ride. T’others dun stop’d.” Lance’s voice chided. Three long and wicked sharp horns growing out of Hobb’s dark brown forehead and face got far too close to his own as Lance’s tricorn blocked their path. “Ven’m dun gett’n ya. Fev’r gett’n worse.”

Leathery pitted skin, shocking blue eyes, and shaggy molasses hair. A very familiar looking long knife and sword sheath pair strapped to opposing hips swam into focus. Sheathed daggers strapped to biceps and forearms gave silent warning to avoid conflict. More throwing knives, darts, slim throwing axes on each side, and bolts for a Brownie sized crossbow which was palm sized for a man were confined in neat rows down the length of matching bandoleer straps hanging from each shoulder to opposing hip. Two cases of arrows for a full crossbow and a recurve bow hung off the saddle pommel. Such a deadly rogue. Betlic blinked faster. It was Lance Bullard he was facing alright.

“Sorry. Need to get things done as soon as we arrive.” Betlic responded when his eyes registered Lance waving a hand inches from his nose. “I’ll be fine, Lance.”

Lance snorted. “No ya won’. Yer see’n de witches firs’ thing. Beauty n Velvet ‘er down. Lightfoot’s bad too. Figg’r Drum ’ead ‘n Cast’way’s near ’s bad. Firebran’ gun’ drop ina minute. Eld, Dreng, ‘n Val’s mov’n der packs.”

“Shit. We can’t afford the stop.” Betlic squeezed his eyes shut and gulped air to try and stop the spinning sensation.

“Yer sick, Bet.” Lance growled. “Yer blotchy wit fev’r. Way yer sway’n, yer gun’a fall off Squir’l soon. Yer push’n too ‘ard.”

“You’re talking fringe too fast to follow. Tells me you’re in a panic. Seems I've made too many bad calls. My stupidity got most of our company killed.” Betlic gripped his saddle pommel and eased back onto the two saddle rigs tied together and lashed on the back of his own. He hoped the new position would counter his increasing lightheadedness.

Lance heaved a disgusted sounding sigh. “M tak’n lead. Yer doin' de bes’ ye can widda bad mess. Eld got at bad job. As to de talk, mos’ de old tim’rs dead is wha’ gots me shook, Bet. Know’d ‘em since I join’d. Ev’n Seth ‘n Gill’s dyin' slow. De was all tuff as you ‘n me. Don’ seem righ’.”

Lance’s rapid fire garble was still sorting itself out in Betlic’s mind as Hobb backed up and slid along Squirrel’s side. Betlic felt his reins getting yanked from his grasp. “New blood dyin’s nutt’n. But de old fight’rs? A’s summin’ differnt. I got ya, Bet. Jes hang on yer rig, n I’ll keep ya steady.”

Dreng’s deep rasp reached Betlic’s ears over the increasing babble of onlookers. “Watch it, man. Bad enough I feel like a shin guard standing next to you. You don’t need to stomp me into these paving stones while I’m trying to loose Beauty’s girth band for you.”

“Sorry, Grump. Can’t see you . . . round the rigs. Not my fault . . . your so short.” Vallin’s response was breathy and panting.

“Oh sure, pick on the dwarf why don’t you? You giants need to learn how to look down.” Dreng always grumbled when distressed. Betlic’s ears took over. He heard a weak wail from two or more horns followed by heavy thudding. “By the blazing forge, who else is going to keel over in the middle of the road? Firebrand, on your feet! Get up so I can get the saddles off you and put you in the beast wagon.”

A fiery hued chestnut tricorn with his top horns and mid nose knife stuck halfway through a pasty demon’s upper body, dual hooves pulled back to free long talon pairs for slashing the demon’s grasping arms. Firebrand’s fangs were snapping at the demon’s stomach.

Kuruk was whirling his basket hilt claymore as fast as it could be swung along both of Firebrand’s sides to maim and kill any demons he could reach. No matter how fast he moved his blade, he was being overwhelmed. Three more demons were closing from the rear as Firebrand’s whip tail cracked and lashed. A furry, feline were beast resembling demon leapt over the slashing bony flat tip of the cornicus’s tail and landed on the top of Firebrand’s rump. Betlic caught a glimpse of the demon sinking black fangs into Kuruk’s thigh, claws digging into his chest and waist, thick hind legs bulging to leap off Firebrand’s haunches. Squirrel could not disengage with the demons they were fighting. Betlic felt white hot embers slide down his back and across his side as his own hand and half pair of blades met considerable resistance. Scalding heat seeped into his leather breeches. Another demon down.

“I’ve got him.” Vallin’s now steadier voice drew Betlic’s attention. Considering how muscular and tall Vallin Skorr was he could probably pick the injured tricorn off the ground. Though it was likely Firebrand would lift his dual hollow hoof sheaths and rake him with lethal talons over the attempt. At least Vallin could pick Firebrand up if the beast cooperated and he removed his mace and deck cleaner axe. “Eld, get Lightfoot and Thunderhead’s saddles loose. I’ll be there in a minute to fetch their packs to load.”

“Sure thing, Val.”

Dreng slapped his booted foot to get his attention. “Betlic, take Lance, Kite, Katinka, and Marcus with Master Inek into Clear Brooke to get Seth, Gill, and yourself treated. I’ll handle things here with Val and Ears help.”

A shout from the rear which sounded like Marcus had Betlic turning his head back toward the disaster unfolding behind them. “Watch out for that strawberry dappled roan quad heading this way. He’s unpredictable and might attack you beast carters. Now that his Templar’s dead, Rhapsody won’t let any of us near him. Wrath and I will deflect him.”

“Stay back. Let Vallin, Dreng and myself handle getting Beauty, Velvet, and Firebrand in that contraption to load. I will deflect Rhapsody if he charges.” Eldwyn also bellowed.

“If he charges he’ll break his forelegs in that tattered mess of rags hanging from his breast band and saddle cinches.” The woman from before was arguing.

Betlic’s mind tossed the image of Rhapsody’s torn up metal chest band harness to the forefront of his memory. Half the chain linkage padding was torn from the thick metal links. Covered in old blood and trailing near the ground between Rhapsody’s fore legs. The fluttering fabric was catching on some of Rhapsody’s shin claws to make the big predator stumble. Impatient fangs and his lower jaw blades made short work of tearing the heavy fabric free from pressure pulled claws. Four horns resonated a chest deep growl as Rhapsody tore the remaining metal link protection loose. Straightening up, the chain lengths caught the edge of torn flesh and ripped another chunk of Rhapsody’s hide and muscle loose.

“I have enough magic to deal with Rhapsody if he gets surly, Marcus. I can still build barriers that he isn’t immune to.” Eldwyn’s voice drew Betlic’s mind back again. “Get Seth, Bet, and Gill into town, Inek. Go with them, Marcus.”

“Sound plan. Bet sore needs medical attention too. He’s losing focus from a high wound fever. Take the twins. We’ll get these mounts sorted out.” Dreng was rumbling next to his leg.

“S’why I got ‘im.” Lance said.

Squirrel groaned through his three horns and shook his whole body which jarred Betlic’s stitches. He gave his restless mount a couple affectionate slaps on the bony ridge crest even as pain scalded his senses. The buckskin had worrisome chest injuries which Betlic knew were hurting. His own bandaged torso, shoulder, lower back, and legs throbbed plus burned with a staccato beat.

Although Squirrel’s natural plating prevented deadly organ wounds, carrying weight with a slashed up chest had to hurt. The padded links of Squirrel’s own chest harness was abrading rows of claw marks last Betlic checked.

“Bet, can you make it or are your wits too addled by fever to function?” Dreng’s rumbling voice snapped Betlic’s eyes down to his friend and partner.

“Everyone was butchered because I noticed the danger too late, Dreng. I got too many of our friends killed.”

“Bordering delirious I see. Damned head is harder than a forge anvil today. Stayed level headed through the fight. Anyone else would have panicked and we would all be dead right now.”

“Yeah right. I should have. . .”

“Stop with the should haves. They don’t matter. Things are grim and we all know it. We’ve a strong reputation at Clear Brooke and many a favor owed which we can collect. What we fail to sell to cover expenses can be made up soon enough by a fast courier bringing us the coin we need to settle accounts. Running Stag’s bill and the healer fees for all of us will get worked out, Bet. I swear it. Master Inek offered to cover our meals, laundry, and baths while he’s here.”

“You know best how to bargain, Dreng.”

Dreng shook his head which made his shoulder length, mahogany braided mane slide like a pendulum. “The gnomes will know how to catch and cure Rhapsody, Betlic. We won’t fail him or Cliff’s memory. Get yourself, Seth, and Gill to the witches. Long Ears can keep Rhapsody calm enough until we reach Clear Brooke.”

“I hope so. Otherwise they’ll kill him because he’s acting so crazed. He’s hurting.”

“We’ll save him. We may have to muzzle him and boot his claws to manage it, but we will get Rhapsody home to Grace Manor, Bet.”

“The temple will enslave him again once we reach Prosperity. A shame because Rhapsody is one of the finest war steeds in Gyeteras.” Betlic felt his throat tighten as he spoke.

“We’ll sort it when the time comes, Bet.” Dreng announced with steel underlying his words. “Focus on getting to the witches. I’ll take care of our mounts and the rest since you aren’t in any shape to do much right now.”

“I’ll see Seth and Gill bedded down in Running Stag, and the witches called. You handle the parcel selling and mount care. I’ll send a message to Aulon. We’ll get done faster if we divide the labor.”

Dreng shot Lance a concerned glare which spoke volumes Bet could not decipher. His shoulders rose and fell. “Hickory Haven for our meeting place?”

“Sound plan.” Betlic answered automatically.

Dreng slapped Squirrel’s shoulder. “Get him to town in one piece.”

Squirrel was moving so Betlic called over his shoulder, “See you at the tavern.”

“Save us a table at the Haven.” Vallin called as Hobb sidled Squirrel up to Maple’s nose. Betlic trusted Squirrel would stay with the massive draft without him having to interfere. So long as Marcus and Lance stayed close to do the actual guarding, Betlic could sort out a plan of action to keep Equinox’s honor intact.

Rough timbered long houses came abreast of their group as the trees vanished to grant access to town. Several hitching posts in front of the long houses were half filled. It was not yet crowded. Hickory Haven Tavern served one hundred or more travelers per meal rush each day as best Betlic could recall. Hickory Haven was the main meal stop for most caravans for midday meal before pushing onward to Castle Ring. Or they got so far as Apple Grove Station if they left early enough. Hickory Haven Tavern was the closest to the stone paved highway, and therefore the most convenient. Troughs and hitching posts stood five rows deep before the complex. The tavern was the largest eating establishment outside of major metropolitan areas.

Betlic’s wavering eyes made out two tall cabin roofs which served as kitchens. Their famed pit ovens and outdoor grills were under broad, sturdy veranda roofs nestled between the two kitchen buildings. Aromatic smoke coiled and whirled on a soft breeze. His stomach clenched from a whiff of roasting venison. Verandas connected the other buildings together so that inclement weather did not spoil anyone’s meal. Serving staff were scurrying back and forth between the pit and grills, plus the kitchens. Most were laden with large trays stacked high with food, pitchers, and tankards.

The pair of main split log long houses seemed to beckon. A smaller building set back to the side was for the spell casters, traders and merchants who wished to eat separate from mercenaries and guards. Best of all, Hickory Haven had a decent sized bathhouse attachment replete with private laundry service and changing quarters around back. The only establishment on the highway where travelers got a hot bath in privacy, plus their clothes cleaned.

Master Inek seemed eager to reach their destination. He clucked to increase Maple’s pace one last time. He would wish to push onward after a hot meal most likely. If so, Betlic would forgo the bath and meal to have enough time to place Seth and Gill within an inn room under the witches care.

Sending word to Aulon that Seth was stuck in Clear Brooke Station and needed funds came hard second to the witches getting called. The worst injured mounts would be stabled until Seth and Gill were strong enough to bring the extra mounts home. It was possible that Dreng could arrange a storage space so that Seth and Gill could bring the tack, seeds, and farming tools home at a later date.

“Master Inek, do we head out after midday meal?”

Inek gave him a considering look with a sweep of his hand in the direction of the long beast sheds on the other side of the entry lane. “Cornicus Master Uric Hawthorne would be sore at me if I didn’t bring Maple in to say hello to him for an overnight visit. You’re in need of a break, and the witches care as well, Betlic. So Maple and I will stay overnight or longer. We are well ahead of my delivery schedule so you can get some rest and take care of your group without fear. I can get the nagas quartered in Evergreen Stable for up to three days. They are all in sturdy cages so Thorne won’t bicker too much about it.”

Betlic cocked his head as he looked up at the dark haired trader in his rich turquoise tunic and chocolate leather breeches. “Did not know you were on friendly terms with the Evergreen Stable Master. We usually work with Rook Ardith since most of our cornicuses come from his ranch and stable.”

“I’ve known Hawthorne since we were both clumsy youths. Maple here comes from Hawthorne’s elite draft breeding program.” Inek boasted.

“A valuable beast then.” Betlic answered to keep his mind focused.

“Indeed she is. Master Hawthorne breeds the finest beasts for long hauling without having to worry about their joints suffering fatigue syndrome. As I’m sure you noticed with how long Maple has continued to high step along despite the heavy cart she’s pulling.”

“So your mare came from his pasture lots? They say he demands a one time breeding right out of each sale. Does he truly do such?” Marcus butted into their conversation.

A side glance at the knight had Betlic lifting a brow in silent query. Marcus wiggled his brows with a sly grin. Perhaps he had also picked up on Inek’s penchant for fawning so was distracting the merchant.

Master Inek was prattling away. “He does demand a spawn if the beast sold is from his elite stock. When Maple reaches ten I’ll need to pasture her for a year since she is one of his elites. Thorne and I go back a long ways as I was saying, Sir Marcus. I used to be a rein man on one one of my parents wagons when they were in their prime. They ran nine wagons in the string. Hawthorne and I would sit in the tack shed and eat together every time my family wagons came in for the night. Hence I could buy this mare. Maple is one of the finest trained draft rams on the highways, and Hawthorne wouldn’t have sold her except she took a shine to me. You can’t go wrong with a draft ram from Beast and Stable Master Uric Hawthorne’s breeding program.”

Marcus responded, “If one has the funds to spare, the finest stock can be bought during the fairs. Most of our mounts come from the stock yards here. Most of our longest lasting mounts are Ardith Ranch trained.”

“I believe it. Your mounts have excellent conformation and heart, despite being injured. They kept a brisk pace even with all their wounds sapping their strength. Only a truly fine trained and well bred cornicus can do such. Ardith does have the best reputation for training fighting stock from all four breeds.” Inek said. “Your quadcorn war steed is well behaved considering everything. Ardith does have a knack with quadcorns or so I’ve heard tell.”

“Wrath was foaled in the Borderlands. Lord Garth’s breeding program before he was murdered by the treacherous Duke Bryce. So my war steed is older and well settled with me. Given time and a good partner, young Rhapsody should likewise mellow.”

“I’m not familiar with the Borderlands or Fringe cornicus breeders. Too dangerous for such as myself to ply trade out there. Need too many guards to make it worth the effort. Only twenty plus wagons in a train can expect to scratch out a profit. But I will say Wrath is impressive. He’s the largest and most powerful quad I’ve ever seen.”

“Since joining Equinox, I’ve come to appreciate the Clear Brooke gnomes reputation for breeding tough fighting mounts. The quads bred here are longer bodied and not so bulky boned because they don’t need to be. Wrath’s kin are the largest of the blood because they have to survive demon attacks and still carry riders to safety despite injuries with some frequency. I noticed our riding injured beasts sits wrong with those we’ve passed on the road. Border and Fringe cornicuses are used to such trials. They are asked to carry burdens out of necessity. So I hope the stable masters here can back their rumored miracle healing as well as any Borderman.”

Inek gave a sage nod. “Not just rumor, Sir knight. Hawthorne and his staff are the best beast healers in these parts. I dare say your mounts will benefit from a couple hours of Thorne’s attention. Not to mention he consults the witches as needed. Hawthorne gets help with the worst injured beasts from Crone Hilda or Dame Galiana if he believes a beast will be lost without magic reinforcement.”

Betlic interrupted, “good to know. We often use Rook Ardith’s stable, but I am willing to try Hawthorne’s. I will do my best to arrange for Seth and Gill to have care so I can finalize arrangements for our stock. I expect you will wish to continue our trip soon though it may mean changing out our own mounts for rented ones to see you to Prosperity.”

Betlic took a deep breath and continued, “It would be nice if we could lodge at Running Stag for two nights to make sure the witches can tend all our wounds so they won’t render us useless later. It would grant Dreng and me time to arrange everything, and possibly unload the farm goods to cover our companions and mounts care. If that fails, we can get the process started for Seth and Gill to have everything extra shipped to us once they recover enough to travel home.”

“As I said before, I am already planning on it, Betlic. I stay to visit with Hawthorne whenever I come through here. We’ve made excellent time so we can remain a full two or three days to help you settle things if you wish to continue with me. The witch healers will do more than was available in Cryslatta’s fancy medical guild. Neither of your companions will survive much longer on the road. They both look worse than this morning when Vallin loaded them into the hollow beneath my bench.” Inek explained.

“Thank you. The extra time will allow me to settle things.” Betlic answered as his shoulders began to sag.

Don’t mention it, Betlic. I’d like to help get Equinox Company back on solid ground. I can do some poking around to find buyers for your unwanted farming wares or anything else you and Dreng deem necessary to sell.”

“We cannot thank you enough for caring about our welfare considering Seth’s magic and staff plus Gill’s bow, war hammer, and mace are useless to you, Master Inek.” Marcus replied.

Betlic knew Dreng would be unhappy if Master Inek took over selling their goods. It was a matter of pride to the dwarf that he control the Company’s funds and bartering for supplies. However, Marcus might be onto something equally vital. They would have to convince Dreng to accept aide.

“Equinox’s demon hunters are respected. Your company has done an excellent job of protecting my freight since we met in Cryslatta despite all your injuries. More importantly you’ve done a great service to all traders and merchants across this land for near a decade.”

“It will take time to find the right people to keep it that way. I fear the demons may get a dangerous toehold again thanks to this last job.” Marcus said.

“Shame you were crippled by nefarious folks.” Inek answered in a quieter tone. “The tale of you getting double crossed spreads far and wide. People are getting angry. Equinox Company has earned everyone’s gratitude on the trade lanes. Sunny Vale is fortunate it perished. Cryslatta will feel many a merchant’s wrath soon enough. Assuming I get this particular shipment to Prosperity under the given schedule, I will take control of my family’s business. Once I am in control, I plan to move the family warehouses away from Cryslatta’s tax men’s clutches.”

“Sound plan. Sunny Vale’s chief lied to the Overseer Guild about the number of demons according to Cryslatta’s guild. From what we saw during our time there, I doubt the chief lied.” Marcus growled.

“Twas te poor look’n a haml’t. Fig’r de Crys Guil’ stripp’d em o der coin afor de sent out de ‘quest.” Lance added. “So Bet n Grump git seed n plow parts te sell af’er we di’ de job. De lies n lack o hon’r is bad der.”

“Agreed, Lance. I smell deception same as you. Had we known we were facing a troop, Betlic, Dreng, and Eldwyn would have brought funds enough to hire extra fighters and still done the cleansing despite the community being so poor. We have company funds set aside to hire extra fighters when we learn about demon numbers that high.” Marcus echoed Betlic’s thoughts.

“I’ve heard said that you do charitable cleansings each year. Few mercenary bands would bother since they don’t profit.” Inek swept blue black hair away from his eyes as he spoke.

Betlic responded through clenched teeth. “Cryslatta’s Overseer’s Guild forced Sunny Vale’s survivors to part with their grain and farming equipment. We did not want their last livelihood goods, but the ten survivors have been put in chains either way. Then the same Guild told us we could not sell anything in their city to add insult to injury.”

“Dey was all fer loot’n dat town. Seem’d to be loot’n ever’ body purses round de city. Din’t find a dec’n size meal whole time we’z der.” Lance added.

Betlic silently agreed with Lance. “The poor need not fear Equinox will refuse aid when demons are haunting their fields and streets. They can speak truth and expect aide no matter their situation. The message must become common knowledge for the day when Equinox has filled it’s roster nigh to forty again.”

“Don’t forget that the Overseer’s Guilds in each City Kingdom sets prices, my friends. The Cryslatta Guild most certainly demanded an impossible fortune of them long before the work came to your attention.” Inek added in a grim tone.

Marcus growled, “which is wrong. Perhaps we should ask the temples and holy orders to inform us of villages in need if they cannot afford to post a cleansing job through their Overseer’s Guild because of the minor kingdoms increasing greed. People could come to us directly if they are strained of purse.”

“We are fortunate you employed our sorry remnant as guards that we might get home at all.” Betlic interrupted Marcus’s tirade.

Inek waved off the comment. “Equinox badges are the best deterrent for thieves a man can secure for himself. Even injured as your members be, accosting this cargo cart has already proven deadly,” Inek answered in a conspiratorial tone. “Bandits can’t see bandages beneath clothes and maille, but you’ve done your duty better than most whole mercenaries. Plus your loose war steed has shown his fangs, claws, and talons quick enough to ensure the word’s spreading like wildfire to leave my cart alone.”

Squirrel turned into the largest stable complex’s courtyard alongside Inek’s cart. The trader’s words were true enough, but it galled Betlic that his group’s crossed sword and sorcerer staff over a demon’s skull was reduced to a ploy. As dire as some of their injuries were, their clashes with bandits could have resulted in death. He had no chance to say as much as gnomes, elves, and humans came surging forward to take their mounts.

“Where is Master Hawthorne’s Evergreen?” Inek bellowed which brought various stable hands up short. All the hands who stalled were wearing various blue, yellow, burnt orange, forest green, flame red, oak brown, or crimson dominant tunics. Burnt orange with black trim was Ardith Stable’s colors.

Betlic wavered. He knew Rook’s stable hands and prices. Yet he also owed Inek Copperwell his loyalty since he and Eldwyn accepted the emergency job. Master Inek pushed his poor ram head hard to arrive here for Equinox’s sake.

A weathered faced, bandy legged man with salt and pepper hair stalked into the courtyard with employees wearing silver and grass green tunics following at his heels. With a wave to Inek the man snapped orders and gnomes scattered to obey. The middle aged man walked closer to appraise the animals over which he was to take charge.

“Well I see you brought Maple in for a reunion, Inek.” The middle aged stable master called as he sauntered closer. “It isn’t like you to push her so hard that she’s lathered and her sides heaving like this. Your guards look like they’ve near killed their mounts defending your cargo.”

“We’ve two badly injured men laying beneath my bench seat, Thorne. A string of injured cornicuses are being brought in by foot and a beast wagon. They belong to my acquaintances here. They sore need your medical expertise. I believe you’re best able to handle demon tainted wounds.”

“What happened?” Hawthorne demanded as Inek climbed down the ladder steps he rolled out of his cart. Betlic also swung off Squirrel’s back to cling to the saddle until his head stopped spinning. Lance had a hand between his shoulder blades until he steadied. Lance crowded Betlic’s periphery as he shuffled over to Inek and Evergreen’s Stable Master.

He started evaluating the man who would take care of Equinox’s beasts. Master Hawthorne was perhaps five foot three inches, a big man for the gnome race. His longish face and deep set craggy features did not hide shrewd and concerned glints flashing in the depths of red spoked yellow eyes.

“Captain Betlic Jetren, Lance Bullard, and Sir Marcus Farcrest of Equinox Demon Hunters Company meet Beast and Stable Master Uric Hawthorne of Evergreen Stables.” Inek intoned with a hand flourish.

Hawthorne’s brows beetled as looked up at Betlic and his companions. “Rumors claim Equinox was butchered by a nest of demons. Some say Equinox is done for. But I recognize you three well enough. Same with your cornicuses. Seen them in Rook’s stalls many a times.”

Marcus growled, “try a war troop of sixty odd demons led by several greater demons and your rumors would be true. Equinox Company routed and slaughtered the troop, but paid a heavy price in the doing.”

Inek placed a hand on Hawthorne’s broad shoulder. “Old friend, their beasts have demon tainted wounds, and are in need of a true expert healer. Nineteen bad wounded cornicuses with more heart than I’ve ever witnessed outside of Maple’s. Pressing hard and fast to reach here was the only option Equinox has after enduring the unsavory business that befell them in Cryslatta. These men are proof that heart still drives Equinox. They will rebuild and keep their oaths to save lives.”

Hawthorne heaved a sigh and nodded. He pivoted on his heels and bellowed at his employees, “Get these cornicuses unsaddled and blanketed. Cool them down slow and easy. Get nineteen stalls prepped for emergency wound care. We need long shaft canvas cots to move two severely injured warriors. Move it.”

Betlic put a hand on Marcus’s shoulder to bring him back to a calmer state. “Please forgive our foul moods. We lost dear comrades, and many fine beasts because of lies.”

Hawthorne shoved his index fingers of each hand through belt loops on either side of his waist, and rocked back on his heels. “Wish I could say you were the first having such problems. Cryslatta Kingdom has gone to rot of late.”

As Hawthorne spoke a small gnome girl reached for Squirrel’s reins. She crooned as Squirrel’s long ears swiveled up, down, back, forward, and then down hard against his cheeks. “Go on, Squirrel. Let them take care of you.” The tricorn gave a short horn growl before obeying the unfamiliar stable worker.

Wrath’s talons were digging into the ground and near yanking his stable hand off his feet to get inside the stable. Epoch, Ginger, and Hobb were moving at slower paces without a fuss.

“Can we get my cart unloaded. I’ve got a live shipment this round, and two near dead men to get to the healers.”

“Yes. But I would like to know what exotic pets your moving before my stable hands go near your cart. Well, Inek?”

“Not pets. Guardian Nagas some sea faring ship captains hired for treasure escort.” Inek protested.

“Only you, Inek.” Hawthorne shook his head. “Saul, Mica, Ox! Get the cage lift and clear space in the second harness room for venomous exotics. Meet me at the North Wall.” Hawthorne gave Maple’s halter a light tug and the lumbering beast began to follow. “Lets get Maple’s cart situated where I can keep an eye on it easier.”

“Thank you, Thorne.” Inek breathed.

“Let us unload Seth and Gill before you take the cart.” Betlic stepped in the way.

“We’ll unload them, Betlic. You’re ready to drop.” Marcus growled as his palm slammed into Betlic’s chest.

“E’s right. Yer wobbl’n so migh’ drop ‘em.” Lance urged.

Rook Ardith startled Betlic by gripping his elbow. “By all the Gods of light it’s good to see you alive, Betlic!”

“We’re with Master Inek this time or I would have called for you, Rook.” Betlic felt compelled to explain.

“I’ll do what I can to help Thorne. You don’t need to worry about it. Most of your stock comes from my pastures and schooling so we will help no matter which stable holds them.” Rook’s lime and gray eyes searched his face. “You look ready to drop, man.”

Betlic turned to watch Lance and Marcus unload Seth as gently as possible. By the time they were out of the wagon the first time, two unrolled canvas carry cots were in place to rest Seth and Gillian’s bodies.

“No nest could have done this much damage to any of you!” Rook snarled as he bent over Seth.

“We were caught unaware by a full demon troop led by five greater immortal demons. Got surrounded and cut to pieces, Rook.” Betlic responded by rote.

“So I heard Marcus bellowing. Foul deeds are happening in Cryslatta these days, Betlic. It wounds my heart to see you ran afoul of the misbegotten curs now in command of that kingdom.”

One of the stable hands came to take Maple around the side of the stables so her cart could be unloaded once Lance and Marcus got Gillian onto the second stretcher.

“I’ll help get them to the witches.” Rook offered as he clasped onto Betlic’s arm even tighter.

A familiar voice cut through the air. “Slow down, Obstinate. Your going to yank Scrapper and Shadow Stalker off their feet you loony fool.”

Hawthorne headed toward the limping beasts. Eldwyn was sitting on the seat beside the team handler instead of riding Breeze. Headbutt was trotting beside Vallin with Dreng in his saddle.

The beast master held himself rigid as he watched the animals bumble closer. As Vallin reached their group, Hawthorne called his employees to take over unloading the beast wagon and walking each cornicus past him. Hawthorne scratched his chin as he appraised their injuries. The stable master’s owlish red spoked yellow eyes missed nothing, going so far as to measure how wide some of the wounds were with splayed hands. He poked his head into the front hatch of the beast hauler for several moments.

Hawthorne returned from his examination.“Some may die no matter all my skill or any others, Mister Jetren. The poison looks to have run deep in the four downed in the wagon. You will lose at least three. They were hit quite hard by foul magic, claws, and fangs it looks like.”

“Indeed. We buried most of our magic users, and fighters who rode them on the old consecrated hill overlooking Sunny Vale while the others tried to reach the medical guild in Cryslatta.” Dreng rasped. “Good to see you, Rook.”

Rook’s hawkish nose lifted as his head tilted at an angle. “Glad you’re still breathing, Dreng. I’m assisting Beast Master Hawthorne here with your animals. It’ll take two stables worth of hands and expertise to put these cornicuses back together. Even pooling our skills, Thorne’s right about some being too far gone.”

“We’re low on funds, Rook. Unless we can get in touch with Aulon and he fast couriers coin, we’re going to have to sell enough excess equipment to afford their care.” Dreng rumbled as he dismounted from Headbutt.

“Muzzle it, old friend.” Rook answered as he clasped Dreng’s forearm. “I know your beasts as well as my kin. Raised and trained almost all of them over the years.”

“Fair. We are deeply shamed over them looking such a sorry mess, Rook.”

“Hard won victories are messy, Dreng.”

Dreng held out his hand, palm facing the sky toward Master Hawthorne. “What say you we discuss the price of getting these poor steeds proper treatment? Names Dreng Ironclasp.”

Hawthorne nodded and gripped Dreng’s meaty forearm. “Beast Master Uric Hawthorne, but my friends all call me Thorne. I’ll give you a good bargain since Rook’s determined to help, Mister Dreng. Never fear Evergreen would gouge your purse. If even a fraction of the new rumors racing along this stretch of road are true, your men were sore cheated and abused by the Guilds in Cryslatta. The adventurers will no doubt make the city’s guilds wish they had done their duty by you once the truth circulates.”

Dreng nodded his assent. “By the beard of the first smith I’ll not deny it. Dreng’s fine, Thorne. Be there any farms around these parts looking for tools of their trade?”

Hawthorne blinked, brows furrowing as he side eyed Dreng. “We’ve farms a plenty in these parts. They keep Clear Brooke’s many kitchens and stables well supplied. Why do you ask?”

Dreng scratched his short trimmed beard. “In the beast wagon are huge packs which Equinox beasts were unfairly carrying. They contain dismantled farming tools, nuts and bolts to assemble them, and a variety of seeds. Such was the poor payment we were forced to accept. We cannot use any of it. I’d see our mounts rid of the weight when they head for home again. Perhaps your local farmers need or desire plow parts, hoes, rakes, and seeds if there still be time for the planting. I’m willing to haggle. Are you willing to work with me?”

“I’ll send for Squire Lister. She’ll know who needs what right enough. Some farms are still sowing crops around here. Will be for another two weeks best I know.” Hawthorne agreed. “Squire Lister does all the major trade and supply ordering for this area, so she can find homes for your wares if anyone can. With Lister’s help, I will give you fair trade, Dreng.”

“Anything which doesn’t sell to Lister, I can inquire about this evening at Hearth Shield’s main lobby.” Master Inek volunteered. “The open market tomorrow might also prove profitable to move weapons and the rest of your excess.”

“Much obliged to you both.” Dreng responded. He shifted to face their gathering team. “I’ll see to things here. Why haven’t you gotten Gill, Seth, and Betlic into beds so they can be looked after? I’ll meet you in Haven’s first long house for food once I get things sorted here.”

Eldwyn huffed, a look of disbelief loosening his jaw. “You can’t . . .”

Betlic gripped the elf’s shoulder and gave a hard shake to silence Eldwyn. The shocked look downgraded several notches but Eldwyn’s passionflower eyes remained wide. “Want us to send you some breakfast while you’re haggling, Dreng?”

Rook spoke up, “a fine idea, Bet. I’ll get things in order with speed so Squire Lister and her men won’t take up too much of Dreng’s time. I’ve enough stable hands to spare three for unpacking under Dreng’s supervision.”

Eldwyn executed a small hop and twist out from under Betlic’s grip and clapped his hands as he settled eyes on the dour looking dwarf. “Many thanks, Rook, and Beat Master Hawthorne. Let’s get Seth and Gill sorted. Dreng can manage with a good hand and face scrubbing before he eats. We’ll send him a hearty meat pie with trimmings as soon as Vallin can place the order.”

“Be sure to take all our saddlebags with you, Long Ears. Be quicker to get clean when I’m done here.” Dreng snapped the saddle bags off his shoulder and hurled them into Eldwyn’s gut.

“You got it it, Grumpy.” Eldwyn joked as he straightened back to full height.

“Vallin, get us a bathing room. You’ve been loping on and off for days. You deserve first bathing rights. See if they have something to soak your feet. Take the twins with you. They can carry our saddle bags to the bathing rooms.” Betlic suggested as he snatched Dreng’s saddle bags out of Eldwyn’s hands to hand over to Kite. He pulled too thicker silver rods from his pouch and then tossed it to Vallin. “Eldwyn, Marcus, Lance, and I will get Gill and Seth settled at Stag, and send for the healers before joining you.”

Inek lifted a hand as if to argue, but Eldwyn gave him a sharp head shake as they bent their heads closer together and whispered to each other.

“Sound plan.” Vallin croaked in his cavernous voice. “Come along twins. We’ve gear to gather.”

Instead of obeying Vallin, Katinka tapped Betlic’s arm. “Bet, don’t forget Rhapsody. Shall I bespell him to be caught easier?”

He glared down at the girl. “First of all, only sworn companions of at least three years get to use my nickname. Secondly; Vallin already has a job for you to complete. So why aren’t you following mine and Vallin’s orders, young lady?”

“I’ve got spell training. And Rhapsody’s dangerous enough to need me to offer my magic to help stop him.” Katinka snapped.

“You aren’t capable of undoing the necessary spells, you little fool. Furthermore you accepted Seth’s offer of training. Your acceptance makes you an Equinox recruit. So do your part and help Kite with the saddle bags.”

One of the Evergreen stable hands stopped beside them. “If you’ve a mount gone feral, Cleric Sedric can catch them for you.”

“Get a grasp on that strawberry dapple roan quadcorn’s hackamore to strip his war saddle to doctor his wounds, and Equinox will be eternally grateful. He’s bespelled by the Justice Templars of Prosperity. You’ll need a cleric familiar with the Order’s spells to undo the enslavement.” Betlic explained.

“If you have the Knight’s amulet, Holy Sedric can work the needed magic. We’ll catch your war steed quick as a blink,” the youthful gnome promised.

“Now there’s a show I’d love to stay and watch.” Eldwyn’s laughing voice merged with a light elbow to Betlic’s injured side.

“Let’s hope Rhapsody doesn’t kill anyone because he’s crazed by pain.” Betlic grumbled as he reached into his jerkin’s inner pocket and withdrew Sir Cliffton’s holy badge. “Will this do?

“Yes, Sedric should be able to make the proper link with this.” The stable boy snatched the necklace and raced around the stable building.

An older stable hand shaking her head stepped closer. “We’ve plenty of experience catching half feral war steeds without partners. I recognize the strawberry dappled bleeding mess near the beast wagon. With Master Rook and Holy Sedric’s help, he will be caught and doctored by midday.”

“Thank you. Rhapsody has saved all of our lives on many occasions. Failing to aide a member of Equinox is breaking our oaths to each another.” Eldwyn spoke while shoving Headbutt’s reins in her hands.

The gnome girl looked dumbfounded as she led the spiral horned pacer into the stables. Dreng was back at the wagon directing a pair of brawny humans to remove the heavy packs and saddles from the beast wagon and stow them into a pair of two wheeled barrows.

Hawthorne was working with three other men and a wheeled contraption involving a net sling to get their fallen animals out. Lightfoot was hanging in the netting. The three men pulled the hoist backwards and began rolling it to the stable doors.

“Let’s get out of their way.” Betlic said while bending over to grab the handles of Seth’s cot.

Rook pushed him aside and grabbed the handles. “Enclave or Stag? You lead the way and we’ll bring the cots, Betlic.”

“Sound plan.” Lance grabbed the other end and with a nod he and Rook lifted at the same speed.

“Stag. It’s closer.” Eldwyn answered as he and Marcus picked up Gillian’s stretcher. With Betlic leading, they wove between buildings to avoid most of the heavy foot traffic. Jaw clenching against intermittent dizziness, Betlic hurried toward the Running Stag Inn.

Although the place resembled a military barracks due to the number of men and women who needed beds each night, Running Stag was divided into rooms housing side by side beds, or different sets of bunks for each room. Some bunk rooms had as many as fourteen beds stacked along both walls. Others had as few as four to six stacked beds. Stag featured a male wing and a female bunk wing.

As they reached the stairs, Matron Matilda Everard pushed open the double doors with help from her youngest son Riley.

“Thank the Elder Gods own light you’re alive, Betlic.” The round cheeked gnome woman gushed while looking around him to see who followed in his wake. “Oh dear me, get the wounded into room six. I’ll send for the witches.” The older woman dry rung her hands on top of her apron. “Clover, fetch linen protectors to room six.”

Matilda’s slender nutmeg haired daughter leapt from behind the counter, yanking two bundles off the long shelves at her back, keys jingling in her apron pocket as she fled down the hall.

“We’re on tight funds this time, Matty. We’ll take one of your ten man bunk quarters if you have any open.”

“Bunk quarters will make it harder to care for your injured, Betlic. They will go in room six unless the Witches decide they need to be housed at the Enclave. Don’t argue.” The portly gnome’s jaw jutted forward as she glared up at him with a pointed finger ready to jab him in the abdomen.

Eldwyn intervened before he could challenge her decision. “We would appreciate it if Riley would request a witch who knows diverse demon venoms, Matty. Cryslatta’s healer guild has naught but pompous wind bags spouting nonsense. They killed several of us before we understood we wasted a fortune trying to save our own lives. We moved fast as possible to get here before the taint kills Gillian and Seth. Betlic’s bad off too. We hope we aren’t already too late.”

Matilda slapped her palms together, “Riley, fetch Crone Nelda. Tell her to bring all her demon cures with her. It’s a dire emergency.” She grabbed the second massive key ring off the side hooks attached to the counter and hurried down the hall before them. “How many do you still need to house beyond Gill and Seth?” Matilda side eyed Eldwyn as she spoke.

“Six more companions total and two recruits. So eight beyond Seth and Gill. One is Vallin. We brought a teen aged orphan girl and her twin brother.” Eldwyn answered as he followed her into the Stag with Gillian’s cot.

“Heard tell all of you were dead three days past. Word is that the Cryslatta Healer’s Hall was shipping out the last of you for burn rites. Fools were claiming Equinox got eradicated by a demon nest. Sounded queer to me since you’ve not lost to a dozen or so demons since nine years past before you got enough magic users signed on.” The buxom woman hustled behind Clover to swing room six’s door wide.

Betlic replied. “We will need time to find new members. If Seth lives, he will have to forge new mage groups into tight teams.”

“Magic flingers are competitive, Betlic. I’ll put Vallin up at Hailwick’s place. They have beds his size seeing as they cater to giants.” Matron Matilda motioned the group into the room.

Betlic had no idea how much coin and rods Dreng would bring in, or whether Aulon could get funds shipped to Clear Brooke with Prosperity’s morning couriers. It felt wrong to ask for special accommodations considering how strapped their funds were at the moment. A side by side bed arrangement was a greater silver rod and two greater silver coins per night. An eight man bunk room was three silver rods and a lesser gold coin per night. To house Vallin was a lesser gold rod and five greater silver coins per night. Even assuming Aulon would go to Grace Manor and collect the funds, it would take at least three to four days by chain stabled cornicus runners for the sum to arrive.

Matilda poked him hard enough he doubled up from pain. “Muzzle your pride, Betlic Jetren. I know you’re good for the funds so I will cover any tabs for you. Bring me the balance whenever you come this way again. Including Hailwick’s fees. The girl you brought can bunk with you in room ten since it has enough beds. Or I’ve got a trundle cot I’ll put in here if you’d rather she keep watch over Seth and Gill which is covered in the rules. You run a tight outfit and always have, so I’ll not worry about her in Equinox quarters.”

“Thanks, Matty. We’re humbled by your good faith. She can sleep in a bunk room with us.” Eldwyn inserted as he passed into the room bearing the head of Gill’s stretcher with Marcus bringing up the rear.

“You were just here with nigh on forty men and women wearing your colors and badge. Your misfortune is one of the foulest things I’ve ever heard tell. Honored Seth might as well be dressed in a blood soaked death shroud. Gill don’t look much better. I’ve no doubt you lot are bandaged under your clothes by the pain on your faces. I see you come through here several times a year injured. But you, Betlic, look the worst. Should put you in here with Seth and Gill on a trundle.”

Rook and Lance settled Seth onto the other bed as Betlic shrugged his broad shoulders and fought down a wince. “I’ll be fine in the bunk room, Matty. Got a lot to get done today so we can pay our accounts off sooner instead of later.”

Rook shook his shaggy head. “You need a bed, Betlic. Eld and Dreng look alert enough to handle things. Trust them.”

Marcus chuckled as he straightened from helping settle Gill. “You know us well, Widow Matty. Same with you, Rook. We sent Vallin to reserve a bathing room at Hickory. Master Inek insists on covering our meals, baths, and our laundry. Once we’re cleaned up, we’ll tend each other’s wounds and eat on our employer’s tab.”

“I was going to send Wulfgar to open tavern tabs for you. So tell me, where’s the sourpuss?” Matron Matilda demanded as she gripped Eldwyn’s sleeve.

“No need for a tab, Matty.” Marcus said. “But, we thank you all the same.”

“Dreng’s with Beast Master Hawthorne bartering farming goods we got stuck with for our clawed up mounts care.” Eldwyn was answering while patting her clenched fist. “Surely you didn’t think demons could kill our favorite grouch?”

Rook stepped close and beckoned Betlic to lean down. “You do know Widow Matty’s sweet on Dreng, don’t you?”

“Everyone knows but Dreng. He can’t see it, Rook.” Bet whispered.

The older cornicus breeder grinned, eyes crinkling with wrinkles. “Why am I not surprised he’s blind, Bet?” He whispered back.

“Never seen a wizard as strong as Honored Seth looking so near dead. Made me wonder if Dreng met a bad end.” Matty pulled back and smoothed her apron down. “Sir Cliffton?”

“Dead on the battlefield, Matty.” Marcus answered.

“Victoria, Handell, and Regina?”

“All ‘em ‘er dead, Wida’. Vallin ‘n Dreng er only ones missin’. De’s fine, jes busy.” Lance answered as he rolled a heavy canvas stretcher around it’s poles for easy carry. “De demons ev’n got Hellion. Ne’er knew I’d see de day she’d die. She wen’ down fight’n. Took ‘er fair share o’ dem’ns wit er.”

Marcus lifted his hand to end Matron Matilda’s interrogation. “Matty, we brought two teenage part trained magic users with us. Seth has decided to train them as a sorcerer and wizardess respectively.”

Matilda swiped her left hand across her face as she absorbed the situation described. “We faced a full war troop led by greater demons and won. The reason Equinox still won is because we’ve gained so much experience fighting nests with well ordered mixed teams. When we arrived at Sunnyvale we were caught between greater demons leading the charge from behind and in front of us. In the end, we killed a full war troop with inferior numbers. Nobody has ever done that before. The only ones not dead are a couple of the greater immortals who managed to escape once Regina and Orva were killed while Seth was drug off Epoch’s back. We found pieces enough to identify Liehdrel, but nobody knows for sure when she got torn apart. We would appreciate it if you would spread the truth to anyone who tells you our company was destroyed by a mere nest of demons, Matty. The truth needs to be shared.”

Matilda shook her head as she bent closer and smoothed back sweat drenched locks from Seth’s brow while contemplating everything revealed.

“Nobody has ever claimed to have killed greater immortals outside old legends. Honor has limits, you fools. Too many died for your lofty ideals.”

Raking his fingers through his thigh length ponytail to pull it across his chest, Eldwyn leaned against the dresser. “Seth, Regina, Liehdrel, Orva, and Abrecan combined forces and did bring down three greater demons. And they were definitely immortals, Matty. The ones to escape were in as bad a shape as Seth and Gill. I’ve never seen so much magic power piggy backed and entwined together to create a single battering ram of force such as I witnessed in Sunnyvale. If we can find more wizards and sorcerers like the ones we lost, we might even turn the tables before demons can slaughter more villages on our side of the borderlands.”

Marcus took up the tale.“He speaks the truth, Widow Matty. I saw the five form a wedge and fight the greater demons while the rest of us fought for our lives against superior numbers. We were surrounded before we understood what was happening. Even if we had known the real numbers in time, none of us can leave helpless villagers to getting tortured and eaten alive. We would have paid extra fighters and still helped Sunnyvale no matter the numbers. Equinox has always put saving lives as our first priority in the Pledge of Companions.”

“We fough’ ‘n won. None ‘zerves at kind a twisted death. Nev’r will let folk die at way if we c’n stop it.” Lance agreed as he took both wound up cloth stretchers in hand.

Matilda shrugged. “Demon hunters see how demons kill first hand. No wonder you survivors become the fiercest yet queerest brained warriors alive. Seems you lot can’t let go the hatreds and heal.”

Lance shook his head. “Twas born in de fringe, near de great’r gates. I seen dem’n kill’n as a yung’n. Can’t ne’er not hear de scream’n when I sleep, Wida.’ Got nuttin’ ta do wit hate. Jes cann’a sleep if’n I don’ try sav’n ‘em all.”

Rook spoke up. “He’s right. One in a hundred survivors become a demon hunter, Matilda. Few survivors can face demons after seeing them kill someone they know.” He pointed out. “It’s why I broadened my training program for fighting cornicuses and diversified into all four breeds instead of only focusing on tricorns and quads. I started breeding knives with the sharpest natural horns I could get my hands on. Started looking for the thickest based low horns I could find for the same reason. What they lack in natural bone armor, they make up for with speed and agility to help keep the magic users alive through evading the worst attacks. I’ve already got the best tricorn and quadcorns around these parts. I’ve redoubled my efforts to get newborn quads gentled enough to fight beside the men and women with guts enough to face demon kind without flinching.”

“I don’t understand, Rook.”

“Equinox’s determination to protect those who cannot hope to save their lives is why I’ve expanded so much over the last ten years. Betlic, Eldwyn, Seth, and Dreng’s starting vision impressed me when I first met them. Their dream isn’t about seeking glory, Matilda. Their objective is ensuring villages don’t continue to vanish from maps. Or get labeled badlands or cursed ground. They were lied to so this massacre is not about pride at all. It is about how much rot is to be found in Cryslatta and how the various Guilds in that kingdom have forsaken all honor. They have forgotten they are separate from the new rulers and their advisors.”

Matilda heaved a sigh. “I’m sorry if I jumped to the wrong conclusion. Let me open bunk room ten and get a trundle rolled in here. I’ll see to it that the witches get to Seth and Gill the moment they arrive. Strip out of your armor as soon as you get in your room, Sir Marcus. No need to wear what’s left of it around town.” Matilda tossed over her shoulder as she headed to the next room.

“Yes, Ma’am,” He answered while following her from the room and deeper into the building’s male wing. Lance headed the opposite direction, toward the front doors with Rook. Eldwyn closed the door behind himself. Betlic leaned against the wall to wait for the witches to arrive.

#original stories

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sorceress-coffee · 4 years ago

Text

Gnome your Enemy, Courting Hazards

AO3 Link (available on 7/31/2020) This is pretty much Ep 4 pt 1& 2 with revisions.

River’s P.O.V.

I watched as Draal stood, growling lowly at Jim. “5 days,” he snarled, “we will fight in the forge.” He turned, huffing through his nose blowing out a cloud of steam. He walked out, head held high, nodding to me as he passed. I tilt my head in recognition, debating on following Draal to ask what had happened. As I stepped to follow after him, I was suddenly lifted from the ground and into a group hug with Toby and Jim, Arrrgh had already caught them.

Blinky clapped two of his four hands, grinning up at us, “Excellent, Master Jim! We should start your trying right away if you are to defeat Draal!”

Arrrgh laughed deeply as he walked out of the bar before setting Jim, Toby, and I down again.

Toby punched Jim’s arm, grinning “This is gonna be awesome! Right River? Oh! Hey River, when did you get here?” he asked.

“I walked in during your confrontation. What made you snap?” I asked Jim, frowning.

Jim was scratching the back of his neck sheepishly, “Well, I got in a fight with Steve, and-”

I raised my hand to cut him off, “No, why did you challenge Draal?”

“He was talking shit about his and Jim’s sparring yesterday!” Toby almost yelled, glaring at the memory.

Blinky clasped my shoulder as he guided us to the forge, “Come now masters, we have much training to do!” He took notice of the metal rod in my hand. “River? What do you have there?”

I lift the rod, looking over it confused for a moment, “Oh,” I held it out and tightened my grip slightly, as I did the rod began to glow blue and the lance I had forged with Vendel sprung to life, the veining in the staff giving off a faint sapphire glow. “Vendel and I found a way to channel my magic, he told me to find Jim to practice, but I think I’ll pass for today, he needs to learn troll fighting, not how hard I can bash his skull in.” I teased, lightly whacking Jim on the top of his head with the non-bladed end of the lance.

Jim laughs, smacking the lance away from him. “Those were the drawings you were working on Friday night, right? It looks amazing River!

“No way! I thought your magic was gonna be your cool superhero thing, now you have a weapon too?” Toby asked, pouting slightly.

I shrugged, “Think of it more as a sharp wand.”

Blinky held his hands out, “May I?” He asks. I smile and place the lance in his hands. He tested the weight, swinging it slightly before looking over the sapphire veining closely. “Incredible Lady River! You made the gems for this?”

I nod, reaching into my black satchel and grabbing the extra gem I took, not the one that looks like Draal’s crystalline back. I handed it to Blinky, taking my lance back. “You should see the one in the center of the Heartstone. I went a little overboard.”

Blinky inspects the gem closely before handing it back. “I will once Jim’s training is finished for the day, thank you Lady River.”

I nod noticing Toby’s eyes are locked on the crystal now in my hand, I chuckle before handing it to him. “I thought you could add this to your collection.”

Toby grins taking the crystal, he starts jumping, listing off various gems, trying to place what it could be. Arrrgh taps the stone, smiling “Not normal gem. Magic.” He explains, letting Toby know he won’t be to categorize it.

Jim shakes his head at his best friend’s excitement, “He’s not going to stop talking about this for a while,” he smiles to me before patting my shoulder. “Why don’t you head home River, you’ve been here for two days straight.”

Smiling, I nod, letting the lance collapse again. “I’ll be heading out soon. Is it daylight?”

Blinky shakes his head, “Sunset, actually. You’ll want to hurry home before Bular is out running around.”

Nodding, I hug Jim and ruffle Toby’s hair. “I’ll see you later tonight! Bye Blinky! Bye Arrrgh!” I took off running towards the exit for Trollmarket, keeping my eye out for a certain blue Troll. I frown slightly when I don’t see him, shrugging it off. Draal had a fight he probably wasn’t too worried about preparing for, but still, he was probably getting ready.

I climbed up the crystal steps to the canal exit of Trollmarket, playing with the lance as I walked, twisting it around my hand and back, slowly at first, trying to get the motions down. As I went to flip the lance over my hand it hit part of the stone wall and bounced back, hitting me in the head. “Ow…” I quickly grab the side of my head, trying to dull the throbbing. A sudden burst of laughter caught my attention. I looked up to see Draal, bent over laughing, at the canal exit.

I huffed at him, giving him a mock glare, “Oh, come on! I’ve barely had it an hour! Did you think I’d be doing backflips by now?” I asked, pouting a bit, still rubbing my head.

He straightens up, slowly getting control of his laughter, “You were just doing well, and then you were bested by a wall.” Snickering, “That’s two walls that have it out for you.” He remarked, referring to my destroying a wall in the forge during his and Jim’s spar.

“And here I thought you were supposed to save me when the walls decided to attack.” I snarked back.

He smirked before opening the exit, walking through. “I remember saying not to launch yourself off of walls when I can’t be there to help you, not that I’d protect you if they attacked.”

I followed him through the exit, walking beside him as we head in the direction of my house, laughing. “Well, I kept up part of my deal!”

“Still bested by the wall.” He smirked down at me.

Rolling my eyes, I collapse the lance, slowing my pace. “Well, I don’t have any training yet, of course, the wall is going to win! That’s like me trying to pick a fight with you!”

Draal slows to match my pace, snorting at the thought. “You’re too smart to try that. Even for a fleshbag.” He tilts his head in thought. “You will be training with the troll hunter?”

I shook my head, “Nah, Blinky’s gonna have all four hands full trying to keep Jim in line, I doubt he’d be able to handle us both. Besides, he has to train for whatever fight you agreed to earlier. Fighting me won’t help with that.”

At the mention of the fight, Draal stops short, watching me. “You don’t seem worried.”

“You’re sparring with Jim again, I’m more worried about falling off another wall.” I joke, frowning when I look back to Draal, a serious expression etched on his face.

“This isn’t just a spar River.” He began slowly, “Honor was questioned. I will answer the call.” He began, “This is a fight to the death.”

I could feel the color drain from my face, going cold at Draal’s words. “Death…” He nods, watching my reaction closely. “He doesn’t know that!” I yelled, throwing my hand in the direction of the canal. “He probably thinks this is just another sparring session!”

Draal huffed, “If his teacher has any sense, he will explain the mistake he made.”

“Mistake?! Draal, one of you could die!” I started to panic, scared for both of them. “Please Draal, I understand there are things Jim and I both don’t know yet of your culture, but please reconsider this fight. If either of you…” I trailed off, hands shaking. I did the only thing I could think of to calm down, I rushed forward, hugging Draal tight, hiding my face. “Please, just… consider it. I don’t know if asking this is acceptable for Trolls, but losing my family or my friend…”

Draal had gone stiff when I rushed him, moving into a defensive stance. When he realized I was hugging him, he didn’t know what to do. After a moment of silence, he finally reached up to pat my head, “If asked by anyone else, I would take insult, however, I will consider it. Though if he continues to insult, I will not hold back.” He stated.

I nod my head, still hiding against his chest. “Thank you Draal,” I slowly pull back when the shaking in my arms subsides. “Sorry for rushing you…”

He merely pats my head again, continuing our way to my house. “You need a trainer for that weapon, and I need to train, though I doubt it will be much of a fight to train for. I will train you how to wield your weapon properly, starting tomorrow. You’ve been locked in a forge with the old goat for two days straight. Get some rest.” He paused at the back door of the house, nodding to himself.

I yawned, nodding to him. “I’ll see you tomorrow then. Good night Draal.” I smile and pat his forearm before heading in.

“Goodnight River,” He called, leaving for Trollmarket.

I quickly grab a granola bar, eating as I head up to my room. Kicking my shoes off before crawling under the covers, sitting up long enough to grab the gem I made that resembled Draal’s back and setting it on my nightstand then passing out for the night.

The next morning, I woke up early to do my chores, sweeping downstairs and dusting before Jim wakes up. Once I was done, I rushed upstairs to get ready for the day, changing into black baggy cargo pants, combat boots, and a dark purple long sleeve. Grabbing my backpack and satchel, I filtered through everything I needed for school and training. Grabbing my collapsed lance, I walked out of my room as Jim’s alarm went off.

Jim was dragging his feet as he was walked out, mumbling in Spanish. Grabbing his book bag off the banister he headed straight into the garage. It looks like we were leaving right away. I quickly stuffed the lance in my backpack and took off after Jim.

Toby was already out front with taco truck bags. “I grabbed breakfast and lunch!” He grinned, handing me a breakfast burrito and diablo maximus for later.

Jim yawned, taking his bag, “Thanks Tobes, next time they’re on me.” We ate as we walked to school, having decided to nix the bikes since Toby’s was crushed by Bular, and he was too nervous to ride with Jim or me.

“Thank you, Toby!” I grin taking a bite. “Ironic choice since Jim woke up speaking Spanish.”

Toby laughed, “Yeah, we have that comprehension test this week. Speaking of, any tips, teacher’s aide?” he looked up to me hopefully.

I shook my head, “Sorry Toby it’s a comprehension test, you’re speaking the entire time, no scantrons.”

Jim groaned, rubbing his eyes, “Besides, the last time we asked River for help, she would only communicate with us in Spanish for a week Tobes.”

Toby shuddered, “Remind me never to ask for language help again, I had a killer migraine trying to figure out how to ask for toast!”

I laughed as we walked into the school, “I’ll see you two later, try not to cause trouble.” I headed off to my art class.

During Senor Uhl’s class, I had to listen as Mary stumbled over both her Spanish and English. I cringed, between Senor Uhl’s chalk screeching on the blackboard, and Mary’s terrible story about playing two guys.

“Little did anyone know; Maria was juggling two hombres. Manolo was muy guapo, but Joaquin had muchos musculos.” As Mary spoke, I glanced around the room, glaring as I saw Steve harassing Jim. “And poor Maria had a pedoso heart.” I flinched hearing Mary, Senor Uhl’s chalk snapped once she said ‘pedoso.’

He quickly turned around, arms held behind his back, “What kind of heart did Maria have, Miss Wang?” He questioned Mary, walking around his desk.

“Um, a heavy heart. ‘Pe-Do-So.’ Or is it-” Mary was beginning to panic.

“I would hope Maria wouldn’t have a pedoso heart, because that would mean ‘gassy’” He interrupted Mary, lecturing her. “Did Maria have a gassy heart, Miss Wang?”

Mary was embarrassed and almost on the verge of tears, “Of course not Senor Uhl!”

“You were trying to say ‘pesado.’ ‘A heavy heart.’” He stated, “And it is with a heavy heart, Miss Wang, to tell you, that you have not shown the slightest comprehension of basic Spanish.” He grabbed the tissue box, holding it out towards her. “If you can’t even finish the exam, I have no choice but to fail you.”

Mary’s face fell, she grabbed a tissue quickly as she began to cry over her failing grade. I sighed, writing down the grade next to her name on a spreadsheet Senor Uhl gave me to keep a record as he focused on listening to them.

As the bell rung everyone got up to leave, I waited for all the students to exit.

“Mr. Lake, I look forward to your presentation tomorrow.” Senor Uhl commented to Jim as he passed by to leave, stretching.

“Yeah,” Jim chuckled nervously, quickly moving to the door, “I’m ready…”

I shook my head, handing the sheet to Senor Uhl before heading out. I found Jim and Toby by the lockers, Jim looking upset. “What happened? You look like you just failed instead of Mary.”

Toby shook his head, “He just got guilt-tripped by Claire for missing rehearsal yesterday.”

“She thinks I’m a jerk!” Jim threw his hands up as we started the walk to the canal.

“Two days in and you’re already skipping.” I shook my head. “How was training last night?”

Toby sighed, “Before or after the gnome stole the amulet?”

“I’m sorry, what stole the amulet?” I asked Toby, not sure if I had heard correctly.

Jim groaned, “That’s right, we need one of the gems you made, Blinky said it would help with getting the gnome.”

I nodded, “There’s a few stored in the Heartstone chambers by Vendel’s study, Blinky can grab whichever one he needs.” I pulled out a horngazel that Vendel had given me. Opening the entrance and walking through.

Jim frowned slightly, “You’re not going to hang out with us? I thought Vendel was giving you a break to train with the lance?” he asked, following me in with Toby.

I smile and nodded, heading down the stone steps, “He is, but you need to train for your fight with Draal, someone offered to teach me how to properly wield the lance.” I state, leaving out the part that I was training with Draal, not sure how happy Jim would be about it.

Toby looked at me confused, “Can’t be Vendel, I don’t think he’s that spry.”

I snickered shaking my head, waving them off as the met with Blinky and Arrrgh, “I’ll see you later, good luck with the gnome!” I called, running off to find Draal.

I scoured Trollmarket for almost an hour, asking other Trolls if they had seen Draal, most of which just snorted at me and kept on with whatever they were doing before. I sighed, walking through a part of the market dedicated to different types of Troll cuisine, wondering if Draal had to leave for something important.

As I made my way through the stalls, I was suddenly hit by something large and wall-like from behind. My feet were swept off the floor as whatever ran into me decided to lift me. I quickly grabbed my lance, angling it so the staff would ram into whatever had grabbed me as I activated it. As calculated, once I activated the lance, the staff quickly shot back and I was launched out of the grip, landing on my feet about 8 feet forward. Swinging the lance into a defensive position as I turned, ready to face whatever attacked me, I was met with laughter.

Draal had been my surprise attacker. Though he was laughing, I didn’t sense that he was mocking me. “What the hell Draal? What if I had stabbed you instead?” I asked, pissed at being caught off guard.

Draal clasped his hands, his laughter had died out, but he was grinning. “You weren’t aiming for anything vital, so it wouldn’t have done much harm. I’m impressed at your quick reflexes though. Good to know you’ve got some fight in you too.”

I groaned, realizing why I wasn’t able to find him. Why the other Trolls were looking at me like I was crazy when I had asked for Draal. “You were following me the entire time.”

Draal nods, placing a hand on my back to guide me as we walked. “Since you entered Trollmarket with the Trollhunter and the other fleshbag.”

“Toby,” I remarked, noticing how depending on who Draal was referring to, ‘fleshbag’ either sounded endearing, usually towards me or annoyed, Toby and Jim.

Draal snorted, “Right, To-bee.” He drawled out on purpose, smirking down at me. “We’ll be training in the caverns since you haven’t told the Trollhunter I was training you; I figured the forge wouldn’t be available.” He stated a slight irritation in his tone.

I sighed, “Sorry, he knows we get along, but with the outburst in the bar, and your fight coming up, I don’t know how he’d react.”

Draal hummed, leading me into the caverns, large dark caves illuminated by the glowing gems embedded in the walls. “You are worried he will disapprove.”

I snort a laugh, “Hell no, I just don’t want to psych him out before the fight.”

Draal smirked at my answer, seeming to be in a better mood. We stopped in a large cave, a little smaller than the forge. It was well lit compared to some of the other caves we had traversed through. Draal motioned for me to face him, pulling out a training staff. “Mimic my movements.” He started by holding the staff in both hands parallel to the ground at arm’s length. As I took the position and copied his stance, he swung the staff down to the side, then pulled it up over his head, standing on one foot.

I mimicked Draal for a few hours, the movements became fluid, more stances were varied. Soon he was instructing me on lunging techniques and blocking. Around midnight we were sparring fluidly. As Draal curled into his ‘boulder stance’ as I began to call it, he set off to ram into me. I quickly dug the end of the lance into the ground as Draal was a few feet away, closing in fast, and I vaulted myself over him, swinging the lance around to whack his side with the blunt end, landing behind him.

Draal landed on his feet and grabbed his side where I had hit, he cheered turning to me, “Well done River! Similar to your evasion of my surprise attack earlier.” He nodded to himself, going over the maneuver again.

I dropped to sit on the floor, chest heaving, covered in sweat. “Thanks, Draal. You’re a good trainer, I’m surprised how far I’ve gotten.”

Draal smirked sitting next to me, “You need a break. We’ve been training since the sun was up.” I grin, flopping back on the ground, looking up at him. “Thank Daya! I’m exhausted!” My stomach growled and I groaned.

Draal barked a laugh, “Looks like you’ll need to move or your stomach will keep screaming.” He poked my stomach as it growled again. I yelped whacking his hand away quickly causing Draal to frown, “You can’t be injured, you never sustained a blow to that side of your torso.” I huffed, hugging over my stomach before he could decide to prod and look for injuries, “I’m not hurt, that just tickled.” “Tickled? What is tickled?” Draal asked a look of utter confusion etched over his face. I tilt my head to face him, trying to explain what tickling is, “Well, being ticklish means that when you’re touched certain ways, it sets off nerves and you get this feeling under your skin, your skin jumps, but in a really weird way it's not a bad feeling. People’s reactions vary though. Some people laugh uncontrollably, others kick and punch, trying to get away from the tickling.”

Draal’s face was etched in morbid curiosity as he looked from his fingers to my stomach again. “Why do fleshbags have such weaknesses?” He begins to poke at my leg when he doesn’t get a reaction, he poked my arm. When I fail to react again, he starts poking at my sides that weren’t covered by my arms.

I screech, laughing. Quickly trying to wiggle away from Draal as he continued to poke my sides. Squirming, tears flowing down my cheeks, and gasping for air, I grapple his arm with my arms and legs, hanging off of it like a sloth. “STOP!”

Draal laughs at my tactic, lifting his arm so I’m dangling in the air. “How is this helping you?” He asked.

“Well you stopped, didn’t you?” I stuck my tongue out at him indignantly.

“Careful, you don’t want to lose that.” He smirked as I squeaked, quickly pulling my tongue back.

“Are you threatening to rip or cut my tongue out?” I asked in mock disdain.

He hums in thought, tilting his head slightly, “Possibly…” He suddenly shakes the arm I’m hanging from with a smirk.

I yelp at the sudden movement and let go, landing on his lap, glaring up at him. “How dare you, sir! I was hanging on that!” I gesture to his arm dramatically.

Draal shook his head and stood as my stomach growled again, picking me up off his lap so I was sitting in the crook of his arm. “Let’s get you some food.” He began to head out of the caverns.

Holding my collapsed lance close, I squirm in his hold, not used to being carried. “Um, Draal, I can walk.”

He glanced down but made no move to set me down. “You trained well past your limit today. I doubt you’d be able to walk far,” he reasoned. We quickly made it back into Trollmarket, stopping at a stall with food that was safe for humans to eat. Draal handed the food to me, walking through the market. “Eat this, it might taste like rocks.”

I took the food and began eating quickly, tilting my head at the taste, “not rocks, but nothing I’ve tasted before.” I spoke up. I pulled my phone out to check the time, groaning. “I have to get home, it’s 3 am, and I have school tomorrow… well, today.”

Draal nods and heads out of Trollmarket to the canal. “Why do you attend this school, surely you are learning well under Vendel.”

I laughed shaking my head, knowing human school was a weird concept for trolls in general. “If I had a choice in the matter, I would love to run off to Trollmarket and focus on magic studies, but as I grew up human, well, we are forced to attend learning institutions until we graduate high school, and if we don’t, we can get into trouble.”

“Bushigal!” He sneered, “Fleshbags and their idiotic rules.”

I shrugged, “Yup, and with mom being a doctor, well, she’s all about getting an education. I don’t think she’d be okay with me dropping to study magic any time soon.”

Draal hummed, “It is best she remains unaware, the fewer humans know, the better.” Climbing over the fence and into the backyard, Draal finally sets me down. “You said you could leave after high school, what are you in now?”

“I’m in my senior, or last, year of high school, I’ll graduate in June.” I paused, thinking about what Vendel has explained to me so far. “I’ve been thinking, Vendel said I would begin to age like a troll, does that mean I wouldn’t be able to stay around humans for long?” I asked Draal.

He hummed, thinking for a moment, “It depends on how long it takes for the fleshbags to notice you aren’t changing as fast. Worried? It's not like you won’t have anywhere to go.” He stated as if it were obvious to me.

I looked up at him confused, “Where am I supposed to go? I can’t exactly afford to move around to different cities or states.”

Draal rolled his eyes at my question, “Trollmarket. You’re a sorceress, not a human, you’d be welcomed and respected in Trollmarket. Why do you think the Trolls leave you alone yet go out of their way to mess with the other fleshbags?”

“Because Toby can be loud and invasive and Jim is the first human Trollhunter,” I state with a blank look.

Draal shook his head, “You are more Troll-like than you are human. You were recognized and taken in by the leader of Trollmarket, you study the arcane under him. The most fearsome warrior in Trollmarket took you under his wing to train you in weaponry,” he smirked, boasting, “and you’ve forged your weapon in the short amount of time you have been coming to Trollmarket. I’m surprised you haven’t moved in yet.”

I laughed at his boasting, grinning up at him, “Thanks Draal, maybe once I finish school, I’ll take you up on that.” I paused, yawning. “I’ll see you tomorrow for training my most fearsome warrior.” I tease hugging him, lifting my head slightly under his chin before heading inside, “Goodnight, Draal.”

If I had stayed a moment longer, I would have noticed that Draal had gone stone still at the gesture, once I had shut the door behind me, his jaw dropped, staring at the door, a hand rose under his chin where my head had been. Draal had to remind himself that I still didn’t know much about Troll culture and that I most likely had no idea what I had just done.

I was happily dreaming of moving to Trollmarket when loud banging on my bedroom door woke me up. “It’s too early!” I yelled, throwing my pillow at the door.

Toby burst in, seeing me in bed his jaw dropped. “River! It’s time to leave! Also, Jim has a problem! Pack your laptop,” he yelled quickly, slamming my door shut.

I glared at the door before checking my phone for the time. “Shit, it is late!” I jump out of bed getting dressed as fast as I can, grabbing my laptop before running out after Toby. “What’s the problem? Where is Jim?”

Toby and I were running to school. “He’s at my house, Blinky shrunk him so he could catch a gnome and he hasn’t gotten bigger!”

I groaned, “I’m guessing the laptop is so he doesn’t fail his Spanish presentation?” I asked as we barely made it onto the campus as the final bell rang.

“Yup! See you in Senor Uhl’s class!” Toby yelled, rushing off to his first period. This was going to be weird.

Once we finally got to Senor Uhl’s class, I spoke to him before the bell. “Senor Uhl, I’m sorry this is a bit different, but Jim’s home sick. Is it alright if he gives his comprehension exam by video chat?” I asked, hoping Toby’s plan would work out.

Senor Uhl tapped his desk thinking. “I don’t see why not. At least he’s responsible enough to keep up with schoolwork while ill.” He nodded, allowing me to set up the laptop.

I logged in and waved to Jim, snickering as I recognized the background as the dollhouse in Toby’s room. “Ready Jim?” I asked.

Jim gave me a thumbs up. “Ready to go! Hola! Sorry, I couldn’t be en escuela, Senor Uhl, but I’m sick en casa. Which is fitting, since I’m doing mi comprehension presentacion on Ponce de Leon, who muerto-ed from a great illness.”

“Hey!” Steve yelled glaring at Jim on the screen. “’Muerto-ed’ is not a word!”

I rolled my eyes at Steve, sitting at my desk in the back with the grading sheet.

“Nope.” Senor Uhl began, “I’m curious to see where this is going. Continue Mr. Lake.” He waved Steve’s objection off.

Jim grinned when he was given the go-ahead, and I smirked at Steve, Jim continued his presentation until a vacuum cut him off, I dropped my head to my desk. Why was Nana cleaning now? “the feunte de la juventud, the Fountain of Youth.” Jim continued, scrambling closer to the screen.

“What is that horrible noise?” Senor Uhl asked.

“Uh, constuccion.” Jim quickly explained. “Uh, remodeling. A minor intrusion. Un minute, Senor Uhl.” Jim's face planted against the screen.

“Mr. Lake?” Senor Uhl was confused, “Mr. Lake are you still there? We don’t have all day.”

“No, no… No need to fight at home.” Jim spoke up, turning back to the screen. “Ponce de Leon joined Columbus in the New… New- What in the world?!” Jim yelled, looking past the screen again.

The next thing I know, Jim is fighting with a gnome, running on and off-screen as he continues his presentation. After a few minutes, he sat on the toy couch, out of breath. “But in the end, they were taken care of. And that is it for my presentacion. I hope this wasn’t too much trouble, Senor Uhl. Hasta luego.”

Eli jumped up from his seat, applauding “Spectacular!”

Senor Uhl shook his head at Eli’s outburst, turning back to the laptop. “Very, very informative, Mr. Lake. C-plus.” He said. Jim groaned as his body began to misshapen. “Fine. B-minus.” Senor Uhl stated quickly, looking worriedly at the screen and Jim seized up.

“Jim! Jim, what’s wrong?” Eli asked, taking his seat again.

I rushed out of my seat, closing the laptop quickly. “Sorry about that construction must have messed with the wifi!” The bell rang and I ran out to find Toby, grabbing him as soon as I pass by and dragging him off campus, all the way home. “Jim’s freaking out! He started changing shape after his presentation!” I yelled as we ran into Toby’s house and up the stairs.

Toby slammed his bedroom door open revealing a full-size Jim sitting in front of the dollhouse. “Jim!” Toby yelled, “You’re big again!”

Jim chuckled patting over his ribs, “I think my spleen switched sides, but everything’s better now.” He joked.

Toby hugged him, “I’m sorry I failed you, Jim. I should have done it when I had the chance.”

I looked between the two confused. “What are you talking about?”

Jim pulled back and moved away from the dollhouse, introducing us to the gnome that was attacking him on screen. Toby quickly dubbing him Gnome Chompsky when Jim says we can keep him.

“Chompsky. I like it.” Jim grinned. I nodded in agreement, snickering when Chompsky tried the movie theater, yawning arm move on the doll.

Jim laughed closing the dollhouse. “Pretty good for a first mission. Two crises averted. It’s not like you get to rehearse these things.” Jim’s face fell as he took a sharp breath. “Oh, no! Rehearsal! I gotta go!” Jim took off running out of Toby’s house.

I sighed before getting up, “I have to go too, I’ve got training in Trollmarket. See you late Tobes!” I wave heading out, running to the canal. Excited to continue training with Draal. As I walk into the canal entrance I run straight into a blue troll, though he wasn’t the blue troll I was expecting. “Blinky? Are you leaving? The sun is still up.” I asked confused.

“Ah, Lady River! Good to see you, I’m waiting on Master Jim, he should be arriving soon, your school let out a while ago.” Blinky explained, frowning as the portal closed behind me with no Jim in sight.

“Sorry Blinky, he ran off to rehearsal, school activities sometimes last longer than a normal day,” I said, making my way to the steps.

Blinky sighed, disappointed that Jim wouldn’t be coming anytime soon. “That’s a shame, he has so much training, especially considering his match with Draal.” Blinky shuddered. “Maybe it’s for the best, that Troll has been in a strange mood since last night,” Blinky noted, walking down with me to Trollmarket.

I frowned, worried for Draal, “Strange mood? Is he sick? Can trolls get sick?” I asked, going over our training to see if Draal could’ve gotten hurt. “Did Bular attack?”

Blinky shook his head quickly, waving his hands, “No, nothing like that. Yes, trolls can get sick. I don’t think he ran into Bular after his night out, but he seems to be distracted, and Draal is never distracted.”

I snort a laugh, “Oh yes, the ‘most fearsome warrior in Trollmarket,’ couldn’t possibly be distracted.”

Blinky pauses, tilting his head at my choice of words, “Have you been spending time with Draal?”

I stiffen at the question, unsure of Blinky’s tone, “Well yeah, I mean, we’ve been hanging out since… wow, the first night we came to Trollmarket. Vendel had him take me home since Bular was still running around and it kind of became routine if I don’t leave with Jim and Toby. He offered to train me with the lance so there’s that too…” I trail off watching Blinky’s face.

His jaw drops when I mention training. “DRAAL offered to TRAIN YOU?” Blinky asked in disbelief, an annoyed growl from behind catching our attention.

“I did.” Draal was standing behind us, glaring at Blinky as if he was challenging him.

I grinned walking up to him, “Ready to go?”

Blinky’s mouth was still open, looking between Draal and me, trying to get more than ‘you’ and ‘him’ out in a sentence. Draal nods as his glare morphed into a smirk, “Maybe we should train in the forge since the Trollhunter is busy, that way his teacher can get a sense of what he’s up against in his next fight.”

I look up at Draal confused, then I turn to Blinky and shrug. “That’s fine with me, uh…” I waved my hand in front of Blinky’s face.

Blinky snapped his mouth close glaring up at Draal. “Let’s go then, I’m sure we will all learn a lot.” He huffed, turning to get Arrrgh, heading to the forge.

I kept my pace slow, Draal matching my step. I was still worried about what Blinky had said. “Hey, Draal? Are you doing okay?” I asked, looking up to him as we walked.

Draal tilted his head towards me, confused, “Of course, why do you ask?”

I shrug a bit, glancing to Blinky and Arrrgh ahead of us, “Blinky said you’ve been distracting since you came back from taking me home, I was wondering if something happened?”

Draal stiffened, “On my way back? No, I… didn’t think I was distracted.”

I nod, watching his reaction, “Did,” I paused, selecting my words carefully, “Did I do something?” Draal winced at my question. Frowning I turned to face him, “I did.”

Draal sighed, waiting for Blinky and Arrrgh to walk through the forge entrance before explaining, “Culturally it isn’t… bad.” He began, tilting his head in thought, “You wouldn’t have known about it either. Do not worry about it.”

“What did I do? I doubt you’d be distracted if I had accidentally done something small like insulting your cooking.” I said, trying to go over everything I did or said last night. “Was it the hug? No, you’ve let me hug you before… was it the teasing? Calling you ‘my most fearsome warrior?’”

Draal shook his head, sighing “It was the gesture during your hug,” He pats my head, “a troll nuzzles their head under another’s chin when courting.”

I froze under his hand, face turning dark red, “Courting… that’s more serious than dating.” I groaned hiding my face in my hands, “No wonder you were upset! I’m so sorry Draal, that was probably insulting.”

Draal was confused by my reaction, “You believe I would take insult to court you?” He frowns pulling his hand from my head.

I look up at him, face still red, “well, no but… I’m not exactly a Troll.” I tried to explain.

“Then you take insult to a Troll courting you?” He asked, brow knit as his confusion deepened.

“Not at all! Well, depending on the troll.” I muttered, tilting my head in thought. “Though I don’t personally know a lot of Trolls. I’m closest to you and Vendel, so I don’t see a Troll trying to court me anytime soon.”

Draal nodded, continuing into the forge, contemplating my answer.

“There you two are! I thought you were supposed to be training?” Blinky huffed, all four arms crossed over his chest, still irritated by Draal’s quip about teaching Jim. Arrrgh just pats his head, trying to calm him down.

Dropping my bag, I grabbed my lance. “Seriously Blinky?” I shook my head before taking my stance, ready for any surprise Draal might have up his sleeves if he had sleeves.

Draal smirked, taking his stance. We slowly circled the perimeter of the forge, watching each other for the slightest move to attack. Draal lost his patience first, roaring and taking his boulder stance he took off after me, quicker than when we were training last night. I stayed planted until the last second before springing out of the way just enough not to get hit. Swinging the lance around, I dug my foot into the ground as it made contact with Draal. Growling, my hands began to glow as I channeled magic through the staff, forcing the swing to continue and I was able to knock Draal back, causing him to uncurl and land on his back.

He sat up, looking at me bewildered for a moment before smirking and jumping to his feet. I took a defensive stance as he held his hands up, walking up to me calmly, “Hands,” he stated, holding one of his out, palm up.

I was confused until I realized that this was the first time I channeled magic into my hands without blasting something to pieces. I looked at my still wrapped hands, the magic hadn’t burned the bandages this time. I place one of my hands in Draal’s palm. He unwrapped it, looking over it for injury before nodding and unwrapping my other hand. “If you use your magic properly, you won’t injure yourself. Keep practicing channeling into the lance as we spar. Don’t overdo it though. Vendel will have my head if you get injured.”

I laughed and nodded, stretching my palms. I smirked, hooking his horn with the blade, and surging magic through it, enough to enable me to flip Draal over onto his back again. I grinned leaning over his shocked face. “That’s for your surprise attack yesterday.”

He barked a laugh before raising a hand quickly and jabbing my side with his finger, “Careful River, I still know your weakness.” He grinned up at me as I yelped before glaring at him.

“That’s just rude!” I growled out hugging my sides and quickly stepping out of reach.

Draal and I continued to taunt and tease each other as our sparring continued. Movements quickened and each blow increased in strength as we were both tossed around the forge, not hard enough to do anything more than bruising.

Blinky and Arrrgh watched on in shock. “Draal strange,” Arrrgh noted to Blinky, cheering whenever I was able to successfully channel my magic into an attack.

“Indeed, it almost seems as if… no, that can’t be right. Draal can’t stand ‘fleshbags’ he’d never…” Blinky remarked, his thought trailing off.

“Not human,” Arrrgh replied. “River more like us.”

“I know, it’s just hard to keep in mind considering she’s related by blood to Master Jim and he doesn’t have an ounce of magic without the Amulet of Daylight.” Blinky shakes his head, laughing when I launch Draal into a wall. “Well, if this how females are taught to ‘flirt’ in the human world, I pray for Master Jim’s life when a human female tries to court him.” He states, wincing as Draal catches the blade of my lance and throws me.

Landing next to Blinky, knocking the wind out of my lungs. I groaned closing my eyes trying to catch my breath. I could hear running when I didn’t make a move to get up right away.

“River!” Draal was next to me when I opened my eyes again, seeing his worried expression I give him a tired thumbs up. Draal let out a sigh of relief, letting me take my time.

Blinky and Arrrgh glanced at each other with knowing faces before huddling with Draal over me. “River tired.” Arrrgh smiled, seeing that I was fine.

“Perhaps it is time for a break?” Blinky suggested.

I began to wave him off then paused, “Jim will be here soon,” I groaned, slowly sitting up with Draal’s help.

Draal huffed seeing the bruises forming over my arms, blisters covering my palms. “And it looks like I’ll be taking you to Vendel after all.”

I smiled up at him and pat his cheek. “I’m sure you’ll keep your head. These are standard fleshy training injuries.” I said, shaking my bruised arms out, wincing at the movement. “Maybe a little more than standard.” I sighed.

Blinky cleared his throat, nodding to Draal and I. “Yes well, you go get healed up, Lady River. Arrrgh and I will be setting up for Master Jim’s training now. I’ve learned quite a lot from your performance and it will do good being incorporated in the Trollhunter’s training.”

Draal slid an arm around me so I was sitting on his forearm, similar to how he carried me last night. I smiled and waved to Blinky and Arrrgh as he walked out of the forge and straight to Vendel’s study. “Vendel.” He greets when we see the old goat.

Vendel looked up from his scroll, dropping it when he sees us. “What in Merlin’s name happened?” He rushed over to me, seeing my arms were almost completely bruised over.

“Training, I can keep up just fine in strength, but I still get injured pretty easily,” I told him, surprised that his worry was showing.

“Set her on the table and step out Draal, I need to examine the extent of the injuries.” Vendel directed, turning to file through different scrolls he had stored.

Draal sat me on the table, nudging my shoulder, he frowned at how beat up I had gotten. “I got carried away with your training, I forget you're not made of stone.” He apologized.

Smiling up at him I shook my head. “So, the training got intense, at least we know I can keep up with a troll during a fight!”

He smiled at my logic and nodded, “Try to behave,” he remarked before stepping out.

Vendel unfurled a scroll next to me, he quickly checked for more injuries before nodding to the scroll, “Alright, I want you to read this out loud and focus on the bruising of your arms.” He explained.

I looked over the parchment carefully, reciting the Trollish words slowly, repeating them as I looked at my arms, trying to focus. I felt a strange warmth extend from my chest down along my arms, then it spread through my torso and legs. I continued to repeat the incantation, realizing this was a spell, my eyes glazed over, glowing a faint blue as my palms did the same, the bruises began to shrink until they had faded completely.

Vendel watched, smiling as the glow faded from my eyes. “Hm, looks like the healing incantation worked.” He examined my arms again, nodding to himself. “Though, maybe we should work on some armor that will allow you to train to your limits without having to heal yourself after every session.”

I grinned up at him asking “I’m getting an upgrade?”

He chuckled, “You’ll be forging an ‘upgrade,’ take your time thinking it over though, it needs to be functional. Now, why don’t you go see Draal, I can hear him pacing.” Vendel shooed me out of his study with a small smile.

I smiled seeing that Draal was in fact, pacing outside of Vendel’s study. Leaning against the wall, I watched him for a minute before snickering. “Worried?” I asked him.

Draal stumbled at my question, head snapping towards the sound of my voice. Letting out a snort he looked over my arms, tilting his head noticing the bruises were gone. “Vendel healed you?” He asked, prodding at my arms.

“Nope!” I stated, letting him continue, “He taught me a healing incantation.” I explained at his confused glance.

Smirking, he ruffled the top of my head. “Something tells me at this rate, you’ll be using that spell often.”

I whacked his hand from my head, returning his smirk, “Careful Draal, or I might have to use it on you.” I teased, walking past him. He laughed falling in step with me, heading out of Trollmarket and into the canal. “How about we get something to eat, my treat?” I asked him.

He glanced at me as we walked further into town, staying hidden. “Where could we get food?”

I grinned up at him, heading to the park, “The taco truck of course!” I replied, happy that he wasn’t rejecting the offer. I paused in an alley, spotting the truck. “I’ll be right back.” I quickly ran to the truck, ordering a box of tacos. I could feel Draal’s stare on my back during the exchange. Once I had the box in hand, I took off back to the alley, grinning. “Let’s find somewhere to eat.”

Draal smirked picking me up. “I know somewhere fleshbags typically ignore.” He stated, climbing to the roof and heading over several buildings until we reached a warehouse with a large billboard on the roof. Draal settled us behind the billboard, facing the woods. “How’s this?” He asked, surveying the area for a moment, relaxing slightly when there was no sign of Bular.

I smiled jumping out of his hold and sitting on the ledge, patting next to me for him to sit. Once Draal was settled I took two tacos from the box then handed the box with six remaining tacos over to him. “Ever tried tacos?” I asked, taking a bite of one.

Draal sniffed the box, observing how I ate one before picking a taco from the box and tossing it in his mouth. “No,” he answered, humming in approval, “these are good!”

I smiled, glad he liked them. “That’s good if you ever want them, let me know and I can bring them, or we can eat out!” I grin finishing off my first taco.

Draal nods, happily eating the rest of the tacos along with the box.

Finishing off my food, I leaned back against the billboard, looking over the woods. “Today was a lot of fun, bruises and all.”

Draal let out a deep chuckle, “You fight like a Troll, Blinkous and Arrrgh looked terrified when you were able to throw me.”

I laughed at the memory, “You were shocked too!” I defended, “Aren’t you supposed to know what I’m capable of as my trainer?” I teased.

Draal snorted, “I haven’t trained a sorceress for combat before, so it seems we’ll continue running into surprises.” He tilted his head, thinking.

I smile content with the quiet, enjoying Draal’s company.

“River?” He spoke up after a few minutes. I hummed in acknowledgment for him to continue. “Why do you think a troll wouldn’t try courting you ‘anytime soon?’” He asked, referring to our earlier conversation.

“Well,” I began, sitting up a bit, “I feel if one tried, they’d be very intimidated by you and Vendel. After all, I’m training under both of you, and after today I can tell you’re both pretty protective.” I smiled up at him.

He hummed at my answer, thinking for a moment. “It sounds as if you don’t think my asking you is an option then.”

My smile turned to confusion, thinking he was teasing me. I held my breath slightly, waiting for a smirk or chuckle, but neither came. “Well, you’re not ‘not’ an option.” I tried to explain, realizing he was being serious.

“That doesn’t make sense.” He frowned, confused by my wording.

I shook my head, trying to collect my thoughts. “It’s just, I assumed your reaction to my ‘mistake’ last night was negative, and the way you explained it felt like it was unwelcomed.” I shrugged slightly.

Draal arched a brow at my response, “I knew you didn’t know what you were doing. You didn’t know the significance… but it was not unwelcome.”

My face began to overheat, and I knew I was turning red. “Then you’re open to courting me?” I asked, trying to calm the redness in my face.

Draal leaned down to be level with my face, studying the color change before leaning forward and nuzzling his nose under my jaw, pulling back, smirking slightly as my face turned a deep scarlet. “Does that answer your question?” He asked, and I could only nod, eyes wide. “I will wait for an answer, after all, the fight may change things.” He stated, frowning when mentioning the fight and the tension that may arise due to it.

“Okay… um, could you explain why you court that way?” I asked, trying to distract him.

“It’s how we scent. Your scent will mix with mine and it will let other trolls know you’re being courted, the same would happen to my scent. That’s why I was distracted today; your scent wouldn’t leave.” He explained.

“So, if I walked into Trollmarket now I might be met with Trolls flinging themselves out of my path in fear of enraging you?” I asked teasing.

Draal growled, all teasing gone from his voice, “If you accept, they had better. Though exceptions are made for family and family-like relations.”

I blink, stunned at the tone. “So scenting is marking, and you don’t like sharing.”

“Culturally, if a troll is trying to get close to you while you’re courting another, they are competing to court you.” He explained, irritated at the thought.

I laughed patting his forearm, “Trust me Draal, you would have nothing to worry about.”

Draal smirked down at my response, “Let’s get you home, you have to attend the fleshbag study dungeon tomorrow.” He stood, lifting me to sit on his forearm as he climbed down from the billboard.

Leaning back against his chest, I kept asking questions about courting as he headed to my house. “So, if my answer is yes, do I have to do something specific?”

“Usually the courting gesture is returned.” He explained, nuzzling his nose under my jaw again. “Just like that.”

“Okay, and just so I don’t do something stupid or insulting, is there a way to deny the courting?” I asked worriedly. If I found a way to court Draal on accident, I could very well find a way to tell him to fuck off on accident too.

He winced slightly, “You can say it outright, or deny the gesture by pushing me away.”

I nod, then frown, “What if it tickles and I whack you as a reaction?” I asked, knowing it was a real possibility.

He laughed poking my side for good measure as he responded. “I will keep that in mind if you do hit me. If it happens though, I assume you’ll be screeching too much to let me know right away.”

I puffed my cheeks out, crossing my arms over my chest, “says the one who kept tickling me till I couldn’t breathe!”

He grinned, setting me down as we reached the back door of my house, “You can’t blame me, I didn’t know it could get that severe,” he teased, glancing over the house before scenting me again. “Goodnight River.”

I smiled up at him, face becoming less red the more he scents. “Good night Draal.” I lay my hand over his cheek, wanting to return the gesture, but waiting as he had asked. “Get home safe!” I called after him as he left.

Running inside, I covered my face, trying to calm the raging blush. I took a deep breath before heading up to bed, smiling like an idiot as I fell asleep.

#Trollhunters #Draal #trollhunters draal #draal the deadly #DraalxRiver #DraalxOC #River Marie Lake #River Marie Wyllt #trollhuntersoc #trollhunters oc #trollhunters fanfiction #episode 4 #gnome your enemy

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arcadiaoaksusedbooks · 5 years ago

Text

Nadia: Welcome. Please, have a seat.

Luca: I’m fine standing, thanks.

Nadia: Are you sure? I don’t want to make it look like I’m looking down at you. Because... well...

Luca: Fine. *hops up to a chair opposite of Nadia* How’s the weather up here?

Nadia: Fine. Now, going o-- *pauses, taking in what was just said*

Luca:

Nadia: .....*continues* --going over previous information, your name is Luca.

Luca: Yes.

Nadia: And... you’re a peacock...

Luca: *dryly* Glad you noticed.

Nadia: And... my son’s magical familiar.

Luca: Yep. Here’s proof. *turns and lowers his left wing to show off some of his plumage on his back. There’s a small white crest among his deep blue feathers*

Nadia: Animagius? This makes a bit more sense, but why would Balor need to mark you? Did he mention needing a familiar?

Luca: Now, here’s the story. I was stolen from my farm in Nebraska, and traded around households as a pet for several months. I escaped the last one in Los Angeles and was walking around for a few days dodging everything you can think of. Trolls, goblins, gnomes, wolves, coyotes, some giant bug thing... But it was that wildfire last week that got me.

Nadia: I’m so sorry.

Luca: I was okay. But a lot of burning branches fell on me and my tail, and my right wing. But I lived. But I was hurting pretty badly. So, I was found the other night, and figured, welp, I’m an easy early Thanksgiving dinner for a troll. But the kid saw my condition and hugged me close to him, crying. He looked pretty divided too, not sure what to do with me. So, he found me a tree hollow, and left me some food while he went home to figure out what to do.

Nadia: *crosses her arms and listen*

Luca: Next thing I know, he comes back with some chalky stuff and paints this on my good side. Next thing after that, I’m healed and back in my prime. Talking and... understanding.

Nadia: I’m impressed. Most Animagius take centuries to learn to talk. So, you now understand what’s become of you?

Luca: So, I’m basically your kid’s magical anchor. I can fluctuate how much magic he uses and basically be a back-up battery for the kind of magic that will “cost” him something.

Nadia: Almost. His magic is your magic, and vice versa. Both of you will feed off of each other for as long as you’re both alive. As an inscribed familiar *points to his crest* you’re a loophole to cost-and-effect magic, so that neither of you take the brunt if one uses up too much of the other’s magic. Think of it as an underground well, sourced by an underground river. There’s no running out of water, or dredging up too much water.

Luca: Wait, I’m confused. We can use magic without a catch?

Nadia: So long as you both don’t push your own boundaries, yes.

Luca: I don’t buy it. There’s always a catch.

Nadia: Well, the closest catch I can think of is you both now have a shared lifespan. If one dies, so does the other. Now, Balor is a troll, which can live for up to fifteen hundred years. Some trolls push two thousand. However...

Luca: Uh... yeah... peacocks can live up to twenty five years. Sounds like I accidently gave Balor a shorter lifespan. I’m sorry.

Nadia: I’m not worried. In fact, I think Balor factored that in. Let me see your crest again.

Luca: Sure. *lowers his wing*

Nadia: Normally, there’s a straight line going through the crest to reprisent the shared life force. But Balor didn’t make a line. He made another circle with it. A perfect one, in fact. So it looks like you’re exempt from the life sharing. Should you die, Balor won’t be affected.

Luca: Well... he’d be really sad.... and so would I. Cause I’d have died.

Nadia: But the reverse still holds true. If he dies, so do you.

Luca: Makes sense.

Luca: So, in short, here I am! Another addition to the household!

Nadia: Well, I’ll do what I can for now. You can stay, but I need you to be as quiet as you can and not attract the attention of the neighbors.

Luca: Can do.

*a weird noise comes from outside*

Luca: *spooked, fans his tail to look bigger and caws and shrieks!!!*

Nadia:

Luca:

Nadia:

Luca: Heh heh... *lowers his tail sheepishly* Sorry, it’s a reflex.

Nadia: I honestly don’t know how to feel about this suddenly lively house...

#scripting #Luca - The Flashy Familiar

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conceptstage · 6 years ago

Text

Dustringer’s Spellery {Chapter One}

Jester walked solemnly down the stairs, wiping at the dry tear tracks on her cheeks and clearing the despair from her throat. Everyone looked up hopefully as she got near but she shook her head. “She won’t wake up. Cad and I have tried everything.”

Caleb frowned and stared at his hands, Nott fiddled with the jade bracelet on her wrist, Fjord leaned silently against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, and Yasha stared sullenly out the window. “There’s nothing we can do?” Nott asked. “We just have to, what? Wait and hope she fights through it on her own? That’s bullshit!”

Jester nodded. “Cad says she’s fighting it. He doesn’t know anything about this curse.”

Caleb cleared his throat. “There’s…” he sighed and took a moment to look around the empty tavern. The only other person there was the barkeep, sleeping and snoring heavily in a chair behind the bar. “There’s someone who might be able to help. I know her… from when I was student. She was an older student, a bit of a wildcard. She wasn’t chosen for the same program that I was but I heard she ran away shortly before… well, before.”

“What makes you think she can help?” Yasha asked.

“She was a poor student and kind of a bitch, but she was, by far, the most talented curse breaker to ever grace the halls of the Academy. If she’d been a bit more studious it’s entirely likely she’d be head of the curse breaking department there right now.”

Jester gasped in excitement. “Caleb! Why did you mention her earlier?”

He cleared his throat and shifted awkwardly in his chair. “I had hoped that we would be able to handle it on our own and I was reluctant to turn to someone from my past. I trust her to keep her word but still… But now it’s been too long, much longer and Beau will starve to death. I can’t… I can’t let her die just because I’m scared of old ghosts. I’ll stay here with Beau and you can all go talk to her.”

“Where is she? Is she in town?”

Caleb frowned. “She has a shop in town. Whether she will actually be there… I’m not sure.”

“We should go try at least,” Jester said and Nott nodded. “I’ll go get Cad.”

Fjord moved to sit across from the wizard. “Can you give me directions to this shop? A name?”

“I don’t know where it is but I do know it’s name. It’s called Dustringer’s Spellery. Tell her that Bren is calling in his favor. And please, keep my real name as quiet as possible. I don’t know who all will be there.”

In the end, the shop was fairly easy to find. Most people in Hupperduke knew it as the one shop in town to avoid. It was on the edge of the lower part of town, a brick building with crumbling walls and walkways. The door was sitting slightly ajar on its hinges. There was sign hanging above the door, just under the second floor dark, dusted window. ‘Dustringer’s’. The ‘Spellery’ part had fallen off at some point it seemed. Jester cleared her throat and moved to open the door but Fjord gently held her wrist. “Yasha and I’ll go first,” he said.

“But Fjord, I’m stronger than you are.”

He winced and his cheeks flushed. “Yeah, I know, but I’m taller than you are.”

“That doesn’t mean anything.”

“I will go first,” Yasha said, pushing open the door. She could feel the hum of magic down to her bones as she stepped through the threshold. Fjord followed next, then Cad, Jester, and Nott. The interior was far different than the exterior made it seem. The walls were structurally sound for one thing, with shelves and shelves and books and magical whatsits. There was a big window in the back with morning sunlight shining in.

That wasn’t right, Jester realized as she stepped up to the window. “It was overcast,” she mumbled. The city outside was not Hupperduke. It was a bustling main street with shops and stalls littering the cobblestones. The sun was low, giving the world a pinkish glow. “And it was afternoon.”

“Come in through the portal?” Asked a voice. Everyone followed it to find a young gnome in big round spectacles shelving books on the far wall. She didn’t even look at them. “Where you in from?”

“Uh… Hupperduke,” Nott called.

The young woman paused and finally turned to them. “Hupperduke? They canceled my business license there years ago. Huh, they must have left the enchantment up.” She huffed and hopped down onto the floor. “So, what can I do you for?” As she walked over, they got a better look at her. She was wearing a crisp white shirt under a ruddy pair of overalls with glasses that took up nearly half her face. Her long brown hair was braided over one shoulder and her cheeks were dotted with freckles.

“Where are we?” Fjord asked instead of answering her.

“Emon, in Tal Dorei.”

Jester gasped. “We’re not even in the Empire anymore,” she said, a smile curling across her cheeks. “Oh, this is so cool!”

“You have a name?” Yasha asked, towering over the young gnome.

The gnome grinned. “Talia Dustringer, at your service. Come with me and we can talk about what you need.” She walked over the counter and climbed up a set of stairs to perch behind the register. There was a painting directly behind her head of a young gnome noble woman with two babies in her lap and flowers around her feet.

“That’s a lovely painting,” Yasha said, pointing to it.

Talia glanced back and smiled. “That’s my mum. Raised me and my twin sister alone after her parents disowned her for getting pregnant out of wedlock.”

“No father?” Jester asked. “I’m trying to find mine too”

Talia shrugged. “He was some traveling musician or some shite. Never cared enough about him to look for him. Anyway, I’m sure you didn’t travel all the way from Hupperduke to hear a shopkeep’s sob story. What do you need from little ol me?”

Jester cleared her throat and stepped right up the counter. “Our very, very dear friend got hit with a curse. We heard you were an expert curse breaker and we were hoping you could help.”

She raised a bushy, unkempt eyebrow. “Now, where exactly did you hear something like that?”

“From a friend of ours. He knew you from the Academy.” She whispered conspiratorially.

Talia paused and then cleared her throat. “You have the wrong gnome. That’s my sister you’re after.” She leaned back. “Jaena!” she called at the top of the lungs. “You’ve got visitors!” She leaned towards Jester again and grinned. “Just a tip? She doesn’t look back on her Academy days favorably. Maybe keep it short?” There was some movement behind the curtain and they heard footsteps coming around the side of the counter. Talia smiled. “Morning, Jae. You look like shit.”

“Fuck you.” A second gnome came into view and leaned against the counter. She was dressed in all black with dark purple lipstick and nails. Her brown hair was completely shorn and there was a tattoo behind her pierced ear of a kraken. “The fuck you want?”

“Ah, hi, hello,” Caduceus said, kneeling down to look her in the eye. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Nott came up beside him. “We need your help. A friend of ours is cursed and we heard you could help us.”

She sneered. “I don’t do that shite for just anyone. Who told you I was a curse breaker?”

“A friend. He said he knew you from the Academy and that you were the best-”

“Out.” She turned and started back around the counter. “Get out!”

“Ah- no! Wait! Please, we need your help!” Jester exclaimed

“No one from the Academy is worth my time or attention. Fuck your friend and fuck them all, I’m done with that shite.”

“Waitwaitwait! Please, Caleb said- Bren!” Jester called, leaning over the counter to look down at her. Talia was just leaning off to the side, watching with interest. “His name was Bren! He said you owed him a favor!”

The gnome paused and turned to her. “Bren?”

Jester bit her lip and nodded. She hadn't meant to call it out so loudly. “He- uh… He goes by Caleb now.”

“I heard he was dead.”

“Not dead,” said Nott, climbing up to Jester’s shoulders. “Just lost himself a bit.”

Jaena looked thoughtful for a moment before sighing. “That fucker. Fine, come on back.” She stepped through the curtains, muttering curses to herself. Jester and Fjord exchanged a look and then then all filed passed Talia to follow the gnome into the back.

When it got to Caduceus, Talia held up a hand to stop him. “You’re probably not gonna fit, mate. Even the goth one is gonna be squeezing a bit. You mind hanging out here and helping me stock the high shelves?”

Cad looked after his friends but nodded and smiled. “Certainly.”

“You gonna be okay out here?” Jester asked.

He nodded. “Call if you need me, I will crawl to you if need be.”

Jester giggled. “Will do! Thanks.” They followed Jaena deeper into the building. Fjord flinched when someone in a room he passed screamed.

“He’s fine,” Jaena called to him, not stopping or looking back. “Some curses have to broken literally.” She didn’t elaborate but continued forward wordlessly. Finally she brought them to a large room with a round table in the direct center and cushions all over the floor and stacked up against the wall. She hopped up on the table and walked across it before falling into a pile of cushions on the other side. She got comfortable while they all started finding seats, Jester directly across the table from her, Fjord to her left, Nott to her right, with Yasha standing resolute in the doorway. She pulled a pipe out of her pocket and stuffed it full of a purple leaf from the tin on the table. She sat it precariously between her teeth and lit it with a match. “Anyone partake?” she asked, thought she didn’t seem to care about the answer. “Tell me about this curse. Who, what, when, and where?”

“Our friend Beau,” Fjord answered. “We were fighting this necromancer outside of Hupperduke in a ruined temple of Vecna. The necromancer is dead, we triple checked, but then Beau opened a box and was hit by this blue energy. She went unconscious and hasn’t woken up for two days. She still drinks water that we put in her mouth, sort of on auto pilot, but when we tried to same with food she choked on it, so she hasn’t eaten in almost forty-eight hours.”

Jaena huffed and a puff of gray smoke left her mouth. The smoke smelled sweet, like honey flowers. “There are a million things that could be. Blue energy, you said? That narrows it down a bit, though there are more sleeping related curses than hairs on your head and each one is broken in a different way. I’ll know more once I see her. Bring her in to me.”

“How much is this gonna cost us?” Nott asked.

Jaena considered for a moment. “You said this was a favor for Bren?” Nott nodded. “Free of charge.”

“What do you owe him?” Fjord asked. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

Jaena opened her mouth to say something snarky and he saw her have to physically hold it in. She swallowed the salt like a lump in her throat and shook her head. “I wasn’t cut out for that life. Magic… It was different for me than for the others. They got stronger by learning, I got stronger by doing, and the Academy didn’t really cater to that sort of training. I wanted to leave, but I knew they wouldn’t just let me. They were big on secrecy there, so once you’re part of their cult you never get to be free again. He helped me leave. Not for free, of course, Bren doesn’t do shite for free. He made me owe him a favor. I thought since he was dead he’d never come to collect, but that fucker won’t even let death keep him from getting what he’s owed. Will he be coming with you?”

Jester and Fjord exchanged another glance but it was Yasha who spoke. “Perhaps. He goes by Caleb now, I’m sure he’d prefer it if you didn’t throw his name around.”

Jaena snorted and smoke came out her nose. “What, he thinks I’ve got spying eyes around here? Fuck no, this entire block is protected from divination spells. What the fuck does he take me for, a novice? Naw, bring that fucker here so he can say that shite to my face.”

As they left through the door they’d entered- “Make sure you say what town you’re going to before you go in or else you’ll just pop right back out here” Talia called- Fjord leaned over to Jester.

“Am I the only one who thinks that she and Beau will either get along incredibly well or they’ll have a fight to the death within five minutes of meeting?”

Yasha held Beau tightly in her arms and Beau wasn’t even awake to enjoy it. Caleb frowned as he stared at the decrepit building. “Here?”

Jester nodded. “It looks gnarly but it’s actually a portal to a very nice store in Tal Dorei,” she, opening the door.

Fjord stepped up first. “Let’s go.”

“And you said she warded the whole block, right?”

“Well, that’s what she said, but honestly, there was so much magic in that building I couldn’t feel any wards even if they were there.”

Strangely, that seemed to make him feel better. “Alright, he said, stepping after Fjord through the door. Yasha followed next with Beau in her arms. Then Cad and Nott followed with Jester bringing up the rear. The room hadn’t changed at all in the hour they’d been gone, but there were several people inside now, browsing the shelves. Caleb curled on himself and scratched nervously at his bare arms but none of them paid the group any mind.

Talia looked up from where she was finishing a customer’s order and waved them back. “Come on through, she’s got the room set up.” They moved passed her towards the back and suddenly the bookish gnome wobbed in place and nearly fell off the stairs she was using the reach the counter. Cad reached around Yasha’s body to hold her up. “Oh, dear,” she said, looking at Beau with wide, fearful eyes. “That’s some powerful stuff. How are you all still standing after being around it for so long?”

Caleb looked confused. “It hasn’t affected us in such a way,” he said, turning his face away when she looked at him.

She frowned and held onto the counter so tightly her knuckles turned white. “Get her out of here. I feel faint. Are you telling me you don’t feel that… that evil? Gods, I’m gonna be sick.” Yasha hurriedly carried Beau into the back and away from Talia.

“I’ll stay out here,” Cad called again, helping the young gnome stay on her feet.

Yasha carried Beau in front down to the room they’d been taken to before. There was still someone screaming in that room they passed but now there was also a quiet, male voice whispering soothingly. The room from before with the cushions was empty and they all stood around awkwardly for a moment before Jaena stepped out of a door farther down the hall.

“Ah, there you are. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming back.” Caleb curled his shoulders up by his ears and tried to bury his face in his scarf but his movement caught Jaena’s eyes. She raised an eyebrow. “Bren? What happened to you, man? You look… like shit.”

Caleb cleared his throat and nodded to her. “You look well also, Jaena. You’ve done quite well for yourself, I’m impressed. Thank you for helping.”

She was still looking him up and down. “Is this what dying does to you?”

“Ah, I’ve never died. Gotten close but, no, this is me.”

“What was he like when you knew him?” Jester asked, grinning mischievously. “Was he very different?”

“Like night and day, holy shit. I barely recognized him with his hair like that. I used to tease him that he spent more time getting ready in the morning than I did. Damn, Bren.”

“You have not changed in the least, Jaena. And it’s Caleb, now. If you please.”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. You don’t have to use fake names here.”

“Please,” he said again. “Caleb. It’s not a fake name anymore, it’s my name.”

She seemed thrown by his seriousness but shrugged. “Well, alright then. Caleb, bring her on back.” She stood in the doorway to hold it open as they got near.

“Your sister got sick when Beau got near,” Jester warned.

Jaena nodded. “Yeah, I feel it too. I’m more used to it than she is, I’ll be fine. Just sit her on the table there.” The room that they stepped into was far more stark and sterile looking than the last. There was nothing on the walls and chairs instead of cushions. There was a single table in the center with a blue piece of cloth paid over it. Yasha gently laid Beau on top of the table and then took a seat nearby. Everyone else did the same and Jaena brought up the rear. “Alright, let’s see what we can learn right here.” She hopped up on a step stool until she was tall enough to see them over Beau’s body. She closed her eyes and her hands hovered over Beau’s body, glowing a faint white light. “Oh… shite. This is a new one. I thought I’d seen every sleeping curse known to mortal kind, but this... “ She frowned and opened her eyes. “It’s not a sleeping curse.”

“But she’s sleeping,” Fjord said.

“Side effect. The actual curse is inside of her instead of around her. Usually curses will be on the surface of a person. A good tug in one way or another and they just fall away. It’s like… how to describe this… It’s like metaphysical tissue paper. Sleeping curses are the weakest on the curse hierarchy, they can usually be broken by a kiss or some fuckery like that, but this is deeper than anything I’ve ever seen. I can’t reach the curse from here.”

“Can’t reach it?” Fjord asked. “Where do you need to go to get it?”

“Not me,” she said, looking up at them. “You. Once you get close enough you should be able to convince her to tear it down herself. She’s the only one who can affect the world once you’re inside, the only hard part is getting to it. You’ll have to go in.”

“In…? Inside her?” Jester asked. “Like, in a sexy way because I don’t think Beau would like that too much.”

“No,” Caleb said next, not taking his eyes from Beau’s body. “Inside her mind. We’ll have to send our consciousness into hers, is that right?” He stood up and stepped up to the table, meeting Jaena’s stare. “What exactly is the nature of the curse? If sleeping isn’t the point, what is it doing to her?”

“It’s making her face her deepest fears and demons. One after another after another until the end of time or until she dies, whichever comes first. The sleeping is because the curse turned all nonessential parts of the brain on standby, to keep her focused on the trauma.”

“She’s been like that for so long,” Yasha said, standing up to stand beside Caleb. He turned to meet her concerned eyes. “It must be like a constant nightmare.”

“It is,” Jaena said, without comfort. She hopped off of her stool and started towards the door. “I’m going to fetch the spell. Wait here and discuss among yourselves. I can only send one person in.”

“Just one?” Nott asked, confused.

“A mind can usually only handle a single consciousness. Putting two in there and things get a little dicey, a strong mind like your Beau’s should be able to handle it. Any more than that and the chance for permanent damage triples with each new person. Best not to risk it just yet.” Then she left them alone.

“Who should go?” Fjord asked. “I can barely handle being in my own mind sometimes, I don’t know-”

“Caleb will go,” Nott said.

“I- What?” Caleb stuttered. “No.”

Jester frowned. “I could go. I know Beau probably the best.”

“Caleb, Caleb will go.”

“Nott-”

“Yasha could go,” Jester said next, turning to her. “You’re very strong, you could protect her.”

Yasha frowned. “This magic stuff… I don’t trust it. I would prefer to stay out here and protect her body.”

“Caleb.”

“Should Cad go?” Fjord asked. “This is all about emotions, right? And trauma. He’s good with that stuff.”

“Caleb.”

Jester finally turned to Nott. “Nott, he doesn’t want to go. I’ll-”

“I will go,” Caleb said finally. The others quieted as he cleared his throat. “I will do it, I’ll go in.” He fiddled with the edge of his sleeve nervously. “This is sure to be a very intimate experience. Whoever goes in will see a part of Beau that she has never shown anyone. They will see all her deepest dreams and insecurities. I don’t think- I don’t think she would want you to see that side of her, Jester. It won’t always be pretty, it won’t make you like her more. I’m not sure that I would personally want to be around someone who had seen me at my most vulnerable. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Jester frowned and stared down at her hands as the curled into fists. “You’re saying that she might hate whoever goes in there after they come back out.”

“I think so. It would be understandable, it’s a violation of sorts. And I think she would miss me being in her life the least, so it should be me.”

“That’s not true,” Jester insisted. “She loves you, she does.”

Caleb gave her a sad smile. “She doesn’t. But thank you, Jester. I will go in.”

The door opened and Jaena stepped inside once more, holding a book in her left hand. “There we go. Made a decision?”

Caleb nodded. “I will go.”

Jaena seemed put off by that. “Well, that’s awfully kind of you, Bren. You won’t come out of this experience unchanged either, you know. It’s not gonna be sunshine and daisies, it’ll be several layers of horror shows. What exactly is she going to owe you for this?”

Caleb frowned. “Nothing. She will not owe me a thing. I’m not like anymore, Jae. And it’s Caleb. Please.”

Jaena stared into his eyes, looking for a break, for a sign of lying, but then seemed to find what she wanted in his gaze and shrug. “Well, alright, Caleb. If they trust you with her, then I’ll trust their judgement.”

“We trust him,” Fjord said. Out of the entire group, it was Fjord’s trust in him that surprised him the most. “He’ll take good care of her.” He turned his eyes to Caleb. “And we’ll take care of you. We’ll make sure you don’t die of dehydration while you’re empty.”

Caleb nodded and Jester giggled. “Not gonna lie, this whole conversation sounds super dirty.” Caleb was pretty sure the humor was just to cover up for her nervousness, because then she reached up to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.

“It did sound super dirty,” Caleb agreed. He retook his seat and tried to relax it so that he didn’t fall over. “We should get started then, yeah?”

“Oh!” Jester exclaimed, reaching into her bag. “You should eat something! We don’t know when the next time you’ll be able to eat will be!” She pulled out a crusty, stale doughnut and waved it under his nose. He ate it in a few quick bites.

“Thanks,” he said, relaxing once more. “Here we go. Jaena, whenever you’re ready.”

She sat a moldy piece of bread and a marble cube about the size of her two fists in his lap. “Components,” she said to Fjord’s confused stare. “Alright. Here we go. Hang onto your asses.”

#critical role #critical role fic #beauregard #caleb widogast #jester lavorre #fjord #yasha #nott the brave #this will a shortish two or three chapter

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jekkiefan · 6 years ago

Text

A Wound to Heal

A commission for @wombatking

Fandom: Gravity Falls

Word count: 5,017

Ship: Mabifica

Summery: Mabel and Dipper are spending their second summer in Gravity falls. Both Mabel and Pacifica are excited to see each other in person again, and it seems like nothing could ruin this perfect season. That is until Mabel brakes her ankle.

The school year was finally over. Ten months of lectures, bullies, and homework… lots of homework. All of it could be left in the past of the colder months. Now the mystery twins looked forward to spending their summer in the sleepy town of Gravity Falls. Or at least that’s what they thought a year ago. This summer the twins knew of the towns secrets and weirdness.

Dipper, equipped with the journal Mabel have given him, planed on uncovering more of the town’s mysteries. Meanwhile Mabel could hardly contain her excitement. Not only would she get to see her two BFFs, but she’d get to see Pacifica!

During the school year the girls had been texting each other. At first they talked about school, hobbies, daily life, and such. But after a while Mabel began showing off her new sweaters, and in turn Pacifica would send her pictures of her new jewelry. Eventually Pacifica would sometimes get a midnight text from Mabel asking questions like “If I spin fast enough with my arms out, will I fly like a helicopter?” or “Do you think it hurts the characters when I close a book too fast?” Talking to each other quickly became highlights of their day. And when they weren’t talking, they thought about one another. Mabel would often find herself wondering what Pacifica would think of her outfits. Likewise Pacifica would see a baby animal, and wonder what Mabel would name it.

And now they would finally see each other in person again! As soon as Mabel passed the Gravity Falls sign, she took a picture and sent it to Pacifica.

Mabel: Almost there!!! :D

Mabel: Can we hang out today?

She looked out the window of the bus, and watched the trees go by in a green blur. Waddles snorted sleepily as she pet his head. Then Mabel heard the phone ping.

Pacifica: No, I’m at a golf tournament right now. How about tomorrow?

Mabel sent a picture of a cat giving a thumbs-up, and smiled. This is going to be the best summer ever, she thought.

Until…

“Ow!” Mabel cried as she clutched her ankle.

An uncaught Frisbee fell as Dipper ran to his sister’s aid. “Are you okay?”

Tears began to pool over her cheeks as she shook her head. Through her watery vision she saw that the culprit was an un-seen gopher hole. She then looked to her bruised and swelling ankle as Dipper called for help.

One night in the hospital, then Mabel was back at the shack. Only this time a pink cast was attached to her foot, with orders that she was to keep it on for two months. Two months! That was all of summer!

Mabel sat in the TV room, orange juice in hand, uninterested in the show that flashed on the screen. Her foot itched and felt like it had a rock tied to it. Not to mention that her armpits hurt from using her crutches. She took a drink from her cup then frowned at her cast.

Dipper sauntered in and sat on the dino-skull. “Whatcha watching?”

Mabel looked up at the screen to see… sports? But with fire?

“Hmm,” Dipper pondered. “What’s the goal in death-ball? To not die?” He chuckled a bit at his own poor joke.

Mabel watched as Toby Determined ran across a field with a flaming, spiked bat. Then she glared at her cast with a sigh.

Dipper took note of this. “Pretty cool that they gave you a pink cast, right?”

His sister shrugged, “Yeah, I guess. But now my entire summer is ruined!”

“Don’t you think you’re over exaggerating?”

“Maybe,” Mabel pondered. She looked out the window, and saw a gnome dash into the bushes. What was she doing? Sitting inside when she could be out having an adventure. She needed to do something to get her out of this funk. “Ugh! You’re right.” Mabel stood up and leaned on her good leg.

“That’s the spirit, Mabel!” Then with a worried look, “Do you need your crutches?”

Mabel plopped back down on the recliner, and held her now sore ankle. “Yes, please.”

A few moments later Mabel was outside trying to figure out how to play hopscotch with crutches. After an hour of hopping and then falling, she gave up and tried dancing with Waddles. This proved slightly more fun, but only because for a second it looked like Waddles was waltzing. Then Mabel thought about doing cartwheels, but felt it best not to try. With head hung low, Mabel walked back inside to the TV room. There she watched the Why You Ackin’ So Cray-cray marathon until she heard a knock at the door.

“I got it!” Dipper called from the stairs.

When he opened the door, much to his surprise, Pacifica was there. She was dressed nice, maybe a touch nicer than usual. Then again Dipper wasn’t sure what “nicer” clothes looked like for a rich person.

“Is Mabel here?” She said.

“Sure, but...” Dipper thought of his sister still moping on the recliner.

Pacifica narrowed her eyes, “But what?”

“Well, Mabel’s really put out…” He thought about telling her to come back another time. “She told you what happened, right?”

“Yeah, she sent me a text yesterday. But she said we could still hang out.” Pacifica shifted her weight and put her hand on her hip.

“Come in, but Mabel might not want to do anything today. And I’m not sure what to do for her.” Suddenly a spark of an idea came to him. “But maybe you do!”

Pacifica stopped mid-walk and turned to Dipper. “Me?”

“Yeah! Mabel was super excited to see you. It was all she talked about on the bus here.”

Pacifica felt her face grow warm. “What can I do? Just hang out with her?”

“Yeah, just make sure she’s happy.”

Pacifica tried to think of how to help Mabel, but her mind went blank. She didn’t know how to make sweaters and scrapbooks like Mabel. Pacifica wasn’t that into crafts… wait “Hey, did Mabel bring her craft stuff?”

Dipper smirked, “This is Mabel we’re talking about.”

Pacifica looked to a bit of dirt on her shoe. “Well, I’m going to go decorate her cast.”

“She’ll love that!”

“And you go do something about those holes in the yard.” Pacifica pointed out the window, “I almost tripped.”

Dipper looked and saw that the lawn was now filled with gopher holes. “Where did they all come from?” He felt his journal in his jacket as curiosity filled his mind. “Hmm, seems like a mystery.”

“Okay, so where’s Mabel’s craft stuff?” Pacifica crossed her arms.

“Upstairs on her bed,” said Dipper not removing his gaze from the lawn.

The two parted their ways. Pacifica went up the stairs while Dipper walked outside with journal in hand. A few minutes later Pacifica was holding a big, pink bag of yarn, glue, glitter, flowers, and just about everything craft related. Objects shifted and clonked in the bag as she walked to the TV room. There she saw Mabel slumped over the arm of the recliner. Pacifica’s heart dropped at the sight. She had to make her happy again. She can’t have this sadness defeat her.

“Hey, Mabel,” Pacifica said setting down the bag.

Mabel looked up. Her eyes brightened a little. “Pacifica! What are you doing here?”

“We planed on hanging out today. Remember?” Pacifica sat down on the floor next to her.

“Oh, right.” Mabel then noticed her craft bag. “Why did you bring that down here?”

“To decorate your cast.”

Mabel turned starry-eyed. “Really!? With you!?”

Pacifica looked to the plain pink cast. “I’m surprised you haven’t decorated it yourself yet.” She then opened the bag, “So what do you want to do first?”

Mabel sat herself on the floor, and eagerly pulled out the bag’s contents. A bezazzler, stickers, glitter glue, markers, and just about everything else that one could consider crafty. Then she pulled out some blue and purple ribbon. “What about this?”

Pacifica looked at the ribbons then to the pink cast. “If you put it around the top, like a trim, that wouldn’t look half bad.”

Mabel reached in her bag and pulled out a hot glue gun, which was decorated with stickers. “Plug this in for me.”

Pacifica curiously held the device in her hand. After plugging it in, she turned around to find Mabel looking through rhinestones and fake flowers. “What about the ribbon?” Pacifica asked.

The other girl looked at Pacifica with confusion, “The glue needs to heat up first.”

“That’s how they work?”

Mabel chuckled. “It’s called a hot glue gun for a reason.” She glanced at the other objects around her. “Oh! Look!” Mabel grabbed a sticker and showed it to Pacifica.

Pacifica leaned in, and saw that the sticker depicted a giraffe saying ‘Reach for the Stars!!!’ while holding a star in it’s mouth.

Mabel place the sticker on her cast. “What flowers and jewels do you think would go with the cast?”

With a keen eye Pacifica looked at the flowers. There were pinkish ones with a yellow middles that looked nice. When it came to the rhinestones she thought that it would be best to pick ones that matched the ribbon and flowers.

Peering over Pacifica’s shoulder, Mabel gasped, “Pacifica! That looks great!”

Pacifica’s hands froze. “Uh, thanks. Anyway, how do you want them on your cast?”

Mabel looked at the pink plaster that surrounded her ankle. “Hmm… flowers. Oh! The jewels can look like stems!”

Pacifica nodded in agreement.

Mabel grabbed the bezazzler, “Let’s put the jewels on!”

“Uh, Mabel,” Pacifica said in a worried tone, “maybe we can just glue the rhinestones on.”

“Yeah,” Mabel looked at the bezazzler skeptically, “it did kinda hurt when I bezazzled my face.”

“You what?”

“Oh nothing. Hey, I think the glue gun is hot now,” Mabel pointed over to the device. A small blob of glue was now stuck to the carpet.

Pacifica pick it up and saw the glue, “Should we be worried about this?”

Mabel waved her hand, “Pfft, no, it’s fine.” Once handed the glue gun, she got right to work on the ribbon.

Pacifica helped hold the fabric in place as the glue dried. As well as help with tying a cute bow on the back for Mabel. After the bow came the flower design. Pacifica handed Mabel the rhinestones and flowers so the latter could glue them on. A few times Mabel burnt her finger on the hot glue, but assured Pacifica that she was fine.

“Done!” Mabel declared. She then turned to Pacifica, “What do you think?”

Pacifica looked at the floral design and smiled. “The rhinestones look pretty good for being plastic.”

Mabel seemed dissatisfied. “Hmm, it’s missing something.” She rubbed her chin in thought, then snapped her fingers. Mabel reached down and grabbed a marker. “Sign my cast.”

“What?” Pacifica felt her face grow warm again. She took the marker in hand, and carefully signed her name on the side of the hot pink cast. When she was finished Pacifica surveyed the pile of craft stuff, then glanced to Mabel.

“What is it?” Mabel asked.

She felt herself smile as she said, “Maybe we can complete the look.”

It took a moment for Mabel to process what was just said. Then her eyes got wide and she gasped with joy, “A makeover!”

If only Dipper was having as much fun as his twin was. He’d been spending his afternoon following the trail of gopher holes. A trail that started at the shack and led into the surrounding forest. Many a time Dipper stumbled on the holes and almost met the same fate as his sister. Suddenly the trees gave way, and Dipper was surrounded by gopher holes.

“Whoa.” He stood still, afraid that if he took a step further the hole-filled ground would collapse. “No normal gopher could do this.” Dipper took out his journal and began writing down his discovery. After writing he surveyed the clearing once more, and found another trail of holes. He would have followed it had it not been for the fading light, and his lack of a flashlight. Dipper made note to visit the clearing later. He then headed back to the shack.

Once he arrived, Dipper opened the door to the smell of… oatmeal? He turned to the TV room and saw it littered with craft supplies, dresses, and beauty products. In the middle of it all was Mabel and Pacifica. Mabel was wearing her pink and yellow flower dress. Meanwhile Pacifica was wearing Mabel’s old robin-egg blue dress with a matching blue ribbon in her hair.

Mabel turned to her twin. “Hey, Dipper! Pacifica and I are having a makeover.”

Dipper lightly kicked some sparkly fabric that was on the floor. “I see. Why does it smell like oatmeal in here?”

Pacifica held up a bowl. “It was for our face masks.”

“Do you want one too?” Mabel grinned.

Dipper took a defensive step back. “What? No, I don’t want oatmeal on my face.”

“Come ooon, Dipper!” Mabel teased.

“Nope,” He said backing out of the room, “I’m just gonna anywhere that not here.” And with that he left the room.

“But Dipper!” Mabel giggled. She stood up to chase her brother, but quickly met the floor with a thud.

“Mabel!” Pacifica ran to her side.

Mabel sat up and sadly looked to her cast.

“Are you okay?” Pacifica said, her voice filled with concern.

Mabel brought her knees to her chest. “No,” her voice mousy.

Unsure what to do, Pacifica sat down next to her. There was a long moment of silence. Pacifica felt helpless to the situation. She sensed the waves of sadness coming from Mabel’s curled form. There had to be something she could do. She couldn’t let the sadness win. Pacifica saw how Mabel’s long hair covered most of her body like a cocoa-colored blanket, and got an idea. “Hey, do you want me to braid your hair?”

Mabel sniffed and rubbed her eyes. “Okay.”

“I think a side braid would look good with this dress.”

“Yeah, but nobody will be able to see it because I can’t walk anywhere.”

“What about your crutches?”

Mabel sniffed again, “But they hurt my armpits.”

Pacifica felt her heart ache. What could she do? Mabel was usually so bubbly, but now she looked so broken. Pacifica handed her a pillow.

Mabel looked up. Then took the pillow, and buried her face in it. “Thanks.”

Pacifica pulled back Mabel’s hair when another idea came to her. “I thought you’d like crutches.”

“Huh?” Mabel responded with curiosity.

“Wouldn’t it be like a personal swing?” Pacifica took out a hairbrush, then began working out the small tangles in Mabel’s hair.

Mabel sat up a little. “I didn’t think about that.” She rested her head back down on the pillow.

As Pacifica quietly brushed her hair, Mabel began thinking about how much faster she could be with her crutches. All that could be heard was the soft shushing of the brush that lulled Mabel into a half-sleep. Pacifica felt the smooth strands slip through her hands as she began braiding Mabel’s hair. The calmness that filled the air made Pacifica want to sleep too. A few minutes later, the braid was finished.

“Hey, Pacifica?” Mabel mumbled.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks for doing this.”

Pacifica’s heart skipped a beat at the kind remark. “It-it’s nothing.”

Mabel looked to her and saw her pink cheeks, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m just happy to see you in person again.” Pacifica wanted to say more. She wanted to tell Mabel about this weird but nice feeling in her heart. The feeling had begun not long after school started. Pacifica opened her mouth to speak, “Hey, Mabel?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you want to-” her voice caught in her throat. “Do you want me to come back next week?”

A soft blush covered Mabel’s cheeks, “Sounds great!”

Pacifica stood up and surveyed the mess around them. “Do you need help with...” she gestured to the pile of crafts and makeup.

“Don’t you need to go soon?”

Pacifica thought of her parents, but then saw Mabel. “I can spare a few minutes.”

With that said the two of them shoved the ribbons, rhinestones, glue sticks, and more back in the bag. After putting away the dresses and makeup, Pacifica said her farewell and left.

Leaving Mabel alone in the TV room.

The next week seemed to go by agonizingly slow for both girls. Both felt trapped in their own house. Pacifica by her parents, and Mabel by her cast. Dipper tried his best to make Mabel feel better. He usually got a smile out of her, but as soon as he left the room, Mabel became melancholy once more.

One day Dipper took her to the park. Mabel sat on the bench watching the other kids play tag. Dipper had been sitting with her, but had decided to walk around. Mabel tried to keep her mind busy. She thought about what she and Pacifica could do when she visits in a few days. Mabel wanted to see her sooner, but Pacifica sent a text saying that her parents are having a dinner party. Maybe they could have a dinner party. But not like the boring ones Pacifica’s parents have. They could have a breakfast for dinner party! Everyone loves breakfast for dinner, Mabel reasoned. So Pacifica will love it! What breakfast foods does Pacifica like?

Mabel pondered Pacifica’s likes and dislikes. The she remembered how Pacifica smiled when they decorated her cast. How rosy her face was…

Wait.

Now that she thought about it, had Pacifica been blushing. Mabel felt her face grow warm. Containing a happy squeal, she threw her head over the bench, and looked up at the tree above her. A bird flew off the tree, causing a leaf to fall.

Mabel sat up and saw Dipper standing in front of her. “Hey,” Mabel said.

“There’s a slide on the other side of the jungle gym.” Dipper said with a smile.

Mabel looked out, thinking of climbing up the ladder. She sighed, “I’m not in the mood.”

“Do you wanna go to the shack?”

Mabel nodded.

Dipper handed her the crutches, and soon the two left the park.

When Saturday finally came, Mabel had everything ready. A new box of her favorite cereal, two cartons of eggs, all the bacon a person could ever want, and most importantly pancake mix and a newly cleaned waffle maker. Just when the last bottle of syrup was set out, Dipper came dashing through the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” Mabel asked.

Dipper stopped and excitingly turned to his sister. “Yesterday I discovered that the gopher holes all lead to the bunker. And I was thinking ‘wasn’t there something about a mole-man in the third journal?’ But I just remembered that Grunkel Ford found a mole-man skeleton in there! So I’m going to go find it!”

Excitement filled Mabel’s heart. But then she remembered her ankle. There was no way she could go on a mystery adventure in her state. She’d just slow everyone down. “Well, have fun,” she said with a forced smile.

Dipper noticed the change in his sister’s mood. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she lied. “You go on your adventure.”

Dipper didn’t believe a word of it. But he decided not to press the issue too much. “Well, I’ll keep you updated.” He handed her a walkie-talkie. “Have fun with Pacifica.” Dipper gave Mabel a quick side hug and was off.

Not long after Mabel heard a knock at the door. Swinging her good leg between her crutches, Mabel dashed to the door. She opened it, and saw Pacifica standing there fixing her new skirt.

“How was the dinner party?” Mabel asked.

Pacifica rubbed her forehead and groaned. “Boring as always.” Then she turned to Mabel, “But how was your week?”

Mabel shrugged and avoided Pacifica’s eyes, “Boring as always.”

Pacifica crossed her arms. “What happened?” She looked around and noticed Dipper’s absence. “Where’s your brother?”

With a sigh Mabel replied, “Nothing. He went out on an adventure thing.”

Pacifica saw Mabel saddened face. She had to do something to make her happy. Pacifica decided to change the subject. “So you’re having a breakfast for dinner party?”

Mabel immediately perked up. “Yeah! I got everything set out.” She began walking into the kitchen, and Pacifica followed.

“Um,” Pacifica stuttered once she saw that every raised surface was covered in various foods. “How much food are we making?”

“As much as you want!” Mabel declared.

Pacifica surveyed the area, and spotted the waffle maker. “What’s that?”

Mabel gasped. “You don’t know what a waffle maker is!?”

Pacifica walked to the device and opened it. “How does it make waffles?”

“Well,” Mabel said pulling out a box of pancake mix, “you follow these instruction, pour the mix in here, smoosh it, and voila! A waffle!”

Pacifica looked at the box. “It says ‘pancake mix.’”

“The shape is what makes the waffle,” Mabel said setting down the box.

Suddenly Dipper’s staticky voice came through the walkie-talkie. “Dipper to Mabel. Dipper to Mabel. Can you hear me?”

Mabel grabbed the walkie-talkie from the table. “Mabel to Dippingsauce. I hear you loud and clear.”

“Is Pacifica there yet?” came his response.

Mabel tilted her head in confusion. “Yeah, we were just about to make waffles.”

“Good, she can help.”

Pacifica leaned in. “Help with what?”

There was obvious excitement in his voice, “Just come to the bunker. Over and out!” And with that said Dipper signed out.

“The bunker?” Pacifica questioned.

Mabel was shaking with enthusiasm. “It’s a mystery adventure! Can you help me climb down into the bunker?”

Pacifica smiled. Even if she wanted to, there was now way she could say no.

As they approached the hole a pebble was kicked away and fell. The echoing plunks faded, and ended with a clank. Mabel looked to the old wooden stairs, then to her crutches. Pacifica glanced at the dirty cobwebs and shivered. Then she looked to Mabel’s curious eyes. Pacifica opened her mouth to speak, but Mabel dropped her crutches and hopped onto the first step.

“Mabel!” Pacifica grabbed her arm.

Mabel teetered until she got her balance. She glanced at the stairs again, “Maybe I shouldn’t do that.”

“Don’t do that! Let me help,” Pacifica said putting one foot on the step.

Together they walked down the creaky wooden stairs. Pacifica lead with careful steps. Each wooden step creaked under the pressure, filling the area with an eerie echo. Pacifica held tight onto Mabel, making sure she didn’t fall. Every now and then she’s think about how close they were. She’d give a slight smile. But then the black abyss they were descending into quickly brought Pacifica’s attention back to walking. Finally they reached the bottom. Pacifica gazed at all the steps she and Mabel just journeyed down.

“That wasn’t too bad,” Mabel grinned.

Pacifica dusted off some cobwebs off of her skirt. “Yeah. Let’s just go see what your brother found.”

Mabel hopped to a large tunnel, pulling Pacifica along. “C’mon, the bunker is this way. Hopefully Dipper tripped all the boobie-traps for us.”

“The what!”

“Let’s go!” Mabel hopped into the tunnel with Pacifica close behind.

Once inside Pacifica noticed that she and Mabel were in what looked like an old bedroom. In one of the walls was a large un-man-made hole. And there was Dipper, examining his discovery.

Dipper turned to them. “Great! You made it.”

Mabel looked at the tunnel, “What did that?”

“I think my theory is right. It’s the mole-man I talked about.”

“A mole-man?” Mabel chimed in, “shouldn’t we call up a group of superheros?”

Pacifica peered into the tunnel. “So what are we going to do?”

“Meet him of course! Let’s go!” Mabel called as she started to crawl into the hole.

“Mabel!” Dipper yelled. “Your ankle!” then he started to crawl in after her.

Pacifica looked down at her nice clothes, but narrowed her brows and followed. It was a very long and dark tunnel. Not being able to see was really getting to Pacifica. Was that her hair that brushed past her face, or a bug. Honestly she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know. But it wasn’t long until she found the rest of the team.

“Hey, Dipper,” Mabel called, “I see two different tunnels.”

“How can you see anything in this pit?” Pacifica said.

Pacifica heard some distant cracking followed by Mabel saying, “Here!”

There was a silence, until Pacifica saw a purple glow coming towards her. As her eyes adjusted, Pacifica saw that it was a glow stick necklace. She put it on, and noticed that she could actually see.

“Now,” Mabel said, “which way do I go?”

“Uh...” Dipper stammered.

“Left,” Pacifica called.

“To the left!” Mabel declared.

Soon the trio was back to their adventure. Making rights and lefts, downs and ups. Dipper became worried that Mabel’s directing would get them lost. However they eventually reached a stop.

“You guys!” Mabel said. “I think I found a cave!” There was some shuffling followed by a plop. “Ow.”

“You okay?” Pacifica and Dipper called.

“Yeah, come in here!”

Dipper and Pacifica made their way forward into the dark and spacious cavern. Mabel was sitting down with a pink glow necklace. Pacifica was quick to her side, and helped her up. Dipper took off his blue necklace, and used it to examine the rest of the cave.

“How far down are we?” Pacifica wondered out loud.

Dipper knocked on the wall. “Hard to say.” His curiosity grew, so he went off to inspect the rest of the cave.

Mabel gasped quietly, “Pacifica! Your skirt is torn.”

Pacifica looked down to see her nice skirt, the skirt her parents just bought, torn. She thought of coming home looking like she did. And of how disappointed they would be.

“It’s okay,” Mabel smiled. “I can sew it when we get back to the shack.”

Pacifica looked down at Mabel’s cast, then to her skirt. No, this is all wrong. Mabel’s hurt, she shouldn’t be... Pacifica became lost in her thoughts.

“Pacifica?”

She looked up to see Mabel’s worried face. “What’s wrong?” Mabel said putting a hand on Pacifica’s shoulder.

“Mabel” Pacifica said with self frustration in her voice, “I’m fine. You’re the one with a broken ankle.”

Mabel made a face. “But your feeling look broken.”

Pacifica couldn’t help but smirk at that. But it was quickly covered up by her internal frustration. “I’m worried about what my parents will think-- But that’s stupid. You’re the one with a broken ankle.”

Mabel tried to look into Pacifica’s downcast eyes. There was confusion and irritation in her eyes. “You problems are real too.”

“No, I’m supposed to be cheering you up.” Pacifica couldn’t let Mabel’s sadness win.

“You’ve been trying to make me happy?”

Pacifica sighed. “Yeah, I tried to do things to make you happy. But now you’re the one trying to make me feel better.”

A quiet chuckle came from Mabel’s smiling mouth.

“What’s so funny? I’m trying to be a better person,” Pacifica said feeling offended. “Why are you laughing?”

Mabel shook her head. “No it’s just...” she looked at Pacifica with twinkling eyes, “I am happy.” In one fluid motion Mabel wrapped her arms around Pacifica. “You helped me go on an adventure, and you were there for me.”

Pacifica felt her heart beat next to Mabel’s. She accepted the hug by holding her close as well.

“Thank you,” came Mabel’s muffled voice from Pacifica’s shoulder.

Pacifica hid her blushing face in Mabel’s hair. “It’s nothing.”

Then an echoing scream pierced the air.

Dipper came running into view. “I found the mole-man!” Behind him a giant man-like creature with large teeth crawled towards them.

“Run!” Pacifica yelled. She dashed into the tunnel, Dipper and Mabel close behind her. Leading the group, Pacifica crawled away. Suddenly the tunnel forked. “Which way!?”

“Any way!” the twins yelled.

Pacifica took a right which sent her sliding down headfirst. Roots and rocks hit her face. At the bottom she caught herself, only to have Mabel and Dipper come crashing in.

“You okay, Mabel?” Pacifica called.

“Yeah,” she said spiting out dirt, “just go!”

The mole-man’s roar echoed throughout the tunnels. Pacifica dashed into another passage. Making lefts and rights and ups until she finally began to see light. Her hand met fresh grass as she pulled herself into the sunlight.

“A little help!” Mabel said from the tunnel.

Pacifica grabbed Mabel’s arm, and pulled her up. Dipper followed soon after, coughing up dirt as he did so. He looked around, and spotted the bunker’s metal tree. They had come full circle.

“We made it!” Mabel declared.

The corners of Pacifica’s mouth turned up, “That was kinda… fun.” She turned to Mabel, “Do you need help walking back?”

“Yeah,” Mabel turned around as if looking for something. “I thought I left my crutches somewhere around here.”

Dipper walked up to Mabel and Pacifica, holding the crutches. “Found them.”

“Thanks, Bro-bro.”

“I’m gonna close up the bunker,” he said pointing to the tree.

“Meet you at the shack,” Mabel replied. Using her crutches, Mabel stood with a smile on her face. “Hey,” she said to Pacifica, “when we get back to the shack, I’ll fix your skirt for you.”

Pacifica looked down to her torn skirt, then to Mabel. Her heart fluttered in her chest. Words wanted to be said. But how could she say them? How would she start? “Hey, Mabel?” Pacifica’s mouth said before she was ready.

“Yeah?”

“I was thinking that--” Pacifica stuttered.

“Thinking about what?” Mabel questioned. After observing Pacifica’s pink face, it didn’t take long for Mabel to know what was up.

“That,” Pacifica continued, “we should hang out again.”

Mabel smiled, “Of course we can, silly!” She gave Pacifica another hug. “It’s a date!”

Pacifica looked to Mabel’s grinning face. “Yeah…

“it’s a date.”

#gravity falls #mabifica #commissions #writing commission #fanfiction

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sockablock · 6 years ago

Text

Something New for Me and You

• (start) (AO3) (prev) (next) •

Chapter 5: Ribbons of Green Silk

TUSK LOVE 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO Today 8:22 AM

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*: hey assholes whos excited for saturdaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy??!!!!! NottSoBrave: caleb says ‘what is she going on about’ (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*: rude (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*: im not going to elaborate until he apologizes Babebarian: caleb please say sorry NottSoBrave: he says “i dont understand why but i am sorry” (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*: i forgive him (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*: anyways im talking about the 25th anniversary!! Its going to be so fun molly told me all the juicy details Seaman: and wouldn’t tell ME anything about it NottSoBrave: what a dick (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*: ANYWAYS, will we all be able to meet at some point? I know molly is performing (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*: and fjord and beau and yasha have to work that night Babebarian: perhaps after the show when things have calmed down we can all meet Seaman: yeah sure

Nott swung her feet off the side of the counter as Caleb finished washing their dishes. “Nobody’s replying now,” she narrated. “Did you have something you wanted me to send?”

Caleb shut the faucet off. “No, I am fine,” he said. “Tell me instead, have you and Jester decided on a time yet? Is your plan worked out?”

Nott nodded grudgingly. “She’s picking me up after her classes end. You’re super lucky that you’ve already got a suit, you know,” she sighed. “I really don’t want to do this.”

Caleb gave her a sympathetic smile. “I am sure it will be fine. Jester wouldn’t subject you to too much, of that I am certain.”

Nott sagged against the cupboards. “But this is going to suck,” she groaned. “People are gonna be looking at me, touching me, what if they realize I’m a goblin? The gnome disguise is only an illusion, what if they accidentally feel my ears or my hands, or what if the spell ends before I remember to cast it again? What then?”

“There are definitely risks,” Caleb conceded. “But that should not stop you. You can set a reminder on your cell every hour, and I am sure Jester would be more than happy to make sure nobody gets too close. She is our friend, ja?”

“Yeah,” Nott muttered. “Gods, I didn’t think going to a fancy party would be this much trouble. I still don’t see why I couldn’t have just magicked a fake dress for myself and saved a us a whole lot of trouble.”

“Jester wanted to treat you,” he reminded her. “And this is an experience you’ve always wanted, isn’t it? Even more, you deserve something nice. It is not every day one of us gets to be fancy, you should enjoy it. That is what you said when Jester dragged me out to the Tri Spires for dinner, ja?”

Nott raised an eyebrow. “Is this revenge, then? Are you getting back at me for that?”

Caleb grinned. “Not at all,” he said. “This is me giving you moral support and wishing that all goes well. Ich drücke dir die Daumen. Fingers crossed.”

•

Molly awoke to Fjord standing next to his bed, poking him in the arm. The half-orc was saying something, garbled and completely intelligible, and Molly had to sluggishly shove his hand away and pull the blankets over his head and ignore Fjord’s impatient sighs for a solid thirty seconds before he felt awake enough to reemerge and attempt communication.

“Gods, what?” he muttered. “What’s it?”

“I need you to stop by Crute’s apartment before you go to work and give him my letter,” Fjord said. “It’s on the kitchen table. Can you do that?”

“Letter?” Molly mumbled. “What letter?”

Fjord rolled his eyes. “My notice of leave letter, remember? Because I’m moving out next month? Like I told you last night?”

“Oh. That letter.”

“Yes, Molly. Can you do that?”

He rolled over and sighed dramatically. “I suppose so,” he said, “but I can’t say I’m thrilled about it. Am I not a good roommate, Fjord Tough? Have I not been more than wonderful? Are you abandoning me now, in this, my time of greatest need?”

Fjord shuffled his feet awkwardly. “Molly, you know I’m sorry, I really am, it’s not you. Jester ‘n I have been looking forward to this for a long time, yeah? And when we found the perfect apartment we knew it was the time and I know it leaves you out by yourself, but—”

Molly rolled back over and took Fjord’s hand. “I’m kidding, dear.” His tone was still sleepy, but now light and laced with warmth. “Of course I’m very happy for you both, I’ll give Crute the letter. Besides, when you’re gone then there won’t be any pushy half-orcs to prod me awake every morning.”

Fjord smiled. “Thanks, Molly.”

“Don’t mention it. Now get out, go to school, or whatever. I still have two hours before I need to be at the Moondrop.”

Fjord laughed. “Alright, alright, I’m going.”

And just as he was about to walk through the doorway, he paused and turned and said, “I’m gonna miss this, Mol.”

Molly pulled the blankets up again. “No,” he said. “Too early for emotions. Go away, try again later.”

Fjord snorted and left. A few seconds later, the front door clicked shut.

Eventually, Molly managed to close his eyes.

•

Shortly after Jester waltzed out of their apartment, pink backpack hanging loosely off one shoulder and humming cheerfully to herself all the way, Beau got up.

She slowly got out of bed and trudged into the kitchen, leaned against the counter and started sorting through mail as she waited for the coffeemaker to get its shit together.

“Boring…boring…boring,” she mumbled, tossing letters aside. She made a mental note to make sure Jester saw the one from Sieversii’s Office of the Bursar, immediately ignored a card saying she was overdue at the dentist, and then flipped to the next message and froze.

This envelope, brown and plain, was almost completely blank. Almost, except for “Beauregard” scrawled across the front in lazy, looping script.

She bit her lip. She thought for a moment. She walked over to the sink, held the envelope over it just in case, and carefully tore it open from the bottom.

A single piece of paper slid out.

She stared at it, lying motionless in the basin for a good minute. Then she gingerly picked it up and began to read.

Her eyes narrowed. Her teeth clenched, and her mouth curled into a scowl. Her anger grew, swelled, expanded until it burst in a thunderous explosion and she screamed with rage, kicked the dishwasher, crumpled the letter into a tight ball and whirled around and chucked it across the room. She pounded a fist against the side of the sink and stared furiously into the drain.

The coffeemaker dinged. She glowered at it, and then sighed.

She reached for the dishrack and found her mug, light blue ceramic.

She poured herself a cup.

•

“Okay, Nott!” Jester grinned as she climbed out of the car. “Welcome to the Tri-Spires! That tower over there, that one’s the Triumph Chime, where Caleb and Fjord and Molly and I had dinner on Monday. That one’s the Zauber Spire, it’s got fancy wizards in it and stuff, and that’s the Constellation Bridge. We’re going to one of the smaller boutiques, though,” she continued, gesturing to the bustling shops and storefronts around them. “I’ve been there a couple times before, they’re super nice. And you’re in gnome disguise, so it should be fine!”

Nott tugged uneasily on her coat. “But the illusion will cover everything up,” she said. “What if the people working there want to see me try something on, or what if they touch me and their hands disappear? That wouldn’t end well, Jester.”

She gave Nott a pat on the arm. “I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen. Trust me?”

Nott looked conflicted for only a moment. She exhaled and nodded slowly. “Alright, Jester. I trust you.”

•

“So,” said Yasha as she leaned against the costume rack and watched Mollymauk apply a generous layer of sparkling powder to his eyelids. “How was the, er...the coffee time?”

Molly snorted, launching a cloud of glitter into the air. “The coffee time?” he asked.

Yasha shrugged. She saw Molly reach for a tiny brush that was indistinguishable from an army of tiny brushes on the makeup table and press it to his eyelashes. “The event with Caleb?” she tried. “I don’t know, I would have said ‘date’ but he seemed adamant yesterday that I did not use that label.”

Molly frowned at Yasha in the mirror. “Really?” he asked. “Did he say why?”

Yasha shrugged again. “I left his home in a hurry. If he did, I did not catch it.”

There was a soft chuckle at that. “I’ve never seen you late for something before,” Molly quipped, “especially when you were harping on me for being on time. I’m ashamed for you, Yasha.”

She snorted and threw a stray sequin at his head, which hit his chair and vanished under the dresser. “Hush,” she said. “And tell me about your not-date, already. How was it? Did you have a good time? Was it everything you hoped?”

Molly sighed and leaned back to examine his eyeshadow. “Sort of,” he said. “It’s definitely confirmed that I am, in fact, head-over-heels for him. But I know it’s much too soon, and I’m fairly certain he harbors no such feelings in return.”

“Perhaps then you just need more time,” Yasha suggested. “Or maybe you should turn your affections elsewhere. I like him but he is a strange one, that Caleb. And that is coming from me.”

“I can’t just stop my emotions like that, Yasha. And besides, I wouldn’t want to. Even if he doesn’t ‘like me back’ it wouldn’t matter. Any suffering I face now is nothing in comparison to the darkness of not being able to love him.”

There was a brief pause.

“That was from Tusk Love, dear.”

“I know. I can’t tell if I want to punch you or clap.”

“I think I make a pretty good Guinevere.”

“You have nothing on Jester.”

There was another pause.

“Yeah, alright, that’s fair,” Molly conceded, and went back to studying his reflection. “Anyways, I do believe that. I’m just going to keep doing my best, and so long as it doesn’t make him uncomfortable, or ruin anything, I don’t see what the harm is. Let me feel, Yasha. Let me love.”

“You should listen to him,” said Mona from the mirror next to them. “If you don’t he’ll just keep complaining.”

“Endlessly,” agreed Yuli, standing behind Mona and doing her sister’s hair. “Hey, when are we going to meet this mystery man of yours, anyways?”

“He seems a much better sort than the kind you usually end up with,” added Mona.

“Soon,” said Molly. “Actually, he’s coming to the anniversary tomorrow. Maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of him then?”

“Not good enough,” said Yuli. “I want to meet him.”

“We should invite him backstage,” Yasha suggested. “He knows us both already as is, we can offset any awkwardness, yes?”

Molly blinked a few times. “Mm...maybe,” he said. “We’ll see. It’s a bit early to introduce him to the family, isn’t it?”

“He’s the love of your life,” Yasha teased. “Doesn’t that help?”

“Oh it helps,” said Molly. He leaned into the mirror, and studied his expression. He liked to think his eyes made him hard to read, but right now the fear and worry painted across his face was painfully obvious to him, at least.

He sighed, and lifted his brush. “We’ll just have to see if that’s enough.”

•

“Okay,” said Jester as she pulled the curtain closed. “You can drop the illusion now! It’s just us.”

Nott breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly, the appearance of a small gnome girl with curly red hair and bright blue eyes melted away. Now there was a little goblin in a ratty hoodie standing in the middle of the large fitting room.

“Thank the gods,” she said. “I got really worried when that half-elf tried to touch my illusion-dress. Thanks for distracting her, by the way.”

Jester beamed. “Of course! I promised I would protect you, yes? Now come on. Which one do you want to try on first?”

Nott surveyed their haul, which barely fit on the available hooks.

“We can start with the pink one?” she suggested. “I don’t know, I’ve never done this before. And I still don’t see the point in getting a dress, Jester, especially when nobody will actually see the real thing.”

Jester shook her head. “I want you to have something nice!” she said. “You’re a pretty girl, you need something pretty of your own to go with it. Not Caleb’s old clothes.”

Nott scoffed. “I’m not a pretty girl,” she said. “I’m a goblin.”

Jester raised an eyebrow. “So what? What difference does that make?”

Nott gave an incredulous laugh. “It makes the whole difference!” she said. “Goblins can’t be pretty, that’s ridiculous. They’re horrible, nasty, awful creatures that live in caves and eat children, everybody knows that. A goblin is, is, is disgusting.”

“No way,” said Jester. “That’s not true at all. You aren’t disgusting, and you’re not nasty or terrible either!”

“But I’m still a goblin,” Nott argued. “And there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ll always be a goblin.”

“Maybe so,” Jester said, and here she put a hand on Nott’s shoulder. “Maybe that’s the case. But you’re not only a goblin. You’re also Nott! And Nott is kind, and funny, and lovable. And if she gives it a chance, I think she’d see that she can be pretty too.”

Nott bit her lip. She looked up, met Jester’s pleading expression, and for the second time today, relented.

“Okay,” she sighed. “I’m not completely convinced, but I’ll try.” She slowly reached for one of the dresses, and turned back to Jester with a hesitant smile. “Help me with the zipper?”

•

Caleb looked up from his book—a particularly promising history detailing the rise of the Age of Arcanum—as a green, sheepish-looking man in a bright pink scarf walked up to his counter and tapped lightly on the bell.

It gave a faint, twinkling ding.

“Er...hi, Caleb,” said Fjord, putting the yarn out of his mouth. “How’re you today?"

He blinked. He stared at Fjord for a few silent, awkward seconds.

“Do not take this the wrong way,” Caleb said eventually, sliding a bookmark between the pages and putting the volume aside, “but what are you doing here? Doesn’t Sieversii have a much better library than this? One exclusive to students?” he added with only mild resentment.

“I’m, uh, I’m not actually here for books,” Fjord said. “I was actually meanin’ to ask you for your rates. Sorry I’m buggin’ you for such a small thing, I would’ve texted but I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have gotten a response.”

Caleb blinked again. “Excuse me, back up a second,” he said. “Rates?”

Fjord raised an eyebrow. “Uh...yeah? Sorry, are you not taking on more at the moment, or…?”

Caleb leaned forward. He wore a thoroughly bewildered expression on his face. “Fjord,” he said slowly, “I have no idea what you are talking about. Is Jester involved somehow?”

Fjord nodded. Now he looked just as confused as the wizard.

“Okay then,” Caleb said. “In that case, you should start again slowly. What is it you are here for?”

Fjord reached into his bag and produced a thick spiral notebook. He placed it onto the counter between them both.

“I need your help with classes,” he said. “I have a hard time understandin’ arithmetic and magical theory, and I was hoping you’d have some spare time in your weekly schedule to take me on as a student.”

“Oh,” said Caleb. “Oh, tutoring, ja sure, that is absolutely doable. But what did you mean before, asking for ‘rates’?”

Fjord frowned. “How much you charge, Caleb. I might not be able to match what Jes pays you, but—”

Caleb held up a hand. He met Fjord’s eyes. “Jester does not pay me,” he said evenly. “I never asked her to.”

Fjord blinked. He stared at Caleb. He took in the dark circles under the man’s eyes, the tattered nature of his coat. He thought about his own apartment, where he lived with Mollymauk, and then about Caleb and Nott’s home. He thought about his job at Fletch, and he thought about his salary.

“I’m paying you,” he said, and watched Caleb’s eyes go wide. “Seriously,” he added. “Whatever you ask. Name the price.”

•

Nott arrived through the front door that evening, which almost scared Caleb out of his mind as he stood in the kitchen, trying to light the stove with a gentle application of Burning Hands.

“Scheiss, spatz,” he said, extinguishing his fingers. “I thought you were a robber.”

“Sorry, sorry,” said Nott. She wore a wide and giddy grin. “I just didn’t want to rumple my dress coming through the window.”

Caleb’s face lit up. “Your dress? You got one?”

Nott proudly thrust forward a fabric bag almost as tall as she was. “I did!” she beamed. “And I really have to say...it was a lot of fun. I felt like a real girl, for the first time, you know?”

Caleb gave her a soft smile. “You’ve always been a real girl, Nott. But I am happy that you had that feeling. Can I see it?

She quickly shook her head. “Nope. You’re not allowed yet. Not ‘till after Jester does my hair and makeup. It’s a whole look.”

Caleb raised an eyebrow, but the grin stayed warmly in place. “If you say so,” he conceded. “Color me excited for tomorrow, then.”

“I’m really excited too,” Nott said. “Thank you for inviting me along.”

He chuckled. “Of course,” he said. “You are my family, Nott. I would want nobody else at my side.”

•

Jester arrived home to the smell of Marquesian takeout. Beau was seated at the dinner table, shoveling curried chicken into her mouth.

“Oh, Jester,” she said, muffled. “Welcome back.”

Jester shook the snow off her boots and hung her coat up. “I’m starving,” she said. “Scoot, let me at that bread.”

After Jester skipped over and began to eat, Beau stared into her bowl, seemingly thinking hard about something. After a moment, she suddenly looked up and said quickly, as if trying to prevent herself from stalling, “Hey, can I ask you something?”

Jester raised an eyebrow. “Sure. What’s up?”

Beau hesitated. “Do you...uh...do you like your mom?”

Jester laughed. “Uh...yeah?” She raised an eyebrow. “Of course I do, she’s my mom! And she loves me very much.”

“How, uh, how do you know?”

Jester put her fork down. “I dunno,” she mused. “I guess ‘cause she pays attention to me, and talks to me whenever she has time, and gives me lots of cool stuff and cares about me. She wouldn’t have sent me away if she didn’t love me, right? I could have been in super bad trouble if I had stayed home, after all.”

Beau contemplated this. She took a slow bite of chicken.

“I guess,” she said eventually. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Why’re you asking?” Jester leaned in. “Is there something going on?”

“No, no,” Beau shook her head quickly. “No, not at all. Just curious, I guess. Hey, pass me that bread, you can’t eat all of it!”

Jester giggled. “I bet I could,” she said, but handed it over. Then she met Beau's gaze with a soft expression. “You know you can talk to me about anything, right?" she asked. "We’re besties, that’s what they do.”

“Is it?”

“Absolutely.”

Beau nodded, and gave Jester a small smile. “Good to know, then,” she said. “I guess I’ll keep that in mind.”

•

Today 9:25 PM

Molly Tealeaf: hey there mister caleb! Molly Tealeaf: ive been told now that you never actually will read these Molly Tealeaf: but i figured id stop by just in case you do! Molly Tealeaf: i just wanted to let you know how excited i am that you’ll be seeing me sing Molly Tealeaf: for real I mean, not just karaoke while im drunk Molly Tealeaf: and yesterday Molly Tealeaf: it was a ton of fun! Molly Tealeaf: thank you again so much for agreeing to get coffee with me Molly Tealeaf: and lending me your coat Molly Tealeaf: i can’t wait for next time!!

•

Caleb adjusted his tie and sighed.

Now it was Saturday afternoon, a few hours before the performance. He was seated on Jester’ bed, glancing slack-jawed at the room around him, all high windows and thick curtains, plush carpeting under his feet and towering bookshelves to his left, gold leaf on the doors and dresser drawers. It would have been something out of a TV program on millionaire’s homes and lifestyles, if not for the pile of stuffed animals on the bed, the sea of beanbag chairs and cushions on the floor, and the dozens upon dozens of drawings and posters taped along the walls.

“I just got two more,” Jester had said cheerfully before shoving Nott into the bathroom. “One for Shallow Breaths and one for Scent of the Sea. Plus I added some more drawings, feel free to look! I’m very proud.”

And then she had closed the door behind her, leaving Caleb in his tan tweed jacket alone on the bed.

He could hear the girls giggling in the distance, the sound of a blow-dryer occasionally drowning them out.

He fidgeted with his sleeve. He stared at the windows. He put his head in his hands and leaned his elbows against his thighs. He groaned and rubbed his temples.

“What are you doing?” he whispered, staring at the red carpet beneath him. “Why on earth are you here? What made you think this would be a good idea? Gottsverdamnt, this is a high-class party you are about to attend, for the city’s elite!” He rubbed his chin and groaned. “And look at you now, with your shaved face, your neat hair and fancy attire. You are going to get recognized, you imbecile. What if somebody you know is there? Fuck, what if they are there? You don’t know? You were too stupid to ask what kind of people would attend. What if they are in town? What if they decide come? What then?”

He gestured blindly around. “And look at all this,” he continued. “Look at all this. You were supposed to leave this behind. You are garbage, you do not deserve such well-to-do and kind friends, who let you into their homes and, and, and buy you clothing! How could you let Jester do that? You do not deserve this! You should be in your filthy apartment, alone, doing nothing but research. This is a waste of time and a terrible risk.”

There was a sound, muffled by the bathroom door. He glanced up in a panic, half-expecting the girls to be standing there and staring at him. But the room was empty. He heard them giggle, and relaxed.

“Listen to that,” he muttered. “Hear how happy they are? Not for you, Widogast. Not for you. You should have encouraged Nott to come alone. Why even bother with this? You should just go home, now, while you still have the chance.”

He flopped backwards onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling, a high arch far above, reminding him again of how small and insignificant he was.

“You are a fool,” he murmured, and ran his fingers through his hair. He stretched his arm out and stared at the back of his hand. “Why are you here?” he asked nobody. “What made you do this? What is the point—”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something slip out of his jacket pocket and fall onto the bed. His brow furrowed. He felt around on the covers and his palm brushed a folded-up piece of paper.

He gently brought it closer; he held it up. He read:

Thank you again, Mister Caleb! A bit of warmth in the cold is all we need sometimes, eh?

This handwriting was more of a scrawl, as if formed by a grip unused to writing but determined nonetheless. It was actually almost intelligible, and took Caleb a few moments to properly understand.

When he did, he realized that it—along with the Mister Caleb—was completely, undeniably, Mollymauk.

He let his hand drop onto the blankets, and brought his other arm around to cover his eyes.

“You are a fool,” he muttered again. “A damn fool.”

This time, it lacked venom. If anything it sounded more resigned than angry.

•

Molly stared at his reflection in the mirror.

The rest of the group milled about behind him in various states of preparation for the big evening—Gustav fretting over his top hat, Desmond carefully tuning the instruments, Ornna opening and closing her fan, Bosun helping Kylre into his costume and the Knot Sisters braiding Toya’s hair.

Molly looked down at his costume, a flowing red cloak adorned with alchemical symbols and gaudy colored shapes. It had taken days, weeks, months to complete, and he was rather proud. He’d never played a powerful sorcerer before; usually he didn’t act at all. But rehearsals had gone well, and he couldn’t wait to show it all off tonight.

Still, something fluttered uneasily in his chest.

Molly would be the first person to admit he was a peacock that adored showing off for posh crowds. But Caleb would be here tonight. This would be the first time he’d watch Molly perform. Would he like it? Would he be impressed? Entertained? Or would he think Molly was shallow, too flamboyant, too flashy, too dramatic?

Molly ran a hand through his hair. Then he kicked himself mentally and reached for the hair gel. As he squeezed the pale blue substance into his palm and rubbed his hands together, he looked back at his reflection and paused.

What did he want? He’d told Yasha he would be happy just being allowed to stand by Caleb as a friend. Was that true? Was that right? Was that okay?

He sighed and pushed the gel into his hair.

What did he want?

He didn’t know. And somehow, that was the worst part.

•

Jester burst out of the bathroom, swinging an anxious-looking Nott behind her by the hand.

“We’re ready!” she declared loudly. “Caleb, get up and tell us that we are pretty!”

He pushed himself up. His eyes softened, and a smile crept across his face.

Jester was wearing a long, pale pink dress that seemed to shimmer as she moved. There were no sleeves, and the neckline curved down, stopping just short of indecency, ending at playful with a refined edge. She wore long white gloves, and a necklace of pearls, and a delighted grin.

Nott stood next to her in a bright yellow sundress with a cream-colored sash around the middle. It ended just below her knees, fanning out and twirling slightly as she fidgeted. Her eyes were expectant, and nervous.

“You both look wonderful,” Caleb said. “Absolutely spectacular.”

Nott glowed under his praise. “Thanks, Caleb.” Her hesitant smiled turned giddy. “I feel pretty spectacular too.”

Jester pumped a fist into the air. “I knew it would be amazing!” she beamed. “And now it’s time to party!"

•

Today 5:51 PM

Jester Lavore: mission accomplished molly Jester Lavore: caleb and nott are in some choice fashions Jester Lavore: we’ll head over soon Molly Tealeaf: youre a doll, dear Jester Lavore: im not a doll im a chic god Molly Tealeaf: right of course Molly Tealeaf: thank you so much again for doing this Jester Lavore: HA! any excuse to shop Jester Lavore: nott would NEVER let me put her in a dress if she didn’t have to anyway Jester Lavore: so really its perfect Molly Tealeaf: it truly is, thank you again Molly Tealeaf: hey can I ask you one more favor? Jester Lavore: of course! anything for you Molly Tealeaf: excellent

•

Caleb wasn’t sure whether or not to be relieved. Upon arrival, Jester had immediately dragged them past Yasha at the front entrance and up the carpeted stairs, away from the bar and between the tables and around the stage so quickly that none of the guests had even seen them for more than a few seconds. No chance of being recognized, that way, or any need for socialization.

But she had done so because they were going to the performer’s lounge to see Molly and his coworkers before the show. Quite a need for socialization, in that department.

“Relax,” she whispered, pausing just outside the door. “They’re all super-duper nice, and he’s already told them all about you both. Even you,” she added with a grin to Nott. “They know you’re a goblin, but it’s alright. And they won’t say a word.”

“Good,” Nott sighed. “The less we talk about it, the better.”

Caleb gave her a pat on the head. “I am sure they would have loved you on sight, disguise or no. It is me that I am worried about, Jester, I don’t know how to speak to these people! I have never even met them before, how am I supposed to behave? Will they try and make light conversation or should I not speak unless spoken to, or—"

She snorted. “What kind of dumb rule is that? Just be yourself! C’mon, it’ll be fun. Molly’s dying for you to meet them.”

And then she knocked on the door and pressed her cheek against the wood and called, “Guys! It’s Jester and Caleb and Nott! Put your pants on, we’re coming in!”

She turned the handle and yanked it open.

Ten pairs of eyes at assorted heights and varying sizes immediately trained on them. There was a half-elf in a frock coat standing next to a shorter balding man surrounded by a loop of floating instruments. A woman with dark skin and fiery hair, draped in gold and crimson fabrics, lounged next to a rack of costumes. Two identical halflings in shimmering green bodysuits looked up from behind a table covered in makeup and hair products. A half-orc was seated on the carpet, adjusting a drum, and tiny flaxen-haired dwarf girl in a simple white dress was perched atop an enormous, bright green, hulking mass of a lizard-man in the corner by the window.

Mollymauk, seated on the arm of a couch, beamed.

“Jester! Caleb and Nott too, hey, you made it!” He immediately stood up and ushered them over to the sofa. “I’m so glad you guys stopped by, I really wanted to introduce you to the troupe.”

Gustav gave them a warm smile as they sat. “Lovely to see you again, Miss Lavore,” he said to Jester, tipping his hat. Then he turned to Caleb and Nott and bowed. “I don’t believe we’ve had the pleasure yet. My name is Gustav Fletching, master of ceremonies. Come on, you lot!” He grinned, waving at the rest. “Introduce yourselves!”

“Ornna,” said the redheaded woman. “It's pleasure.”

“Bosun,” said the half-orc. “The Breaker. Call me Bo.”

“Mona,” said one of the halfling women.

“Yuli,” said the other. “We’re the Knot sisters.”

“Desmond Moondrop,” said the man surrounded by musical instruments. “I’m a bard.”

There was a tremor from the corner of the room, and then a deep, gravelly voice leaked from the mouth of the lizard-man. “Kylre,” he said.

“Toya,” whispered the dwarf sitting on top of him.

“And I’m Mollymauk,” Molly grinned cheekily. “But you knew that already. Yasha’s included in the troupe too, since she hangs around us so much, but you also knew that already too.”

Jester nudged Caleb and Nott. “Go on,” she hissed. “Introduce yourselves!”

“I’m Nott,” said Nott. “The Brave. But there’s no comma.”

There was a chorus of “hellos,” and Bosun laughed. “Perfect!” he said. “We have the same middle name.”

Then they all looked expectantly at Caleb. He managed to clear his throat and said, only slightly shakily, “Caleb. Caleb Widogast.”

“Ah,” Yuli grinned. “You’re Caleb, then?”

Ornna chuckled. “You're the mysterious man who—”

She was cut off as Molly suddenly threw his arms out and pulled her in tightly by the shoulders. “Anyways, he said loudly, "it was lovely of you three to stop by! The show’s on in half an hour and we’ll be a bit busy from now on, but maybe we can all talk some more after the show. Drinks included.”

Desmond glanced at his watch. “Actually, Molly, we could still spare a few—”

“We’re very busy!” Molly declared again, very pointedly. “After the show.”

The troupe exchanged glances. A few members tried very hard to hide their sniggering.

“Of course,” said Gustav generously. He turned back to the trio and gave another wide bow. “I’m delighted to have met you all. Do stop by again, a friend of Molly’s is a friend of ours, and I’d love to get to know you better, Ms. Nott and Mr. Caleb.”

They both nodded, and before they could say a word were swept up by Jester as she rose and started ushering them out the door. Just before leaving, she turned back and called, “Break a leg, you guys! I can’t wait to see the show!”

“You all seem really cool!” Nott added, sticking her head around Jester. “Nice meeting you!”

“Er…I as well,” Caleb said, and then kicked himself, and then tried again. “I mean, I enjoyed this.”

And then Jester slammed the door, and they all stood in the empty hallway for a few beats of silence.

“That was…peculiar,” Caleb said eventually. “They are a, a colorful lot.”

“They’re good people,” Jester said cheerily. “And they’re Molly’s family, you know?”

“I liked ‘em,” grinned Nott. “I wanna to talk to them some more.”

“I bet we can,” Jester agreed. “But after the show.” She started marching down the corridor, and the other two scrambled to follow her. “C’mon!” she declared. “Let’s go find a table with a good view, before they’re all gone.”

•

Beau dropped her elbows onto Fjord’s counter and raised an eyebrow. “Hey,” she said when he failed to notice her. “Hey, Fjord. When’re you gonna take your break?”

He turned around, wiping a glass cup, and glanced wearily at the packed crowd wedged into the bar around them, dancing to loud, bass-heavy music or playing pool to the side or occupying the booths beyond maximum capacity.

“Dunno,” he said. “There’s a lot of people here tonight.”

“Yeah,” sighed Beau, “bar discounts’ will do that. But we gotta take a break at some point, right? Everybody’s been hypin’ this thing at the Moondrop up for ages, we can’t miss it. Jes promising to illegally tape it for us ain't enough.”

Fjord nodded. “I’ll see if I can’t get someone to fill in for me later,” he said. “And you’re right, if Molly hears I never got a chance to see it he’d be crushed.”

“You think?” Beau asked.

Fjord laughed. “I know.”

The conversation went on hold for a moment, as two people approached the bar and rattled off an order. Beau idly picked at her fingernails.

“Sorry ‘bout that,” said Fjord. “Anyways, how’ve you been? Haven’t seen you in a few.”

Beau snorted. “We were at the gym together like…three days ago,” she said. “And I helped you finalize your apartment decision with Jester. Are you forgetting me in your old age already?”

Fjord rolled his eyes. “You know what I meant,” he said. “C’mon, spill. What’s up?”

Beau paused. She seemed to briefly wrestle with something, a mental debate that came and went in a flash

“Not much,” she said, and pointed to a clear bottle behind Fjord. “Hey, pour me one of those? It’s gonna be a long night and I think I need some help.”

Fjord raised an eyebrow. “You sure?” he asked. “You're on the clock and It’s like…seven-thirty. Isn’t that a bit early?”

Beau shook her head. “No way,” she said. “Alcohol will only enhance my performance right now, and seven-thirty just means that night is young. And ripe with opportunity.”

•

Jester had found a circular table near the middle of the crowd, stage-side views having already been claimed. The three of them now sat together in tall, cushioned chairs, hands neatly folded in their laps—Caleb—or fingers drumming absent-mindedly on the white cloth—Jester and Nott. Thankfully, which Caleb noted as he made furtive glances around the large hall, there was nobody here that he recognized. There had been a brief moment, when his eyes caught an older man with a wrinkled face and long beard, where he almost had a heart attack on the spot—

—until he realized the eyes and nose were different. Eventually, he calmed down.

Around the large floral centerpiece, Caleb also sized up the other couples sitting at their table. There was elf with a human, and a pair of gnomes. The closest one, a woman with pale blonde hair and rosy cheeks, gave Nott a pleasant smile when they noticed each other.

“Excited for the show?” she asked, quite kindly, in Gnomish. “My husband and I came a long ways out to come see it.”

Nott stared at her. Her eyes darted back and forth and behind her, Jester and Caleb began to panic silently.

“Uh…” she said, and under the table Jester kicked Caleb’s leg in a you’re-magic-you-have-to-do-something sort of way. He nudged her back with a I-don’t-have-any-spells-that-can-work-fast-enough-to-help-fuck.

Nott cleared her throat. “Ah…actually,” she said, “I’m real sorry, but I don’t speak Gnomish.”

The woman blinked. “Oh, shoot, I’m the one that’s sorry,” she said quickly. “It was my fault for assuming.”

“No, no,” said Nott. “It’s alright. It was a reasonable assumption, Miss. It’s just that I, uh, I was…uh…”

She quickly glanced back at Caleb and Jester, who both shrugged.

“I was raised by halflings!” Nott declared. “Yes, that’s it. Adopted. Never knew my birth parents, it’s quite sad really. But I love my halfling family, and we’re very close.”

“Is that so?” The woman smiled. “Well then, that’s nice. I lived with my adopted brother, you know. He couldn’t make it tonight, but I’m sure he would have loved to meet you, Miss…?”

“Oh!” Nott smiled and gave her a short wave. “I’m, uh, Bren,” she said. “Bren…Tough.”

“Bren Tough?” The other gnome, a man with short brown hair and glittering eyes, raised an eyebrow. “That’s a pretty interesting name.”

“Thanks,” said Nott. “It belongs to me. What are, uh, what are your names?”

“Oh,” the woman smiled. “Of course, where are my manners? I’m—”

The chandeliers went out. A spotlight suddenly appeared on the grand stage, illuminating a single man in a long frock coat and a tall top hat. He bowed deeply, spreading his arm aside and lowering his hat as he did.

“Esteemed Guests,” he called in a rich, musical tone. “I extend my humble gratitude for gracing us with your presence, and I welcome you to the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Fletching & Moondrop. Our performers have worked tirelessly for months to prepare a unique and spectacular exhibition of culture and music and art for you all tonight, and I firmly believe that it will be to your liking. Grant us your imaginations this eve but a trifle bit of time. Sit back, have some dinner, and enjoy the show.”

And then he bowed again, and in a sudden plume of purple, glittering smoke, he was gone.

The curtains pulled open, and revealing a single man dressed all in blue, old-fashioned minstrel’s clothing, a large feathered cap perched upon his head. He had a fiddle in his hands, and as the light moved towards him, he began to play.

Ah, came Gustav’s voice from somewhere unseen, I see you’ve already met Desmond. He’ll be part of our story tonight, so keep a wily eye for the shifting fool. But first, I will tell you the tale of two sisters of the Fey.

Desmond bowed his head, slowly moved away from the center. And as he retreated, three long ribbons of green silk unfurled from the ceiling and gently caressed the wooden stage.

Lost without form into the mazes of the underworld, there, where the body would break, they found a teacher in a mystical serpent. And the gift they received, was the ability to bend with this maze that had captured them, and slither their way back to the surface, to reclaim their place in the world.

A hand emerged just into view, along the top of the silk. It swayed gently, as if stirred by a breeze. And then another appeared, and another, and another, and then two bodies adorned in glittering emerald scales dropped down, catching themselves against the ribbons and twirling in the air. Their faces turned towards the audience, and then to each other.

May I present to you: Mona and Yuli, the Knot Sisters.

The sisters began to move slowly, bending their limbs, arching their backs and intertwining their torsos in impossible formations, dangling in the air supported by nothing but ribbons, and one another. And as the fiddle’s melody, now sourceless and swelling, building, crescendoing and accelerating in tempo and vigor, the sisters began to spin wildly, press tightly, drape their arms together and move unison, seemingly shifting into a single being of whirling, fluid scales and shimmering, verdant green.

Next to him, Caleb saw Nott wince at their display of impossible flexibility and bone-shattering dexterity. A number of patrons close to the stages were also gasping in shock, in awe, mouths agape and whispering with hushed amazement. The elf at their table gave an impressed nod, and Jester was completely entranced.

Suddenly, one of the sisters folded over and plunged downward, drawing horrified exclamations from the audience, until she stopped short barely two feet of the ground. The other twirled down as well and the two of them began to tangle and wrap like battling serpents, hissing and thrashing and violent and beautiful all at the same time. It was…off-putting, and impossible to look away.

Slowly, the lighting began to dull into a pale turquoise. And then it got darker. And darker. And the sisters fell into the underworld.

They began to tell the tale of struggle, crawling across each other limb by limb, using their snake-like forms as a ladder that extended up the ribbons, using every muscle in their bodies to climb upwards. Caleb found himself forgetting to breathe, so pulled into this wordless story of redemption, of hope, of climbing back to the surface from a dark hell to the soft glow above. And as they moved higher and higher, building off one another and stretching upwards, the lighting shifted, grew brighter, and their climbing became less fevered. The two of them, arm into arm, leg into leg, rolled upward and swirled and spun and twirled until finally they reached the apex and wrapped themselves close and pressed their foreheads together and, one again, turned back out to the audience. The extended their hands, and bowed their heads.

And with a flourish, their ribbons were pulled back up, out of sight, the sisters along with them, until the stage was empty again.

The audience erupted into applause. Caleb felt something brush his cheek, and saw Jester patting his face with her napkin.

“You were crying,” she whispered softly. “It’s okay. I got it.”

He blinked, and felt the moisture gathering under his eyes. He glanced back at Jester, who was smiling in an uncharacteristic moment of silence, and thought of something to say.

“…thank you,” he murmured.

She put the napkin down and gave him a pat on the arm. “Don’t worry. And sorry if your face is sticky, I think there was some juice on my cloth.”

And then, before he could reply, the soft green light suddenly vanished, replaced with nothing but empty darkness, and Gustav’s voice echoed around them once more.

In a flash, beyond the ash, gods all went and gone. The darkness came to grasp, reclaim, and suffocate the dawn.

Suddenly, the audience gasped again as out of the darkness, a burst of flame erupted through the room, beginning with two torch sconces just beside the stage on both sides, spreading out in a circle around the hall, shedding a low, orange light over all of their heads. Caleb couldn’t help but wonder if this was scientific, or arcane, and briefly considered a Detect Magic to find out. But then Gustav spoke again, breaking his train of thought:

But from that night, a burning light doth keep back the shadows’ bane. The strength to fight will set alight the morning sun again. Esteemed guests, I present to you: Ornna, the Fire Fairy.

From the center of the stage, a flash of silver metal. And then another, and another, and suddenly as the sharp gleam arced through the air a flame trailed after it, framing the face of that beautiful woman with blazing red hair, now surrounded by curls of fire. She spun in a hypnotic twirl, her simple dress fanning out around her and catching the warm light, flickering and giving her the visage of a warrior-goddess battling against the darkness around her. The frenzied fiddle soared again, she spun the fans in her grasp, face stoic and graceful all at the same time. The audience breathed their quiet awe, watching her strike and spin and dive across the stage, banishing the shadows from the hall. She moved with the music, drew wild as it crescendoed, leapt and lunged and flew through the air until the song climaxed and she finished one final, brilliant twirl, and as she landed on the stage, the lights all around her suddenly rocketed into a victorious luminescence.

The crowd went wild. Nott stood in her chair and pumped her fists and even in this refined, upper-class audience, she was not alone.

“This is super different from what they usually do,” Jester whispered to the human on her other side. “Usually it’s just background singing and stuff.”

“What a shame,” said the elf. “I would love to see this sort of show more often. Nice use of pyrotechnics.”

“It’s very artistic,” said Nott, sitting back down. “I like it.”

And then the torches went out, and a low drumbeat began to pulse from the stage. Gustav spoke once more:

Even as the sun would rise anew, bellowing roars will quake the lands of Xhorhas and beyond. Terrible beasts, now freed from their dark masters, scattered into our world.

And then a terrible, guttural roar shook the entire performance hall. In the dead silence that followed, came the quiet crawl of grinding, dragging chains.

A spotlight appeared, cast over the form of Bo the Breaker, dragging something onstage. Desmond came with him, chains in one hand and fiddle in the other, the bow moving itself. And then a shape emerged, massive, hulking, covered completely in slimy, swamp-green scales a stark contrast of the lithe sisters from before. This shape was enormous, corpulent, with large toad-like legs that framed a rotund torso, muscular arms manacled and pulling it in. It fought and wrestled against the chains but slowly, painfully, bitterly pulled into the center of the stage. It roared a second time, mighty and brutal. The front row of the audience pulled back in their seats, whispering urgently, fear beginning to build.

The devil-toad crawls hungrily into the land of free folk, said Gustav, steady and unwavering. It ravages the mind and lords over nightmares. But what truth lies behind the eyes of this beast? What would be learned when the guiding heart of innocence pierces the hateful soul, brings beauty for the first time?

A soft, faint voice from somewhere in the darkness began to drift slowly over their heads.

I now present to you: the vivid song of Toya.

A light shone down atop a platform against the left side of the stage. And upon the structure, feet swinging and bare, was the shape of the young dwarven girl in the flowing white dress. Her eyes were closed, hands at her side. And her voice, her voice, her voice—

—she sung with a mystifying hum, a sound that pierced the heart with unexpected, uncontrolled, unbridled joy. The crowd audibly gasped as the melody washed over them, entranced them, brought every single person into its music. Caleb felt something brush his cheek again, and when he looked down he saw Jester blow her nose into the napkin, staring at the stage with wide, tear-brimmed eyes.

And before them all, the devil-toad froze. It stopped struggling, seemingly caught by this song. Its face dropped into a soft smile and it slowly walked beneath Toya’s wooden platform. It looked up, and sat down. Bosun and Desmond both dropped their chains and walked away, leaving the creature in its awed rapture. From up above, Toya’s voice began to grow, almost summoning a chorus from the ether that once again spoke of magic that could not be. Her smile was infectious, and though tears spilled down Caleb’s face, he could not break his gaze.

Until, abruptly, a man seated at one of the tables shot to his feet. His arms were outstretched and behind his fine-tailored suit was a body wracked with age. His legs shook, and the low light caught the wetness of his cheeks.

“What’s happening?” Nott whispered as the audience's attention shifted to the man. “What’s he doing?”

“I dunno,” Jester frowned. “I think…hey, he doesn’t look so good—”

He screamed. The music instantly stopped. Other patrons began to stand up, began to move closer, to check on him, watched him collapse to the ground and clutch his chest and with another wet gurgle screamed again, vocal chords bursting and now the skin on his arms began to tear, the bones split from his flesh, the people immediately around him began screaming themselves and backing away and his body writhed and crackled and dust shook from his swelling form and the entire audience started panicking, scrambling, running for the exits and shouting and—

Chaos erupted all around them.

Instinctively, Caleb’s hands caught fire.

•

💚 ☕ ☕ 💚

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table-top-romulan-playing-games · 6 years ago

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Movies I have seen so far in 2018

A few of these arent new movies, just ones ive watched for the first time in 2018. I felt like doing this cuz I really love watching movies and felt that it might be a good version of those "good things" jars, but instead it's movies I saw. Some reviews are short, mostly cuz I didnt really have much in the way of opinions, but I did have something to say.

Just incase you havent seen them. I have tried to keep them spoiler free, but if you dont want even vague non spoiler spoilers, the list of movies is as follows;

The Grand Budapest; The greatest showman; Jumanji: out of the jungle, King Arthur: legend of the sword, The Black Panther, Shape of water, Thor Ragnarok, the Emoji Movie, the Good Dinosaur, Jurassic world, Incredibles 2, Hotel Transylvania 3, Ant-man, A Wrinkle in Time, Lara croft: tomb raider, Guardians of the Galaxy volume 2, Spider-man homecoming, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers age of ultron (semi live blogged), Captain America civil war, Avengers Infinty War, Deadpool 2016, King Arthur the one with kiera knightly, Deadpool 2, The Nutcracker, four realms, Venom, Love, Simon, Ready player one, Aquaman, Solo, a star wars story, Ghost stories (2018), Wreck it Ralph, Ralph breaks the internet, Goosebumps 2, Hidden figures, The meg, Pacific Rim, Pacific rim uprising, Wrath of the Titans, Mission impossible: fallout,Oceans 8, The Breadwinner, Mune, Operation Finale, The House With A Clock In Its Walls, Bad times at the El Royale, Outlaw king, Gnome alone, Journey to the center of the earth, Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy, Vvitch, Ex machina, To all the boys ive loved before, Extraordinary Tales, The Golden Compass, Erramentari, the blacksmith and the devil, Dragon heart, The black klansman, Robin Hood 2018, The Princess of Thieves, First Man, Bohemian Rhapsody, What we do in the Shadows, Overlord, For the Love of Spock, Next Gen, Small Foot, The Spy who Dumped Me, The Nun, Kin, Crazy Rich Asians, Spider-Man, Into the Spiderverse, A simple favor, Predator 2018, Rampage, 47 meters down, 2036 Origin Unknown, 2001 A Space Oddessey, The Martian

The grand Budapest hotel - good, great visuals. I enjoyed it.

The greatest showman - wonderful music, actual circus parts were good, the rest was boring. Its really short, and I felt it focused to much on the drama in pt barnums life, too much focus on a silly fuax love triangle, not enough on the acts themselves. I went in hoping to see the acts interact and actually be presented as the forefront. The beginning showed this magnificent scene with the acts, with this wonderful musical number that made me tear up. But then, it was just about Barnum and his kids being boring most of the time. The songs and musical scenes though? Absolutely wonderful, magnificent, stunning, and entertaining. Zendayas and Zac efrons characters duets? Beautiful, I loved the song and choreography. I just feel like the emphasis should have been on the circus itself. Hugh jackman. Needs. To. Do. More. Musicals.

Jumanji: out of the jungle - hilarious omg I laughed my ass off!

King Arthur: legend of the sword: wtf was this movie bro? I mean. I have a new song in my cars playlist, but wtf.

The Black Panther - IT WAS SO COOL! I loved the visuals and the storyline. Shuri is my favorite genius and I can’t wait for more Black Panther

Shape of water: absolutely beautiful omg

Thor Ragnarok: you mean that was the actual movie, that tumblr wasn’t just fuckin with me, like, those were real ass scenes that were filmed?

the Emoji Movie: bad, forgettable, literally did not remember watching it till a friend asked me.

the Good Dinosaur: literally a children's movie, idek why I watched it tbh

Jurassic world: THE HUBRIS OF MAN! THE INDO RAPTOR! BLUE! They made... An indoraptor. Not just any raptor, oh no, that's not enough for the hubris of man, its an indoraptor. What's an indoraptor you may ask? Well it's when you mix a raptor, with the indominous rex DNA. But Cotie, didn't the indominous rex already have raptor DNA? Wasnt that the whole thing that it was a t-rex with raptor DNA? Yes, yes it was. But this one is different, it's smaller, it's smarter, it made to obey commands like a war machine, it's the I N D O R A P T O R! So it's just a super powered velociraptor? Yes, yes it is. So what makes it special? THE HUBRIS BEHIND IT!

Incredibles 2: awesome! I loved it! Those flashing scenes really were no joke though. I don't have epilepsy, but damn those scenes were hard to look at. But I absolutely love the fact that edna babysat jack jack for a night, and gave him a super babysuit. I hope we get to see more of the other superheroes helping out the incredibles!

Hotel Transylvania 3: it was a good movie. Its the only Adam Sandler movie series I can stand, but it was a decent movie. I like the introduction of the van helsing family, and the whole premise. Plus I love the message that its possible to fall in love again.

Ant-man: "in like the Flynn" niiiiiiiiice Tangled ref! "ANT-THONY!!!!" Ok that was a fun and hilarious movie. I fucking love the three wombats, especially Luis omg. Also I love Scott lang relationship with his daughter and that he was the driving force behind his motivation. Also not gonna lie, I kinda watched this one so I could go see Ant-man and the Wasp, but I liked this one too.

A Wrinkle in Time: FUCK ITUNES NOT WANTING TO WORK DURING THIS MOVIE! ok but Chris Pine as a Dad? Awesome. "Happy anniversary, if only you'd dissapear too" wow, these high school preps are viscous. Also I love the little kid calling out grown ups for being pieces of shits. Also this movie was adorable and heart felt and I loved the mix of fantasy and science that made it a science fantasy movie omg.

Lara croft: tomb raider: ok but the girl who kicked Lara crofts butt in the beginning has me gay as Fuck man. "OPEN IT! OPEN IT! OPEN IT!" OK calm down Nicolas cage.

Guardians of the Galaxy volume 2: omg that was indeed another real marvel movie I had just seen. I can't believe the stooges are a space family that just, does stupid things. I love them all.

We gonna start some parralels; a wrinkle in time - a movie about two siblings trying to find their dad who has been lost for 4 years. They get him back through the power of love; Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - a daughter finds some adverturing stuff to lead her to her father who had been missing for 7 years. Tries to get him back by killing men. Doesn't, and then kills more men; Gaurdians of the Galaxy volume 2: a boy finds his father after 34 years, but turns out he is a huge fucking jerk, also finds that Mary poppins was his dad after all, but then both Mary poppins and jerk dad died, with varying degrees of mourning from Boy.

Spider-man homecoming: omg so many second hand embarrassment scenes but it was so good! I laughed my ass off at the ending omg tony no. But also, that awkward moment when ur dates dad threatens your life and he actually meant it...

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Dude. Duuuuuuude that end credit scene. Duuuuuuuuuuuuuude. That movie was just as hilarious as the first ant-man movie omg! It was fun and incredibal and I'm so happy the 3 combats were there. I was losing my shit over the baba yaga stuff!

Avengers age of ultron (semi live blogged): god, I'm 9 minutes in and I hate this movie... 13 minutes in an ur telling me this could've been avoided if marvel hadnt turned two Romani (from what I remember of mutant canon) characters into, not only human expirements instead of mutants, but voluntary hydra agents. -sighhhh-... 20 minutes in and why, why Tony, just... Tell the team, why do we gotta have lazy 'i dont wanna communicate' writing bullshit...Jarrrrrviiiiissssss my boy T.T... Did they really just try to make dissimising female characters and using their achievements as a sort of 'my horse is bigger than yours' as quality character writing? God this Bruce/Nat romance is so forced... Oh no, Ultron fucking appeared, why does he sound like a bad Tony stark impression? Ultron is fucking annoying... Fuck man, the plot with the twins have arrived, and I hate it... -mentions Wakanda- thanks for reminding of a better movie I could be watching... God, the acting is either way too dry, or way too ham... Wow... Clint is... The most mature person in the movie... Wow, the scene where Nat reveals she is infertile, is worse than I thought it would be, and I knew it would be awful... Hour and a half in, still bad... Though ultron is now acting like a c h i l d... Oh no, now we creating Ultron 2.0 this time its Jarvis... Please discuss it with the team, pleeeease... Annnnnnnd U didn't... Fuck... I'm so tired, 1 hour and 31 minutes and the team is fighting... Thor coming in for the jarvis Saaaave! Yassss vision with the worthy of the hammer! Okay the battle scene with ultron was pretty cool. Still dont like the movie over all.

Captain America civil war: not as much fighting as advertised. Too much 'we arent going to sit down and communicate' trope. Honestly I was too bored and tired to really actually pay attention to closely... All I got from it is the russos need to learn what a get along shirt is and be better film makers.

Avengers Infinty War: wtf, what the fuck, was that. That was some fuck right there. You are telling me thanos was really able to get the soul stone like That? And the mind stone like That? And all that other bull shit? Y'all Russo better be ready to have thanos ass kick in the next avengers movie. But damn that was some shit that happened.

Deadpool 2016: I loved every bit of the movie omg, it was everything I hoped for out of a deadpool movie.

King Arthur the one with kiera knightly: That uh, sure was a King Arthur movie? Way less weird than King Arthur Legend of the sword. Merlin didnt cast magic, and arthur was a Roman, but guinevere is a kick ass archer, soooo acceptable...

Deadpool 2: THAT WAS FUCKIN HILARIOUS I LOVE DEADPOOL SO MUCH! god I love this movie, I would die for dominoe.

The Nutcracker, four realms: such a cute af movie omggggggggggggg. I loved Captain Phillip the nutcracker soldier and the gold highlight they put on his lips 💓

Venom: listen. I did no t see this film for quality. I saw it for the symbi ote ok. Ok. I lov it. But blease for the love of god.... Y.... Did...... The......... Symbiote........ Take the shape of a sexy comic book lady..... When........ The same sexyness could have been achieved by letting the symbiote be big beefy orc like lady....

Love, Simon: I'm not one for these films... I dont like these films... They are teary eyed wholesome cake frosting that make my cold gay heart sick... That being said... I relate, I relate so much... Also... If I was in simons shoes and the blackmailing weasle Martin outed me? They would still be scraping him off the pavement... That is all.

Ready player one: it wasn’t as bad as some of the things i heard about it on tumblr, but its not one I will watch again.

Aquaman: "show off, heh, I could've just pee'd on it" is the exact quality line I want out of my films. Also that was soooooooo awesome! I loved it! More Aquaman!

Solo, a star wars story: Not bad, but not great, it kept on plot really well, not memorable but I won’t knock it. I still say the actor playing Han Solo looks photoshopped and not real.

Ghost stories (2018): awful... It was slow and boring, and I didnt like it... I rented it through itunes and it glitched part of the way through and I stopped being able to see the picture. Even after I got it working again I still didnt like it... Though I did like the message of "dont be a bystander", but the whole this was boriiiiiinnnnnnnggggggggggg.

Wreck it Ralph: okay, technically I caught the beginning like 4 or 5 years ago, but I finally actually watched it and it wasnt bad. Will go see the sequel.

Ralph breaks the internet: WAYYYYYY better than the emoji movie, also, I really loved the princesses scene, the bright colors, and following Venelope through the internet... Also.... Ralph........ WTF..................... Also............................. that Stan Lee cameo.................................... Heartbreaking............

Goosebumps 2: Mr. Chu and his Halloween obsession is me... Stones appearence had me dying omg... Also where tf r ppl getting these awesome super cool Halloween stuffs!

Hidden figures: IM NOT CRYING UR CRYING! omg such a great movie i fucking loved it. Couldnt understand a WORD of math that went on, but damn girls, calculate that shit.

The meg: listen... Listen... The trailer looked stupid... And ridiculous... I just... Wanted to know how bad... And it was bad... But it was incredibally enjoyable omg... I loved it... In all seriousness, it was actually a pretty beautiful movie when it came to marine life and the wonder behind it, and it was anti shark culling for fins, and it was very clearly "not all sharks are bad, they do as they do, but megalodon is about to fuck our shit up."... It was also fucking hilarious... My favorite character was meiying, the little 8 year old in the movie... The love plot wasnt forced and they way they did it the two leads were not having it and had actual chemistry... Just... Also the dog... The dog does not die... Pippin lives... The wedding is not ruined... Also the shark ate a billionaire soooooooo... We good meg... We good...

Pacific Rim: yes I know, I took a long ass time to watch this movie... But Listen... Explody robots and monsters... Hannibal chau... Look... I just... Sometimes take a long time to watch movies... You wanna know how long it took me to watch Merlin BBC? I watched every episode as it came out and then put off the last episode for 5 years... Listen...

Pacific rim uprising: ok I watched the first one so I could watch the one with my boi John Boyega in it.

Wrath of the Titans: wtf kind of movie... Like really what the f... Since when is zues ever responsible and wise.

Mission impossible, fallout: I liked it. It's an action movie. Saw it for my birthday, kinda interested in the other mission impossible movies now. I appreciate the advance tech and the obviously stupid impossible shit.

Oceans 8: Listen, i have never been interested in the Oceans franchise, i dont want to see crusty men steal things, but lads, im gay. Extremely gay, just, shamelessly gay.

The Breadwinner: holy shit that was a good movie.

Secret of the Kells: eh, it was a good movie. Not my favorite, but it was good. I mostly just like the animation.

Mune: Guardian of the Moon: dat was a cute movie, and also i loved Munes Design, he is a little fawn

Operation Finale: Wow, that was an amazing film, absolutely superb. Not at all like the trailers. Seriously, what is it and trailers where everything has to either be an high stakes action movie or a romantic comedy? but this film, spectacular.

The House With A Clock In Its Walls: A Neat little movie. Corny, but i liked it. like, its a kids movie in the same way A Wrinkle In Time is, but this one was little less disney-fied in the way that they needed to have this overarching lesson of empowerment, and more “this is a kids movie to enjoy, like Halloweentown”

Bad times at the El Royale: neat movie, somewhat engaging, kept losing focus at the slow parts... Liked the Chapter title cards... Can't remember who that "important person" was supposed to be.... I think I may have missed it...

Outlaw king: I liked it! Way better than Braveheart! Also.... Cpine was not that naked.... Butt....

Gnome alone: weird, didn't like it, like a bad combo of Mean Girls and Coraline?

Journey to the center of the earth: I said old movies were gonna be on this list now didnt I? Also this movie was awesome and I wish the book was real too.

Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy: Nice!!! I had been meaning to read the book before I watched the movie, but I've packed my book away soooo, MOVIE. Also out of all thw sci fi movies that have destroyed planets, this is by far the only good one.

Vvitch: it was okay... By the middle I was kinda wishing it would go faster. But it was okay.

Ex machina: I'm not done with the movie yet but it's so fucking creepy holy shit... Also "its kinda non-autistic" in relation to "aware of her own mind and mine"???? Wtffffffff.uggggghhhhhhhhhh ewwwweeweeewewweeeewwwwwww the talk about giving the robot a sexuality is so grooooooooooooosssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss he gave her a working vag and hearing him talk about fucking the robot was baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad. Mmmmmmmm no, did not like.

To all the boys ive loved before: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww... Also that sibling relationship was..... Relatable.

Extraordinary Tales: tales based on Edgar Allen Poe and holy sweet Jesus I loved it, it has multiple different art styles per story and I loved them soooooo much!

The Golden Compass: okay but how could you end on that cliffhanger and not at least put out another movie????

Erramentari, the blacksmith and the devil: based on Basque folklore which I know nothing of, but it looked neat. It's also originally in basque but netflix has the English dub over. AND HOLY SWEET JESUS I KNOW THIS MOVIE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SCARY BUT THE VOICE OVERS ARE SO FUCKING FUNNNNNNNNYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

Dragon heart: I didnt like it, there were better movies I could have seen, I'm not gonna reach for this one again...

The Black Klansman: Damn, I might very well be speechless. That was a Fantastic Movie, came at you like a bag of Bricks, and the ending when it went straight from a cross burning to the 2017 neo nazi rallies, to trumps “good people on both sides” speech, to everything that happened in 2017. The movie did NOT fuck around with anything. God Bless.

Robin Hood, 2018: Antifa film of the YEAR! Yeah Robin, Be a Class Traitor to the ruling class, Spread Wealth, Down with the 1%!

The Princess of Thieves: OMG Kiera Knightly as the daughter of robin and also a kick ass archer that causes trouble!!!! Loved it!

First Man: dude that movie was incredible, it read like you were seeing snapshots of his life, not completely invested, but as though you were a spirit looking at memories. I kinda liked it. I loved the silent scenes that filled the viewer with anxiety, like a realization of the gravity of what was happening. Omg. Good film A+

Bohemian Rhapsody: OMG I LOVED IT SO MUCH OMGOMGOMGOMG MY QUEER HEART IS RESTORED AND THEY SAID BISEXUAL!!!!!

What we do in the Shadows: that was an enjoyable movie. I didn't quite like the reality show format but it was funny!

Overlord: That was a great movie! it had decently fast pacing, which is good that it was only an hour and forty-eight minutes long... They Plot-Ex-Machina’d alot of the movie, like the wounded soldier feeling fine for the main firefight, then remembering he was supposed to be wounded all of a sudden. I watched it with a friend who saw one character, turned to me and said “He’s cute, i hope he doesnt die” one (1) second before a landmine went off. Also, Ghouls created by science rather by supernatural means.

For the Love of Spock: -cries like a big baby-

Next Gen: screams of anti-tech ideals... Also.... Damn...... They are channeling the "addiction to iPhones" angle man, like, villianous angle...

Small Foot: Not bad, At least it was a Short movie, or at least it didnt feel like it was dragging on. The Songs were great though, I actually liked them and at least they were written for the movie and not like, a song that already existed...

The Spy who Dumped Me: I rented it through iTunes and it gave some Ukrainian nuts swangin in my face...

The Nun: it was okay, but let maurice theirult be a lesson; u see some creepy haunted shit, you grab a cross and you walk away. You dont go back to play hero, cuz then you get possessed.

Kin: there is a line in the movie that says "you got a decade of bad decisions under your belt" and I feel like that sums of this movies plot points...

Crazy Rich Asians: that was so gooooood! I don't normally go for romcoms, but ppl had been praising the film, and I actually liked it. I'm glad I saw the majong scene explain before I actually watched the scene, because it felt a shit ton more powerful.

Spider-Man, Into the Spiderverse: AMAZING! INCREDIBLE! the animation was TOP NOTCH, like, omg!

A simple favor: I didnt like it... It tried to be both a thriller and what seemed like a parody of a thriller.

Predator, 2018: I kinda liked it, it was a mindless action movie, and the ending left it open for a badass sequal. I havent seen the other predator movies so I have no idea if this is in faith for the series, but im guessing yes.

The Martian: It was cool and chill, I liked it, also Mark Watney cussing out a government agency via a hundred thousand dollar communications outlet is.... Mood.

47 meters down: 2hrs of one woman having an absolute panic attack and being right to worry about sketchy diving boats.

2036 Origin Unknown: kinda what I feel like 2001 a space Oddessey wouldve been like if I had actually watched that movie... Oh shit the Borg!

2001 A Space Oddessey: Have I ever told y'all that I dont like Kubrick or his movies? His movies are the epitome of that pretentious art school boi style that just does too much and tries to pretend it's more than it is and sweet merciful god why is this one 2 and a half hours long! I'm 40 minutes in and I have a head ache from the over ise of classical music and boring slow pace of the movie. 2001 a space Oddessey is 2 and a half hours long and only has 1 hr of actual relevant film... The other 1 1/2 is just unending, weirdly colored space shots, two color inversion shots of planets and eyes, theremin and flute noises, and classical music set to nothingness

RAMPAGE: a 30ft alligator showed up about an hour and 10minutes into the movie and the first reaction was "well that sucks" and it killed me on sight. The movie is awesome! In am so glad I picked this as my last movie of 2018.

#Year of Movies #Movie List #Movie List 2018 #New Years

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schwimb · 7 years ago

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Shh! Shh! The story you are about to see has been told before. A lot. And now we are going to tell it again. But different. It's about two star-crossed lovers kept apart by a big feud. No one knows how this feud started, but it's all quite entertaining. Unfortunately, before we begin, there is a rather long, boring prologue, which I will read to you now. "Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona... ...where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes..." Ah, Miss Montague, out you come to ruin my day. My, that's a hideous cardigan, Mr. Capulet. It suits you. Wizened old hag. You crumbly old codger. Oh, great. No, this way! Whoa! I got one! I got one! I got one! I got one! Winston! Throw us the ball! Huh? Huh? Tybalt! Oh, those Blues are at it again. Top of the morning, Lord Redbrick! Lady Bluebury. Your tulips are looking a little limp this year, aren't they? Oh! I don't like what you're incinerating. The proper word is "insinuating." Illiterate. I am not illiterate! My parents were married! Benny! Come on. Let's go give those Reds another lesson on how it's done. Yeah. Shroom, all clear? Gnomeo! Gnomeo! - Gnomeo! It's your mum! - Huh? Oh, no! Just get this out into the alley! I'll catch up with you. - OK, OK. - Gnomeo... Mum! Have you ever seen our beautiful, beautiful garden from this angle? Oh, yes. Especially the wisteria. That tree was your father's pride and joy. May he rest in pieces. Oh, how you remind me of him. Oh. Which is why I wanted to say... - I know. I know. My chores. - Gnomeo... Edging, trimming, planting, pruning. Consider it all done. - I wanted to say... - Done, done. It's done like I did it. - Gnomeo! - Done. All I wanted to say was "good luck." Thanks, Mum. Go out there and show them we Blues are better than any Red! Red. I hate the word. Wow! A Cupid's Arrow orchid! Oh! Juliet! Huh? Oh! Whoa! Oh. Hiya, Dad! You won't believe what I found! Do you want to get smashed? Aflower that will put that Blue garden to shame, just across the alley. This feud business is none of your concern. And as leader of this garden, it's up to me to... Uh, I am a Red, after all. Oh, you're just as impulsivated as your mother was. Bless her to bits. Now, back where you belong. I can't just stay tucked away on this pedestal all my life. Don't you see? When will you realize you're delicate? I'm not delicate! She's definitely not delicate. Stubborn girl. Right. Delicate? Hmm! I'll show him who's delicate. Gnomeo! Gnomeo! Tybalt, go! Tybalt, go! Tybalt, go! Gnomeo! Gnomeo! Gnomeo! Tybalt, go! Tybalt, go! Tybalt, go! Gnomeo! OK, boys, y'all know the rules, and I don't need to repeat them. But I'm gonna, because I wanna. And here they are: No biting, no scratching, no kicking, no burping, no slurping, no cussing, no squalling, no rassling, no heeing, no hawing, and more than anything, no cheating! No cheating? Hey, that's not fair! - Gnomeo! Gnomeo! Gnomeo! - On your marks! Get set! - Sucker! - Go, go, go! Huh? Aah! Whoa! No! Gnomeo! Gnomeo! Gnomeo! Tybalt, go! Tybalt, go! You're the greatest, boss. The greatest by far. The greatest! The greatest by far! Oh! Please, please, my friends. Tell me something I don't already know. A cheat! A cheat! That's what you are! A cheat! A cheat! That's what you are! Well, Benny, I didn't think it was possible, but your mouth is getting even bigger than your hat! Tybalt! You just crossed the line! Yeah! The finish line! Adios, loser! Hey! Come on out and fight like a gnome! - Flower boy won't come out! - What's he gonna do? - You better do something! - He can't get away with that! Show him! Show him! Come on! Well, if he won't come out, I guess we'll just have to go in. The Red garden? No one's ever been in there! Then I'd say it's about time someone did. And payback is going to be fun. Shroom, let's go kick some grass. This mission into Red garden territory is going to require maximum stealth. Well, you won't get much stealthier than this. Hello! I got one. I got one. Swim away. Be free. Oh! Thank you. I got one. All this for some daffy flower. Yes. It's the only way I'll ever be taken seriously around here. And I'm gonna need you to cover, Nanette. If my dad asks, just tell him I'm washing my hair. "I'm washing my hair." I don't have hair! He'll know it's a lie! - No, my hair! - Got it! I'm washing your hair! OK, OK, whatever you say. I'll be quick. Out! Out! Damn, Spot! Over here, boy! Wow! That was quick! I'm too easy to see. I'm gonna need some kind of disguise. Ooh! A new outfit! I'm on it. Here. That is cute. Give us a turn. Nice junk in the trunk. Now, go get your flower. Uh... Maybe a tad less fluorescent pink? How much less? Try black. Huh? Trust me. Nobody is going to pay you any attention in that. Then it's perfect. Ooh! I'm going in. Take care! I'll tell your dad you're doing your hair! Let's play a game. I'm thinking of a movie. It's one word, and it starts with, um, "Spider." Is it Spider-Man? Oh, you're good. OK. This is great! I love going commando! Shh! Now, just keep quiet. Shh! OK, I have another one. Two words. The first word is "Spider-Man." Spider-Man 2? OK, who's cheating? Benny, give me the paint. Benny? No. - Benny! Benny! - Oh! - Huh? - Huh? - Tybalt! - Get them, you idiots! Come on, let's go! Run for it! Now! - Where did he go?! - He's in the begonias! - Well, do I look like a begonia? - No, more like a pansy. Find him! - Not here. - Not here either. Nothing but daisies here. Come on! Hold on. - Whoa! - Whoa! - Hey, Benny. See you on the other side! - Gnomeo! No! Huh? Hmm? Huh? I wish I could stay, but gotta fly. Whoa-whoa-whoa! Huh.

Feet are feelin' lightHead on out to see the sightsAin't life a many splendored thing?

Ducking up and down All these crazy sights and sounds

Bounce around

like puppets on a string

Never gonna find

Anything to change my mind

Famous last lines of a foolJust when you think

You're a chain with just one link

Something comes

to tip you off of your stool - # Hello, hello - # Hello, hello

My, my, my, what have we here?What a surprise

What a surprise - # Hello, hello - # Hello, hello

I'm not alone

It's good to know

Someone's out there to say helloHello

Um... You're probably wondering what I'm doing on the roof of your greenhouse. It's just I... Well, I thought no one lived here. They... don't. I mean, I don't. This isn't my garden. Oh, well, that's good because I just came to get that orchid. - Oh. This? - Yes. I don't know, I think I'm going to have to keep ahold of this one. What? But I saw it first, so why don't you just hand it over. Well, I grabbed it first. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. But if you want it, come and get it. All right. Thanks. Nice greenhouse, eh? - Oh, yeah, you should see it from here. - And miss this view? - Who's your gnomey? - "Who's your gnomey?" Whoa! Who's your gnomey now? - # Hello, hello - # Hello, hello - Hey! - # My, my, my, what have we here? Whoa!

What a surprise

What a surprise - # Hello, hello - # Hello, hello

I'm not alone

It's good to know - # Someone's out there to say hello - # Hello - # Hello - # Hello

HelloHelloHello, helloHelloHello, hello

Oh, no. He's a Blue. Not a Blue. Juliet. You're not allowed off your pedestal. What are you doing out in the alley? I'm, um... Well, I could ask you the same question, Tybalt. We're looking for a blue gnome. Yeah, he's an ugly little fellow. - Got a scratch, right here. - And his name's Gnomeo. You haven't seen him, have you? Uh... Ooh. Um... Uh... He sounds awful. No, I... I, um, certainly haven't seen him. I haven't seen him at all. Well, lucky you. Come on. Let's get inside. Juliet. A Red. Why, of all things, did she have to be a Red? So, where is the oh-so-important, life-changing orchid? Um... Um... What... What orchid? What? Hmm? Shut up! You met a boy! What? No. Well, maybe, sort of. Um... Yes. Yes, I did. I need details! And go slowly! - Is he totally gorgeous? - Totally. Does he have a nice rotund belly? Well, let's call it sturdy. And his, uh... His hat is, um... - Big and pointy? - And... ...you know, I suppose in a certain light, you might say it looks sort of... blue. Blue. Ah! This is one of your little jokes! No, I don't get it. Oh! Flipping, flaming Nora! She's smooching the face off a Blue! Shh! Please shush, Nanette. Just zip it. Zip. Oh! Juliet! This is fantastic! - Is it? - It's doomed. - What? - A Red and a Blue. It just can't be. So it's a doomed love, and that's the best kind. You'll never see him again. And then one day when you die, you'll be all... "Oh, my true love. I only saw him once." I'll only see... What do you mean... What are you chatting about "once," I'll only see him once? How romantically tragic. Your love is doomed. Your love is dead. Your love is doomed. Your love is dead. It's doomed. Dead. - I'll only see him once? - Doomed! I've never seen Lord Redbrick so riled up. We have to find Gnomeo. Let's split up. I wish I could quit you. Hmm! Oh, well, let's go fishing. All right, boy. Go find Gnomeo. Doomed. Dead. Doomed. Dead. Doomed. Dead. O Gnomeo, Gnomeo, are we really doomed, Gnomeo, to never see each other again? Why must you wear a blue hat? Why couldn't it be red like my father, or... or green like a leprechaun? Or purple like, um... like, uh... like some weird guy? I mean, what's in a gnome? Because you're blue, my father sees red, and because I'm red, I'm feeling blue. Oh. At any rate, that shouldn't be the thing to keep us apart, should it? No! No, it shouldn't! I couldn't have said it better myself! Oh, my giddy aunt. Did you just hear all of that? What are you doing here? I don't know. Um... I came here to... Well, I don't know, I just wanted to see you again. Are you crazy? If Dad finds you, he'll bury you under the patio! Find me. You kidding? "Stealth" is my middle name. No! Quick! Turn it off! I'm trying! - Do something! - The button's stuck! Come on. Aah! Juliet! It won't turn off! - There's something behind you! - Shroom! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Juliet, what's with the...? Ooh! You look like a fun-gi. - Excuse me, a little help here. - My dad's coming. So, you must be Gnomeo. Lovely to meet you... in the 30 seconds before you're discovered and killed. - Quick, hide. - Juliet, I've told you before, no music in the grotto after 10:00. - What's going on here? - Um... It was a... um... I saw a squirrel, and he... he dropped his nuts. Yes, nuts, the size of... boulders! Yes, all right. Thank you, Nanette. Well, OK, but no mucking about, especially not tonight. We've been attacked, by a Blue! And if I ever get my hands on a Blue, he'll be sleeping with the fishes! Now, I'm not a man who is wounded up easily! Lord Redbrick, I've been having problems with my... Your what? I guess this isn't the best time to talk. - It's not ideal. - But I... - Just go. Please go. ...just came here to say I... - What? You what? - I'm... - Oh, sorry. - Juliet, is there something wrong - with the pond? - The pond? No. What, this pond? No, it's fine. I mean, it's just as pondy as ever. Oh, my gosh! What is that thing over there? - What? What was it? - The... thing, over there... - What did it look like? - Oh, it looked like a really... OK, bye-bye then. Off you go. Thanks for popping by. Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels... or pigeons or sparrows or whatever. Parting is such sweet sorrow. Ah. Nanette, where's Gnomeo? Is he gone? - Yeah. Gone forever. - What?! Whoa! I think you'll find this does, actually, belong to you. Thank you. - I can't go. - I know how you feel. No, really, I'm stuck. So, uh... can I see you again tomorrow? - Yes, but not here. - Back in the old Lawrence place, then? - Noon? - Not soon enough. - I can do 11:45. - Done. That frog was right. Parting is such sweet sorrow. Whoa. Thanks, Nanette. You know he's going to ditch you when he finds out how much you weigh. Shroom, do you see this face? It's a happy gnome face. Now, come here. Come on! Outrage! Infamy! The gardening gloves are off then, are they? You! Wrecking my mower! Dear lady, you are insane in the brain! I never thought even you'd stoop to such levels! Oh, and by the way, kindly stop stealing my underwear. In your dreams, you daft old cabbage! Oh. How could she do this to Tybalt's wishing well? Oh, my sweet little flower boy. Why would anyone ever pick on you? Oh! Who thinks I should order the best new lawn mower money can buy? Oh... Why would anyone do this to Tybalt? Because nobody likes him. So, what are we going to do? Find their weak spots. Then what are we going to do? Damage. Lots and lots of damage. Right. Mess with me, will you, Capulet? I'll show you, you old sack of compost. This is not over. Not by a long shot. Ah. Right. What do we got here? She's on the Worldy Widey Web. - Uh, no. No, no, don't think so. - That one! Pick that one! - Ooh! That one! Yes, I like that one. - No, don't think so. - No, no... That one! - Oh! What's this? Are you losing the war in your garden? Well, brother, maybe it's time for a secret weapon. Terrafirminator! It's the most ruthless, 500-horsepower, grass-dominating piece of hardware the world has ever seen! Terrafirminator! It's unnecessarily powerful! Now with 75 percent more power! - It clears! - Clears! - It digs! - Digs! - It mows! - Mows! Your lawn will be afraid to grow! Terrafirminator! It's a weapon of grass destruction! Terrafirminator will not inhibit grass from growing. Not recommended for residential use, brother. That one! Oh, my. Pick... that one! Please, please, pick that one! - Oh, dear. - Yeah, yeah, yeah... That's a bit in your face. This is more my speed. Meow. Oh! Not the Kitten Clipper! Oh, no. Definitely not. Huh? Ow! - Juliet? There you are. - Hi, Dad. I've been ruminating about our little discussion yesterday. - But I was just... - What you need is compan-man-ship. Someone to look after you. Who'll keep you safe. - What? - You know Paris, don't you? Yes. Yes, of course. Why? - He's come to pay you a visitation. - Dad! All right, all right. No one would ever say I don't know when I'm not wanted. - Toodles! - Got something for you. Here it is. Gypsophila. Lovely. What does it mean? It means "lover of chalk." Although, ironically, it grows better in a clay soil. It's weird. You think you got it down, and then, bam, you do some reading, it turns out it likes clay soil, even though you thought it was a lover of chalk. Weird. Right. Well, it's been terribly nice speaking with you. Where are you going? Stop! No! Obviously, do whatever you want. But my point was, surely, it's a bit rude to leave me on a first date. - "First date"? - Yeah. - I thought, what does a boyfriend... - "Boyfriend"? ...get his girlfriend? - "Girlfriend"? Ooh! This is good! A small token of my affection. Oh. Wow. Juliet, do you realize what this is? It is my own hybrid of foxglove and buttercup... - A love triangle! ...which I call "foxbutt." And you! I never knew you were such a devil! No, I mean, you know, I've got my dark side, sure. Hey there, Juliet. What a name. It's a great name. Goes with your... eyes. You're looking really cool. You're looking good. Did it hurt when you fell down from heaven? That's a killer, man. Yeah, no. You're looking cool. Yeah. - How's it going with you, baby? - Oh, I'm fine, baby. How are you? Uh... uh... Never better. Huh? Do you think anyone heard that? There's nobody here. - Then why are you whispering? - Why are you whispering? Oh! Look at that! Guess we're done with the whispering thing then. It's a 1950s MacAllister Ranger. - Let's start her up! - Yeah! OK. Check out the power on this beauty. She's empty. Bingo. - Hey, try this. - Thanks. - Is that you? - Yeah. Yeah, it's me. It's me, too! - What was that? - I have no idea. OK, whatever you are, come out slowly! I have a loaded st... uh, weapon! And... And I'm not afraid to use it! - Do you think I scared him? - Oh, definitely. I know I'm scared. Look at that baby, huh? Watch me now! By the way, thanks for finding my leg, and setting me free. I love you! Do you know what it's like to be trapped for 20 years? All alone by yourself, no one for to talk at? "How's the other leg?" "I don't know, Featherstone, remember? I don't have it." You see, I'm not exactly terrific company, am I? Sorry, but we didn't think anybody lived here. Yeah, we shouldn't be here. We'll be going. - What if he follows us? - Then our parents find out. Oh, no. Nanette was right. We're doomed! You cannot ever pull the wools over these beady eyes. Ho-ho! I think that you two are on a date. - Date? No! No. - Date? No! No. - Not dating. Fighting. - Fighting to the death. - Mortal enemies here. - Yeah, don't you see it? - He's a Blue! - And she's a Red! And I'm pink! Who cares?! Anyway, I got to ask. Why are you bringing her to a dumpy place like this? I know! I know! I be right back! Juliet, wait. Oh, here it comes. I'm too delicate, right? No, no. I was going to say, don't hold back. Let her rip. - Oh! Really? - Yeah. Go! Whoo-hoo-hoo! Whoo! Wow! Ta-da! Look at that! It's a definite improvement. Fantastic penmanship, too. But, you know, we still gotta do something about these weeds. They're not weeds. Those dandelions are wishes. I don't know. Aweed by any other name is still a weed. Go on. Make a wish and then blow on it. It's kind of hard with a beak, huh? Kind of tires you out, huh? I go to sit down now. I've got a confession to make. I've never actually driven a mower. No, you're a natural. Well, my dad, he's a little overprotective. You know this is crazy, right? Yeah. I just never imagined that I could fall for a Red. And me a Blue. No way. My whole life, my mum raised me to hate you guys, you Reds. So, this could never work. Could it? Well, a Red and a Blue, it just can't be. Can it? Look! It's kind of like snowing, but it's not. Oh, baby, you know, I getting into this now. See, the trick is to go like... Then you get them all with one. You don't have to... Ah! I wish that we could all come back and do this tomorrow. And, uh... I promise, your secret is safe with me. Well, should we? I can do 11:45. Not soon enough. Hey, Shroom. What's up, button head? Careful there. You're going to chip something. What's eating you? How? How? - Mum! - Gnomeo! How could this have happened? Where were you? I was... I was nowhere. Don't worry, Mum. I'll make it up to you. How?! Redbrick and his hoodlums have destroyed the most beautiful thing we Blues have. Your father planted her. We raised her from a seedling. Those blasted Reds! Come on, Gnomeo! We'll make them pay! Every last one of them! Every last one? My dad can really pick them. Can't he just? - Oh! This is painful. - Oh! Sweet torture. - Ooh, shiny, shiny. - Nanette? Gnomeo. OK. Huh? Juliet, no, wait! I... I... A Blue! A Blue! - Abort, abort the mission! - What, what happened? Uh... The nozzle jammed. Let's go. Gnomeo? Hmm... Such a big hat for such a small gnome. So, you boys fancy a little bit of fun? Let's take this baby out into the alley. Then what are we going to do? We're going to have a smashing time. Aw, come on, Juliet. It's not as bad as all that. Is that your big move on a second date? You wine them, dine them, and then spray them with weedkiller? You've got to admit, it is original. Hola! My fellow funsters are back already. Juliet, be reasonable! I didn't have a choice after "Incident Wisteria." How do you think that looks? Just a toilet, in the middle of a yard, with nothing growing out of it. - You Blues are so infuriating! - Wait a minute. Us Blues? - So, what you guys want to do? - Featherstone, we're busy! Come on, guys! Let us have some fun! Let me tell you something about you Reds. Us Reds? Can't we all just laugh about this? I know your little mushroom dude can. - Featherstone! - Featherstone! - We're in the middle of something! - You wouldn't understand. - Do you mind? - Just leave us alone! Right. I'm sorry. You know, sometime I get a little overexcited. Especially having such great new friends. Like you, and... But I know I can be a bit... much. Wait, Featherstone. Hey... Come back, Featherstone. I'm sorry. I may not be a smart bird, but I know what love is.

You hear it everydayOnce upon a time, they sayOnce upon a time in this placeI looked and saw on your faceA smile that spoke to meIn oh so many waysAnd love built a gardenGrew it from the ground upEach one of us knowingEvery inch of it was usWe pulled it all togetherHoping and believingThat love built this gardenFor the two of us to dream inWe'd get a little rainThen the sun came out againBut a frost, it's hard to fightOnce it takes hold, flowers dieThere's only so much you can doTo keep some things aliveAnd love built a gardenGrew it from the ground upEach one of us knowingEvery inch of it was usWe pulled it all togetherHoping and believingThat love built this gardenFor the two of us to dream in

You know, other people's hate destroyed my love, and... I couldn't do nothing about it. But you... you can. You know, I think that crazy pink plastic bird might be right. What if we never went back? Never go back? But what about my dad? And Nanette? And the Red garden? You see, the truth is, over there, we're enemies. But here? Here, we're a matching pair. Juliet, will you stay here and build a garden with me? I'd love to. Gnomeo! What are you doing?! Benny! Listen, mate, I can explain. Benny! Benny, wait! Well, well, well. If it isn't little Big Hat Benny! Mess with our garden, will you? Benny! No! Ooh! That felt good. Oh, no. Oh, no! Tybalt! A hat for a hat! Gnomeo, no! You wouldn't attack an unarmed gnome, would you? Sucker! Pity! Tybalt! The wall! You don't think I'm going to fall for that old trick, do you? What wall? Oh. That wall. No. - What was that? - What's happened? Tybalt? Tybalt. Tybalt? Tybalt can't be with us anymore. Ooh. Smash him back! No! What is the meaning of all this constipation? Gnomeo smashed Tybalt! - No! He didn't do it! - Juliet! - Gnomeo! - Mum! A gnome for a gnome! - Catch! - What? Smash him back! Run, Gnomeo! Run! Stop! Stop that! Revenge! Oh? Oh... - What are you doing? - No! I love him! - What? - Doomed. Oh! Someone do something. Gnomeo! Are you mad? There's been enough smashing for one day! Now get her on her pedestal and keep her there! He's gone. Oh, no... gone. Oh, Gnomeo. No... No, not Gnomeo. Let's get you home, now. Oh! My poor, poor boy. Hmm? Stay. Stay! Good boy! Shroom! Shroom! Huh? No! Hey, what's this? A gnome? Yeah, mate. It looks like your sister. Whoa! Don't drop it! Come on, pass it! You left me no choice, Juliet. I've lost your mother. I am not going to lose you. Psst! Psst! Bunnies! Fall in. All right. We've got to avenge Gnomeo. Here's what we're going to do. Now... No, not now, Shroom! Right. Got it! OK. OK! Little mushroom dude, I'm coming. What? What are you trying to say? So, Little Timmy has fallen down the well? No? Little John? Little Mustafa? Little Richard? What?! Oh. Ateapot fell down the well. What? Gnomeo. You saying Gnomeo fell down the well? No, little mushroom, he was smashed. I saw it myself. What? You want I still should follow you some more. OK, fine. I going with you. I go. But what this has to do with Gnomeo, I don't know. And where is this well everyone is falling into? Psst! Hmm? Ready? Ew. Hmm? Yuck! Hmm? Ooh! Hello. Whoa! Hmm? Meow. Terrafirminator! - Are you losing the war in your garden? - Never! Well, brother, maybe it's time for a secret weapon! - Bring it on. - Terrafirminator! This one's for Gnomeo! Meow! Huh? Yeah! Huh? Come on! Oh! Ruddy purse. Call me. So Juliet and me, we decided that we'd carry on in spite of the feud. It was great, but then my best mate Benny found out, and then Tybalt, who's a right piece of work by the way, crashed a trowel through Benny's hat. I was so livid that I attacked Tybalt and he ended up getting smashed, which wasn't my fault, and I was chased out. Exiled. Stuck up here on your head, far away from Juliet. Extraordinary. Your story, it does put me in mind of another. It does? Oh! Indeed! Yes, there are remarkable similarities. What happens? Do they get back together then? Get back together? Um... No, not exactly. What exactly do you mean? Well now, it really is quite good. She feigns her death. He finds her, thinks her dead, takes his own life. She wakes, finds him dead, takes her life, both dead. Exeunt omnes, the end, curtain! Standing ovation! Bravo! Bravo! Author! Author! Hmm. What did you say?! They both die?! What kind of an ending is that? My dear boy, this is a tragedy. Yeah, you're telling me, mate. It's rubbish! - "Rubbish"? - Gotta be a better ending than that! I suppose that he could've made it back in time to avert disaster, but I like the whole death part better. Oh, dear. Whoo-hoo! Featherstone! One word! Plastic. How did you find me? Shroom! He sniffed you out. And he doesn't have a nose. I checked. Yeah, I knew I could count on you, you little button head! What is it, boy? He hasn't stopped, yakety-yakety-yak! He's been going on and on and on since the alley. Chocolates in stranger, chocolates in stranger, chocolates in stranger... Juliet's in danger?! No, that's not it. Juliet's in danger! Told you so. Come on, boys. I've got to get back to Juliet and save her! That's what he said, but she was dead before he got home! We'll see about that! Whoa! Ta-da! Benny. What do you think, Lady B? This baby is fully equipped. Equipped for what? It has settings for edging, trimming, mulching, and revenge! Do it, Benny. Do anything it takes! Make them rue the day they destroyed my son! Unleash the dogs of war! Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one! No! No! Oh! Yes! Oh, no! Oh, blimey! Oh, no! Attack! Counterattack! Counter-counterattack! - Fire! - Incoming! Hey! I got one! Thank you! Move it! No! No! Paris! Gentlemen, I suggest we put our heads together. Charge! - Oh, no, no, no! - Yee-haw! - Hang on! - Whoa! Whoa! Thanks! Juliet! You're alive! - Come with me. - OK. Oh, no. No, no! Would you like a complete destruction now? Destruction in progress. Get him! Come on! Come on! Come on, come on, come on! Juliet! My son! It can't be. Target locked. She's going to blow! Get back! Get back! It's no use. Go. - Go. - I'm not going anywhere. Told you so. Huh? No. Huh? It's OK! I'm OK! Oh, good. I'm sorry about your son. I'm sorry about your daughter. I was just trying to keep her safe. And now, the whole thing is my fault. Our fault. This feud... Is over. Move! I don't know about you, but... ...I think this ending is much better. - Good afternoon, witch. - Nitwit! Thank you!

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wandering-chronicler-blog · 7 years ago

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Draecember-Prompts 18 & 19: Corrupted and Regret

These two just kinda meshed so well together when I was writing. Also, huge thanks as always to the readers! This entire event has been a lot of fun to do while editing the other one.

-Previous Pieces: Letter, Losing Someone, Memory and Dimensional Ship, Discovery, On a Mission, Feeling Left out and Facing a Fear, Working with The Horde, Family, Reunion With a Loved One, Relaxing, Facing a Fear and Overcoming an Obstacle -

She heard the clashing of steel and the splatter of blood on the snow. Alliance soldiers fought and hacked at the ghouls and skeletons that mobbed them on the glacier. Cannons from the airship above bombarded the undead swarm. Death knights still loyal to their master cut through them one by one, pushing the attackers back. Two ghouls were beaten back by a dwarf before getting ensnared by a crypt fiend’s webbing. He swung his axe in an arc, having it parried by a draenei death knight. She retaliated by stabbing downward and into the dwarf’s chest. In a swift move, the blade left their chest and she kicked them into the snow, moving to another target that was occupied by two ghouls. With their back turned, she cut them down with ease, driving both of her swords into the sides of their stomach and tearing back through their armor. Blood spurted out of the wounds before a blast of ice from the lich supporting them encased him.

She turned then, silently seeing a vindicator, clad in plate and wielding a violet crystal hammer marching for her. He swung for her, striking hard and knocking her into the snow before charging, hammer high above their head. She rolled to the side, avoiding the strike and getting on their flank. The warriors circled among the chaos before the vindicator thrust his hammer forward. She was quicker though, avoiding the strike. In the free seconds, she charged her energies, pale blue glowing from her hands and blades before stabbing furiously. The vindicator blocked the strikes as best he could, swinging the hammer again. She ducked, but the helmet she wore was knocked off. Seeing her face exposed to the world, the vindicator lowered his hammer, shock on his face. It was the moment she needed though to turn the tables and lunged for him. The blades sank deep as she jumped on him, planting her hooves on his chest and knocking him into the snow. Again and again she stabbed and slashed, blood flying as the vindicator merely wore the same look on his face as when he’d seen her.

Seliira collapsed out of the hammock onto the floor, gasping for air. Her eyes were wide and darted about the dark. She pulled the knife out of the bag on the floor and spun around, looking for any signs of trouble. Her eyes spotted Vylia sitting up in her hammock from the commotion.

“You okay?” she asked. She didn’t hear her as she caught her breath. “Sel.”

She lowered the knife, pushing her fingers up through her bangs. “I shouldn’t sleep,” she said finally. “I don’t need it anymore being undead. But sometimes I just feel like I have to, you know?” she rambled in a shaky voice. “Like... like your brain tells you ‘you need to sleep or else you’ll die from exhaustion.’ Like the cold too. There was a gnome that found me with the crusade patrol. She kept asking if I was cold. I mean, you’ve seen my saronite. But... But I didn’t feel the chill of the blizzard. I could have been naked out there and... I. I felt it but I didn’t feel cold I guess?”

“Well, knowing death knights...”

“Vy, no. This.” She shook her head and slumped on the floor a little. “Damnit. I see what I did. When I had The Lich King in my head. Like I can still hear him... even now. Even though I KNOW I am free. Even though Chou and Lor’raj ran their little magic tests.” She watched as Vylia turned in her hammock and had her legs hang out of it. “I sometimes feel this sharp pain creeping up my spine. Hear his voice. I know it’s not him but.” Just mentioning it out loud made her feel those pangs along her back, creeping up her neck. She thought she could hear a growling whisper in her ear. “But I know it’s not real,” she shuddered, placing her head in her hands. “I know it’s just in my head. The voice telling me I’m meant to cleanse the living from the world. That I was made to be the monster people fear.”

Vylia stepped out of the hammock and walked over to her sister. She knelt next to her, gently sliding a hand onto her back. “That was on purpose by him. I’m sure of it.”

“What makes it worse though, Vy?” she started, looking up at her. “I see faces I know. And yet I know I don’t know them. They’re the memories of the one who had this body. Before. Before everything. I know these people. She was a shaman. She had a husband and a son. Her father was a vindicator from The Exodar…” Seliira bowed her head, looking at the floorboards. “I killed them. All of them in the north.”

“Well, there were lots of reports of The Lich King doing things like that to ensure his death knights were completely under his control.”

“I heard. And... And doesn’t make it easier.”

“I know.” Vylia gently rubbed her sister on the back then. The only sound they heard was the dull rumbling of the airship’s engines.

“I... I sometimes feel like the world might be better if that damn frost never melted. I caused so much suffering. So much death.”

Vylia watched her sister for a moment, feeling the same pain to a degree as she saw the trauma and regret, even though Seliira had no choice in the matter. “The Light does not abandon its champions. Only they may choose to reject it. It never will.”

Seliira slowly looked up at her, frowning. “...I don’t need some sermon some old exarch gave you.”

“Not a sermon,” she replied, shaking her head. “It’s what Calveer told me when I was sure I was going to get kicked out of the order.” A small chuckle escaped her. “Though I do admit he is both old and an exarch.”

“Heh...”

“We have our pasts. But we can’t let them define our futures. We have a choice.” Vylia smiled warmly, eyes tearing slightly. “And from everything I’ve seen with you so far, I’m beyond thankful you’re here. And we know none of the death knights had a choice in the matter.”

She could see the wisdom in her sister’s words. It sounded like something she’d actually have said back on Draenor. “Yeah. I think I said that too one time to everyone. Back in my original body.”

“Probably.” Vylia sniffled slightly and reached up to run her fingers through her own tendrils. “Besides, you could take Arran’s approach too and work it in.”

“Spite?”

She nodded, chuckling a little. “Spite. Continue on and work in the world just to spite That bastard with his ass stuck on an ice-sculpted chair. ‘cause the moment you stop, you let him win.”

It was worth a chuckle. Even if Arran had never said it, that was something right. If nothing else, she did not want The Lich King to win. Even if she’d heard from reliable sources that there was a new ruler of the damned on his Frozen Throne, she was free. And nothing was going to change that.

“And I can prove to you as well if you ever feel like some monster that you’re not one,” Vylia added.

“How?” she asked.

“Do you remember the temple? When we were shown the gifts the Naaru gave our people?’

“I don’t think I still have it,” she said in a small voice.

“Have you tried?”

Seliira shook her head. “I mean, look at me. Any sort if bleeding I had is-”

“Try it,” her sister insisted. “Right here.”

Her lack of confidence was plain on her face, but Vylia seemed convinced Seliira could carry it out. She closed her eyes and focused, holding her hands open. A glow started to flicker and the mark of the Naaru formed out of energies in her palm. It drifted upward until it floated above her forehead, illuminating the dark room. “...it...” Her jaw was open and she couldn’t believe it. She could still call upon their blessing, even if she was undead.

“See?”

“How…?”

“I have seen other draenei death knights use it still. A vindicator who was turned may not be able to use their powers like they once did. But there is still that little bit in him as long as he chooses it.”

“That...” Seliira let herself give a small laugh of surprise. It shook a little in her throat, but was still so pleased. “Wow.”

“Feeling better?”

Seliira nodded. “A lot. Still don’t think I should sleep a lot though... and I know you need it.”

Vylia held a hand up to keep her sister from going on. “I can put it off a little especially if it helps you. You want to play a couple rounds of hearthstone? Ryant has one of those fancy boards we could use instead of using counters and all.”

“Of what?”

“Right. You don’t know about that.” She smiled a bit. “Well, you’re in for a treat then.”

#draecember #draecember2017 #draenei #world of warcraft #fanfic #Vylia #Seliira

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colpeia · 7 years ago

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“You Are Legion. We Are Herd.”

(( Short story to explain where Colpeia’s been. ))

It was time. The solar eclipse would be soon.

Colpeia had forgotten the smell of reeking sulfur and brimstone. She’d grown too accustomed. Demon machinery and the dank echo of their pistons seething back and forth were the only sounds that filled the bleak atmosphere. Sickly neon green, red, and purple saturated every corner that was not pitch black.

The elven Shafisian, already willowy before her abduction, had grown malnourished enough to look somewhat thinner. Not alarmingly so. But it was noticeable. Her leggy, olive-bronzed limbs fell out of meager rags. Her square curtain of brown hair hung across the sides of her face as she huddled over a lavender crystal and a few glowing lines of trigonometry. A few final fractions slithered from her finger. After a moment, the arcane scribbles stretched to the sudden gravity of the crystal like a miniature vacuum.

A trick Colpeia had conveniently learned shortly before her capture. The crystal could magically store data and be accessible later in various ‘files.’ Best of all, with a few choice illusions, it was easy to hide.

Although the capture months ago was not on purpose, the mathematician slyly decided to make it so. What better way to understand the arithmetic of their machinations than on the ground floor, then report her findings?

She had cast a persistent illusion to make her soul appear lackluster, enough for demons to pass her over and forget she was there. She feigned stupidity and helplessness to seem benign. (It was lucky that the Inquisitors didn’t roam this area or they’d see right through her.) The mesmer knew, however, that she could not keep this up for much longer before inevitably being discarded into the soul engines. She had to make her escape now. Her tireless calculations, tireless observations of patrol patterns, told her that her target would arrive in a matter of minutes. Perhaps less. The mid-afternoon patrol was predictable. He always threw felfire balls at intruders before rushing them for a melee attack.

Ah. Less, apparently. Colpeia narrowed her eyes in concentration.

youtube

A red beefy Eredar turned the corner.

“There’s one!” a Kaldorei demon hunter shouted as he stood before a small party of casters. “Slay him so I might drain his soul! Hurry!”

Just as they moved to channel spells, the Eredar assumed a bold casting pose. A livid ball of fel broiled above his hands. He hurtled it at them. CRASH.

The party vanished. In their place was a broken cage with no one inside.

The Eredar buried his brows in suspicion. He glanced around. There was nothi--

“HYEAGH!” came a desperate grunt with a crack.

The demon fell to the ground with a snapped neck.

Colpeia scrambled to grab the blade holstered at his side. She heaved. It barely budged out of its sheath. There was no way she’d be able to lift it. She eyed a long dagger secured at its side and, grateful, took that instead.

Just as she looked ready to take off, a wandering succubi spun around. Shit. She was early. The she-demon lunged and slashed her whip at Colpeia’s arm. The blood elf gave a hoarse yelp at the gash that streaked across her slender bicep. She was low on options. All the tricks she’d normally keep up her sleeve, or cloak, or belt, she no longer had. What now...? What n--Ah!

Another Colpeia appeared behind the demoness and reached out to grab the whip. The succubus retaliated with a stubborn tug. Somehow the illusion still managed to wrestle the whip free. She took a wild side-step and the whip wound around the succubus’ neck. Her blue eyes bulged with a gurgle at the violent yank that sent her tumbling backwards.

Like her duplicate, there was zero finesse, zero grace, but pure animalistic frenzy as the Colpeia in front of her tore across the ground with break-neck speeds.

Unable to tell which was real, she panicked to figure out a plan--too late. The dagger sliced below the whip through her throat. Blood spurted. The blade plunged into her chest next.

The demoness went limp. The mage strangling her vanished, and so did her whip. A new one - in fact the original one - reappeared on the ground where the succubus had been convinced she’d lost her grasp.

In a feral crouch, taut as a tightrope, Colpeia was ready to spring at a pin-drop’s notice. Her normally slender eyes resembled that of an alarmed rabbit. She knelt down to seize the whip. (Never knew if it could come in handy later.) Next order of business: release and protect the other prisoners.

Colpeia was quite good at casting illusions. Sometimes without meaning to. One of them proved fairly convincing: well adjusted. She was wise, therefore she must be grounded. Anyone who would have been able to read her mind at that moment would have learned better. The urge was loud. Screaming. Obsessive. Neurotic. Her chest felt ripped apart, almost numbed by a hysterical heartbeat. It rang behind her eyes, pulsed through her ears. The words punched through her brain over and over and over and over: Save them. Save them. Save them. SAVE THEM.

The Tanari illusionist shifted to a black silhouette, before eclipsing with a flash. She ran.

One after another, doors to unguarded cages mysteriously opened. Each prisoner was greeted with a leathery rope- the whip. Then a voice like warm sand: “You’re free. Come with us.” They watched their arms, hands, and legs disappear under a cloak of arcane stealth. The whip would keep everyone together in silence.

Colpeia’s face fluttered a moment into view as she urged a male human prisoner. He sneered. “I don’t need help from Horde scum.”

She deliberately remained visible. Urgent, desperate sincerity rippled through the aquamarine glow of her eyes. There was a manic gloss over them that threatened to become tears. “Please let me save you,” she begged softly. “Please. Just come with us.”

The man stared at the blood elf, still suspicious, but stunned. There was something weirdly shocking about the frantic candor she wore. Given his grim circumstance, he gave a begrudging growl and stepped forward. They vanished.

It did not take long to eventually find a weapon’s cache. Once everyone had been armed, they returned to Colpeia’s invisibility cloak to infiltrate the one room standing between themselves and freedom. A Nathrezim stood among a group of Shivarra inside.

“Release the whip,” she instructed, still in a hush. “Each of you stand behind a Shivarra poised to attack. We can swarm whoever is left. Hold your strike until you can see me.”

She heard tired grunts of agreement as she set the whip down. Colpeia and the prisoners crept through the desultory, onyx-esque entrance.

The Nathrezim twitched. Something felt eerie. He didn’t like it. The Shivarra’s murmuring died as they exchanged glances, uneasy.

“You are legion,” a voice echoed.

The demons whipped around in search of the source. There was nothing.

“...We are herd.”

A grunt suggested someone had just jumped-- The sides of the Nathrezim’s face got slammed by a pair of palms. The illusionist’s silhouette appeared first with a blinding outline much like an eclipse, then all of her. Her legs were wrapped around his waist for stability.

All he could see were her eyes. They blazed wider.

The world in front of him disappeared. He saw a glimpse of arcane fabric. A split second of the cosmic unspeakable. A peek behind the curtain no one was meant to witness. He could taste time sideways and it reminded him of moonberries. Sfjsqa’dlij titialk ngnga frrrr. He could not hear the dying cries of the Shivarra, but instead the thrumming engine of everything.

The elf hopped clumsily off of him, vicious but exhausted, as the Nathrezim slumped over. He was too mentally strong-willed to lose consciousness, let alone die of insanity, but this was good enough for her. Colpeia’s ‘borrowed’ dagger cleaved through his neck. He collapsed with a heavy thud.

She looked on at the three Shivarra who remained, and the dozen-or-so ragtag team overwhelming them. They fiercely hurtled their maces and axes and spells and arrows. Assuming no more than a supportive role, Colpeia rose her hand. In moments the shivarra screeched in annoyance. The dwarf was over ther--no, over ther--no, the troll was over--!! When did that tauren get here--?! Why were there two gnomes?!

An unearthly rasp of a shriek escaped the final Shivarra before she crumpled at their feet.

The human warrior turned around, still begrudging and wary, but thankful. “I don’t know why you saved all of us, mage, but we thank you. Let’s get out of here.”

“Go without me,” Colpeia replied. “Once you are through that door you are safe. I must rescue more.”

“You cannot seriously expect to liberate this entire camp?” the Tauren woman balked.

“I must try.”

“The fight against the Legion needs you alive, blood elf,” she implored. “After so many have escaped they are bound to bolster their reinforcements. I have watched you when their backs were turned, when their floating eyes were missing. I know not what information you collected. I do know that is why you stayed. You were here since before I had arrived. Will you sacrifice the precious knowledge you’ve spent so many months gathering? Knowledge that could save many more? You clearly value the survival of others - what about the survival of the world?”

Colpeia turned to stare at the entrance from which they’d come, the neon yellow-green, the cages, the fel crystals. A hot tear streaked down her heavily freckled cheek. How many were still back there? How many were going to be sacrificed?

How many had she failed?

“Ya don’t stand a chance wit’ der bolstered numbers if ya be goin’ back,” the lanky troll druid agreed. “Ya be no good to us dead.”

“Yer not a Titan fer Uther’s sake,” the dwarf added bluntly. “Stop bein’ daft. Ye barely got us outta there. Their deaths aren’t your burden, lass. Be happy ye got fourteen of us.”

Colpeia’s lips pressed into a bittersweet line as she continued gazing back. The logical side of her brain knew they were right. The vehement part didn’t want them to be.

Large hands shoved her back-- she stumbled. “Go on,” the dwarf barked, “GIT!” Letting out a shaky breath, Colpeia finally ran alongside them through the door. As they dispersed, with stubborn, paranoid conviction she paused and peered over the horizon for any enemies that might stand in their way. None. Glancing over her shoulder, she noticed misty green exhaust stretching into the skies. The soul engine. The unsaved.

Run, gazelle. Run. Run and do not look back.

Swallowing back more heartbroken tears, Colpeia faced the horizon and stumbled into a run, unused to using so much muscle. Her legs were already wobbly. She blinked forward. Then again.

Blink.

Blink...

#colpeia #story #return from hiatus

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life-love-and-alcohol · 7 years ago

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Fic prompt/request! Yuuri working in a post office, sorting hundreds of fan mail/love letters to someone called Victor Nikiforov who also constantly orders packages from pet store online and picks them up weekly... Yuuri would rather die than admit anyone he has his address memorized

Hello!! Thank you so much for requesting this, best idea ever *cries*. I don’t really know how post offices work tbh, so if I messed up then I’m so sorry XD you can point out my ignorance MORE UNDER THE CUT (if you are on mobile I’m so sorry, maybe you can try copying the link into your browser), or read it at my AO3 account: http://archiveofourown.org/users/justmeandmysillystuff :D

One could naturally assume that working at a post office wasprobably the most boring, monotonous job on earth: just checking names and addresses,sorting packages, and delivering letters from grannies that lived less than tenblocks away from each other. There could be nothing more tedious and uninterestingthan that, right? Such a dreary life a post office employee must have, right?Wrong. So wrong. Just ask Yuuri Katsuki and he’ll tell you otherwise. Two years of experience, three daily coffees, the acquired ability to look atsomeone in the eye and tell them “your package got lost in Singapore”, andabout fifty stamps memorized. All of that, for the miserable wedge of a public worker,which was barely enough to pay for his rent and the bread and the cream cheese insidehis fridge. If that wasn’t intense, then he didn’t know what it was (maybe “miserable”was the word he was looking for). It wasn’t as bad, honestly. He was just easily-stressed. Taking out the wholefinancial kind of mailing, it was actually interesting to check what peoplesent. From pen-friends to wedding invitations, and his favorite bunch ofletters that came in every December starting with “Dear Santa”, there wasalways something fun to go through. His co-worker and friend Phichit was alwaysthere to laugh at the dramatic break-up mails. There was especially aparticular guy with quite a ridiculous surname who wrote weekly letters to acertain “Anya” who never really answered back. Phichit liked to joke sayingthat the woman was probably dead already and that the guy was just delirious,but Yuuri didn’t think so. He had read other love-struck fan-mail before, andhad learnt that love could really make people stupid. The best part of the job though, was the stuff some other people ordered online.Seriously, he had seen some weird shit. Including that woman who ordered about three garden gnomes on the same month,and that guy who asked his brother who lived in Colombia to send him oneSPECIFIC brand of beans weekly. Not to mention the sex toys. Boy, the amount ofdildos he had delivered. Phichit insisted it wasn’t humanly possible someone couldprobably stick that anywhere, but thelabel said “the only limit was imagination” so he really was in no place toquestion it. It was always really funny whenever someone ordered sex toys.Dildo days were good days. However, those weren’t nearly Yuuri’s favorite orders. There was a certain someone who did way too many purchases of pet suppliesonline. And by too many, it meant TOOMANY. Being a dog owner himself, Yuuri knew no pet could possibly need so manychewing toys, about three different little beds, and an entire fun-size wardrobe.How much money could someone actually waste on that? He had kept wondering forweeks. It was expensive, it was ridiculous, and it was impossible to ignore. But even more impossible, was to ignore the buyer. The first time he ever saw him, he almost choked on his second daily coffee. Phichithad been absent for the day, so he had the double amount of work, and he wascertainly not waiting for that time of the day when people got out of theirrespective jobs and actually had time to worry about their mail. It was barelypast midday, and they rarely got a long queue waiting at those hours, so he wasn’tpanicking yet. He was sorting some packages out, separating national frominternational, and way too busy to acknowledge the world around him. It wasonly natural he only noticed a client had walked in once his long, pale fingerswere already drumming against the counter expectantly, and Yuuri almost jumpedout of his skin as soon as he saw that handsome, foreign man with the fancyhaircut. Now, to say he was attractive was an understandment. But just how attractive could someone possiblybe?? That face was, under Yuuri’s criteria, impossible. It broke any kind of measurementlimits he could have ever thought about. He had long lashes, shiny silver hair,and his eyes were the bluest shade of blue he had ever witnessed. And hissmile, damn, his smile! It lit up thegloomy post office like a lighthouse! Yuuri would have to say sorry to whoever ordered that British brand ofbiscuits, since he was currently crushing the package in his hands. “Good afternoon!” His accent, for fuck’s sake “Could you check if my packagecame in yet, please?” He was thankful he actually worked in autopilot by then, since he knew hewouldn’t have been able to answer otherwise. “Oh, ehm…sure. What’s your name, sir?” “Nikiforov. Viktor Nikiforov” Viktor Nikiforov.Suddenly everything made much more sense. For the past months, Yuuri had had to deliver a scary amount of head-over-heelslove letters; all directed to someone whose name was, ironically, Viktor damnNikiforov. When they first started coming he didn’t understand. Who was thatperson, and how had he seemingly started his own religion within a few weeks?People messaged him with such devotion he had at first thought “Nikiforov” wassome kind of parish club; but after he read a few letters, he understood he wasnothing but the town’s new heartache. It was odd for someone to cause such acommotion, really hard to believe.But that early afternoon, with that flawless, porcelain angel face staring athim from across the counter, Yuuri had been enlightened. And he couldn’tbelieve he had been able to keep his hands from writing a letter himself. After that day, in which he clumsily handed him his packaged sparkly feedingbowl and made him sign the papers, Viktor started to reappear at the officevery frequently. He became one of the regular characters that came at certaindays and at a certain hour to retire a certain kind of mail, and he awoke onthe poor public employee a certain kind of reaction. Whenever he saw someonehad ordered something from “EverythingForYoutPet.com”, Phichit could hear himhumming happily as he sorted the letters, since he knew that meant Viktor wouldeventually come to pick it up. It was always the same: almost once a week an absurd chew toy or some expensivecanine shampoo would arrive. At around 3 PM, he would hear the door opening,and the sweet sing-song of a polite “Good afternoon, Yuuri!” would make himmess up with a package or two. He would always gift him the kindest ofheart-shaped smiles, he would try to initiate gracious small talks that Yuuriwas far too shy to properly follow, and he would be very nice and thankfulabout the service, even if his order wasn’t delivered on time. Was that maneven real? Yuuri was seriously beginning to question it. Maybe he was just ahallucination from an overdose of caffeine.But it couldn’t have been a hallucination, not when he actually heard the soundof the closing door echoing so clearly through the post office every time heleft. And not when it truthfully hurt so much to see him go. Also, Phichit could also see him…so he couldn’t have just been a mirage. Hisfriend could see him enough to consider him a teasing matter and would alwayselbow Yuuri mockingly whenever the man came around. However, one day things turned out to be rather different. Yuuri knew something was wrong as soon as he heard the door opening. Itscreeched, doing that old wooden noise it always did when opened, since no oneever cared to oil it. It never did that noise when it was Viktor walking inthough. Almost as if the door knew, as if it were aware of who it was grantingaccess to, and decided to act as politely as the man itself. Yet, that day it did creak. And loudly.

Secondly, there wasthe look on his face: dark bags under his pretty eyes, his hair a mess, and adrop of swear daring to cross his glorious forehead. And thirdly, there wasno: “Good afternoon, Yuuri” as he walked in.“Did my packagecome in yet?” He leaned over the counter, sighing heavily, and pinchingthe bridge of his nose.“Package?”Yuuri would obviously remember if a package for him had arrived. But he checkedanyways, just in case, and for the man not to notice he actually was receivingespecial attention “Uhm, no, sorry. We have no mail for you”The look on his facecaused physical pain to the sight.“Are yousure?” He insisted, trying to keep his voice neutral, but it was actuallyon the tight rope between anger and cracking. When he saw Yuuri nodding inconfirmation, he sunk his head between his hands “Oh no…what am I goingto do now??“ Yuuri didn’t quiteunderstand the calamity of the situation. For what he could tell, the manordered nothing but useless accessories for his dog. What could possibly havehim so upset?? "Don’t worry, ifit got lost they won’t take so long to find it…maybe around a week”What had been adesperate soothing attempt, ending up having quite the opposite effect. And thepained gasp the news squeezed out from his pretty heart-shaped mouth was themost devastating noise Yuuri had ever heard. Even worse than the screeching ofthe door.“One week?? Ican’t wait one week!” He exclaimed, covering his mouth “My dog issick and I ordered some foreign medicine they don’t sell here…he needs totake it now! Please, if there’s anything you can do to speed up the process, Ibeg you! I’ll pay anything!”Yuuri stood still,struck by empathy right into the core, seeing himself and his Vicchan reflectedon the man’s eyes. God, if something ever happened to his own dog he didn’tknow what he would do. He adored his pet, he would probably sail sky and earthin the search for that package. And he suddenly felt miserable for being just auseless, boring post office worker.Speechless, since hereally didn’t have any words of consolation that weren’t actually lies, hewalked to the office’s computer to try to check if there was any data of thepackage’s location on the archive. He searched for Viktor’s name, and found thedocument of the order but no clue on where the package was at. It just said ithad been “delivered”. Yuuri bit his lip, notknowing what to say to a heartbroken fellow dog owner, when he suddenly noticedsomething. “Themedicine…” He whispered, eyes fixed on the screen, rereading thedescription of the order “That medicine!!”“Uh??”Viktor didn’t understand.“I have thatmedicine at home!! I ordered it a few years ago when my own dog was sick!”He exclaimed, smiling in a way he had forgotten he could, and turning on thelights on Viktor’s eyes again “I still have half of it at home!" "For real??”The man clapped his hands, almost as a silent pray, and Yuuri could see himmouth a thanks god under his breath.“Yes, come on! Ilive two blocks away!” He grabbed him by the sleeve of his coat, pullinghim out of the post office, barely remembering to warn his co-worker before heleft “Phichit, cover me! I’ll be right back!!" Viktor ran rightbehind him, following him around the chilly streets of the city, finding thehold of his determinate hand to be the only source of heat. By the time theyreached the small apartment, both their breaths were heaving and their nosesred and sticky, and Yuuri’s fingers were so numb he could barely hold his keys.He opened the door andrushed inside, emptying his whole cabinet in one single movement, while Vicchanstared at him confusedly from aloof. "Is it thisone??” he held a small blue box out for Viktor, and he swore his eyes werealmost watery.“Oh my god, yesit is!” He exclaimed. But instead of reaching out to hold the medicine, heheld Yuuri in a tight hug instead “Thank you so, so much!! You are anangel!!!" It was only then, withboth the cold he still carried from the street and the worry slowly meltingwithin the embrace, that he realized what he had actually done. Had he really left hiswork shift, pulled a client out from the office, and took him all the way tohis apartment…to save his dog? Well, totally worthit.But it was only thenthat the embarrassment began to sink in. So, when Viktor brokethe hug and gifted him a big, thankful smile, Yuuri’s face was so hot he heatedup the entire apartment.“You didn’t haveto hurry so much, we could have waited till your shift ended” The manlaughed gently, beautifully, melodically, as it couldn’t have been any otherway “But thank you, it means a lot”Yeah, it meant Yuuriwanted to burry himself alive 100km underground. Love, indeed, madepeople stupid.

The next day, or rather thenext night, since it was already late in the evening and Yuuri was leaving thepost office, he said goodbye to Phichit at the door and got mentally ready toface the two blocks of coldness he would have to walk. He was wearing a thickcoat and gloves and a hat, but it didn’t seem to be enough, since everyminuscule patch of skin he couldn’t fully cover, was mercilessly bitten by the icywinter’s wind, and it had poor Yuuri shivering as he stood into the cold.

He was barely two steps outside, when he heard the bark of a dog and it madehim turn his head to the side instinctively. There, standing in the cold, andwearing a colorful striped sweater on top of its already fluffy fur, was arather big poodle staring at him and wiggling his tail.

Yuuri didn’t recognize the dog, since he had never seen it before (even thoughit kind of looked like Vicchan), but he did recognize the sweater. He had seenit in the extended catalogue of “EverythingForYourPet.com”, and he hadpersonally written the address and the name of the person who ordered it in theform, less than a month ago.

“Yuuri!” Viktor called out for him, looking as wonderful as always, with hisshiny hair hidden beneath a red hat that matched his flushed nose and cheeks, andinsisting on giving Yuuri tachycardia with that lovely smile of his.

“Oh, Viktor” He greeted back, bowing his head, turning to look at the dog thatwas now curiously sniffing his shoes “I see he’s feeling better”

“He is! The vet said I should walk him more, that exercise will help”

“I see…” That explained the dog’s presence, but it kind of didn’t explain his “Whatare you doing here though, did you order something again? I’m sorry but I can’tcheck right now, we are already closed”

Viktor kept staring at him with an arched brow for a few seconds, as ifmisunderstandments were contagious, and he couldn’t understand that Yuuri didn’tunderstand. But after he saw the genuine confusion on his big eyes, poppingfrom between the dense wool of his hat and his scarf like headlights, he decidedhe wanted to pull his leg a little bit.

“Oh, what a shame…I really had an important thing to send” He faked a pout, notbeing really good at acting, but Yuuri being even worst at grasping hints.

“Oh no, for real??” He blinked, trying to keep his eye’s moist safe from thebrute cold “I can’t open the office, I don’t have the key…Are you in such ahurry? Can’t it wait till tomorrow morning?”

“Hmm, I’m afraid no, it can’t”

“I’m so sorry! Ahg, we just closed! If you had only come two minutes earlierthen…”

“Don’t worry, Yuuri” He chuckled, and a puff of white smoke drew itself on thefreezing air “I don’t need the post office to send it”

“You don’t?” Yuuri frowned, puzzled “I don’t understand…what do you need todeliver so urgently?”

“This”

Before Yuuri could comment he was empty-handed, Viktor had leaned in and haduncovered his mouth from the thick scarf, only to warm it with his own lipsinstead.

It was short, short and chaste, and their lips were dry and cracked from thecold, but it was enough to have Yuuri’s body temperature raising a whole bunchof degrees, and for his heart to beat so fast in his ears he couldn’t even listento Viktor’s words as he spoke next. But he did read his lips:

“Sent” He smirked “Thank you for your services”

Yuuri thought of all the letters, all the dozens of people who had declaredtheir fanatical love to that man, and the amount of times he had debated to writeone himself. But he thought it stupid, he thought he would just toss it away,and he’d become just one more of all the people Phichit made fun of. He hadspent hours writing, crossing out, rewriting…all to crumple the piece of paperinto a ball and throw it away in the end. Deciding there was nothing he couldgive that man that could possibly express what he felt whenever he walked intothe post office.

Apparently, half a bottle of medicine for canines had been enough.

“Is…is this because of the medicine?” He stuttered, looking at him indisbelief.

“No” Viktor giggled, fixing his hat for him “It’s because of your kindness.Would you like to come home for dinner? I don’t live far away, I live at…”

“Yeah, I know where you live” He didn’t realize just how creepy that soundeduntil he had put it in words “I MEAN, I KNOW YOUR ADRESS BECAUSE OF THEPACKAGES! I DIDN’T STALK YOU, I SWEAR”

This time, Viktor openly laughed, causing Makkachin to bark merrily too as hewiggled his tail, and Yuuri thought he had never been so close to crying outfrom mere embarrassment.

“I see…” Viktor took his gloved hand in his, smiling fondly and rolling hiseyes “I was planning to guide you” He said, pointing at their intertwined hands“But it seems you don’t need me to do that”

Yuuri bit his lip, deciding he had already humiliated himself to a point of noreturn and there was no use in holding back.

“We can pretend I do” He whispered, squeezing his hand.

Viktor didn’t need to be asked twice.

And so they walked hand in hand, with a very much excited Makkachin jumpingaround, towards that familiar address that Yuuri had only dreamt about outside fromall the packages and letters.

yes, this is eteranal, I know, and Im sorry

#Yoi #yuri on ice #yuri!!! on ice #yuri katsuki #yuuri katsuki #viktor x yuuri #victuuri #viktuuri #viktor nikiforov #victor nikiforov #victuuri fic #victuuri fanfic #victuuri fanfiction #fanfic #fanfiction #fic #post office au #request

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