#Brothership Add-Ons

[art-tea-chill]

Shoutout to @mysteryman-17 for the idea of Glohm Boss rematches through a simulator Technikki makes

Bonus: An edit of the audio I listened to while making this

(Warning for loud music since metal, also glitching/shaking effects since I wanted to be flashy)

[archvaxe]

The extension corps playing the new Mario-Party.

I don't know why but I think ecks would take Daisy just because of her chaotic personality, because he is just as chaotic.

Ten would definitely take Waluigi and Shun maybe Yoshi?

[bluestrawberrybunny]

So this week’s episode was absolutely fantastic. 10/10. Luigi my man. He deserves the world. Give this man the world!

However, I refuse to believe my man’s cooking is shit. He has to be the best cook of all time. No one can change my mind on that.

Also Luigi and Mario being brothers is so heartwarming. I need more of that… also the Brothership reference. Sad Luigi and Bowser are having a lover’s spat tho- /j

But this has also got me thinking about if this episode happened in the Apprenticeship universe. This entire episode would just have been Luigi accessing his avatar powers the same way Mario can while Mario is out of commission for the food poisoning coma. Might make it be Meggy or Minion’s doing. Minion can cook in this AU but she’s also stupid. So… expect that story after Puzzle Park’s arc is finished cuz this just gave me ideas!

Also I would like to add:

Bro don’t give a flying fuck about Mario damn. Dude, that’s literally your avatar if we’re keeping up with the damned lore. But like why did you even come?? To prove that nothing is gonna happen with Mario and that everyone is worried for absolutely no reason?? Dude, wtf??

No fucks given by SMG3. What a lad.

[sinner-shark]

I rendered(ish) one drawing then. then yeah. Idk how shadows work and am too tired to care rn lol

Murder/Dust by Ask-Dusttale

Horror by SourAppleStuidos

I’m just making Horror be 50% jacket. There is so much fluff padding in there. I’m not that good at drawing him like this yet, but I want you all to see my vision. Horror Sans whose mass is mostly jacket. He doesn’t need it, it just makes him look bigger, and probably adds like +2 DEF. Maybe he does need that, actually.

Anyways, I’d think that Horror would remind Dust of Fell. And and what if Dust thought of Fell as a sort of big brother figure. And and and and and-listen, I personally am not one for “Nightmare gang family” or whatever, but these two-these two. Yes. One-sided brothership or whatever I feel like would be funny

[emmas-shit]

Beware of user @wisepiratedestiny

I don't usually make stuff like this but I've noticed this person has been following accounts as of recent that post anything Reclusa related.

I urge you people to block them as they are not a good person. In fact, I've had a history with them back in the early days of PMTOK.

BTW their icon is my art. I drew it so they can leave me alone. They never gave proper credit... But anyway. Back in 2021, they stole some fan characters of mine and even role played as them when I told them to stop

Screencap below is by my boyfriend on twitter

The link to the full thing will be here

Also they have a SUPER creepy stalker behavior as evidenced here

Furthermore they harass people to draw stuff for them as they will not take no for an answer. The evidence is in the link but it's also seen in this screencap where they were harassing this account to draw Olly

Someone even in the comments told them to stop and they kept going

The even creepier part of this is that they're possibly a grown woman that have some sort of mental problems. How I know they're a possibly an adult is thanks to their youtube channel

So please, I advise you to block them on site. Thank you for reading.

UPDATE: She has a deviantart account, a main one and an alt. She steals art on the main account. I advise you report the account as well as the stolen art.

Main account

Alt

Update: her main da account’s been deactivated for a while now

So for the time being, we can rest easy. She hasn’t been active on the alt since november.

UPDATE: ON DECEMBER 28 2024, SHE RAIDED THE RECLUSA SERVER MADE BY @reclusafanpage and I got some valuable info on her. I will send it here so people can see what I got.

Will censor names for the sake of privacy (minus theirs)

First here's what happened when she raided the server.

They brought up that they don't know how to draw which is why they stole art

I wasn't able to ban her (despite being a mod) until the owner woke up (they forgot to add some stuff regarding mods but it's now fixed) so i had to time them out. But man, it wasn't fun dealing with her. I will spare the whole incident because it's not important.

Now here's where I'll show off the somewhat personal info she gave out because I think its extremely relevant.

She claims that she's 25 which makes sense regarding the video. However, people in the server didn't believe her so I had to ask her in dms if it was true. So I did so, and the way she sounded serious made me conclude that she was telling the truth.

I then asked who was the person in the "recent" video she has in her channel, and it's confirmed its her sister. But she also gave out who she's living with as well.

I asked other personal questions, but i will not share for the sake of privacy. However after this, I had to "satisfy her" by roleplaying as Reclusa. And out of character too, because she has a tendency to "speak with the said character" if he was acting the way she wanted to see him, which is out right childish. (before, i just RP'd as myself)

And on and on this went. So guys, if you see her in any Brothership severs, ban her immediately. And also, don't forget to BLOCK HER ON SITE.

[mysteryman-17]

THAT'S RIGHT BITCHES, I'M BACK WITH A VENGEANCE >:D My first new AU concept in three-and-a-half years, and it's my longest one by a country mile! This started as @art-tea-chill and I discussing how undercooked Adaphne (and thus her route) is in Brothership, and things spiraled delightfully out of control from there. Was a ton of fun working with her on this variation of the AU, and I hope y'all enjoy!! :3 P.S. Keep an eye on Ari's AO3 page. At some point, there's going to be some *Add-Ons* to this duology of AUs. >;)

Also HOLY SHIT HUGE THANKS GOES TO @yoyosdoodles FOR THE AWESOME CONCEPT SKETCHES I LINK IN THIS WRITE-UP, THEY DID A FANTASTIC JOB BRINGING CERTAIN CONCEPTS TO LIFE AAAAAGH!!!

[life-one]

Honsetly... I feel like people always mischaracterized Starlow since the very beginning of her being in BIS and its weird to see that only now with Brothership, people are trying to give her a "second chance" even though she always owned up to most of her major faults in most of the games, while never meaning to personally attack Luigi's feelings while also having moments where she cares about Luigi in my opinion. ...But as a character, I'm 100% sure that's she's meant to be flawed in many ways and even snarky and blunt with her thoughts and words but at the end of day, still means well for Mario and Luigi regardless. Like, at least in BIS, if I can recall correctly, Starlow never called Luigi out of his name for the sake of a joke (and correct me if she did actually) like I really do get it if you just don't like her for whatever reason you have, but extremely hating her for mildly joking around with Luigi is odd to me since there are a lot of other characters that have disrespect Luigi before, and they never get smoke for it either? She's really not that bad as people made and still make her out to be and I could genuinely prob make a master post about this but even outside of that - the infamous BIS part where Starlow ragged on Luigi's crying was mistranslated and lost its tone as well in English (in my opinion) anyways to start with and its crazy that no one brought that up (as far as I know) So here actually, not the best at Japanese but I know enough to translate this:

"Hmm? Luigi also helped too?"

"Tee-hee. Anyways, he was only crying, right?" note: ufufu, うふふ is a more mischievous laugh and douse, どうせ, carries a dismissive tone here too!

"Huh? In the end, Luigi defeated that alien?" note: no, の, at the end adds genuine shock or disbelief in this context instead of asking a straightforward question as well - seeking actual confirmation in disbelief!

"Really?..."

"Ah... um..."

"Sorry, Luigi. You’re surprisingly amazing, huh?" note: gomenne, ごめんね is a more casual and empathetic apology then, gomen, ごめん, which can come off as insincere bluntness itself because of the added particle - ね! - while also softening the last sentence too. -

In the JP version... i feel like Starlow was teasingly but genuinely asking a question about Luigi to Mario, despite in a disrespectful and in "am right?" way, about his role the fight with the Shroobs - with her not believing that he could do such a thing. But then Mario actually informs her abut Luigi's win against the Shroobs, with it finally ending with Starlow noticing that she was being a massive jerk to him by saying something like that and genuinely apologizing and compliment Luigi out of some type of actual surprise. VS in the English translation where it just feels like Starlow is plainly just joking about Luigi's crying, while not carrying any real question behind it with Mario jumping in to tell her about Luigi win - with her apology and her even asking really seeming insincere and petty. ...even Mario's bit of speaking to Starlow makes more sense with the JP version rather than the English translation, since I feel like if this scene was originally made to rag on Luigi... Mario would have had a stronger reaction imo

[peanut-tyrug]

A collection of human Extension :)

Edit: Adding this in bc I wanted to add context to their designs (includes minor Brothership spoilers). Design descriptions under cut

Ecks: I realized Ecks doesn’t have legs, so I decided to make him a cyborg. Everything below his neck is robotic. This is the context for the short comic between him and Ten

Ten: Ten has his own lab, meaning he’s a scientist. He’s also fairly poise. I gave him a coat with a suit underneath it (the suit is a different color so it stands out against the coat) since I felt it fit him best. His right arm is used as a cannon, so I gave him a cannon hand

Shun: In the Extension Corps boss fight, one of Shun’s attacks is throwing weights at the Bros., so I made him resemble a body builder or construction worker

[aquillis-main]

I'm so tempted to make a crossover fanfic with Mario and Luigi: Brothership and add in as many Sonic characters as I can for it. Mainly to signify that the bring pulling Mario and friends in tried with other worlds, and both Mario's and Sonic's worlds had the highest amount of bonds needed for it. Can totally see the game that's already there as a Sonic-based one, as well, considering the major themes also tie plants in with technology to help benefit the future, which is what the Sonic series is in general.

Can totally see a load of dynamics coming into play, like Mario and Sonic being competitive rivals, Luigi and Tails talking about their favorite things and getting very into it, Amy and Peach talking about whatever adventure they want to talk about, Big and Birdo...? Hmm. Need to think on that last one, as well as figure out what other characters are in Brothership, though...

I do know Bowser's in it, and thus, he and Eggman would be fighting each other as well as the main villains of the game too.

[kanohivolitakk]

Ok so MK9 has caused a new wave of speculation/wishlists popping up and there's one commonly seen pick in particular that bothers me to the point I can safely say they're my least wanted character for MK9, yes even over another baby or Metal variant. Though not because I dislike the character, but rather because adding them in MK9 would be rather irresponsible at this point in time.

MAJOR BROTHERSHIP SPOILERS BELOW.

Look I want Mario RPG characters to be added to spinoffs as much as the next guy and would die for a Brothership character to be added in MK9 but Reclusa shouldn't be added to MK9 (or any other Mario spinoff for that matter) for at least two years, if not even longer.

Like, the guy is a major spoiler in a story-heavy game due to being the true main villain and a major plot-twist, and thus is a very well kept secret who wasn't alluded AT ALL in the marketing. Having him be playable in Mario Kart would be the Mario RPG equvalient of how Shulks final smash infamously spoils the identity of the final party member of Xenoblade Chronicles, something that was very criticized by the Xenoblade community at the time of this being announced even if XB1 was like, almost a decade old at that point. And given how Brothership would most likely barely be a year old by the time MK9 is released, it'd be even worse.

Yeah one could argue that Reclusa would probably be an open secret by that point given how internet and spoilerculture works but I kinda doubt it. Brothership hasn't really caught on in the larger cultural osmosis on outside hardcore Mario communities, so most outsiders don't know that Reclusa exists. Meanwhile in the Mario fandom people are generally tried to be hush hush about him because of the game sitll being relatively new, though that spoiler embargo seems to be gradually lifting but not to the point I'd classify him as an open secret just then. Even then you have to understand that the online fandom is a fraction of the people who play Mario, and most of them don't play RPGs. As such, showing a major spoiler character would be a very bad move for casual fans. Because you kinda ruin their experience that way. Again, see the Xenoblade situation or how Fire Emblem Heroes has been cirticized by often being very casual with major plot-twists.

Anyways moral of the story they should add Connie, Technikki or the Extension Corps to MK9 instead of Reclusa. Let him still be a secret. Heck, even Zokket would be a better choice due to being the main villain for most of the game who was shown in pre-release material, and the guy arguably is just as much of a spoilermine as Reclusa is due the big twist surrounding him.

[art-tea-chill]

Shoutout to @mysteryman-17 for coming up with a really badass way of rematching Brothership bosses (TLDR: Technikki makes a simulator for the bros to fight previous bosses with and it gets infected with Glohm so Glohm rematches.)

Bonus: An edit of the audio I listened to while making this

[dittojellywww]

More MHA/Mario AU! This time with some ideas for a bunch of the power ups/outfits for Tensei

I’m awfully proud of that ice ball in the top corner btw And the boo but mostly the ice ball

If something is too hard to read with my handwriting it’ll be rewritten under the cut, plus a bunch of my other thoughts that I didn’t get to add

Full body: I was playing a lot of Mario and Luigi brothership lately and I noticed that they had little gradients on their hats and sleeves, so I wanted to add that here. I used orange for the sake of an analogous color palette and also ended up swapping the placement of the shine sprite on his hip

Fire flower: Tensei’s fire is particularly red and made much stronger by his firebrand. I think this one has the best color palette

Ice flower: Weaker ice due to stronger firebrand, not much else to say but I wanna add that he doesn’t like the cold very much. Did I mention to look at the ice?

Bubble flower: This flower’s appearance doesn’t seem to differ between users, even with underlying magic. Nothing else, moving on

Past Tensei: Quick break from power ups, I just got a little bored and wanted to do a quick sketch of Pre-Mushroom Kingdom Tensei (He’s about 22 there, maybe older)

Tanooki leaf: I floofed out his hair to more closely resemble the face of a tanooki, as well as gave him claws. I don’t like the bandana very much, if I draw it again I think I might swap the red and orange or remove it entirely

Boo Tensei: I didn’t feel like making space for a boo shroom but I thought this one was cute. Just look at him, stupid lil gremlin bouta scare the living shit out of his brother

[possessionisamyth]

My first Mario & Luigi will be Brothership since I don't have the money to be hunting down all the other ones. I have watched full playthroughs of all the other ones though, and I'm definitely excited. Just hoping they don't add things to Brothership that I hated in the previous games.

Feel free to talk in the notes or replies if you couldn't pick just one!

[galaxygermdraws]

So I’m 40 hours into brothership, I’m workin my way thru sidequests n challenges, I just figured out the timing on Jump Helmet, and am trying to grind for the “do it yourself” challenge and it gave me a HORRENDOUS idea

I want to replay the game without using gear or plugs (Outside of that one plug tutorial). Beans are allowed, and Rank Ups are a blessing. Since u aren’t using equipment then you don’t gotta add a gear slot so u can focus on POW and DEF. Sidequests give beans so they’d be optimal. I think it could be a nightmare run. I bet someone has already done this out there on Youtube.

[calciumcryptid]

CalciumWatches: Wandee Goodday Episode Three Live Reactions

Right to the fucking! You'd think I'd stop being surprised by this.

Necklace. :)

Oh, they are roleplay dorks. Yay!

It is theme song time! *dances*

We take this little break to add the theme song to my liked songs.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN GREAT SUNG IT?

Cher! Yei! CherYei!

Kao!

Cher clocking the missing necklace.

KaoDee Friendship = CherYei and Yak Brothership

CherYei are so married. I love them.

Kao psychoanalyzing Wandee. You go, you funky asexual.

Fucking Ter again. Go away!

I like the doctor lady. She seems nice. :)

I don't think these two know what friends with benefits mean.

I relate to Yak, because I too would focus on the lightbulb. I am an electrician-in-progress, so we are focusing on it for different reasons.

Oh, they're switches. Nice.

Cher! Yei! CherYei! Oh, that's not Yei. Boo! :(

Cher! Yei! CherYei!

SPRITE SOCKS? *wheeze*

This is totally how real people talk, and not poorly incorporated exposition.

Yei, I know you are chivalrous and it is a hot characteristic, but you bagged a rich man. Get on the money, and let him pay for shit.

Wandee is so cute.

How dare you make me cry?

Wandee is a good doctor.

These two are so cute.

I see we have some hospital gossip going on.

Fuck, Ter is here. Please make a good choice.

Ter, why do you look upset, YOU REJECTED HIM-

Dee, why did you stop?

You see, I want to believe Ter is a good person just a little tactless but I'm not sure I believe him about having no part in the rumor.

I love the two nurses. You go ladies.

KaoDee friendship my beloved.

Dee you could have put it a bit differently.

Friends with benefits and a fake dating plot? Ooo, things are spicy.

Oh, homophobia exists?

Yak, you've fucked him, you've done one of the gayest parts.

Why are they having a dramatic breakup? They're not even dating.

Yak forgot his necklace, the idiot.

Oh boy, time for second-hand embarrassment (I think).

Yei clocked the necklace. Yak, you idiot.

Wandee you aren't supposed to pay your friend with benefit.

Yak, you forgot to take your necklace back. Idiot.

CHER IS REALLY READY TO SELL YAK OUT FOR CASH-

CherYei my beloveds. <3

Hell yeah! Yak and Yei showdown!

Cher recording. You go my funky little businessman.

Yei defeated his brother with the power of money and love.

Wandee and Yak are so fun. I love this duo.

Funky music again, wonderful.

Hell yeah, hands-on flirting.

We take this break to watch the music video for the theme song.

I need to watch music videos more often. That was a treat (trip).

If they don't fuck in the boxing ring, then what is the point?

If it is over, than take back your necklace.

Fun fact, I am working out while I watch this.

I see Wandee is going for the please please please method.

JESUS CHRIST WTF I THOUGHT HE WAS FINE WHY IS HE GETTING FLASHBACKS WHAT THE FUCK HOLD ON WHAT?

Yak! You are here!

Yak is consuming those noodles.

I don't think you two understand what friends with benefits means.

Yak! You dork! Oh, fireworks. Pretty.

I don't think you two understand what friends with benefits means.

HELL YEAH LET'S GO YAK!!!

TAKE THAT DOCTOR VANILLA!

WAIT! WHY ARE YOU LOOKING? YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE!

Damn right, it was satisfying.

Cooking skills? Damn Yak, a doctor and he can cook? Marry him.

Nevermind. He can't cook for shit.

Song time!

What the hell is happening in the next episode?

Outro time!

[royal-songbird]

i wanted to try this prompt for practice and it got. very out of hand very quickly <3 anyway enjoy 2.9k words of gay people

“Carmen!” The headmaster barks, his shrill voice grating against my ears as I rise from my place. I keep my gaze on the uneven cobble beneath my feet, walking forward with slow, measured steps, practically floating across the room. “We’ve got another high-risk job for ya, requesting a quiet kill. No dramatics this time, you hear that?”

I nod silently, holding out my hand. The headmaster shoves an envelope in my head, his glare burning through the hood draped over my face.

“Upfront payment’s already in there. You’ve got a week.” Another nod. I tuck the envelope into one of the many pockets lining the interior of my cloak, biting back the snide remarks sitting on the tip of my tongue. A week? Seriously? How am I meant to complete a high-risk job in a week?

Letting out a controlled exhale, I quickly exit the room. A few of the others waiting to be called on shoot me silent looks, various good luck and you can do it being traded between gazes. I let myself smile slightly, nodding towards them with gratitude.

I’m getting into my head again. There’s a reason I’ve gotten as far as I have- I’m one of the guild’s top assassins, I’m sure this job won’t give me any issues, as annoying as a short deadline is.

I make my way through various dimly-lit corridors, nodding to anyone I pass in silent greeting. There’s barely a sound as I move through the guild- its built to be silent, to be hidden. Talking isn’t exactly forbidden, but the headmaster does not take kindly to the noise. He is the only one who shouts, though his room is tucked away in the very bottom of the guild, buried beneath layers of dirt and stone, tucked beneath the bustling city above. 

Eventually, the corridors begin to lighten, sunlight replacing flickering lamps. I’m in the main hallway now, which is far busier than the lower levels. Guild members move back and forth, all busy with their own errands- some have jobs like mine, various weapons strapped to leather belts or hidden in boots and fabric, while others take on other tasks, such as laundry or cooking. I sigh at the thought, envy rolling through me. While I don’t despite being an assassin, it gets tiring running around all the time, always quiet, always hidden. I cherish the rare chance to get stuck with chores, which are spent with my fellow members, quiet jokes and laughter traded between simmering meals, or drying sheets. 

I divert my path slightly as I go through the hallway, winding around those hauling laundry baskets or food crates, leaving gentle touches or shooting looks towards them- a silent show of appreciation, of brothership. I’m given smiles in return, or, in a rare moment, a whispered thank you.

In a considerably better mood than before, I head towards a small set of doors off to the side of the hallway, avoiding the main entry into the rest of the building. They lead into a cramped alleyway, blocked off from the main street with a brick wall. I waste no time scaling it, climbing my way onto the roof of the guild building. From the outside, it holds the appearance of an old church, and mostly functions as one, too. The priests are all a part of the guild, and most of those who come to pray are as well, but there’s quite a few who aren’t a part of the guild, and are entirely unaware of its presence. 

I stand on the roof, looking over the city for a moment. The sky is a rainbow of colors, hues of orange, pink, and purple streaking across it, melting into a golden sunset. I sigh as a burst of wind chases the tattered ends of my cloak, withdrawing the envelope from my cloak.

I flick it open with ease, dumping the few coins tucked inside into my palm. I shuffle them away into a pocket, making a mental note to add that to drop those off later today. Then, I pull out the folded parchment, smoothing it out so I can actually see the words. I narrow my eyes slightly at the handwriting- it's awfully familiar. A repeat customer, then, which most likely means the final payment will be big.

Grinning slightly as I imagine what all I’d be able to get with that much money, I settle down to read, sitting on the slanted roof, my cloak cushioning me from the rough tiles.

My gaze sweeps over the letter, and I pause, squinting slightly.

That’s… odd.

I read further, bringing the paper closer to my face so I don’t skip over anything.

Okay, there’s definitely something off about this.

Clutching the paper tighter, I reread the scrawl over and over again, burning the words into my mind.

They don’t change.

This is wrong- this has to be wrong.

I’ve been hired to kill Sophia Hunt. For the fourth time.

I crush my hands together, staring at the crumpled paper still held between them.

There’s no way this is possible.

Getting hired for the same job twice is unusual, yes, but not impossible. Assassins make mistakes, claim false success, but failing three times? Unheard of. I don’t understand how I’ve managed to miss my mark three times. Three.

I’m supposed to be the guild’s best. The top assassin. I can’t fail. 

I grit my teeth, shoving the stupid envelope and paper back into my cloak. I refuse to fail again. This time, I will make sure Sophia dies. 

…

It only takes me two days to track down Sophia, which is…weird. 

She’s not even bothering to be discreet, going about her business with a dazzling grin, absent of any sign that she’s nearly gotten killed multiple times. At this point, I would think she’d at least hold some sort of caution- clearly, she’s gotten herself into some deep trouble if she keeps getting hits called on her- and yet, she barely seems to show any sign that she cares.

She wears bright, out-of-style outfits, matched with a colorful parasol that she carries with her everywhere she goes. I vividly remember it turning a deep crimson, stained with Sophia’s own blood, but it's perfectly clean now. I scowl slightly at this- how has this woman managed to avoid me so thoroughly to the point it's as if nothing ever happened to her?

And I don’t even begin to doubt that I’ve been tracking the wrong target, putting Sophia’s unique fashion taste aside, there is one feature of hers that is entirely unique. Her hair is fully white, almost like moonlight, a stark contrast to her dark skin. Of course, last time I saw her, it was kept in protective braids compared to the loose, bouncy curls it’s in now, but it's barely a difference. 

I know this is her.

Though, just to be sure, I follow her for a day, watching every move she makes. I watch as she starts the day at a small bakery, where she only orders tea, making idle conversation with the waitress serving her, all smiles and compliments. When the waitress asks to take her to dinner, Sophia agrees. I don’t feel guilt when the waitress beams, setting the date for next week. If all goes well, Sophia won’t be around then.

The rest of the day is spent traveling all across the town as Sophia visits various shops, picking up a couple more dates on the way. I scoff under my breath- no wonder I’ve been hired to kill her time and time again. How many women has she played with? How many broken hearts has she collected?

As the sun starts to sink below the horizon, Sophia ends her day the same place she started it, at the bakery. Except, she doesn’t enter it, instead diverting into the alleyway next to it instead. Apprehension rises up inside me as I silently follow, keeping close to the walls. I stay low to the ground, my hand drifting towards the dagger hanging off my belt.

Sophia stands at the end of the alleyway, her back turned to me, parasol hung over her shoulder. She hums a sweet tune, a small pocket mirror in her hand, but she’s not looking at her reflection.

She’s looking at mine.

I freeze, hand wrapped around the dagger’s handle.

Shit. 

“I’ll admit, you’re very proficient. I thought the week deadline would give you trouble, but apparently not.” Sophia turns around, closing her mirror with a quiet snap! She spins her parasol slightly, looking up at the darkening sky.

I stay silent, even as my mind whirls.

How did she know about the deadline? Unless-

“Ah, there you go. Connecting dots, yes?” She tilts her head with a little smile, her gaze narrowing into something sharper.

I frown, slowly withdrawing my dagger. The metal glints in the lamplight spilling in from the street, dread weighing heavy on my spine.

She wanted this, I realize. The careless attitude, the obnoxious flaunting- she wanted me to find her. 

She’s the one who called for the hit.

“...Who are you?” I ask, voice low, brandishing my dagger. She glances at it with an amused expression, as if it was nothing more than a mere plaything. At this point, it may as well be. Still, I keep it firmly in my grip, just so I have something to defend myself.

“You already know my name.” Sophia hums, stepping forward. I bristle, shifting into a defensive position, my muscles locked and coiled, ready to spring forward at any moment.

“Do I?”

“Yes. I wasn’t the one who called the first hit, you know.” She laughs, deep and soothing. Something in me is drawn to the sound, desperate to hear it again. The feeling makes me bristle further, my heartbeat kicking up a notch. Is she a witch? That’d explain the women from before, maybe she bewitched them- and she’s trying to bewitch me too. 

“But you sent the others.”

“I did.” 

For a moment, no one moves. Sophia just…watches me, almost like a cat watching its prey. It makes my skin crawl, a primitive part of my brain crying out in fear, crying out for me to run.

I grit my teeth against it, forcing my thoughts to calm. I cannot get lost in a panic, not now. Not when I’m so far out of my depth.

“...Why?” I ask after a beat, shifting my grip on my dagger. Sophia shrugs, her smile stretching into something softer.

“I wanted to see you again.” She practically purrs, her tone taking on a honey-sweetness, so thick I’m drowning in it. I narrow my eyes, sliding my foot back half a step.

“I saw you speak to those women. You can’t trick me.”

Sophia scoffs, rolling her eyes.

“Oh, please, they all approached me of their own volition. Give me a bit more credit than that.” She says. “I’m not tricking you, I swear. I would never trick you.” “You literally pretended to die three times.” I hiss, my chest twisting at the sincerity in Sophia’s tone. 

“It's not my fault you never bothered to stick around to make sure.” 

“You didn’t have a pulse!” I exclaim, my voice bouncing off the alleyway’s walls. Sophia raises an eyebrow at my outburst, amusement sparkling in her eyes.

“Oh, honey, I haven’t had one of those is a long time.” Sophia grins, and my blood runs cold.

Two fangs poke out from her lips, gleaming in the moonlight.

My heart slams into my chest as I scramble back, eyes blown wide.

“You- You’re-” I stammer, panic flooding my veins, words splitting and crashing together in my mind, making it impossible to speak.

In less than a blink, Sophia closes the space between us, her face inches away from mine. My breath catches in my throat as my limbs lock up, frozen like stone.

“A vampire?” She finishes with a hum, her eyes flashing red, wholly inhuman.

Every nerve in my body screams for me to run, shrieking in unison, a terrified choir singing alongside my racing heartbeat.

Snapping back to myself, I swing blindly, burying my dagger in Sophia’s throat. Blood splatters across my face as I shove Sophia away, not waiting to see if she gets back up. 

I scramble towards the street, but I barely take a step before I’m yanked back, bloodied fingers digging into my cloak. I’m lifted into the air, the edges of my boots scraping across the ground, and once again, come face to face with Sophia.

My dagger is still embedded in her neck, the wound gushing blood, a large crimson stain spreading through her dress.

“Let me go-!” I scream, twisting in her grip, trying to wriggle out of my cloak. My hand barely brushes against the clasp before I’m fully restrained, both of my hands pinned above my head, bricks digging into my back. I let out a strangled gasp, stilling for a moment as my brain catches up.

I’m pushed against a wall, held in place by Sophia. One of her hands stays wrapped around my wrists, while she uses the other to rip out my dagger, which she carelessly tosses aside, eyebrows furrowing with annoyance.

“Well.” She starts, turning her beastly gaze back to me. “That could’ve gone better.”

“Let me go.” I growl, thrusting my knee into her stomach, but Sophia barely budges.

“Ow.” She deadpans, shoving my leg back down. “Look, hun, I’m not gonna-”

I don’t let her finish, kicking at her again. This time, she catches my ankle, giving me an unimpressed look. 

“Carmen.”

I freeze at the use of my name, my heart kicking at my ribcage.

She knows my name.

How does she-?

“Please, listen.” Sophia sighs, her tone softening. “I don’t want to hurt you, I’m not going to hurt you.” “But-”

“I won’t.” She says again, firmer. I go quiet, unable to argue.

“The first time you came to kill me, you caught my interest.” She says, her gaze tracking my face, tracing over it with far more adoration than I know how to handle. “You were precise, confident. I wanted to see you again.” “You-” I fumble for words, my mind spinning. Sophia- a vampire- wanted to see me? “So you kept hiring me to kill you??”

Sophia shrugs, laughing a bit.

“Well, it worked, didn't it? Besides, it was impossible to find you anywhere. You’re very good at staying hidden.”

“So… you led me to you.”

“You could say that.”

I frown, shifting slightly. My arms ache, growing tired from being stuck above my head for so long, and my back stings, a few bruises already blooming across my spine.

Despite my position, and the ebbing panic beneath my ribs, I couldn’t help but feel a bit touched by this. Even if Sophia’s…

I glance at her, my gaze lingering on her white hair and sharpened teeth. Her neck has stopped bleeding, the wound already halfway healed. A lot of things are starting to make sense now- her outdated fashion taste, her parasol-

“Wait, those women.” I suddenly say, realization striking me. Dread crawls up my spine, and once again, I become incredibly aware of just how vulnerable I am. “Are you going to-?”

“Everyone needs to eat.” Sophia says, looking away for a moment, before her crimson eyes find mine once more. 

“...Right.” I mutter, though I can’t quite bring myself to be horrified. I’m an assassin, I’m barely any better than her. Still, I am unnerved by the information- just knowing that Sophia’s been here for who knows how long, quietly picking people off… Would I have been one of those unlucky women, if I never got that first job?

“Well. Could you…let me go? My arms are getting tired.” I ask after a moment, shaking my previous thoughts away. There’s no use in dwelling on what-ifs, especially when Sophia’s already promised to not hurt me. And, despite the more logical part of me insisting otherwise, I find myself trusting her.

Sophia blinks, looking up to my hands, still held in her grip, before she abruptly drops me, her face going considerably darker as a blush spreads across her cheeks.

“Ah, my apologies-” She says, her confident aura slipping slightly as she grows flustered. I raise an eyebrow towards her, not quite understanding her embarrassment. 

“Thanks.” I say, picking myself up and smoothing the dust and wrinkles from my cloak. I pause for a moment, considering Sophia. She’s gotten herself together again, her curls tucked behind her ear. In the dim light of the moon, she’s actually quite…attractive. My face warms at the thought, and I find myself being the flustered one.

“W-Well, this was…interesting, but I should probably return to the guild–” I stumble over my words, inching towards the alleyway with a nervous smile. Half of me expects Sophia to rush forward again, but she simply nods, grinning at me.

“Ah, yes, go collect your bounty. We could meet up again at a later date, perhaps?” She asks, tilting her head slightly. I open my mouth, denial rising up my throat, before I quickly shut it again, actually taking a moment to think.

Despite everything my logic is telling me, I’m drawn to Sophia. Amidst the panicking, tonight was actually kind of– fun. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to see her again…?

“...Yeah, I think I’d like that.” I finally answer, returning Sophia’s grin with a small smile of my own.

The Assassin’s Code states that you must take any job, no questions asked. But you are pretty sure that you have assassinated this target a few times already.