#Eliza defeats her attacker

[say-hwaet]

If I Had to Do it All Again

Chapter Four: The Reverend and the Refuse Previous Chapter: Three Next Chapter: Five Summary: Eliza goes on her first job with the reverend to try to con their way into thousands of dollars, but at what price? Warnings: Language, Mature themes, Attempted S/A, violence, (This chapter is intense) Word Count: ~10,200 Author's Note: I'm trying to leave as many warnings as possible, but this chapter is pretty intense. If it isn't your cup of tea, you can skip the part when you see the <<< and when it ends with >>>.

Four days have passed and you feel more set in your decision. It is happening. You and Reverend Swanson are ready to head to Half Moon City and schmooze the tycoon. After going over Alice’s schedule with Annabelle, you meet with Susan to get dolled up for the trip.

Dutch has spared no expense, having John and Bill steal a stagecoach and bring it back to the camp, it will be your carriage to the ball. You feel the tension in the air, the anticipation, riches untold if you are successful.

Arthur has been gone a couple of days. You were hoping he’d stay behind to watch Isaac while you are gone, but after what had happened, you can’t bring yourself to ask. Maybe once you come back with the money, he can see how you are right and he was wrong.

You asked Hosea where he had gone, and he said only to trust that he is working on something important. You trust Hosea, but you can’t help but feel that he’s hiding something from you.

“Stay still, girl!” Susan chides as she applies red lipstick to your bottom lip. “This stuff ain’t that easy to come off, and I’d hate to get it on your cheek.”

You are about to say sorry, but any attempt to speak is stopped with a pushed swipe over your top lip. Susan is careful to not go over your cupid’s bow, and removing her hand from your face, she makes a rubbing movement with her mouth. “Go like this.”

You mirror her movements, smearing the red pigment across your lips. Your eyelashes feel heavy from the makeup, and you can’t imagine how women must go about their lives wearing this stuff day in and day out, all for the sake of looking pretty.

“How do I look?” you ask.

Susan steps back, her eyes scanning you from head to toe, a critical gaze pinning you under scrutiny. "Like you own half the world," she finally declares with a nod of approval. The compliment feels strange on your ears, but it settles some of your nerves. “See for yourself.”

You stand and glance at your reflection in the small looking-glass. Your mouth goes agape at what you see.

It is the same dress as before, but the corset you wear underneath has cinched your waist and pushed up your bust. The blue of the gown looks different in the daylight, and you feel afraid to move, lest you fall or damage the gown. Your shoulders are bare, and your collarbone is exposed. You wish that the tan of your face wasn’t so prominent, as it makes you look less like a sheltered heiress and more like a street harlot. Your hair is done up and loose curls frame your face.

“I don’t recognize myself.”

Susan chortles. “That’s a good thing. We don’t want you recognizable should things…” She stops.

You know what she was going to say.

“Should things go wrong.” You feel the air tighten around you. Were all those words of Dutch’s just that? Words? Words to puff you up and make you feel invincible for just long enough to risk your neck? “What am I doing?” you breathe, resting a palm on your breast. “What if I do fail?”

Susan's face softens for a moment, her usual stern demeanor giving way to something gentler. She steps forward, placing her hands on your shoulders, the warmth of her touch oddly comforting despite the chill in the air. "Listen, girl," she begins, her voice low and steady. "Every one of us risks somethin’ in this racket. But never forget why you’re doin’ this — for your family, for us. This night could change everything if you play your cards right. Just remember everything we’ve practiced.”

You swallow hard, feeling the weight of her words settle like stones in your stomach. "I won't let you down.”

She nods, taking your chin and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I know you won't." Susan steps back, her hands falling to her sides. Her gaze lingers on you a moment longer before she turns away. "Time to go."

You turn, and carrying your dress high enough so you don’t trip, you leave the tent and step out into the sun.

***

Arthur is desperate to hurry back. After a couple of days of searching, scoping, and following, he’s found something. He’s found a lead. A lead tempting enough for Dutch to call this plan of his off. He didn’t think he’d make it, but knowing that today was the day, he has hardly stopped to eat or drink as he searched most of northern California.

It is a caravan. A caravan of wealthy travelers who struck gold and are now heading east to cash in on their fortunes. Gold. Enough gold for a gang of outlaws to buy land and settle down somewhere.

Somewhere safe for you and your children.

He urges Boadicea onward, his spurs nicking her sides. She breathes heavily, eager to please her rider.

The sun is lowering in the sky, casting long afternoon shadows across the rugged landscape, turning the earth into a reddish gold. Arthur’s eyes are fixed ahead as he pushes Boadicea to her limits. Each hoofbeat is urgent, a rhythmic thumping that mirrors his racing heart. He needs to make it back before you go, before you do this thing and risk death.

He sees the camp in the distance, and resounds a call to let everyone know he is back. “Hosea…!” He shouts, his voice echoing throughout the tents. “Hosea…!”

He sees Hosea slowly emerge from behind one of the tents and he feels something deep within him. Dread.

Boadicea skids to a stop, a plume of dust growing from her hooves. Arthur dismounts, patting her on the neck before running into camp to meet Hosea.

“Hosea, I found—”

“You’re too late, Arthur.”

Hosea's face is a mask of sorrow, his eyes reflecting the dying light of the day. "They've already left, headed for Half Moon City. Dutch said they couldn’t wait any longer." He lowers his head. “I tried to prolong it as best as I could.”

Arthur feels the punch of those words deep in his gut, a cold spread of fear seeping in his veins. “But what I had was solid, it is more than—”

“This is Dutch we are talkin’ about,” Hosea reminds him. “When he gets something in his mind…”

Arthur backs away. He knows Hosea is right, but he still struggles to believe it. Would Dutch have still gone forward with his plan, even when there is something else far better?”

He thinks about the repercussions, what could happen. You could…he could…

He lifts his head, looking at Hosea. “Where are my children?”

Hosea looks over to your tent. That is all the answer he needs.

Arthur turns, walking to your tent. He sees Annabelle sitting on the cot, rocking Alice in her arms. Isaac naps behind her, in the remaining space between her and the wall of the wagon. 

Arthur looks at his daughter. He really hasn’t taken the time to hold her, he realizes. His own daughter, and he has only held her once.

Arthur moves forward, his steps heavy with the weight of regret and a newfound urgency. As he steps inside the tent, Annabelle looks up, her eyes filled with a mixture of calm and relief. He sits beside her, reaching out a trembling hand to touch Alice's small head, feeling the soft wisps of hair under his fingers.

“I know that look,” Annabelle says with a smile.

Arthur only looks up at her and without saying another word, she brings herself closer to him, her arms bringing the baby to him.

Instinctively, he folds his arms in the way you taught him years ago, when he first held Isaac. And just as gently and quietly as he came into the tent, Annabelle places Alice in his arms.

“There,” she sighs, adjusting the blanket to expose more of the baby’s face. “She knows she’s safe with her daddy.”

Arthur holds Alice close, the tiny heartbeat against his own offering a temporary respite from the chaos far beyond the camp. The child’s warmth penetrates the cold dread that has settled in his bones since Hosea's news.

He looks down into Alice's eyes, so innocent and unaware of the dangers that lurk beyond the canvas walls of their temporary home.

“I failed them, Annabelle,” he says after a while. “Eliza has gone to do what I should have done.”

Annabelle shakes her head. “You both are too hard on yourselves.” She looks out beyond the tent and towards the grass that sways in the ocean breeze. “I’ve been hearing it from both sides, we and it seems to me that you are both terrible at communication.”

Arthur lets out a bitter chuckle, the sound rough in his throat. "Maybe so," he admits, his eyes still locked on Alice's gentle, trusting gaze. "But it's more than just poor words between us. There are lives at stake here, Annabelle."

The wind picks up outside, howling like a warning, reminding Arthur of his faults, his mistakes.

Annabelle smiles. “We are all aware of the odds, Arthur. But we play the cards we're dealt, don't we?” Her gaze is steady, unwavering, as if she could stare down fate itself.

Arthur nods slowly, the weight of their reality settling deeper into his bones. He looks down at Alice, her small fingers curled into a fist, blissfully oblivious to the words they are speaking.

Annabelle leans close to get a good look at her. “She does look like you.”

Arthur turns his head to look at her. “You think so?”

Annabelle nods. “You and Eliza make beautiful children.”

He feels his face grow hot at her words. To be told that by anyone makes him feel uncomfortable, but coming from Annabelle, it carries a weight that is both comforting and heavy. He knows she speaks honestly, her observations always sharp and unclouded.

Arthur shifts Alice in his arms, feeling the slight pressure of her tiny body against his chest. "Thank you," he murmurs, his voice as soft as the breeze drifting through the tent’s opening. The compliment, genuine as it was, still does little to ease the gnawing anxiety in his gut.

He feels a hand on his back and Annabelle speaks something that she hopes will calm his restlessness. “She will be fine, I really believe that.”

“I hope you’re right, Annabelle,” he sighs. “I hope you’re right.”

***

Half Moon City looks more like a maze than anything else. As Pearson drives the coach, you try to get a good look at your surroundings, knowing that you may not get an opportunity like this again. The only other city you’ve ever been to was Jardin City, and that was when you were around twelve weeks pregnant, being escorted by Arthur to your new home in Low Falls. You were still so new to life, being nineteen, and you only had Arthur for guidance and comfort as you traveled.

How little things have changed.

Only now, you are taking the reins. You are heading out on a job that will make you money and provide a way to get you the home that you have wanted. A place for your children to grow up, with a promise for tomorrow.

You look back inside the coach at Reverend Swanson, and he is quietly reading his bible. He has cleaned up some, and while he still can smell like whiskey if the breeze is right, you are finding more confidence that you both can pull this off.

But in case worse comes to worse, you are armored with your revolver on your thigh, and it is nicely concealed beneath the ruffles of your dress. Just a simple lift and draw should do the trick.

You just hope it doesn’t come to that.

“Do you remember what to do, Reverend?” you tentatively ask, hoping that you don’t have to school him on the entire plan.

He merely looks up at you, his head still tilted toward his bible. “Yes, Ms. Bloom.” And he swallows. “Let you do the talking, and I will throw verses around…”

That’s the most coherent thing you’ve heard from him all day. Maybe there is hope.

You nod approvingly. “Yes, that is good.”

As the coach rattles down the cobbled streets of Half Moon City, the buildings lean crookedly as if they're whispering secrets into each other's shadows. Dust clouds billow around the wheels, and somewhere in the distance, a dog barks fiercely, as if warning of impending doom.

You hear many horse-drawn carts drive by you and the bustle of the city draws louder as you get to the more active areas of the city.

You have a feeling that you are close and your suspicions are soon correct when the coach comes to a stop.

“Mr. Pearson?” you ask as you attempt to stick your head out of the coach’s opening. “Have we arrived?”

“Yes, Madame La Papillon,” he answers. “Welcome to Half Moon City.”

So, it begins. You wait attentively while Pearson climbs down from the wagon, approaches your door, and lets you out. You and him had practiced this several times, the goal to make you look as elegant as possible. Everything you do needs to appear like it’s nature. Unadulterated, blue-blooded nature.

Your heart pounds in your chest as your eyes adjust to the light and you gaze upon the Blue Lagoon Hotel and Saloon. It is tall, like the red pines a few miles north of camp. People are coming in and out of the front doors like a swarm of bees disturbed from their hive. Men in tall hats and women in silken dresses, each carrying their own dreams and ambitions on their shoulders.

You straighten your posture and take a deep breath before stepping forward. Reverend Swanson follows closely behind, clutching his worn Bible to his chest like a personal shield. Pearson closes the door behind you, and wastes no time in getting back on the coach and driving off.

He is to come back in two hours, where you will nonchalantly board and ride off with a case full of cash.

“Are you ready, Reverend?” you ask, still in awe of the structure of the building.

“Yes,” he says quietly, and you hope to take that as awe as well, not for a lack of confidence.

You continue on, practicing the elegant walk that you rehearsed in front of Susan. Back straight, head high, soft eyes. Back straight, head high, soft eyes…You repeat these tips over and over, and catching the wonton glances of some men in suits, you are reassured that it seems to be working.

Two doormen open the doors for you. “Good afternoon, miss,” they greet, and you suddenly feel like royalty, or as close as you will get to it anyway.

The lobby of the hotel is vast, the floors polished and shining in such a way that your gown’s reflection can be easily seen in it. Hotel guests walk to and fro, and you feel like you stick out like a sore thumb.

You swallow, and carry on. “Come along, Reverend,” you beckon and thankfully, you hear him stepping close behind you.

You approach the man who stands at the front desk and he eyes you in such a way that makes you feel both flattered and embarrassed. You hold his gaze without faltering, your expression serene and confident, giving nothing away.

“I have some urgent business to discuss with Mr. Steele,” you state plainly, maintaining a soft, nearly seductive voice. You feel Reverend Swanson turn to look at you, clearly surprised by your change in demeanor. “Would you kindly tell me where he is?”

The man studies you for a moment. “Mr. Steele doesn’t speak to anyone without an appointment, or unless you are sitting across from him at a game.”

A game, he must mean poker. You’ve never played it in your life, but if you can’t excuse an appointment, you will have to go that route.

You lift your chin. “Who says that I don’t play?”

The man nearly chuckles. “You, madame?”

“That is Madame La Papillon to you, sir,” you state with an edge of your voice. “And yes, an heiress has to do something to bide her time.”

You are surprised by what is coming out of your mouth. You are grateful for all of those books you have read over the years. If they have done anything for you, it would be to lend you great practice for conversations such as this.

You pause for a moment, waiting for the man to respond.

“Well, far be it from me to tell a distinguished guest such as yourself no.” He snaps his fingers, and a young man hurries over to you and the reverend. “Please escort Madame La Papillon and her guest to Mr. Steele’s table.” He eyes you with a glance that makes you feel uncomfortable. “He will be happy to allow a late starter such as this.”

You simply bow your head, carrying on the airs of propriety as the young man encourages you to follow him. Leaving the hotel lobby, he leads you to the other part of the building.

The saloon.

You remember Dutch saying that Mr. Steele runs an underground casino, and you wonder if you will get to see it. If you play your cards right, literally and figuratively, you just might be walking out of here with more than a couple thousand dollars.

The saloon is dimly lit, with low hanging lamps casting a golden glow over the patrons who mill about, their faces etched with the hard lines of life in the West. The click of poker chips and the soft shuffling of cards create a continuous, soothing undertone that belies the tension hanging thick in the air. You remain composed, despite the lustful eyes that cast glances in your direction. Maybe Susan and Annabelle are right, maybe you are beautiful.

But you’d rather no man look at you the way they do, like wild animals eyeing innocent prey. They won’t go near you, thankfully, because of the clergyman beside you.

The young man stops at a table in the corner. Four men are already seated and the young man goes around the table to the larger man seated the farthest away from you.

He wears a dark suit, with a white silk vest and red necktie. His Blond hair and mustache look neat and trimmed, his dark eyes looking up at you while the young man whispers something in his ear. You swallow and try to remain as composed as you can. Reverend Swanson, thankfully, remains still, but you don’t know how much longer that will last.

“Well,” the man begins as he leans into his seat. “I am told that you play poker as a pastime.”

You keep your eyes soft. “Only when it pleases me.” And you gesture to the reverend. “I am here on more…sacred business.”

The man studies you. “So, you have not come to play poker?”

“I’ve come to speak to you, Mr. Steele.”

The man grins, his dark eyes nearly piercing into your soul. “You have my attention, now, Miss…?”

You step forward, leaning over the poker table to offer your hand. “Madame La Papillon.”

You see his eyes drift down toward your bust and you resist the urge to slap him as he takes your gloved hand and kisses your knuckles. “It is my pleasure.” Letting your hand go he lifts his chin as he studies you. “And what business would this be of?”

“A noble kind. One that would immortalize you as the greatest benefactor of Half Moon City.”

This seems to get his attention, for he grins at the men who sit at his table. Mr. Steele's grin fades slightly as he motions for the others to leave. Reluctance shadows their faces but nobody dares question him. The room quiets as chairs scrape against the rough wooden floor, leaving you, the Reverend, and Mr. Steele in an uneasy trio. He leans back, flicking an imaginary speck of dust from his vest. "Go on, Madame La Papillon. You've piqued my curiosity." And he gestures for you to sit.

You straighten, feeling the weight of the mission on your shoulders. You feel Reverend Swanson stand close to you, pulling a nearby chair. You nod politely at him and go to sit down. Soon, he sits beside you. "Half Moon City suffers, Mr. Steele. The children are hungry, the drought is cruel. We need a man with means, with an alluring presence, to initiate some goodwill upon its people.”

Mr. Steele studies your face, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly as if trying to discern the veracity of your plea. The silence stretches between you like a taut rope. Finally, he leans forward, clasping his hands together on the table's edge. "And why should I be this... benefactor?" His voice hums, hinting at the desire for flattery while also edging on skepticism.

And you lean forward, matching his intensity. "Because, Mr. Steele, you have the power to change the narrative of your life from a ruthless businessman to a beloved savior. Your legacy could be one of redemption and mercy, rather than greed."

The corners of his mouth twitch slightly as if amused by the concept. "Redemption, you say?”

And suddenly, as if in rapture, Reverend Swanson opens his mouth. “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh…!”

Your eyes widen, unprepared for his sudden outburst. You had thought that he would remain under control, as he’s done a good job so far, but this was not what you had prepared for.

Mr. Steele eyes the reverend, his nose wrinkled with agitation. “What?”

You try to say something, to regain his attention and save this from developing into a disaster. “Reverend Greene has a way with scripture, sir. He means only to inspire hope, to boost the morale of the community in these trying times." You glance at the Reverend, urging him with your eyes to hold his peace.

Mr. Steele stares at you both for a moment longer before letting out a slow, measured breath and leaning back into his chair. You think the chips are in your stack, or whatever figurative language you want to use. You don’t know how to play poker. “I see. I can understand his sentiments.”

You can’t help but blink. “You do, Mr. Steele?”

“But I must share my reservations. If you are seeking money, surely a woman such as you can find the funds on her own.”

You counter his argument quickly. “I am an heiress, but this problem needs more than just a woman’s money.”

He clicks his tongue. “The bank, perhaps? A bank would surely loan out the money with a name such as yours.”

You shake your head. “May I be honest with you, Mr. Steele?”

He nods. “Of course, Madame La Papillon.”

“I don’t trust banks. Haven’t you heard of the gang of outlaws that have been seen in town? My servants are too afraid to leave the estate for fear of encountering them. It is only a matter of time before the bank gets robbed.” You feign a look of disgust. “Shameful.”

Mr. Steele nods, and you begin to feel excitement. Is this rouse really working? Are you going to be able to pull this off?

“I, too, have heard of them. But, madame…” He reaches across the table and takes your hand, caressing it with his thumb. “I have already been taking care of it.”

You are clearly uncomfortable at his forwardness, but for the sake of the plan, you go along with it. You imagine that you are talking to someone else. You try to think of someone more desirable, and soon his image begins to appear.

Rugged features, marine eyes, fawn-colored hair.

You blink quickly, and the visage disappears, Mr. Steele taking his place.

You swallow and smile. “I have no doubt that you know what you are doing, Mr. Steele.”

He grins, his pupils dilating and his grip on your hand tighter. “I think that I will assist you on this venture of goodwill and charity.”

You try to contain your excitement. “I am thankful, Mr. Steele.”

He lets your hand go and begins to rise from his seat. “Why don’t you come with me to my office? My safe is there, and I can equip you with funds right now.”

You begin to get out of your chair, and Reverend Swanson isn’t quick enough to help you out of it. “That would be wonderful, sir. We will follow you.”

Mr. Steele leaves the table and you and Swanson follow close behind, weaving around other poker tables and cigar smoke.

You are soon led away from the groups of people and down a hallway. It is dark, with dim lighting the only source of a guide. You begin to feel uneasy about this, but bank on the reassurance that you have Swanson with you, a security blanket that he is a man of the cloth, or at least pretends to be.

“Swanson,” you whisper quietly. “Keep your guard up.”

But he is looking at the lights, like a moth to the flame, and you know that he isn’t listening.

Mr. Steele stops at one of the final doors in the hall, and you can see a door at the very end that leads outside, the light from the day entering in through the stained glass framed in its surface. Mr. Steele unlocks his office door and walks inside.

And you enter.

The room is well lit and you begin to let your eyes roam about the room when you hear a soft click .

“Now, did you really think I was going to fall for that?”

<<<You whip around, and see Mr. Steele braced against the door. The reverend is nowhere in the room. You think to call for Swanson, but figure that would be pointless. The door is solid oak, and the walls are paneled with varnished wood, meaning it’s soundproofed. And even if Swanson could hear you, he’s absolutely useless. 

You merely take a step back, trying to be subtle but maintain a distance. “Fall for what?”

Mr. Steele's smile fades, replaced by a chilling gaze. "Playing the charitable soul in need of funds, when your intentions are as dark as this room was before the lights came on." His voice is steady, but there's a danger in it that makes your skin crawl.

You keep backing away slowly, eyeing his lustful gaze, he is practically frothing at the mouth.

You’ve seen this look before. Willy. When he cornered you in the alley, his intentions far from honorable.

“I—I don’t know what you are talking about, Mr. Steele,” you say, trying to deflect the tension in the room.

Mr. Steele takes a step forward, his heavy shoes thudding ominously on the thick, oriental rug that sprawls beneath your feet. Each step he takes sends a shiver down your spine, and the room suddenly feels smaller, suffocating.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about," he hisses. “Women don’t just come to me unless they want something…” You try to circle the room to reach the door, but he corners you. “But I think it is about time that I wanted something, too.”

Your heart pounds in your chest, every beat echoing in your ears like the sound of a drum in the quiet of the desert night. Panic grips you, but you force yourself to think. The door is blocked, Mr. Steele's frame filling the gateway like a dark shadow cast by the dying light.

"You misunderstand, Mr. Steele,” you tremble. “I am not alone. You best let me out of this room, this minute!”

“Or what? The reverend will speak more verses to me?” And he hurries to you and before you can react, he takes you by the arms. You try to break free of his grip, but his hands are too strong. “I will make you speak in tongues…” he says, and kisses you on the lips in sloppy, hungry movements, his tongue forcing its way into your mouth.

Your mind races, desperate for an escape as you push against his chest, your palms slick with panic. With a twist and a sharp elbow to his ribs, you manage to wriggle free from his grasp. Mr. Steele staggers back, momentarily winded by your unexpected defiance.

Breathless and heart still hammering, you try to make your way to the door. Gripping the handle tightly, you try to turn it, but it won’t budge. It is locked. “Swanson…!” you scream, hoping that he can hear you.

Rough hands grab you and pull you backward, you try to break free but he’s prepared this time for your self-defense maneuvers. He forces you to the floor, and as you try to kick up at him, he uses his weight to pin you down, and holds your arms above your head.

You begin to cry. “Please, no…!” you sob. “Please…!”

But he doesn’t listen, his hands already at work at lifting up your dress. You feel the sudden coolness as the layers of fabric are bunched up near your abdomen, his grip on your wrists like a vice. You’re only wearing a camisole, corset, and stockings, what was a mere effort to bear the summer heat, is now making his task much easier. 

He brings his mouth close to yours again, kissing you as you turn to avert him. With his free hand that was working on your camisole, he slaps you hard across the face. “Stop moving! Or you will never leave this room alive…!”

You whimper pleas, begging him to not do this.

Then you remember. You remember what you brought with you.

He begins to rip at your dress at the bust, reaching for your breasts with grabbing fingers, which is distraction enough for you to wriggle a hand free from his grip, draw your weapon from your thigh, and shoot him in the groin.

Mr. Steele howls in agony, clutching at the wound oozing darkly beneath his fingers. The sound is guttural, filled with shock and pain. You quickly rise to your feet, hair in disarray and you see him on his back, clutching at his crotch.

“You whore…!” he calls you. And in a flicker of light, you see Willy’s face.

And you feel something snap within you. >>>

Gripping the revolver tightly, you approach him, and use the grip to beat him upside the head. He cries in agony, his head falling back on the floor.

“The safe…!” you shout. “Where is it?”

He lifts his head, and spits blood at your feet.

You strike him again. “Now!”

Mr. Steele's eyes narrow, venomous fear mixing with his pain. "Behind the... painting," he gasps, every word a struggle against the tide of his agony.

You don't hesitate, turning to scan the dimly lit room. Your gaze locks on a large, ornate painting of a somber landscape hanging above the heavy oak desk. With no time to waste, you cross the room, your footsteps echoing on the wooden floorboards. Your hands tremble slightly as you reach for the painting, and with a quick tug, it moves aside to reveal a sturdy steel safe embedded in the wall.

Your heart pounds in your chest as you see the dial. You need the combination. You whip around and glare at him, pointing your revolver at his head. “What is the combination?” He doesn’t answer, and you feel a wrath inside you as you step toward him, you aim unwavering. “Tell me what it is…!”

Mr. Steele's face is contorted in pain, his breath coming in short, gasping bursts. He hesitates, eyes flickering with a desperate kind of calculation. "I'll never tell you," he rasps, his voice barely audible.

You cock the hammer back on the revolver, the sound sharp and final and that is when you see it in his eyes. He didn’t believe you would dare, but now…he doesn’t have a choice.

“I have looked into the eyes of the last man I killed…” you say, your voice raspy from screaming. “I won’t hesitate to do it again.”

The silence that follows is suffocating. You watch as the realization dawns over Steele's pained expression, the fear now unmistakably etching deep lines across his grimy face. Finally, with a cough that splatters more blood on his already stained shirt, he whispers, “Left 22...right 18...left 9...right 45.”

You keep your gun trained on him as you back towards the safe. Your fingers are clumsy with adrenaline as you enter the combination. The clicks of the dial sound monstrously loud in the tense silence of the room. Left, right, left, right—each number resounds like a drumbeat in your ears, echoing the racing of your heart. At last, you hear the satisfying click of the mechanism unlocking, and you pull open the heavy metal door. Inside, the safe is crammed with stacks of neatly bound dollar bills and several small bags that clink with the promise of gold coin to buy silver-toed boots and kerosine to last several lifetimes. You take a nearby case and shove it full of the spoils, hurriedly eager to get the hell out of here.

“You got what you wanted…” you hear him breathe. “Now, go…”

You look at the gun in your hand. You can make one of two choices.

“You’re wrong…” And you turn to face him. He sees it in your eyes. The choice you made. “I don't want you to do this ever again.”

The words hang in the air, heavy as the smoke from your last shot. Steele’s eyes widen, a flicker of a plea passing through them before it's snuffed out by resignation. He knows the rules of this game as well as you do; mercy has no place in it.

You point the gun at him, aim…

And fire.

***

You make it out of the Hotel through the back way, after seeing the exit from earlier. It is dark, but you are able to navigate your way under the street lights. You don’t see Swanson anywhere, and you try to go meet Pearson at the location where he was supposed to meet you. He isn’t there, either.

You’re frantic. You’re carrying a case full of cash. Someone is bound to have heard that final gunshot, they will discover the body, and eventually look behind the painting to find the safe empty.

You need an escape.

That’s when you see a parked buckboard. A lone horse, waiting for its driver somewhere nearby.

You’ve never stolen a horse, let alone a wagon before.

But desperation has a way of shaving the edges off your morality.

You cast a glance around the dimly lit alleyway—no one in sight yet, but your heart thumps like the hooves of a stampede against your ribs. With quivering hands, you clamber onto the buckboard, urging the horse forward with a flick of the reins. You try to be as nonchalant as possible, wiping the tears that are streaming down your face out of nowhere. You begin to hyperventilate, the trauma of the last thirty minutes finally catching up with you.

“Get ahold of yourself, Eliza!” you tell yourself. “This isn’t over yet…!”

You reach the outskirts of the city and eye the end of the cobbled streets and the beginning of dirt road and tall trees.

The darkness of the forest ahead promises sanctuary but also hides unknown threats. The horse, sensing your urgency, picks up speed, its hooves kicking up dust and small stones. The rhythm of the ride does little to calm your nerves; instead, it serves as a harsh reminder of the pursuit that might soon follow.

You have to tell everyone. You have to tell them all to start packing. Soon you won’t be welcome here.

***

Arthur closes the small book with finality. “Alright, now that is three times that I’ve read you Mother Goose.” He looks at his son, all tucked in the blankets on the cot. “Ain’t you sleepy yet?”

Isaac, only his eyes peeking out from the covers, shakes his head.

Arthur slumps his shoulders. “Why not?”

“I’m worried about Mommy.”

Arthur's face softens as he sits on the edge of the cot, brushing a stray lock of hair from Isaac's forehead. "Your mama is going to be just fine, son. She’s strong, and she’s got Pearson and Reverend Swanson with her. They’re just making sure we can get the money we need to find someplace special to live.” Though his words are spoken with calm and positivity, he finds them hard to believe. You have been gone a long while, and he’s fighting every part of him that is screaming that something is wrong.

But he has to be strong. For Isaac. For Alice. No one can see his fear. 

Isaac blinks softly, studying his father for a moment. “It is strange having you here and her gone.”

Arthur nods, smiling. “It is a little funny, ain’t it?”

Isaac finally emits a yawn, and Arthur sighs, relieved that the boy is finally getting tired. “I like it when you both are here.”

Arthur reaches a hand to rub the top of his son’s head. “Me too, kid.”

Just then, the sound of wagon wheels speeding into the camp cuts through the quiet of the night, startling both Arthur and Isaac. Arthur’s heart pounds as he stands up swiftly, his hand instinctively reaching for the gun he keeps on him at all times.

“Stay here,” he whispers to Isaac, who nods, pulling the blankets closer around his face. He’s begun to learn to not question his parents when told to stay still, for danger usually isn’t too far behind. 

Turning, Arthur glances at the sleeping form of his daughter, quiet as can be, and slips out from the cover of the tent.

He sees John making his way to the oncoming coach, which now comes to a halt. He recognizes the coach and feels an overwhelming swell of relief.

You’re here. Finally.

He tries not to appear too eager as he quickens his steps. Without even saying hello to Pearson as he descends from the coach, Arthur reaches for the door handle and pulls it back.

To find that there is only one passenger.

The reverend.

Arthur feels his heart drop to his stomach, his face cold, only to be instantly morphed into a cold fear. “Where is she?” He asks the reverend. “Where is Eliza…?”

By the way that Swanson moves, it is clear that he is inebriated. He stumbles slightly as he steps out, his eyes unfocused and a bottle clutched loosely in one hand. 

Arthur's patience snaps like dry twigs under a boot heel. "Reverend!" His voice is sharp, almost a crack of thunder in the still night. "Where is my woman? What has happened to her?!”

Swanson sways, blinking slowly as if trying to gather his scattered thoughts. "Arthur... it's all…fffiiiine," he slurs, his voice heavy with drink and despair. "There was lots of drinkssss... at the Grayson farm. Men... generous man, Mr. Steele..."

Arthur's grip tightens around the door of the coach, confusion rattling his brain. “There was no farm…! It was a saloon!”

He turns his head and sees Pearson, a surprised look on his face. “Swanson said she was already on her way here. She’s not with you?”

Arthur can’t contain his anger anymore and in a fraction of a second, he whips around, grips the clergyman’s jacket, and pins him against the coach.

“Arthur…!” John shouts.

Arthur ignores him, his eyes narrowing on the reverend. “You drunken bastard…!” Swanson cries in fear, his feet dangling in the air as he is suspended in Arthur’s grip. “You tell me where Eliza is, or so help me—” Arthur grits his teeth, his face inches from Swanson’s.

“I…I don’t know, Missster Morgan…!” Swanson sputters, the stench of alcohol wafting from his mouth. “There was a poker table…and…and…!”

Arthur isn’t going to get anything from this useless man.

With a furious grunt, Arthur tosses Swanson to the ground. The reverend crashes into the dirt with a pathetic whimper, his bottle shattering nearby, spilling its contents into the thirsty earth. Arthur spins on his heel to face Pearson, his eyes burning with an almost palpable fire.

“And you believed him, Pearson?” He points to the trembling form on the ground. “This fool?”

“What happened?” Turning toward the voice, Arthur sees Dutch, walking for the first time since his attack. He looks calm, far from the worry that Arthur would expect him to have.

Bill, Susan, and Annabelle also appear, gathering around the coach.

Arthur points to Pearson. “This idiot let the drunken preacher tell him that Eliza was already here!” He gestures to the space around them. “Well, where is she then?!”

Dutch raises his palms. “Now, look, there’s got to be an explanation for this.”

Arthur can’t believe this.

He steps forward, the dust swirling around his boots like angry hornets stirred from their nest. “An explanation? Dutch, they took her! While this,” he kicks at a small stone, sending it skittering across the dirt towards Swanson, who cringes, “was too busy drowning himself in whisky to know any better…!”

Hosea, now hearing the conversation, steps into the gathering. “Who took her?”

“That Steele and his goons, I know they did!” Arthur’s jaw tightens, every muscle in his body taut with fury. He turns to Dutch, his brows furrowed and eyes expressing a deep ache. “I had a good score ready for you, but you had to go and use her and risk her life! I told you to stay out of it, Dutch! But you didn’t, and look what has happened…!”

The intensity is building and Dutch knows it. This is the time to say the right thing to keep everyone in line. To rally them up on his side and remove all doubt of his leadership. “I hear your concern, son. But you have got to keep your head.”

“I ain’t gonna lose her, Dutch.”

“And you won’t! We will go after her, and bring her back…!”

This surprises Arthur. It shouldn’t, but it does. “I thought you were tryin’ to heal.”

“I’ve healed enough.”

But Annabelle reaches for him. “Dutch, you’re still hurt. You can’t risk going out there right now. Send the others after her. You can stay here.”

Arthur’s heart softens towards Annabelle. While it is clear she has personal reasons, she is right about his healing not being finished. But surely, Dutch will still insist that he goes along.

Dutch goes quiet for a moment, swallowing thickly. “Alright, I will stay.” Then he turns to look at Arthur. “You, John, and Bill will ride at dawn.”

“Dawn?! She could be dead by then!”

“And risk the whole lot of us riding in the dark? Getting ambushed, perhaps?" Dutch's voice is firm, carrying the hint of an old general. "No, you will ride at first light. Fast and smart. We'll get her back, Arthur."

The nearby campfire crackles, throwing ominous shadows across their faces as each man and woman digest the plan. The somber glow of the firelight deepens the furrows on Dutch's brow, highlighting the strain of leadership etched into his features.

Arthur's eyes blaze with a mixture of anger and resolve. He knows waiting till dawn can be a gamble they can't afford to lose, but he knows that his words hardly carry their weight in this gang anymore. He clenches his fists, feeling the skin tighten around his knuckles. "Fine," he grunts, trying to mask the fear gnawing at his gut. The fire's flickering light reflects off his eyes, mirroring the flames that burn within him.

Dutch nods. “Trust me, son.” He rests a hand on his shoulder before lifting it to carefully back away. “Let’s all get some sleep. We will need to be ready for what comes.”

The gang disperses. As John turns to leave, he looks at Arthur. He sees the look on his face. He’s never seen this side of Arthur before. Sure, he’s seen him get angry and beat peoples’ faces in, but not over some woman. They lock eyes for a moment, but John says nothing, turning away and heading to his tent.

Hosea walks up to Arthur. “I’m sorry, son.”

“Sorry won’t bring Eliza back.”

“You’re right, it won’t. But it's all we've got right now. You need to hold on until morning." Hosea's voice is as calm as the night is still, but his eyes betray a deep concern for both Eliza and Arthur.

Arthur turns away, unable to face Hosea or anyone else. He walks to the edge of the campsite, to the edge, where the darkness swallows the ocean’s horizon whole. He stares out, his eyes searching through the shadowy darkness as if he could will your return with his gaze alone. The night air is crisp, chilling his lungs as he breathes deeply, trying to stifle the rage and fear battling within him.

As the night deepens, the camp settles into an uneasy stillness. Everyone has finally retired for the evening, and Alice and Isaac are in a deep slumber, but sleep eludes Arthur. He lies awake on the floor of your tent, staring up through the opening at a sky cluttered with stars, his mind racing with what the morning will bring. Beside him, he hears Isaac’s soft little breaths as he dreams, and Arthur wishes he could find such peace. But peace is a stranger these days, especially tonight.

The hours crawl by like dying snakes in the dust. Arthur's thoughts keep returning to you, your face, your laughter, the way you throw her head back when you really get to laughing. It’s been a long time since he’s seen you like that, radiant and carefree. He clenches his fists, feeling the raw edges of his emotions fray.

The sky shifts from dark and starry-eyed to light and pastel from the sunrise. He’s hardly slept at all, only catching fragments of dreams and what he assumes is rest.

He doesn’t want to move, to get up and leave his children, so he lays there, listening to the quiet softness of their synchronized breathing.

Suddenly, an odd sound from outside the tent cuts through the stillness. Arthur's head snaps towards the noise, his hand instinctively reaching for the revolver beside him. He rises from the ground, careful not to make a sound that might wake the children. Putting on his gun belt and slipping out of the tent, he steps into the cool dawn, his eyes scanning the campsite. The fire they had stoked the night before is now nothing more than smoldering embers, casting a weak, flickering light over the area.

The sound comes again — and it comes from just outside of camp. He walks around the scattered tents and around the large coach as it was left where it was parked last night.

That’s when he sees a horse, a buckboard, and a flash of blue.

You have just stepped down from the wagon.

He takes but a second to look at you, instantly running over to you, the happiest and most relieved he’s felt in months. He comes at you from behind and just as he reaches out to touch you, you whip around and scream at the top of your lungs.

“Do not touch me…!!!”

Arthur freezes, hand suspended in the air, his heart slamming against his ribs. Confusion wrinkles his brow as he stares at you, taken aback by your fierce reaction. There’s a wildness in your eyes he hasn't seen before, a raw edginess that makes you seem almost like a stranger.

He sees your gown, torn at the bust, covered in sawdust and dirt. Your hair is unkempt, streaks mark through your makeup on your face. Your eyes bloodshot and red.

“Eliza…?” he asks, concern in his voice.

Your breathing is ragged, almost as if you had been running for miles, yet your voice pierces the morning air like a sharp knife. "We…we got to go," you gasp out, your eyes darting nervously around the clearing as if expecting a ghost to emerge from the shadows. Arthur's protective instincts kick in immediately. He reaches for you again, but you quickly slap his arm. “I said don’t touch me…!”

He doesn’t know what is going on, only that something is terribly wrong. He raises his palms and takes a step back. “Alright, darlin’, I won’t.”

Your screams have alerted some members of the camp, one being Susan.

She comes running, clutching at her skirts so she doesn’t trip. “Is that Eliza? I swear—” And as soon as she sees you, she halts in her tracks. “Oh Lord…!” And she lowers her voice, speaking softly to you. “Eliza, what happened?”

You shake your head, your face pinched as you refuse to say. “We have to go,” you repeat. “We need to leave. Now…!”

“Why?” Arthur dares to ask.

You look at him, your eyes still reflecting the wild gaze but with a hint of fear. “You don't understand,” you whisper hoarsely, voice trembling. “They're going to be coming for me. They won't stop.”

Arthur’s jaw tenses, his eyes moving quickly over the clearing, scanning for any signs of danger. “Who’s comin’ for you, Eliza?” His voice is low, filled with concern.

“What is going on?”

It’s Dutch. He comes back out of his tent, clearly being awakened to your screams.

Your eyes narrow on him. “I got your money, Dutch! Are you happy?” You almost cackle, pointing to the case that sits in the buckboard. “It’s about time too, because it won’t be long before we aren’t welcome here…!”

And Dutch, stepping forward, glares at you with darkened eyes. “What did you do…?”

Your eyes widen, and you rest a hand on your breast. “What did I do? I nearly get killed, and Dutch Van der Linde asks, what did I do…?”

And the word that gets Arthur’s attention has his heart nearly stop. You almost got killed?

Arthur's gaze sharpens, his expression hardening as he steps closer, the ground beneath his boots crunching softly. "Eliza, who tried to kill you?" he demands, voice steady but with an edge that slices through the tense air.

You swallow hard, your eyes darting around once more before fixing on Arthur's steadfast expression. The fear in your eyes is palpable as you choke back the terror to speak. “It doesn’t matter…!” You return to the buckboard and grab the case. “Let’s just take the money and go…!” You walk over to Dutch and shove it at him, forcing him to take the case. “We don’t have much time.”

Dutch studies you for a moment, ignoring the heated gaze from Arthur. It is everything in the gunslinger’s power to not say anything, to throw fists, lest he make things worse for you and everyone else who counts on him. He wants Dutch to look at him, but the leader continues to stare at you instead.

Annabelle looks at Dutch with worry, waiting to see what he will do.

But he says nothing about the state of you. How you have returned with blood splattered on your skin. He looks at the case, his hands clutching tightly onto the handle. “Let’s go. We can head North, get out of sight…” He pauses. “Then make it to freedom.”

You almost relax finally, and Arthur catches it. Hoping that you will let him, he comes near you. “Eliza…” You take a step back, inhaling sharply as you watch his hands closely. He keeps his hands raised. “I just want you to sit down.”

“I want to see my babies,” you insist. “I want to see my children.”

“You will…just…I need you to rest for a minute.” He uses his arm to gesture to a large rock nearby, encouraging you to go over and sit. Without saying anything in reply, you begin to walk that way and he follows you.

Once out of earshot, Dutch holds up the case. “I wonder how much…” But he sees intense, green eyes staring at him, and he turns to see Annabelle. She looks almost disturbed, sad, and she softly shakes her head. “What?” he asks, and she doesn’t answer. “What…?!”

“Sometimes,” she sighs. “Sometimes, I feel like I don’t know you.” And she turns to leave him with his money.

After watching you sit down, Arthur sits right beside you, careful not to touch you in any way. He sees you visibly shaking and he so desperately wants to hold you, but can’t.

“I…I want to see my children.”

“They’re asleep, Eliza,” Arthur answers you. “Wouldn’t want to wake them, right?”

You are trembling fiercely, but manage to nod your head softly. Arthur knows now that you aren’t too far from reason, but whatever happened has shaken you something awful. He doesn’t know what to do and he’s fighting everything within him to do something. 

“I’ve never seen you like this before,” he says softly. “Except when…” Then it hits him. And as you lift your head to meet his eyes, he sees the admission in them. “Eliza…What did he do to you…?”

Your lip trembles. “Nothing that can’t be…” You look away, your tears glistening from the light of the rising sun.

Arthur's jaw clenches as he fights the anger boiling inside him. "I'll kill him," he mutters under his breath, his hands forming fists.

“Too late…” His eyes widen and you turn back to look at him. “I shot him, Arthur.” Your hands tremble even more, your breath sharp and heaving as you sob. “I had him tell me where the money was…and shot him.”

Arthur is glad of it. “That bastard got what was comin’ to him.”

You hug yourself tightly. “And that’s the trouble.”

“What?”

“I-I looked into his eyes, and felt no remorse, Arthur…” Your voice shakes terribly, as the tears stream down your face. “I saw Willy’s face and I—” You lift your hands to cover your face. “I just snapped…!” You sob for a long while, your body heaving as you try to catch your breath. “I’m becoming something I’m not, Arthur…! That’s what being here has done to me…!”

Arthur's heart breaks as he listens to your cries, feeling the weight of the harsh life you've both been living. The sun slowly starts to brighten the coach nearby, casting long shadows that seem to creep toward you both like silent specters from your past.

You shake your head fervently. “If I hadn’t come here, none of this would have happened…!”

Arthur’s brow furrows. “You’d be dead!”

“Maybe it’s better to die…!”

Your cry echoes into the air, chilling Arthur to the bone. “You don’t mean that.”

Your eyes convey anything but insincerity. “I don’t want to remember this, Arthur. He touched me, and I…!” You hold your face in your hands. Sobbing loudly.

Arthur feels helpless and he can think of the only thing he knows how. He reaches out slowly, and this time, he doesn't hold back. His arms wrap around you gently, the warmth of his embrace a stark contrast to the cold air around you. You lean into him, your body wracked with sobs that shake you both to the core. “There are evil people in this world, Eliza,” he says. He wishes that he had the power to resurrect Mr. Steele so he would have the pleasure of killing him himself. “There ain’t no nice way around it.”

“Are…Are we evil Arthur?”

He is quiet for a moment, unsure how to answer that. “I don’t think so,” Arthur whispers into your hair, his voice steady but filled with pain.

“I’m…I’m sorry…” you whisper.

“Sorry? Why are you sorry…?”

“I’m…sorry I ever met you.”

Arthur stiffens, the words cutting through him sharper than any lawman’s bullet. For a long moment, there is only the sound of the wind whistling through the valley, carrying with it dust and the distant echo of your sobs. He doesn't let go, though every instinct tells him to recoil from the pain.

“I should have left you alone. I should have just ignored you as soon as you came back to the restaurant…but I loved you so bad…” Your voice shows the ache, the pain and regret that you’ve been deeply harboring. “It’s my fault that this has happened…I should have let you go long ago. I should have…”

Arthur’s grip tightens around you, as if he could hold the shattered pieces of your life together with his own two hands. His silence is heavy, filled with unspoken forgiveness and a deep-seated fear of losing you even now, when everything has already been so irrevocably altered. He doesn’t regret you, no, not one bit, but he can’t let you know that, not now. Not when you are expressing the exact opposite. 

"We ain't got time for what should've and what could've," Arthur finally speaks, his voice rough like the gravel underfoot. "What's done is done. We have to keep moving forward, Eliza. For both our sakes."

“I…I want to go…” you breathe, your voice a whine after your cry. “I don’t want to be here anymore.”

“Alright…” Arthur resigns. “We’ll go.”

You back away from him, and he lets you go from his embrace. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“You—you said ‘we.’” Your eyes widen. “Arthur…?”

“Do you really regret meetin’ me?” He asks, feeling himself become more vulnerable than he has in a long while.

The question hangs in the air, heavier than the gun Arthur holsters at his side. You pause, feeling the weight of your earlier words, and the turmoil they've stirred up inside both of you. For a moment, all you can hear is your own heartbeat, rapid and desperate in its rhythm.

“Eliza?” He asks again. “If you do, I won’t hold it against you, ‘cause I am more at fault than anyone for bringin’ you into this.”

He sees you look at him, your eyes, brown like rich soil, searching his face for your own answer.

Your lips tremble, frozen between the need to confess and the instinct to preserve something fragile. "No, Arthur,” you sigh. “I don’t.”

Arthur feels a weight being lifted. You are finally breaking the walls down, and even within this tragedy, you find yourself to be the safest in his arms. “I’m sorry that I weren’t there.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.”

Normally, that would hurt, but he knows you are right. As he holds you in his arms, he feels your body shudder with sobs. His own heart aches with each tear that falls from your eyes, but he holds you tighter, a sentinel against the chaos swirling around. “But it is the last time.”

Your brow pinches at his words. “Arthur?”

He wants to tell you the truth. The reason why he had returned to Aspen’s Way. To show you the ring and tell you.

But you are so fragile, just coming from a horrific experience.

And you need to move.

So he offers you another promise, something that will convey the loyalty that he has for you. “We’re in this together, Eliza. Always have been, always will be.”

You swallow. “Arthur, I need more than that…” you admit, your voice stern despite your trembling.

Arthur feels the sting of your words, sharp and unrelenting, but necessary. He nods slowly, understanding the gravity of what you're asking from him.

"I know," he says, his voice gruff with emotion. "And you'll have it." The wind picks up, sending a chill through the thin fabric of your dress and you shudder. Quickly, Arthur removes his jacket and places it around you. “I just need time to prove it to you.”

You nod slowly, the fabric of his jacket heavy on your shoulders but comforting in its warmth. "Time is something we might not have, Arthur."

He doesn't miss the urgency in your voice, the way your eyes dart towards the shadowy trees surrounding you. "Then we'll make it count," he says decisively, his eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting trouble at any moment. The rising sun casts short shadows across the ground, turning ground a golden hue, almost mocking the way he feels inside. Arthur's hand instinctively rests on the butt of his revolver, the metal cool under his touch. "We should move," he says and offers to help you stand up. You accept it, and taking you gently, he escorts you back to camp where the flames of a small fire crackle. 

The gang is oddly quiet, their faces marked by lines of worry and exhaustion as they begin to pack. They know it, something has changed, and not just from the past few hours of events that have followed.

Arthur sees it in their faces. The calm before the storm, just before you all have to pack up and move again.

And, in many ways, the sight is more familiar to him than the safety of a warm bed or the comfort of a quiet town. It's the outlaw life; his bones know it better than anything else, always on the move, always one step ahead of danger—

Always running for his life. 

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@photo1030 @eternalsams

[beigetiger]

Should I talk about Battlescape Mevolent and Serafina? I know I should because they’re supposed to be relevant, and I do have a few ideas for what I want them to be doing.

Alright, SO. They escaped the Eternity Gate because it broke after the Faceless Ones got out (courtesy of Malice) and the chaos that the Faceless Ones immediately tried to inflict ended up breaking the prison containing them. Naturally, Serafina died a few moments later, but Mev managed to resurrect her through the same sort of ritual he used to bring himself back after he’d died so many times, and they both quickly retreated somewhere safer where people might not immediately find them and attack them.

Nowadays, they mostly roam around Ireland with a band of followers (similarly to Skulduggery and Valkyrie, although Mev and Sef don’t really have a base) bringing chaos with them wherever they go. Mevolent has the god-killer dagger, but it really isn’t that useful in battle and he mostly uses to to take out people he doesn’t want to see again from a close range.

Mevolent probably went through some pretty rapid-fire character development after escaping the Eternity Gate, because now the Faceless Ones were revealed to be pretty shammy and he’s now separated from his zombie torn kingdom in Dimension X. While he wants to go back to Dimension X at some point, he knows it’s too broken and hostile towards him at the moment under Meritorious’ rule and so he’s decided he wants to stay in his current dimension (gonna be honest, the term Dimension Y is growing on me) so he can eventually take it over and then use that to go back and dominate Dimension X.

But until then, he’s stuck here, and his obsession with defeating Valkyrie has only grown. She’s more powerful and bizarre than ever, she’s absolutely fascinating to him and he would absolutely perform weird scientific experiments on her if he ever managed to capture her. His want to bring violence on Valkyrie also means that he often disregards Skulduggery (except for wanting the god-killer sword back) and thinks of Winter as little more than Valkyrie’s upstart sister, giving Winter a good personal reason to hate him. His and Valkyrie’s groups often clash violently with each other, and he’s criticized Valkyrie’s willingness to take in Nefarian many times before.

Serafina thinks that her husband’s obsession with Valkyrie is distracting him from their ultimate mission and so disapproves of it, but that only really means that she’d help him catch Valkyrie if that meant he’d kill her just a little bit faster. She’s a bit distracted herself though, as she no longer has access to her younger siblings and is dealing with the grief of being so suddenly and violently cut off from them. She’s already tried reaching out to Kierre, but by then it had been years since Kierre was dependent on her and she turned down her older sister quite confidently. Rune and Strosivadian are among the many people who went missing when global civilization collapsed and they have not turned back up since.

I also want Serafina to have a dynamic with China similar to what China had with Eliza Scorn, simply because I miss that dynamic and I think that both Mev and Sef deserve to have someone kind of distracting them from what they’re supposed to be doing. China is generally pretty safe from Serafina because she lives within the safety of Roarhaven, but it does give reason for Serafina and Mevolent to then attack Roarhaven more often.

I’m actually surprised I had this many ideas for them, because I planned on them being relevant but didn’t reeeeally have any specific ideas for what I wanted them to be doing in this AU until I literally sat down and wrote this out. I’m quite glad I have something now though!

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

fancy spells that show the truth

Ominis Gaunt x GN!Hufflepuff!Reader (MC from game = Eliza Fig, Gryffindor) part five of the fancy series - [ToC]

Summary: The group of wayward students arrives to help- but causes problems along the way. (So I wasn’t planning on making Eliza an evil-type but the story goes as it does i guess. Hope no one got to attached to her)

“Diffindo!”

“Bombarda!”

You shot your head upward at the sounds of spells being cast, looking across the way through a bit of forest to see lights flashing back and forth, a multitude of colours. Reds and greens pop out mostly, and you sit there holding your breath. This could be it.

“It’s them!” Marcus calls out, running up to his boss. Having sat here long enough, you eventually got a look around. You were currently put aside from the rest of the encampment, close to ‘The Boss’s tent. He seemed annoyed at his entire party and set up his tent- the largest tent- away from the rest of the group. Not trusting them, he also had set up the creature cage nearby, with a table and campfire in the centre of the area. You currently sat among a group of five fwoopers, one of them a lime green colour that slept in the middle of the huddle. The gleaming silver keys to the cage hung on Ed’s belt, who was leaning against a tree nearby after being ordered to watch over the cage.

“But why!” Ed had complained loudly, huffing and crossing his arms. “You finally gave me my own crew and it includes Marcus and now you want me to- to watch over a cage of creatures-”

“I want you to babysit the child you decided to kidnap, actually,” The boss had sneered, glaring at the man you had once thought was the leader. “I’m certainly not going to sit out here watching them, that sounds exhausting. I have boss duties to attend to. Sales to be had, people to talk to, you know how it is.” The boss waved his hand in a dismissive manner, and you wondered if he actually did anything for the encampment besides being absolutely horrid to everyone.

“Fine, okay,” Ed agrees, too easily in your opinion. The boss seems to agree as he narrows his eyes, taking a step closer to the poacher.

“And there will be no pawning this job off to Marcus. I can’t stand that man.” With a slump of his shoulders, Ed agrees quietly. It seemed that had been his plan after all.

“Who is what?” The boss barked, leaning against the table in the centre with some assortment of papers spread out across it. At one point the wind had blown, and the boss had drawn a dagger from his hip and jammed it into the table to hold one of them down.

“The-” Marcus was breathing heavily, leaning down to rest his hands against his knees. “The attackers! It’s the kid! The student!” Two sets of eyes immediately look at you before looking back to Marcus, the boss straightening up.

“What are you talking about Marcus? Spit it out.”

“It’s the kid! That defeated Ranrok! The one that goes around spewing Unforgivables at us constantly!”

“Oh fuck this,” The boss spits out, then spins on his heels and immediately disappears. The air surrounding this area was quiet, only interrupted by sounds of battle just enough away that neither man felt threatened, yet. Ed and Marcus meet eyes, the latter seeming scared and curling in on himself.

“What do we do?”

“What the hell do you think we do? We fight back!”

“But it’s her!” Marcus pleaded, walking closer to Ed and grabbing his arm. “Look, I don’t want to die, Ed. Just unlock the cage, I’m sure they’re here for the kid.” Neither looked at you as they discussed your fate, and your eyes constantly wandered back toward the flashing lights through the trees. If you paid close attention, it almost seemed like it was getting closer.

“We’re not cowards, Marcus. If we fight and win, we can take over this operation. Fuck the boss, he ran! What do you think the rest of them will think?”

“The rest of them will be dead, Ed! Just like us!” His yell was surprising, having seemed like he was afraid of confrontation. Though honestly, out of everyone here, you probably felt the most for him. He just wanted friends, to fit in, and everyone condemned him for being ‘annoying.’ You hoped he could find better friends- and maybe a better profession. Maybe an actual profession.

“Petrificus Totalus!” A familiar voice called out and Marcus suddenly became as stiff as a board and fell sideways. You immediately jump up- as much as you were able, so really you were just standing on your knees- and clutch at the bars to push yourself further. You could just barely see him.

“Ominis!” He paused and you watched him heaving in a breath. Beside him, two more people ran forward- Poppy and Sebastian. They both called out spells, aiming toward Ed, who had jumped away and was trying to use the trees as cover.

“Y/N?” Ominis called out, taking a few steps forward as if unaware of the flashing of spells careening so close to his head. “Y/N?! Call out again, I can’t find you!”

“Ominis, I’m over here!” He immediately spun in your direction, his wand pulsing with red as he ran toward your voice. You could see a healthy flush across his face- and maybe right now wasn’t exactly the time to be checking him out, but c’mon. He’s literally saving your life right now. A healthy appreciation is warranted. “Over here Ominis! I’m in a- a cage right now.”

Ominis finally slowed his approach as he got closer, his eyebrows furrowing together tightly, his expression pinching into annoyance. “I know you’re here,” Ominis muttered, and you could barely hear him over the sounds of spells being flung around. It seemed the rest of the poachers had apparated nearby, hiding among the trees nearby Ed. Marcus still laid still on the ground nearby, but you could see his eyes frantically looking around as much as possible. Other students had filtered into the area- Natty and Garreth, and- wait. Wasn’t that the new fifth year- or perhaps, ‘used to be’ the new fifth year? What was her name again, Eliza Fig? Her smirk was cruel, and she muttered her spells under her breath, but the lights that sprung from her crooked wand were green.

“I know you’re here, but I can’t see you,” Ominis continued, drawing your attention back to him. “I can see like- a big box?”

“It’s a cage, Ominis. It’s likely enchanted, wards weaved into the bars.” Ominis began to nod, coming closer with his hand stretched outward. He found one of the bars, wrapping his hand firmly around it, serious expression in place. You raise a hand to place atop his, thankful for the contact, and you watch as Ominis’ breathing stutters, his huff of a breath as he finally falls to his knees in front of the cage, in front of you.

“I was so scared, Y/N. When you didn’t get back to your common room-”

“You were waiting for me at my common room?”

“Well, yeah, Y/N. I never want you mad at me.” Ominis’ voice was low, but he was close enough this time that you could hear him clearly. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t go to the forbidden forest on your own anymore.”

“I didn’t realize I was going there, by the time I noticed I thought a quick brush would’ve been fine,” You were speaking quickly, your eyes constantly scanning the area behind Ominis for any sign of hostility aimed at him. Why he would turn his back to an active battlefield, you didn’t know. You were gearing up to berate him about it when you heard Eliza call out in a wicked, gleeful voice.

“Crucio!” You felt Ominis immediately tense under your hands, and you tighten your grip on him, glaring at the Gryffindor across from you. Sebastian immediately stomps over, throwing a hand down against her wand hand to make her drop the spell, immediately muttering something at her with an angry expression. You couldn’t hear him, however, you heard her reply.

“What’s it matter? They’re only poachers, they deserve it.”

“Where’s the lock, Y/N?” Ominis’ voice was deep, heavy with something you couldn’t quite place. You take his hand holding the wand, moving it before removing your hand from the current cross-section it was at to a closer one, taking his hand and dragging it the rest of the way. One there you tap his wand against the keyhole, muttering under your breath. Your eyes never leave the form of Eliza Fig.

“You choose interesting company, Ominis.”

“I did not choose her. She forced herself along, and the rest of your friends are apparently enamoured by her.” Ominis muttered angrily, tapping the lock and muttering Alohomora under his breath. It took three tries of him doing this and Ominis progressively grew antsier as it wouldn’t work. Finally, the lock clicks open loudly and the gate just barely swings outward. Ominis audibly sighs in relief, reaching forward to take hold of the gate and pull it wide open. You take initiative, rushing out of the cage and crushing Ominis in a hug.

“Thank you for coming for me.”

“Always, Y/N.” He immediately wrapped his own arms around your midsection, pulling you close and squeezing you. He holds you close for a long moment, in no hurry to release you- and you the same. Your arms were wrapped around his shoulders, face buried into his neck. You weren’t sure how long, exactly, the two of you stood there, but it did take a long minute before you realized that silence surrounded you. You lifted your gaze and saw the fighting has stopped, the colourful flashing of spells having ceased and all of the poachers were nowhere to be seen. Your friends stood around awkwardly, most watching you, and Eliza had a long smirk on her face that you wished you could hex away.

“It’s safe now,” Sebastian calls out, glaring toward Eliza before jogging over to close the distance. He places a hand on one of your arms as they were wrapped around Ominis, trying to gently smile for you. “Glad we got to you in time.”

You heard a mumbling against your neck from Ominis. Sebastian furrows his brow in confusion, unable to make out the grumbling tones, but you could’ve sworn you heard him say, “Go away.” You bit your lip to hold back a giggle, tightening your hold on Ominis and placing your chin on his shoulder.

“Thank you for coming.” You grin cheekily at him, your eyes dancing between all of your friends before landing back on Sebastian. “You didn’t have to.”

“What are you talking about? Of course I did.” Sebastian scoffs, crossing his arms with a self-satisfied smirk. “If I hadn’t helped you out, I wouldn’t hear the end of it from Ominis. Or Poppy.” You felt your chest shaking in a laugh, looking between Poppy and him a few times before raising your eyebrows. It was still dark outside, but you could’ve sworn you’d seen Sebastian’s cheeks grow dark at your nonverbal insinuation.

“Let’s get going,” Ominis finally spoke, pulling away from you mostly, but leaving one arm wrapped around your midsection, pressing his side against yours. He faces the rest of the group, void of the emotions that seemed so vibrant to you earlier. “We don’t want anyone reporting us missing.”

“Yeah, Merlin forbid,” Eliza mumbles under her breath, raising a hand to inspect her nails. You grit your teeth at this, narrowing your eyes at her.

“Why are you here, anyway?” You asked, then watched as Natty raised her eyebrows and took a few steps to get closer to the huddle of students forming, stepping up right next to Eliza. Eliza, instead, stands her ground but raises her eyes toward you, sizing you up. She drops her hand to place it on her hip, tilting her head.

“I’m sorry, who are you again?”

“They’re the student we literally came here to save, Eliza,” Ominis responded, venom spewing from his voice.

“Hey, hey, what’s with all the hostility?” Natty steps into the middle, holding her hands out on either side. She looks to Eliza and they seem to have a small conversation with their eyes before Natty turns her back to her, facing you and Ominis. “She literally came here to help, what’s the problem with that?”

“I’m sorry that I don’t enjoy being rescued by someone who would willingly- and joyfully, might I add- use Crucio on a person.” You watch Natty’s eyebrows furrow, her head tilting in confusion. There was no way she hadn’t seen that… right?

“I’m with Y/N on this one,” Ominis mumbled, tightening his hold on you. Natty’s face crumbles slightly, her head shaking from side to side. She turns around to face Eliza, a question clear on her face, though she still voices it.

“What they’re saying can’t be true, can it?” Eliza looks away, biting her lip and refusing to meet Natty’s gaze. Natty takes a step forward, raising a hand toward her. She looked to be in the middle of saying something but was interrupted by a shout.

“Crucio!” The green bolt flew from behind you and Ominis, aimed directly at where Eliza stood. Except Natty had taken two steps forward instead of one, and the green bolt hit her back instead. Her screams were horrid, haunting, and she fell to her knees and curled up in pain. You and Ominis spun around, him with his wand held outward and pulsing, and you with your eyes wide, looking for danger. You could just barely see one-half of Ed’s face behind a nearby tree, very close to where the spell was originating from.

“No!” Eliza called out, and you spun back around in time to see her on the floor in front of Natty, shaking her head quickly. The Gryffindor then jumped up, snarling in the direction of the spell. Taking a few steps forward, she lifts that crooked wand- the sight of which was beginning to shoot fear through you- and aims it toward the trees. “Avada-”

She was interrupted when, once again, Sebastian strode forward and slammed his hand down on her wand. She snarled at him, raising a hand to throw a punch, and you spun around at the sound of another voice.

“Depulso!” You see Garreth not five feet from you, standing at the entrance to the cage you had been in and pointing toward the trees as well. The green light that had been aimed at Natty fades away and everyone hears a pained grunt, followed by the sound of something slamming against wood, the wood cracking.

“I’m defenceless here,” You mumble, causing Ominis to pull you close and wrap himself around you like a personal shield. You didn’t want that- of course, you’d never want Ominis hurt- so you begin to pull away until you hear Poppy’s soft voice right next to you.

“I have your bag, Y/N.” Ominis finally releases his grip on you, his eyes flying wildly from side to side as if trying to see anything that could hurt the group of you. You take one step closer to Poppy, reaching forward to take the bookbag. “I put your wand in there too. You must’ve dropped it when they nabbed you.”

“Yeah, they petrified me. I dropped my wand, I don’t even know where it rolled to. They didn’t think to look for it until we got to camp. It wasn’t on me so they couldn’t take it.” You immediately flipped open your bag, pushing past the scattered fwooper treats and reaching down the side to pull out your wand from where it rolled to. Sighing in relief, you shoot Poppy a grin. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“Not to rain on this charming parade,” Garreth finally intones, stretching his arms out to either side to herd the three of you closer to the rest of the group. “But this forest is creepy, I hate spiders and there are spiderwebs everywhere, and we just got attacked by a stray poacher. I say we do like what was originally suggested and get out of here. The arguments can wait until we’re in Hogwarts.”

Eliza wandered back over to Natty, helping her up as the two mumbled to each other. Poppy sticks close to your side that wasn’t plastered to Ominis, and Sebastian- walking with blood running down his nose- walks on Ominis’ other side. Garreth sighs and, with a shake of his head, walks lonely between the two formed groups.

“So what the hell was that, Eliza?”

Your group had only just made it through the Hogwarts gates, not even halfway through the courtyard to the castle before Sebastian finally spoke up. It made sense that he would be the first to break, he never was very patient. But Eliza had been quietly carrying Natty along the path with nary a word, although that only seemed to ramp up the antsiness between the rest of the group. Even Garreth began to lag behind, walking closer to your group than the two women ahead of you.

“What was what?”

You shook your head, aggravated that someone so smart would pretend to be dumb. Ominis tightened his hold on you, halting your movements and turning you to face him. You complied, looking into Ominis’ milky eyes as he keeps his head bowed toward you. He was obviously listening, wanting to know how this would resolve, but it seemed almost like he didn’t want you involved. Was there something more to this than you realized?

“You know damn well what was what,” Sebastian spat out, and you tilted your head in confusion. He could have a temper for sure, but you’ve never heard him sound so nasty.

“I’m sure I don’t know-”

“Like hell,” Sebastian growled, and you almost instinctively moved to calm him down, but you stayed in place with Ominis’ gentle insistence. You turn to see Sebastian taking a step closer to Eliza, who had also stopped. Eliza sat Natty down on the edge of the fountain, turning to sneer back at Sebastian. Garreth had ended his walk sooner, ending up closer to your group than the argument. He had an arm wrapped around Poppy currently, pulling her into his chest- almost like shielding her from the fight. With how she held her hands close to her face, it seemed she needed it. “You told me you would stop.”

“I never said that,” Eliza growled, taking her own step toward Sebastian. “You told me that you thought we should stop. I never agreed with you, I just let you go.”

“Let me go?” Sebastian scoffs, laughing with astonishment. “So you’re telling me all this time? You’ve been practising Unforgivables after everything-”

“Fuck you, Sebastian! You’re the one who left me!”

“I never left you! I tried to be friends!” Sebastian yelled back, anger mixed with something foreign colouring his tone. “You were the one who pushed me away! But I get it now,” He laughs again, the normally jovial sound now tinged with something bitter, and he continues with a quieter voice, “I do, I really get it now. You kept going, you kept up the research.”

Eliza remained quiet, her sneer slowly transforming into a stoic expression. Garreth began walking Poppy slowly toward Hogwarts, and you couldn’t blame them. You’d talk to Poppy later about the whole ordeal. But you stayed, you waited with Ominis. Sebastian was his best friend, and he even seemed to know what this whole argument was about. You also couldn’t help your curiosity.

“After everything that happened,” Sebastian continued, his voice a low growl now, “After having to perform the cruciatus curse on me. I thought you would stop, I thought-”

“You thought wrong,” Eliza interrupted, her voice cruel. It was silent for a moment, crickets chirping in the background. When Eliza opened her mouth once more, ready to spout out some sort of excuse or reasoning, she was interrupted by weak coughing. She spun quickly and rushed to Natty’s side, kneeling down and placing a hand on Natty’s knee.

Natty flinches away violently, scooting away from Eliza on the fountain with wide eyes. You watch in trepidation as Eliza’s shoulders fall, followed by her head.

“Stay away from me,” Natty coughs out, scooting away again before stumbling and falling onto the ground. You take a step forward to help, Ominis’ hands falling away from your hips and letting you. You stop yourself, though, once Eliza stands and takes a step toward her as well. “I didn’t want to believe it. There was so much-” A wracking cough interrupts her sentence, and at this point you rush forward. You help Natty to sit up straight, letting her rest her back against you as you hold her. “It was too loud, out there during the battle. I didn’t hear it. I saw the green flashes but wanted to fool myself into believing it was the poachers.”

“Natty-”

“Every time.” She coughs again and you tighten your hold on her, reaching a hand up to push a stray, thick lock of hair away from her sweaty forehead. “Every time we’ve gone out together, I saw those flashes. That colour. You were doing it every time, weren’t you? Casting Unforgivables like they were any other spell.”

“Yes.” You widened your eyes in surprise, turning quickly and locking eyes with Eliza. She couldn’t seem to meet Natty’s eyes, but she glared into yours like she could will herself to trade places with you. You were surprised at her blatant honesty. Especially knowing how Natty would react to it. Predictably, Natty’s voice was cold as she glared at Eliza.

“You’re worse than them. Worse than the poachers. Worse than the bandits from Uagadou.” Natty begins to push herself up, and you help until she’s fully stood. You watch as pain wracks through her body in waves, the after-effects of Crucio, but you drop your hands away once she’s standing stable. You could tell she needed to do this, needed to show independence and strength when facing someone she used to consider a good friend. The castle grounds were quiet for an extended time before Natty finally huffed, shaking her head. “I’m ashamed to share a house with you. Just stay away from me.”

Natty stomps away, toward the doors that Garreth and Poppy had disappeared through earlier. You stood there frozen, wondering what exactly you inserted yourself into. Turning slowly to face Ominis, you’re taken off guard at how close Eliza was to you. You widened your eyes as she took another two steps closer to you until only a few feet separated the both of you.

“Don’t think this is over,” Eliza harshly whispered toward you, a sneer lighting up her face. “If you hadn’t been stupid and vulnerable then this would’ve never happened.”

“This isn’t their fault, Eliza.” Sebastian’s voice interrupted the harsh words, and you quickly glanced with worried eyes to Sebastian a few paces away, who held his arm out to hold Ominis back. Ominis looked livid, both hands on Sebastian’s arms were squeezing with visible effort, but he remained in place as Sebastian wanted.

“I don’t give a flying fuck,” Eliza spat, reaching a hand out to grasp hold of the front of your robes, pulling you in closer. “Your idiotic actions took Natty away from me. Turned Garreth and Poppy away from me.”

“I think those were your own actions,” You mumbled back, raising your eyebrows. She was scary as hell, but you weren’t to blame for anything. “You were the only one flinging the un-”

You were cut off abruptly as you were pushed to the ground, Eliza pulling her wand and kneeling down on top of you, pressing the tip against your neck. “Shut the fuck up-”

“Y/N!” You look over toward Ominis, watching Sebastian fully holding him back now. He was struggling, Ominis was insistent on breaking free. You couldn’t even smile at him to calm him, so you tried to clear your throat and raise your voice for him to hear.

“Everything’s okay Ominis. It’s fine.” You watched his struggle lessen some, but he still angrily pushed against Sebastian’s arms. “Just a little cuddle session. You can be next.” Eliza’s scoff takes your attention once more, meeting hazardous eyes.

“You’re so pathetic. No wonder I didn’t know you existed until tonight.” She stood up once more, pocketing her wand. “You better stay out of my way, Hufflepuff.”

“Fuck you, Eliza,” Ominis called out, hatred lacing his voice. “Stay the fuck away from them.” He finally broke away from Sebastian- not for lack of trying on Seb’s part- and ran toward you on the ground. Eliza took a few steps back, turning to face all three of you as if realizing her back had been turned against potential threats. Ominis’ hands on you were a welcome treat as he assured himself you were fine, then pulled you up from your laid-out position.

“Seems we have the same idea then, Ominis.” You turned to meet her eyes after those words but were struck short when she wasn’t there. She had disappeared, and you turned questioning eyes toward Sebastian.

“She apparated. We’re alone.” He added on the last part for Ominis’ benefit most likely, and you let yourself finally relax in Ominis’ arms. “I’m sorry I let her come along, Ominis.”

“You didn’t,” He mumbled, pulling you closer to him. You let your head rest on his chest, closing your eyes to hear his heartbeat. “She had everyone else fooled, just like she fooled you in fifth year. But it’s fine now, they’ve seen her true colours.”

You didn’t hear a reply from Sebastian aside from a sigh. It was quiet for a longer time and you opened your eyes to see Sebastian approach slowly and sit cross-legged next to the two of you. Eventually he spoke, keeping his eyes on the stars above. “Perhaps sitting out here isn’t the best idea. Wouldn’t want to get detention.”

“We could spend the detention together, at least.” This was your suggestion, a smirk forming on your face as you stared at Sebastian, resting against Ominis.

“We’re just studying for our Astronomy class, that’s all,” Ominis mumbles, pulling you closer before he mimics Sebastian, raising his face to the sky. You laugh, shaking your head at him. “They look very pretty tonight.”

“You’ve never seen stars before in your life, Ominis,” Sebastian muttered, but you were pleased to hear a return to his jovial tone.

“I’ve been told they’re the same every night.”

“They are,” You affirm, sitting up further to be able to look at his face again. He really did have the prettiest face, his gaunt features highlighted by the half-moon’s light.

“So then if they were pretty two weeks ago, I’m sure they’re still pretty now.”

“Who said they were pretty two weeks ago?” Sebastian asks with a laugh, plucking grass between his fingers before throwing the handful back down and repeating the process.

“Y/N.” Sebastian raises his eyebrows toward you, a slow smirk forming on his face.

“Don’t give me that look, Sallow. We were actually studying for Astronomy that night.”

“Sure you were,” Sebastian mumbled, earning an elbow to his side from Ominis. “Well! With that,” Sebastian throws his hands down onto his knees, a loud slap echoing around the trio. “I’m tired.” That was the only goodbye you received as Sebastian stood and made his way inside. The night was quiet around you, silent aside from the insects buzzing and owls hooting in the distance. You both waited for the sound of the great door closing before speaking.

“So,” You begin, taking in the way the moonlight played against Ominis’ cheekbones. “I should probably get back to my common room at some point.”

You felt his hands tighten around you before he slowly, gently begins to pull you closer. You knew you could easily back away from this if you wanted, this wasn’t a forceful movement at all. But you wanted this, wanted him, and you didn’t care how much this action showed the heart on your sleeve. You gave in, laying against him once more.

“I don’t want to let you go tonight,” Ominis muttered against your hair, dropping his head to curl around you. His voice wavered, full of emotion. “I feel like I almost lost you and I-” He doesn’t continue his sentence, leaving whatever he had meant hanging in the air between you.

“What are you going to do, sneak me into the Slytherin rooms?” You giggle, shaking your head against him. You lifted your gaze to see him, watching a scrunchy type look cross his face.

“Maybe another night, but not tonight. I don’t want to be around those boys- I don’t want to be around anyone else but you tonight.” You breathed in deeply, hoping to calm the butterflies that scurried at those words.

“Then, what are we to do?”

“I know a place.”

[crystalelemental]

With the Abyssal portions defeated, time for the final thoughts on Nexomon Extinction.

The Abyssals are exactly what I wanted out of the Tyrants.

My biggest complaint story-wise for this game was that the Tyrants themselves really didn't matter much. There's a thousand-year war among the Tyrants going on, that pushed humanity so far that one Guild leader created a cult to revive Omnicron, and their successor created artificial dragons to hunt Tyrants, an artificial Tyrant to command them, and then another, bigger one when that plan failed. But despite how significant this war was...all of the Tyrants we meet are pretty inconsequential, and most are associated with a human who does most of the talking and planning to begin with. I understand that this game is the human errors side of thing after the last game's presentation of the threat of Nexomon, but it's still kinda rough to go through all these story segments with the Tyrants not producing anything substantial. You get to postgame where you can hunt them down, and they're all a pain in the ass to find, with nothing drawing me to them.

The Abyssals, though? This is what I wanted. A thousand years ago, the first Abyssal arrived. And their first act? Killing Hilda. Another is stated to have made an attempt on Eliza's life. These are a much more pressing, salient threat. Sure, Tyrants destroyed cities, but we've never seen them do anything. The Abyssals have personal connection.

Despite their power, the Abyssals are odd in that they never aimed to become Sovereign of Monsters, and they seem immune to Solus' influence as the current Queen. What's presented is a pretty interesting mystery that builds up more questions than it feels like it wants to answer. What's the deal with these weird engravings? Why are Abyssals so weird? Apparently each is born with a clear goal from its creator, but this creator is unknown to them, and their specific goals are incredibly simplistic, with no known overarching goal. They're super unusual.

By gameplay, the Precursor Island is really fun. It might be an odd comparison, but it reminds me of the bonus dungeon of Ib a bit. There's a central location, and your goal is running around everywhere to collect the things you need to progress, solving puzzles that sometime intertwine a bit. It's a really fun system, finding each of the Abyssals and solving their puzzles. The only annoying ones were the flying one (Inominox) and the electric one (Volcel). The rest was really fun. Even the weird maze puzzle was fairly clever, though the final solution was a little...obvious but still hard to figure out the hint.

I think what really sells me on the Abyssals...well, two things. The smaller one is design. The Abyssals are just really cool concepts. Venefelis shows up and is immediately incredible, being super imposing but kinda goofy, and stated outright that he shouldn't be strong enough to pull off the nonsense he has. Kroma is my absolute favorite, and she's set up as super imposing given her drive is killing Eliza, only for Venefelis to rant about how incompetent Kroma is for being the only one of them to fail in her mission. Then there's Screaming Fire Velociraptor, who is hilarious in concept. And Inominox, who is such a coward that it won't face anyone with more than one Nexomon, and that one Nexomon needs to be weak to Flying. Or the soup for Volcel. There's Caelesa, who ran across the world, and was attacked by the Guild for little reason other than paranoia, since she hurt no one in her efforts. There's Pluvian, whose entire goal was to show up, scream, and then get killed by the Guild for no clear reason. There's Rotrimus, who you try to order around, and initially agrees, but is intercepted by the force of their creator bending its will back to refusing your call. It's a really interesting and dynamic group, that apparently has no clear association. Many of them insist they worked alone. They had a creator, but they themselves don't even think of themselves as a unified group. Only Venefelis seems to confirm that they have association.

The other is that this group is delightfully aligned to the themes of the game. Nexomon Extinction has two general themes I can identify. The first is a bit more obvious and repeatedly stated: second chances. The children of Omnicron refer to their support as their redemption, the entire plot is Deena attempting to grant a second chance at saving the world, your resolution of the central conflict is trading the destruction of your direct enemy into granting them a second chance at life. There's an ongoing importance to the idea of getting a second shot at things...but a second shot isn't necessarily going to mean doing better. The former hero comments that your actions amount to the same thing she did, and despite the failures of the dragons, Amelie's second chance is doubling down on a decision that worked out poorly. This leads into the second theme, and the one I like a lot better: the limits of personal agency.

The former hero is a good lens for this one. Repeatedly throughout this game, their actions are referred to as if it was a huge mistake. They themselves talk about it as a mistake. Deena outright calls it stupid decision made by her moronic friends. Even Ulzar, who is more sympathetic to the situation, talks about it as if it were a mistake, if an understandable one. Absolutely everyone treats their actions as something that led to the present problem, and thus was the wrong decision.

But...we were there. Omnicron was going to completely destroy the world. You can argue that the destruction of his soul in the netherworld wasn't necessary, and that was the mistake. But it's well known that he'll come back time and again; it'd be pushing the problem out to the next generation. And Omnicron could follow through. When you fail to destroy him in the Netherworld, Omnicron devastates an area so badly that entire maps are wiped out of reality. This was done in hours. Omnicron tells you outright he could've annihilated the planet in a day, but he stopped solely to challenge his rival, the strongest human, as a matter of pride. This wasn't an idle threat. It was an active, immediate devastation looming on the horizon.

Faced with that, what choice did you really have? Yes, there was a technically a choice. But who could choose the alternative? When humanity is faced with its destruction through the war of the Tyrants, yes, you had a choice to make those dragons or not. But faced with the destruction of multiple cities and further looming threat, what choice did you have? When those failed, you had the choice to stop. But then the destruction of the Tyrants continue unabated. Who would choose to stop? Vados embodies this. He's a creation of Amelie, born to hunt Tyrants to protect humanity. The thing about Vados is that he has agency and beliefs of his own. When told to destroy Petram in spite of the Laterians interfering, he refuses to harm humans. But we know that will happen anyway. We're told repeatedly that the Tyrants will continue to rise, until Vados has destroyed so much that the world is inhospitable to humans as well. He has his own agency, his own desire to protect humanity and protect the world. But he'll betray that through his own actions, regardless of what he wants. He was made to hunt Tyrants, and so he shall, til the end of days. The only way to avert this is to refuse to fight every Tyrant, to refuse to wage this absolute crusade. And that's the only choice he cannot make. He doesn't get a choice.

The Abyssals continue this theme. Like Vados, the Abyssals are created for a singular purpose. They are born with a goal, and that is all they have. They have their own personalities, but few of them seem interested in the specifics of what's going on. Kroma doesn't seem particularly interested in killing Eliza, she just has to. Pluvian doesn't seem to function as a willing sacrifice, but she does it anyway because that's her goal. Regardless of what they want, they will carry out their goal.

Unlike Vados, though, they have no overarching philosophy. Nothing that specifically guides their actions beyond the immediate. Caelesa runs around the world, but she doesn't seem to understand why. So when their goal is accomplished, despite getting a second chance at life...none of them know what to do with it. So they just sit around, completely docile, until you strike them down again. What other choice did they have? They never knew what they were aiming to do in the first place.

Except for Venefelis. The first Abyssal. At first, he had no idea what his point was. He had a goal, carried it out, and got sealed within the woods forever. Not ideal, but mission accomplished. Then 300 years later, another entity like him appears, carrying out a similarly short-sighted goal. Then 200 years later, another. And another 100 years after that. They appear faster and faster, until we get two within ten years. And as the only one to really survive, even if just as a spirit...you recognize the pattern. After all, Venefelis understands Caelesa's goal better than she understands it herself. She thinks it was just running, but Venefelis identifies it as a scouting mission. You know there's a grander design here; a purpose. But you can't figure out what. Because no one will tell you. You creator, the one guiding your motions, won't speak to you.

What else can you do but try to divine their intent? With nothing else to go off of, you watch their actions, and notice only one thing stands out. Kroma failed, and following that, no other Abyssals were created. Maybe your creator quit. Maybe it's because of Kroma. You don't know that, but what else could it be? You don't understand your purpose, but you desperately want to understand it; to know why you're still here. What choice do you have but to force a second chance on her? To enforce your creator's will, regardless of what she'd want? What choice does she have but to obey?

The twisted thing is, there really is nothing else for them. Rotramus shows this definitively. When you attempt to issue a command, he thinks about it, and passively decides sure, I'll help. It's not the resounding success of an authority check commanding its allegiance. It's someone making a choice, as if it has nothing better to do and no reason to argue. But its creator's will forces it to refuse. Even with its goal accomplished, and no reason to refuse, they interfere, denying your freedom. Quite literally, you have no other choice.

Everything that happens in this arc is driven by Venefelis' desires. His agency, his desire to understand his creator, drives everything forward. No one else even understands why they're here. They didn't have much choice either way. He brought them back, gave them a second chance they had no use for. But what else could he have done? To see what he wanted done, all he could do was solve Kroma's failure by pushing her into another attempt. And it wouldn't have even worked. It was entirely for nothing. But what can you do but try? You technically have a choice. You finished your goal, you could just let it all rest. But faced with the dread of an eternity devoid of purpose, who would choose any different?

Despite how many open-ended threads there are, and how many mysteries we're left with, this does feel like a self-contained story. We don't know what the point is. We don't know what it means. But neither did they. And the result of that ignorance, that impossibility, is they existed unable to live for themselves, and no second chance could get them to defy that fate. Which really resonates with me. I loved this side story a lot, and these open questions have really gotten me interested in the sequel game. I've heard they officially announced its existence but not a release date or any details. I can be patient. But I'm really invested in this one. They really hit a sweet spot here.

[countrymusiclover]

36- Finally Defeating the Hollow

Part 37

Family is More than Blood

@secretdreamlandmentality

Klaus’s pov

Our entire group was confused including the dead family members that were with us. None of us were prepared to find these people here inside of what you would call her mindscape I suppose. Stepping towards Josette I met her gaze. “Josette, I am not sure why exactly we are seeing you right now.”

“Is it because of Kai?” Uncle Joshua asked, stepping up beside his daughter.

Alina crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s dead. Alaric and our mother killed him. But you can say this is entirely his fault.”

“What do you mean?” Liv asked with Luke looking confused like the rest of us.

Hope eyed her older cousins. “We placed this thing called the Hollow inside of his prison world. But he managed to escape and freed it with him. After he freed it he convinced a student at our school to attack our mother when the Hollow’s magic was inside of her.”

“Mom destroyed the person who had the dark magic but now it’s changing her. She tried to take the magic from everyone in our supernatural school. Which is something she’d never do.” Missy added on to what her sister had said.

Josette covers her mouth with her hand. “Oh geez. She consumed dark magic like last time.” I stared at her remembering when my wife had gone and asked for her aid first. She knew more about this or maybe just as much as I did.

“What the hell is happening to my daughter, Klaus. You made a promise to me that you would protect her.” Eliza stomps up to me getting up in my face as much as possible.

I met her gaze hearing her heart rate increase even though she was technically dead even inside her daughter’s mind. “Calm down, Eliza. I thought we had handled it. This was not an intentional thing.”

“So what was the original plan before you found us apparently inside of Raelyn’s mind?” Luke asked looking at me then to the rest of the family.

Freya stepped up to my side declaring the plan that we had in mind. “The plan we came up with was to combine all of our magical abilities together. Raelyn currently has the dark magic in her controlling her consciousness. We will siphon it away and trap it in another prison world.”

“But if we’re seeing you all then that means we are inside the part of my sister's mind that she finds some joy in. Meaning we’re probably in the wrong spot.” Jacob said, holding Andrea’s hand in his.

Glancing over my shoulder and slightly turning my body back towards my brother in law. “What do you mean, Jacob?”

“I’m saying that we need to be looking for the section that has darkness. The parts of her mind that she keeps barred away. The parts that she wants to hide from herself. The parts that she’s fighting everyday. That’s what we need to be searching for.” He responded.

Joshua tapped his chin in thought. “The one thing I know she dreads is her memories of the Merge.”

“And the fear of losing her children.” Josette points out tucking hair behind her ear.

Davina tapped her foot and Valerie just watched from the sidelines. Freya came up to me seeing that I was lost in my own thoughts. If this was going into the darkness that Raelyn feared I knew the thing that triggered her the most. She was terrified to die because of the Merge. “I know what we’re looking for. We just need what Elijah referred to as his red door.”

“Well that’s great. Do you have any idea of what it could look like?” Valerie grumbled with her hands resting on her hips.

Throwing my head back I groaned wishing that this wasn’t so hard. I believed that I knew my wife more than I apparently did right now. She cared about her cousins, was afraid of accidentally killing them all after the merge and I was all of her firsts in our relationship. Yet her mind seemed to be more complicated if we needed to find where she kept all of her darkest secrets and fears hidden away. I was at a complete bloody loss on the matter. “Jacob, you’re her twin brother. What would she imagine if she wanted to hide things away?”

“Don’t put me on the spot or anything, Klaus.” The male heretic huffed, slumping his shoulders. He ran a hand through his curls in quick thought. “What about our childhood home? After we left there everything pretty much got screwed up.”

Davain began coughing and she covered her mouth with her. She drew it away showing us some blood. “Uh guys…something is going wrong.”

“Urgh!” Alina winced dropping down on her knees where Freya and I rushed over to her with Josette all in a moment of honor and worry.

Placing a hand on the side of her head I scanned her quickly knowing we couldn’t see any physical damage or any kind of injuries while inside her mothers mind. “Alina, what’s wrong sweetheart?”

“I….don’t…know.” She winced, holding her stomach gripping her belly with one hand.

Josette looked between me and my second daughter. “If she’s pregnant in her mindscape. How far along was she when you came in here?”

“I am nearing my due date. Do you think…I’m due now?” She asked the former doctor.

Josette slumped her shoulders. “I believe so. You need to leave here. And whoever else is feeling the effects of the spell. It’s slowly killing you by the amount of magic inside of Raelyn.”

“Davina, you and Alina need to leave now. Hope you go with them.” I declared sternly.

Hope stomps her foot. “I’m not going anywhere, dad. This is mom we are talking about!”

“Actually we might not have a choice here, Hope. All of us are linked to one another so if one of us leaves. We will all still be connected to your mother. Everyone except Klaus since he’s not a witch.” Valerie admitted with a weak expression.

Getting to my feet I could see it on my triplet daughter’s faces that this new plan sucked. But we didn’t have many options if we wanted to save their mother. “This wasn’t what we hoped. Yet we have no other options. You all have your part in siphoning the magic from her. I’ll find the door that we need and make her stop running from her fears.”

“Bring her home, brother.” Freya said while every witch grabbed hands disappearing from my vision.

Eliza placed a hand on my shoulder, sending me a soft smile. “Klaus, I’m sorry for panicking earlier. I just…when you see my daughter tell her that we are all proud of her.”

“I am sorry for all the pain I put her through.” Joshua replied.

Josette grasps my hands in hers, sniffing through tears. “Klaus, tell Raelyn to watch out for my girls. I know you already have but let her know how much I appreciate it.”

“I will….Give me a sign, Raelyn. Show me the fire you need me to through with you.” I lifted my head up to the ceiling, closing my eyes. I heard something blow past me so when I opened my eyes once more I saw nothing but darkness around me. The darkness slightly lightened up showing me a tv tarp that you would play outside movies on. Stepping forward I didn’t quite understand what was happening until I noticed someone was sitting on the ground in front of it watching it silently. “Raelyn?”

“Klaus…it's all happening again. I…I can't face it.” She admitted looking over her shoulder seeing me standing there.

Sitting down beside her I lifted my eyes upwards to the screen figuring out what she meant by that. “Rae, what are you talking about?”

"Jacob!" She suddenly gasped, shooting up in a sitting position. My heart beating quick as my eyes flickered around the forest landing on my twin brother laying on his back. Rushing to her feet she dropped on her knees shaking him lightly trying to wake him up. "Jacob, Jacob. Come on wake up. Please wake up, Jacob." My father stepped up placing a hand on her shoulder making her whip her head up starting to cry. "Why - why won't he wake up dad - what's going on?"

Instead of responding he bends down removing the gemstone necklace from around his neck that he always wore, placing it in her hand. "You have won the Merge, Raelyn."

"He can't die, mother...He's my brother, my twin...I won't lose him!" Suddenly she winced feeling her mother draw magic from her, yanking me away from my brother. Stomping my boots in the dirt she started crying more out of such confusion. "Why would he - what the hell is the Merge, mother!"

She frustratedly runs her fingers through her hair, throwing her head back in agony. "It's a ritual that happens to twins born into our Coven. Since you and Jacob just turned 22 today that is the year to have the Merge...it's where you combine your strengths together...there can only be one winner."

Another memory flashed across the screen that I didn’t recognize, meaning it must have been during the time I was trapped in New Orleans with Marcel. Shifting my gaze to my wife I could see tears slipping down her face by now.

Jo took his other hand and began chanting. “Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus.”

Jo and Kai then began chanting together. “Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus.Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus.” Until Jo fell backwards and she saw a new image flash through our minds. Luke had knocked his sister out for a few minutes and declared to merge with his older brother.

Kai and Luke were chanting when she entered his mind again. “Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus. Sanguinem desimilus-- “

Jo cried. “Luke, no!”

“Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus. Sanguinem desimilus, sanguinem generis fiantus.” Kai and Luke fell backwards, unconscious with Jo crying out after she had woken up from the sleeping spell.

Joshua declared. “Luke is gone.” His gaze shifted to mine with a horrific look feeling what she had minutes ago.

Liv gasped looking between me and her father. “What? Rae, he can’t be serious.”

Clutching my eyes closed, the vision of Jacob collapsing in front of me flashed through my mind. Releasing my hands from fists sheshook my head sniffing through tears. “Liv I, I wish it wasn’t true. But Luke…he’s…”

Joshua finished my train of thought, still terrified. “I can feel it. He merged with Kai and Kai won. Luke is gone.”

“Rae, look at me. This isn’t real. It’s just the Hollow playing tricks on your mind.” Placing a hand on her shoulder she jumps slightly turning to face me. She had tears streaming down her face now.

She shakes her head sobbing. “Klaus, it’s all still real. It’s all up here…It’s still a part of me.”

“Rae, look at me.” I crawled in front of her cupping her face in my hands pressing my forehead against hers so she’d focus only on me and not the horrors she had haunting her at night. “I know that you feel like these nightmares are your fault. But they are not. These are just horrible things that happened to you.”

She gripped my forearms, shaking under all the stress. “I can’t push it all away, Nik. I can’t just push through what happened.” I didn’t need to turn around to know what the next memory was once I heard Alaric declaring his wedding vows.

Jo chuckled beginning her vows until Raelyn smelled blood, saw she stabbed through the stomach and her dress was red. “Oh, God. That's a tough act to follow. Here goes. Alaric Saltzman, you are…”

Alaric caught his soon to be wife collapsing into his arms. “Jo? Jo? Jo? Oh, my God. Jo? Jo? Jo?! Oh, God. No!”

She winced where Raelyn vamped from my seat, biting into her wrist drawing blood. “Aah! Aah!”

“Jo drink!” Shoving her wrist over her mouth she attempts to drink but she was losing too much blood too fast.

Alaric began crying, staring at me. “No! No, no, no, no.”

Suddenly before our eyes Kai appeared from being invisible standing beside Elena holding a bloody knife in his hand. “I was gonna wait till the "death do us part" bit, but it seemed a little on the nose.”

Raelyn shut her eyes tightly letting the tears fall down her face. She hugged her knees to her chest trying to bury her face into herself. “It’s all too much, Klaus! The Hollow won’t leave me alone unless I get it more magic. The nightmares….they’ll just keep haunting me.”

“Don’t worry about the Hollow. It’s being taken care of, I promise you.” Drawing my head back away from hers I wiped away fallen tears with my thumbs. I knew that she was horrified to let all the pain go away. “I need you to focus on my voice, focus on me being here with you, focus on nothing else but me.”

Raelyn grasped my shirt in her fists. “I can’t let this go….I can’t deal with it like this.”

“You’re not alone with these memories, Raelyn. I will be here for you through the good and the bad. You just need to let go…you need to let go of all the pain and accept the fact that they are gone.” I responded to her praying that she listened to me.

“They’re gone, Nik. They're ... .Jo….Liv….Luke…my mother all gone ... .even uncle Joshua. She buries her face into my chest heavily sobbing. Her fingers wrapped around the material and she remained so close to me as she could possibly manage.

I wrapped my arms around her just holding my wife closer to his chest. Running one hand through her hair I whispered into her ear. “Sssh Rae….I’m here.” Blinking through my own tears I held her close seeing the darkness disappear and I collapsed onto the floor with her too.

I gasped sharply seeing the stars above my head and I slowly sat upright. Frantically looking around the area I ran a hand through my hair seeing Raelyn laying on the ground. “Klaus, we’re just about to do the spell. Did you get her to open her mind?” Freya came rushing over bending down on a knee to me.

“I think so, Raelyn! Raelyn, please wake up. Please take up.” I scrambled to my feet hovering above her body over her sleeping form. I watched her eyes open and she gasped slowly taking in some breaths. “There you are, heretic queen.”

She lifted her hand up touching my face. “Nik…”

“She’s awake, Freya….you’re gonna be just fine honey.” I brushed her hair out of her face and she sniffed through tears right before the torches around us were lit up again.

Valerie came forward past the circle of sand and dropped herself onto a knee. She placed her hands on Raelyn’s chest focusing on her gaze when she started to panic about what was happening in the moment. “Raelyn, don’t panic now. This will save your life. You trust me don’t you?”

“Yes.” She croaked out.

Valerie looked back at the rest of our family. Alina was standing on the outside of the circle with Hayley. Jacob, Andrea, Hope, Davina, Freya, Lizzie, Josie and Missy were all now holding hands siphoning power from one another to be as strong enough to perform the spell. Valerie turned back around taking a breath chanting. “Phasmatos tribum, nas ex veras, radamis phasmatos ex sonos. Resustamen ex veram vatas. Radamis phasmatos ex sonos…”

Keeping my eyes trained on my wife I could see Valerie’s hands turning her chest red from the siphoning. She winced a couple of times before all of us saw a bright blue glow leaving her body. The source shot up into the sky. “Let’s go.” Scooping my wife up in my arms Valerie and I vamped over the barrier.

The Hollow’s blue magic raced around the barricade but it wasn’t going to hold it for long. Whipping my head around I looked at the witches needing to do something. “We need to trap it now.”

“We’re on it, dad…..Sanguinem filio, sanguinem effurgarex perpetuum. Sanguinem filio, sanguinem effurgarex perpetuum. Phesmatos filio, phesmatos effurgarex perpetuum!” Missy declared and the chanting began. The Hollow magic roared and tried fighting against them but the sky turned bright before there was a flash of light and we all saw it had disappeared.

Josie stepped forward catching the Ascendent in her hands. Raelyn held onto me for balance hearing someone cry out and she immediately went into motherly panic mode. “Alina! What is going on? Talk to me sweetheart.”

“Mom…it’s the baby.” Alina clutched her stomach, almost falling to her knees. I moved my attention to my daughter and saw liquid coming from between her legs. She started crying in a panic. “The baby’s coming.”

Comments really appreciated ❤️

[firewolfphoenix]

Eliza’s other worldly adventure chapter 11

Fox was standing at the entrance of Kitsune village, he was keeping an eye on Zeus who was sitting on some rocks. A few minutes later, Eliza flew down and landed a few feet away from Zeus. Fox was waiting for Phoenix and the others to appear to help Eliza fight Zeus, but they never came.

“Glad that you came, worried that you wouldn’t come for our fight,” Zeus said with a smirk.

“I would never back down from something,” Eliza scowled.

“Well let’s begin,” Zeus smirked.

Zeus summoned a sword, while Eliza summoned a sword made from light. Zeus rushed towards her, but Eliza was ready, she stepped to the side and stabbed Zeus upper thigh. Zeus screamed from the surprise stab, he then sliced Eliza’s arm. The sudden slice didn’t bother Eliza, she kept fighting Zeus who was blindly swinging his sword around at her, she kept dodging the swings, she also kept punching him.

While the fight was happening, the villagers and Fox were watching from the entrance of Kitsune village. They were impressed to see Eliza putting up a good fight with Zeus, who was now getting really angry. He attempted to shoot a shadow arrow at Eliza, but she blocked it. Eliza was about to strike Zeus again, when she heard cheering from the children in the Kitsune Village, Zeus also heard the children cheering on for Eliza.

“If I can’t kill you, I might as well kill the whole village!” Zeus shouted angrily.

Zeus pointed his hand towards the Kitsune Village, Fox saw what he was going to do, he yelled for the villagers to hide and take cover. Eliza stood in front of the entrance of the village, waiting for whatever Zeus had planned. Spyros took over Eliza, as Zeus summoned shadow blasts at her, Spyros blocked the powerful blasts with a shield of light.

Zeus stopped summoning the shadow blasts, to see Spyro and the village still standing. Zeus got very angry, he screamed then began glowing a dark purple.

“What is happening?” Eliza asked in Spyros’ mind.

“Zeus is getting very angry, he’s going to explode, we have to do something about it,” Spyros replied back.

“We can take the fight to the sky,” Eliza suggested.

“That’s a good idea, let’s do this,” Spyros said.

Eliza summoned her wings, then flew into the sky and Zeus followed behind her. Eliza’s plan was to take advantage in the sky, by hiding in the clouds and attacking Zeus until he exploded. After Eliza and Zeus flew into the sky, Fox came out of the house. He watched the whole thing, then watched as Eliza flew into the sky, he was worried what Eliza’s plan was.

In the sky, Zeus was chasing Eliza through the clouds, but every so often he would lose sight of her. Then he would get struck by Eliza, by appearing out of nowhere, Zeus’ dark purple aura was growing as he got more angry. Every so often, he would shoot a shadow spear randomly thinking he would hit Eliza but he missed every time.

“Come out so I can kill you stupid girl!!” Zeus yelled.

“Eliza listen to me,” Spyros began. “We can’t permanently stop Zeus, but we can temporarily stop him by triggering the explosion by stabbing him,”

Hiding inside a cloud, Eliza summoned the light sword and flew towards Zeus quickly, who had his back to her. Eliza stabbed Zeus through the back, taking him by surprise. Eliza flew in front of him, she saw that Zeus had intense anger and hatred in his eyes.

“You think you have won today, I will defeat you one day!” Zeus growled.

Zeus began glowing brighter, the glowing was getting more intense. Spyros told Eliza to get as far away from Zeus as possible, for when he explodes so Eliza flies away quickly as far as she could. Zeus exploded into dark purple light, Eliza was far away but got caught from the blast of the explosion and got knocked back. She got knocked back into the pond next to the Kitsune Village, a couple kids at the village helped her out of the pond and took her to where Fox is.

[rubbarband]

"Well get ready for a fight. I hope my plan works. now with more of my crew here I feel more confident in things. Kal?" Des watched as several drones land between the group.

"I was intrusted with the cure- temporary or not we should be able to defeat M.T here- we spray it around town with Kal-li's help to help the people- I even have plans for it to go all over Oregon." Conner added.

"And I'll be bait- let's do it." Maka readied herself.

"Okay places everyone! Hide and we'll ambush the big lug- set your traps - let people know you have traps...and let's do this...." After everyone would get everything ready, he'd turn to is cousin. With a nod he watch her back. Maka would nod back summoning her giant manta ray- it filling the sky slowly hovering about- it way beautiful in it's many colors.

"I smell blood...!!" Desmond would look up, as with Maka and Eliza. "Incoming!" Des would grab and move his cousin- something big landing infront of Violet and Himself.

There he was...M.T towering above the two of them- an S rank villain, now souped up with a more powerful quirk- and this dust...his body's glowed with multicolored rocks growing out of him

"So this is where you were...I can kill two birds with one stone, killing the annoying hero rubbarband AND getting a summoner quirk for King!" He'd raise his hand and it would form an axe then spikes of ice would form on it.

"NOW!" Des would call and everyone would run from the shadows to attack. Karen would form a layer he couldn't fly away from.

The team made sure to introduce themselves. "I'm violet the leader and planner." "Sigal, the fighter....moral compass and glue to the team" "What...uhh doctor" Loden simply said still messing around on her computer. Tourmaline stayed silent just hanging near her brothers and Sigal. Violet looked to Desmond. "Alright where shall we get ready?"

[vault81]

My OC's opinions on the factions in Fallout!

Starting off with Eliza (One half of my Lone Wanderer/Courier 6 twins)

Brotherhood of Steel: Eliza's opinion of the Brotherhood of Steel has definitely gone through several changes ever since she left the vault, being exposed to Lyon's chapter first was probably not the best! Since they focused more on humanitarian aid first and the gathering and preservation of technology second. Also, the fact they were slightly less bigoted. She certainly thought their 'hoarding' of technology was a bit strange, but she thought their intentions were in the right place. Maybe she thought that one day they would be distributed to communities in the wasteland to help in their rebuilding.

Then with the Mojave chapter she began to see the Brotherhood in a new light, wallowing in stagnation and isolationism. Too scared of the outside world and the “what-ifs”, scared of becoming obsolete in a world that no longer requires them or their philosophy, scared of the 'other' the outsiders too proud to allow them into their ranks. They'd rather slowly wither away than admit to their own wrongdoings and change. Eliza would now realise that this is what the Brotherhood of Steel was meant to be, that the Outcasts were not an outlier, but the only “true” remaining part of the East Coast chapter. And she'd hate that, especially after seeing the Brotherhood massacre the Followers outpost just to stop the chance that Brotherhood secrets would escape their grasp.

She wouldn't encounter Elder Maxsons chapter of the Brotherhood, but safe to say her opinion of the group would go even lower then. Probably helping either the Minutemen or the Railroad in defeating them (if it came to that, and she really hopes it does)

New California Republic: I don't think Eliza would entirely hate the NCR, there are a lot of aspects of it she does dislike, namely its expansionist and imperialist tendencies (also let's not forget the rampant corruption and war crimes). But, I think she would begrudgingly tolerate them and the progress they've made in rebuilding since the bombs fell. Even if she thinks it's fucking stupid to base your government and its structure AFTER the one that just collapsed and suffered from the same problems theirs do. She'd probably do the bare minimum when it comes to working for them. Like helping out at the Mojave Outpost where she can and actually get HELIOS-ONE actually working properly (even if she distributes that power to the entire Mojave) after that though she'd leave them to clean their own messes up.

Followers of the Apocalypse: out of all the factions in Fallout, I feel like Eliza would like the Followers the most. An organisation separate from any government, just trying to help the common people of the wasteland, she thinks some members can be a bit idealistic sometimes, but they have their heart in the right place. She'd end up joining them post Hoover Dam, using her knowledge to help wasteland communities better establish themselves. She'd also probably be a bit more protective over them after what happened with the Mojave Chapter of the Brotherhood (also maybe she'd try to convince Veronica to join up with her)

Caesars Legion: TBH, I don't even think I need to elaborate here, it's safe to say she despises the Legion. She'd probably even just straight up attack The Fort with Boone to take down Caesar and any other leadership she encounters, freeing any slaves they come across. She'd think they're a pale imitation of an old world civilization structured during its decline, and she'd happily help anyone take them down.

Mr House: Eliza would not like Mr House at all, she thinks he's delusional and out of touch, desperate to wipe his hands of the planet and find a new one to ruin, maybe a hint of a fantasist in there. She almost admires his confidence in his own abilities, but knows that'll end up being his downfall. She'd use that when she betrays him for Yes Man, more than definitely getting a laugh out of the state he's in when she sees him in person (and maybe just a bit of pity).

The Enclave, well let's just start with the fact that they are responsible for her fathers' death. She wouldn't exactly be too fond of them over that, even if she wasn't too fond of her father either. So her hatred of the Enclave is very personal, She'd be very laser focused on that reason until they kicked them out of the purifier, only then letting herself learn more about the Enclave. Absorbing everything she could that the Brotherhood had, even digging through the ruins of Raven Rock to learn more. Purely to find out if they had any other bases or any weaknesses she could exploit, instead she'd learn all about the atrocities that they'd committed on both coasts. All in service to “Restoring America” for a country 200 years dead, she'd wonder how many people were sacrificed to that idea, too many she'd think. And for her, it was all for a worthless and pointless cause. Everything she learned about the pre-war USA made her believe it had no place in the modern wasteland, and if the Enclave believes themselves the true remnants of that old system, then that'd only reinforce it.

[proudpokemonmama]

Isabel's Kanto Pokémon

All of Isabel's pokémon on Kanto region.

Rin the, [shiny] Goldeen (female♀)

Haru, the [shiny] Starmie (female♀)

Rin’s Move set: Water Gun, Fury Atack, Bounce, Waterfall, Horn Drill, Toxic, Knock Off, Bubble Beam, Agility, Super Sonic.

Ability: Water Veil

Haru’s Move set: Scald, Toxic, Protect, Recover, Rapid Spin, Hydro pump, Double Edge, Swift, Bubble Beam, Ice Beam.

Ability: Nature Cure

Rin and Haru are gifts that Isabel received on her birthday and to congratulate her on her entry into a prestigious pokémon college in Unova where she would study to be a pokémon therapist;

Both Rin and Haru were pokémon trained as emotional support, as the challenges of academic life and in the future of her professional career would not be easy;

Rin and Haru are Pokémon very good at mediation, also becoming Isabel's assistants after graduation and throughout the years of their trainer's professional career;

Being pokémon registered as emotional support, they were the only ones of the few that remained legally in Isabel's custody after the accident.

Alphonse, the Venusaur (male♂)

Move set: Growth, Sludge Bomb, Giga Drain, Hidden Power, Earthquake, Energy Ball, Gassy Terrain, Vine Whip, Light Screen, Sunny Day

Ability: Chlorophyll (normal), Thick Fat (Mega Evolution)

Alphonse is a pokémon that Isabel got as an egg when she left on her journey, it had been a gift from her paternal grandparents;

When Alphonse was born, he became attached to Isabel thinking that she is his mother;

He used to be one of Isabel's main team pokémon in tournaments and championships;

He is a formidable opponent and still is even though he hasn't been on the battlefield in years;

After the incident he was placed in Kelly's custody and currently he is now a companion pokémon and lives with Isabel in Kelly's house in Motostoke;

He also help tend to the gardens as he enjoys gardening as much as his trainer does.

Eliza, the Dragonair (female♀)

Move set: Rain Dance, Aqua Jet, Attract, Ice beam, Water Pulse, Protect, Draco Meteor, Iron Tail, Fire Blast, Dragon Tail

Ability: Shed Skin

Eliza was a small Dratini who was separated from her herd in a storm at sea and ended up being taken by the waves until she reached the coastal area of ​​the Vermillion city;

The little pokémon wandered through the harbor, being weak without having eaten for days and frightened by the unfamiliar place;

Eliza had sought shelter in a cardboard box in an alley, but was attacked by a pack of Spearow who had their territory in that alley;

Fortunately, Isabel, who was running back to the pokémon center after buying supplies and who was taken by surprise by the storm, passed through the alley;

In a desperate cry of the little dratini caught the attention of Isabel who saw the dragon type pokémon being attacked;

Immediately she sent Dante the honchkrow that easily defeated the trio of spearows allowing the young woman to catch the dratini and take the pokémon to the pokémon center;

The dratini was treated and after a few days a small group of Dragonair and Dragonite had appeared looking for the little dratine;

Isabel was the one who took the dratini back to the group and even though she had become attached to the little pokémon, she had to go back to the group;

That's when the dratini seemed to talk to the others before going back to Isabel and showing that she wanted to stay with her;

This is how the Dratini that received the name Eliza became one of Isabel's pokémon.

Perceus, the Steelix (male♂)

Move set: Stealth Rock, Gyro Ball, Dig, Flash Cannon, Iron Defense, Thunder Fang, Earthquake, Rock smash, Ice Fang, Confide

Ability: Sturdy (normal and mega evolution)

Isabel met Perceus when he was still an onyx who lived peacefully in a mountainous region in a pokémon reserve in the Kanto region along with some others of his kind;

Correction, there lived, therefore, some poachers attacked all the pokémons live in the mountainous area;

He had been attacked and badly wounded just like many of his group;

By Arceus's blessing, Isabel who was passing through the reserve and learning about wild Pokemon from Kanto with the reserve guards;

She was even helping with the patrol in a nearby area and came across the scene of poachers doing their evil deeds;

Isabel had promptly gone to the rescue of the pokémon fighting smuglers;

Arresting the evildoers, she went to the aid of the injured pokémon and treated them;

She provided first aid before receiving support from Officer Jenny and the reserve's forestry team to provide the necessary medical treatment;

After a few days, they were all recovered and ready to return to wild;

Well, there was one that hadn't gone away and when called by the pack he roared as if to say they were going their separate ways;

Perceus' companions understood that onyx wanted to stay with Isabel who was a little surprised before being challenged to a battle;

After an intense battle she managed to catch that onix and welcomed him on the team;

Now days he lives on the ranch helping with security and avoiding internal conflicts between Kelly's pokémon, Isabel's and their trainer's parents as well as wild pokémon.

[stobotnik-is-canon]

(A/N): You know what, I'm in an angst/hurt/comfort mood today, so I think I'm gonna write a self-insert Lego Ninjago Movie story where Cole opens up about his past relationship with his ex-boyfriend. (Sorry, Cole, but I'm putting you through hell today. 😈) Also, I may have gotten this idea from listening to the nightcore version of "Hoodie". 👀

Hoodie (Movie!Cole x S/I)

It was a typical day in Ninjago City. The teacher droned on about algebraic equations, and Cole and Eliza sat in the back, sharing earbuds and not paying any attention to the lesson.

"Ugh," Eliza groaned. "Math is soooo hard and boring!"

Cole nodded in agreement. "Yeah. It sucks that we're probably gonna have a test on it tomorrow."

Then, he looked out the door and noticed someone walk past. He quickly turned his head away with a solemn expression on his face. Eliza noticed this and frowned. "Hey, you okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Cole replied, not making eye contact with her.

Finally, the teacher dismissed everyone, and to no one's surprise, the test was indeed tomorrow. Go figure.

Eliza and Cole walked out of the classroom, and Eliza was infodumping about a new Red Hot Chili Peppers album that was soon to come out. Cole nodded and said "mhm" and "yeah" every couple of sentences with the same look on his face from earlier. Eliza stopped and frowned. "Hey... do you need to talk about... whatever is going on in your head?"

Cole opened his mouth to speak, but then he caught sight of the same guy that passed by the classroom earlier. The guy was laughing with Chen before the two shared a sweet kiss and parted ways. Cole’s face darkened at the sight.

"Cole?" Eliza called, her voice cracking a bit. "Are you okay?"

Cole sighed and said, "See you tomorrow, I guess. Or whatever."

Then, he stormed off. Eliza ran after him. "Wait! Cole! What's wrong? You're scaring me!"

Cole stopped, but he didn't face her. "I can't believe he's with Chen now."

Eliza looked at him with both worry and confusion. "Cole, what the hell are you talking about?"

Cole sighed. "Jesse. He... is my ex. We used to do everything together. We listened to music together, sang together, hell, we swapped hoodies! But things went downhill when I revealed to him that I am the Earth Ninja."

~Flashback~

Jesse and Cole were chatting away, infodumping to each other about their favorite bands, then Cole noticed Garmadon's mech walking towards Jesse. He pushed Jesse out of the way and landed on top of him. Both boys blushed, then Jesse's expression changed into an angry one.

"COLE, WHAT THE HELL?" He shouted.

Then, he turned and saw Garmadon's mech. He looked back to where Cole was only to find that he wasn't there. Then, another mech walked towards Garmadon's, blaring loud rock music. Was that... AC/DC?

Jesse watched in shock as the mech that was blaring music attacked the other mech, the two mechs battling it out. Garmadon's mech walked away afterwards, clearly defeated. Then, a guy with a black GI hopped out of his mech and made his way towards Jesse. "Hey, you okay?" He asked.

Jesse blinked. Wait a minute... the Earth Ninja?!?! He screamed. The Earth Ninja panicked and tried to calm Jesse down.

"Hey, hey, it's okay, it's me!" Then, he pulled off his mask and revealed that he was... Cole?!?!

Jesse blinked again. "Wait, you're the Earth Ninja? AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME?!?!"

"Jesse..." Cole started, but Jesse stopped him.

"Save it. I don't want to hear your bullshit excuses. We're through."

Then, he stormed off and left Cole there.

~Flashback over~

"And ever since that day, we pretty much have been avoiding each other." Cole sighed. "I just can't believe that he has the balls to replace me with that asshat Chen."

"Oh Cole..." Eliza said, engulfing him into a hug. "I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve that."

Cole smiled and hugged her back. "Thank you, Eliza." He planted a kiss on her head and laughed. "I actually still have his hoodie." He sighed. "But I don't know what to do with it. Every time I see it, I think of him, and... and..." His voice got shaky as tears welled up in his eyes.

Eliza smiled comfortingly and gently rubbed his back. "Hey... tell you what, I know a place nearby where you can donate the hoodie. Would you like to do that?"

Cole smiled as his tears started to dry. "Yeah. It's probably for the best. Maybe it's time for me to let go."

Eliza smiled and nuzzled him. "There you go. It's gonna be okay. I'm here for you." She pecked his cheek. "Always."

Cole blushed and smiled. "Alright, let's go get rid of that damn hoodie already."

(A/N): I hope you enjoyed! 😊 This is actually my first self-insert story. Plus, I headcanon Cole as bi, and I wanted to represent that while also giving him an angsty backstory.

[tiarathief]

holy shit. ok while your earlier comment on ao3 made me tear up, this one actually made start crying. you’re so sweet, and i feel so so lucky to know you and have you supporting me. the fact that you shared even more of your thoughts??? i’m a puddle on the floor, i swear

expanding on the world was a goal of mine! i love the show’s worldbuilding, it’s simple yet given a lot of thought and complexity. i always wish we had more of it, so i like to just run with my own ideas and headcanons when i write fanfic so we can see the characters interact with the universe beyond astoria. with seagate’s founding, i honestly have a whole bunch of lore for it (and the five kingdoms as a whole) but it became pretty unnecessary for the fic so i didn’t include it. if you would like to know, in my mind, there’s a lot of back and forth between the mermaids and the pirates (leading to the curse) before there’s eventually some bargaining - and maybe a pirate x mermaid romance but i won’t get into that - and that leads to seagate being founded. anyway, yes, it all comes back to seagate in this because i really wanted that full circle of ending ryker in the home he took from arc, while leaving hope for rebuilding.

i love that you picked up on the progression of the intensity, which really culminates in ryker’s defeat. ciara facing ryker was just a really hard scene to write, especially with the darker tone compared to the show, and i wondered whether i should even keep it in. but it felt necessary - it didn’t feel right to have arc be the only one playing a role in defeating ryker, and ciara needed to have her moment too, especially with how the entire thing with the armor went down and the guilt she carried for ryker finally being able to attack astoria. it also had a lot to do with her being the princess, and not only protecting her kingdom but thinking about seagate too. so the final victory is hers, but you’re also right, it definitely feels somewhat hollow at the end without arc. but it’s okay, i would not kill him off!

AND YESSS TO THE PROGRESSION OF THE KISSES. look. they’re absolute chaotic bi messes. they’re the type to be fully dating without realizing they’re dating. they would keep kissing but also coming up with excuses for why it wasn’t an actual kiss. and it might work the first few times, but at a certain point they are living in delusion. both of them are thinking to themselves “oh but they don’t have feelings for me, they just kissed me like that as a friend.” everyone around them is so tired of their bullshit and maybe 30 seconds away from locking them in a room so they can sort it out. anywayyyy, i’m so glad you thought i captured the other relationships so well! i tried writing the rest of phoenix squad in, but it kept disrupting the flow so much so i just gave up. but i couldn’t not shout them out, and same goes for the king and eliza.

and the ending!!! i am so ridiculously happy you liked it. the soft, pink vibes were everything i wanted, and i thought it might be too cheesy at first but i decided i don’t care, these two deserve it. i'm really happy it had a little mermaid/fairy tale vibe, too :)

anyways, NEVER apologize for a long and rambly post, this means everything to me and i guarantee i will be coming back multiple times just to reread this comment for the next few months 💕

z!!! this is shona, i just saw your comment on best laid plans, and i'll get around to responding on ao3 soon, but i just wanted to tell you it made me tear up. thank you so so much for not just reading but going the extra mile and writing such a wonderful comment AS YOU WERE READING. it actually made my night. you're the best and i am sending you so much love rn

Ah, I’m so glad! While I appreciate your thanks and saying all that, it isn’t really necessary. I think if anyone can understand your plight, of writing for the world’s tiniest fandom(s) which also happen to be dead, it’s me 😅 But, even if that weren’t the case, I’d still leave a comment anyway, because your fic is wonderful, and it deserves all the praise! I actually wish I could’ve given you much more, but I was basically just saying the same thing over and over again, and it got to the point where I was like “alright lemme stop myself before I give them the same paragraph ten times over”. 

But, while we’re here, I’d actually like to say a few more things if that’s okay!

(I’m going to put them under a read more so I don’t spoil anything for any of our mutual friends/followers that might not have had a chance to read yet) 

First, I really love how you expand on this world. Obviously I wish the show would’ve gotten more seasons so they could’ve explored places outside of Astoria, but I appreciate how you develop upon the scraps we were given, like explaining more of Arc’s mermaid side, while also putting limitations on it. Like, yeah, he can breathe underwater and provide Ciara with oxygen, but he’s human enough that it won’t last forever. Also, mentioning Arc being descended from pirates; like I know the show kinda touched on that, but I love how you took it a step further and made it pirates specifically because it just makes so much sense!!! (especially for a place like seagate, that has months like sharktober and crabuary. like, we know seagate was full of thieves but specifying that they were descended from pirates was PERFECT)

On that note, I also love you expanding on the mermaid treasure, and the trident and kinda tying the whole show together with bringing back Ryker. It felt like the perfect way to end that, having Arc and Ciara be a little older, and Arc being willing to sacrifice himself in order to finally put an end to Ryker and all the damage he’s caused. And like, bringing Arc’s goal full circle, with finally getting to avenge Seagate, except now there’s a new layer to it, because this also means protecting the Princess.

Also, like. I cannot even imagine the rage and anguish Ciara must’ve felt when she was desperately searching for Arc on the beach, but found Ryker instead. Like, I just can’t even imagine seemingly losing the love of your life, whom you didn’t even really get to experience “being” with because they didn’t really confess until that life or death moment, but now you’re coming face-to-face with the person that’s caused so much destruction and heartache. Like, the feeling she probably got from finally running Ryker through, but the victory is almost hollow because Arc is still gone. 

Also! I love how things start out kinda light-hearted, but get slowly more intense by the end. The first scene really feels like Arc and Ciara being fresh out of knight school, and still having that confidence that comes along with winning most, if not alI (can’t really remember, it’s been a while since I rewatched the show) of the battles you’ve fought. And the two of them keeping track/competing over how many people they’ve taken out. SO THEM

And!!! The progression of the kisses was so real. Like,I know I kinda said this in the comments, but the first one being an accident, the second one being out of necessity, the third one being a “proper” kiss but not really a kiss, because, yeah, they’re both super into it, but it’s for a mission it clearly means nothing. And then. AND THEN!!!! Arc is ready to sacrifice himself, and he has this calmness about him despite knowing he’s about to die because this is just. It’s the only option, and he’s going to do what’s necessary because that’s really who they both are at their cores, but he just HAS to tell Ciara how he feels before he goes, and her just. Kissing him, the two of them kissing as if this might be the very last time. I’M AN INCOHERENT MESS ALL OVER AGAIN.

ALSO!! I know this fic is basically just Tiara Thief, but you perfectly captured Ciara’s other relationships in that final scene. (like wishing warwick was there with healing spells, or prudy to carry him, or sage to snark that he’s just taking his time waking up, etc etc. It was so perfectly reflective of her relationship with each of them.) Really, the TALENT that you possess like. Can you save some for the rest of us, thanks 

And finally, I will reiterate that the final scene is PERFECT. Idk if it’s because childhood me was obsessed with the little mermaid alskdjf but Ciara getting Arc back and he wakes up and he’s alive!! And now they’ve finally confessed how they feel, and they’re exhausted from battle and all the emotions, but they’re together and the sun is rising and it’s all pink and pretty and AHHH!!! PERFECT MOMENT PERFECT MOMENT!!! 

anyway. sorry this was long and rambley, but I really needed you to know these things. 💖

[adrianasunderworld]

I have a terrible plan for defeating the ghost bride that I like to call “Operation Homewrecker.” It hinges on convincing the bride that Idia can’t be married because he’s already taken by the Prefect.

If Idia is so perfect then of course he would have a partner already and now it’s the Prefect’s job to prove that Idia and them are so very in love and that the bride is an interloper. The entire plan is meant to be played out like something straight out of one of Lilia’s dramas, full of embellishments that leave Idia himself more and more confused. Ortho photoshops pictures at speeds unseen by the average person. Idia is almost convinced of their fake relationship himself.

Bonus comedy points if Idia and the Prefect have never spoken to each other before.

Extra bonus comedy points if, despite being strangers, the Prefect claims that Idia and them have a child together and that the bride is ripping a family apart.

There is no contingency plan for if Eliza opts to attack the prefect. Nor a goal to get the ring on her hand. Essentially everyone is hoping is that she’ll become someone else’s problem, somewhere else.

You know what? That plan sounds like an absolute trainwreck, and I love it. The theatrics. The drama. The spice. The plan is fuck around and find out.

Imagine all the boys that are stuck, Eliza, Idia, all the ghost attendants, hear a commotion outside the cafeteria and in storms the prefect looking like and complete wreck with Ortho in tow. Clothes disheveled, mascara down the face as if they had been bawling their eyes out.

They point at Eliza. "You Homewrecker!"

"I beg your pardon?!"

"You heard me! How dare you take my husband!" They flash a ring on their finger. "Idia and I are married, or do trollops like you not care? We have a child and everything!"

"Ghost lady, why did you take my papa away?" Ortho fake sobs so loud it hurts everyone's ears.

Its a spectacle.

If Eliza does beat their ass and freezes them, at least it was worth it. Give them an Oscar for the performance.

[chaotic-super]

False Memories

Prompt: Based on something I saw on twitter about Kara losing her memory and assuming that Lena and her must have gotten together because of the way Lena treats her.

Is she underwater? Kara isn’t sure.

All of her senses are blocked, like she has cotton wool stiffed into her ears, nose, mouth, everything. Even the prospect of trying to move seems impossible, a distant lingering desire that is unattainable.

The first of her senses to clear is her sense of smell. Whatever scent is invading her nostrils, it needs to stop it because it makes her need to flinch away and to squeeze her nostrils shut with a pincer grip of her forefinger and her thumb. It’s awful, maybe a mix of bleach and some other citrus wannabe.

It’s familiar in a way she can’t place. In her mind, she can reach out and find the answer but with every inch her fingertips gain, the answer is tugged away from her, just out of reach.

Then, her eardrums are assaulted by a rhythmic beeping that cuts right through her forehead and blossoms into a cloud of raw pain. She’s had headaches before, but this is an absolute whopper that has no signs of dissipating any time soon.

With a lot of effort and force, she manages to open her eyes the tiniest amount and immediately regrets it when she is blinded by an obnoxiously bright light. Her beautiful blue eyes combat the bright attacker for a second before admitting defeat.

The movement has gained the attention of someone sitting vigilantly at her bedside. Kara can tell because the scrape of the chair against the floor cuts through the room sharply and her name is echoed out. It hurts but she just doesn’t have it in her to care.

“Kara!” She recognises that voice. Alex.

She tries to open her eyes again and this time, Alex’s form looming over her bedside blocks the light from blinding her. It takes a moment, but she can see the relief in Alex’s eyes before anything else.

“Can you hear me? Kara?” It clicks in her head that Alex has been talking to her when her brow furrows deeply and worry lines spread across her face like a wildfire.

Kara turns her head to the side with the grace of a new born giraffe and groans. “Uhhh.”

“Good afternoon, sunshine.” Alex is willing to take that as a sign of life. Hell, it is more than she used to get when they were teenagers and Eliza tasked her with waking Kara up for school.

Her eyelids are peeled open with practiced hands and a little torch shone right into her poor, exposed eyeballs. That gives Kara the strength she needs to lift an arm so she can push Alex away from her. “Stop.”

To Read 'False Memories' early click here!

[fu-aki]

So this is going to be my attempt to summarize the newest episodes of the ghost marriage event (episode 14 to 24) of twisted wonderland. Part 1

Again, spoiler alert since I’m about to write out everything that happened, and I apologize for my grammar in advance.

 You asked Ruggie if he would help -> he refused since Leona can just come back himself and he refuse to work for nothing -> you asked Jamil -> He refused, and he don’t allow Kalim to go either, if something happened to Kalim his whole family would be in danger -> you asked Silver -> He can’t go since he have to guard Malleus -> in the end, the ones volunteered to help are Rook, Epel, and Riddle -> Riddle helped because rule number 703 “the 2nd place in croquet has to make tea for the queen in the next day” -> Cater was the 2nd place from yesterday’s game -> so Riddle has to rescue him before today ends -> after a few “it’s fine we don’t need a useless coward” from Riddle, Ace decided to help too -> to perfect the plan, they went to Sam’s shop and got suits and bouquet -> both are enchanted by magic to help them

3 hours left till wedding -> Epel was late -> he showed up while riding a white horse so he looks more prince like -> the ghost ask them to say their proposal to show their seriousness -> Epel is up first

Epel: I will… definitely make the bride happy.

Epel: because I am the prince charming who will always rescue my beloved, no matter where they are! I will never give up no matter what kind of difficulties I face along the way. I will protect you from all harms. I shall be, the prince that matches the princess! Please, marry me!

-> next up is Ace

Ace: if you married me, everyday will be a happy day.

Ace: since we will be together forever, arguments might be unavoidable… but I will always be the person to apologize first. I will be with you for the worse or poorer times, and always put a smile on your face.

Ace: I will the prince that matches the princess, so…

Ace: don’t look the other way. Marry me please!

->next up is Riddle

Riddle: I will swear my loyalty, I promise for a future where I never harm or doubt you for any seconds.

Riddle: if it is for my beloved, I will do anything this body can do.

Riddle: so please… won’t you pick me as your spouse?

->next up is Rook

Rook: ---- beautiful you. Please make me your slave of love forever.

Rook: to think you are trapped in loneliness for hundreds of years, I want to give a poem to you.

Rook: ah! the princess of tragedy! I want to warm your cold cheek.

For how long have you drown in tears.

Those eyes, are blinded by it and weren’t even able to see happiness.

I will gentle cover it with my palm. Now you should be able to see it, yes, this is true love.

I shall light the lantern of hope, inside those lapis colored eyes.

->Ace commented how he felt embarrassed just by listen to it -> Riddle realized that connect the first word of every line you will get “I love you” (in original Japanese text) -> Grim commented how everyone in Pomefiore are pretty weird -> Epel “d,don’t lump me together with that!”

Rook is about to start another poem but the ghost said it’s enough -> but then he commented how they are still kind of short ->

Riddle got really upset, he used his unique magic and then burned the ghost up ->but it attracted other ghosts’ attention and they started to attack them -> Epel let the horse back so it won’t get injured -> so they decided to just run into the wedding hall instead -> in hallway, they were attacked by many ghosts, so Riddle decided to stay behind to stall the ghosts

 In wedding hall -> Idia “ ‘Idia used fled’ ‘it’s not effective since he’s stunned’ …some healer please help! I do not have debuff clear skill!” -> a ghost runs in and said some people are trying to forcibly enter -> Jack “in the end they used brute force after all!” -> Azul “who said the plan was to steal the bride’s heart in the beginning again?” -> Cater “I bet 1 bread, that Riddle is the one that got upset first.” -> Floyd “aha, I can see that—then I’ll bet 2 bread on the same side~” -> Jade “that won’t be a bet anymore.” -> Cater “that’s true~!” -> everyone “hahahahaha.” -> Idia “my life is on the line and you can still laugh and talk?!” -> the ghost swear they won’t let intruders to ruin the wedding after princess wished for it for so long.

 On stairway -> more ghosts showed up, and Rook decided to stay behind this time -> Ace is worried -> Epel told him to look at Rook’s expression ->

Rook “I’ve always been wondering how you can hunt ghosts! They don’t seem to have a body, so maybe I can freeze them with magic? Or are they more like fog? Can I put them in a bottle? Ah my hunter blood is boiling for those unknown preys…!” -> ghosts “s… stay away from me!” -> Ace “…he looks like he’s having fun.” ->

 In wedding ceremony -> the ghosts started the wedding vow, but they are so touched that they started crying -> Deuce “we need to stop this somehow!” -> Sebek “but we still can’t move our body!” -> Floyd “I’m tired.” -> Floyd “we can go home if she kissed firefly squid senpai right? Hurry up and do it~~” -> Lilia “he’s right, my back hurts after stand in same position for so long. Just hurry up and give her a smooch.” -> Sebek “Lilia sama has said it! Hurry up and give her the ‘smooch’!” -> Idia “smooch! …If I did that I will die! Are you all demons? Do you not have a human heart? Is this an exhibition for ruthlessness??!?!??”

 Outside -> many ghosts showed in front of Ace Epel again -> Epel stepped up -> but the ghosts aren’t attacking him -> ghost “you are the neighboring country’s princess right? Are you here to attend the wedding?” -> ghost “oh princess, please stay away from that violent intruder! Hurry up and come here…” -> Epel “who…”

Epel “WHO ARE YOU CALLING A PRINCESS--------!!!!!” -> Epel stayed behind to fight the ghosts

 In wedding ceremony -> everyone “kiss! Ki--------ss!!” -> Idia “STOP THE CALLING!!!” -> Lilia “we can’t move anything but our mouth, can’t really do anything and we are bored.” -> Eliza(the ghost princess) “ah, it’s almost midnight… the time for the kiss! After that, I will be forever with Idia in the land of the dead. I, could finally be happy…!” -> “WAIT A SECOND----------!!!!” -> it was Ace -> many ghosts started to attack him and ask the princess to kiss Idia now to finish the wedding -> Idia refuse -> Ace “look at Idia. He hated it so much and is moving every muscle on his face to avoid it. You guys all know your princess made a mistake right!” ->

ghosts “…it was all for the princess. She was so kind and bright, every citizen wishes her the best future, but… suddenly the neighboring country attacked, and everything is gone in one night. We weren’t able to protect her, but the princess never blamed us and she’s always smiling and saying ‘it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. I’m sure someday…’, but there’s no way that she’s fine! Waiting for a prince for 500 years, I can’t imagine how many times have she despaired. We just want to grant 1 single wish of our favorite princess. Our… most important, poor, princess.” -> (player choice: “but you are only increasing the number of poor people.” / “but it’s not good to bother other people.”) -> Ace “haha! MC is right. Besides, there’s no way princess’s ‘perfect prince’ exist. All of you ghosts are just feeding her false hope and made her look for someone that don’t exist for 500 years. I feel like I’ve seen this situation before but… if you feel so bad for her and treat her like glass, that is not consideration at all! You are just having fun while avoid to facing her!” -> Trey “that kind of hurts…” -> Cater “ahaha-…” -> Ace “teach the princess properly! Most important thing about the groom isn’t the look.” -> Eliza “then… how am I supposed to pick the prince beside the look?” -> Ace “I told you, don’t think ‘prince’ as a must. The perfect spouse should be…”

Ace “The person you want to cry and laugh together, the person you want to be together no matter the hard time … someone like that. Don’t make me say something so embarrassing!”

Ace “no one around teaches her something as simple as that? even though you have been with her for 500 years… you basically did nothing for her!” -> Riddle, Rook, and Epel finally showed up. -> Deuce “dorm leader, you are here to save us right! Thank you so…” -> Riddle “Cater! What time is it!?” -> Cater “eh? Emm… the clock said it’s 23:35.” -> Riddle “there’s no time… we have to defeat the ghosts now!” -> Cater “what? What was that?” -> the ghosts are hesitating -> Rook “there’s still time to change now, you don’t want your most important madame angel to become a bad ghost that killed someone right?” -> Eliza “bad ghost? …is he talking about me? I didn’t want to become a bad ghost… I just…!” -> Chubby (one of the ghost) “there’s no need to listen. Princess. You did nothing wrong.” -> Eliza “Chubby…” -> Epel “do you still not understand your own mistakes!?” -> Chubby “mistakes, whatever, I don’t mind. I just want to make the princess happy no matter what. That is my regret… and my wish!” -> Chubby started gained more power -> Rook “this is bad, everyone, get to somewhere safe!” -> Vil “didn’t I told you that we can’t move.” -> Rook “ah that’s right, then… Epel! MC! Roll everyone away like a log!” -> Epel “understood!” -> rolling time -> fighting time

 Chubby is defeated, and everyone is planning to put the ring of extinction on Eliza -> Ace “now, what’s your last word? You can say farewell to your beloved Idia…” ->

the princess runs to Chubby -> Eliza “Chubby… to think you would protect me from bad guys, and become injured like this…” -> Ace “bad guys? …is she talking about us!?” -> Chubby “princess, there’s no need to be sad. It’s my happiness to see your smile…” -> Chubby starts to disappear -> Eliza “no… no, please don’t go! I was able to chase my dreams because of your kind encouragement. I need you! Ah… that’s right. I finally understand it now. My real prince is… Chubby, you!” -> Chubby “Princess… Eliza. Me too, I’ve always adored you ever since I was alive.” -> Eliza “Chubby… I love you.” -> she gives him a kiss -> all of his injures are healed -> Eliza “it’s definitely the power of love!” -> Ace “eh…? What…? What is this? Am I the only one that’s not following this at all?” -> Riddle “no matter how you look we are the bad guy now…” -> Eliza apologized to Idia and announced she’s going to marry her real true love, Chubby -> Idia “why do I feel like I’m dumped even though I was never even confessed!?” -> everyone can move now -> Riddle and Cater runs back to dorm to make tea -> Ace “well, isn’t this great. We don’t need to force you to the other world.” -> Eliza “Yes, after this we are going to our honeymoon.” -> Ortho “it will finally be peaceful in here.” -> Idia “ah—this is too much. Honestly too much, I think I’m going to have ghostphobia.” -> Eliza “next year we will be back with a cute baby, I can’t wait!” -> everyone “don’t come back again--------!!!!”

 The ghosts all disappeared

Crowley: today really was a tough day. But at least, the trouble is solve…

Rook: wait a second, headmaster.

Rook: isn’t here something else that is much more fitting for this story?

Crowley: that is true, ahem…

Crowley: the two lived happily ever after.

Honestly though this event is real fun, nice fan service in the middle with the proposal, and the interaction of everyone who got slapped and Idia is just way too funny. The little twist is also fun with princess and Chubby... honestly is his name actually chubby? I couldn’t believe it at first but that’s the only word I could think of that sounds like チャビー

Tbh I tried to change around Rook’s poem so it works in English but then I realized that I would have to start sentences with letters like v,e,u so small brain me decided to just translate it literally instead

[olivia-anderson-fanfic]

Satisfied, Part 19

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~~~

She sighed as she sat on the rooftop, swinging her legs as she waited for something to happen.

It felt weird to be back in full costume. In contrast with her now usual spandex, her outfit was a black swing-style dress with white tights.  She ran her fingers through her new curls. They were magically swept to the side and stretched to her waist, where her lasso resided (it was the closest she could get to her yoyo without raising some eyebrows).

Her earpiece buzzed and she sighed as she clicked it on.

“-- don’t see why I have to be beaten up,” complained Robin.

She grinned and pressed a hand to her ear. “Because you’re the only one I don’t like. It’s most believable.”

“And because you promised that you wouldn’t hurt him too badly,” Batman warned.

“That too,” she agreed with a vague wave of her hand.

“If you don’t adopt her, I will, Bats,” said Red Hood.

She groaned. “I’m not getting --.”

“Shut up! All of you!” Hissed Robin.

There was a click in her ear, telling her that he had changed his earpiece setting. Now they could hear everything he could, including the light patter of his feet. There was a crunching sound as he hit the ground.

“Come on, Harley, you know I don’t want to have to arrest you.”

“Well, you don’t have to.”

Robin sighed. “Harley... just give the grocers back their things. Or pay for them.”

Ah, the grocers. She hopped a few buildings over and started making her way around the rim, poking her head over to try and find them.

“Not gonna do that.”

“I know,” he said with a quiet groan.

There. She rested her head on her arms as she watched Harley charge him. It was clear from the first few seconds of watching them that Damian had to have some sort of soft spot for the woman, because he wasn’t even trying to really punch back. Instead, he was dodging her attacks and ducking around her to grab the groceries she had dropped.

She snickered.

“Aw, how sweet,” she said on the intercoms, then snickered when his face hardened.

She waited until he had mostly picked up everything to jump down on the side opposite Harley. Both of them paused when they saw her, she could see the woman looking her up and down with a shockingly sharp look in her eyes, and then Damian sent her a glare.

“Move,” he said, and she was 99% sure he was deepening his voice for this. She suppressed a laugh.

“Really?” she asked, leaning into her accent a little. She gave a small shrug. “If you say so.”

Marinette unhooked her lasso and lunged for him. “Miss, do you have any eggs or other fffffff-- I forgot the word! It starts with an F!” She called.

She jumped out of the way of a punch. Ah, so he was actually going to put some force into his attacks. How rude.

Harley went to checking the last few bags on the ground, then held up a carton of eggs. “I’m good, hon!”

She grinned. “Convenient.” She lassoed Robin’s foot on his next kick and pulled tight, holding his leg up at an awkward angle. “You know, amateurs are usually the ones who choreograph their moves like this,” she teased.

“You --!” Whatever curse he was going to throw at her was cut off when she let go, making him wobble uncertainly for a few steps before catching his footing.

“No fun. Try again.”

She could see his face redden with anger behind his mask. He dropped the bags to the ground and made a grab for her lasso that she had to roll to avoid.

So he’d had the decency to hold back before. Hm.

She whipped around just in time to feel a fist connect with her cheek. She stumbled back a step in shock. Then she ducked a new attack and went for his legs.

He jumped around her and sent a kick to the back of her own, sending her to the ground.

She was forced to do an awkward backroll when he attempted to jump on her. Her leg came up to kick him in the jaw. He sprang forward to let her kick him in the stomach. She thought this a weird way to throw the match until his hand locked around her wrist. In seconds he had twisted her onto her stomach, arm pressed to her back.

She groaned and tried scooting up slightly to try and lessen the pain, but he followed.

“No fun. Try again,” he teased.

He dropped her arm and stood up, dusting off his knees where they’d skid on the ground.

She glanced at Harley, who was taking her sweet time grabbing her things while she watched them fight. Great.

She turned herself over and sent him a glare, pushing herself to her feet.

Then, she broke into a grin. “That was a bad move, Robin,” she cooed. She flashed him finger guns and a portal opened under his feet.

His eyes widened in a mix of fear and surprise as he fell through the air. She had dropped him from pretty high up under the pretenses of trying to kill him, but really she was just giving him time to get out his grappling hook. And he did.

But then it hooked around the hand she’d flashed the signal with. And she was falling.

She screamed as they crashed together. “WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WHY DID YOU THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA --.”

“IM WORKING ON IT!” He yelled back, his eyes just as panicked as hers. He was unhooking his grapple gun from her wrist, but it would take too much time for him to aim.

She opened a new portal under them and tumbled at awkward angles, bodies skidding against the concrete. Her chin knocked against the ground as she finally slid to a stop, stars dancing in front of her eyes. Bile built up in the back of her throat, but forced herself to sit up.

Robin was doing worse. Once their bodies had split off, he’d knocked his head on the edge of a pothole. He groaned, his face in a puddle.

She unhooked her lasso and bound his hands and feet, glaring, then flipped him onto his back. His eyes were unfocused, but they were starting to clear.

The first thing he managed to truly see was her scowling face.

“We could have died!”

“I wouldn’t have. The plan was to use you as a cushion even if you couldn’t do another one of those portal things.”

She scoffed and gave him a kick to the side, then looked back. Harley had grabbed her last bag. Finally.

“Thanks, kiddo!” Called Harley as she ducked out of the alley.

She grinned as she waited a few minutes to let her leave. “Mmmmm, good luck finding her,” she cooed, untying her lasso. She took a portal back onto the rooftop. She walked to the side where Harley had disappeared.

As she suspected, the woman had been watching to see how they interacted when she was gone. She left now, an unreadable smile on her face.

Marinette relaxed a little and made a new portal to the rooftop where they had agreed to meet. She grinned when she realized she had managed to get behind the bat family.

Never one to waste an opportunity, she smiled and pressed a hand to her ear.

“Look behind you!” She whispered fearfully.

Instantly, the three whipped around with their hands flying to their weapons. They only relaxed slightly when they realized it was her.

“Can you not sneak up on us?” Complained Nightwing. “I’m going to have a heart attack!”

She grinned. “Sure, old man.”

Red Hood snickered. “If he’s old, then Bats must be ancient.”

She opened her mouth to answer, then caught the look on the vigilante’s face and quickly looked away with a grin playing at her lips.

“So, who’s a better fighter?” Asked Red Hood after a bit.

She grinned. “I won.”

“Only because you cheated,” complained Robin as he jumped onto the rooftop. He was nursing his head, where there was definitely a bruise forming.

She rested a hand over her cheek, sure she had one to match. “And you nearly got us killed.”

“You almost killed me.”

“No! You would have been fine.”

He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.

She huffed and turned back to the rest. She saw Nightwing looking her outfit up and down suspiciously and raised her eyebrows. “What?”

“Why is this outfit more intricate than your normal one?”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “Because I was intending to make it look like a coincidence that I showed up here right after the Ladybug in Paris defeated Hawkmoth,” she lied. Because all good partnerships are built on lies.

He frowned and looked suspicious, but there was no way to prove she was being dishonest, so he changed the subject: “How do you think it went?”

“Couldn’t tell. She has a good poker face,” she admitted.

Robin shrugged as well.

With little information to report, they broke off. Eventually, it was just her and Red Hood, alone on the rooftop.

He handed her a small pistol. She raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“I think it matches your outfit best!” He defended his choice.

She rolled her eyes and a holster materialized itself on the side of her dress. She checked the safety and put it in. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

~~~

Taglist

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[rubbarband]

"Still a little scared but not as much as I used to be." Des looked out towards it, with a sober look, almost nostalgic as he turned back towards her.

"There was something scarier than the ocean, almost losing someone." Des tapped his forehead thinking of yeah this was a handful of years before she knew him. "Me, Eliza, Cousin mel and my baby sister came here to help watch over the beach, not many lifeguards at the time- this was after the recent defeat of King and the chess pieces. People were still a bit scared to come out. So we volunteered and Mel was watching my sister- she was still very young. I don't blame here, but there were alot of villains trying to fill the void."

He faced the sea again, just as if checking just in case, or reliving the memory. "At the time me and Eliza were really close, we wanted to get together and it was like my sister was a practice kid. Traffickers tried to take her and it drove me mad- if you dive below a mile out you'll find the ship out there they tried to use to get away...I had a panic attack and was so scared till she yelled my name- swam out there and turned giant and grabbed the freighter- Eliza did alot of damage too." He sighed placing his hands behind his head.

"You were scared of the ocean?" Izuka asked with a smile, she had gotten people used to staring at her so she paid no mind to the crowed at all. Going with Des as they went further into the beach. "What helped get over the fear?"