#I KNOW XOTIS HAND IS TOO SMALL

[perenians]

i. should finish this at some point. and draw in serafen and tekehu...maybe i'll redo the whole thing even

[queen-scribbles]

"22. falling asleep on the other’s shoulder" for Emiri?

Sand

(another entry for the "Kana joins Emiri's crew" AU, and fic-length pining and sweetness ahoy!)

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The soft crunch of footsteps on the sound alerted Emiri to approaching company. She stifled a sigh. It was hard enough to get a moment truly alone on the ship; she’d really been hoping for some uninterrupted solitude while they were ashore to resupply. Apparently, halfway down a beach in the middle of the night wasn’t even going to do the trick.

“Emiri? Is something wrong?” Kana. His gentle baritone had her toes curling in the sand.

“No more than usual,” she said softly, her chin pressing drawn-up knees as she stared out to where the Mercy bobbed offshore.  “Just trying to clear my head.”

He gave a small chuckle. “If I may, this seems an odd location, given your feelings on the sea.”

Emiri snorted. “You’re not wrong.” Crashing surf did nothing to soothe her as it did for some. “Only place to get away from the chatter of camp.”

Kana hummed in understanding. “Then I shall leave-”

“No.” Emiri turned his way, thoughts tripping a little over the worry that had been too fast, too raw. “I- You don’t have to.”

His smile at that lit his whole face. “As long as you’re sure? I’d hate to intrude, just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”

“‘Preciate it,” she said. “And I’m sure. I... don’t mind your chatter.”

That made him chuckle again as he joined her. He was barefoot like her, she noted, and had his trousers rolled to midcalf so they didn’t drag in the sand. He sat close enough she could feel the warmth of his presence but a courteous, narrow gap remained between their shoulders. 

Kana was silent for several minutes--impressive for him--listening to the ocean and letting her sort her thoughts before he spoke. “Is it something particular bothering you, Emiri? Any trouble we can help assuage?”

Emiri smiled as she shook her head. “Nothing. Just... everything.” She cringed a little at how nonsensical that sounded, but he seemed to take her meaning, so she rolled on. “I’m trying to help so many people, Kana. My friends, kith I’ve met here...” she started tracing patterns in the sand between them. “The gods themselves.”

“It is a lot to carry,” he said softly, doodling a sun and waves near her own random lines. “You know we’re always ready to help.”

She nodded. “I know. I’m lucky in my friends.” From Edér digging her out of her wrecked fortress and chasing his god for her without hesitation and Aloth gently cleaning glass shards from her feet after a god-chat, to Xoti shyly offering a lantern as nightlight if she wanted and Kana’s own impulsive detour from his planned journey to join her, she was very lucky in her friends. “Some of it only I can do, though.” She flashed a wobbly attempt at a smile. “Figures that now I don’t have nightmares and memories keeping me from sleep, the anxiety of what’s riding on me has stepped in to fill the gap.”

Kana cocked his head at her. “You aren’t sleeping again?” His fingers stilled in the sand.

“Most nights are fine,” Emiri said hastily. “But there have been a few recently where I couldn’t stop thinking about... everything.”

He offered a sympathetic smile. “Responsibilities more numerous than the sand?”

She exhaled a soft, wry chuckle. “Feels like it sometimes. And it’s not just the length of the list, it’s figuring how to prioritize them. What can we take care of on the way to a ‘bigger’ problem? What do we need to look into before a lead dries up or danger strikes? And looming over all of it is the gods’ charge to stop Eothas.” She hesitated, shoving her toes deeper into the sand as she whispered, “Even if part of me wants to let him, after what...”

She let the words trail off but could feel his gaze on her as she stared at her sand-dusted feet. Considering the implication of her words, what to say in response.

“Aloth mentioned it was bad,” he finally murmured, resting a hand on her arm. “He also said the details were yours to share if you chose.”

Of course he did. A small, grateful smile tugged Emiri’s lips, even as a breeze tugged at her hair. But this was Kana. “The godlike... we’re not just marked by the gods.” She sighed, the soft glow of her crescent dimming slightly. “We hold a small piece of them, their essence, in our soul. If... if they feel the need, to face a threat” --like Eothas--”they can... reclaim that essence to boost their power, and, well.” She dug a harsh, narrow line through the sand. “There’s a lot of us.”

Kana squeezed her hand. She hadn’t noticed his drifting down her arm, fingers intertwining with hers as she spoke. The gentle pressure made her heart skip a beat. “With dire consequences for the godlike, I take it?”

“Consumed in the process,” Emiri confirmed through gritted teeth, the same anger as the initial revelation beginning to spark in her gut. Her free hand dug into the beach. “They don’t care, it’s a necessary step for the greater good, no matter how many die.” She flicked her hand up, scattering grains the breeze carried away. “We’re sand to them, Kana. Miniscule and beneath their concern no matter how numerous. A small sacrifice to burn thousands of us if the resulting slag of glass makes a useful weapon.”

Her chest ached as the festering words spilled forth. Berath’s Chime reacting to the bitter sentiment, maybe. Her own disappointment the gods were the same now as when she’d cried for help and been met with silence. She hadn’t brought this up with anyone; not Aloth, not Edér, no one. And maybe it was unfair to dump on Kana when they were getting ready to part ways. The thought stirred a fresh ache in her chest.

“Emiri.” Kana squeezed her hand again, more firmly this time. “That is indeed a terrible burden for you to shoulder.”

She gave him an apologetic look, trying to smile. “Sorry for putting it on you...” she mumbled, staring at the ground as the breeze picked up.

“I feel I should be apologizing,” he said, just as quiet, “for not being there to support you when you first... learned.”

“Well, it was the middle of the night.” Emiri gave a wobbly laugh, shaking sand off her fingers so she could attempt brushing loose hair out of her face. “And I know you sleep like a rock. Aloth helped. And I needed time to work through it before talking with anyone else.” She sighed. “I’m just tired, Kana. Tired of restless nights, tired of impossible demands, tired of everything being on me, tired of always being a resource.”

The gods were no better than her former pirate masters in that regard.

“You aren’t,” Kana said, tone more serious and firm than she could remember ever hearing from him. He turned to face her, gently interposing his hand to brush sand off her temple and tuck her hair back for her. “Not to us. To us you are a marvel of kindness and caring and strength born of a life harder than any should have to endure. You are creative” --his thumb dipped back from where their hands were still clasped to brush one of her bracelets--”and determined, and have a sweet tooth to rival my own.” He winked, barely visible in the glow of her crescent. “Along with a fondness for all things fluffy, furred, scaled, or quilled.”

Emiri managed a shaky smile in answer to his lightening tone. “But not feathered.”

Kana chucked and squeezed her hand. “Yes, you have the good sense to make that exception.”

She actually giggled. “What is with you and your sister’s bird, anyway?”

“A tale for another evening,” he demurred, shifting in the sand, and she wasn’t sure if the deflection was embarrassment or concern for her. A beat, then, “Your friends all love you, Emiri. We’re always grateful for your willingness to help when we need, but are more than happy to return the favor.”

“I know.” She let her head rest against his shoulder. “My problems just always seem to be so... big.”

“Do I need to remind you the effort you put forth helping me find the Tanvii ora toa?” Kana asked with a wry laugh.

“Chasing a god across half the known world feels a little bigger,” Emiri retorted lightly. They lapsed into silence, and the weariness she’d thought a background issue started tugging more insistently. “I don’t really mean it, you know,” she said around a small yawn. “‘bout not stopping Eothas. Might be tempting, but whatever I think about the gods, I do worry about the fallout for kith...”

Kana hummed an acknowledgement. “You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t. And that’s why we follow, why we trust your judgement. B’cause you are you. And no matter how much a god tries to siphon from your soul, that still shines through.”

She gave his hand a light squeeze. “Thanks, Kana.”

Part of her thought about rousing enough to go find a real bed if she was finally going to sleep. But the languor was settling in, she was surprisingly comfortable, and Kana didn’t seem to mind. He was humming a sea shanty as she drifted off, their hands still loosely tangled together. 

He let her sleep til the tide came in, roused her with an apologetic smile, swept her up in his arms when shifting sand and lingering exhaustion made her stumble. Emiri mumbled half-asleep protest when his first steps staggered, but Kana shushed her as he found his footing and headed back toward--she assumed--their friends.

She had enough time to think ‘far be it from me to protest’ before sleep came for her again.

Her last thought before succumbing, however, was that the sand still clinging to her would be a pain to get out of her sheets.

[lunarowena]

7 for Cal on the hug prompts?

7. Tired hug 

-

Cal doesn’t hear the knocking at her cabin door at first. Her vision blurs as she stares at the papers on her desk. Her notes, trying to make sense of the situation. Trying to find the right answer. There is no right answer.

The door creaks open. “Cal?” Xoti asks softly.

Cal gestures her in, unspeaking. She should say something. Xoti deserves that from her. But Xoti has always had a way of getting her to actually speak.

Xoti closes the length of the small room and places her hand on Cal’s shoulder. Cal leans into the physical touch, a rare moment where she is not separated by her plate armor. Although less and less rare with Xoti these days.

Xoti squeezes her shoulder. “Nobody’s seen much of you recently, and everybody’s been worried…”

“And they nominated you to check that I was still breathing?”

“Well, we occasionally hear you swearing so we know you’re still breathing. I was sent to see if you were alright.”

“No,” Cal says bluntly.

There’s silence and Xoti stands, waiting.

Cal leans forward on the desk, resting her head in her hands. “It’s all fucked up, Xo.”

“I know,” Xoti says quietly.

“The Huana, the Vailians, the Rauatai… I’m going to have to kill someone.” Cal runs her fingers through her hair. “I have to get to Ukaizo, and I’m going to have to kill someone to get there.” She takes in a ragged breath. “And I have to decide who deserves to die.”

“You are the Chosen of Berath.”

“When I decided to follow Berath, I didn’t realize how much death I would be the cause of.” Cal laces her fingers through Xoti’s. “I’m so… I’m so tired of killing people.”

Xoti pulls Cal up, drawing her into a hug. Cal breathes deeply as she buries her face in Xoti’s hair.

“You’re not alone. We’re all here with you.”

Cal doesn’t say anything. She doesn’t need to be reminded of the blood she’s placing on Xoti’s hands, too. But right now she holds Xoti tightly, trying to pretend she can just be young and in love. Pretending that the Deadfire and her god don’t expect her to be their judge, jury, and executioner.

hug prompts

[dragonologist-phd]

If The Creeks Don’t Rise Ch 11- Like Fools

The Suncatcher reached the island just ahead of the brewing storm. Engrim managed to find a secure place to moor, where they would be out of reach of the worst of the weather; even so, by the time they’d landed the sky was dark and carried the promise of a heavy rain. The crew was ready to bunker down for the night and no longer needed their Captain’s orders, but with most of them taking shelter below deck it was still difficult for Desta to get a moment to herself- let alone a private moment with Aloth.

Read Below or on AO3

The Suncatcher reached the island just ahead of the brewing storm. Engrim managed to find a secure place to moor, where they would be out of reach of the worst of the weather; even so, by the time they’d landed the sky was dark and carried the promise of a heavy rain. The crew was ready to bunker down for the night and no longer needed their Captain’s orders, but with most of them taking shelter below deck it was still difficult for Desta to get a moment to herself- let alone a private moment with Aloth.

She’d tried talking to him, but all too quickly they’d been joined by more of their companions, all looking for a space to sit while they waited out the weather. For a moment, Desta considered retreating to her cabin; it was one place she was fairly certain they could have some privacy. But that had its own set of issues- she didn’t want to scare Aloth off with an invitation like that, and people would certainly notice the both of them entering her quarters. Not to mention that with Serafen around, even a closed door didn’t guarantee their conversation wouldn’t be overheard.

For once, Desta just wanted to take her time and do something right. And she didn’t think they could do that on the ship.

Aloth seemed to thinking the same thing. Desta was still trying to think of a way to continue their interrupted talk when he cleared his throat and said “Excuse me, Desta, but while we’re here, I believe it would be prudent to restock on our supplies. Last I checked, it seemed were low on… uh, on fruit.”

His comment earned a few odd looks from the others, but Desta bounced to her feet and clapped her hands together. “Oh! Yes, now that you mention it, we really do need more fruit! I’m positive there are fruit trees on this island- we should go collect some.”

“More fruit?” Xoti’s voice was incredulous. “It’s gonna be pouring cats and dogs any minute. Can’t it wait until morning?”

“Fruit is important!” Desta replied. “We can’t have the crew getting scurvy, can we? Don’t worry, Aloth and I will go and we’ll be back before you know it!”

Xoti opened her mouth to respond, but was stopped by Maia elbowing her in the side and motioning with her head towards Desta and Aloth. Desta pretended not to notice Maia’s knowing smirk as she turned for the stairs, with Aloth following close behind.

Desta gave the sky a cursory glance as they disembarked. Lightning flashed in the distance, but so long as the storm stayed on course the worse they would get should be rain and a cold wind. A small price to pay for some quiet, she decided.

Now that they were away from others, it was difficult to know what to say. Desta glanced at Aloth, who was intently studying the clouds in the distance, and smiled at the familiar sight of his furrowed brow.

“So…fruit?” she prompted, wearing a poorly-concealed grin.

Her comment broke Aloth’s reverie, and he gave a sheepish chuckle. “It was the first thing that came to mind. Not my most subtle moment, I admit.” Still, he couldn’t completely banish the smile from his face, and it wasn’t long before he and Desta were both laughing.

At last Desta caught her breath, and with a smirk at Aloth began walking briskly towards the woods.

“Where are you going?” he called.

“We have to find some fruit now, don’t we?” She responded, sending a teasing glance over her shoulder.

“Ah.” He shook his head, but was still grinning. “Yes, I suppose we do.” Aloth hurried to catch up with Desta, falling into place by her side just as the raindrops began to finally fall. He hurriedly raised his hand and cast a barrier above them, keeping them dry from the drizzle that was quickly increasing to a proper rain.

Desta looked up with a smile, watching the drops of water hit the invisible force and slide to the sides. “Ah, good idea.” She cupped her hands and summoned a small flicker of healing flames to provide some warmth against the wind. “There we go. Dry and warm.”

“Perfect,” Aloth said with a small smile, moving slightly closer to Desta so as to better share their magic.

A strange silence fell over the two of them then. It wasn’t awkward, exactly, but they were stalling and they both knew it. This, like so much in the Deadfire, was uncharted waters; or at least, it certainly was for Desta. She was used to facing challenges head-on, to eagerly tackling any new situation. But for once, she found herself at a loss for words.

They simply walked quietly for the woods, listening to the sound of the rain on the trees, for some time before Desta finally took a breath and asked, “So what did you want to talk about?”

As usual, Aloth took a moment to contemplate his words before answering. “It may sound strange, but- I’m not sure.”

That broke some of the uneasy awkwardness, and Desta let out a surprised laugh. “You asked to talk to me, didn’t you?”

“I did, I did,” Aloth acknowledged. “I just keep trying to put my thoughts into words, and… well, I suppose more than anything I want you to know how important all of this is to me. Despite how it may seem, I do for once feel confidence in what I’m doing, and where I’m going.” His ears reddened ever so slightly, barely noticeable in the light of Desta’s dancing flames. “With you, I mean.”

The words warmed Desta’s chest, and she playfully nudged Aloth’s arm. “Do my ears deceive me, or is that some optimism I’m hearing?”

“You must be rubbing off on me,” he answered wryly. “It’s odd, in a way. There’s much in the future that’s still uncertain. But…”

He trailed off, and Desta finished the thought. “But at least we’re uncertain together, right?”

“Yes.” Aloth smiled. “And I’m glad of that. I’m glad to be here, at your side. I’m glad to call you a friend.”

That gave Desta pause. The fire in her palms dimmed, and then flickered out, although her hands were still warm as she cautiously brushed her fingers against Aloth’s. She gave him a searching look, trying to gauge what he was thinking, and then asked softly, “Would you call me anything more than that?”

An odd mixture of relief and apprehension settled onto Aloth’s expression at her words. His gaze darted away for a moment as he said, “I would like to. If you would allow it.”

If you would allow it. The phrase almost made Desta laugh again, but it also confounded her that someone as smart as Aloth would think there was a chance she would be against this. She didn’t know whether to call him wonderful or foolish.

So she stopped talking completely, and just leaned forward and kissed him instead.

For a moment, Aloth’s mind froze completely.

He couldn’t deny that he had thought about this before- had imagined what it might be like before hurriedly banishing the idea from his mind, only to have it come sneaking back in as soon as he let his guard down. Somewhere in the distance of his mind Iselmyr was both crowing with triumph and admonishing him to do something, but he couldn’t even make out any coherent words.  He was too consumed by the fact that this was actually happening, and somehow he seemed to have forgotten how to move at all.

The kiss was hurried, clumsy, quick; when Aloth froze, Desta pulled back with an anxious expression. “I- I’m sorry, was that too much?”

Aloth finally found his voice. “No! No, not at all, that was…” he trailed off, watching as Desta’s nervous expression slowly transformed into a small, pleased smile, and he wasn’t sure if it was him or Iselmyr who finally pushed him forward to kiss her once more.

This kiss was softer than the first. Aloth hesitated after the first touch of his lips to hers, still a bit uncertain, but Desta responded and leaned in closer, her arms moving to wrap around his shoulders. Between the feel of her lips and the familiar scent of grass and earth Aloth was finally able to stop thinking and just kiss her. He raised his hands slowly, reveling the feel of her long, loose hair through his fingertips. His touches were still light, still questioning; even now, he felt as if he would open his eyes and she would be gone.

But when they at last broke away, she was still there, with bright eyes and a brighter smile. A gust of wind blew through the air and Aloth realized they were both standing in the open rain, getting more soaked by the minute. He hadn’t even noticed when his concentration on the shield spell had broken.

He began to stutter an apology, raising a hand to recast the spell, but Desta only laughed and grabbed his hand to pull him under the shelter of a nearby tree.

“Of all the things to be thinking about right now,” she said, shaking her head and laughing again. Aloth didn’t think he had ever truly appreciated just how lovely her laugh was before this moment. “I don’t mind a little rain.”

Aloth let her pull him under the canopy, not thinking of anything beyond the kiss they’d just shared and the feel of her hand in his. For a moment, at least; it wasn’t long before the questions started pouring in. What were they doing? What was the plan here? Did Desta understand-

“Aloth.” Desta gave him a knowing look. “What are you thinking?”

“Too much, probably,” he admitted. He looked away for a moment. He didn’t want to ruin this moment; truthfully he’d love nothing more than to stay out here with Desta all night, kissing her again and again. And yet…

“Are you sure about this, Desta?”

The incredulous she gave him was perhaps well-deserved. “Do I seem not sure, Aloth?”

He sighed, cursing himself for always making things so complicated. “It’s just…I don’t know what the future holds for me. And I don’t want to make any commitments I won’t be able to keep, or deceive you about my intentions. I’ve already had to leave you once because of my mission, and if I find what I’m looking for with the Leaden Key I may have to leave again, as much I don’t wish to. And if something goes wrong, or I make a mistake-”

“Hey, slow down.” Desta tightened her grip on Aloth’s hand. “Look, I understand. I’m chasing a giant statue across the ocean. I’m arguing with the gods on a weekly basis. I don’t even know where my own soul is, and I certainly don’t know where my journey will take me anymore than you do yours. But I know you’re the most important person in my life. And I want to be with you. Maybe it won’t last forever. That’ll be okay. I don’t want to worry about promises and plans. Just us, right now, making the most of the time we have.”

“Making the most of the time we have,” Aloth quietly repeated. The tension in his chest eased at the sight of Desta’s hopeful smile. He pulled her forward, drawing her in for another short, gentle kiss. He knew Desta still deserved more than this- she deserved everything, and right now Aloth had so little to give. But if this time together was all she asked of him, he could certainly give her at least that much. “I do like the sound of that.”

“Good.” Desta grinned and looked out across the woods, in the direction of the ship. “Speaking of time, do you think the other will be expecting us back soon?”

“Probably,” Aloth admitted. “But I think they will be all right if we… just stay here a little while longer.”

Desta grinned, ecstatic and beautiful even in the shadows of the trees and the rain. “My thoughts exactly.”

[haledamage]

Rhicember 12/23

I don’t know whether to smack you or kiss you. - Kai/Rekke

(EDIT: now on AO3!)

“It’s open!” Kai called as a knock sounded at her door.

Rekke poked his head through a moment later, grinning in a way she found both charming and suspicious. “I have something for you,” he said in greeting.

Definitely more suspicious than charming, then. She gestured for him to come in, and she stood up to walk around her desk as he shut the door behind him.

“I sent a letter with the first explorers past the Mortar.”

“You're the first explorer past the Mortar, darling,” she interrupted, but then his announcement caught up to her and she stopped abruptly, reeling in shock.

“Past where the Mortar used to be,” he continued as if he didn’t notice her distress. “My sister was very surprised to hear that I did not die. Less surprised that I did not want to come home.” Without another word of explanation, he pulled a book out from one of his pockets and held it out to her. “You said you enjoy history, ta? This is a book of the history of Lipsalis. You can learn about my people and practice your Seki at the same time.”

“Is there something wrong with my Seki?” she asked as she took the offered book, turning it over slowly in her hands.

“Spoken, no. You learn very quickly. Written, your letters are still… very Aedyran.” His smile was disarming, making sure she didn’t think he was insulting her. “It is good to practice.”

“Rekke, this is… very sweet. And very stupid.” That felt like an understatement, Kai thought as she traced her fingers over the soft leather cover. “It was probably really dangerous to send that letter.”

“My sister is not that scary,” Rekke said with a laugh. “Okay, maybe sometimes she is.”

She sat the book carefully on the table and looked up at him again. “You know that's not what I meant.”

“I know. It does not matter. If I get in trouble, I get back out again.” His dark eyes were very sincere. “Do you like it, Kiki?”

“I love it,” she said, because it was the truth. “But I don't know whether to smack you or kiss you.”

A coy, inviting smirk spread across his face. “If you are looking for suggestions, I know which I would prefer, ta?”

“I think I know which I'd prefer too,” she said quietly. She took a slow step closer.

Then she smacked him on the arm, just hard enough to make a point. She doubted he could even feel it through the padding of his armor, but he still let out a startled yelp.

“That is for smuggling historical documents across the Mortar before we've even established diplomatic relations.” She grabbed his armor by the collar to drag him closer and stood on tip-toe to brush her lips across his cheek. “But thank you for the book, darling. It's perfect.”

She pulled away, but he stopped her before she got far, curling his hand gently across her cheek. His thumb brushed lightly along her bottom lip. “I thought you were going to kiss me, Kiki.”

He waited for a handful of endless seconds to see if she would pull away or tell him no. She didn’t, and he leaned back down to her again.

Even though she saw it coming, Kai still gasped when his lips touched hers. Rekke froze like he hadn’t actually expected to get that far. They stayed that way for a long moment, neither of them pulling away or pressing forward, and when it became clear to her that he wasn’t going to take initiative, she took matters into her own hands. She slid her hands up into the soft, magnificent waves of his hair, pulled him closer, and kissed him like she meant it.

It was not a storybook first kiss. Both of them were so surprised it was actually happening that they couldn’t remember how. Rekke seemed to have forgotten where to put his hands; they flitted from her face to her hair to her waist before finally coming to rest on her shoulders.

The reality of the situation came crashing down and Kai pulled away from him, scrambling halfway across the room. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have--I didn’t mean--”

“It is okay, Kiki.” Rekke chuckled, holding a hand up to calm her down. Still, his other hand drifted to his lips and he couldn’t seem to stop grinning. He looked her over, and whatever he saw made his grin turn teasing. He asked, slyly and entirely too knowingly, “Was that your first kiss?”

“No!” She looked away from him, feeling her face get warm with embarrassment, and reluctantly admitted, “It was my second. My first kiss was a few weeks ago. With Edér, under the damn mistletoe.”

His chuckle became a full, delighted cackle and he collapsed on the edge of her bed, shaking with laughter.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t see what’s so funny about that.”

“All… All the times I have wanted to kiss you,” Rekke said through his laughter. “To know… to know I could have been the first and it was taken from me by a holiday tradition. I really do have the strangest luck, ta?”

“How,” Kai’s voice came out an undignified squeak. She cleared her throat and tried again, “how often have you wanted to kiss me?”

“Every day since we met.”

“What?”

“You did not know? Yukag?” She couldn’t tell if the look he gave her was awe or pity. She chose to believe the former. “I have not tried to hide it. No less than four of your friends have approached to gently threaten me. Twice from Aloth, but one was the… the other Aloth. The angry woman. At least, I think she was threatening me.” Softly, nervously, he added, “Was it that bad?”

“No! It was--that’s not--” Curse her uncooperative tongue. She knew a dozen different languages and couldn’t seem to form a coherent sentence in any of them.

“It is okay, Kiki,” he said again, and he seemed to understand what she was trying to say even if she couldn’t say it. “You do not have to be scared of me, ta?”

“I’m not scared of you, darling. I’m scared of…” but she paused, unsure how to finish that sentence. There was too much noise in her head right now. Her quarters were too small to contain both of them. Rekke seemed both very close and too far away. Unable to find the words she wanted, she changed the subject entirely. “You are looking entirely too pleased with yourself, Rekke.”

“I have never seen you so unsure of yourself. I did not know you knew how.” He took a step toward her, and when she didn’t bolt in the other direction, he took another. He still couldn’t stop smiling, giddy and smug and insufferably attractive. “It was only a kiss.”

“Only,” Kai scoffed. His grin only grew wider. “What happens now?”

“Now, I will leave you alone so you can panic in peace.” Something must have shown on her face, because his smile softened. “I am not offended, Kiki. It is part of who you are, ta? One of the things I--” he cut himself off abruptly and looked away, face turning red. “You panic, you take your time, and then you come find me. Nothing will happen that you do not want to happen.”

“What do you want to happen?”

“I do not think I should answer that."

“Oh, it’s like that, is it?” Kai couldn’t help but smirk at him, trying to get herself back on steady ground. “Keep your secrets then, darling. For now.”

“No secrets,” Rekke said plainly. “They are yours when you are ready for them. As am I.”

She was very proud of herself for not outright flinching at that, though she did inhale sharply like the words impacted a little too hard. In a carefully controlled tone, she said, “I will take that under consideration.”

“Good. You should come find me, if you need a reminder.” He brushed his knuckles across her cheek, and she looked up at him in surprise; she hadn’t realized he was so close. He dropped his voice to a sweet, gentle murmur. “Let me try again, when you are ready, ta? Let me do it right.”

She was still trying to figure out how to respond to that when he left the room.

-------

Kai managed to avoid him for almost two weeks. It wasn’t hard to do in a city like Neketaka; there was always work that needed doing, especially for a woman of her reputation. She spent the time she couldn’t fill with work pouring over the book Rekke had given her as if it held the answers she was looking for. If it did, they were enigmatic; she could only decipher two-thirds of the book at her current ability to read Seki, and… well, it’s not like she could ask him for help. Not yet.

Rekke was respectful of her need for space, which she appreciated, though it also brought to light exactly how much time she’d been spending with him. His absence now made her feel like she had when she’d first cut off all her hair - clumsy, off balance, strangely light-headed. She missed him.

Serafen did not respect her need for space. He was there every time she turned around, never saying anything but always watching. He clearly knew something, though how much she didn’t ask and he didn’t offer the information. She didn’t want to talk to him about it, but she knew she needed to talk to someone and he clearly had no intention of leaving her alone until she did.

Edér was the first thought since he knew her best, but as sweet as he could be he lacked the right perspective. Aloth had even less experience in romantic endeavors than she did, and was even more cautious, so she couldn’t ask him, and she couldn’t ask Tekēhu either for the opposite reason. That left her options very limited.

"I wish Kana was here," she said to the empty ocean, leaning on her elbows and staring off the side of her ship.

"Ain’t that Maia’s brother?" Xoti said jovially as she leaned next to Kai. Kai tried not to make it obvious how much the priestess had just startled her half to death. "Are you friends with him?"

"That's a very long story, but yes. We met in the Dyrwood, more than six years ago now. He gives good advice," Kai admitted, "and I find myself in need of some."

'Anything I can help with?"

"Maybe." She looked down at the water lapping at the side of the ship. She considered which was a worse fate: confiding in Xoti and her knowing but sympathetic smile, or the crushing depths below. She took a deep breath to put the steel back in her spine. "I kissed Rekke."

"I knew it!" Xoti exclaimed, clapping her hands together in glee. "Y’all’ve been actin’ real weird the last couple o’ weeks. I knew something must’ve happened." She tilted her head, curious about the carefully blank look on Kai's face. "I woulda thought you’d be happier about that, Kai."

"Did you."

"Well, sure. You’ve been dancin’ around each other for months now. You’re smitten. You both are. Everyone can see it." She tilted her head the other way, bird-like, keen eyes seeing through Kai's attempts at stoicism. "It scares you, huh?"

"It terrifies me," Kai admitted quietly. "I’ve spent most of my life trying to avoid getting… attached to people. It took a long time just to get used to the idea that I had friends. That I could have friends. This…" she struggled once more to find the right words "this thing with Rekke is far beyond that."

"You could start by callin’ it what it is. You’re smitten, Watcher."

"I am. Beasts take me, I am." She turned and slid down to sit on the deck of the ship, leaning her head back against the familiar, worn wood. After a moment, Xoti sat next to her. "What do I do, Xoti?"

The priestess tapped her fingers against her chin thoughtfully. “What do you wanna do? That seems like the best place to start.”

Kai closed her eyes so she didn’t have to look at Xoti as she whispered, “I want to kiss him again. I can’t stop thinking about it. About him.”

“Then I don’t see what you’re still waitin’ on.”

“I may have…” Kai groaned and covered her face with both hands, “I may have panicked a bit last time and then spent the last two weeks avoiding him.”

Xoti laughed, clearly delighted by this whole conversation. “You sure don’t like to do things the easy way, do ya?”

“So I’ve been told.”

Xoti nudged Kai’s shoulder with her own. “Got good taste, Watcher. He’s real pretty.”

Kai grinned, wide and infatuated. “He is.”

“Lookit you. Smitten.”

“How long do you think it will take someone to notice if I toss you off the boat, my dear?” Kai said dryly, raising an eyebrow.

Xoti’s smile was completely unrepentant. “Gettin’ rid of me won’t hide the truth.”

-------

Kai still avoided Rekke for another two days, trying to get her thoughts in order, but she couldn’t stall their next trip out into open water. Once they were out there it was clear there could be no more hiding from it.

She tried to keep her mind active and her nerves in check while she waited for the proper opportunity to present itself, so she sat down at her desk to sort through and reply to some of the letters spread across its surface. She had just finished writing and sealing the last missive when a soft knock sounded at the door. She had a sinking feeling she already knew who it was. "Come in, darling."

Sure enough, Rekke cracked the door open just enough to poke his head in. "Serafen said you wished to speak with me."

Of course he did. As loudly as she could without risking being heard by non-ciphers, she thought NOSY BASTARD. She was pretty sure she heard his familiar raspy laugh from somewhere past the door. "Come in," she said again.

Rekke stepped into the room and shut the door behind him. He glanced at the pile of papers in front of her, the top one with a still-drying wax seal. “You are busy.”

“I am always busy. But I can always make time for you, darling.” She was willing to forgive how sappy that sounded if only for the way he lit up at her words. “I was actually about to come looking for you. Good thing I have such thoughtful friends as Serafen to save me the trouble.”

“He is a nosy little bastard, ta?”

Kai laughed in surprise to hear her own thoughts echoed back at her. “He is. But maybe I’ll forgive him, just this once. I…” she took a deep, fortifying breath. “I want to start by apologizing. For avoiding you. For… for running away.”

Rekke took a slow step further into the room, expression uncharacteristically serious. “You did not run away. You are still here.”

“I thought about it. I’m still thinking about it.” She stood up and paced the small space from her desk to her bed and back, feeling cornered even though the only one making any demands of her was herself. “I’m very good at running away, darling. I’ve been doing it for a very long time. Sometimes I don’t think I remember how to do anything else. But I don’t… I don’t want to. Not this time. Not from this. Not from you.”

“Then if you run, I will just chase you,” he said, like it was obvious, like he had never even considered anything else. “For as long as I need to. You are worth it.”

She grimaced and had to look away. “Rekke, you can’t just say things like that.”

“Why not? It is the truth.” He waited until she looked back at him and held her gaze, every inch of him radiating sincerity. “You are worth it. You deserve to be happy. I want to make you happy.”

Kai fought the urge to back away from him and instead took a couple steps closer. “I don’t know how to do this.”

“Do not worry, Kiki. I can be very patient.”

“Yes. I can see that.” She took a few more steps forward. She stopped in front of him, close enough to touch. He didn’t reach for her. She could see that he wanted to, but he didn’t move. The next step had to be hers. “May I…?”

“Ta,” he said quickly, not even waiting to know what she was asking. “Please.”

She slowly, very slowly, lifted a hand toward his face. His eyes fluttered shut as soon as she touched him, leaning into her careful caress, and so she let herself do what she’d wanted to for months and trailed her fingers softly down the length of his scar, across his cheek and lips and chin.

Her whole life, she had never understood the appeal, had never seen what everyone found so attractive about her red hair and freckles. Looking at Rekke like this, it finally made sense. He really was beautiful, with his long copper lashes and dark green eyes and the hint of mischief ever-present in his smile. She traced the pads of her fingers over his jaw and cheeks, finding patterns among his freckles, and a part of her wondered if she could convince him to do the same with hers.

Rekke moved suddenly, turning his head to press a kiss to her palm, then took her hand in his and pressed another kiss to her knuckles. He lowered her hand from his face and held it to his chest instead; she could feel his heart racing underneath her palm.

“Too much, darling?”

“Ta. But also no.” His voice shook with barely contained emotion. Kai wanted to ask what that emotion was, but was scared he’d actually tell her. Then he opened his eyes and met hers and he may as well have told her anyway. There was such an endless depth of longing in them that it took her breath away. “Kiki,” he whispered, and then softer, reverently, “Kai.”

Oh. Oh no. Kai felt like the solid deck beneath her feet shifted and the world tipped sideways. She moved closer to Rekke as if his presence could help steady her, even if he’s what had her reeling in the first place.

His free hand curled around the back of her neck; his eyes shifted to it momentarily, as if he was surprised to see it there, as if he hadn’t meant to do that. “I think I should go.”

Kai bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from protesting. Instead she just nodded. Rekke took a large step backwards and she let her hand fall away from his chest back to her side.

He took another step back, moving away from her to make his way to the door. He paused when he got there, considering, and pulled something out of an inner pocket of his jacket, turning around to place it wordlessly in her hands.

Kai looked at the object she held, turning it over in her hands. “You got me another book? How many of these do you have?” she asked incredulously. “You remember I told you how dangerous this was right now, right?”

“I remember. I also remember you said ‘thank you’ and ‘I love it,’ and then you kissed me.” His smile finally returned, proud and a bit impish. “I have done much stupider things for less worthy reasons.”

“There are easier ways to get me to kiss you than smuggling me books.”

“Ta. Tell me and I will do those instead.” He nodded stiffly, almost a formal bow, and gave her one last sweet, hesitant smile before he opened the door. “Good night, Kiki.”

[impossible-rat-babies]

Writing Snippet #57--A Dozen Unsaid Things (At the End of the World)

Welcome to Owen is back on his pillars of eternity stuff and writing a lot of fic for these two. I guess I’ve decided on making this a series in it’s way? It’s going to jump around in Deadfire, but keeping with the same sort of themes. Also a title? The fic has a title!

Part 1

--

The air around Aloth smelled sharply of bad ale, spilled liquor that would surely pool and soak into the wood, and some terribly foul concoction of Kith body odors. He didn’t know whether to leave, wretch, or watch in disgusted horror at the wild party of pirates before him. The dim lighting didn’t help, setting everything to sharp shadows in the way only sparse candles and sconces along the wall could. It surely didn’t help with the heat pooling the air. Neither did the loud music echoing about the hall, the cheering and singing competing for dominance. It was nothing short of pure organized chaos...if it could even be called organized.

Aoife had told him it would be a simple dinner at Deadlight and maybe a few drinks to close the deal on yet another new friendship. Pirates did enjoy a party--and knew how to do it well--and it wasn’t as if they couldn’t handle themselves if things went south rather quickly. Aeldys terms had been fair and her letter as promising as it could get when it arrived on their deck. Several of them had been suspicious of the contents, but having met her....it was rather in line with who she was. The Deadfire held all types as Aloth was quickly learning.

So far she hadn’t taken off their heads and now it seemed she was hardly in the position to do so considering Aloth had watched her wander into a corner with no shortage of lovely people around, plus a nice couch....and had yet to see her get up from that position. But there was nothing more dangerous than a pirate that could shoot straight while drunk off their rocker.

It was yet another stepping stone in the path to reaching Eothas, albeit one that was questionable to their success. But, Aoife made friends everywhere he went and with how chaotic the seas were in the Deadfire, it couldn’t hurt to have more friends. Deadfire was full to bursting even before they got caught up in the mess. Out of the frying pan and into the fire it seemed.

Aloth sighed out of his nose and grumbled to himself, crossing his leg over the other, leaning his chin into his hand. Ciara squawked next to him and he reached up, stroking the temperamental bird’s head. He casted his gaze to the main flushed group who had scattered the tables and chairs about to make a dance floor. Various people on all manner of instruments created music only pirates could really conjure, the lot of it old sea shanties in tune to a heavy beat and some fiddle. They sung them surprisingly well, the songs not unlike the ones the crew of the The Tempo sang.

It took hardly a moment for Aloth to pick one person out of the crowd: the one who had brought them here and arranged all of the dealings for himself and Aeldys. He stood near the center of the ever changing and moving crowd, moving to match the beat of the song and the folk dance they had picked. He was hardly the tallest around or the most distinct, many Aumaua and a few other Godlike around. But Aloth could easily pick Aoife out of an entire giant crowd if he was keen to do as such. Aoife laughed and spun through the next motions of the dance like an expert, flitting between partners easily. He had seemed to take everything in stride as if it hadn’t been at least fifteen years since last he had taken a tour of these islands and walked Principi halls. Many things had changed, but there was little to change age old dances and songs.

But there was something to watching Aoife spin and move in time to the beat with others that was graceful and carefree. He didn’t move with the same jilted, clambering motions of others from either too much drink or too little practice. Aloth watched him laugh and spin Xoti around, a delightful grin and flush across her own face as she continued to struggle with the steps. Aoife was enjoying himself, something Aloth had seldom seen in the few months they had kept company.

It had been a rough change for both of them, the sense of being so close again with so much unsaid left much more silence between them than either of them would have liked. Aloth knew Aoife loathed it—the rapid swishing of his tail not the only indication—but he was also loathed to bring up what had transpired to leave their friendship in such a sorry state. Perhaps it had been shame or self loathing over the nastiness between them, or another item to the list of things unsaid.

Aloth had shared plenty of his own unsavory words towards Aoife, a heated combination of being too high strung, emotional, and countless things said instead of what they wanted. Time had given much of that anger away and Aloth had regretted his words having been a way for less than a year. He wondered little how six short months had endeared him to Aoife much more than anyone else who he had come across; he had given him courage and the hope that he could make a difference, make his own path for himself in his life. He was loathed to admit that no one had asked him how he felt purely for the sake of knowing--to understand him and what he had gone through.

But there was little time to write on the roads leading away from Caed Nua and he hardly had an idea of where to start in talking and acknowledging things. The words that needed to be said felt hardly appropriate for a letter.

So he had kept quiet for five years, letting the distance and time soothe away the pains as well as the joys and hopes of what had occurred over those six months. Part of him had thought he would never see Aoife again. He would no doubt have heard of his exploits and maybe spare a fond thought or two back on their time together. It was a good time, for what it was worth. It was a shame really how it took yet another instance of the world in chaos to bring them back together. Maybe it was someone’s or something’s way of saving the words needed to be said between them.

Maybe if they ever got around to it.

A crescendo of music and voices that cut out into loud applause was enough to know the song had ended and Aloth looked up, watching Aoife break away from the crowd to walk towards him. His tail idly swished behind him as he carefully made his way through the tables.

“How are you doing?” He asked as he came and sat down beside him, stretching his legs out in front of him. His breath was heavier, but a smile painted his lips and laid in his golden eyes.

“Not sure whether the whole spectacle will make me vomit or not.” Aloth replied and Aoife snickered, wiping just under his nose.

“I can’t blame you. He replied and sat back further in his seat, crossing his ankles. “I had forgotten how much the Principi love to party and their lack of hygiene off their ships. You would think one would stay clean when they had spare water about.” Aoife explained, his voice clear and without a single slur to it.

“I would hardly expect pirates to keep clean regardless.” Aloth huffed and Aoife gestured for Ciara to climb back onto his shoulder. She obliged, settling back onto her usual perch with a chitter.

“You do cohort with an ex-pirate, mind you.” Aoife pointed at him, leaning closer to Aloth, a grin on his lips.

“An ex-pirate.” Aloth helpfully reminded him, a pointed look below a cocked brow.

“I did that for thirty years Aloth. When we visit Dunnage, I swear things will hardly be different.” Aoife waved a dismissive hand as if to gesture to their ship not far down at the docks.

“Can’t shake the pirate from you then, Aoife?” Aloth cocked an eyebrow and Aoife laughed. It was like many bells peeling, the flange in Aoife's voice distinct.

“The part that loves the open sea--the wash of the waves, the wind in your hair, the salt everywhere? The way moving through the ocean feels in your bones, the snapping of the sails above and the shanties to keep tune and time?” Aoife explained with glee, golden eyes shining in the dim light, tail swishing happily back and forth. Aloth couldn't help a small smile from turning his lips as Aoife spilled his thoughts out without a second to contain them, joy evident across his face. 

As he listened, it wasn’t as if they were in Deadlight at all, the world crashing down yet again. It was like sitting up late in the kitchen of Caed Nua, the fire roaring while the two of them talked about everything but the future, trading food back and forth. It felt so simple, so easy back in those days. For a time, they could forget about all they had seen, trading it all for the softness and warmth of living in the present, no cares for tomorrow.

But, they were both older, different...more sad than before. It was a shame, but all their own faults. 

“No, I can’t shake that part of being a pirate.” Aoife finished with almost a somber tone, grin fading a small smile.

“Wouldn't that make you just a sailor then?” Aloth asked quietly, folding his hands as he leaned in closer to Aoife. He looked over at him, the pair close enough for both shoulders and thighs to be touching.

Aoife chuckled, twin eyes looking away. “Another way to call something prettier, I guess.” He half shrugged even if Aloth knew the words cut closer to Aoife than he would have liked. Aloth knew many different ways people had looked at him and tried to think of something better to call him than what he was.

“A pirate or a sailor,” Aloth spoke with a faint smile, “I think either is perfectly fitting, Ee”

“Both then?” Aoife asked and Aloth smiled for real, reaching across the small space between them to hold Aoife’s hand, warm pale tone contrasting against cool grey. Aloth squeezed his hand, meeting his golden eyes with a smile, genuine warmth behind the blue.

“Both then.” He agreed with a smile. 

The silence of expectation came over them and Aloth realized how close they were sitting--legs and shoulders touching--faces close enough to where it would only take a moment to be that much closer. They were almost that close--close enough to touch, to embrace—a fire burning in Aloth’s chest. Years of unsaid things when others should have been said, waiting on the tip of Aloth’s tongue. It was just words, just something he needed to say. Something he should have said years upon years ago. One upon dozens of others...

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Can you forgive me?’

‘I care about you.’

‘You’re my only friend.’

‘Aoife, I—‘

Aoife broke the gaze and looked back across the crowd, the embers fading and dying away in Aloth’s chest. A chill settled in instead, corralling and shoving the unspoken things down yet again, cursing himself for almost speaking. The spark had faded and they were once again left with the ashes of what they once were—what they could have been.

“Would you like to dance?” Aoife quickly spoke, starling Aloth from his thoughts. Aoife moves to his feet, holding out of his hand to him. Aloth stuttered, cheeks and ears flushing a deep red.

“Wh-What?” Aloth stammered and Aoife’s grin tucked something hidden back into his head where it didn’t need to scream at him.

“Would you like to dance?” Aoife repeated himself and Aloth looked between himself and the crowd, just noticing how the music had readily picked back up again in a flurry. All those people....

“I-I don’t...” Aloth responded quickly, stammering.

“One dance, Aloth. Just one.” Aoife bargained and Aloth’s face wrinkled before he consigned himself with a heavy sigh. He placed his hand in Aoife’s and stood, the Godlike grinning as he walked with him to the rest of the crowd. A cheer erupted from somewhere else in the crowd and everyone quickly assembled into their positions, Aoife eagerly taking up his position across from Aloth.

Aloth knew the beat of this song, knowing the dance as some inevitably mish-mashed combination of folk dances from all across Eora. The Principi did take all kinds. It didn’t take long for the dance to gather pace, swinging around and between partners, the sound of dozens of feet on the wood floors—all in time—plenty of beat for the musicians on the stage. Hoots and hollers rose up, singing eagerly rising into some beautifully chaotic melody. It was hardly difficult to keep time when it was pounding in the people and the music all around, pounding in his chest and in his heart. It was easy and there was something quite fun about it, the rush of the movement around him, the chaos blinding. Aloth moved in the patterns, feeling a smile coming to his face, the whole of it spreading across his face. He caught Aoife’s eye as he swung between partners, catching a wink from the Godlike that made him flush even worse. It was a flurry of movement and pace, twirling and spinning into some booming crescendo and he caught the next partner, swinging with them until the music and everyone gave their last booming crescendo and it all came to a shuddering stop with a loud hoot and holler.

Aloth laughed brightly, still shaking with exhilaration as he held onto his partner. He turned his head, finding Aoife smiling back down at him, the whole of it looked utterly genuine--radiant. And Aloth didn’t hesitate to smile back. Aoife laughed, golden eyes shining as he took Aloth’s face in his hands, pressing their forehead’s together.

“That’s the Aloth I know.” Aoife spoke just loud enough above the din for him to hear it in perfect clarity and Aloth--for once--didn’t shyly look away, for once not bashful of the open display.

It was like being back with an old friend. One with many mistakes, pains, and endless frustrations, but for once in the past four months, Aloth looked at Aoife and saw the man he had come to known, come to care for....come to love.

And maybe there was some of that shining back in Aoife’s face.

[kitwilsonsass]

i think one of my biggest problems with pillars 1 vs deadfire is just finding a good party balance?

with deadfire i never felt like i was really MISSING anything in my party at any point in time despite having one less member. i pretty consistently ran with eder/xoti/serafen/tekehu my entire game aside from swapping people out for personal quests or interactions, and in dlc i replaced with serafen with aloth for more offensive magic use and that was... really it? and serafen was easily my least necessary member of that party and i still got along just fine with him there.

and i think a lot of that comes from the fact that i trusted xoti and tekehu to serve two purposes. even three, as far as xoti was concerned tbh, because i could use her for the occasional offensive magic as well as heals AND melee.

what i love about tekehu in battle is i can use him efficiently without any real knocks to his capabilities both ranged and up close. i can get off standard rod attacks to keep him away from the fray so i can preserve him for healing where it’s needed. but i can also get into the fray, and hit off foe-only aoe spells, so i can be offensive while switching off with something like moonwell for healing all the same. and i fully admit that’s kind of a cop-out, and he’s kind of OP for a reason, but it’s REALLY fucking useful.

i don’t *have* that in pillars 1.

i don’t like durance. i feel like i have to babysit him and keep him out of the fray at all times because i feel like healing is his only strong suit and even then i’m lucky half the time if i can keep him alive long enough to be useful for that.

so that leaves me with three fucking options. 

in a party of six.

which i have to cocktail in order to feel comfortable.

i can take kana, who can give me them sweet bard buffs, and also serve as a decent ranged combatant or close range combatant, but doesn’t necessarily give me any decent hard hitting healing. he also tends to plug up the field with skeletons which, i love, but it can get REALLY CONGESTED in small areas. i could going into his AI and change this shit but i really find it to be the most useful thing i have on him and it’s more just forcing myself to manually balance him out which gets DIFFICULT when this game loves to have my party just... completely scatterbrained even when i’m trying to control them because the mechanics get weird.

or i can take pallegina, who has lay on hands, and can inspire allies, but is pretty much only good in melee range.

or i can take hiravias, who.... ugh. like he has moonwell, right? he has it. and it’s great. but it’s not great because most of his usefulness to me in terms of spells are ranged. moonwell is no good to me if his squishy ass is half way across the map. nor is robust. or anything.

so if i do what i do right now, and roll with both pallegina and hiravias, i’m taking up two spots in my party to essentially fill what i’m used to being one spot.

on top of just my issues with the balance mechanically, there’s just.... too fucking many companions. i have MORE space for them and yet i feel more overwhelmed because again, i feel like i have to cocktail and take up space for certain duties. and then the dlc comes, and i have MORE companion possibilities. it’s great for questing but i don’t feel overly inspired by half these characters (especially when three of them have the same goddamn voice). i don’t feel like i should have a problem saying ‘i’m rolling with my favorites and fuck the rest’ but it just seems like there’s SO MUCH SIDE SHIT I SHOULD BE DOING WITH THESE OTHER PEOPLE.

it’s just....? i don’t know. i don’t feel like i’m making a cohesive point here.

i guess what i’m saying is i wish the mechanics felt smoother to me so i could actually care about exploring these characters instead of constantly worrying about saving before every enemy encounter even though i’m playing on fucking easy.

because there’s just too many fucking people and half of them serve me zero purpose.

and i’m probably just bad at video games but i’m really playing this game for the story elements so i can have better context for deadfire in hindsight and there’s just so many things that take me out of it despite, again, being on *fucking easy*.

[secretsfromwholecloth]

You find Clelia mes Rèi stationed at the Vailian Embassy/Vailian Trading Company, depending on the game, as a translator. Well, “translator”; she does a lot of translating, yes, but there are other uses for a cipher in a position to put her hands on lots of documents. She’s going to snap if she hears one more insult leveled at Old Vailians, godlike, or both. Maybe she just did and begs to come along with the party as an alternative to being discarded or killed.

There are a bunch of ways her quest could go. The two main categories of companion quest are “work-related” and “someone from their past”, with some overlap between them, of course. Maybe she’s collecting poems or stories for a book of translations, and there’s something plotty in the texts. Maybe a family member or ex-lover from Old Vailia is in town and she wants to make contact (and then gets forcibly reminded of why she left). Maybe she’s tried to ease the pain of her social isolation by getting involved with a small, eccentric religious group that turns out to be a Leaden Key front.

She has no time for assholes who think they’re funny, but kind, harmless humor makes her pretty happy. Benevolence, worldliness, honesty, progressiveness and passion all ping her radar positively, while cruelty (even verbal, watch those Clever responses) puts her off and deceptiveness just makes her tired.

As for who she’d get on with:

In both games:

Well, she certainly loves the hell out of Edér as a Watcher, and I like to think they’d still get on; he’s warm enough for her to realize quickly that his humor isn’t coming from anywhere mean, though as they got close, she’d start calling him out on the casual racism, because dude, stop.

Aloth is much too closed-off for her tastes; she gets scared when someone makes themself that hard to read, cipher powers or no. They occasionally have some interesting conversations, but it never really goes beyond that.

She and Pallegina have some things in common, but those things are mostly painful, and Pallegina’s identity being so bound up in a government that’s been such a mixed blessing for Clelia means they never exactly get close. It’s a very particular sort of friendship, one that’s mostly limited to comparing emotional scars and doesn’t seem to have much joy to it.

First game only:

She and Kana will stop nerding out over these foreign songs and ancient texts when they’re so tired they physically collapse and not before, thank you kindly. And then they’ll pick it back up again when they wake up. He seems like a decent sort, and Rauatai isn’t doing the thing yet (or at least she doesn’t know about it).

She’ll be happy to join everyone else in dunking on Durance periodically, but she’d be avoiding him if she had the choice. Ugh, that guy.

She quite likes Sagani, and her stories of Naasitaq are nice to escape into. There’s a bittersweet quality there, where she may not be saying it out loud, but she thinks Sagani’s kids are so, so lucky to have her as a mother and she only wishes she’d been as fortunate.

Hiravias needs a bath and to lay aside the lewd comments before she’ll want him near her. The latter makes her particularly twitchy thanks to how she was treated back home.

Second game only:

Tekēhu is decent and he’s trying, and she appreciates his total honesty about how he feels about things. And she’ll be happy to talk art with him. Things may be a little rough for them at the beginning, though, when he’s spoiled and demanding. How dare he. She never got to be spoiled and demanding.

She’s very, very wary of Maia. There’s the Rauatai thing, the relative closed-offness, and she’s pretty sure Ishiza was looking at her funny.

She’s not nearly religious enough for Xoti’s tastes, but she knows how to act in front of people, so she mostly keeps a lid on that. They get on pretty well, especially as long as Xoti doesn’t catch on to the anthropological cast to Clelia’s questions about the Dawnstars and where Xoti came from.

She and Serafen start with a certain distant respect for each other, not wanting to intrude on each other’s heads too much, but she comes to appreciate him more over time. Maybe it’s mutual.

Yes, I think she’d be romanceable. A lot of “thank you for being kind” sort of talk, and maybe some of her backstory would come out, including her previous (rather sad) sexual history. Leave her alone and she’ll be hanging all over Rekke begging him for Seki lessons and fussing with his hair (though it’d have to be implied in their dialogue rather than being a full romance), and perhaps they’ll approach Tekēhu for some threesomes.

I think she’d stay with the party unless specifically sent away. It’s not like she’s got much of anywhere to go if she leaves.

The Watcher as a Companion

Since I love hearing about other people’s OCs, I thought I would throw a multi-layered prompt out there for anyone that might be interested in answering it.

If your Watcher, or other Pillars OC, was a recruitable companion instead of the main character, how and where would they be introduced to the main party? 

What would their companion quest involve?

What traits would affect their approval, positively or negatively? 

Which other companions would they get along with, and which would they bicker with, in Party Banter? 

Would they be romanceable? Would they end up in a romance with another companion, if both were left unromanced (à la Maia & Xoti)?

Would anything make them leave the party, or would they be there for the long haul?

Feel free to answer for Deadfire or the fist game (or both! Go wild!), and give me a tag if you respond as a separate post (if you want to, obviously- I can’t tell you what to do) cos I’d love to read all about your characters!

[queen-scribbles]

Hug 18 for Adi!

18. lifting off the ground hug

—

Adela leaned forward over the ship’s rail as they approached the harbor, far enough Xoti felt the need to grab her belt for security’s sake.

“You really wanna fall in an’ drown when we’re this close, Adi?” she chastised with a grin. “I know you’re eager and I don’t blame ya, but Ilhana ain’t gonna go faster through wishin’.”

“I know,” Adela sighed, easing a tiny bit back from the rail.”It’s just been so long…”  She squinted to the shoreline, vainly wishing she could pick out individual faces from this distance.

“Right, an’ you miss each other somethin’ fierce, I get it,” Xoti grinned. “Five more minutes ain’t gonna kill ya.” She released her hold on Adela’s belt and leaned against the rail next to her as she teased, “Given how a-flutter you are about this, I’m surprised an’ touched you’re allowin’ us to tag along.”

Both women looked over their shoulder, but the familiar head of coppery curls was nowhere in sight. Rekke must’ve been below deck.

Adela shrugged. “Not like I was gonna kick my best friends off my ship.” She grinned and bounced slightly on the balls of her feet. “’Sides, why wouldn’t I want my favorite people to meet each other?”

Xoti laughed. “Makes sense when ya put it like that.”

In short order that somehow still felt like an eternity, the Ilhana had pulled into port, moored firmly to the Aedyran dock. Adela barely waited for Elias and Tuliak to have things secure before she was barreling down the ramp, Xoti and Rekke not far behind, eagerly scanning the bustling dockside crowds.

“Where is he??” she whined, hands tapping an agitated beat against her thighs.  “I don’t see him…”

“There’s a lotta kith here, Adi,” Xoti pointed out.

“Ta, your ship was not the only one to come in,” Rekke added, raking hair back from his face and tying it up in a messy bun as the breeze picked up. “It is a busy place.”

They were right; in a crowd like this it would be hard to pick out a single (nondescript) folk man. Damn my height, Adela groused to herself, pushing up on her toes as if that would make a blazing lick of difference. (It didn’t.) She chewed her lip in thought, then dragged Rekke with her toward a nearby crate.  “Stand still.”

“Adi-” He caught on quick and obliged as she climbed up the crate and then onto his shoulders. “You are sure, he is meeting you here?”

“Hey, yeah,” Xoti agreed, scanning faces even though she didn’t know who she was looking for. “Was he s’ppose’ta meet ya dockside or somewhere el-”

“Heodan!!” Adela whooped as she spotted him, maybe fifty feet away at most and looking just as overwhelmed by the crowds as she was. He froze and cocked his head when she yelled his name, so she did it again, grateful for Rekke’s hands on her ankles as she waved her arms to get his attention. Thank goodness Rekke’s so tall.

She’d swear she caught a shift in Heodan’s stance, even from this far away, when he spotted her. (Not that it was hard to find a hollering orlan perched on the shoulders of a towering redhead.) Even as he changed direction and bee-lined toward them, Adela clambered down–apologizing to a laughing Rekke when her knee hit his cheekbone–and bolted for him as well.

Their paths converged in a less-crowed area of the docks, and she could see him grinning even wider than she was as he halted and knelt, arms open–

She barreled into him with enough enthusiasm to topple the unprepared. Heodan, however, was well-used to the force of her hugs when excited and kept his balance long enough for their arms to wrap around each other before he pushed to his feet.

“Gods, I’ve missed you,” he mumbled into her hair.

“Missed you, too,” Adela managed around the lump in her throat, face buried against the side of his neck. As her feet left the ground, she swung her legs up to wrap around Heodan’s waist, clinging to him with all the fervor of long months apart.

Heodan was holding her just as tightly, one arm around her shoulders, the other hand cupping the back of her head. For a long moment, neither of them spoke, just held each other tight.

“I’m so glad you’re alright,” he finally murmured shakily, fingers digging into her hair. “I felt… the rings…”

Adela was suddenly very aware of the copper band around her finger as she loosened her grip just enough to pull back and meet his eyes. “They work that far apart?!”

Heodan nodded, a year’s worth of worry swirling in his eyes. “Apparently.” He brushed his fingers through the hair falling in her eyes, pushed it back. “I almost took it off at one point, but was too afraid something would… would happen, and I wouldn’t know, and that would have been even worse.” 

The lump in her throat grew as the implication set in, and she smiled tenderly, cupping his jaw in both hands. “I am so sorry I worried you, love. I’m fine, I promise.” He’d see what scars there were eventually, but for now… A brief glance over her shoulder confirmed Xoti and Rekke had caught up. “In no small part thanks to them. Xoti, Rekke, this is Heodan.”

“I figured,” Xoti said with a grin. “Considerin’ you’re stuck to him tighter’n a leech on a bare ankle.”

“Thanks for that comparison, Xo,” Adela said dryly, but neither of them let go. She rubbed her thumbs over the decent growth of stubble along his jaw.  “Growin’ a beard?”

“Not intentionally,” Heodan replied with a sheepish chuckle. “I forgot to bring a razor, and it seemed silly to purchase a new one when I wasn’t planning to be here long. But if you don’t like it-”

“No, no.” She grinned at the way his breath caught when she rubbed her palm along one side of his jaw again. “I’ll like it either way.” She liked the shorter hair, too, though that was starting to grow out again around his ears.

He smiled shyly and shifted his grip. “A factor I’ll be sure to keep in mind.”

“You can put me down if you want,” Adela winked. “My legs are gettin’ kinda tired, anyway, and we’re, um, blockin’ people.”

“You’ll prob’ly be more comfortable, uh, catchin’ up elsewhere, too,” Xoti said innocently. Rekke elbowed her in the ribs, but mirth danced in his eyes as he caught her meaning.

“I will throw things at you,” Adela warned, finally letting go and sliding from Heodan’s grasp. “But later.” She reached for his hand. “I have higher priorities right now.”

Heodan’s cheeks and neck went pink, but he was smiling as he took her hand. “There’s an inn nearby, it’s where I’ve been staying, should have enough rooms for all of us.”

She was pretty sure Xoti muttered something to Rekke about them not needing many, but ignored them to instead focus on the warmth of Heodan’s hand around here. Some would deny this was a ‘homecoming’ as Aedyr was not her native or even adopted land. But Adela had traveled enough, she knew ‘home’ wasn’t merely places; it could be people, too.

And she was finally back with hers.

[lunarowena]

An Abundance of Aloths

For @pillarspromptsweekly #0075: Double

Also posted on AO3

-

Aloth and Amaryllis stared up at the Engwithan machine built around an admittedly small adra pillar.

Aloth sighed. “Why were the Engwithans so enthusiastic about building temples on small islands in the middle of nowhere?”

“Going where the adra is, I’m guessing.” Amaryllis cocked her head, studying the contraption.

Aloth grabbed her arm and spun the pale elf to face him. “You’re not actually thinking about touching it, are you?”

“Well…” she grinned sheepishly, tugging at the end of her braid. “I at least want to know what it does.”

Aloth rolled his eyes. “What happened the last time we touched a strange machine?”

“Our souls have mostly recovered.” Amaryllis shook herself out of his grasp and took a few more steps closer to the machine.

Aloth stepped up after her. “You’re still missing a large portion of your soul to Eothas!”

Amaryllis squinted at the controls. “I’m pretty sure that’s not what this one does.”

“How sure is ‘pretty sure?’”

Amaryllis didn’t answer, walking closer to the machine. It hummed in what he chose to interpret as an ominous manner.

“Amaryllis!” he hurried up behind her.

“Aloth, if you’re worried, you can wait outside with the others.”

Aloth squeezed his eyes shut. “It’s not me I’m worried about.”

She turned and reached out to squeeze his hand. “I’d still feel better if–maybe you should stand back.”

He squeezed back. “I’ll only be a few steps behind you.”

Amaryllis stepped up to the controls and took in a big breath. “Some of the words are a bit rubbed out–probably the crumbling stone–but I think it’s some kind of transportation mechanism?”

Aloth grasped his hands together behind his back. “All the more reason not to touch it!”

“I wonder if it opens a portal like at Poko Kohara. We could at least peer through it.”

“I strongly object to this plan–”

But she had already turned the dial. The machine whirred to life, electricity sparking along the copper coils. A white light grew out of the center of the adra pillar.

Aloth rushed forward to try to pull her back, to do something, but the white light washed over them both.

Aloth collided into Amaryllis and they stumbled forward from the momentum. Aloth held tight to her and tried to blink back the light. He tripped over a loose brick on the uneven ground sending them both sprawling downward. Shaking his head, he looked up at their surroundings. They were on some kind of ruined platform but the horizon, the sky, it was all a white void. And–

“What? Hello!”

–and they weren’t alone.

The woman who had spoken, a pink orlan with long, wavy hair, jumped up from her perch on a ruined column. “Did you come through the ruin, too? Were any of our companions there? What were you doing out in the middle of nowhere? I guess that’s a stupid question because we were out in the middle of nowhere… what.” She turned to stare at Aloth, held up a finger, turned to the dark haired man with her, then turned back. “Huh.”

The dark haired man stared at Aloth. Aloth stared back. Except for the large poleaxe strapped across his back, he looked disturbingly like… himself.

Amaryllis stood up, brushing herself off. “So sorry for us to intrude like this. Lovely to meet you both. Amaryllis Alfwyn, and this is my compatriot, Aloth Corfiser.”

The orlan woman stared her down. “Really? Because this,” she gestured to the man beside her, “Is Aloth Corfiser.”

Aloth pulled himself to his feet, laughing nervously. “Well, I’m pretty certain that I’m Aloth Corfiser–” he cut off as he saw the scepter at the woman’s belt. He pulled up his own Keybreaker Scepter.

Her eyebrows raised as she pulled out her own to compare. “Well, I’ll be damned. Two Corfisers.” She turned to her own Aloth, swinging her arms open. “Do you know what we can do with that?”

The tips of other Aloth’s ears turned red. “Artemisia!”

“I was just gonna say we can throw three fireballs at once. Do you know how much fire that is? We could probably get temperatures up to–”

Amaryllis coughed politely. “It’s a lot of fire, yes. How did you two get here? Wherever here is?”

Artemisia swung back around to look at Amaryllis. “Don’t know where here is, but touched some Engwithan machine–”

“That I told you not to touch,” other Aloth interjected.

“–and we wound up here. It’s been a bit,” Artemisia finished.

“The same thing happened to us,” Amaryllis said.

Artemisia tugged on the tip of her ears. “So we’re probably in some alternate dimension and we’re crossing the streams of parallel universes.”

“Of course,” said Aloth.

“So how do we get back?” asked Amaryllis.

Artemisia shrugged. “I have no idea. Otherwise we wouldn’t still be here.” Her eyes narrowed and she looked back and forth between Aloths. “I wonder what would happen if you two touched each other.”

“With the potential for an explosive result from two universes colliding, I’d rather not find out,” said Aloth.

Artemisia opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a flash of bright light and two more people stumbling out.

A meadow folk woman with red hair dusted herself off. “Great.” She turned to her companion. “You alright, Aloth?”

“Wonderful,” Aloth, other Aloth, and third Aloth said in unison.

The woman looked up, her eyes rapidly glancing between everyone. “What’s going on here?”

“Collision of parallel universes,” Artemisia said.

“In Aedyran?” said the new woman.

“We all touched something we shouldn’t have, and now we seem to have… an abundance of Aloths,” said Amaryllis.

“And you all are…?”

“Artemisia Maiu.”

“Amaryllis Alfwyn.”

“Lillian Teylecg.”

“What?” Amaryllis blinked.

Artemisia stared “What.” She turned to third Aloth. “Edér’s a woman in your universe?”

“What? No,” said Lillian. “We’re married.”

“What?”

Artemisia turned to other Aloth. “I am so giving Edér a hard time about this when we get back.”

“How do we get back?” asked Lillian.

“We don’t know,” said Amaryllis.

There was another flash of light and a savannah folk woman in heavy armor and another Aloth fell through.

Aloth stared at the newest Aloth. They all wore the same armor, but this fourth Aloth was wearing a headdress that looked remarkably like Thaos’s.

“Okay what is happening here–” Lillian started, but in another flash of light she and her Aloth were gone.

“Is that good or bad?” asked Amaryllis.

“So… either someone on the other side pulled them back, or this place has a limit on how many it can hold,” said Artemisia.

“That’s good, right?” said Amaryllis.

“If it’s the second, we hope they got sent back instead of… elsewhere,” said other Aloth.

“Wouldn’t you,” Amaryllis gestured to Artemisia and her Aloth, “have been sent back if it was the second?”

“It could be a stack rather than a queue,” said Aloth. “Last in, first out instead of first in, first out.”

The savannah folk woman just stared back and forth between them all.

Artemisia tugged on her ears again. “We’re going to be here forever, then, if my alternate selves keep being stupid.”

“I don’t feel like I’m an alternate you,” said Amaryllis.

“Why else would you be with Aloth–” Another flash of bright light and Artemisia and her Aloth were gone.

Now it was just Amaryllis, Aloth, the savannah folk woman, and… Aloth was still going to think of him as “fourth Aloth.”

“Well,” Aloth said. “Since it’s just us now, and no one else has shown up, that seems to indicate that something else is pulling us away rather than a capacity limit.”

“So we hope the others come in and ‘find’ us,” said Amaryllis.

Another flash of bright light, and Aloth barely had enough time to make out a wood elf woman with brown, curly hair and another Aloth before light completely surrounded his vision. The world lurched, and next thing he knew they were back in the ruins, Pallegina, Xoti, and Tekēhu staring at them. He never thought he would be so glad to see Tekēhu.

“Thank you for the timely intervention.” Amaryllis straightened her vest.

“What happened?” Xoti asked.

“In all universes, Watchers have a habit of touching things they shouldn’t,” said Aloth.

Amaryllis reached out and squeezed his hand. “And in all universes, Watchers have a trusty Aloth to watch out for them.”

[haledamage]

Epiphany

Continuation of this prompt here. Can be found all together on AO3 here.

@queen-scribbles and @rannadylin this is your fault :P

Darling, Kai thought, for at least the hundredth time. What was I thinking? Am I flirting with Rekke? Have I always been flirting with Rekke? It would be a little dramatic to say she was panicking about the idea that she’d been flirting with him for months and hadn’t realized it, but to say that she was alarmed by the idea would perhaps be an understatement.

It wasn’t like she didn’t find him attractive, of course. She was reserved, but she wasn’t blind; it hadn’t escaped her notice that she always felt a little warmer when he smiled at her, or that she sought his company more often than might be considered proper. But there was a difference between finding someone attractive and being attracted to them. When had one become the other?

“Cap, all due respect,” Serafen grumbled from where he half-leaned, half-lay against a bench in the dimly-lit ship’s hold they found themselves in, “but if you don' find somethin' else t' think about, I'm liable t' mutiny.”

Kai glared in his direction, but since his eyes weren’t open it was lost on him. “If you don't like what I'm thinking about, stop listening.”

“Wish it were that easy.” He opened one eye just long enough to give her a sour look. “I wouldn' be confounded if the lad can hear you mooning over ‘im from ‘ere.”

“I’m not mooning.”

“Course y’ain’t,” he said. “An’ I’m the fuckin’ May Queen.”

“An honor to make your acquaintance, your majesty,” Kai said dryly.

Serafen didn’t take the hint and stop talking, unfortunately, but he never did. “There ain’t no shame in wantin’ to find a bit o' comfort in a pretty lad.” He smiled at her, all teeth. “And your lad be mighty pretty.”

“That's not… it isn't… we aren't…” She scowled as if it would somehow make her more eloquent. “I think you've got the wrong idea.”

“Protest all you want, Cap.” He chuckled and tapped his temple. “I can see what's in your head.”

“Well, stay out of it,” she snapped. Without another word, she turned to walk away. She didn’t get very far, the hold small enough to feel crowded even with only five people in it.

“What is all the yelling about, I say?” Tekēhu stood near the doorway, the tallest part of the hold. Even still he had to bend down awkwardly to keep from scraping his head on the rough wooden ceiling. The look he gave her told her plainly that he knew exactly what the yelling was about, but wanted her to answer anyway.

“Oh, you know,” Kai said, voice still a little sharp in annoyance. “I said something to Rekke before we left and now I'm rethinking every conversation I've ever had with him for clues to how I ended up here. As one does, I suppose.”

Tekēhu laughed, the sound seeming to echo in the small space. “Ekera, you are as bad as he is, Captain.”

She stared at him, startled and confused and intrigued in equal parts. “What do you mean by--” she cut herself off, shaking her head, “no. No. I don't want to know. I don't have time for this. Stop meddling.”

“As you say, Captain,” he said, still amused.

Kai stormed away from him too, toward the other end of the boat. It was a short walk. Can’t a woman have an epiphany in peace?

She sat on a bench next to Ydwin and the Devil of Caroc, who were both silently glaring at nothing in particular and basically ignoring each other. “Are either of you going to try to give me advice?”

“No.” Ydwin said, sounding mostly bored.

The Devil added in a hollow voice, “We don’t care.”

“Good.” Kai sat back, letting her head thunk onto the side of the boat. She couldn’t hear anything beyond it, not even the ocean. “Thank you for coming along, Devil.”

The Devil of Caroc made a motion that was probably supposed to be a shrug, metal shoulder jerking stiffly. “Got nowhere better to be. And I still owe you.”

“No you don’t.”

“Yes. I do.” Devil finally looked at her then. For all that her face couldn’t show emotion, she was obviously rolling her eyes. “It ain’t up to you what debts I do or don’t pay, Kiki.”

“Eyes up, Cap,” Serafen called suddenly. His eyes glowed a deep blue-violet. “Looks like them assassins took th’ bait after all.”

Kai closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing her ruminations about Rekke out of her thoughts and reaching out with her senses. She could feel the minds of her companions, each as different mentally as they were physically, and above them on the deck of their boat, eight unfamiliar figures with minds full of suspicion and violence.

When she opened her eyes again, they flickered with violet fire. Next to her, Ydwin’s eyes glowed as well, a cold lavender. “Tekēhu,” she said, both aloud and in their minds, “if you would be so kind as to get the door for our guests.”

-------

The hatch opened and Xoti stuck her head below deck of the Defiant. Her hood mostly obscured her face, but did nothing to hide the enthusiasm in her voice. “Hey, Rekke, you busy? Edér and I were just gonna get some shoppin’ done, you wanna come with us? Watcher said you were on babysitting duty.”

From somewhere behind her on the deck of the ship came Edér’s voice, tired and annoyed. “I’m gonna tell you what I told Kiki: I don’t need a damn babysitter.”

Xoti disappeared for a moment, but Rekke could still hear her easily enough. “It ain’t up to you. Unless you wanna be the one to tell Kai you got yourself killed because you were too stubborn to use the buddy system.” There was a quiet clank, like a tiny, bossy priestess had just poked an armored farmer in the chest. “And you can be damn sure I’d keep your soul in the lantern long enough for her to yell at you about it.” She reappeared in the open hatch, smiling once more. “So whaddya say?”

Rekke chuckled, already reaching for his sword and armor. “Ta. Yes. How can I say no, when you put it this way?”

“Alright, c’mon then. Daylight’s burnin’.”

It was a relatively quiet day in the marketplace, just busy enough to keep the three of them on guard but not quite enough that someone could sneak through the crowd to catch them unaware. Rekke took the opportunity to think back to his conversation with Kai before she left on her hunt, as he’d been doing for most of the day.

He should have probably been embarrassed by how much he dwelt on how it felt to have her in his arms for that brief moment, how her hair smelled like woodsmoke, how tiny she was. The Watcher was larger than life, hunter of gods and saver of worlds; it was easy to forget sometimes that the elf behind the grand title was so small, so delicate.

Mostly, he thought of the look she gave him right before she left. Surprise and then panic, as if he had said something wrong… or she had.

Xoti elbowed him in the arm, bringing him out of his reverie. “Somethin’ on your mind, darlin’?”

“That!” he said, too loudly. Xoti looked at him like he’d grown a second head. He ignored it. “That word. What does it mean?”

“Darlin’?”

“Ta! Kiki called me that before she left.” On Xoti’s other side, Rekke saw Edér turn and look their way, suddenly interested in the conversation. “She seemed… upset. Or confused. She left very quickly.”

“Oh.” A sly smile spread across the priestess’s face, like she knew something he didn’t; he suspected that was very likely true. “Well, it’s a term of endearment. Like a… a pet name, I guess. Like ‘honey’ or ‘sweetheart’ or…” she paused, but she couldn’t think of any others offhand. “It’s not one I hear her use much. She mostly just calls everyone ‘dear’ like she’s some sweet old lady or somethin’.”

“Yukag? So it is a good thing?”

“Yes, I’d say so. Dunno why she’d be confused by it, though.” She thought about it for a minute, then shrugged. “Might wanna talk to her about it when she gets back.”

“I agree,” Rekke said slowly, mind already wandering. Trying to figure Kai out was like trying to work a puzzle while blindfolded. He knew all the pieces were there, he just couldn’t see how they fit together yet. Lucky for him he enjoyed a challenge.

“You and Kiki’ve been spending a lot of time together lately, huh?” Edér said suddenly, dragging Rekke out of his thoughts once more. The soldier stared at him like he was trying to read his mind. Rekke didn’t think he actually had that ability, but he couldn’t be sure.

“I suppose that is true, ta,” he said carefully. He had a feeling that if he said the wrong thing here, it could mean bad things for him. Still, he couldn’t help adding, a small smile spreading over his face, “She says that I make her laugh. I like to make her laugh.”

“Uh-huh.” Edér didn’t look like he liked that answer. He sighed and scratched at his beard. “Just… be careful, alright? She’s been through a lot the last few years. I don’t want to see her get hurt.”

Rekke tilted his head curiously. He knew that Edér and Kai were as close as family; if he didn’t know better, this sounded a lot like the ‘break her heart and I’ll kill you’ speech - if perhaps a little less threatening than he’d heard it in the past. He liked the idea that he and Kiki were close enough to elicit such a warning. “I think you misunderstand. We are friends. She only sees me as a friend. That is all.”

“Is that all you see her as?” Edér waited for an answer, but Rekke didn’t say anything. He also made no effort to stop either the blush blooming across his cheeks or the besotted grin on his lips. Again, Edér said, “Uh-huh. Just remember what I said.”

“I will. Thank you, Edér.” He didn’t know why he thanked him, but it felt like the right thing to say.

“Hey,” Xoti called from a few steps ahead of them. She had her sickle in her hand. “Do y’all remember when you said you didn’t need a babysitter? Did you tell your assassins that?”

-------

“I suppose it was too much to ask that we’d lure their leader out here and be done with it all.” Kai sifted through the meager belongings they’d found on the assassins. There wasn’t much more than a handful of coins, a single sheet of paper, the writing on it smudged into illegibility, and eight crude, wooden human effigies, one found in each of the assassins pockets. Just what she’d been afraid of. She shoved all of it into her bag.

“Probably. At least they told you where to find him. Sort of.” The Devil of Caroc glanced warily over her shoulder at Serafen. She didn't like ciphers even on a good day, but the mindhunter's little show of power had clearly made her nervous. “Want me to take care of it?”

“Tempting, but no.” Kai always felt guilty sending Devil out to do her dirty work for her, though she’d never tell her that. Just because the construct said she wanted to do so didn’t mean she should keep taking advantage. “I’ll take care of it myself. I’ve got a few questions for him.” Quietly, she added, “But thank you.”

The Devil did that jerky, stiff shrug again. “Ain’t no brass off my back either way. Got to see the ocean and kill a bunch of people on it. You’ve sent me on worse jobs.”

“You could stay with us, you know.” Kai knew she shouldn’t say it, but she always did.

Devil shook her head. “Don’t ask. You know what my answer is.”

“I know. But the offer stands.”

“I know.” The Devil of Caroc started walking away. She stopped on the edge of the boat and lifted a hand in her version of a friendly wave. “See you around, Kiki. You know where to find me.” Without another word, she stepped off the side of the boat and sank below the waves.

Kai shook her head, chuckling to herself. The Devil did love her dramatic exits.

Serafen leaned over the edge, staring down into the depths as if he expected to see a bronze construct swim by. “Well, she was charmin', if you like ‘em cranky and rusted.”

“What’s her story?” Ydwin asked, something that almost resembled curiosity in her voice.

“Not mine to tell.” She tried not to feel too smug about the hint of annoyance on Ydwin’s face and turned to start setting the sails and getting the ship moving again. “Come on. Let’s go home. Looks like we’ll have to finish this hunt another day.”

The return trip was quiet and uneventful. The whole trip had been, really. As far as assassins go, these were barely professionals. The only problem was how many of them there were, but they'd take care of that next.

Kai hoped things were just as uneventful back with the Defiant. The idea that she'd gone hunting for the hunters only to have one sneak around while her back was turned made her uneasy. Better not to think about it, or else she'd drive herself mad before they made it back home.

She sighed. Was it too early to try to get some sleep? They'd travelled light, so she had nothing on board to keep herself entertained while they sailed; she wished she'd brought a book or something.

“He's a good lad, y'know,” Serafen said suddenly, because apparently the fight wasn’t enough to get his mind on a different subject. “Your stowaway. Weird, but which of us ain't.”

“Serafen, stay out of my head,” Kai snapped, sharper than intended. She knew his meddling was well-intentioned, but she had enough well-meaning would-be brothers trying to give her advice. She didn’t need another one.

He shrugged and laid back on his bench again, looking for all the world like he was sleeping. Kai knew better. “Weren't in your head, Cap. Don't take no mind reader to know you're thinkin’ ‘bout ‘im. Cipher as strong as you should know how t’ hide her thoughts better anyhow.”

“I can hide my thoughts just fine, thank you. Just not from you, for some reason.” She had very good mental shields, in fact; the problem was that, since Serafen had no formal cipher training, he had ways of seeing around them that she didn’t know how to compensate for. “And I wasn't thinking about him. I was thinking about sleeping.” She knew it would have happened sooner or later, though, as it had been with alarming frequency.

“Don't see what you're so bothered ‘bout,” Serafen said, answering her thoughts as if she’d said them aloud. “He obviously fancies you. Always has done. If you weren’ so fuckin’ uptight, ‘e might’ve already told y’ so.”

She thought about denying that she was uptight, but she was too self-aware for that. Instead, she just said, “Well, that's certainly news to me.”

“He's always flirtin’ with you.”

“So are you.” She shrugged. “Doesn't mean anything.”

“Heh. It could've.”

“You don't have a single romantic bone in your body.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them.

Serafen, predictably, grinned at her. “Just the one, aye.”

“Charming,” she said sourly, but she smiled in spite of herself. She looked away from him at the others, but Tekēhu was above deck and Ydwin could have been either sleeping or dead as still as she was. There was nowhere she could go to escape this conversation.

“Life be short, Cap,” he said, tone unexpectedly somber. “Even when you live as long as elves do. Ain't no point wastin’ time on 'someday'.”

Kai looked back at him, surprised, but he still looked like he wasn’t even paying attention, lazy and half-asleep. “That's… unexpectedly wise, coming from you.”

The seriousness in his voice was gone just like that, replaced with another sharp-toothed grin. “I be full of surprises. I'm willin’ t’ share a few others, if you ask real nice.”

She scoffed. “I ought to set you on fire.”

“You’re the one that has t’ live with the burnt fur smell,” Serafen said, chuckling when she scoffed again.

-------

“Captain on deck!”

Rekke quickly tried to look casual, like he hadn’t been waiting anxiously since the crew had first spotted the boat that Kai and her team had taken. He picked up a book from a nearby shelf and started thumbing through it. He recognized the sound of her boots on the deck above, steps measured and purposeful, and then a moment later she strode through the open hatch and down the stairs. She spared him a quick glance before turning to Edér and tossing something toward him. He scrambled to catch it before it hit him in the head.

“Skaenites,” Kai said, as if it explained everything. Maybe to her and Edér it did. “It’s your Skaenites again.”

“I guess I should have expected that,” Edér said, looking at whatever she’d thrown at him. He rubbed a hand over his chin in thought. “I’d hoped they wouldn’t follow me all the way out here.”

Kai smiled, but it didn’t look the least bit friendly. “Lucky for us they’re as ineffectual as they are stubborn.”

Edér sighed. He dropped the mysterious object onto his bunk. “God of resentment and covert plots. If they’d given up, they wouldn’t be good Skaenites, would they?”

“I guess…” Kai ran her fingers through her messy mane of curls, leaving them messier. “But assassins? I’d expect that more from Magranites. Or Galawain’s hunters, maybe.”

“Piss off a lot of Magranites, Kiki?”

“Just the one.” Her smile widened, triumphant, and Edér chuckled like she’d said something funny. “Right, well, we should have a couple days reprieve before they send more. Long enough to resupply.” She poked Edér in the chest. “You don’t go anywhere alone for a little while. Xoti told me about the market.”

“Of course she did,” Edér grumbled, but he didn’t argue.

“Oh please.” She poked him in the chest again, but less forcefully. Rekke was reminded abruptly of his sister. “Like you’ve ever been able to keep a secret from me.”

Edér put his hands on Kai’s shoulders and lowered his voice. “Kiki, you don’t need to do all this. It’s my mess, not yours.”

“No. That isn’t how this works, my dear.” Edér was going to have a bruise from being poked in the chest even with all that armor, if Kai and Xoti had anything to say about it. “You carried my empty husk halfway around the world to get my soul back, the least I can do is protect you from territorial Skaenites.”

Edér hugged her and she froze before hugging him back. Rekke looked back down at his book, trying not to intrude on what felt like a private moment. He heard a whispered exchange between the Watcher and the farmer, but tried not to pay attention to it.

“Your book is upside down.”

“Ta. I find them more interesting this way.” He looked up and there she was, smelling like fire and sunlight and the sea and looking at him a bit like he was a crazy person. “Hello, Kiki.”

“Hello, darling.” Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. “Xoti tells me you had an interesting day at the market yesterday.”

“Did we? We bought some fruit, we fought some assassins, Edér found another cat. Another beautiful day in Neketaka.” He set the book down, presumably on a table or bunk but he didn’t look to see where it ended up. “I wish it rained less here. It makes my hair…” he paused, but he couldn’t think of the Aedyran word, “eshibiz.”

Kai laughed, bright and warm. “Indeed. That’s a good word for it.” She looked like she wanted to say something else but she didn’t, an unfamiliar hesitance in the set of her shoulders, the way she absentmindedly rubbed her palms together, nothing like the cool, confident woman he had come to know.

Shy. She looked shy. Rekke didn’t know she knew how.

He took a step forward and reached out to her, resting his hand on the curve of her shoulder, just wanting to stop the overthinking he could see behind her eyes. She looked up at him, surprised and momentarily unguarded, and in a rush, he said, “Take me with you next time.” He wasn’t sure if he’d said it in Aedyran or Seki. Maybe both.

Kai raised an eyebrow at him, amused at the demand in his voice, but she looked more like herself, less lost. “I intend to. I know better than to leave you to entertain yourself for too long. You’ll end up doing something… how was it you phrased it? Something noble or stupid.”

Rekke blushed at the way her eyes followed the scar across his face when she said that. She looked like she wanted to touch it. He wished she would, but she kept her hands firmly to herself, contained and controlled as she always was. “I am very good at noble and stupid. Mostly the second one. I am told it makes me charming.”

“That’s one word for it, I guess,” she said with a smirk.

“You do not find me charming, Kiki?” She blushed scarlet all the way to the tips of her ears and he grinned wickedly. “I will have to try harder then, ta?”

She stared at him, searching his face, though for what he didn’t know. He just kept smiling at her and slowly she started to smile back.

Above deck, someone called “Captain!” and Kai took two large steps back. She drew herself up to her full height, such as it was. It was like watching her put her armor back on; Rekke couldn’t recall when exactly she’d taken it off. “I should go,” she said quietly.

“Gigideb ke tahun. I did not mean to keep you from your work.”

Rekke watched her closely as she walked away, then listened until he couldn’t hear her footsteps anymore. Only then did he collapse back against the side of the ship, running his hands over his hair. He made no effort to stop the smitten smile he wore.

He became aware of eyes on him, and turned to find Serafen sitting at one of the tables in the mess hall, staring at him through the open door. He stared back for a moment, but the orlan didn’t so much as blink. He called out, “Ku? Is there a problem?”

“That remains to be seen, lad. You tell me.” Serafen didn’t wait for an answer, though, just walked away, leaving Rekke confused and feeling like he was being judged for something he hadn’t done. He shrugged the thought away and left to find something to occupy his time.

[queen-scribbles]

My Lucky Day

For @pillarspromptsweekly fill 97. My Roll for It elements: Edér, modern AU, and meet-cute bc I wouldn’t be me if I passed up the chance to write an Ederity meet-cute. :D

--

Normally the two o’clock hour was the most boring part of Charity’s shift. Most people were either still at work or just starting to commute home, Not many chose that time slot to pursue pet adoption(or even just looking). Normally at this point she’d be folding scrap paper footballs and seeing how far she could flick them down the counter, or finding an excuse to play with or love on one of the animals the shelter housed.

But not today. Today someone hadn’t properly latched one of the kennels and a certain hyperactive yellow lab had gleefully seized the opportunity to escape. Thus, Charity’s two o’clock hour so far had been spent chasing down chaos incarnate, trying to minimize the mess he made and not having much luck. Of course he fishtailed around a corner, his tail wagging so ferociously it knocked supplies off the shelf. Of course Xoti had forgotten to lock the dog door(again), and he bolted into the yard--straight for the mud puddle in the back corner. Of course she missed trying to grab him on the way back in and wound up chasing a trail of mud all through the shelter. (Thank Eothas the door between the shelter and clinic was too heavy for a year old lab to push open on his own.) She finally cornered the dog in a dead end hallway and bribed him with treats until he was close enough to collar.

“Bad dog,” she scolded, heart not fully in it despite the work ahead of her cleaning up. “You made quite the mess.”

He looked up at her, gave a whining bark, and planted muddy paws against her thigh to put him in better range for head pets.

“Sunny, down,” Charity said, gentle but firm. That was something they were trying to train out of him before he was adopted. “C’mon, you need a bath now.”

She’d swear Sunny’s ears pricked up at the word bath. This dog loved water beyond even his breed’s usual affinity for it. She could almost believe he’d gotten muddy for the express purpose of getting a bath. Charity was less thrilled at how soaked she was about to wind up, but as the one who caught the dog(and the one with no plans after work, which meant it was okay if she went home smelling like wet fur), the duty would fall to her anyway. She might as well get it over with.

It proved every bit the ordeal she was anticipating, but she did get Sunny clean. Still very much the curious puppy--even though they’d walked this hallway a dozen times and she was pretty sure there were no new smells--he pulled every which way as they walked back toward the kennels.

“We really gotta train you, or you’re gonna scare people off,” Chariy muttered, letting go of the leash with one hand to brush damp straggles of hair back toward the sad remains of her ponytail.

Of course Sunny picked that moment to hear something ‘interesting’ and veer sharply toward the door between shelter and clinic. Sharply enough to yank the leash out of her hand.

Not again! she groused to herself as she lunged after him. “Sunny! Sunny, sit!”

Sunny did not sit. Because the door opened from the clinic side and a new person walked in, and what friendly, energetic dog worth his whiskers could resist saying hello to a new friend?

And so roughly fifty pounds of still-damp yellow lab pushed off the floor and slammed into their visitor in the same moment Charity skidded to a mortified halt. Even if he looked well-built enough to take it, this was so not the impression they wanted to give people.

-o-

Edér would have been lying if he said he expected his day to include being tackled by a friendly dog. He’d also be lying to say he minded, though it did catch him off-guard.

“I’m so sorry!” a voice gasped from above and to his right--probably the woman he’d briefly glimpsed before being tackled. 

“S’alright,” Edér managed around the enthusiastic tongue bath he was receiving. He brought one hand up to scratch the side of the dog’s face, which earned him a reprieve as the lab leaned into the attention with a pleased groan. “Always nice to make a new friend.”

He looked up just in time to catch her relieved smile. “Must be my lucky day.” Her ears went redder than her hair. “’Cause you’re clearly an animal lover, I mean, not for any other...” She cleared her throat, one hand tugging the end of her frazzled ponytail. “I’m gonna stop talkin’ now.”

“Actually, if you work here, I was lookin’ for some help,” Edér said, starting the reluctant process of scooting out from under the dog.

“Oh, sure,” the redhead nodded as she bent to grab the free end of the leash and started tugging the dog off him. “I’m Charity, by the way. And this fella’s Sunny, both in name and nature.”

“Fittin’,” he chuckled as he got to his feet. He held out his hand to shake. “Edér.”

Charity shook his hand, grip firmer than he expected. “And what can I help you with, Edér?”

“Pickin’ somethin’ up for a friend; antibiotics for her liz- uh, bearded dragon.” He rolled his eyes sheepishly. “She don’t like it when I call ‘im a lizard.”

Charity laughed. “Lotta people with beardies feel that way.” Her brow furrowed.  “Wasn’t there someone at the clinic desk?”

Edér shook his head. “Naw. There s’pposed t’ be?”

“Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “Same person who was s’pposed to lock all the kennels and the dog door out to the yard. I’m tryin’ to give her some time, ‘cause she’s new, but if she doesn’t get a lot less flighty real quick...” She shook her head and tugged the leash. “That’s not important, though. Let’s get you taken care of, then I’ll get Sunny squared away.”

“I can wait if you wanna do that first,” he offered, slipping his hands in his pockets. He wasn’t in any particular hurry.

“No, it’s okay,” Charity said quickly. “If you’re just pickin’ something up it shouldn’t take long.” Both of them looked down as Sunny bumped his nose against Edér’s knee. “‘Sides, he likes you, if I take him away now, he’ll pout the rest of the day an’ that’s no fun.”

“Alright, then, if you don’t mind...” Edér shrugged, which made her smile. It was a good smile. He pushed open the swinging door back to the clinic. “After you.”

-o-

Charity bit back the temptation to make some corny comment about him being a gentleman and simply nodded her thanks as she headed through the doorway. She could feel a fresh wave of blush rising to color her ears--and probably the back of her neck--even so. Maybe he wouldn’t notice. Maybe if he did she could pass off her embarrassment as due to Sunny’s behavior, not the number of times she’d successfully stuck her foot in her mouth in front of one of the more attractive men she’d met in her life. If the ‘lucky day’ comment wasn’t bad enough, the speed with which she’d insisted on helping Edér before she re-kenneled Sunny had done no favors. 

Just as he’d said, there was no sign of Xoti behind the clinic counter, even though her shift went til four. She hadn’t even left a note this time.

Charity pushed aside the embarrassment--and grumbling thoughts toward her coworker--and flashed Edér another smile as she stepped around the counter.  “So, what’re you pickin’ up?” She closed the waist-high door and slipped the leash around the handle so she had both hands free and Sunny was still semi-corralled.

“Antibiotics,” he reminded her, leaning against the counter with a crooked smile of his own.

She wanted to smack herself; he’d already told her that. “Right, right. Name?”

He cocked his head. “Would it be under the pet or the owner?”

“Owner.”

“That does make sense. Illani. Tavi Illani.”

The name rang a bell. “Oh, yeah. Dragon’s Quaro, right?” Charity asked as she started thumbing through the filled prescriptions. “She had him in a couple days ago and Doc Drake had to back order the meds.” Illani, there you are. She tugged out the small, crinkly bag and set it on the counter. “Here we go. And Dr. Drake is sorry for the delay and hopes Quaro feels better soon.” 

Edér raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Technically she didn’t tell me that, but” --Charity shrugged-- “ain’t hard math to figure out she would.” She played with the patient information tag stapled to the prescription to give her hands something to do. Which worked for all of five seconds before she happened to read the address. “Wait, wait, wait. Tavi lives in Yenwood?! Don’t they have any vets down there?”

Edér laughed. “None who--to quote her--’know a solitary fuckin’ thing’ about bearded dragons.” He leaned closer and whispered almost conspiratorially “I think she’s just tryin’ to justify drivin’ an hour each way to bring him to the same vet she’s used since he was this big.” He held up his thumb and index finger three or four inches apart. 

Charity giggled. “No shame in that; lotsa people try to stick with the same vet, for the sense of familiarity. ‘Specially if their pet likes that vet.” She braced her elbow against the counter and rested her chin in her hand. “”What about you? Assumin’ you also live in Yenwood, this is some favor. You two must be real good friends.”

Subtle, Char, a little voice in her head said dryly. Just ask the man if he’s single and get it over with.

“She’s one of my best,” he confirmed with another crooked smile. Sweet Eothas, it wasn’t fair. “But I was comin’ this way for work, so it ain’t that much much of an inconvenience. Speakin’ of...” He glanced at the wall clock. “I need to get goin’. Ain’t in a rush, exactly, but probably shouldn’t dawdle.”

She grinned. “Or the boss man’ll chew ya out?” 

“Nah, that ain’t a risk,” Edér shook his head, still smiling. “‘Cause you’re lookin’ at him. Still wanna make a good impression an’ keep customers happy, so...” He picked up the prescription and tapped the bag against the counter. “You need anything from me?”

Your phone number. Charity just barely swallowed the wards before they tumbled out her mouth. “Uh, no, it looks like, um, Tavi prepaid for it when she had Quaro in. So we’re good.”

Sunny pawed her leg and whined.

Charity patted the dog’s head to settle him. “And let me apologize again for this goober. He’s just over-eager to meet new people.”

Edér leaned across the counter to scratch Sunny’s ears. “No harm done. Like I said, always nice to make a new friend.” He met her gaze and winked. “Or two.”

Was she blushing? She had to be blushing. “Always happy to meet a fellow animal lover.”

He laughed. “Thanks for the help, Charity.”

“You are very welcome, Edér,” she laughed back. “Have a good day.”

He nodded as he straightened. “You, too.”

Charity watched him go, tried to read the writing on the door of his truck(purely general curiosity, definitely not looking for a phone number), but he’d parked too far away. She looked down at Sunny, who met her gaze and panted happily.  “Alright, your turn. Let’s get you back where you belong.”

Xoti picked that moment to get back from... wherever she’d been. At least she had the decency to wince when she saw Charity doing her job. “Sorry, Char.”

“What was it this time?” Charity asked, fixing her ponytail before she wrapped the leash around her hand to keep Sunny close.

“Door on the Ladies got stuck again,” Xoti said, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. “Doc really needs t’ fix that.”

“Leave a note on her desk, I’m sure she’ll bump it up the list,” Charity said. She tugged Sunny’s leash as she swung open the half-door to head back toward the shelter side. “Hell, if it’s real bad, maybe she’ll call someone soon as she gets back.”

“Kay.” Xoti hesitated, bit her lip. “There weren’t any trouble, was there? ‘Cause I really didn’t expect that to take more’n a minute or I’da let you know.”

Charity smiled to herself as she glanced toward the paring lot--empty now, of course. “Nope. No trouble at all.”

The clock read 3:05 as she led Sunny back to his kennel. She tried to convince herself the smile she wasn’t trying all that hard to fight was relief for the non-boring two o’clock hour for once. Given that she couldn’t stop picturing blond hair and blue eyes that crinkled at the corners when he smiled, it didn’t really work.

Her lucky day, indeed.

[queen-scribbles]

From the Depths

For @pillarspromptsweekly 99  Rebuild. I’m using Adi for this, since I already touched on Tavi in other fics and haven’t decided for Emiri yet, but this is all theoretical bc my lil fluffy nerd hasn’t even met Queen Onekaza yet in actuality. :D

                                                       ---

Adela would never be used to the disorienting rush that accompanied her return from talking to the gods. It didn’t matter what she learned or where she woke, there was always this vaguely nauseated edge to her senses for the next couple hours. But as the pieces of Eothas’ plan came together, as well as the history that drove his actions, the nausea started hanging around longer, accompanied by a faint and growing sense of dread.

When she stood on a spire of adra and watched both the Wheel and the reborn god’s form crumble, the nausea and dread showed up in force and she almost wished for a conference of the gods. Much as they bickered and plucked her nerves, like younger siblings spoiling for a fight, they may have at least had some more advice. Because nothing she’d come up with had deterred Eothas from his plan. The best she’d been able to do was soften the blow, so to speak. She hoped.  ‘Take pity,’ she’d begged, and the god of light and redemption had seemed to pause, just for a second. Time would tell if she’d only been imagining things, or if not, what he’d done in that second. For now, it was a decent walk back to the Ilhana, and she was emotionally drained from the last few hours. They all were(though none more than Xoti and Edér, she was sure).

None of them spoke as they wound their way through the desolate remnants of Ukaizo toward the harbor. There was too much to process. The Wheel was gone. The course of nature as they knew it was altered, a god had died in the process(for the second time), and the implications of everything they’d learned sparked too many questions to count.

Adela was disproportionately relieved when they rounded the final curve to Ukaizo’s harbor and she saw her ship bobbing at anchor. It felt--almost jarringly--like home. It was, at least, something familiar after everything that happened, and that alone made the thought of a boat more welcome than it would usually be. A sharp whistle echoed from the deck as soon as they came into view, and by the time they’d skirted the Guardian’s lifeless form, nearly everyone she’d left behind had congregated in the stone plaza.

“How do I tell them?” Adela muttered, scrubbing her eyes with one hand as she scanned the expectant faces. They’d followed her all the way here, through the most harrowing seas known to kith or beast, with the singular goal of stopping Eothas. And they hadn’t.

Edér squeezed her shoulder.”If I knew that, I’d offer t’ do it for ya, Adi.”

“It is a rather fantastical account,” Aloth agreed, rubbing the back of his neck.  “But so are many of the things you’ve encountered and overcome.”

“What makes this one borderline outlandish is that we didn’t,” Konstanten chipped in wryly. “Overcome, I mean.”

“Might as well tell ‘em,” Adela sighed. “Sooner that’s out of the way, sooner we can leave, and kith as a whole can start trying to figure out a way to fix this.”

“Can we?” Xoti asked skeptically.

“Well, I mean, there was some method in place before the Engwithans created the Wheel,” Adela said. “Not to imply we can just revert to that, whatever it was, only that it’s possible to do some other way. Or we could try to recreate the Wheel...” She shook her head. “Look, for now, all I want to do is tell them, and then sleep on it while we get out of here. After I get some rest, I’ll be all too happy to theorize and plan.”

“It’ll be interesting to see how different the seas are without the Mortar churnin’ away,” Konstanten commented, rubbing his beard contemplatively.

“And you’ll get to very shortly.” By now, they were close enough for Adela to address the gathered crew and there was no more time for asides.

“How did it go, casita?” Irrena asked, the first one--as always--to find her voice.

Adela wrinkled her nose. “Well, good news, we found out how to clear up Ondra’s Mortar so the journey back will be much easier.”

“And the bad news?” Beodul prompted, crossing his arms.

“We couldn’t stop Eothas,” she said, bracing herself for surprise and censure at her admission of failure. There were times she wondered if kith outside her closest friends believed she could fail. “He destroyed the Wheel. We need to sail back to Neketaka and talk to the remaining faction leaders about how we want to proceed.”

There was surprise--shock, even--in some of the faces turned toward her, but none looked disappointed. Apparently it was understandable if even someone with her storied record couldn’t take down a god. That was something of a relief.

“The Wheel is gone?” Kuldrun spoke up. He had paled noticeably when Adela looked his way.

She grimaced. “Yes, but Eora has vast resources of both intellect and materials, and some time before we start to see the effects of this, so I’m sure we can find a way to rebuild or replace it.” She ran her fingers through the wisps of hair that had escaped her bandanna, brushing them back from her eyes. “For now, let’s just worry about getting back to Neketaka, alright?”

Some of the crew seemed to share Kuldrun’s worry, but they all nodded, and the small knot of kith started almost as one back up the Ilhana’s ramp. Adela and her companions followed behind the crew. Even with the Mortar calmed, it would be three or four days’ sail back to Neketaka. The sooner they could start, the better for all concerned. Which was literally everyone.

Adela cast a half-longing look back over her shoulder as she trudged up the ramp. Under other--better--circumstances, she would love to wander what remained of Ukaizo. Just explore the streets, see what she could learn. But there wasn’t time now. Maybe she could come back, now that kith were able to control Ondra’s Mortar. Shame Kana couldn’t come with her; he’d love to see this.

Dwelling on the Mortar brought another train of thought to mind, and she tapped Beodul on the arm. “Where Daelia? I didn’t see her with the rest of the crew.”

“Where do you think?” the dwarf snorted.

Well, that answered her next couple questions, too. “Thank you.” Rest first, then she could check in with the crew who hadn’t been in the harbor. She headed for her cabin.

Aloth followed. “Adela.”

“Yes, Aloth?” She plunked her grimoire on the desk and sat in the chair to start unlacing her boots.

“Do you really think that was wise?” He shut the door and leaned back against it. “Telling them everything?”

“First off, it wasn’t everything,” she retorted. The first boot came loose and thunked hollowly against the floor. “Nothing about the how, when, or why of the Wheel’s creation, or the history of what the Huana and Engwithans did. But they knew what we came here to do-” the second boot  dropped “-I feel like they deserve to know how things stand.”

“And you aren’t worried a panic will start the first time we make port?” Aloth pointed out. “People hearing second- or third-hand that the Wheel is gone, destroyed by Eothas for that matter, are not going to ask if there’s potential for a solution. They’re simply going to worry.”

“So let me get this straight....” Adela sent him a strongly dubious look. “I should have kept it a secret because it’s too dangerous for common kith to know and they wouldn’t react well to the truth? B’cause you know who that sounds like, right?” She tugged off her bandanna and dropped it on top of her grimoire. “You sort of helped me kill him, if memory serves, and have spent five blazing years trying to single-handedly dismantle his following.”

Aloth’s face colored and his ears twitched irritably. “I’m not saying they should never know, Adela. I’m saying it would be better learned from their leaders, with all relevant information presented together, then heard in bits and pieces as a dockside rumor that’s been through Usher knows how many people first.”

“I see your point,” Adela allowed. “But you know I’ve always believed honesty is the best policy.”

“I hope you’re right,” he said softly, tucking his hair behind one ear and then fidgeting with the pages of his own grimoire. “In this case more than most.”

“Me, too,” she said with a wry snort. “But I can’t help thinking the solution to this mess may be thought up by a Huana fisherman, or a Dyrwoodan merchant, or some other ‘commoner’ who would be considered an unlikely source, so the faster kith hear about it, the faster we may get at least pieces of a solution.” She pulled her braid over her shoulder and started curling the end of it around her thumb. “Knowledge is meant to be shared, right?”

“Yes, but not willy-nilly,” Aloth countered. “Or you get mass panic under some circumstances, or mob justice, or kith dabbling in power they con’t control...”

“I get it, I get it,” Adela sighed. She maybe didn’t completely agree, but she saw where he was coming from, and it was a valid argument. “Still not sorry I was honest with my crew. And if it makes you feel any better, we’re not stopping anywhere before Neketaka unless we have to. So any rumors or panic won’t have long to spread before the truth can counter it.”

“It still feels like a bit much of a risk for me,” Aloth said with a shrug. “But I trust you, so if this is how you want to handle the situation, I will support you, as always.”

“Thank you.” She slid out of the chair and crossed the room to squeeze his hand with a grateful smile. “It means a lot that you back me, even when we disagree.”

He smiled in return. “Someone may have once pointed out that’s something friends do.”

She giggled and sent him a mischievous look. “Someone sounds smart.”

“She is.” He squeezed her hand back. “I believe at the moment she’s also tired, so I’ll take my leave and let her get some rest.”

“You’re not wrong, and she appreciates it.” As if on cue, Adela yawned. “See you in... nine or ten hours, I guess?”

“From the quality of those dark circles, I’d say that’s an optimistic estimate,” Aloth smiled. “But you know where to find me.”

She nodded and watched him go. She really was tired; enough she could probably fall asleep without much trouble, even though they were at sea.

                                                      ---

Conservative as her estimate had been, Adela didn’t even get the anticipated nine or ten hours’ sleep. Instead, she was all but rolled out of her bunk to land in a heap on the floor when the Ilhana banked hard to port. She blinked and shook her head in an attempt to wake herself up, but still had barely made it to her feet when someone pounded on her door.

“Yeah?” she hollered, scrambling for her boots. Her hair fell in her eyes, but she just impatiently raked it back.

The door banged open and Xoti all but tumbled into the room. “Beodul said t’ come getcha, Adi. There’s... somethin’ out there you need to see.”

“What?” Adela shoved her feet in her boots and nodded back toward the door.

“Just... you’ll see.” Xoti darted back to the ladder abovedecks.

Now fully awake from pure curiosity, if nothing else, Adela followed her friend. She hadn’t even fully emerged on deck when she did, indeed, see what Xoti had been talking about. “Whoa.”

“Toldja.” Xoti shot her an expectant look as Beodul broke off his conversation with Kuldrun and headed their way.

“Beodul,” Adela nodded around a yawn so big it made her jaw click.

“Watcher. Sorry to cut your rest so short, but whaddya think of this?” He gestured at the island off the starboard rail, surmounted by algae-slicked, still dripping ruins that absolutely had not been there on their way to Ukaizo.

Adela blinked and stared at the architecture. If it wasn’t for the fact someone else was pointing them out, she might’ve wondered if she was still dreaming. From this distance she couldn’t make out many details, but they were clearly ancient. How ancient would require a closer look.

“I think I want go explore a bit,” she finally said. There was something about the nearest spire.... “Who wants to come along?”

Konstanten, Xoti, and Tekéhu were her only takers. In theory that was plenty; if this ruin had risen from the sea as it appeared, there shouldn’t be any living threats, just structural ones. In which case a smaller group might be better.

The fading light meant they wouldn’t have long, but she didn’t really need more than an hour for now. Just enough to get a better look, satisfy her curiosity, maybe figure out what this place was.

As the smaller longboat made its way through the waves, guided smoothly by Tekéhu’s watershaping, Adela couldn’t tear her gaze away from the arches and spires. Even as dimly colored shadows, there was something familiar about them. It didn’t hit her until they’d beached the longboat and started trekking toward the closest section of ruins.

Engwithan. There were distinctly Engwithan elements to the design, the patterns of the stonework. Even as this revelation hit her, Tekéhu let out a grunt of surprise.

“Ekera, it seems this place was built by my people,” he murmured, pointing to a cluster of buildings off to the side. They were just as clearly Huana as the ones Adela had seen were Engwithan.

“They’re mixed,” she muttered, a thousand theories spinning through her mind. “More evidence of working together...” Evidence that had been hidden at the bottom of the ocean until a couple hours ago at most. A long-past conversation surfaced in her memory, so clear she could feel the icy wind that had been its backdrop, and the implications made her clap both hands over her mouth, ears dipping low as she squeaked in delight. “I don’t believe it...”

“Believe what?” Xoti asked, ready to be excited for her but unsure why.

“This is... this is a place Ondra wanted forgotten,” Adela said, voice trembling with mingled awe and excitement. Galawain’s hide, she wished Aloth or Edér had been awake to come along. Or, Hel, that somehow Kana could be here. Someone who would understand exactly what this meant to her. “She sank them, so they would fade from kith’s memory. And they’re back.” She almost reverently placed one hand against a nearby pillar and wiped off the coating of slime to reveal Engwithan runes. It took a moment to recall their meaning; some things were still jumbled from all her soul had been through, but- “Path of Souls...” 

She wiped off more muck, but the rest was all patterns and decoration. Still, it was enough. This had been something important to the Engwithan study of souls. Which would make it very helpful to explore and study in their current circumstances.

“Watcher....” Tekéhu paused, biting his lip in thought or concern. “Why did it surface now, do you think?”

She remembered the pause, Eothas hesitating for a bare moment before battering the Wheel to pieces. “As a head start. I’ll bet my favorite grimoire there’s more places like this that suddenly resurfaced after centuries. And I’ll bet most--if not all--of them have information and secrets that can help us deal with the Wheel’s destruction!” She looked around, practically bouncing in excitement  “Even if it can’t, it’s bound to be fascinating to study.” She tugged on her necklace. “What do you think are the chances of dropping anchor nearby for the night so we can come back tomorrow with more light?”

“I think even if Kuldrun wasn’t superstitious enough to make him wantin’ to linger a long shot, we’ve got somewhere important to be,” Konstanten reminded her. “I know you love this stuff, Watcher, but we can mark it an’ come back. You already have a plan.”

And he had a point. She did need to talk to all the people of authority so they knew what was going on and could start working on a solution. She just had a feeling there sorts of places were going to be a big part of any solution they found. Between that and her insatiable curiosity, the reluctant nod she gave pained Adela more than she let on.

“You’re right,” she sighed. “Well look around a little bit more before all the light’s gone, and then mark this place on the map when we leave.” She glanced up at Tekéhu and smirked. “I guess you’ll want to come with me when I come back?”

He grinned. “I do have to admit a certain curiosity. I would be happy to return with you.”

“Great! Right now, thought, we’re wasting time.” Adela bounced on her toes a couple more times before scampering further in to the ruins. At this point, they had less than an hour of light left, and she wanted to use every bit of it she could. As help from the gods went, she liked this much better than random conferences that yanked her soul from her body. Ancient ruins beat bickering gods any day. Between what the ruins could teach and accepting help from those who offered, she had a feeling the world would be alright.

[queen-scribbles]

Top of the List

@pillarspromptsweekly fill #85: Spring. Adi gets this one, along with her best buds, because it’s been too long since I wrote them together.

There were many things Adela loved about spring. Better weather, birds singing, baby animals. It was also the time of year a lot of academics emerged from fours months ensconced in their toasty warm studies with new papers and treatises on a plethora of topics(not that she’d had time to track any of them down this year). But more than anything, she loved the flowers.

And this year--like last--she was getting to see a whole array of new ones. The Deadfire Archipelago had an even greater variety than the Dyrwood, given the wildly different climates on the various islands. There were some on Tikawara almost as big as Adela herself, and then ones not much bigger than a fingernail. All of them were fascinating, and beautiful in their own way, and after a little trial and error, Adela and Xoti had mostly figured out how to determine which ones were safe to touch.

“Adi, look at these!” Xoti crowed as she returned from scouting with a handful of pale pink blossoms. They looked like peonies, except fewer petals. “Ain’t they pretty?”

“Very,” she agreed with an enthusiastic grin. “Where’d you find them?”

“Over that way.” Xoti waved her free hand toward a hill that sat to the west of their campsite. “There’s a whole... I guess you’d call it a glen, with all kinds’a flowers I ain’t seen before. It’s beautiful, and it looked pretty safe.”

“Maybe we can go back after dinner,” Adela said, at the same moment Aloth asked, “How certain are you it’s safe?”

“Adi, that’s what I was thinkin’--stew smells really good, by the way--an’ Aloth, whaddya mean?” Xoti planted her hands on her hips and cocked an eyebrow at the wizard.

“This is an uninhabited, uncharted island,” Aloth said, fiddling with the pages of his grimoire. “I’m simply concerned that a single, cursory scouting trip is insufficient to deem the entire place safe.”

“He’s got a point.” Adela gave the stew one last stirring to make sure none was sticking to the bottom and swung it away from the firepit. “I want to go enjoy flowers as much as you do, Xo, but we haven’t seen nearly enough of this island to be sure it’s completely safe.”

“We’re gonna be together, ain’t we?” Xoti countered. “We ain’t exactly helpless.” She nudged the hilt of her sickle, setting it rocking against her leg. “Hel, if you’re really worried, I bet Rekke would come with us.”

The redhead started at his name, looking up from the patterns he’d been tracing in the dirt. “I... go with you?”

“Only if you want to,” Adela assured him hastily. “We’re gonna explore after dinner, go see a place Xoti found with lots of plants and flowers.”

“Ta, I will come,” Rekke nodded, brushing his hair back from his face.

“Great! See, we’ll be fine,” Xoti grinned at Aloth. “You an’ Pallegina can hold down the camp, right? ‘Less you’d rather come with us, too.”

“Oh, no.” Aloth shook his head, smile tugging at his lips as he darted a look toward Adela. “I know what she’s like when you give her access to large quantities of flowers.”

And to Xoti’s immense frustration, neither he nor Adela would elaborate the entire time they were eating dinner. Pallegina pled ignorance when the priest tried to ask her. “I wasn’t present for this... incident, whatever it may be.”

Adela finally took pity on her as the two of them, plus Rekke, headed for the glen Xoti had found. “Flower crowns.”

“Huh?” Xoti looked at her, confused by the lack of context.

“On the way to Defiance Bay the first time, back in the Dyrwood. It was spring, and I was excited there were flowers, so I made flower crowns. First one for me, then Kana, then just decided to do one for everyone.” She shrugged.  “They’re fun to make, and we’d set camp early, so I had a lot of time to kill. To Aloth’s credit, he did wear the one I made him for a good hour before it ‘mysteriously’ disappeared. Kana and Sagani, on the other hand, loved theirs so much they were still wearing them when we reached the city the next day, even though they were starting to fall apart.”

“Yeah, I gotta say, Aloth don’t really strike me as the flower crown type,” Xoti commented, leading the way through a patch of trees.

“He’s not,” Adela confirmed. “But we didn’t know each other well yet, and he didn’t want to rock the boat, and I was too caught up having fun to notice he wasn’t terribly thrilled. If I made him one now he’d prob’ly wear it to humor me ‘cause we’re friends. But I won’t do that to him.” She grinned. “Not when I have you two.”

Xoti laughed. “We’ll definitely be more enthusiastic about ‘em, won’t we?” She elbowed Rekke playfully in the ribs.

“Hm? Oh, ta,” he nodded, attention seeming more drawn by their surroundings than the conversation. All the same, he offered a smile. “I would be happy to wear a crown of flowers for you.”

“Are you alright?” Adela checked. “You seem distracted.”

“Oh, y-yes.” Seeing she wasn’t convinced by the stuttered reassurance, Rekke raked one hand through his hair and tried again. “These trees, there are ones like them near Lipasalis, ta? I am just a little homesick.”

She glanced at the trees, short, scrubby things with gnarled and twisted branches and a peeling layer of bark. “That’s what your trees look like?”

“Some of them. Others are tall, and big around. But the ones closest to the city look like this.” He reached out and trailed his fingers along the bark as they passed. It flaked like parchment under his touch.

“Well, c’mon, we can swap stories and distract ya,” Xoti said with a wink, tugging on his arm. “We’re almost there.” And she promptly launched in to what Adela figured was a greatly embellished version of the Dawnstars’ first few days in the Deadfire. Embellished or no, the story had both her and Rekke laughing no more than three minutes in, and filled the rest of their walk to the glen Xoti had found.

Adela could see why her friend had been so excited; it looked like something out of a fairy tale. Edged in scraggly(if slightly taller) trees, the small glen held at least five different kinds of flowers that she could see. One even sprouted from a hanging vine, trailing from tree to tree in a brilliant yellow boundary line.

“Wow,” was all she could say at first, followed a few moments later by, “I sort of want to live here now.”

Xoti giggled. “Knew you’d like it. D’you recognize any of these flowers? “Cause I sure don’t.”

“A couple look almost familiar,” Adela said, locating the patch of pink blooms Xoti had brought back to camp. “Maybe they’re local offshoots?”

Xoti almost reverently trailed her fingers across small orange blossoms, similar to marigolds. The stems were different, and the middle tiers of petals darkened to red, but otherwise they matched the cheerful yellow flowers Adela knew from Ixamitl. “Think they’re safe to pick?”

“Probably,” Adela said slowly. The ones she almost-recognized all looked like harmless plants from either back home or in the Dyrwood. “Only one way to know for sure, though, which you’ve already tested.”

Xoti rolled her eyes at the teasing. “So we know the pink ones are safe. Should we find out about a couple more?”

Adela grinned. “I’m always ready to take a few risks when flowers are involved.” She studied the orange ones Xoti had touched. “Bet these would make a really pretty flower crown.” And there were certainly enough of them to pick a couple dozen without feeling bad. “This color would look good against your hair, Xo.”

Xoti smiled and pushed back her hood. “Aw, thanks, Adi. If you’re gonna do that, I’m makin’ you one, too.”

Adela giggled. “Deal. We should prob’ly find something to talk about that Rekke will like, too.” She flashed him a smile. “So you don’t get bored listening to us.”

He chuckled, idly gathering his hair to tie it back from his face. “I know this was a... risk, ta? I do not mind, it helps me practice my Aedyran.”

“Still...” she curled the tail of her braid around her thumb. “Being left out’s not a fun feeling.”

Rekke nodded. “True.”

“So, Adi,” Xoti began as she walked further into the flowery glen. “I guess it’s safe to assume your favorite part of spring’s the flowers?”

“You got me,” Adela conceded, kneeling to pick the orange marigolds. The sturdier stems must help with drawing more water in the dry months, she guessed. And maybe it got windy here? “Spring’s my favorite, and there’s a lot I like, but the flowers are definitely top of the list. How ‘bout you?”

For all their sturdy stalks, the flowers came up easily, and she’d picked half a dozen before Xoti answered. “Aw, that’s easy,” she laughed. “I grew up on a farm, Adi. Baby animals galore. Whaddya think my favorite part is?”

“Hmm, I’m going to guess planting vegetables?” Adela deadpanned, then laughed when Xoti chucked a pebble at her. “Oh, so it is the baby animals. See, I figured that was too obvious.”

“I’m not a master of skulduggery and secrecy like some people,” Xoti retorted sweetly. “How ‘bout you, Rekke? What do you like best about spring?”

He mulled it over for a minute while Xoti and Adela finished collecting flowers and got themselves comfortably seated to start braiding. “Here I would say the weather. There is rain, but not so much. And it is.... softer? than in winter, when it comes.”

“Mm, that’s a good one. Summer can be bad, too, to hear Tuliak tell it,” Adela commented, biting her lip in concentration as she wove the flower stems together.

Rekke wrinkled his nose and muttered something in Seki she didn’t catch. “Back home, there is a nut, very sweet, that can only be picked the first couple weeks of spring. It tastes very good, by itself or...” he frowned and rubbed his thumbs across his fingers as the word escaped him. “...broken small?”

“Crushed?” Adela supplied, and he nodded.

“Ta. Crushed on food. We cannot buy later in the year, because of the cost, so we only have it in spring in my house.”

“Do ya ever put it on chocolate things?” Xoti asked, looking at Rekke rather than the crown she was braiding.

“Oh yes. It is very good with chocolate,” he grinned.

“What isn’t?” Adela laughed.

Their conversation shifted to food from there, talking about favorite dishes, bemoaning less enjoyed ones. Xoti and Adela finished the crowns they were making each other. The orange and red blossoms looked as pretty against Xoti’s dark hair as Adela had predicted, and the crinkly blue cornflowers she’d chosen were equally complementary to Adela’s blonde waves. Once the two of them had gleefully exchanged their own circlet, they set to work together making Rekke one of small, deep purple flowers. They reminded Adela of yarrow, aside from being  the wrong color.

Rekke was very appreciative, smiling wide as he ducked his head so Xoti could put the crown on him. The three of them sat and talked for another hour or so, enjoying the scenery(and the break from being shipbound), before heading back to camp.

Aloth and Pallegina were both sitting out near the campfire as they approached. The wizard was engrossed in his book, but Pallegina looked up from sharpening her estoc at the sound of their footsteps. She raised an eyebrow at their new accessories, golden eyes flickering with amusement.

“I take it you enjoyed yourselves,” she commented.

“Immensely,” Adela said with a cheerful smile.

Aloth looked up at the sound of her voice and a wry grin pulled at his lips. “I knew it.”

“You do have experience with my foibles and passions,” she laughed as she plunked down next to him and peeked at his book. It was something about Deadfire wildlife, the more mundane varieties. “I was tempted to make you one, but refrained.”

“How shall I ever survive?” he deadpanned, still smirking slightly.

“I can share mine if you like,” Adela offered with a mock innocent smile.

“No, no, I’ll manage.” Aloth reached over and straightened the circlet as it slipped toward her eye. “It’s even cornflowers.”

“Hey, Xoti made it, that actually isn’t my choice.”

“I picked that ‘cause I know you like ‘em,” Xoti chipped in.

“So it was sort of my choice, then,” Adela corrected herself with a laugh. “They are my favorite.” For several reasons. She tugged one of the extras she’d picked from her pocket and tucked it in the tie holding back Aloth’s hair.

He shot her a flat look but left it. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she said sweetly. She reached for her pack and dug for a book of her own. The light was hanging around longer than before--another great thing about spring--and she wanted to take advantage of that.

The five of them settled in for the evening all absorbed in their own doings, but every so often Adela and Xoti would catch each other adjusting their flower crowns and they’d share a grin.

Yes, there were many things to like about spring.

[queen-scribbles]

A Taste of Home

Quick fill for @pillarspromptsweekly​ 74, in case the other idea takes too long. Using Rekke, summer and first bite of a new food as my elements.

If she hadn’t just tripped over a crack and slammed her shoulder into a wall hard enough to make her hand tingle, Adela might have thought she was dreaming. The wizened, ratty Vailian woman hawking food in one of Neketaka’s many back alleys had Ixamitl summer pears. She didn’t know how the woman had gotten her hands on them, didn’t really care. Her mouth was already watering at the half dozen golden fruit, dusking slightly red at the top in proof they were at their ripest.

Hearing the merchant’s heavily accent Aedyran, Adela smiled warmly and greeted her in Vailian. “Ado, aimica, your wares look so good, I would be a fool if I went on without obtaining some.”

The woman’s face split in a matching grin. “Belfetto, aimica,” she returned,  “Renata Giaro is at your service, tella.”

Adela nodded to confirm the deduction in that last word and glanced back toward her lollygagging companions. She had a couple minutes before they caught up--maybe more if Xoti decided she couldn’t walk and tell whatever tale she was weaving at the same time. 

“How much for the pears?” she asked, gesturing toward the sack. It might not be smart bartering to be so obvious, but frankly, she didn’t care if she got fleeced, those pears would be a taste of home and she wanted them.

Renata gestured grandly as she plucked the woven sack from its hook and placed it on the counter. “You have excellent taste, aimica. Ixamitl’s summer pears are delicious, and hard to come by here in the Deadfire.” She drummed her fingers against the counter twice in succession. “I could let you have them for seventy five pires each.”

That was piracy worse than the Principi engaged in, and Adela still had to stop herself from knee-jerk agreement, just to ensure she got a taste of home. “Too much. Forty five each,” she countered with a shake of her head.

Renata tsked and shook her head in return. “You’ll beggar me, tella. Sixty each. Not a pire less.”

Still high, but acceptably so. “Deal.” Adela counted out the money, took the sack, and turned to leave-

-Just in time to almost run into Rekke as he and Xoti finally caught up to her. He mumbled something startled and grabbed her shoulder to steady her. “Sorry, Adi. I thought you knew we were there.”

“I did, sort of,” Adela assured him, grateful his hand had fallen on the shoulder she didn’t run into a wall. “Not your fault.”

“What did you buy?” he asked, nodding toward the sack.

“Oh, ‘member when we were talking about favorite food an’ I mentioned spiced pears?”

Rekke nodded. “Ta.”

She grinned and hefted her prize. “These are the pears we use for that. I may not be the best cook in Eora”--That’s Ben, she thought, with a small pang of homesickness--”but I’m pretty good, and I bet I can cook ‘em pretty close to what I remember.” She winked at Rekke and Xoti each in turn. “If you’re real nice to me, maybe I’ll even share.”

“I ever mention how pretty your hair looks, Adi?” Xoti immediately piped up, a gleam in her eye that said she caught the joke.

“I may’ve heard it once or twice, yeah,” Adela winked. “Yours is pretty, too, Xo.”

The three of them headed toward Queen’s Berth, heaping lavish jesting compliments on each other the whole way.

>O<

Adela had forgotten one thing in her excitement--the other ingredients. She remembered the recipe, sure enough, but the Ilhana’s galley lacked cinnamon and nutmeg; the two most crucial parts after the pears themselves.

“Port Maje might have ‘em,” Xoti pointed out. “Bein’ a trading post. If you don’t mind the detour.”

“I don’t,” Adela said frankly, and with a word to Beodul, they were en route.

“You really want to make these pears, ta?” Rekke laughed as the two of them sat on deck, summer breeze ruffling their hair.

“Ta,” Adela nodded. “I haven’t had them in forever, Rekke, and I can practically taste them. That’ll drive me mad even faster’n the gods at this rate.”

He chuckled, wrapped a lock of hair around his finger. “And I have been nice, ta? I get a taste?”

“Oh, you’re always nice,” she laughed in reply, smiling at his eagerness. “Of course you get to taste. I promised, didn’t I? It won’t be the same as having them in Ixamitl, where they could slow-cook all day in the right kind of oven, but they’ll still be yummy.”

“Yuki,” Rekke grinned. “I hope they have these spices in Port Maje.”

“Me, too,” Adela said with a nod. “I don’t wanna be forced to sail the Deadfire looking for damned spices.”

They did, though she wound up owing Alteria a very large favor for the nutmeg. “Rarer than hen’s teeth, you know?” the blonde merchant shrugged.

Adela did know, so she promised the favor, took the nutmeg, and beelined for her ship. Gods only knew when she’d be back this way again; she’d worry about this favor then. Right now she wanted to cook.

>O<

Between preparation and cooking--and one agitated xaurip who didn’t like having ‘her’ galley invaded--it took several hours for the pears to be ready. They smelled just as delicious as Adela remembered, and her mouth was already watering as she carried the dish back to her cabin.

Xoti and Rekke were waiting right were she’d left them--the windowseat, Xoti playing with Rekke’s hair again--though they both quickly moved for the table when she entered with the much-praised pears.

“Patience is a virtue,” Adela teased--somewhat hypocritically given her own hurry. “And remember, there’s not a lot. They’re so good you’re gonna want to hog it all to yourself, but we get two each.”

“Is that reminder for us or you?” Rekke asked mischievously, winking at her.

Adela shot him a dirty look as she set down the pears and lightly flicked the side of his hand. “Both.”

“Play nice, Adi,” Xoti laughed.

“I’m sharing my favorite food in the world ‘stead of hogging it all for me,” Adela protested. “That seems pretty nice to me.”

“It is nice,” Rekke said, propping his chin on one hand. “Can we eat pears now?”

“Ta,” Adela replied with a giggle. It was easier than she expected to play the hostess and serve them each their share before taking her own, because that meant she got to watch their faces light up at the first bite of her favorite food from home.

“Gaun’s eyes, Adi,” Xoti effused, still chewing, “does all the food in Ixamitl taste this good?”

“More or less,” she nodded, giggling at Xoti’s enraptured expression. “‘Least if Mama or Ben cooks it, it does.”

A long string of quiet, almost reverent Seki tumbled from Rekke as he finished his first bite and he met Adela’s eye to offer a crooked smile. “You were right, Adi. It is like eating pure joy.”

“Toldja,” Adela grinned.

“That’s a good way to put it,” Xoti agreed, eyes gleaming with laughter. “Gods, if I’d had food this good, maybe I’d never’ve left home.”

“Believe me, it was a struggle,” Adela said wryly. Satisfied her friends enjoyed the dish as much as she did, she finally dug in herself.

The familiar taste almost overwhelmed her and her eyes fluttered closed. Hound’s teeth, I’ve missed you. There was nothing quite like the rush of euphoria from eating a long-absent favorite. The nostalgia of her associated memories was almost as strong as the taste itself, and she couldn’t stop a quiet hum to let out some of the warmth balling in her chest.

Xoti laughed. “Yeah, basically that. This is really good, Adi. Shame there ain’t more.”

“Believe me, I heartily agree,” Adela sighed. “But given it practically cost an arm and a leg just to make this much, I’ll have to be satisfied with just a taste of home.”

“Thank you even more, then, for sharing,” Rekke said as he carefully cut off another bite.

“Yeah, thanks a bunch, Adi,” Xoti nodded enthusiastically.

“Oh, you’re welcome,” Adela said brightly. “Food’s better when you share it, right?” That had always been Mama’s philosophy, and she found herself agreeing with it--watching her friends enjoy a dish she loved made it taste even better.

To see them so happy, she could definitely manage with just a taste of home.

---------------------------------

Man, I love writing Rekke. And Xoti. And Adi. And extra especially all three of them together. Are brot3′s a thing? Cuz that’s basically what they are. :D

[lunarowena]

The Harvester

For @pillarspromptsweekly #0063: Spooky.

Cross posted at AO3.

The first time I played through Deadfire I wound up with Xoti's bad ending. A lot of the companions had not so great endings, really. There's a reason I don't write about Watcher Talia much.

Warnings for spoilers for Deadfire endings and bad ending Xoti.

3 Fonauton, 2830

At sea, en route to Port Maje

High Priestess Saewyn,

It is likely my letters shall reach you all in one go as I shall have no means to mail them before we arrive in Port Maje. If we make it to Port Maje. The sailors here are a superstitious lot who claim the island is haunted ever since the the leadership of the island was assassinated and the Vailians were driven out by Queen Onekaza. Haunted by a Harvester of Guan, can you believe it? Or at least that’s what I’ve deduced from their wild tales of a ghostly figure wielding a lantern and sickle that stalks the island. Of course there are Harvesters of Guan, said I, Her Majesty allowed the Children of the Dawnstars to settle in the region after expelling the Vailians. It is worrying, however, that we’ve had no word from the settlement these last few months…

I suspect it’s merely distraction from a bad harvest, or perhaps no ships willing to visit the region due to these wild stories! Ha! If so, we must fix the situation before the settlement winds up completely cut off from the outside world. It does not give us credit to have our brothers and sisters abandoned.

The new settlers, the Gjyrsc family, Beren and Marani and their children Charim and Aelse, are doing well. The girl worries from the tales of the sailors, but the boy runs around swinging an imaginary sword at imaginary ghosts. They should inject some life into the mission settlement.

Yours Faithfully,

Dernsc Cracgyn

8 Fonauton, 2830

Maje Island

High Priestess Saewyn,

I write to you in the most unfortunate circumstances. This letter will not likely reach you for some time and I hope our party will be in a better situation by the time I am able to mail this. We have been shipwrecked! A violent storm fell upon us and broke our poor ship upon the rocks as we rounded the island. The Gjyrsc family and I are unharmed, but our Captain Durnmar has been left with a broken arm and a broken head and two-thirds of the crew are dead.

We have dragged what little possessions and provisions we could find unspoiled out of the wreckage and set up a makeshift camp on the beach to protect ourselves from the elements. The Captain has ordered everyone to stay put and wait for rescue, but what rescue will we find? Ships have been avoiding the island. We must pray that our missive to the settlement at Port Maje was delivered and someone comes looking for us.

Of the family, the mother and daughter are bearing it as best they can, but I don’t think we can stay camped here much longer. The boy Charim views it all as a grand adventure, right out of a mass published novel. I shall try to take some inspiration from his enthusiasm, but I am worried about our amount of supplies.

Yours Faithfully,

Dernsc Cracgyn

11 Fonauton, 2830

Maje Island

High Priestess Saewyn,

It is with a heavy hand I write. Captain Durnmar is dead. Fever took him, and indeed is taking many of those injured in the wreck. It is not much longer that we can stay here. Our supplies and manpower grow short. While we have not waited long, I fear no one is coming. I believe our best course of action is to set off across the island to find Port Maje. It should not be that long of a journey and we no longer need to worry about… the injured.

The superstitious sailors of course fight me on this. And with the only sensible man of the lot dead, there is not much I can do to budge them. It may just be myself and the Gjyrsc family. Beren Gjyrsc agrees with me that there’s no hope in remaining here. We are making preparations to set out tomorrow.

Yours Faithfully,

Dernsc Cracgyn

13 Fonauton, 2830

Maje Island

High Priestess Saewyn,

The strangest series of events has occurred. Do you know a young woman named Xoti? She claims to be a friend of yours. She seems a bit unorthodox, but I suspect she will be our deliverance. I should start from the beginning.

We set off into the island yesterday; myself, the Gjyrsc family, and one off the sailors called Dunnur. Dunnur had been to the island before and agreed to serve, albeit reluctantly, as our guide. You would think I’d be used to the climate of the Deadfire by now having lived here these past seven years, but I do admit I was a tad overwhelmed by the humidity and the insectoid wildlife as we began our trek. Regardless, we seemed to make good progress our first day.

However, this morning, disaster struck! Dunnur went to collect water and while we waited a little over an hour, he never returned. Assuming he deserted us and headed back toward the beach camp, I was furious, but Gjyrsc convinced me to set off toward the stream to look for him. I was shocked at what we found. Dunnur, dead! Cut to pieces! His shocked, sightless eyes staring up at the sky as the blood dripped from his savaged chest, flayed strips of skin peeling loose. Whatever beast attacked him must have had claws like knives. I covered my nose as Gjyrsc made the sign of Eothas.

I, of course, performed the funeral rites for poor Dunnur as Gjyrsc went back to check on his family. I wish we could have given him more of a proper burial, but it was not a suitable sight for the women and Gjyrsc and I agreed that our party needed to stick together and move along. Whatever savage beast attacked Dunnur could come for us next!

Morale was low, having lost our guide and in such a shocking way. We still endeavored to try to continue onward in the same general direction, hoping we would stay on track and eventually hit the outskirts of Port Maje.

Morale was lower still as the sun began to sink in the sky and we came to the realization we were hopelessly lost. Possibly going in circles if Mrs. Gjyrsc is to be believed. I was beginning to lose all hope, visions of beasts with razor sharp claws dancing through my head, when we came upon a small clearing.

Perched on a stump in the middle of the clearing sat a young woman dressed in green, a sickle and glowing lantern hanging at her belt. A Harvester of Guan! My heart leapt, as we must be nearing the settlement after all!

She held the skull of some animal in one hand and appeared to be in deep conversation with it. “Now I know what you’re gonna say, Watcher. That I shouldn’t’a done it. But I need to… I need to keep reapin’…”

“Ho there!” I called. “Are we nearing Port Maje?”

She looked up and broke into a wide grin as she saw up approaching. She hopped to her feat, tucking her skull in her bag. “If it’s Port Maje you’re lookin’ for, you’ve still got a long ways to go. We’re basically on the other side of the island. How’d you get so lost?”

I recounted our shipwreck as she nodded along sympathetically.

“Ain’t that a shame. I can get you over to Port Maje if that’s where you want to be goin’. New settlers? I love new settlers.”

I explained my mission from the temple to re-establish contact with the settlement and her face brightened.

“Saewyn and I go way back. I’m Xoti, by the way. You’ll have to fill me in on what’s been goin’ on back there.”

We’re setting up camp with our new party addition as I write. Gjyrsc is giving her a wide berth still. I suspect it was the skull. Harvesters can be a bit eccentric so I won’t hold it against her. Xoti has made fast friends with young Aelse by offering to do her hair.

Xoti says we should reach Port Maje in a few days. Circumstances are looking up.

Yours Faithfully,

Dernsc Cracgyn

15 Fonauton, 2830

Maje Island

High Priestess Saewyn,

Circumstances are poor. Young Aelse insisted on accompanying Xoti on a scouting expedition this morning and slipped and fell down a ravine. Xoti was not able to recover the body, although she says she was able to recover her soul. Mrs. Gjyrsc is beside herself and even Charim’s sense of adventure has been stifled by the loss of his sister.

---

Further tragedy has struck! In the night, the grief stricken Marani Gjyrsc went back to look for her daughter and ran afoul of some creatures. Xoti found the body. Poor Mrs. Gjyrsc was ripped apart in the same manner of the unfortunate Dunnur. With how dangerous this island seems to be, I hope that we shall find Port Maje all in one piece.

Yours Faithfully,

Dernsc Cracgyn

16 Fonauton, 2830

Maje Island

High Priestess Saewyn,

We make slow progress. I hardly know where we’re going anymore, as we are too deep into the jungle to make sense of the shoreline and the canopy blocks out the stars. Our party is subdued. Gjyrsc will barely look at Xoti, blaming her unfairly for the loss of his wife and daughter.

While my spirits are bolstered by her vivacity, forgive me, I know she is your friend, but there is something a bit… off about her. Occasionally talking to people or referencing things that aren’t there. However, overall she seems harmless enough.

I asked her at the fire this evening about her work as a Harvester of Guan.

She patted the lantern on her belt. “Oh, I’ve been doin’ it before the rest of the church started. Got called a heretic more than once. But I take the job seriously. I’ve been traveling around the islands reaping lost souls. Someone’s gotta do it.”

I remarked that by the glow of her lantern, she must almost have a full batch to take over to Ukaizo.

She nodded and grinned. “Almost full. I’m looking forward to it. It’s been too long.”

I will forgive her for her eccentricity for her devotion to the cause.

Yours Faithfully,

Dernsc Cracgyn

18 Fonauton, 2830

Maje Island

High Priestess Saewyn,

I have deeply misjudged this situation. I fear these letters will never reach you and I continue to write out of only desperation. I fear I will not live long enough to finish this one.

Last night, terrible night, wretched night! I awoke to Charim’s scream. Scrambling out of my bedroll, I struggled to light a lantern, then realized it was unnecessary. The light of Xoti’s lantern illuminated our camp well enough. Illuminated her standing over Charim’s bloody body, her sickle dripping with his blood! In her other hand she held aloft his heart, ripped from his chest!

She took a bite from the heart, blood trickling down her chin. “I’m tryin’ this new thing, Watcher. See if it helps with the soul absorption. Can you feel it? I feel it, the prickling under my skin.” She licked the blood off of her sickle, her eyes unhinged, staring at me, but not at me!

With a cry, Beren Gjyrsc threw himself at her. She sidestepped him and swung him around, her sickle at his throat. “What’re you doing, Edér?” she cooed. “You know I’d never hurt you.” Her sickle traced a bloody line across his jaw. Gjyrsc tried to elbow her in the gut, and the sickle slashed across his neck. He crumpled to the ground.

I cowered back as she turned to look at me. “Look what he made me do, Watcher. Don’t make me do the same to you.” Dropping the chewed heart on the ground, she pulled her lantern from her belt and circled it in the air. Her laugh was the most unholy sound I’ve ever heard. “I think it’s ready, Watcher. Watch me again!”

Xoti pried the door of the lantern open and held it up to her chest. Her hair whipped around in non-existent wind as her eyes started to glow. She screamed, a scream I’ve never heard the likes of before as her skin cracked open, bloody, along her veins. The lantern pulsed as she threw her head back in pain and exhilaration.

Suddenly, the light of her lantern flickered out and she laughed her unholy laugh again. “Damnation, that always hurts worse than playing ball with a beehive.”

“What are you?” I managed to stutter.

“Me?” Her boots squelched in the puddles of blood. “I am The Harvester. The original. Shepherd of souls. Guide to the lost. I keep them safe. Keep them in me. Even if they don’t see it yet, I make them see. You, see, right Watcher? You see them all.”

In the dark, I scrambled to my feet and ran blindly into the night.

Alas, Xoti had not been leading us wrongly and I stumbled into the town of Port Maje. What was left of it!  Broken buildings, broken bodies! We have heard no word because there is no one left alive to send word!

I hide in this broken down barn as I hear her out in the street, lantern jangling at her waist. “I feel so, good, Watcher. So good. How can I make you understand?” Her footsteps grow louder. “Won’t you join me? We can be together forever.” She’s getting closer. Eothas save my soul-__.__.

[Here the letter trails off in a spattering of ink and blood.]