#I prefer the idea of killing him earlier. Let the leaders live with this sudden and violent change in leadership

[bonefall]

Firestar getting treated to a character assassination after The Darkest Hour is my villain origin story tbh

You can see the EXACT moment where the brain worms go terminal when Tigerstar dies in front of him, and he starts going "oooga booga he was strong and noble and had good traits... well need him to fight all these evil foreigners..." Just ceremorphose already, this is #NotMyFirestar

[shoutaaizawas]

For the au prompt event can I requst a fantasy!au Shinsou with the prompt "Is there a reason you're blushing like that?" please!

thank you for the request!! 💖

↳ shinsou hitoshi x reader → remember

event: au prompt event summary: shinsou hitoshi was an assassin sent to kill you but he didn’t and your trying to figure out why. word count: 2,479 tags/warnings: fantasy!au, light angst, happy ending a/n: this was a fun idea and it was kind of hard to fit it in to a one-shot

Was Shinsou an assassin sent to kill you? Yes. Were you sort of friends at the moment? Maybe. Friends was probably too strong of word to use for him but he wasn’t trying to kill you at the moment so that was good.

You were a princess, next in line to rule. You had been traveling to another kingdom to meet your betrothed when you were attacked. It had happened so quickly. The strange purple-haired man had a blade to your neck but he hesitated. You weren’t quite sure why he stopped but you weren’t complaining.

Somehow this all lead to you traveling home with this assassin. With his change of heart, he decided to escort you back to your kingdom. Unfortunately, you were a very long way from home so this would be a long journey.

Maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. You weren’t looking forward to seeing your home. The pressures of being royalty were simply not for you. You would prefer to live a peaceful and simple life. But you were stuck in a world where you would be a leader and not only that but you’d be wed to a man you didn’t even know. All of it was terrible.

At first, your travels were stale with this assassin. He barely talked to you and would hardly look at you. This left you with the sound of your footsteps and whatever sounds the forest made.

Sometimes you would take in his features, his pale skin and the scars that marred it.

“So, been an assassin for a long time?” You asked trying to break the silence. You were tired of being stuck in your thoughts of what awaited you at home.

“None of your business.” He said simply.

“Just trying to make small talk.” You huffed.

“I don’t do small talk.” He replied.

“No small talk, just murder.” You retorted.

“I didn’t murder you.” He said shooting you a glare.

Okay, so small talk wasn’t going to work. You ended up counting the trees to keep yourself busy but there were too many trees so you gave up on that.

“I spy, something green.” You said after another hour of silence.

“I’m not playing a child’s game.” He said.

“Oh come on all this walking is so boring.” You said.

“I’m sorry that I don’t have a pretty carriage for you or a white pony, princess.” He said.

“It’s not the walking it’s just the silence.” You said. "I used to have a white pony, her name was Snowflake. She was such a good girl." You reminisced about your childhood horse.

Shinsou just looked at you with an odd stare.

“It was that tree, by the way.” You said answering the game you had tried to start earlier.

There was a lot of walking through forests, it all started to blend in together. Some days you sang until he told you to shut up. Others you attempted asking him questions to be shot down. Sometimes you would just start telling a story since that required no response. He would eventually get annoyed with that.

One night you sat around the campfire he created, keeping yourself warm in the harsh cold. Watching the flames dance you imagined a life where you could live in a small cabin far from others, tend to your own crops and animals, and simply enjoy life. Maybe even share it with someone else.

“Why didn’t you kill me?” You asked breaking the silence.

“It’s none of your business.” He replied not sparing a glance.

“It feels like it’s a little bit of my business. You know if you hadn’t spared me I’d be a dead body floating down a river right now.” You said.

“That’s not how you dispose of a body.” He scoffed.

“I’m not sure that’s what I wanted to hear but I’ll take it since it’s the first thing you’ve said that’s not ‘it’s none of your business’ or ‘shut up’.” You said.

Slowly but surely he slowly opened up. Maybe opening up wasn't the most accurate phrase for it but he would let you sing a song as you walked. Sometimes he would answer one of your dumb questions.

One day you were walking along the dirt path leading you to the next town when you started talking about your kingdom. You hadn’t been thinking much about what you were saying but you got on the topic of your role as princess.

“You know, I don’t even want to be queen.” You rambled on. “I don’t want to marry some random guy I’ve never met, I don’t want the responsibility of leading people. Sometimes I just want to run off and never look back.” You sighed.

“What?” You were shocked at the sudden interest that Shinsou showed.

“Hmm?” You hadn’t expected that he was listening. “I was just saying I don’t want to be queen.”

“But you have to.” He said seriously. You hadn’t expected that either.

“I mean who’s gonna stop me if I don’t go back?” You shrugged. “What’s the difference between that and me being dead?”

Shinsou was silent but despite the fact, he was hard to read, you could tell he was deep in thought.

It was yet another day traveling home, you were close maybe a few days out now. You felt nauseous. You didn’t want to go home to a life you hated. You wanted choices, you wanted freedom.

You weren’t expecting the sudden attack. You were tackled to the ground and fear seized you as you looked at your attacker. He wasn’t on you for long, Shinsou ripping him off you. You watched helplessly as he fought off the attacker along with three others that had been apart of the group.

You hated that you couldn’t help, you hated being so helpless. You let out a gasp of horror as a blade sliced against Shinsou’s side. Even with the wound, he fought them off with a lot less trouble than you expected someone to fight four people by themself.

“You’re hurt.” You said going to his side.

“I’m fine, let’s get out of here.” He said, waving away your concern before grabbing you by the shoulder as he gripped at his side.

After insisting he finally gave in and stopped at a local tavern that doubled as an inn. You wanted to help bandage him up and let him get rest. Once you were in the room you sat him down, you reached for the pack you had with first aid. Worry filled you at the sight of the blood that had soaked through his clothes.

“You don’t have to, I can do it myself.” He said.

“You got hurt defending me, I’m not going to sit here.” You huffed. “I already didn’t help in the first place.”

The last thing you were expecting was for him you grab your chin tilting your gaze from his wound to his eyes.

“I’ll always protect you.” He said in a soft tone that had your heart skipping a beat.

Not a moment after Shinsou’s eyes fluttered shut and he fell back onto the bed unconscious. Okay, maybe that was the last thing you expected in retrospect.  

You panicked for a moment before you reached for his side pulling aside cloth to look at his wound. It didn’t look right, it was foaming. It hit you, you had read it in a book once, the blade had poison on it.

You recalled a night a few weeks ago where you had been poking through his bag, he had vials of poison himself as well as antidotes. Thanking yourself for your curiosity you dug into his bag looking for the vile.

Shinsou was now shaking and convulsing on the bed and fear gripped you even stronger now. You couldn't lose him.

Pressing it to his lips you tilted his head so he could drink the antidote. Once it was all gone you pulled him onto the bed fully before starting to tend to his wound.

The antidote was working, his body stilled and his breathing evened out. His body was burning up but you assumed that that was part of the poison leaving his body. You hoped that you had done everything right.

After you cleaned and dressed the wound you pulled off the outer layers of his clothing so he would be more comfortable. He was sweating, touching his forehead you could feel he had a fever. You went down to the tavern to retrieve water.

You sat at his bedside, dabbing his forehead with water and doing whatever you could to help him be more comfortable. Watching his unconscious form you appreciated how handsome he was even looking sickly as he did right now. You had stared at him before but he would usually catch you and it almost felt like he didn’t sleep considering you only ever saw him awake and on guard when you set up camp. But now you could take in his peaceful features.

His long purple hair that rested against his shoulders, his sharp cheekbones, and the darkness under his eyes that was oddly attractive.

It was a hard thing to admit to yourself but you had slowly grown close to this man along your travels. It may have taken a while to get him to talk but once you did you weren’t expecting his dry sense of humor or the soft tone he took with you when you did something that could get you hurt.

Shinsou stirred in his sleep, tossing and turning. You cleaned the cloth off in the cool water and dabbed it on his forehead.

“Princess.” He mumbled out and you quirked an eyebrow.

“Shinsou, how are you feeling?” You asked leaning foreword to hear his quiet words.

“Princess, I can’t go I have to clean out the stables.” He said. Your eyebrows furrowed. What was he talking about?

“What are you talking about?” You questioned.

“I’m sorry princess, next time.” He said softly.

Suddenly you were pulled into a memory. You were young, maybe around ten years old. The boy in the stables with the purple hair and the soft eyes that matched. Oh, how you loved how gentle he was with horses, how he talked to you in that soft voice of his. He was so kind-hearted.

You spent so much time with him, talking to him, telling him stories, singing. You always wanted him to go with you to the forest and explore and run around. But he always had to work, even when you asked your father to let him have the day he refused and said you shouldn’t be hanging out with such a lowly servant. It didn’t stop you, you spent every day there with him for years.

Oh, how you fell in love with the sweet boy, Hitoshi. As you got older you both planned to run away far away from it all and get married. You could live a life free from your family and the things that kept you apart.

But one day he was gone, you went to your father only to find out that he had him sent away. You cried and cried for weeks, heartbroken at the loss. You looked for him but there was no trace of him anywhere. You missed him so dearly.

How had you not realized sooner? How did it take this to make you realize your lost love was in front of your eyes the whole time.

“Hitoshi?” You said, tears welling in your eyes.

This pulled him from his feverish dream. His eyes snapped opened and focused on you.

“You remember?” He asked cautiously.

“I don’t know how I could forget you, ‘Toshi.” Your tears broke and rolled down your cheeks. You moved forward, perching on the side of the bed so you could pull him into your arms as carefully as possible.

You tucked your face into his shoulder and his arms pulled you in.

“It’s okay princess, I’m here now.” He said, stroking your back.

After a few moments of resting in his arms, you pulled back looking into his purple gaze.

“Let’s run away together, I don’t want to return. Let’s run away from it all like we talked about when we were kids.” You said.

“We’re not kids anymore, we’re adults and we have responsibilities now.” He replied in a stern tone.

“Oh yeah, like murdering people?” You bit back, pulling away from him.

How could he say that after finding each other after all this time? You could finally be together.

“You don’t know what I’ve been through!”

“How am I supposed to know you just disappeared!” You shouted back. “You were gone and I was so alone, I couldn’t find you no matter where I looked!”

“Your father sent me away, he sent me to an assassin’s guild. They trained me to be some kind of monster. I realized what real life was like, not like the little fantasies we dreamed of. How am I supposed to be worthy of someone like you with all the blood on my hands? How could you ever love me?”

You stared at him in disbelief. How could he think that?

“You’ll always be that boy in the stables that I loved nothing could change that.” You said softly. It didn’t matter what he had done you could work past it. “You don’t have to kill people anymore, we can both leave our lives behind and start fresh.”

Shinsou started deep into your eyes, his own eyes filling up with tears.

“That sounds nice.” He said.

Shinsou leaned up, minding his wounds, pulling you in before pressing a kiss against your lips. You were shocked for a moment before melting into it and wrapping your arms around him.

"Is there a reason you're blushing like that?" He said as he pulled back taking in your red cheeks.

“No, no reason at all.” You teased. He gave you that smirk that you loved so much and it was easy to imagine the boy you fell in love with even with the scars he had now.

“Let’s get some rest.” He said pulling you down to the bed with him, holding you firmly in your arms.

“Tomorrow is the start of the rest of our lives.” You whispered into his ear unable to hold back the smile on your face.

As you laid there wrapped up in his arms listening to the soft music that drifted from the tavern below it was easy to imagine the rest of your life with Hitoshi.

A small house secluded away from the harsh realities of your past. A warm fireplace to sit next to in his arms with a warm drink. A life free from what you were both born into. A life made on your own terms.

[jiette]

One Hour

📜﹕Two Random People (laura and this president)

🍵﹕No

❕﹕PSYCHO!President, Death, just some dark comedy and messed up logic aha-

📄﹕okay uh i wanted to write this story (and i have posted about this maybe one or two days ago) but this all started at 10:44pm.

i was talking to my friend cooper - @aetherzdna (you can call him aether or bugz i’m not sure what he prefers) and i was like “hey i’m gonna go to the bathroom” so he’s like “sure” so i go do my business (very quietly because i have a 9-yo sibling who sleeps earlier than me like 9pm) and i come back to my room.

i say that i’m back and all of a sudden he says ‘in your two second leave i have started a country—and goddamn is it failing’ ; i thought he was playing a video game about making a country 💀💀

after a tragic end , i really wanted to make a story out of it. so here we are , hope you like it :D

“During your two second leave of going to the restroom, Miss Laura P., I’ve started a country on my own—and goddamn is it failing. The people want anarchy but I want to rule as I am a tyrant and I can’t give them what they deserve until I win this election.” I say into the phone, until pausing for a breather.

“Laura, I need you in my office. Right away.” I hang up and place the phone back on the wall where it belongs, wondering if it is a good idea to bring the advisor.

I don’t know what’s the issue with me, I want power, but nothing is going correctly because my bloody second hand man left for business. God, if he doesn’t come back and use his lovely soothing voice I don’t think our country will make it out alive.

I hear a knock on my door, and I tell them to come in. Turning around I see her; Laura. A relieved pleasure runs through my body now that I know my advisor is here.

“Salutations, sir, why’d you bring me here?” she asks, arms behind her back. Why does she have to be so naïve, there is a literal war being attempted. “Do you not have a clue why you’re here? Look outside—people are terrorising, using my own weapons against me. This is what happens when your second hand man isn’t here to assist you!” I shout, letting each and every word slip from the tip of my tongue.

Laura walks towards the window letting her hand touch the glass before being interrupted by my rambling. “Some of my men and soldiers have resorted to eating horses. And not only do we have the election coming up, we have a bloody war!”

I sit on an armchair, trying to make myself comfy. Laura looks at the window again before saying something. “You’re not going to tell me there’s more, are you?”

An irritated sigh escapes from my lips, “a few minutes ago, I was informed that my second hand man had killed someone overseas. The country wants me to either pay with blood or money.”

Laura looks at me, shocked whilst banging on the glass with her fist, leaving a mark from the oils of her skin. “This war is going to be the end.”

It’s true, this war is going to be the end—but I still had ideas up my sleeve.

“I have explosives, and I feel like using them,” I start, “but if I decide to drop them, who will tell my story, my legacy, what does that become?”

Laura looks back to what’s going on outside, letting her dusty fingertips caress the window. “I don’t think it’d hurt if I tell your story, would it?”

If Laura.. passed the story? That’s.. a marvellous idea. “Pass it; the Americans, they don’t have problems with committing war crimes,” I say, attempting to hide the excitement that’s trying to burst out of my soul.

“Tell everyone once the bombs drop. This country is going down in my rule, I have no say in who lives or who dies.”

“Aight; I wish you good luck, sir.”

The bombs have dropped, adrenaline rushes through my body as I see the outside world suffer before my eyes. I look behind me to see Laura looking at me calming, yet concern seeps out of her gaze.

“Was it worth it? All this blood shed for I, a great leader to die?” I asked, cutting off the silence but also because I wanted to hear her answer.

“Well, it is your choice on whether you’d like to live or die. It isn’t my right to direct you to your death.”

“You’re my advisor, was it worth dropping two nuclear bombs on that country? And if that didn’t kill them a chemical that would surely wipe out the remaining people alive?” Laura let out a shaky sigh, “they have attempted to declare war once? Twice? Either way, I am not biased on how this goes.” She pauses and looks at me, showing a faint smile. “You are our ruler, sir, you make the choices. Unless you are truly stuck and in need of help, I will gladly assist you.”

Those were inspirational words, but not enough to change my perspective on this bloody hell of a world. Bombs. More bombs; I need to drop more bombs.

“I can’t help it. God, I’m dropping another bomb on their allies. This is war after all, history is written by the winners.”

Laura walks up to the window that was now hidden by the velvet curtains, staring at it, “I guess we just need to wait here and witness people suffer from our nukes.”

“Yeah; Champagne? Whisky? We did just win a war after all.” I say, a toothy grin growing on my face. Laura looks at me tilting her head. “Shouldn’t you be gathering the committee as well?” I stare at her with a nonchalant expression.

“Not really, since me and you are the only ones left.”

“What about the soldiers, sir? I’m certain they’re still alive.” Laura asks, glaring at me as if I was a selfish monster; she’s not wrong in a way. “I refuse,” I say, now walking up to two large, wooden doors. Opening them, the cabinet was filled to the brim with all sorts of beverages. Wine, beer, whisky, champagne, hints of vodka and soft drinks every here and there. “Laura, c’mere. What would you like to drink on this occasional day?”

Laura, listening to my command and walking towards me, marvelled the collection of drinks that were probably already spoiled, yet I didn’t need to care about whether they were old or not. “Ehh, wine? Red wine?” She suggested. A fine taste of drink I see.

“Splendid choice,” I say, best the best red wine I could find, expired or not. Laura, who had finished her marvelling, was directly behind me; perfect timing.

I take the wine bottle from the cabinet, and as quick as I could, I turned and smashed it on her head, leaving her unconscious on the floor, clothes stained with shades of blood and wine. Rummaging through all my pockets, I encountered a pocket knife. Bending down, my fingers slowly open Laura’s eyes; and before I knew it, I stabbed her eyeball, crimson trickling down from her socket to the tip of her nose. I roll her on to her back so I could see her heart still beating ever so slowly, oh the sight of it was so unbearably.. intriguing.

I bring my face closer to her heart. Patter, patter, patter.

And before I knew it; I stabbed her heart ever so gracefully. After standing back up I look at the masterpiece I have just created. Loud pants escaped out of my mouth, my heart pacing rapidly as if I wanted to stab my own.

“Like that wine, you little strumpet?”

[caelum-in-the-avatarverse]

Written for Kataang Week 2020. Prompt - Keeping Warm.

There’s a blizzard at the South Pole, and the Water Tribe has traditions.

~~~

Hi guys! So after doing Azula Week earlier this month I was like "Oh yeah I feel like I could manage Kataang Week too!" so this is that. We'll see how it goes. Fair warning - I am not much of a shipper. I do like Kataang, a lot, but writing romance is kinda...eh. So expect me to use this week more as an excuse for character exploration and worldbuilding than actual shipfic, lol. You have no idea how many times I started to write “oral tradition” in and then had to slap my wrist like NO this is a SHIPPING WEEK and if you use that phrase people will assume it’s mature and then be disappointed when it isn’t. XD

Warnings: There's nothing explicit going on here, but we do hear about a past animal attack and said animal's death.

Enjoy!

~~~

Something heavy, furry, and large was dumped over Aang’s head, and he sputtered and laughed and breathed in the scent of well-conditioned animal hide even as he extricated himself from the massive fur pelt. “Katara, come on, you know I don’t get cold!”

Katara lifted a corner of the fur, flopped down beside him, and flipped the fur back over herself. “It’s a blizzard. Humor me,” she said, eyes sparkling in the light of the fireplace.

“You know I can easily enjoy a snowstorm in nothing but a cape.”

“Blizzard, not snowstorm,” she said, snuggling up beside him. “I don’t care about your Airbender temperature-regulation abilities, that’s a South Pole blizzard out there. It’s going to get cold by my standards.”

“I survived a North Pole blizzard without any extra layers just fine,” Aang chuckled.

“That wasn’t a blizzard, that was a regular old flurry, and you were running on adrenaline,” Katara said, snuggling up to his side. “The city was under siege, you were talking to a spirit that wanted to steal your face, Zuko had captured you again… Besides,” she added, grinning up at him, “this is cozy. And it’s my favorite blanket, so you should feel honored that I’m feeling gracious enough to share it with you.”

Aang laughed. “Okay, okay, you win.” He wrapped one arm around her. The other he poked out of their warm cocoon to examine the fur she’d wrapped them in. He was always going to be put off by the idea of dead animal skin, but the poles boasted harsh climates that the Water Tribe had perfected living in, and no other material held heat as well as fur did. This one was completely white, the hair coarse but well-cared for, and it was huge. Whatever animal it came from, it had to be enormous. “What is this, anyway?”

“Polar bear-dog,” Hakoda said. He was seated on the floor on the other side of the fireplace, also wrapped in a fur. In his hands he held a piece of whale-walrus tusk, which he carefully examined while a set of carving tools sat nearby, waiting. Kanna sat beside him, closer to the fire, keeping an eye on the labrador tea she was brewing.

“What?” Aang said, looking at the fur with new interest. “I thought you guys said they were too dangerous to hunt!”

“They are,” Bato said. He was sitting near Hakoda, removing a broken handle from a knife that needed fixing. “That one was hunting us.”

Aang stroked the fur - the closest he’d ever gotten to petting an actual polar bear-dog. Well. It was an actual polar bear-dog, just. Dead. Which didn’t count. Aang had never met a large animal he didn’t want to ride in his life, and his list of accomplishments included hog-monkeys, the unagi, and Zuko’s dragon, but everyone he’d ever spoken to in the Southern Water Tribe - and also everyone he hadn’t - agreed that he should, under no circumstances, ever attempt to ride a polar bear-dog, and had made a point of telling him so. Multiple times.

Of course he fully intended to try it anyway. What was the worst that could happen?

“So what happened?” he asked. Katara was still curled into his side, and he rested his head on top of hers and waited for the story. The Southern Water Tribe loved a good story, and they had so many of them - so much of their history was passed down in speech, not writing. And that was only partially because of the war - the Fire Nation may have destroyed much of the Southern Tribe’s culture with their attacks, but they’d been passing down their history from generation to generation long before they’d bothered with paper or a writing system. That strong oral tradition had saved so much knowledge that might have been lost otherwise. Now that they had a permanent settlement again, with enough room and resources for record keeping, they were writing things down again, trying to make the knowledge more accessible.

But nothing, Katara insisted, could beat a good story told by loved ones gathered around the fire. And blizzards, she said, were when the tribe hunkered down and enjoyed each other’s company, passing the time by telling stories, or creating art, or sharing food, or fixing things. The wind might howl outside, the snow might pile up, but you were safe and warm inside with your tribe, your family, and everyone would tell stories to help pass the time.

The wind wasn’t howling outside yet, but it would soon. One of the last things Aang and Katara had done before hunkering down for the storm was take Appa out for a flight. The sky outside was overcast, so they’d flown up, up, up until they’d broken through the clouds and seen blue again. The sky had been a sea of clouds for as far as the eye could see, freezing cold and just waiting to drop snow on the South Pole.

Hakoda hummed and raised his head from the ivory in his hand to look at Bato. “This was decades ago. We were just little kids.”

“Little enough to get snatched up by a polar bear-dog and eaten in three bites,” Bato agreed, removing the last piece of broken knife handle and examining the tang. “When it started prowling around the village that winter, our parents didn’t let us step foot outside alone.”

“It was terrifying,” Kanna joined in. “It’d been a harsh winter. It was bitterly cold, and snowed often, and the animals were getting desperate. The caribou-bison herds were either freezing to death or migrating elsewhere, and the predators were having a hard time finding food. Normally polar bear-dogs prefer to stay in the deep tundra or out on the ice floes, far away from humans, but this one was hungry that winter.” She picked up the teapot and started pouring the tea into waiting cups.

“It prowled around the village for a week,” Hakoda said.

“One of the scariest weeks of my life,” Kanna said. “You were a rambunctious child and you didn’t like being cooped up inside. Your father and I worried you’d wander out the gate and get eaten.”

“I remember seeing its pawprints in the snow,” said Bato. He had two halves of a piece of caribou-bison antler in his hand, already carved into the shape of a handle, and he was fitting them around the knife tang. “It’d circle the village, waiting for its chance. And it would howl.”

Hakoda shuddered. “I remember the howling,” he agreed. “That was awful. You’d be trying to sleep, and all of a sudden that howl would start, and you didn’t feel safe anymore.”

“We had a wall,” Kanna explained to Aang, handing him two cups of labrador tea. He passed the second to Katara. “Not much of one, our Waterbenders had been lost for years at that point. But we did have a snow wall, and we were able to maintain it, and someone was always on watch to scare the beast away when it tried to dig through.”

“Why didn’t it just attack?” Aang asked. He held the teacup beneath his nose for a moment to enjoy the piney, floral scent. Then he used some subtle airbending to manipulate the temperature a few degrees cooler and had a sip. Katara wordlessly held her own cup out, and Aang grinned and repeated the trick for her. She pressed a kiss to his cheek before enjoying her drink.

“It was starving. Weak,” Kanna said, handing another two teacups to Hakoda. “It was looking for an easy meal, not a fight.”

“It almost killed my aunt,” Bato said, putting the knife down to accept the cup Hakoda passed to him. “She went out to get some fresh snow for water, and it almost got her.”

“We decided enough was enough,” Kanna said. Her hands were wrapped around her own teacup now, for the warmth. “We’d hoped it would go away by itself when it saw we wouldn’t be easy prey, but we were its only prey. It wasn’t going to leave. So we had to do something.”

Aang nodded, holding back a grimace. His people would never have killed anything if they could help it, but his people could also take their bison herds and fly away from whatever leopard-wolves or jackal-lynxes were stalking them. Life in the Water Tribe was different, as was being hunted by a desperate, determined predator you couldn’t escape. He could respect that.

“One of our most experienced fighters at the time was our former chief, Akkikitok,” Kanna said. “She’d retired a few years before, but even though she was no longer our chief she was still a respected elder and leader. She always put so much thought into the safety and wellbeing of our people.”

“Who was your chief then, if she’d retired and Hakoda was a little kid?” Aang asked.

“My mother’s father,” Katara said.

“Chief Oomailiq,” Hakoda said with a fond smile. “I learned a lot from him.”

“He got re-elected so many times,” Katara told Aang proudly.

He chuckled. “Leadership skills run in the family, huh?”

Katara’s grin was fierce.

“We decided we had to do something to protect the village,” Kanna continued the story. “So the next time the polar bear-dog came to the village’s wall, Akkikitok took her spear and her club and went out to either chase it off or fight it.” She grimaced. “She wound up fighting it.”

“Not alone, though,” Aang said, because the Water Tribe never did anything alone.

“Of course not. Our best fighters went out to support her. But she kept the animal’s attention focused on her, and she suffered many wounds before she struck the killing blow.” Kanna sighed. “She didn’t live long after the fight, but she died knowing she’d saved the village, and she considered it a good ending.”

“And that’s why you’re never allowed to ride a polar bear-dog,” Katara said, removing one hand from her teacup to poke Aang.

“Hey,” he laughed. His fingers twiddled with the white fur as he considered the story he’d just been told.

“We kept the fur, of course,” Kanna said. “We considered cutting it up to use in the tribe’s hoods, so everyone could have a piece of Akkikitok’s sacrifice. But it was decided the pelt was too precious - we very rarely kill polar bear-dogs, after all. So it was kept in one piece, and we are grateful for the warmth and comfort it’s provided us over the years.”

Air Nomads held all life as sacred. Aang found it so very comforting that the Water Tribe did too, just...in a different way. Meat was a necessary food group at the poles, furs necessary to keep from freezing to death. But the Water Tribe never took more than they needed, and every animal killed for the tribe was honored and thanked for its sacrifice.

This one had actively tried to harm the tribe, but it was still treated with respect even after death.

“So you use it as a blanket now?” Aang laughed.

Kanna smiled. “Yes, well, we’re practical.” The Southern Water Tribe hadn’t had room for anything frivolous until very recently. Their traditional lifestyle didn’t lend itself well to extraneous possessions to begin with, but decades of running and hiding from the Fire Nation hadn’t helped either.

Hakoda straightened a bit. “Oh,” he said, “we could display it now, though. In town hall.”

Kanna blinked. “Oh,” she said. “We could.” They were all still getting used to the idea of having a centralized government, of having permanent towns again.

“It’d be a good place for everyone to see the tribe’s history,” Bato mused. “Including foreign dignitaries.”

“See how important our history still is to us,” Hakoda nodded. He looked back at the piece of ivory he hadn’t figured out what to do with yet. “I’ve been considering art displays as well, but that fur is a direct tie to a beloved chief. It’s a good idea.”

Katara watched them all with a flat expression. “I know what story I’m going to tell our children years from now, Aang.”

Aang felt a flutter in his stomach at the thought of him and Katara having children. “Yeah?”

“This is the story of how I lost my favorite blanket to a museum display.”

Aang burst out laughing.

“It’s for a good cause, Katara!” Hakoda protested, grinning.

Katara pulled the fur pelt even closer around herself and Aang. “One last time, old friend,” she muttered into the hide.

“I’ll get you a new blanket,” Aang promised. “Bison fur can be really warm, and Appa definitely sheds enough for a blanket.”

“Not the same,” Katara huffed. She poked him again. “Your turn. Tell us a story.”

Aang blinked, and then he noticed that Kanna, Hakoda, and Bato were all looking at him expectantly. “Oh,” he said. “Okay. Uh…” He trailed off, thinking. He had lots of stories to share, from before, during, and after the war; it was just a matter of picking which one he felt like telling. Something funny, he thought, after the serious one they’d just told. And something new, which might be tricky - Katara had lived through so many stories with Aang, after all, and her family were already aware of a lot of them. But they’d just shared a piece of their tribe’s history with him - it would only be right to share something of his.

Which meant something from before the iceberg. Before the war.

Talking about his people could be hard. He still did it - the Air Acolytes had questions, and he had to explain his philosophy to so many world leaders who just didn’t understand. He tried to keep it abstract, matter-of-fact, but it always hurt, even if only a little.

And oftentimes a lot. There was a distressing number of people who thought that the Air Nomads’ extinction was proof that their beliefs had no value. That there was no room in the world to bring that way of life back, nor any point to it even if the Air Acolytes managed it. It made Aang want to be careful about who he shared something as precious as his people’s memory with.

But the Southern Water Tribe were survivors of the second-worst genocide the world had ever seen. If there was anyone Aang knew would understand - anyone he could feel comfortable talking about his own people and his loss with - it was them.

With that in mind, he recalled an old memory and smiled. “Alright, so back when I was like - seven? eight? - Monk Gyatso and I visited the Western Air Temple. Now there was this nun who lived there, Sister Aditi, and she had this way with animals…”

~~~

Thanks for reading! Kudos and comments are always appreciated. :D

I’ve always loved how Aang and Katara’s cultures are super different, yet super similar. Air Nomads were vegetarians, while the Water Tribe diet would, by necessity, focus on meat. Both cultures regard life as sacred, though - Air Nomads could just afford to be vegetarian and thus didn’t hunt, while the Water Tribe hunts to survive but also respects the sacrifice of the animals they kill. (I mean I guess that’s not in canon but they’re based on Inuit/Yupik/Native American cultures so we can infer.) Both cultures appear to live pretty sustainably. Annnnd they’ve both suffered a lot from the war. :( The idea of Katara and Aang supporting each other through the rebuilding of their cultures means a lot to me.

Aang is probably never going to fully appreciate a nice fur like Katara, but he does appreciate how important it is to her culture and her people's way of life. I really like how in the show, neither Aang nor the Water Tribe kids ever rag on each other for their diets. Sokka talks a lot about how much HE eats meat, but he never tells Aang to eat it, nor does Aang tell Sokka he should go vegetarian. They just respect each other. (There is that one time they go to a meat place in the Fire Nation but they were also trying to blend in and they let Aang bow out without comment so I'll let it pass.)

The story of former chief Akkikitok taking down a polar bear-dog and also Kya's father Oomailiq being another chief (and Hakoda's mentor) are things I first wrote about in my fic Early Birds, but I thought it'd be nice to elaborate here. As far as I can tell, Akkikiktok is Inuit and means "costs little" (cuz I didn't wanna spend forever finding her name lol), and Oomailiq is Inuit for "leader of the boat, whaling captain", friendly reminder that it's tricky verifying Native names on baby name lists so I can't guarantee that.

Sister Aditi is an Air Nomad OC of mine who I keep meaning to bring in but never have the chance to (she was literally supposed to be in the next chapter of Vintage Gaang, which I haven't updated since 2009). Her name was 100% chosen to mimic noted animal lover and spiritual man St Francis of Assissi. I swear I will use her properly in a fic someday. XD

[fallfromthaliagrace]

Student Exchange- Percabeth AU

Summary: Annabeth Chase gets little more than she bargained for when she helps Percy Jackson get used to San Francisco, Los Angeles. (This is going to be an ongoing series of Percy Jackson AU that I been meaning to write!! I want it to be only six chapters but time will only tell ;) I never like AU but I really prefer writing them than actually following canons. Also!! Annabeth and Piper are from California meaning they go to “Camp Jupiter” than “Camp Half-Blood.” Eh, I thought that was more suitable as they do live in California. I’m can’t wait to continued writing this and stay safe!) 

Update Schedule: TBD (online classes are a nightmare) 

Warning: I can’t exactly remember but I don’t think so??

~ 

Chapter 1.

Annabeth thought this was dumb. The whole idea was dumb, an student exchange between two schools that had rival history? Jupiter Academy and Half-Blood Academy were rivals in… well everything. From sports to academics, both schools were competitive. And though both schools had made up last year, the students still had a grudge against each other. This was the second year of the student exchange between the schools and during the assembly, they had promised that they would treat the student from the exchange with respect despite the history. Last year, it almost ended with a disaster but didn’t; prompting the schools for year two.

Speaking of grudges, the reason Annabeth has a hatred for student exchange is because last year, she was one of the students chosen to go to Half-Blood Academy. It was a good experience and time for her, she always wanted to go to New York City to see the architecture. But, a fellow named Percy Jackson had made her go insane.

Percy Jackson was a rival of hers from sports and academics. Percy and her could never just let the other win, it was always him or her. And Annabeth wanted it to be her.  So the competitiveness never ended even after the sports and academics competition.

“I wondered who this year's group is going to be,” Said Piper, snapping Annabeth out her thoughts, “Hope Jason is coming.”

Jason Grace. Another golden boy in Half-Blood Academy along with Jackson. Grace was okay in her books, mainly because he was her best friend, Piper,’s boyfriend. Annabeth thought that Jason was perfect… too perfect, always obliged by the rules and not to mention that his hair isn’t even affected by the wind. Unbelievable. Annabeth secretly thinks that he is like some Roman god.

“Yeah, you haven’t seen him since last year.” Said Annabeth as she picked with her lunch, “Only FaceTiming and texting?”

Piper grimaced and nodded, “We hadn’t spoken to each other since summer, ugh, I hate this no phone policy.”

Piper and Jason were doing this long-distance relationship from California and New York. It was actually good despite the circumstances of a long-distance relationship. The two met last year during the student exchange and everybody was betting that they would end up together. But of course when school came, they had stopped talking to each other due to no phone policy (annabeth thinks it’s dumb rule too) and havoc that the beginning of school year begins.

“Hm, me too.”  Said Annabeth as she ate a piece of her salad, half heartedly.

“Are you okay?” Asked Piper as she furrowed her eyebrows and placed her hands on Annabeth’s shoulder.

“I don’t even know I was chosen for this whole thing.” Said Annabeth as she slumped down.

Annabeth was chosen to be student ambassador after Hazel begged her to apply for it. Annabeth didn’t think any of it and thought she would probably be rejected but when the letter arrived to her home, Annabeth almost had a heart attack.

“Aw Annie, not be so down. There is probably a reason why they picked you.” Said Piper as she comforted Annabeth.

“Like what?” Said Annabeth to challenge Piper with her eyebrows raised.

“Well, you’re smart, kind-hearted, a leader and so much more.” Piper said softly, “I would have been surprised if you didn’t pick you.”

Annabeth groaned as she packed up her unfinished lunch, “I’m going to hate these two months of my life. Now, I don’t even want to eat lunch.”

“You should, after all, they are coming today.” Said Piper, reminding Annabeth that today was the day the students would arrive.

“Wait, today? I thought it was tomorrow.” Said Annabeth, panic rose in her voice, “I’m not prepared.”

Piper smiled softly, and hugged Annabeth, “You’re going to be fine. After all, you are Annabeth Chase, you always find a way.”

Annabeth laughed softly, “Thanks. You think they’re here yet?”

Piper shrugged and glanced around, “Maybe, it'll take like five hours to get from New York.”

Piper and Annabeth cleaned up their table and threw away their trash. Piper and Annabeth then walked outside of their campus. Outside of the campus was a crowd of students surrounding a group of students who were definitely the exchange students. One look at them and Annabeth could tell that they were uncomfortable and tired.

Annabeth and Piper glanced at each other and rolled their eyes at the female audiences that crowded the mostly boys group from New York. Annabeth stood straight up and walked toward them. Percy was weary and was the first to take  notice of Annabeth. Annabeth could have sworn that his (sea-green) eyes were like a cute baby seal that needed help. Annabeth had fought back her smile that tugged on the corner of her lips.

Annabeth coughed and sternly said, taking the form of her leadership, “Ladies, can we back away from the exchange students?”

The crowd stopped bothering them and looked at Annabeth who was glaring at them. The crowd looked down at the ground and muttered a sorry. (Piper always told Annabeth that she had a glare so fierce that it could kill someone. Annabeth always thought that idea was crazy and a bit extreme… maybe.)

Annabeth softened her gaze and smiled, “Hm. Now, go to class before you're late.”

The students nodded and quickly scurried away, leaving the exchange group of student eyes widened at her like she was some goddess. Piper quickly rushed over to Jason and kissed him. A boy with curly black hair next to Jason, awkwardly shifted a bit over.

“How- How did- you’re- thank you!” Said a girl with flowers in her blondish curly hair, “I didn’t know how to rid them without being rude!”

Annabeth smiled heartfeltly at the girl and looked at the group. The group consisted of eight people who Annabeth probably saw before, but she couldn’t really remember them.

Annabeth looked at Percy who stood in front of everyone. and smiled genuinely at him and everyone else. (She might hate this whole thing but it doesn’t mean that she was going to mean to the people who came here.)

“I’m Annabeth Chase,  I'm a student ambassador for Jupiter Academy and I’m here to help you guys to settle around here.” Said Annabeth as she clasped her hand together.

Everyone awkwardly stared at her and said, hello. Annabeth introduced Piper to everyone. Piper detached herself from Jason and waved at everyone. In response, everyone waved back.

“Okay!” Said Annabeth, trying to get rid of the awkwardness, “Because you guys came here earlier than expected, all the student ambassadors aren’t here yet.”

They all nodded and their gaze tore away from Annabeth and toward the school.  Jupiter Academy was a large, three-story high building that closed to the city that allowed the students to go back and forth. There was also a huge field dedicated to sports, and a huge temple dedicated to the founder of Jupiter Academy. Unlike Half Academy, Jupiter Academy was more harsh, strict, disciplined toward it’s students.

“Impressed, is it?” Piper said as she smiled at her school.

“Eh. I have seen better.” Whispered a tall boy with elvish features and mop of curly brown hair to a boy who looked like him but shorter who giggled.

“Shut up, Travis.” Said the girl who had thanked her before, “I’m sorry about him and yes, it looked impressive.”

Piper glared at Travis then smiled at the girl, “I’m Piper McLean, you are?”

“I’m Katie, Katie Gardner.” Said Katie who sheepishly smiled.

“Well, good to meet you.” Said Piper then looked at the others, “Would the rest of guys like to introduce themselves before we soon find out?”

“Sure,” Said Percy as he beamed at Annabeth and Piper, “I’m Percy.”

Annabeth cocked her head to the side and raised her eyebrows then quickly softened her gaze as Percy stared at her. Annabeth then looked at the curly black hair boy with a scrawny (but cute) appearance. He blushed as he realized that Annabeth was staring at him.

“I’m Leo, Leo Valdez.” Said Leo as he went up to Annabeth and offered his hand, “Nice to meet you, ladies.”

Annabeth simpered and chuckled, “Nice to meet you too. I guess you know Piper?”

“Good friends since grade school.” Smiled Leo as he went back to the group, “Good to see you, Beauty Queen.”

Piper smiled and was about to say something but didn’t and turned around. Annabeth turned around by the sudden movement and saw Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang, her good friends and also the co-student council president.

“Annabeth! Piper! Why didn’t anyone tell us that students were here?” Asked Hazel as she strolled over to them.

“They just arrived here like fifteen minutes ago, Hazel.” Smiled Piper sheepishly, “And we didn’t know where everyone was...”

Hazel smiled and said, “It’s fine, though we should get anyone together.”

“I’ll do it!” Said Frank, “I will also bring the sheet too.”

“Thanks Frank!” Said Hazel cheerfully as she waved Frank goodbye.

“Anyways,” Said Hazel, turning back to the group, “I’m Hazel and I’m the student body president with whom you just saw there, Frank. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t greet you guys to Jupiter Academy but luckily, Annabeth, our student body vice-president, and Piper, one of ours amazing students, was able to welcome you all into Jupiter Academy.”

“You will all be able to explore the school soon but we need to split you guys up and we need to introduce your students' ambassadors to one and other.” Said Hazel, “So come.”

Hazel gestured them forward and walked through the entrance way and they all followed her. Annabeth quickened her pace and was talking to Hazel. Piper had hooked her arms with Jason and was walking the group. Annabeth felt a pair of eyes but decided to ignore it.

They entered the entrance hall and Hazel and Annabeth turned around to look at the group whose eyes were widened. The hallways were empty as classes had started, except for the student ambassador which consisted of two students plus Frank.

The section group of student ambassadors consisted of Reyna Ramírez-Arellano, a piercing black eyes and glossy black hair who was a serious and strict girl. Michael Kahale, a tan-skin boy with dark hair and eyes with muscular arms. Annabeth was also an ambassador but she was only a last minute decision for some reason.  

Annabeth still was wondering why she was even chosen for a student ambassador. She hadn’t even thought about applying yet Hazel had begged for her to apply which she did but she didn’t know she would be accepted. I mean, yeah, Annabeth was smart and had the leadership skills but her?

Annabeth shook her head and sighed. Annabeth accidentally bumped into Hazel, Annabeth blushed and muttered a quick apology. Hazel smiled and grabbed Annabeth’s arm and led to where Reyna, Michael, Frank were. Now, she was even more aware that Percy was staring at her.

“Hey everyone, I’m Frank Zhang,” Said Frank cheerfully, “And I’m going to be helping you along with your student ambassadors and Hazel.”

Then Frank talked about more classes and what they were supposed to do during their times here; classes and etc.

“We’re going to take attendance and split you guys up into groups. Now, meet Reyna, Michael, and… um, Annabeth, your student ambassador.” Said Frank as he stumbled over Annabeth’s name causing the others to look at him.

Frank blushed and Hazel smiled sheepishly before continuing the rest of the speech, “Okay get ready for attendance, raise your hand or say here!”

“Nico di Angelo?” Asked Hazel as she scanned the crowd to see a pale hand in the air.

Hazel curiosity looked at Nico for a minute before continuing calling several others names like Will Solace (Sunny-looking guy,)  Leo Valdez, and Jason Grace. Out of the corner of her eyes, Annabeth could have sworn that Reyna shifted a bit out of her posture at the mention of Jason.

“All of four of you guys are going under Ms.Reyna's instructions while attending classes.” Said Hazel, “You guys will be toured around campus by Reyna.”

Reyna studied her group for minutes before nodding and everyone watched as the guys awkwardly walked toward her. Reyna then told them they’re starting their official campus tour, leaving four students left.

“And that leaves the rest of you to Michael but we shall take attendance,” Asked Frank, “Katie Gardner?”

Katie, the girl who was very flowery raised her hand and smiled. Next, was the Stoll brothers who were very alike beside the height difference.  Katie quietly grumbled at the mention of the Stolls’ in her group. Then Frank called out Malcom Pace, a boy who looked younger than the rest of them raised his hand. Annabeth couldn’t help but think how much they look alike… the blonde hair and grey eyes. He almost looked like Annabeth.

“All of you guys are going with Michael, ” Said Frank slowly as he scanned the group, then Hazel nudged him, “Yeah, Michael.”

Michael surveyed them before gesturing them forward, “We're going to visit the grand hall where…”

Annabeth had drowned out Michael’s voice and was slightly getting panicky. Percy was the only one left and awkwardly standing there while (making it very obvious) staring at her. Annabeth hoped Frank had forgotten about Percy but you couldn’t really forget about him, just look at him! But this couldn’t that mean…?

Michael and his group had left. Percy, Hazel, Frank, and Annabeth stood there in the entrance hall awkwardly. Percy had shifted his gaze from Annabeth to the floor and Annabeth was able to finally breathe. Annabeth didn’t know why but she couldn’t breathe when Percy was staring at her… like he had sucked the air out her.

“And Annabeth, you’re with Percy…” Said Hazel calmly though slightly anxious, that was on her face.

“But I-” Said Annabeth, getting cutted away by a loud shatter near them.

They all turned at the noise with their eyes widened then could hear Reyna loudly yelling at someone. And when you get yelled at by Reyna, it doesn’t end well. Unless someone stepped in.

Hazel rushed over there without a thought. Things were getting a little more hectic that it had alerted the students in their classroom. Students peeked their heads out the door as Reyna's voice got louder.

Frank, alarmingly, told Annabeth to take Percy to the opposite side of the school for the tour and get away as far as possible before rushing away to see the problem.

Without thinking, Annabeth grabbed Percy’s hand and ran up the grand staircase, startling him. Percy’s eyes widened and blushed and Annabeth would have blushed if it was for the fact, it sounded like pure chaos.

Annabeth led Percy near the dorm, very far away from wherever Reyna was. Percy was still panting for the unwanted jog that he got and Annabeth was sheepishly looking at him and let go of his hand. After Percy had recovered, he and Annabeth walked back to the middle to start the tour while Annabeth eagerly talked about architecture of the school.

“I’m sorry if I’m boring you with this stuff, it’s just so… fascinating.” Said Annabeth as they reached the grand staircase.

“It’s fine, besides, you look cute when you talk about some stuff you like.” Smiled Percy genuinely.

Annabeth didn’t say anything and stared at Percy, her face getting redder by the minute.

“You-argh, never mind. Let’s just start the tour.”

[saiilorstars]

The Girl in the Forest

Chapter 20: Behind the Barriers

// Story Masterlist // 

Fandom: The Originals

Pairings: Klaus Mikaelson x Original Female Character

Pronunciation of OC’s name: Ma-leh-nee

Requested tag: @queenmj10​

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Chapter Summary: Finn makes his play against his siblings and leaves the ultimate punishment for Maleny: her biggest fear.

"It has been said that all love begins and ends with she who gave us life. A thousand years ago, my mother turned us into monsters, yet still she claimed to love her children, even as she vowed to destroy us. The noble Elijah, tormented by long-buried, shameful secrets. Kol, the wiley troublemaker, out for no one but himself. Finn, the devoted acolyte, his love all too easily walked by our mother's sick hate. Fierce Rebekah, willing to risk everything on the chance that she may one day find happiness. And me, the bastard child. My mother's greatest shame. Now, finally, we have defeated her, giving her the choice she never thought to give us, to live on as one of the monsters she created or suffer the slow, agonizing death she so deserves."

All in the meanwhile Klaus had been talking to Maleny, the blonde had been pouring some drinks into glasses, leaving him to give his common heartfelt speeches. She remembered it was one of his favorite things to do in the past, whether he wanted to admit it or not. After a win (although bittersweet) Maleny figured he deserved that much.

She turned around with a smirk, "You know, any other person would tell you you're an awful person for what you did to Esther…" she started walking back to him, the man leaning against the back of a couch, "...but she had it well deserved. So congrats," she held him his glass.

"That's all I get?" Klaus took his glass and gave her a sharp look, "Congrats?"

Maleny tilted her head, her smirk fading only slightly, "Oh? Like what? And I'd watch your answer because this," she pointed between them, "has only had 3 days so anything beyond a kiss is unlikely to happen."

"I was merely going to ask for a kiss but you apparently think so little of me," Klaus leaned off the couch and started for the threshold of the living room, when Maleny grabbed his arm, of course guilty now she'd judged him.

"Sorry, sorry," she apologetically smiled as he turned back to her, "I didn't mean to come off like that. Understand me a little, please. I'm not sure how to...deal with this thing for us - I don't want it to be different but of course it's going to be different and…" she was cut off by Klaus' sudden kiss.

"Do you know I'd actually forgotten how fun it was to watch you freak out?" Klaus asked afterwards, with his smirk letting Maleny see how he'd basically played her.

"You jerk," she hit his arm, and while he laughed she drank from her glass.

He snatched her by the waist, "Only the worst," he complemented himself, "But you already knew that..."

"Of course I do," Maleny feigned a sigh as she looked to the side, "I knew since we were kids you were a little mischievous devil. Buuuut..." she swayed her head until her eyes landed on his, "...I guess you were always my mischievous devil."

"Hey," Hayley cut into their moment with her call. They both turned to see the brunette hybrid coming into the living room, "So, has there been a plan devised?"

Confused, Maleny came forwards, "Hold on, I thought you were supposed to stay back with Elijah at the safe house…"

Hayley gave a wide grin and took Maleny's glass, "I did something better," she said and drank down the remainder of the bourbon.

"Hayley, this is no time for games," Klaus frowned and walked over to the woman as well.

"Calm down, it was nothing bad," Hayley dismissed his irritation, "So then, plan?"

"There isn't one yet," Maleny finally said, choosing to trust Hayley's decisions, "And the only one we did have Amarrah doesn't want to follow," she added with a huff. They'd tried to make Amarrah leave the Quarter for a while until things died down with Finn but the witch outright refused. She claimed there was no way she was going to let Finn Mikaelson get away with almost murder. She wanted payback, and payback she would get - she promised.

~ 0 ~

In the Lycee, Finn used a hammer to break a skull into pieces. Behind him was his father, Mikael, watching him create a spell.

"She tried to show them mercy," Finn was angrily saying in regards to his missing mother, "If they've harmed her…"

Mikael scoffed and interrupted him, "Esther's mistake was believing there was anything left in your siblings to save," he moved up to Finn, "Together, my son, we can finally destroy them."

Finn was no fool to believe Mikael was suddenly so willingly on their side, but he played along as if he did believe, " Yeah. I'm happy to hear you say this, Father. Such a powerful man. I could use your strength."

There was a clearing of throat by the entrance of the Lycee, and both men turned to see a young woman fidgeting on the spot, "The wolves...they're um, they're gathered at the cemetery," she jerked a thumb behind her shoulder, "At the gravestone you asked for..."

Finn's anger died down slightly at the news, "Excellent, tell them to dig it up. Now."

The woman was visibly confused and made the mistake of asking, "Why?"

"You don't ask 'why' to my orders, you follow them," Finn snapped, angering the woman but this time she kept her mouth shut, "Don't make me repeat myself, Yamilet, dig it up."

The woman, Yamilet, nodded, "And then what?" she preferred not to ask anymore questions but she didn't want to have to talk to him again later on.

"Take the body deep into the bayou," Finn instructed with a deep, annoyed sigh. This is what happened when Aiden resigned his leadership for the wolves of the witches. Finn had to go and name another leader instead and unfortunately that one seemed like an even bigger idiot. "The others know what to do, then," he motioned for Yamilet to leave and with a nod she turned away.

Finn then turned back to his ongoing spell and continued working on it, feeling far more confident in his future plans. Revenge would never taste so sweet.

~ o ~

Cami drove up to the Mikaelsons' safe house and looked around the solitary house (or so she thought). She checked the directions Hayley had given her earlier just to see if she'd made a mistake somewhere along the way. Why would Hayley send her to an abandoned house? Or worse, a stranger's house. She stepped out of the car and looked around, focusing in noises and scents she could get a read on.

Eventually, she got a read on two very familiar people and hurried for the front door. She would've came right in but she figured that would only cause tension. Instead, she opted for the polite knock.

A couple minutes passed and no one opened up. With a sigh, Cami turned away from the door and looked about, "I'm gonna kill Hayley for this," she muttered under her breath and made way for the car again. She was only a couple feet away from the car when she heard her name being called.

"Cami, what are you doing here?" Elijah had appeared at the doorway holding a sleepy Hope in arms.

Cami turned around and saw him, momentarily fazed by the baby she hadn't seen in quite a while. She shook her head and took a couple steps towards them, "Honestly, I have no idea," she sighed and let her arms fall to her sides, "Hayley came back to the compound early in the morning and said Klaus wanted me here for something. I just didn't know that 'something' was 'someone'. But don't worry, I'm on my way back right now," she turned for the car actually meaning her words when Elijah gave an unexpected call for her.

"You should come in," he said, surprising her momentarily, "I frankly have no idea what I'm doing…" he nodded to Hope who was slowly falling asleep on his shoulder.

Cami gave a half-smile, "Well, I'm no mother, but...I did learn a couple things from Rebekah. Are you sure you want me to stay? Because I know what you requested days ago - you didn't want me here. And know that I wouldn't have come if I knew this was the place Hayley was sending me to."

Elijah knew she was right and still felt guilty for what he'd done. However, he wasn't very repentent of it as he believed it would've been the right thing to do, "I could really use your help," he insisted again.

Cami gave in with a nod, "First thing's first, we have to put that baby to sleep…" and with that she returned to the house taking on the role of lead babysitter.

~ 0 ~

Maleny strode into Hayley's room where the hybrid and Jackson had been discussing their future mystical wedding. She had finished a rather interesting phone call with Cami and had to come and see Hayley to pay her remarks.

"You sent Cami to the safe house?" Maleny demanded with crossed arms and a tapping foot, "You savage!"

Hayley smirked and glanced at the blonde, "I told you it was good."

Maleny sighed, "She's gonna kill you for this, I hope you know," her eyes flickered over to Jackson and immediately composed herself, "So you're going to marry my friend here? I have to warn you, her moodswings are horrible. I mean, I thought they were just because she was pregnant but it turns out Hayley's just naturally moody."

"Uh…" Jackson nervously looked at Hayley.

"Hey!" Hayley hissed and made Maleny laugh, "They're not," she assured Jackson, "I don't even have mood swings."

"Liiiiies," Maleny sing-songed from her place, "But listen, while I did come in for Cami's sake, I'm the messenger of the people downstairs."

"People downstairs?" Jackson repeated and once again looked at Hayley.

"I may have done a thing," Hayley raised a finger and stood up from her chair.

"She does a lot of things, fair warning," Maleny said to Jackson as Hayley walked past her.

"Mal, shut up," Hayley called from outside, "And go get Klaus."

"The messenger job continues," Maleny swayed her head in annoyance and turned to leave. She rushed over to go find the other hybrid, eventually after coming short in two rooms finding him with Kol - who was now staying with them apparently.

"Of course you two are drinking," Maleny rolled her eyes at the two brothers happily drinking some sort of wine, "Kol, are you even old enough now?"

Kol rolled his eyes while Klaus snickered, "Gee, Mal, like I haven't heard that one before."

"Give me time, I can come up with something better, I promise," Maleny came futher into the room and looked at Klaus, "You should go downstairs - Hayley's brought in vampires and the wolves and I fear for war, honestly."

"What's she done that for?" Klaus frowned at the news. There were so many things to begin doing and Hayley was wasting time with community meetings?

"I don't know but even Marcel's downstairs," Maleny pointed back, "I think it's something big."

The bottle Kol held in his hand suddenly shattered and spilled the wine all over the floor. Everyone looked around for the source of the shatterer to see Finn at the doorway.

"Where is she?" the man demanded, getting straight to the point.

"Well that's a way to greet someone," Maleny made a face and moved back to the other siblings.

"My, my, you look peaky," smirked Klaus who then looked at his younger brother, "Doesn't he look peaky?"

Kol agreed with a sarcastic smile, "He does look peaky."

Maleny rolled her eyes and whacked each brother on the arms, "Enough of the sarcasm," she scolded only to receive scoffs from both of them, "Did I say something funny?" she glared at each of them.

Finn was in no mood to withstand such a spectacle, "Don't make me ask again," he warned, "Where is she?"

"Well, I assume you're referring to our mother. Fear not, she's tucked away somewhere perfectly safe," Klaus promised with a wide grin, "You'll never find her."

"You think you've won," Finn shook his head and opened his arms, "Let's see how long that arrogance lasts, brothers. You'll both fall," he promised and backtracked but not before adding, "And you," he looked to Maleny, "I have something good planned for you."

Maleny swallowed down a lump in her throat and tried to remain at ease of the threat. Finn looked so sure of his threat Maleny could almost believe in it. As Finn got to leaving, Klaus slid an arm around Maleny, resting his hand on her back, knowing she'd been left shaken. It had been his concern that Finn would take leverage against him or anyone else by using the weakest - Maleny.

~ 0 ~

Down in the courtyard, Hayley was still trying to find a common ground between her wolves and the vampires, "You wolves are here because you want freedom. And, I promise you, if you stay, you will be free. But…" she glanced over to Marcel and his vampires, "We need as much help as we can get."

"My vamps and I are willing to stand with you against the witches," Marcel assured, "In return, all I want is a promise that there will be peace between our sides after the wedding."

One of the wolves, Jared, spoke up in outrage, "You're the one who spent the last one hundred years killing and cursing us!"

"Which means you might wanna listen to what I have to say," Marcel snapped.

Finn was coming down the stairs around that time and of course had to interrupt, "I see you're brokering a truce between mongrels and parasites! And just how long do you think that's really going to last? A month? A week? A day?" he laughed, "What you don't yet seem to understand is that the only thing that can exist between your two degenerate species is hatred, war, and death," he backed away towards the exit.

He stopped just outside the border of the compound before rubbing his fingers together and cast a spell. As soon as he put his hand against the doorway of the entrance. When the building stopped shaking, Gia was the first to try to get him only to come crashing into an invisible barrier that started to burn her hands as if she wore no daylight ring.

Finn now wore a clean smirk across his lips, "But, I imagine, given a little time confined together, you'll come to see things the way I do," he gave a wicked wave before leaving the place.

~ 0 ~

Upstairs, Klaus tried to see if the barrier was active as well. He tried getting out through the balcony of his bedroom but felt his hand begin to burn much like Gia's had done earlier.

Kol came into the room full blown panicked, "Did he really just trap us all in here?"

"He certainly did," Klaus turned around, "Which means we have a witch problem. You're a witch. Fix it."

"I'm already calling in Amarrah," Maleny rushed into the room holding a phone in hand, just as panicked - if not more than Kol.

"And what the bloody hell are we supposed to do about this?" Kol turned to her.

Maleny lowered her phone and stalked up to him, "You don't get it, do you? If this barrier stays up for long you and I," she tapped him on the chest, "become a three course meal to those vampires downstairs," Kol's eyes widened in realization, and horror, "Get the picture now?"

"Okay, we're gonna need a lot of help," Kol glanced back to Klaus who was smiling in amusement at the teen's horror. Kol hurried out to give a call out to Davina.

"That was a bit harsh," Klaus walked up to Maleny afterwards.

"And yet, it's the truth," Maleny wasn't too happy herself about the situation, "I meant what I said. If we're stuck in here a long time you are going to be fine but I am going to become dinner for the others."

"Not on my watch, love."

"Let's remember you called me lunch and dinner during the first days we met here," Maleny pointed at him, "Don't think I'm forgetting that anytime soon."

"I meant that playfully," Klaus tried clear his throat and tried putting away his smirk.

He had not meant that playfully...and Maleny knew it.

~ 0 ~

Elijah was leaving what he believed to be the tenth voicemail to Rebekah, now Angela Baker of course, to no avail. It'd been three days since she'd been switched bodies but hadn't made any contact with anyone since. Frankly, he was getting worried and being practically imprisoned in the safe house was driving him mad.

He returned inside the house and followed noise into the kitchen where Cami was bringing down a bottle of bourbon from a shelf, "Yahtzee!" she exclaimed and glanced back with a smile, "Ah-ha-ha! If there's one thing I've learned about you people, it's that there's always a bottle of booze around. Don't worry, though, Hope is down for her nap. You want one?" she gestured as she brought down a glass for herself.

"Sounds delightful," Elijah couldn't help respond with a hint of restraint.

Cami sighed and place down her glass on the counter, "I know you're only tolerating me for Hope's sake but really if I'm bothering you that much I could always just go and compel someone to help you."

"I'm sorry," Elijah looked to the side, cursing himself for doing exactly what he'd wanted to avoid in the first place.

Cami turned around to face him completely, "Did I do something that bothered you?" she asked in plain confusion. She really did not understand why Elijah hadn't wanted her to come along with the others. She tried looking for anything she could've done to offend him or anyone else he cared for but found nothing.

"This is about me, Cami. I assure you, you haven't done anything," Elijah promised her but it wasn't enough for Cami.

"Then why do I feel like I have done something?" Cami crossed her arms, "Is this something of Esther's? What, she told you having vampire friends is also a bad thing?"

"You're not a friend," Elijah sharply corrected her, leaving her startled and frankly insulted for a minute before he continued, "You're family. I'm sorry if I've made you feel anything less."

"I don't want your apologies, I want an explanation," Cami quietly said to him and picked up her bourbon bottle and glass, "And until you can give me one, I'll be in the living room having myself a nice drink - alone."

"Cami," Elijah wearily sighed as the blonde woman hurried past him. He was seriously hating Hayley for ever thinking of doing this foul trick of hers.

~ 0 ~

Amarrah and Davina arrived to the compound at the same time after being called upon by their friends. They stopped just outside of the courtyard where they knew the barrier was active.

"Thank God you're here," Maleny hurried up to the barrier with Kol coming in seconds later.

Amarrah could see the heavy group of people inside the compound and made a face, "Yikes, would definitely not like to be in your shoes," she remarked and earned equal irritated looks from both Maleny and Kol.

"Which is why we'd like to hurry up and get out of here," Kol replied and looked to Davina, "You ready?"

Davina nodded with a smile and looked to Amarrah, "We're ready."

"Please get it right," Maleny stepped back only to be yanked forwards by Kol, "Hey!"

"No, no, love, we're gonna need all the witches on this one," he smirked at her.

Maleny looked at Amarrah who was agreeing with a nod of her head, "He's right. The more power we have the better chances we can get the barrier down."

With a sigh, Maleny stood straight and beside Kol, awaiting to start the spell with everyone else. They chanted together the spell they'd agreed on before coming together and while it seemed not to be failing, it eventually rebounded everyone away from the barrier.

"What just happened?" Maleny fearfully looked around as everyone slowly gathered back together.

Klaus and Marcel went over to check on the progress, "Are we free to go?" Klaus asked urgently.

"No," Kol shook his head, looking at his hands in confusion, "the spell's locking us out."

"Vincent must be channeling something," Amarrah reasoned with her experience, "A dark object, maybe."

Of course neither of them could ever think Finn's source of channeling was coming from his neutralized father somewhere in a crypt.

~ 0 ~

Elijah once more left a voicemail for Rebekah, deciding if after the next time he tried there was still no answer he would be calling Klaus to discuss the matters. When done he entered the living room where, as promised, Cami was having herself a nice drink while scrolling through her phone.

"Do you know you have awful WiFi connection here?" she sarcastically asked without looking up from the screen.

"Yes, which is why I thought you would prefer this?" Elijah waved a Trivial Pursuit box in hand.

Cami raised an eyebrow, "Your solution to this problem - that's your fault by the way - is for us to play...trivial games?"

"It's either that or suffer the WiFi connection," Elijah plopped down on the couch chair beside her and set the game on the coffee table, "Take your pick."

"What I'd pick is for you to come clean," Cami put her glass down on the table as well, "Is that not one of the options here?"

"I ask for time, Cami, please?" Elijah sighed, "I would hate to be stuck inside this house with no one to talk to. Please?"

Cami stared at him a good while trying to put her best angry face on. But as the seconds ticked by and he upheld her look with his soft, brown eyes, she gave in with a small sigh.

"Fine," she raised a hand, and looked away, "but you're no where near off the hook," she reached for the box and began opening it up, "So you should probably let me win," she added with a mumble, making Elijah smile of amusement.

~ 0 ~

"Okay, so maybe we can...put a stronger spell over the one already here?" Maleny was in the middle of saying to Amarrah, Davina and Kol as they all thought of ways to break down the barrier.

"That doesn't make any sense," Kol shot her down with a look of irritation.

"You know what, this isn't what I do anymore, okay?" Maleny snapped at him, used to the more calm reactions of the others in regards to low abilities in magic.

"Maybe she's not far off," Amarrah got to thinking while she paced back and forth, "We just need to come up with something more coherent."

"Great, while you do that, Mal and I will do our best not to get devoured over here," Kol huffed.

"There's still time before any of that happens," Davina tried to calm them down with logical views.

"Maybe there's something in my mother's spellbook," Maleny gasped with the idea, feeling stupid she hadn't thought of it before. She motioned she'd be back and hurried back into the courtyard, bumping into Josh who'd rather clumsily came down the stairs, "Sorry, Josh, I…"

Josh was doubled over in pain but at the fresh scent of blood he raised his head, revealing an almost vamped-out face.

"Josh…?" Maleny, though concerned, stepped back.

"All I can think about is blood!" the young vampire said in what really sounded like agonizing pain.

Maleny looked around for some help and caught a glimpse of Marcel and Gia in the dining room, "Josh, wait here," she said but the vampire was in too much pain to hear. She made way for the dining room and became alert on the fact Josh wasn't the only one who seemed to be in pain. As she walked by, she could feel the vampires' eyes setting on her as...lunch.

"Okay, we have a problem!" she burst into the dining room and slid shut the doors in terrible fear.

"What?" Marcel barely had time to turn to the blonde when Gia fell under the same situation.

"Oh!" she doubled over.

"Gia!" Marcel went over to his friend, missing the wide eyes of Maleny behind them. Soon enough, Marcel doubled over as well and felt the tremendous hunger growing within.

Slowly, Maleny leaned off the doors, her breath hitching, "I think…" of course Finn had something to do with this sudden hunger they were feeling. She quickly opened the doors of the room, "Klaus!" she called frantically.

She hadn't needed to call so loud as he was already making way for the dining room, already seeing the problem at hand, "What the hell is going on?" he demanded as he reached the dining room, "Your vampires seem to think it's lunch-time!" he accused Marcel.

"It'a Finn, it's got to be," Maleny turned him to the courtyard where they saw all the other vampires feeling the same hunger while the wolves were in complete peace, "Do you realize the massive buffet they have…" she slowly hugged herself, "...including me...and Kol."

Klaus wasted no time in getting her away from the courtyard and into his bedroom where he shut the doors, "You're no longer allowed out of this room, love."

"For once I've got nothing against that," Maleny mumbled as he went for his phone sitting on his nightstand, "What are you doing?" she inquired when he began making a call.

"Getting us out of here," he pointed at her for a silent period before speaking into the phone - to Finn.

"Klaus! Willing to concede so soon?" Finn's sarcastic tone exclaimed through the other line.

Klaus rolled his eyes, "I merely seek to negotiate. You want our mother, I want out of this bloody compound. The economics of what comes next should be easy to grasp, even for you."

"You can't give him Esther," Maleny hissed, moving to take his phone away but of course was easily handled with one arm grabbing down her two hands.

"What I want, brother, is to exterminate the plague that is your kind," Finn was busy saying over the line, "What I want is to watch the flames flicker over your smoldering corpse-"

Klaus rolled his eyes at the tedious speech he was being forced to listen to. Even Maleny had stayed put when she caught some of the words being said.

"-What I want is to hear the silence once you finally stop screaming."

In the end, his impatience won the better of himself. Klaus made a static-y noise with his mouth, "I'm sorry, we must have a bad connection. Could you repeat everything you said after "What I want?"

"Oh, I'm so happy to hear that hunger hasn't yet sapped your humor," Finn had a good laugh, 'But, I should warn you, brother, if those vampires even attempt to feed, they'll find themselves ravenous. Unable to stop. So, every moment that you waste with me will only lead you to the inevitable carnage."

"Don't you dare do it," Maleny whispered to Klaus, while locked with his arm still more than ready to put up a fight, "Don't give him E-"

"Esther for our freedom. Do we have a deal?"

"Well, I think I know better than to trust your honesty. But, yes, if I find our mother unharmed, then I might consider granting your reprieve," was Finn's response.

"Saint Roc Number 1. The Delphine tomb," Klaus finally said and promptly hung up, also releasing Maleny from his grip.

"Are you kidding me!?" she erupted into angry shouts, "After everything we went to to put that demon woman down you'll just hand her over!? What in the hell are you thinking!?"

"Your safety if you haven't noticed," Klaus was genuinely surprised he'd managed not to shout back at her, "I'd like to prevent your demise and if that's the way to do it then so be it. Besides, when Finn sees what Esther probably chose she's not going to be escaping any time soon."

Maleny calmed down slightly but still had pursed lips and crossed arms, "I still think this could've been handled differently," she murmured and headed out for the doors when Klaus yanked her back.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I needed to get my mother's spell book for the others to see if there's anything that can help. C'mon, even you know that's a good idea."

"Doesn't mean I like it," Klaus muttered but in the end opened the doors himself, "Let's go - but you're staying upstairs afterwards."

"If nothing works, believe me, I'll be up here out of my own accord," Maleny promised him with a nervous smile.

~ 0 ~

Cami was quite ready to throw the board game out the window with each loss she endured. She read off one card to Elijah, "What three European countries begin with the letter "A?""

"Albania, Austria, Andorra," Elijah replied almost instantly.

Frustrated, she flung the card over her shoulder and read off the next one, "Agh! Okay, hey! Who was the only U.S. president to earn a Ph.D?"

Once again, Elijah answered within seconds, "The rather tedious Woodrow Wilson."

"Oh, c'mon!" Cami went for the next card, "Who rode secretariat to the triple crown in 1973?"

"Ron Turket."

Cami let the rest of the cards fall from her hands as she glared at the man, "No! I refuse to believe that you just happened to know that! You were supposed to let me win because I'm mad at you!" with her pointing she accidentally spilled Elijah's drink on the table and partly on his sleeve, "I'm sorry!" she panicked and handed him a towel to get himself cleaned up while she took care of the table, "Sorry, I didn't mean to. I'm just kind of competitive sometimes and you just know literally everything there is to know which is kind of annoying and…" she trailed off when she noticed Elijah's furious scrubbing over his sleeve, "Elijah? Are you okay? Hey, Elijah," she reached out for his hand but instead was harshly grabbed her wrist. Momentarily alarmed, she remained still.

"I'm not as fragile as the others have said," Elijah quietly said and let go of Cami's wrist.

"I...I didn't think that," she nervously said, slowly taking her seat again. Feeling awkward, she coughed and tried going through more of the cards that hadn't been ruined with her accident. Thankfully, Elijah's phone went off to interrupt them.

"Rebekah," he barely got to say when the woman on the other line began to speak. Cami could hear everything perfectly and so when Elijah hung up, apologizing to Angelica Barker, the Angelica, she was just as distressed as Elijah.

"We need to call Klaus," she announced seconds later, "Because if Angelica is still herself Rebekah is...who knows where…"

Agreeing with her, Elijah began dialing again, this time for Klaus.

~ 0 ~

The vampires were getting restless in the courtyard, having to resist the urge to drink blood from the wolves.

"Things are getting testy out there. Come on, we better move this along," Marcel told Kol and Maleny inside the dining room. Maleny had brought down her mother's spell book for Kol to analyze.

"Okay, so Finn's boundary is too strong. But, we can cast a destruction spell," Kol pointed to an excerpt in the book, "It would temporarily neutralize all magical objects in the compound, including the compound itself. If it works, well, then it will give us sixty seconds to escape whilst the boundary is shut down."

"Alright, alright, that sounds good to me," Marcel nodded and urged them to get started fast.

"Um, there is just one little flaw," Maleny regretted to inform, "If the spell works, it will suppress all magical objects in the vicinity. That means your rings."

Marcel groaned as he realized what it meant, "And if we go outside in the sun without our rings, we're dead."

"Unless you wait for nightfall," Klaus offered but it did not do much.

"Agh," Marcel looked back into the courtyard where the vampires were, "They're also new. They're not going to be able to fight the hunger. We can't wait until nightfall. We're going to have a bloodbath on our hands before we even get close."

"Then we're going to have to start now," Maleny looked at Kol, "Can we do it?"

"Yes, but we'll need some things from the Lycee. I figured since Finn is out looking for Esther Davina and Amarrah shouldn't have a problem retrieving them."

"Good, so go tell them," Maleny nodded for him to go outside.

"What?" Kol frowned at the idea. He was barely calm with Marcel in the same room and she wanted him to cross a courtyard full of hungry wolves?

"I'm not going out there alone," Maleny crossed her arms, "You go. And hurry up," grumbling, Kol took the spell book and went out, making a dash across the courtyard to tell the other witches what the plan was.

~ 0 ~

After putting away the Trivial Pursuit game, Cami found Elijah once again staring blankly out the window in the living room. Though still crossed with him, she didn't stop worrying over his mental health. Esther had really done a number with him after all. If only she knew what he was seeing within his mind.

"Elijah?" she called quietly and walked him, "Elijah, are you okay?" she only heard the sharp intake of breath as a response, "Hey, I know you're worried about Rebekah…" she reached to touch his shoulder but he whirled and swatted her hand away. Cami gasped as his faced vamped-out against her as if she were the enemy, "Elijah…?" her tremulous voice called to him but he started going for her, " Elijah? Elijah, please. Calm down," but her calls did nothing as he backed her up against a wall. She shut her eyes in terror, "Elijah, please calm down!" she knew she could put up some kind of fight but the man was an Original in the end and far more skilled to fight. Perhaps one attempt of hers for a kick and he pulled her heart out as an instinct.

After a couple seconds of nothing happening, she opened one eye and saw Elijah was no where to be seen. She released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and relaxed. She didn't know what to do next but in the end, Hope's cries upstairs called her attention. And needing it herself, Cami rushed to go attend to the infant instead.

~ 0 ~

The witches had gathered up their ingredients to begin the spell that would temporarily bring down the barrier for the wolves to escape from the compound. Behind them things were no better between vampires and werewolves. Fights were ensuing and blood was looming to be shed.

"We need to hurry," Maleny mumbled as she caught sight of even Cami's friend, Gia, getting into the fight. And though she was stopping a friend, she was looking more and more weary of the wolves.

"Okay, we're set," Amarrah announced and rose to her feet with Davina.

All four raised their hands in parallel to the others across the barrier. They began with the spell and seconds later a gust of wind came through and blew out candles they'd prepared. Kol was the first to try out the barrier, and upon seeing it was no more he called to the others, "It's time to go!"

Hayley had her wolves set for the escape and began urging them out, "Let's go! Now!"

Meanwhile, the vampires were glued to the dark corners of the compound, hiding out from the sunlight which would then burn them up.

"Remember, sixty seconds!" Maleny called for any last wolves still in the vicinity before she herself fleet to the other side.

Just as Kol was going to do the same, Klaus yanked him back to the courtyard. On falling down, Kol hit his head and earned a cut of blood.

"Slight change of plans, brother. I no longer have to treat you as anything but the treacherous liar that you truly are," Klaus blocked all ways for Kol to leave the compound.

"What are you doing?" Maleny frowned at this new brotherly antic she thought had just been formed.

"Rebekah is not in Angelica Barker's body because Kol didn't put her there," Klaus angrily explained while glaring at Kol, "Where is she?"

"Please! They'll kill him!" Davina pleaded, the sixty seconds almost up.

"Well, he should have thought about that before he betrayed our sister! Rebekah never made it to her new body, did she? And, seeing as you cast the spell and, well, you're you, I'd hardly call it an uncrackable case!"

"Are you kidding me?" Amarrah believed she would never understand what ran through the Mikaelsons' heads in regards to their siblings.

"Rebekah's fine, Nik!" Kol tried to assure, but his frustration and fear were getting the best of him, "It was a prank, nothing more than anything you lot have done to me, but I bet it's different when it's one of y... aah!" upon trying to cross the barrier he found it was back on.

"Oooh. Barrier's back up," Klaus smirked as the vampires started coming out of their dark corners, "And those vampires look oh-so hungry. Now, I was willing to welcome you back in my home! But you had to return to your petty, selfish jealousies! Well, let's see how well they help you survive when you're stuck in there!" he stormed off ready to go find Finn or Rebekah or whoever came first.

Davina was terrified as she saw the vampires getting closer to Kol, all overly hungry. Amarrah nudged Maleny from behind and whispered, "We can't really leave him there, he'll get killed."

Maleny deeply sighed, "Yeah, I know. C'mon, we need to go find Rebekah or another spell to get Kol out. Either way it's the only way to save his life."

~ 0 ~

Cami had set a restless Hope down in her playpen after a near hour of useless napping attempts. She'd placed a couple of her toys down for Hope as well then walked over to the empty crib to fix it up for when she hoped Hope would soon fall asleep later on. She was rather restless herself. Elijah was no where to be seen, Rebekah was apparently lost somewhere in a new body, Marcel and his vampires were still stuck at the compound going crazy with hunger and she was...babysitting. As much as she loved Hope she wished she could be actively helping in the Quarter.

Hope gurgled from her playpen and made Cami turn around, "Well…" the blonde considered out loud, "Stuck in a house with your innocent self isn't that bad either," she returned to the playpen and tickled Hope on the stomach, causing the baby to giggle, "Definitely not as bad," a couple more minutes passed by before she felt the presence of someone else in the house.

"I thought you left," Cami looked up from the playpen to see Elijah by the entrance.

"I owe you an apology," Elijah came forwards.

Cami shook her head, "I told you I don't need one-"

"Yes, you do," Elijah cut her off sharply, "My sister's missing, my family's in jeopardy, I am... uh, utterly powerless to help them. This is not a state of affairs I'm accustomed to."

"I can tell," Cami crossed her arms, "But, that's not what I needed and you know it."

"Yes, you'd like to know the reason of my sudden request," Elijah came up to the playpen, momentarily looking down to Hope who was more than interested in a teddy bear.

"I would," agreed Cami, "but I don't see it happening any moment. I get it. You're troubled and believe me I don't like seeing you like this."

"And I don't like seeing you scared of me," Elijah said back, leaving her startled.

"I...I w-wasn't-"

"Yes you were, and that is exactly the reason I didn't want you here."

It took a minute for Cami to understand everything but even then she wasn't very clear, "You're ridiculous, do you know that?"

"Am I?" Elijah did his best not to raise his voice for his niece, "It's no use to lie, Camille. I saw your face - you were terrified. And justly so. I didn't want you here because I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't want you to see me like this. I am not the noble man you think I am - not the one anyone thinks I am."

Cami smiled a little, slowly understanding his reasons. She moved over to him and put her hands on his face, with thinking about it actually, "Hey, I like you because you're you. I'm not here for the noble stag title, I'm here because you're my friend and I want you to get better. I'm pretty sure everyone else thinks the same. And I get it, I get that you're dealing with things I have no idea about. But if you ever want to talk about it... It's kind of what I do, It can even be over a game of chess if you'd like. But fair warning, you will have to let me win that game or else…"

Elijah chuckled at her, taking her hands from his face and keeping them in his own, "I believe that sounds fair enough," Cami responded with her own laugh, hoping her blush wasn't too visible.

~ 0 ~

Amarrah and Davina were setting up runes of salt on St. Ann's church floor, right in front of the sacristy. The spell was meant to find the location of Finn for Klaus to finally get to.

"Do you guys get the feeling we're being watched?" Maleny came down the aisle from the entrance. She'd been looking out into the newest of festivals the Quarter was celebrating when she felt like there was someone watching her and preferred to go inside where it was a little more safe.

"I doubt it, Finn's too preoccupied blocking our spell," Amarrah huffed in annoyance as once again the spell failed.

"I must say, for a witch of your caliber, your spells are not particularly efficient," Klaus remarked to the French woman.

"Hey, I'm not used to going up against centuries old witches," Amarrah snapped, "We're doing our best."

"But it would help a lot if you would stop standing over us like a stalker," Davina added with a frown.

Maleny sighed and cut into the conversation, "Can we not do the fighting thing? It's a waste of time when we're all reaching for the same goal."

"Really?" Davina scoffed, "Because my goal is to get Kol out of the compound alive. Which seems to be about number ten on his list," she threw a glare towards Klaus who took it in with amusement.

"Number nine, at least!"

Maleny elbowed him for his childish remark, "Be quiet. She's not wrong - what you did with Kol was out of the question. But what he did to Rebekah was also out of the question. So, in other words, both of you," she pointed between the teen and the hybrid, "be quiet and get to work."

"Agreed," Amarrah held a hand for Davina, "Let's start."

Begrudgingly, Davina took the woman's hand and began chanting a spell together. As they chanted however, they began seeing visions of Finn doing his own spell.

"We saw glimpses of him," Amarrah gasped and looked at the others, "He's combining sacred objects. Totems. Representational magic."

"Where?" Klaus asked urgently.

The two witches returned to their spell in hopes of seeing more visions. Davina came to first and replied, "Lafayette No. 1. The Lyonne tomb."

"What exactly is he using for this spell?" Maleny dreaded to ask.

"He's channeling your parents!" Amarrah gasped in horror, "You people are sick."

Klaus hadn't taken it that way with his wide smile, "And here I thought I was the poster-child for least grateful offspring!"

"No time to be cocky," Maleny pointed at him, "With that kind of power under Finn's arm we're going to have some problems - bigger ones than the ones we already have."

"Then we need to get going," Klaus turned back for the entrance doors, but after taking a couple steps he abruptly froze.

"What is it now?" Davina rolled her eyes, unable to see his expressions from behind.

"Klaus…?" Maleny slowly said and turned to him just as he dropped to the floor, unconscious, "Oh my God! Davina!"

"Hey!" the teen scowled at the insinuation, "It wasn't me!"

Maleny frantically got to her knees and tried waking him up herself, "C'mon, wake up! Wake up, dammit!"

"This wasn't his choice, Mal," Amarrah forced the blonde to her feet.

"What are you talking about about?" Maleny shook her off.

"This has to be what Finn was doing with his spell, remember?"

Maleny blinked as it dawned her it was true. Just then her cellphone buzzed in her pocket and upon pulling it out she saw it was Cami, "Cami, I love you, but I don't have time-"

"Elijah collapsed and he's not waking up!" Cami exclaimed abruptly, "One moment we were talking and the next - bam! What do I do?"

"Elijah too? It's one of Finn's tricks, I'm afraid," Maleny ran a hand through her hair, "Listen, just...don't leave the house," and with that she hung up.

"So you have a plan?" Davina asked in high hopes. She realized if this was the case with all the brothers then Kol was left in the compound on his own with a bunch of hungry vampires.

"Hm?" Maleny blinked, "Oh I don't have a plan. I was kinda hoping the Harvest girl and the powerful French witch would have one," the three women looked at each other, completely lose on their next move.

~ 0 ~

Finn had built an elaborate form of prison for his brothers through the mind and was taking full advantage of it to get the information he needed. He did, however, release Kol simply to allow him to tell Marcel and his vampires what would happen at sundown - the barrier would come down and with the ravenous vampires being released into the festival blood would ensue.

"So," he proudly sat on a chair across Klaus and Elijah, "what shall we talk about while we wait for nightfall? Oh! I know! Let's talk about our parents."

Klaus rolled his eyes, "You know, I figured you wouldn't be kind to Mother, but imagine my surprise to learn that Mikael met the same fate! Bravo, brother."

"You see, the parent I was interested in talking about was your father. Your real one? I mean, you longed to know him your whole life, yet at the first opportunity, you murdered him! Why, I wonder?"

"Possibly the same reason you took out Esther. Severing parental ties has a way of freeing one up to recognize one's true potential."

"Quite," Finn agreed, "But, Esther was no fool. She pinpointed your wants, and knowing your true father was at the top of the list! No, something else occupies the top of your list of affections. And it's not your favorite city because I'm about to take that from you, using your own vampires, and I barely get a rise out of you! I thought maybe it was Rebekah, but you remain calm, even when the one who knows her fate probably just met his.

Elijah was making a round in the cabin pretending to be more interested in the decorations, "I am fighting the monumental urge to mount your severed head upon one of these walls…

Finn promptly ignored him and continued on, "I then thought it was your favorite brother, but Mother broke him into a thousand pieces, and rather than fix him, you left him to fend for himself God knows where. And Kol...well, he's not much of your devotion right now, right?" Finn shook his head but momentarily paused, smirking in that devious way the two brothers knew he had something else up his sleeve, "That really only leaves Kol and...Maleny?"

Klaus stalked over to the man on the chair, "She has nothing to do with this! Leave her alone!"

Finn sucked air between his teeth, "It's a bit late for that. See, my wolves are already acting on it."

"LEAVE HER!" Klaus momentarily forgot he couldn't even touch Finn and tried to grasp him from the neck.

Finn produced an aneurysm that forced Klaus to his knees, "I said she'd pay for this as well. That's the thing about her, she's almost a Mikaelson and with all the pain that comes with it. It's only a matter of time."

~ 0 ~

"Wake up!" it was now Davina who was trying to wake Klaus up...only her attempts consisted of hard slaps across the face, "C'mon! Wake up!"

Over at the altar sat Amarrah and Maleny on the small steps, both staring at the teen in resignation. There was nothing to do but wait for Finn to bring down the spell. However, as time ticked by and Kol's body remained at the compound - as the teen hadn't known that Kol had been returned - she grew more and more frustrated.

"Wake up!"

"Aren't you going to stop her?" Amarrah took her gaze off Davina to look at Maleny beside her.

Maleny had her chin resting on her palm and looked far too calm for someone whose practically boyfriend was being slapped by a teenage witch. The blonde hummed, "I figure this is a way for her to release anger. This way she wins, I don't lose either of them, and Klaus won't ever know about it."

Suddenly, the doors of the church opened with a blast and in came a swarm of Finn's wolves. Davina jumped to her feet at the same time Maleny and Amarrah got up.

"Maleny Rowan, we came to collect you," a middle aged woman, unlike the others a witch, stepped forwards.

"Good, no thank you," Maleny shook her head, "You can go now."

The woman rolled her eyes and glanced back to the wolves, "Well, you know what to do."

"Stay back!" Davina had pulled aneurysms on the looming wolves. Amarrah tried flinging others back but there was simply too many. Maleny quickly saw it would be tough to escape.

"Ah!" Amarrah gasped as she was yanked by one of the wolves.

"Amarrah!" Maleny tried going for her but then she heard Davina's gasp as well and turned to see the teen being held by another wolf.

The middle-aged witch stepped forwards once more, this time wearing a smirk as she probably knew what would happen, "Let's try this again, shall we? Maleny Rowan, we came to collect you. Will you go easily or will we have to tear the hearts out from your two lovely friends?"

"Don't go with them, Mal," Davina struggled to get free from her captive.

Maleny ran her hands through her hair as she questioned her best option. It was quite obvious and even she knew what she would have to decide for. With a shaky breath she stepped forwards, motioning she was coming in peace, "I go and you leave them alone?"

The witch gave a nod, "Of course. We've no interest in silly witches and certainly in an unconscious hybrid."

"Maleny, what are you doing!?" Amarrah angrily stopped fighting to glare at her friend.

"It's okay," Maleny assured, "When Klaus wakes up you'll tell him...and he'll know what to do," she lowered her hands and walked towards the group, "I'll go willingly."

The witch looked at the two wolves holding Amarrah and Davina captive, "Hold them until we're out of the building," she instructed and grabbed Maleny by the arm, "And know if you try anything we'll kill your friends on the spot."

"I won't," Maleny gritted her teeth and was pushed out for the doors.

Behind them Davina and Amarrah could only watch as Maleny willingly walked out with the wolves. They all correctly assumed she would come to rue the moment she walked out of the church.

~ 0 ~

"You should realize the trouble you're getting yourself into by doing this," Maleny warned in vain as she was pushed towards a car, now bound by the wrists.

The witch that had taken her, now identified as Ela, snapped her fingers for one of the wolves. She was handed some gray duct tape.

Maleny frowned at what was coming, "Seriously?" she momentarily stopped walking to turn to her but was pushed into a walk by a wolf behind, "You already have my voluntary kidnapping."

"Precautions," Ela plainly said and stopped by the car, opening up the door to the backseat. She pulled on the tape and cut it with her teeth, "Wouldn't want you shouting out to people you're kidnapped. Especially when there's a silly festival going on."

"You get that thing away from me," Maleny backtracked and hit a wolf behind, "No!"

Ela stepped forwards as the wolf behind Maleny grabbed her arms and kept her locked for Ela to place the tape over Maleny's mouth. Maleny now openly struggled against the two and went as far as putting her feet up on the side of the car so as to not be forced inside. In the end however, the wolves overpowered her easily and stuffed her inside. Ela rolled her eyes at the fiasco and got in after the blonde.

"Hurry up," she told the driver, another of the wolves, "Yamilet holds the corpse deep in the bayou."

"Yes," the driver nodded and started the car.

"And I wouldn't think about plotting an escape from the bayou," Ela warned Maleny with a smirk, "Finn has made sure it's very deep. It'll take you at least two days to get to the roadside," Maleny visibly swallowed hard and of course remained still. Content, Ela looked ahead as the car was finally driving off.

Maleny thought about the chances of her making an escape on her own. But there were wolves involved with their supernatural strength and she didn't feel like being mauled to the point of losing a limb. With no options, she had to sit there and let time pass as they headed to God knows where. The moon was up high and bright when the car finally came to a stop, and Maleny felt even more nervous when she realized they were actually very deep in the bayou - as Ela promised.

"Where the hell are we?" she whispered her demand as soon as Ela yanked the tape off her.

Ela got out the car and Maleny was escorted out on her side. The two wolves held her tightly around the arms and faced her in the direction of a cabin.

There was a young man standing by the threshold of the cabin, apparently waiting for them. Ela walked up to him, her eyes making a clear observation of the quietness in the area.

"Is it done?" she asked.

"Yes, just like Vincent, ordered," a young man replied. "She's down."

Ela looked back as Maleny was brought forwards. The blonde was nervously looking around, "What are we doing here? I don't get it..."

The smirk that broke across Ela's lips made Maleny fear there was a horrible punishment on the other side of the cabin door. With a motion of her fingers, the wolves half-dragged Maleny towards the cabin.

"We should get started, then," Ela declared as she entered first.

As soon as Maleny was brought in - and forced to her feet - she could see on a metal table her previous corpse, in perfect condition. Immediately she started shaking her head and trying to back away in horror as she assumed what was going to happen. She whimpered and threw her feet up in attempts to make it harder for the wolves to drag her closer.

"NO! NO! Please don't! Anything but this! PLEASE!"

Ela was clearly satisfied by the reaction and gave a small chuckle, "This is exactly what Finn said he hoped to hear from you."

"Please! Don't make go back to that!" Maleny was near to tears as the wolves forced her onto the table beside the one with her corpse, "I'm begging you! Not the curse! Not the curse!"

"Benson," Ela called and the young man that received them walked over, "Bring her in," she ordered.

With a nod of his head, Benson went into another room of the cabin. In the meantime, Ela walked up to the table Maleny was on and smirked.

"Are you ready little witch?"

Maleny was busy screaming her head off and budging against the ropes binding her to the table, "NO! NO! STOP! NOT THIS! I DON'T WANT TO GO BACK!" The tears fell like rain pouring from the sky. Maleny knew that this time Klaus would not be coming to save her - no one was.

Finn would have his way; he would make her pay in the worst way possible.

[iminyourhandskara]

The Power Beyond Me - Psiturn One Shot.

WORD COUNT: 2902.

It is set after my first Psiturn os, but can be read on its own, just know that Imra is the new leader of the LOSH and she recruited Psi and now they’re dating.

Psi stomped her way into the main room of the Legion ship.

“It’s fine, we got him anyway.” “I don’t understand, my powers have never failed before.” “Psi, don’t worry! I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with you.”

“What happened?” Brainy entered the room, confused by the loud chatting of the two women in front of him. “I should’ve hit Evillo with my powers, I had him right in front of me, but..I couldn’t do anything. Brainy, can you run one of your calculations on me?” “No, Brainy, there’s no need to do anything. She’s fine.” Imra interjected, hiding her worry under a careless tone: it was true, her powers had never failed before. “I assume this is one of those, mmh, couple disagreements. I’m going to exit this conversation.”

“Okay, do you want to train?” “What for? Just to see my powers flop again?” “Babe..” Imra sat down next to her girlfriend. “It can happen. Please, don’t frown, I don’t want to see you so unhappy.” “I was just thinking..” “About what?” “How it’d be to have a life without any superpower…How I’d feel being human again.” “It’s not any different from being a metahuman or an alien.” “If I lost my powers, I wouldn’t have a place here anymore; I wouldn’t be in the Legion anymore..I would lose you, too.” “Hey, hey, no; you’re not gonna lose me, ever. Okay?” The brunette caressed her cheeks, as she was still looking down at her hands, trying to console her. Psi and Imra kissed, their hearts always beating loud like it was the first time: “thank you.” She breathed out, “for what?” Imra smiled back at her. “For staying.” “Always.” They rested their foreheads on one another, “Listen, if you want, I can call my sister to check you and your mind, would that make you feel better?” “Yes, thank you so much.”

Prya Ardeen looked a lot like her younger sibiling, except for her blonde wavy hair. Unlike her sister, she had the power of telepathy and shielding minds: she was four years older than Imra and they were extremely close, especially after she fought so hard against everything and everyone to have her back. “But.. for the rest of the day, I think you should rest. Let’s go home.” “I’ll rest only if you’re there to cuddle me.” Imra looked into Psi’s pleading eyes, she knew well that she barely took days off since she had become the leader of the Legion of Superheroes. “Okay, I’ll guess they’ll survive one day without their leader.” “Oh, of course.” They laughed and joined hands, ready to cuddle their day away.

As promised, they snuggled the entire night and the next morning, Prya joined them on the ship: “Hello girls, how can I help you?” Before Imra even opened her mouth, Psi explained what had happened again: “Okay, have you tried using them again?” “Your sister suggested I should’ve rested for a while, so no.” “Okay, let’s go to the training room, I have an idea.”

The three women stood separately, Psi on one side of the room, Imra and Prya on the other: “Try to hit my sister, I’ll be shielding her, but if your powers hit the shield I will feel it, so you can know if your powers are fine again or not.” Prya ordered. “I- I don’t think it’s a good idea.” “Psi, you won’t hurt me.” “Prya, I know how strong you are, but just the thought of attacking her…” “She is my little sister, Psi. I know exactly how you feel, I’ve felt it for my entire life: I would never put Imra in a dangerous position if I didn’t know she was safe.” Psi’s worries were far from gone, quite the opposite, but she nodded anyway. “Okay. Let’s do it.” Imra stood in the middle, Prya slowly built a psychic shield around her sister and gave the other woman in the room the green light for the attack. Psi felt her powers working again and Prya felt it as well: “That’s enough, you’re okay.” Psi was so relieved to know that she didn’t suddenly lose her abilities, “thank you so much.” “I’m glad I could help. You know, when you’re sad, my sister gets sad as well and..that’s not a really pleasant feeling for a big sister.” “You’re the best.” The brunette hugged her, feeling a new wave of relief as well.

 Later that day, the couple laid in bed, Psi had a notebook in her hands and looked like she was scribbling or sketching something: “what are you doing?” “Nothing.” “Mmh, sure.” “I’m drawing.” “I didn’t know you could draw.” Imra sat closer to her, trying to take a little peek at her work. “Because I don’t do it often. I haven’t done it in a couple of years, actually.” “Because you don’t have the time? Or you don’t like it as much anymore?” “No, because I only draw when..when I feel happy. And the happy moments in my life were really rare and brief, so in that sense you can say I didn’t have the time to do it.” “You’re happy because you have your powers?” “No,  I’m happy because I have you, Matilda.” Her blue eyes pierced into her green eyes, she had never been so honest and open to someone before Imra, but how could she deceive those beautiful green eyes?

“I love you.” Imra blurted it out of nowhere, but she couldn’t keep it in anymore: one of the first things they taught each other, was to do everything without any regret and she was completely sure she wasn’t ever going to regret these words to her. “I- I love you, too. So much.” Psi took her in her arms, drinking in her smell, taking that moment and trying to keep all the feelings she was feeling clear in her mind, so she would never forget how it feels to be in love, and be loved in return.

But then, they got called by the Legion who needed their help: one of their latest enemies escaped prison and they had to catch her again. Emerald Empress’ powers came from the Eye of Ekron, which Psi had hidden after the Legion managed to have her arrested, that meant she didn’t have any powers now, but it was sure that she would’ve come for the ex-villain soon. When the group of superheroes reunited, they planned a very simple scheme: if the Empress had just human abilities now, it would’ve been easy to capture her. Imra decided to go after her with Ultra Boy and Ferro Lad, trying to keep Psi away from danger: they looked for her everywhere but couldn’t find her, until they went into the building where she used to work years earlier. “Well, finally, you’re here.” She said with a very calm tone, sitting down on a spinning chair. “There’s no need to hit me or knock me out unconscious, I just needed to take a walk. I didn’t like that prison much. And..without the Eye, I’m getting weaker minute after minute.”

Ultra Boy and Ferro Lad approached the woman, but she pulled out a laser gun and pointed it against her head. “I have nothing left that keeps me alive anymore. I should probably get this over with.” “No!” Imra yelled, “Please, don’t do it.” “Why? Why shouldn’t I? I’m going to die soon anyway. What’s the world without one more bad girl? It’s better.” “I’m not letting you do this.” She stepped forward, “You can get better.” “I won’t, trust me.” Emerald Empress sounded tired, panting at every pause, slightly trembling. The gun was still near her temple. “Just one question: why do you want to capture me again? You know I don’t have powers without the Eye of Ekron.” “We swore to protect the people from any harm, and that means both them from you and you, from them. Everyone would be safer this way.”

Her eyes got a sudden clearance, like she just realized something she had never thought about before. “Then I should probably let you arrest me.” Imra took out the handcuffs, but in a split second, the Empress made them fall down with a punch and got Imra in a chokehold, the gun was now pointed at her temple. “Uh-uh, boys. Don’t move, or your pretty little friend gets her brain splashed out. I might not have powers, but a gun like this is useful for anyone. Iron gets melted by heat, right, Ferro Lad? Ultra Boy, whatever you’re planning to do, just don’t, I’m just one click away from what I need.” “What do you need?” “The Eye of Ekron, obviously. I think your other friend knows where it is.” “Don’t you dare- don’t call her.” Imra stuttered, the thought of Psi being involved in this made her blood freeze. “Even if he wanted, he wouldn’t be able to- there’s no signal of any sort around this block. But..I’m sure she’ll figure out something to find you, sweetheart.”

 Psi kept pacing around the room, she could sense that something wasn’t right and she knew she had to do something, but couldn’t let the others know: she sneaked out, not exactly sure on what to do, but she had to find her lover. First of all, she asked the agents that guarded her cell some information about where the Empress used to live, work, or just hang out; when they spelled out the address of her work place, she recognized that area and remembered that it had been abandoned years earlier. Psi connected the dots and figured out that there was no way for the earpieces her teammates wore to function in that block: they were definitely there.

The dread grew at every step she took, unsure of what she would’ve found once she got there, Psi had never been so scared. Gayle had never been so scared. “Oh, your princess charming is here.” Emerald Empress spitted as Psi took her first step into the room, and immediately stopped in her tracks seeing a gun at her girlfriend’s head, “Don’t worry, it will all be over soon: you just give me the Eye, and I’ll give you your girlfriend back.” “Psi, d-don’t do it, she’ll hurt everyone.” “Shut up, the decision is up to her: I’m sure she’d prefer having you alive, rather than anyone else.”

Psi was so frightened and confused, was she willing to ignore everything Imra and the Legion taught her just to save her? She stood there in silence, her hands shaking like never before, her eyes were icy, she couldn’t stop thinking about how much she wanted to hurt the Empress, she wanted to kill her for hurting the love of her life. It was like a spark got ignited inside of her guts, a fire was raging throughout her entire body, Psi knew that in a few instants her powers were going to strike, but she had never felt this much anger going through her veins and she wasn’t sure she was going to be able to control it: she was afraid she was going to hurt Imra, again.

Psi gazed at the Empress once again, Imra was shaking too: she felt the blast leaving her body along with a loud scream, there was no going back now. Imra was bracing herself to get hit like that one time almost a year earlier, when she realized that the psychic powers of her girlfriend didn’t even touch her, somehow: the same thing couldn’t be said for Emerald Empress, who immediately dropped to her knees and let her gun fall down, before raising her hands to hold her head; the three unaffected Legionnaires reacted quickly, handcuffing the Empress while she was still shaken up by whatever vision Psi’s powers had brought up. She ran to Imra to embrace her, “Are you okay? I was so worried, I-” she moved her brunette hair out of her face, hoping that she didn’t have to face her biggest fear once again. “I’m okay, Psi. You didn’t hurt me.” “I didn’t? How is that possible? You were right in front of the Empress, how did it not hit you?” “I don’t know, but it’s a good thing, right?” “Yeah, it is.” Psi held Imra even tighter than before and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Let’s go.” Ferro Lad had to interrupt their sweet moment, but there was a prisoner to take into custody. “You go home, I have to do something first.” “Psi?” “Don’t worry, I’ll be quick.” “Okay.” Imra kissed her knuckles and followed the other boys, back to the headquarters.

 Psi walked to what seemed to be an abandoned theme park, and got into one of the last standing buildings: there was a box in there, containing the Eye of Ekron. She took out of her pocket that same laser gun that was pointed at her girlfriend’s temple, just minutes before that, and shot the box repeatedly, until everything inside had turned into dust. At the same time, Emerald Empress crumbled like sand and disappeared out of thin air: all the Legionnaires figured out what happened.

Prya rushed to Imra after finding out what her sister had been through: “I’m so happy you’re okay, you’re not even scratched, are you?” “No, no, I’m perfectly fine..thanks to Psi, even if I still don’t know how.” “What do you mean?” “The Empress was holding me hostage, I was literally in front of her: Psi’s powers got to her but not to me. Isn’t that strange?” “Maybe, but at least you’re safe. Where is she know?” “Considering that Emerald Empress just turned to dust, I’m pretty sure she went to destroy the Eye of Ekron that was keeping her alive.” “I would’ve done the same.. she must be really angry at that woman for threatening your life.” Imra smiled, grateful to have these two wonderful women in her life, who would do anything to protect her: her sister and her girlfriend. “You destroyed the Eye?” “Why, are you mad about it?” “No, no, I just wanted to know why, since she was going to die anyway, very soon.” “Well, let’s just say that..seeing you in that position, so scared and vulnerable, it took its toll on me: I just needed some sort of scapegoat, some way to take all my anger out on one thing.” Psi looked down at Imra, she almost looked like she wanted approval for what she’d done, afraid that she would be upset for it. “Thank you for protecting me.” “I will always protect you, Imra. Always.”

“Psi, can you come here for a second?” Prya called, as Brainy was standing right next to her. “Yes, what’s wrong?” “Nothing, I just explained what happened to Brainy, in regards of your powers not affecting my sister and he is pretty sure of this theory..” “I’m 98,7% certain that you’ve been able to channel all your negative emotions into one person in particular, so the other people surrounding the Empress weren’t blasted by your powers. I don’t know if you know, but your psychic abilities are fueled by your deepest feelings, the ones that seem easier to bury, like rage and sadness.” “That explains the failure of the other day..” “What?” “My powers didn’t work on Evillo because I felt happy, for once. I was at peace with my life. But does that mean that I can’t ever be happy, if I want to have my powers?” “No, no, that’s not it: you can still have your powers, you can channel them like you did today, use the affection and the love you have for Imra, and I hope also for the rest of the world, to protect them.” “Oh.” Prya interjected, “So, now that you know more about the source of your powers, you can use this information to use them even better.” “Thank you again, for helping me figure all of this out.” “No problem.” Prya patted her back.

 It was night time, and Psi and Imra were having a sleepy conversation, with their eyes almost closing: “I was scared as much as you were, today. I was terrified.” “I know, I could see it in your eyes.” “Were you afraid that I was going to hit you again?”

Imra opened her eyes, now fully staring at Psi in front of her, “Yes, but not because I don’t trust you, but because before today, even you know that, you’ve never sent your blast to one person in particular.” “I get it..” she sighed and moved one strand of hair away from her face, “Can I ask you something? You can also not reply at all.” “Tell me.” “Months ago, you told me that when I hit you during the Fort Rozz mission, you saw your sister dying; now that Prya is here, what would be your biggest fear?” There was no doubt in Imra’s mind, “Losing you.” Psi was completely flabbergasted, “Are..are you serious?” “100%. I’ve never loved someone as much as I love you, Gayle.” “If today wasn’t a big enough proof of it, I would do anything for you, Matilda.”

She got closer to her, she kissed her nose and then her lips, with tenderness, knowing that no matter how difficult it got, their relationship was special and it was going to last for a long, long time.

[roland-terrasold-blog]

Journal 53

I hope to catch up my journal to today’s events if possible. I’m frustrated with recent events and ready to leave Sandpoint already, and yet I haven’t even managed to get around to leaving Blackwell in my writing. If I want to use this journal to help me clear my head, it needs to be relatively caught up to current events or it’s pointless. But I digress.

When we returned to the castle a number of Blackwellian soldiers confronted us. Linda had to prove to them that she was really the former king’s daughter, which was handled with a device that somehow used her blood to determine her heritage. Blessedly, the machine worked and confirmed that Linda was the rightful heir, although the general was still understandably skeptical about sudden the change of power. Especially when Linda explained that the power to the city would be going down in a number of months.

Before we did anything, Linda went to collect her newly-found siblings. She decided that she would raise them as her children rather than as her siblings, to avoid any potential problems with succession Blackwell having more children could cause. While I don’t know how good lying to them will be, I do agree that keeping the children out of politics is a wise decision. Especially with how turbulent Blackwell will likely be for the foreseeable future. Linda renamed the infants Levana and Icarus, I’d assume to avoid any confusion at having two Lindas and the awkwardness of the young boy being named after the brother Linda apparently killed before she was even born.

Linda handed the babies off to Meinus, who is apparently excellent with children. Then we went out to the courtyard to wait for Ichibod and for Linda to continue preparing for a speech. The general told Linda that there was a ‘comm tower’ which we could go to, which would allow Linda to speak to the entirety of Blackwell without gathering the entire city together.

Ichibod caught up. For some reason he had a gnome in tow who looks suspiciously like a tiny King Blackwell. When I say that, I mean that Ichibod later drunkenly told me that he used a spell that reincarnated a less insane King Blackwell into a gnome body. He goes by Simmons Bigsby now, and has been helping to take care of the twins. I don’t think he’s a danger to us, without mana he seems to have lost all murderous intent.

There’s some information I suspect Linda would prefer I don’t write down, even in my private journal. Ichibod caught up with us, and for some reason had a gnome named Simmons Bigsby trailing behind him. Linda spoke with him in private, and she seems to have decided to keep him around to help care for the twins.

Ichibod still seemed upset, but less so than before. With the group together again, we headed for the comm. tower. On the way Linda informed us of her intention to make our group an official special ops group, technically working for the royal family. She was conflicted about how to tell the people about the current crisis with the mana being shut down. I gave her my thoughts on it: that she shouldn’t go into too much detail on it until she has a more concrete plan of action, to avoid causing a panic, and for now to focus on the change of power, and maybe touch on the need to use less energy for the time being. Linda declared that I would be editing her speeches from now on. I don’t know how serious she was. I wouldn’t mind if she is, I actually think I like advising her.

Unfortunately my good mood didn’t last long. When we got to the comm. tower a horrific sight awaited us. It was clear that fighting had happened here. There were bodies, and all of them belonged to those Elkin looking clones that work for Clyde. It churned my stomach to see them, although Elkin angrily told me that he didn’t care and that those weren’t him. I agree, they aren’t him…but seeing so many dead bodies with his face is still…

I apologize…even the memory is too gruesome. I feel sick thinking about it.

We found a room where the people who work in the tower had been locked in. From what we heard later, it sounded like there were actually very few civilian casualties despite Clyde’s rampage. Most were locked away like this group had been. I suppose since he wanted the city for himself, Clyde could hardly kill all the people living there or it would defeat the purpose.

The general, a number of guards, and Unae went to check the rest of the building, incase there were any more hostages.

Linda gave her speech, talking into a machine that I guess must work like a scrying sensor, allowing people to see her from all around the city even though she was simply talking to a machine in a mostly empty room. Regardless, she gave an excellent speech, given the circumstances. I’m actually starting to feel, despite my earlier doubts (especially when she had that damned mark on her head), that Linda will make a good leader.

Not long after Linda’s speech, Unae and the general returned. He was suspicious of us, and apparently questioned Unae while they were away from us. Unae didn’t seem to leave a good impression on him. He suspected us of working with Clyde to overthrow King Blackwell, which I admit to it looking that way from an outside perspective. He couldn’t know that Clyde has been our enemy for months, that he was only using us as a means to an end when he gave us our weapons and armor back, or that Linda effectively thwarted any plans he had for Blackwell when she destroyed the mana. Ichibod and Linda tried to explain, but their reasoning fell flat. Linda told the general that we have someone back home who she believes will be able to help with the energy issue, or at least for relocating the citizens, referring of course to Ghel, the monk who saved Linda and raised her. The general gave us an ultimatum: we had two months to find a solution. Until then, Linda wasn’t his queen, and his army wouldn’t obey her.

Linda and Meinus tried to work out how to find the monks, after the former King Blackwell attacked them and forced them into hiding. In the meantime I tried to help Ichibod work through some of what was happening. We talked about Clyde, Mary, and Timmy. Regardless of how he felt about Mary or Clyde, he was understandably worried for his son. I told Ichibod that if Mary really was working with Clyde, then it’s likely he’d find the answers he was looking for back on Galorian. Clyde had to have returned, and that means he likely had Mary and Timmy in tow. Ichibod seemed nervous about the idea of going to such a strange foreign place, but his concern for his son eventually won out. Ichibod went to prepare, and afterwards we were all lead to the former king’s flying ship, the Invincible. We were informed without mana it only had enough power to transport us to Galorian once. We would have to find a different way to get Ghel back to the moon after finding him. Because nothing can ever be easy.

Ichibod and Nel flew the ship for us. We finally appeared back in Galorian, in the middle of the ocean. Ichibod was amazed by the blue sky and the seemingly endless ocean, and couldn’t believe it when he saw dolphins leaping out of the water. I can hardly imagine how amazing the world must look to him, just as I’m sure he couldn’t understand why the moon was such a strange and fascinating place to us.

It took a couple of hours to reach Sandpoint from there. Without a journal to write in, I spent time reading and resting. It felt like it had been months since we slept in the demiplane, even if it was really more like a day since we’d rested.

Finally we reached Sandpoint, although I didn’t recognize it as such at first. The sleepy little town had grown exponentially since our last visit. From the air I could make out the lighthouse, the glassworks, and the temple of Desna. But there was an entire sprawling new section to the town, and it was clear that even more was in the process of being built.

For the first time, we wondered just how long we’d been in Runeforge. We’d forgotten that time moved differently there, on top of our two months unconscious. We found out later that a grand total of eight months had passed since we’d been in Sandpoint last, making our return very close to the year anniversary of when we all met in Sandpoint.

Our ship docked in the port, and Unae, Linda, and I exited. Elkin and Meinus kept sleeping, while Ichibod wanted to play around with the ship more and Nel wanted to run some checks on it or something.

The first person we ran into was fortunately a familiar face, Sheriff Hemlock. The disgruntled Sheriff was more than happy to tell us that there’s always a commotion when we show up, although this time it was in the form of a cheering crowd rather than goblins or giants. I would say it’s a step up, but honestly after what I saw a few minutes later…I don’t know…

Hemlock lead us through the now unfamiliar streets of Sandpoint, intent to have us meet with the mayor. Along the way we saw murals and statues depicting our exploits. Linda looked heroic and powerful, as she would want. Unae looked serene and always had depictions of nature in her artwork. Pictures of me were fairly simple, light colored, and tended to highlight symbols of the Dawnflower. If these were all, it would have been embarrassing as I dislike so much attention, but also very flattering.

Unfortunately, the town fucked up with how they viewed Elkin. The depictions of him were monstrous. They show him wearing a demonic looking mask, holding a blade wrapped in black flames and a bleeding heart. We overheard rumors of Elkin being an evil demon, or of Elkin trying to corrupt Unae. The story was that he was a demon lord who I’d bound into service, forcing him to serve in the name of Sarenrae.

I’m disgusted by it. If you’ve read through my journal, you know the kind of person Elkin is, and how I view him. He is heroic, kind, and more sensitive than he lets on. He’s protective, he struggles with his nature and how others perceive it, but he’s never let that stop him from helping those in need.

We met with the mayor, who explained to us how all this happened. Apparently it started with Lord Grabinath, who had been spreading our story since we (admittedly inadvertently) saved him from an assassination attempt. He encouraged the story to spread and then used our likeness to promote his own agenda. However according to the mayor, Grabinath didn’t twist Elkin’s image into how he’s perceived now.

That was done when the church of Sarenrae decided to get involved, due to my role in our group. I still have a hard time believing it, even as I write it. The church spun lies about a good man, to make him look like a monster and give me the hero role as the one who forces him to repent. Just thinking about it…I admittedly raised my voice towards the mayor when she told us, and I regret that. It wasn’t her doing, she was merely telling me what had happened since we vanished.

I still have a hard time believing it. At the time I hoped—I prayed—it was a misunderstanding. That I could tell the clerics in town about this horrible error, there would be apologies all around and the church would make a statement denouncing this depiction of my dear friend. How could followers of Sarenrae—who teaches to accept anyone who walks the path of good regardless of race—possibly choose to depict Elkin as a monster simply for his heritage?

Unfortunately I’ve met Cardinal Zalbrag since then. Everything was very intentional, and he cares nothing for my firsthand accounts of Elkin’s good deeds.

I actually ran into the snake the first time while leaving the mayor’s office. I had the feeling from how he talked that Zalbrag felt we were beneath him, and I was later proven correct. Zalbrag told me that he needed me to some to the Temple of Desna at my earliest convenience to fill out some papers regarding my priesthood. I tried to remain polite—remember I was still in denial and thought he might actually listen to reason—and assured him that I would meet with the clerics at the church later. Zalbrag made a none-too-subtle comment about me needing to stay humble and then left.

To be blunt, that man pisses me off. It feels like he looks down on everyone. He clearly hates me, and he despises Elkin even more so. He talks like he knows Sarenrae’s will even as he acts directly against her teachings, and he thinks he’s utterly justified the entire time. He is so opposed to everything I believe in, to everything I’ve ever viewed Sarenrae as, I still can’t believe a man like him somehow became a high ranking member of the church. How can a church that accepts the authority of a man like Zalbrag follow the same Dawnflower I’ve been following this entire time? Something is wrong. I feel sick and disgusted…and more than anything, utterly betrayed.

I need some time to cool down, I’ll continue this later.

[blancheludis]

Not What It Looks Like - Ch. 1

Dragon Age Fanfiction Pairing: minor Dorian / Iron Bull, mostly Inquisitor & Dorian friendship You can also read it on AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/6633355/chapters/15177451/

Summary: "That corpse thingy you're doing," Evelyn asked sweetly and was met with a raised eyebrow. "You mean necromancy, I presume?" "Yes that," she agreed impatiently and grinned. "How lifelike can you make them?"

The rotunda was thankfully empty when Evelyn hurried through it on her way to the stairs. Solas had way too good a hearing for what she had planned, and she had even made sure that Leliana was absent from her tower that night. The less witnesses there would be the better.

She was not even fully up the stairs when she called, “Dorian,” into the darkness of the library. Two lights were still on in the mostly deserted area. To one side Helisma was working diligently on something or other they had brought her from their latest excursion. But there was no need to worry about her. Tranquils were reliably unbothered even by delicate matters.

The other light was, as Evelyn had hoped, coming from Dorian’s corner, complete with the telltale clinking of a bottle he had no doubt raided from the wine cellar. No matter how often he bemoaned the pitiable quality – and quantity – he was a frequently seen guest down there.

“Dorian,” she called again, coming to an abrupt stop just outside illuminated circle of flickering candlelight. Grudgingly, he looked up from whatever book he was reading and, upon seeing her standing there with the expression of an overeager child waiting for a new toy, he raised an eyebrow at her.

“Inquisitor,” he greeted entirely nonchalant as if they had agreed on meeting in the library at night, when most sane people were already asleep. Her features automatically rearranged themselves to a baleful glare at hearing her title, but all it did was earning her a twitch of one perfectly-groomed moustache.

“Anyway,” Evelyn said, foregoing the opportunity to remind him of using her name. She had something better, after all, to throw him off-balance. “I need to ask you something,” her voice had dropped to a hushed whisper of its own volition, thus successfully piquing his interest.

“My expertise it at your disposal,” Dorian answered with his usual flourish, not yet knowing that he would soon regret his eager response.

Still outside of the lightened area, Evelyn shifted slightly until her face was only half-covered by shadows. That had not been planned but she was not going to let this opportunity for added drama go to waste. She had learned from the best, after all.

“This corpse thingy you’re doing –“ again she was met with a raised eyebrow, although more sceptical this time. And the moustache was utterly silent, too.

“You mean necromancy, I presume.” Of course, she did and she knew the right term for it, having decided against pursuing this branch of magic a couple months earlier. She regretted that decision a little bit by now. It was good, therefore, that she had an expert at hand.

“Yes, that,” she agreed impatiently and grinned. “How lifelike can you make them?”

“How – I – what?” at any other time Evelyn would have found it hilarious to see him this flustered – not many people could boast to have rendered the great Altus Dorian Pavus speechless – but it was a serious matter. And, to give credit where it was due, he regained his composure quickly.

“No,” the Tevinter said curtly, a finality in his tone that would have sent lesser women running, or at least made them change the topic quickly to never speak about it again. Well, Evelyn Trevelyan, Herald of Andraste and leader of the Inquisition, was not that wise.

“You haven’t even let me expl-“

“Listen,” for once Dorian did not sound secretly amused, nor haughty or too self-confident. “I don’t care what kind of great plan you have thought of. Necromancy is nothing to trifle with, as is every other kind of magic. I won’t raise an army of the dead for you, nor can I revive someone. I thought you knew better than to ask such a thing.”

“You can raise enough corpses for an army?” as it did so often, Evelyn’s mouth spoke before her mind had a chance to catch up, leaving her to curse herself while the damage was already done.

Exhaling slowly, Dorian grew very still for a moment before declaring in a decided tone, “I appreciate our friendship which is why I am going to let this pass. But leave me out of whatever you’re doing.”

Death was not a subject any Tevinter would skirt around like a nervous maiden her bed on her wedding night. It was going hand in hand with slavery and blood magic. But it was not something he would ever treat lightly. Choosing the path of the Necromancer meant to respect death.

“Good night, Inquisitor,” he said and, this time, meant the title. The book he had been reading peacefully until Evelyn had interrupted him landed on his seat with a dull thud as he rose to his feet. After blowing out the candles he strode out of the suddenly crammed alcove he had all but claimed for himself.

“Wait,” Evelyn called, sounding apologetic. But he did not slow. His decision would not sway. “Oh, Andraste’s knickers,” she swore and hurried after him. Throwing worried glances at the dark library around them, she blurted out, “I need to learn how to stab people and I would prefer if they didn’t try to kill me back.”

The utter ludicrousness of this statement caused Dorian to come to an abrupt standstill, almost resulting in Evelyn colliding with his back. When she opened her mouth, no doubt to spin her little tale on, he raised a hand, effectively rendering her silent.

“Let me see if I’ve got this right,” he drawled, eyeing her with an incredulous expression. “You want me to raise a corpse to attack you so you can have a go at it with a sword?”

“Daggers, actually,” Evelyn supplied helpfully, cursing herself when Dorian turned away again.

“Far be it from me to judge your idea of stress relief,” his tone conveyed the complete opposite of his words, “But I suggest going to Cassandra or the Iron Bull with this. They seem to enjoy getting beaten up.”

“I already have –“

“Then I don’t see why you would need me or my necromancy,” there was a clear dismissal in his tone as he started walking again.

“I need to learn how to defend myself,” Evelyn explained quietly, falling back into step beside him.

“The last time I checked you were quite proficient with your staff.” No snarky comment on how he was, of course, more proficient, no upwards quirk of the moustache. Just a couple cool words. Had she misinterpreted him that badly?

“At Emprise du Lion,” Evelyn started and there must have been something of note in her voice, because Dorian turned his head towards her, even while he kept walking. “One of the Red Templars hit me with a Holy Smite. And without Varric there to put a bolt through his head I –“ she swallowed audibly.

It was not a good thing to remember. The nausea, the sudden weakness of her legs, the world around her swirling into a single grey mass. There had been panic filling her, reaching deep into the spaces usually filled with her magic. She had been lost, afraid of being cut off of this integral part of her. And, in that moment, she had not even minded that the Templar had been closing in on her, his bloodied sword raised, ready to strike her down. The fear had come later, and the anger, too.

“It did not matter how many spells I know or how many enemies I have already successfully felled with fire and ice dripping from my fingertips. All it took him was an ability everyone one of them has, and I was utterly defenceless.” The mere memory left her breathless, panting for air that she knew was not filled with what she had needed most back then: reassurance, safety, a way to fight. “I don’t ever want to feel like that again.”

Evelyn had known about the Smite, of course, had even felt it before, back in the Circle of Ostwick. But she had always followed the rules, the important ones, at least, and if she had not, she knew better than to get caught. So before this dreadful battle with the Red Templars she had never been hit with a Smite with the sole intention of harming her and taking her down.

She really could have done without the experience, but at least it had been eye-opening insofar that she knew now that something needed to change. Even her wish to live put aside, as little as she liked the mark on her hand, she was a head figure in the conflict threatening to rip their world apart. She could not allow herself to be this vulnerable. She was not expendable.

Dorian kept silent for a while as they made their way through Skyhold’s empty halls, neither of them knowing where they were headed. At least his face was not as closed off anymore, but rather pensive.

“What do you want with corpses, then?” he eventually asked, a weary sigh hidden beneath the words.

Trying her best to tone down her recovered enthusiasm, Evelyn replied eagerly, “Cass and Bull showed me the basics and even Cole came to help but –“ Going up against straw dummies and people she definitely did not want to accidentally stab could only get her so far. And the mere thought of testing her newly-formed skills on a real, breathing enemy, bearing down on her with plate-mail and a sword, intent on killing her, was enough to send her into another panic attack.

“I understand,” Dorian spoke up, gentle again all of a sudden, which only resulted in getting Evelyn irritated. She had asked for help, not pity.

“Do you?” she asked harshly. “Tell me, Altus, have you ever been hit by a Smite and been cut off from who you are?” She spat out his title as if he had been the one to steal her magic, just because, in Tevinter, no Templar would dare to raise a hand against a mage of his position. It was unfair, indirectly blaming him for being free while she had been caged in the Circle of Magi for almost all her life.

To her surprise, though, Dorian’s expression did not change much, only growing a tad more wistful. “No, you’re right. I’ve never had such an unfortunate run in with a Templar. I have, however,” here a strange smile appeared on his face, one that spoke of incompletely buried bitterness, “Been force-fed Magebane by my father to keep me from interrupting the lovely little blood ritual he had planned for me. So, yes, I do understand.”

Feeling blood rush into her cheeks, Evelyn dropped her head in shame. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to –“ Dorian waved her apology away but she still refused to look at him. His exuberant personality made it easy to forget that he, like everyone else, was carrying scars.

“Now, why corpses?” he returned to his earlier question. But Evelyn did not answer at once. She had somehow imagined this to be easier and almost regretted asking, now.

“I’ve never had to deal with close-range combat before and I’m not ready for it. I also can’t stab my instructors, no matter how much they are calling for it at times,” still avoiding Dorian’s eyes, she shrugged. “I thought you might be able to manipulate a corpse to come at me like an enemy would. But without the killing me part if I miss or lose my nerves.”

Dorian sighed in response, causing Evelyn’s shoulders to slump in defeat. After a moment of contemplative silence, he spoke again. “I hope you have not already taken it upon yourself to procure a suitable corpse for this and hid it in your wardrobe. I assure you that you’ll never get the stains out of your clothes again – not that they could actually get worse.”

Immediately offended on behalf of her fashion sense – what was he expecting from a sheltered Circle mage anyway? – Evelyn looked down at herself only to freeze abruptly when the possible implications beneath his words finally registered in her mind. “Wait. You mean you’ll do it?”

“I would have preferred to skip the drama,” he scoffed but smiled. “You should have just said, Oh, Dorian, help me learn to kill things. I just know you’ll be more brilliant at it than my current instructors and-“

Finally grinning again, Evelyn interrupted his self-praising runt with a well placed hit on his shoulder.

“I really don’t understand why you appear to have problems. You’ve got such a violent streak that this should be quite easy for you,” cocking his head to a side, he added, “Now, how do we get a corpse into Skyhold? Without anyone noticing, that is. I doubt your advisors would approve. Not to speak of the poor servants having to clean up after we’re done. The stains, remember? Horrible.”

“Yes,” Evelyn smirked. “That would be something you know everything about.”

Raising his chin defiantly, Dorian clicked his tongue. “And here I thought you were asking for my help.”

“I do,” she turned her best puppy eyes on him, pouting like she had seen spoiled Orlesian girls do on the market in Val Royeaux whenever they wanted something their companion was unwilling to buy.

“How could I ever say no to you, dear,” he rolled his eyes but smiled.

“I love you, Dorian,” Evelyn said, her voice saccharine, causing him to nearly choke on suppressed chuckles.

“Of course, what is there not to love, after all,” he smirked, but turned serious again soon after. “Now, where do we get that corpse?”

Evelyn shrugged nonchalantly, “Just take one, I suppose There are enough lying around. And we can always make new ones.”

“You know,” he remarked in a long-suffering tone, “This is one of the many things that will be used against us if we’re ever being put on trial, by being taken out of its context to depict us as heartless monsters doing unspeakable things to dead people.”

She raised an eyebrow at him, “Opposed to what?”

“Us doing unspeakable things to dead people with a good reason, of course,” Dorian answered haughtily, causing Evelyn to laugh, feeling a good bit of weight drop off her shoulders. She had known that she could count on Dorian to help her out. “I suggest we do this outside of Skyhold. There will be less prying eyes. And we certainly come across enough suitable corpses there.”

Evelyn nodded pompously. “It’s almost as if we knew we could use them some time.”

Tired all of a sudden and right at his limit for inappropriate jokes – at least on this subject – Dorian altered his course, intent on getting down to the wine cellar again before he would retire to his room. The unexpected way his night had taken certainly warranted alcohol.

“You should go to bed now, Inquisitor. I’m sure you want to be well-rested for your next excursion. I, for one, will make sure to have all necessities packed.”

Happy with their apparent agreement, Evelyn hugged Dorian’s side even while he was never slowing down, before bouncing off in the direction of her quarters. “Good night, my friend,” then she smirked to herself. “And don’t forget the moustache wax.”

Indignant at her daring, he watched her go off with an exasperated but fond head shake. “As if that would ever happen.”

[darkflare-oc]

Demonic ambitions Part 3

Thinking quickly, Aaron lunged with a punch toward Warlord before he could fire a shot knocking him with enough force to make him drop his weapon and push him back.

“Start picking these small ones out”

Stalker wasted no time taking out the beasts near Aaron, lining up her shot to take multiple of them at once. In a swift motion, reloaded the next bullet in her bolt action and fired again taking a few more out. Aaron took the moment to quickly clear out any remaining beasts near him before facing Warlord, who was rushing toward Aaron with a strike. Aaron proceeded to anticipate his strike and use the momentum to toss Warlord back. He then quickly cupped his hands and thrusted them to fire a large dark energy blast at Warlord who had no choice but to brace for impact. Although knowing that the blast alone was nowhere near enough to finish him off, Aaron grinned at Warlord for a moment before moving away to dodge a blast from one of the humanoid beings. He turned to look at the attacker only to see it get shot with a sniper bullet.

Their numbers dwindling, the beasts finally begin to target Stalker. She quickly gets up and pulls out her pistol taking shots at the beasts coming for her, as Aaron began to plow through the ones that were attacking him. At their rate, the numbers were more manageable and Aaron could focus more on Warlord. That’s when Warlord had a menacing grin of his own.

“What are you smiling about?” said Aaron.

Warlord proceeded to let out a loud roar. After a brief moment, all of the fallen beasts began to rise up again.

“Waking your friends up again?” said Aaron as he prepared to attack again.

“Tch.” Stalker put a fresh clip into her pistol. But seeing the large numbers again worried her. She already burned through some of her ammo killing them the first time, she wasn’t sure she had enough for a second. And there was no guarantee. She nonetheless, fired at the beasts coming toward her.

Aaron started attacking all the beasts near him. The beasts were no match for his strength and he was able to dodge the blasts from humanoid beasts. He was suddenly struck by a shoulder charge from Warlord. The beasts quickly took advantage as he was further struck by the claws and jaws worsened with the barrage of energy blasts from the humanoid creatures.

Stalker kept shooting at the beasts before having to reload. This brief moment was interrupted with a few of the beasts getting close, forcing her to take out a knife and use it to slice the beasts. She looked over at Aaron for a moment, making a mental note to clear out the ones near her and try to pick off the ones attacking Aaron.

Aaron managed to the side to shake off some of the beasts and get up. He slammed the ground with his fists creating a shockwave that stunned the beasts momentarily allowing him to grab the ones on him off and toss them away. He then proceeded to grab the humanoid creature and use it as a battering ram for the other beasts before slamming it down on the ground. He then looked over at Warlord who had picked up the mini gun and began to fire it forcing Aaron to begin running in an attempt to avoid it’s shots. Warlord seemed rather desperate as he hit some of the beasts that were near Aaron in the process.

Suddenly, something had struck the mini-gun as Warlord lost his balance from the sudden impact to his weapon. This was enough of a moment for Aaron to close the distance with a lunging kick once again knocking Warlord off of his weapon. Aaron gave a nod toward Stalker noting the sniper bullet that hit the weapon. He picked it up and began revving it up.

“All right, my turn to make you into swiss cheese.”

Aaron fired at the other demon who couldn't dodge in time due to still reeling from the kick earlier. The clicking sounds signaled the weapon had run out of it’s ammunition as Aaron tossed it aside and approached Warlord. Despite having received a barrage of high caliber rounds, the demon was still alive although with his wounds, what remained of his life wasn't very long. He gave a defiant look toward Aaron.

“It’s because of demons.....like you....that they step on us....”

Aaron shrugged. “I would rather be a weak demon that plays nice with the humans than a strong one that prefers to continue a pointless war with them.”

Aaron kicked him away, letting him die slowly. He looked around and noted the beasts were eliminated as well.

“Area seems clear. Well, that was fun, sucks about the paper work we’re going to have to do for HQ.”

With no warning, a portal opened up and a robed woman stepped out from. Aaron got back into a fighting stance while stalker aimed her rifle at her.

“Ehehe, sorry about the little intrusion. But I’m not here to fight you.”

“Is that a fact?”

“You did me a favor killing that demon for me. I was thinking of doing it myself, but you beat me to it. Not a big fan of leaving them for death and letting them slowly bleed out though.”

“What do you want?”

“Er....right. Ahem. The one you just killed was just a subordinate of the real leader.”

“Real leader?”

“Did I stutter? I’m afraid there’s others like him, wanting to foolishly follow “the old ways”. It hasn’t gotten bad so far, but I do have a good idea of what they can do and if left unchecked it won’t be pretty.”

“And the fact that you’re a halfling isn’t one of the reasons you’re against them.”

“Oh? You’re pretty good to be able to tell. I suppose that would make me living proof about our races getting along. I understand if you don���t trust me, but you should....um....trust me. Oh, I know! Introductions! Ok, my name is Margaret Vermillion.”

“....Aaron Wolfe.”

Stalker approached the two. “Call me Stalker. Unlike Wolf here, I ain’t the kind to trust so easily.”

“Hey, I got a hunch, all right?”

“You know how I feel about basing something on a hunch.”

“Now now, like I said, I need you to trust me. We could try trust exercises, but I think this big guy would be too heavy for me to catch. ANYYYWAAAAYYYYYYY, I’ll be sure to tell you everything tomorrow or at least about as much as I know about these demons.”

“Tomorrow? Why not just tell us now?”

“BECAUSE, you’re tired, she’s tired and I want my beauty sleep. Don’t worry, they won’t do anything so soon, especially since you kinda killed one of their leaders. They’ll want revenge, but they’ll also think of a plan first. That said, I’ll contact you, so try not to go too far away. Please?”

Aaron looked over toward Stalker. “I’ll take care of this one alone for now. I know you don’t trust her and all, but I figure I ain’t got much of a choice.”

“And how do you expect me to explain THAT to HQ? I’m just going to tell them just to stayed behind out of a hunch?”

“Yea, pretty much. You’re a smart girl, you’ll figure something out. Then again, the one that’s going to get in trouble would be me anyway. Either way, if she’s right that those things were just the beginning, I would rather not be caught with my pants down.”

“Understood, sir. You better be right about this.”