#I’d let Annabel stab me

[tuxragboon]

NEVERMORE BANNER UPDATE?????

[persesphonestears]

More cod incorrect quotes

A/N: There is an obvious pattern cause I used a generator lmao anyway

C/W: uh swearing? i think thats it for once

Ghost: Favourite horror movie?

Soap: It

Price: Saw

Gaz: Annabelle

R/n: High School Musical. after watching it I spent all my middle school years terrified that the entire school would start singing something and I’d be the only one who didn’t know the lyrics

-

Price: You're a loose cannon, Ghost.

Ghost: No, I'm not. I'm a cannon maybe, but a loose cannon? Is that what you think of me?

Soap: I think you play by your own rules.

Gaz: No way, they think rules were made to be broken.

Price: Those are all attributes of a loose cannon.

Ghost: No, I'm just a reckless renegade. R/n is a loose cannon.

R/n: *smashes a chair*

-

Price: Good morning.

Ghost: Good morning.

Soap: Good morning.

Gaz: You all sound like robots, try spicing it up a bit.

R/n: MORNING MOTHERFUCKERS

-

Price: Where's Ghost, Soap, and Gaz?

R/n: They're playing hide and seek.

Price: Where?

R/n: I don't think you get how this game works.

-

Price: You really put aside everything and came all this way for me? How did you even get here so fast?

Ghost: Several traffic violations.

Soap: Three counts of resisting arrest.

Gaz: Roughly thirteen cans of energy drinks.

R/n: Also, that’s not our car.

-

Price: Nothing in life is free.

Ghost: Love is free!

Soap: Adventure is free.

Gaz: Knowledge is free.

R/n: Everything is free if you take it without paying.

-

R/n: We need more help. Maybe I should call my friends.

Ghost: ... Your what?

R/n: My friends.

Price: Are they saying “friends”?

Gaz: I think they're being sarcastic.

Soap: No, no, no, this is delirium, they've cracked from being awake all night. Hey, R/n! All of your friends are in this room.

R/n: I have other friends! You asked me to make new friends, I made new friends! It was a task. I complete tasks.

-

Price: Good responses for being stabbed with a knife?

Gaz: Rude.

Soap: That’s fair.

Ghost: Not again.

R/n: Are you going to want this back? Or can I keep it?

-

R/n: Is having a penis fun?

Ghost: It has its ups and downs.

Soap: Sometimes it’s a little hard.

Gaz: It’s a pain in the ass.

R/n: Oh, Jesus, fuck, guys, come on.

-

Gaz: That's it, we're gonna go out and find what we need!

Price: To the city?

Gaz: Yeah, no matter what!

R/n: Well- How exactly do you propose we do that, exactly?

Gaz: I... I don't know!

Ghost: Oh come off it, be serious!

Gaz: I am serious!

Ghost: You're insane!

Soap: Why, if only we were all wiener dogs, our problems would be solved!

Everyone:

Price: What???

Soap: Or maybe it was a basset hound!

R/n: no no maybe Soap is onto something..

Ghost, panicked: YOU'RE ALL INSANE!

-

Price: We’ve been conducting an ongoing study to see what R/n will and will not eat.

Ghost: Grass? Yes!

Price: Moss? Yes!!

Ghost: Leaves? Ohh, yes!

Price: Shoelaces? Strange but true!

Ghost: Worms? Sometimes!

Price: Rocks? Usually not.

Ghost: Twigs? Usually!

Price: Soap's cooking? Inconclusive!

Gaz: How did you… test this?

Price: You just hand them stuff and say ‘eat this’ and if they eat it, they eat it.

Gaz: ... I don’t know how to feel about this.

Soap: IS THAT WHERE ALL MY SPARE SHOELACES WENT?

-

Price: Are we really going to let R/n keep the cat?

Gaz: Hey we kept R/n.

-

Price: Why isn’t the statue smirking at me?

Ghost: It isn’t smirking at anyone, they’re all just imagining it.

Price: Three of us saw it, Ghost. How do you explain that?

Ghost: *points at Soap* Sleep deprivation. *points at Gaz* Paranoia. *points at R/n* Delusional personality disorder.

-

Price, trying to convince R/n to join the task force: You know... I thought it'd be good to have someone alongside us who's really... smart!

Gaz: And loud!

Soap: And grumpy!

Ghost: And oblivious to reality

R/n:

-

Price: Bridge the generation gap by combining old and new slang into one!

Gaz: Tubular AF!

Soap: Mood to the max!

Ghost, annoyed: Groovy, I hate it.

R/n, just as annoyed: If she breathes, she’s a square.

Price: Tf

-

Price: Imagine if someone handed you a box full of all the items you have lost throughout your life

Ghost: Self-esteem, haven't seen you in years

Soap: Oh wow, my innocence! Thank you for finding this!

Gaz: I knew I lost that potential somewhere!

R/n: My entire childhood and happiness, is that you?

Price:

Price: I was just gonna show you this cool trunk my mother left me but do you guys need a hug?

-

Price: What does 'take out' mean?

Soap: Food

Gaz: Dating

Ghost: Murder.

R/n: IT CAN MEAN ALL THREE IF YOU'RE NOT A LIL BITCH.

-

Price: Anyone d-

Ghost: Depressed?

Gaz: Drained?

Soap: Dumb?

R/n: Done with life?

Price: -done with their work... need to get Laswell to get you all therapy …

-

Price: So uhhh... question: my ‘friend’ keeps on going into the pantry and grabbing handfuls of fettuccine... uncooked...

Gaz: I would hope they're not grabbing handfuls of cooked fettuccine!

Soap: In your pantry!

Price: Yeah... and eating them raw, and they keep calling them 'chips'. ... How do I make them stop?

Ghost: Is your friend here?

Price, motioning to R/n: Yeah.

Gaz, to R/n: You're a monster! Words MEAN things! >:(

Soap: Does anybody remember- I haven't been to Olive Garden in many moons- but they DO have a like- fettuccine bottle that you can just- grab em out of and chew-

Soap: HOLD ON. WAS THIS A PRANK YOU GUYS PULLED ON ME WHEN WE WENT TO OLIVE GARDEN AFTER THAT MISSION?!

Soap: NO, STOP. EVERYBODY SHUT UP. DO THEY GIVE YOU RAW FETTUCCINE TO CHEW ON IN THE LOBBY OF THE OLIVE GARDEN

Everyone else: No.

Soap, to Gaz and R/n: YOU FUCKIN BASTARDS

Gaz: YAAAAAAAAY!

R/n: THE PRESTIGE!

-

Price: What did you guys get in your yearbook?

Gaz: 'Prettiest Smile'

Soap: 'Nicest Personality'

Ghost: 'Most likely to start a bar fight'

R/n: 'Least likely to start a bar fight, but most likely to win one'

-

Price: What if the person who named Walkie Talkies named everything?

Soap: Pregnancy tests are Maybe Babies

R/n: Socks are Feetie Heaties

Gaz: Forks are Stabby Grabbies

Soap: Defibrillators are Heartie Starties

R/n: Nightmares are Dreamy Screamies

Gaz: Stamps are Lickie Stickies

Ghost, annoyed: You are disappointments

Price to Ghost: You agreed to join the team.

-

Soap: I’m an idiot.

Ghost:

Price:

Gaz:

R/n:

Soap:

R/n: If you’re waiting for us to disagree, this is going to be a long day.

This stupid long omg, uh anyway I used a incorrect quote generator cause I'm lazy but edited most of them so the make some more sense :>

[itspikamefan]

The quotes have Returned. May lord have mercy

Ojima: *holding a bottle* Is this whiskey or perfume?

Okazaki: *chugs entire bottle*

Okazaki: It’s perfume.

Watari: Hah! 69! You know what that means?

Sasaki: What?

Ojima: That you're a child.

Hiroaki: HOW'D YOU GUESS MY IQ!?

Okazaki: Today is a day of running through hurdles.

Tsuno: Aren’t you supposed to jump OVER hurdles?

Okazaki: Whatever. Fear is only something to be afraid of if you let it scare you.

Kamimura: With great power comes great need to take a nap. Wake me up later.

Hiroaki: Dear friends, your Christmas gift this year… is me. That’s right, another year of friendship. Your membership has been renewed

*Tsuno helping Hiroaki out after he got injured, while the others are watching*

Ojima: How does he look?

Okazaki: A little better than you actually.

Okazaki: Truth or dare?

Hama: Dare

Okazaki: I dare you to kiss the hottest person in the room

Hama: Hey Tsuno.

Tsuno, blushing: Y-yeah?

Hama: Could you move? I’m trying to get to Harada.

Harada: How's the sexiest person here~?

Hama: I don't know, how are they~?

Harada, flustered: I-

Hiroaki, from across the room: I'm doing great, thanks!

Okazaki: Favorite horror movie?

Sasaki: It

Tsuno: Saw

Chiba: Annabelle

Ojima: High School Musical. after watching it I spent all my middle school years terrified that the entire school would start singing something and I’d be the only one who didn’t know the lyrics.

Wada: That’s one of my biggest fears. Like, if I ever woke up as a donut...

Hama: You would eat yourself?

Wada: I wouldn’t even question it.

Yanagi: Can you please be serious for five minutes?

Watari: My record is four, but I think I can do it.

Hiroaki, standing with his back turned: I’ve been expecting you, Sasaki.

Sasaki: How did you do that without turning around?

Hiroaki: ... To be perfectly honest, the first couple of people I did that to were not you.

Hasegawa: Do you have any skeletons in your closet?

Okazaki: You mean literally or figuratively?

Hasegawa: Honestly, the fact that I have to specify...

Tsuno: Please, I'm begging you go to a doctor.

Hayashi: I'm sorry is this OUR stab wound? Stay out of it.

Sasaki: Ok, maybe playing ‘whose family is most dysfunctional’ wasn’t the best idea we’ve had. Yanagi's been crying in the bathroom for an hour. We can’t get him out...

Hayashi: What doesn't kill me should run, because now I'm fucking pissed.

Kamimura: Please bring home PURIFIED water with NO minerals added for taste

Okazaki: We got spring water

Kamimura: NO.

Watari: with EXTRA minerals

Okazako: it's like licking a stalagmite

Kamimura: DON'T COME HOME.

Watari: Mmmmm cave water.

Ojima: Must be hard not being able to laugh

Okazaki: I do have a sense of humor you know

Ojima: I’ve never heard you laugh before

Okazaki: I’ve never heard you say anything funny

Yanagi: 'Person of interest' is almost too flattering.

Yanagi: Like, if the police were to pound on my door and go, 'A man has been murdered in your building and you are a person of interest,' I'd be like, 'Moi? Oh, do go on.'

Harada, trying to ask Hama out: Would you like to stay for dinner?

Chiba: WOULD YOU LIKE TO STAY FOREVER?

Yanagi: Can you keep a secret

Okazaki: Do you know anything about my life?

Yanagi: No… Good Point.

Isono: Where are you going?

Okazaki: To get ice cream or commit a felony, I’ll decide on the way there

Watari: We’ve been conducting an ongoing study to see what Wada will and will not eat.

Okazaki: Grass? Yes!

Watari: Moss? Yes!!

Okazaki: Leaves? Ohh, yes!

Watari: Shoelaces? Strange but true!

Okazaki: Worms? Sometimes!

Watari: Rocks? Usually nah.

Okazaki: Twigs? Usually!

Watari: Ojima’s cooking? Inconclusive!

Tsuno: How did you… test this?

Watari: You just hand him stuff and say ‘eat this’ and if he eats it, he eats it.

Tsuno: ... I don’t know how to feel about this.

Ojima: IS THAT WHERE ALL MY SPARE SHOELACES WENT?

Hama, talking to Harada on the phone: Did you preheat the oven like I told you to?

Harada: You bet!

Hama: At what temperature?

Harada: 535.

Hama: That's the clock.

Harada:

Hama:

Harada: 536.

Store Worker: Would a Mr. Ran Hama please come to the front desk?

Hama, arriving at the desk: Hello, is there a problem?

Store Worker: points to Harada and Chiba

Store Worker: I believe they belong to you?

Harada and Chiba, simultaneously: We got lost :(

Hama: I didn’t even bring you guys here with me-

Wada: You're the love of my life and my best friend, I would do anything for you.

Isono: I want you to eat three meals a day and have a decent sleep schedule.

Wada: Absolutely not.

Kamimura: I'm so tough, I'm on alert even when there's no danger!

Harada: Kamimura, that's PTSD.

Wada: Nothing in life is free.

Tsuno: Love is free!

Harada: Adventure is free.

Sasaki: Knowledge is free.

Okazaki: Everything is free if you take it without paying.

Harada: You lying, cheating, piece of shit!

Hiroaki: Oh yeah? You’re the idiot who thinks you can get away with everything you do. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD

Harada: I’m leaving you, and I’M TAKING CHIBA WITH ME

Tsuno, picking up the monopoly board: I think we’re gonna stop playing now.

[forestcat222]

all Targaryens survive incorrect quotes.

btw in this au Jon's name is Aemon not Aegon.

Viserys: Why isn’t the statue smirking at me? Rhaenys: It isn’t smirking at anyone, they’re all just imagining it. Viserys: Three of us saw it, Rhaenys. How do you explain that? Rhaenys: *points at Aegon* Sleep deprivation. *points at Aemon* Paranoia. *points at Daenerys* Delusional personality disorder.

Viserys: Where's Rhaenys, Aegon, and Aemon? Daenerys: They're playing hide and seek. Viserys: Where? Daenerys: I don't think you get how this game works.

Viserys: What did you guys get in your yearbook? Rhaenys: 'Prettiest Smile' Aegon: 'Nicest Personality' Aemon: 'Most likely to start a bar fight' Daenerys: 'Least likely to start a bar fight, but most likely to win one'

Viserys: Good responses for being stabbed with a knife? Rhaenys: Rude. Aegon: That’s fair. Aemon: Not again. Daenerys: Are you going to want this back?

Viserys: What’s something you guys are better than Rhaenys at? Aegon: Mario Kart. Aemon: Yeah, video games. Daenerys: Emotional vulnerability.

Viserys: Good morning. Rhaenys: Good morning. Aegon: Good morning. Aemon: You all sound like robots, try spicing it up a bit. Daenerys: MORNING MOTHERFUCKERS

Viserys: What does 'take out' mean? Rhaenys: Food. Aegon: Dating Aemon: Murder Daenerys: IT CAN MEAN ALL THREE IF YOU'RE NOT A COWARD.

Viserys: Imagine if someone handed you a box full of all the items you have lost throughout your life Rhaenys: Self-esteem, haven't seen you in years! Aegon: Oh wow, my childhood innocence! Thank you for finding this! Aemon: I knew I lost that potential somewhere! Daenerys: My moral code, is that you? Viserys: Viserys: I was just gonna show you this cool trunk my mother left me but do you guys need a hug?

Viserys: We need more help. Maybe I should call my friends. Rhaenys: ... Your what? Viserys: My friends. Aegon: Are they saying “friends”? Aemon: I think they're being sarcastic. Daenerys: No, no, no, this is delirium, they've cracked from being awake all night. Hey, Viserys! All of your friends are in this room. Viserys: I have other friends! You asked me to make new friends, I made new friends! It was a task. I complete tasks.

Viserys: Bridge the generation gap by combining old and new slang into one! Rhaenys: Tubular AF! Aegon: Mood to the max! Aemon, annoyed: Groovy, I hate it. Daenerys, just as annoyed: If she breathes, she’s a square.

Viserys: You're a loose cannon, Rhaenys. Rhaenys: No, I'm not. I'm a cannon maybe, but a loose cannon? Is that what you think of me? Aegon: I think you play by your own rules. Aemon: No way, they think rules were made to be broken. Viserys: Those are all attributes of a loose cannon. Rhaenys: No, I'm just a reckless renegade. Daenerys is a loose cannon. Daenerys: *smashes a chair*

Viserys: Favorite horror movie? Rhaenys: It Aegon: Saw Aemon: Annabelle Daenerys: High School Musical. after watching it I spent all my middle school years terrified that the entire school would start singing something and I’d be the only one who didn’t know the lyrics

Viserys: Nothing in life is free. Rhaenys: Love is free! Aegon: Adventure is free. Aemon: Knowledge is free. Daenerys: Everything is free if you take it without paying.

Viserys: You really put aside everything and came all this way for me? How did you even get here so fast? Rhaenys: Several traffic violations. Aegon: Three counts of resisting arrest. Aemon: Roughly thirteen cans of energy drinks. Daenerys: Also, that’s not our car.

Viserys: If there's going to be a big dramatic scene, wait until I get back. Rhaenys: Of course. I can't flip this table by myself.

Viserys: You know, not every problem can be solved with a sword. Rhaenys: That's why I carry two swords.

Viserys: Is letting someone win at chess sapiosexual bottoming Rhaenys: Does anyone in this godforsaken group ever think before they speak

Daenerys: Here’s a fun Christmas idea. We hang mistletoe, but instead of kissing, you have to FIGHT whoever else is under it. Aemon: Daenerys no. Aegon: Mistlefoe. Aemon: Please stop encouraging them.

Daenerys: Sometimes I drink milk straight out of the container. Aemon: The cow??? Daenerys: What? Aegon: Aemon, W H Y?

Daenerys: Hey Aemon, Aemon: Yes? Daenerys: Can a person breathe inside a washing machine while it’s on? Aemon: Aemon: Where’s Aegon?

Jon Connington: While I’m gone, Aemon, you’re in charge. Aemon: Yes!!! Jon Connington, whispering: Aegon, you’re secretly in charge. Aegon: Obviously.

Jon Connington: You know those things will kill you, right? Rhaenys, pouring another glass of whiskey: That’s the point. Aegon, smoking a cigarette: We’re trying to speed up the process. Aemon: *Nods while eating raw cookie dough*

Aegon: Hah! 69! You know what that means? Rhaenys: What? Jon Connington: That you're a child. Aemon: HOW'D YOU GUESS MY IQ!?

Aemon: Is stabbing someone immoral? Rhaenys: Not if they consent to it. Aegon: Depends who you’re stabbing. Jon Connington: YES?!?

Jon Connington: Listen, I can explain... Rhaenys: You’re making $500,000 and you’re only gonna pay me $30,000? Aegon: You’re getting 30 grand? I’m getting $1,000! Aemon: You guys are getting paid?

Jon Connington: You are now one day closer to eating your next plate of nachos. Rhaenys: That's the most hopeful thing I've ever heard. Aegon: But what if I die tomorrow and never eat any nachos? Aemon: Then tomorrow is nacho lucky day.

[scribbly-dee]

Inspired by this post

I adore corruption arcs, so I graded how well the non-archivist characters would have damned humanity if they had been the archivist.

Sasha James 11/10, would be an ideal archivist, this plus her height is probably why the stranger monster targeted her before she could peak

I have a soft spot for any au that knows Sasha has never seen a brain cell in her life and that any unhinged!Sasha au is really just a regular Sasha au. Picture it with me. Sasha and Jon have parallel archivist tracks, until Sasha (my beloved show off) decides: you know what would make me more efficient at snooping? Becoming a Human Google. And things accelerate. The Web doesn't even need to bother with subtly magic lighters, it slaps all 14 marks on her at once by pulling up next to Sasha in a windowless van with "free secrets 👍" written on the side.

After the Unknowing, Sasha takes over the institute from Elias instead of Martin and Peter. With Tim dead, Jon in a coma, Martin lonely-snatched, Melanie compulsively homicidal, Daisy in the coffin, and Basira on autopilot, she quickly bonds with Rosie, the ultimate nosiness enabler. Sasha is a fully marked archivist for a good long while, but doesn't start the apocalypse right away because she's eager to read ALL the ominous notes Elias left, so the watcher's crown statement is in her to-be-read pile. When the apocalypse starts (Rosie: "Hey, Sasha, I just read something extra fucked up that Elias wrote, wanna see?" Sasha: "God yes."), she books it to become the pupil with Rosie as her anchor. Mayhapse an anchor-archivist polycule with Archivist Jon and Martin? Mayhapse Jon is just a normal eye avatar here and deeply invested in all of Sasha's eyepocalypse statements, so it's Sasha and her plus-three? Mayhapse it's a race across the eyepocalypse wasteland between Archivist Sasha and Archivist Jon to usurp Jonah and become the pupil?

Tim Stoker 2/10 dude's here for a good time, not a long time

The only way I see this working is if Elias disguises not-stranger clues as circus related so Tim is motivated to investigate. Otherwise, his archival assistants are way more curious than him and disobey his direct orders to 🍹chill🏝. Jon, Sasha, and Martin inadvertently bring marks home to him like cats bring home dead birds. He asserts his agency when he decides the best course of action? Actually? Just blow up the archives. This unfortunately puts him in a false sense of security, and Elias makes him read the watcher's crown statement by cat fishing him on grindr and sending the ritual as a dm mid conversation.

Daisy Tonner - 9/10 archivist, would have started doomsday before she was at the archivist job long enough to use her PTO

Daisy already had a lot of experience hunting down fear-entity-related people in sectioned cases, which means she possibly canonically already has all the marks from just hunting avatars who use their powers in self defense. The reason she lost one point is because she's too much of a jock to read, only nerds are culpable to watcher crown statements, so this would be the only delay but oh what a delay it will be.

Melanie King - 7/10 archivist, points awarded for achieving her breakthroughs by smashing her head against a wall until she literally breaks through, points deducted for doing so in full clown makeup.

If Jon got a handful of marks by just asking anoying questions in the same room as an avatar, imagine how much faster Melanie would get marks by bringing her trademark Chaotic Brat personality on fear entity investigations. The apocalypse would have started in like two seasons: one season to hire her off the streets and establish shakey, complex relationships with her new assistants (Jon and Sasha put in the time with the institute but were passed over on this promotion for some random YouTuber (plus they're tighter with Tim and Martin, so proletarian solidarity against the boss)).

Then a second season to stab every mark and get stabbed in return. Melanie would blitz through all 14 marks because what precious little impulse control she starts with is slowly replaced with slaughter juice. One fun moral ambiguity to explore could be if Melanie tries to use her new, dangerous Eye/Slaughter powers to revive her reputation and platform in the supernatural community now that she can, ya know, identify supernatural things for the first time ever. Does she acknowledge her entire career up to her hospital episode apparently only investigated fake sightings? A better question to ask is whether Basira, Tim, and Jon ever let her live down how Ghost Hunt UK's professional dignity was contingent on the legitimacy of her sCiEnTiFiC gHoSt eQuIpMeNt in those episodes, so the temperature spikes set to dramatic music were well and truly just temperature spikes and dramatic music. Sasha found a clip of that music playing as Melanie narrates "it's a message... from the other side..." and made it as her text tone.

Also, it would be hilarious if Melanie tried to kill Jonah on sight in the panopticon, once again botched assassination attempt number 1,963,538, and then Jon quietly snuck in to finish the job on his first try just like in canon.

Jon: "What, like it's hard?"

Basira Hussain 3/10 archivist, her eye alignment manifests as office gossip, like a normal person

Basira has the most formidable super power of all: the power to nope tf out of any conversation or plan she wants. She therefore would probably take 10x longer to start the apocalypse than any other archivist because her fatal flaw is refusal to directly engage with a lot of personally difficult things (like the slaughter bullet surgery she organized, Daisy In General, etc). The marks will be slow going if she resists putting her safety on the line or invests time in making good plans (which is smart, but unhelpful for dooming humanity). She would for sure still get marked and end the world because once she's convinced of a plan (aka Elias convinces her of a plan), she's ruthlessly efficient. So I'd stay out of her way that last year or two, she marks the entities right back at them.

Martin Blackwood 2/10 archivist, considering a prerequisite for creepy eye avatar staring is the ability to make eye contact.

S1 Archivist Martin would probably dote too much on the employees under him to be hugely susceptible to Elias' isolation-dependant manipulation. Any progress Martin inadvertently achieves toward the watcher's crown goal would have to be contingent on it helping his loved ones, which is perfect fuel for a "corrupted by good intentions" arc. This would be key because Martin has superb bullshit and manipulation detection, making the marks are tricky but not impossible to orchistrate considering Jon can't stay put in a safe corner for 10 minutes and Martin's mother would refuse to stay with him where she's safe from avatar threats.

Imagine the petty drama when Jon and Sasha learn he got the promotion they wanted because he lied on his CV.

Other than that, Martin would be even worse about pit stops on the apocalypse road trip than Jon because his Kill Bill mode would have no off switch. Does Archivist!Martin and his anchor Jon ever reach the panopticon? Eventually, but not until after they lose points for significantly reducing the apocalypse fear quantity. Would Annabelle survive to deliver her cryptic MaCHiNAtIoNs and achieve the Web's goal? Hard No, additional point reduction for neutralizing the multiverse invasion. Points potentially earned back if Martin's Web connection is strong enough to come up with the multiverse invasion plan on his own, though.

Georgie Barker 4/10, as a fearless coward, all the fear she feeds to the entities would be khaki flavored. They'd get their apocalypse, but they probably wouldn't enjoy the meal.

Similar to Basira, Georgie has the super power to Fuck This Shit I'm Out. She would overall be a subpar humanity damning archivist; a major archivist success factor of Jon's is that he has enough affective empathy to be afraid with every statement giver he reads, so when Jon archives a statement, he unintentionally contributes to the fear soup seasoning. Combined with how Georgie doesn't want anything to do with entity drama, so any corruption specific to the watcher's crown would stagnate. Even her casual exposition conversations would go like

Georgie: "I've connected no dots."

Melanie: "you've connected a lot of dots??"

Georgie: "I've connected shit all dots."

The reason she gets one more point than Basira is because Georgie's fatal flaw is the passive observer quality the Eye tried to stoke in Jon. Her level of engagement oscillates between two extremes, impulsive over commitment and judging from a distance. This would probably lead her to geting involved just long enough for her involvement to become irreversible, at which point she would try to cut that shit out of her life after it's trapped her. She'd linger, barricading herself on the margins of this problem as the marks that are targeted at her slowly tally up until boom. Apocalypse is on and she only half understands what's happening.

Georgie would wander around an apocalypse hellscape confused, but vibes and physical health fully intact. Anchor!Melanie would have quite the emotional journey starting with Georgie on that pedestal Melanie placed her, and ending with a slaughter avatar stabbing the person who convinced her to work on her slaughter inclination.

[rosesnink]

The Cursed Heiress, Chapter Thirteen: In the Name of Love

Author’s Notes: 

I’d like to dedicate this chapter to my friend @missameliep​ for not only encouraging me but also helping me improve as a storyteller and person and I’m so thankful for your friendship. I hope you like it, dearest! 

English is not my first language, so please forgive any typos/grammar mistakes 

This series contains certain mature themes, so it has a +15. Read under your own advise. 

If you happened to stumble on this chapter or want to know more about Joanna’s joruney, here’s the masterlist! And if you want to read more of my work, here’s the general masterlist! 

Summary: Joanna’s father is dead, and on the day of his funeral, many things will start to change, for war is coming. 

Characters: Joanna Mills (OC) Dominique Foredale, Briar Daly, Ernest Sinclaire, Annabelle Parsons, Prince Hamid, Luke Harper, Theresa Sutton, Bartholomew Chambers, Duke Richards, Elias Bernhill (OC) 

Rating: PG-13 

Warnings: Minor character death, language 

Word Count: 19.2k 

Reading Time: 45-50 minutes 

What is grief, if not love persevering?

The night the earl had died, Joanna fell asleep of exhaustion of the events—the battle she had, the duke, Mr. Sinclaire’s story, the Coventus, her father and now… all she wanted was peace. But she wasn’t granted that.

During the night, she had three nightmares: one, where she was stabbed in the chest by Thomas and he succeeded and took over the world and destroyed everything and everyone. Other one, where she joined his ranks and ruled over the world, enslaving humankind, including the ones she grew fonder of. And the third one, where her power killed her and she died on Mr. Sinclaire’s arms, the others crying and the world did not notice.

She woke up, gasping for air. All three possible endings terrified her and she went to drink some water when she touched the mirror and she dropped heavily on her knees: a war, a gruesome one. Tired soldiers. Heavy armament. Hunger. Cold. Deadly boredom. Then, someone powerful signing a treaty, looking defeated and ashamed. Then, he and his family leaving the city. A flag being burned down—she could barely see it. A new one rising: red, with a half-moon and a star. Then she saw herself, crying in a graveyard. “I’m sorry, my sun, I could not stop it from falling. Your empire and legacy is no more,”

She had just seen a glimpse of the fall of an empire. Which one? She did not know. But after these dreams and premonitions, she dared not to sleep.

Joanna hadn’t slept or eaten at all that past week. All she did was cry, throw knives –sometimes doing rather noticeable holes on the wall—and lay on the bed, motionless, paler than usual and cry until noon. She could not bear it. Nor accept it. She just got her father, after so many years, and now… he was just gone. Just like that. And not even the Goddesses gave her the chance to know the man who gave her life and loved her unconditionally. She sobbed once more, so sore and light that if she fainted, she’d just go along with it.

Briar had been stubborn about keeping her alive, despite her pleas to let her rot and die, which ended with her yelling at her to get her arse up and start living again. But that was the last thing she ever wanted to do. She’d live for the rest of her life without her father and her mother doing Gods-know-what while she needed her the most. They haven’t had the ‘How the hell are you alive?’ talk, but they would.

Briar came again with soup and a glass of water with generous amounts in each of the recipients. Joanna groaned weakly and dropped her entire body into the mattress again.

“Enough moping, Joanna! Edgewater needs you for your father’s reception today!”

“What part of let me fucking die don’t you understand? My stepbrother may as well keep Edgewater and the throne of England for all I care,” she grunted, her voice barely audible.

Briar sighed as she sat before her, “Look, Joanna, I cannot phantom what you’re going through, but you must accept that—.”

“Leave me alone!” She roared, her eyes glassy and bright topaz. Briar gasped before nodding, too hurt by her words to even notice what was behind her tears.

She slumped on her mattress again, now crying again, fisting her pillow as she screamed on it, the pillow so cold her whole body shivered. She noticed a familiar, warm hand on her back, and was about to recoil when she saw her Aunt Nya’s face, now sad and dressed in mourning “Fey, my darling…” she embraced her tightly. She did not move, but neither expressed any wish to unhand her. She just cried silently, barely feeling anything at all, “How do you feel?”

“That’s the thing, Aunt Nya! I don’t feel sadness, or anger, or anything, it’s like I’m empty inside and I’m not able to feel anything anymore! How can people live when such a remarkable man that had made such an impact is dead?! I don’t understand!” She sobbed again loudly, not caring if the soulless Countess heard her. She never cared for that woman’s feelings towards her and wouldn’t start now.

“The death of a parent is always one of the most painful things. Though a soulmate’s death or a child’s death is much more devastating, your pain is just as valid, but you mustn’t let rage take all over you. Let it through, but never take over, alright?”

She nodded before she sighing “I guess I cannot mop forever. The world’s fate is at stake, I cannot let my foes win. I’m tired, but I must keep going. Afterall, I have a lifetime to have a little peace. I shall make it through today… for him. For Father. And if I must pretend that I’m holding it together, even if it’s for a few hours… I will. But only because he would’ve done the same for me. That doesn’t mean that as soon as the guests are gone I will be the same. I’m damn entitled to mourn in my own way, whether these hyenas see it proper or not. In the end, this is what the London society is about, isn’t it? Appearances, pretty and demure smiles and white lies everyone wishes to believe. And if I must play their game in order to honour my father’s name, I will. That doesn’t mean that I won’t weep and have my moment with my father. Bastard or not, I am family, damn them and their idiot breeding rules.”

“May his soul rest among angels, and I’m certain he’ll teach them a thing or two.”

“Oh, Joanna, you are so much like him… and Nya… thank you. For being here today for us,”

“I came here representing my family and… well, my brother Fabian asked me that if should the earl pass away and he were already gone, I’d go on his behalf. They were good friends,”

“The young Mr. Crochane was a breath of fresh air. May he rest in peace, too,”

“Thank you, Dominique. I shall leave you two to talk,”

She squeezed Joanna’s hand tightly before leaving. Dominique turned to her granddaughter “Your perseverance is just like his, my dear…” The woman strid into her room, wearing with an admirable poise her mourning gear.

“Lady Grandmother,” She curtsies to her and offers her a sad smile, a smile that falls quickly “I cannot imagine what is like to bury your son… I’m so sorry for your loss,”.

“As am I for yours,”

“I’m… not sure what to do. I’ve never mourned a familiar before.”

“You mourned Mr. Coleman’s death,” She observed.

“A lover is not the same as your kin, Lady Grandmother,” she said, her eyes now filled with tears.

“It is indeed the greatest pain I’ve ever felt, but even if I don’t feel like it, I must honour him by being resilient and perseverant, like he was in life,”

“Indeed,” She sighed “What will I do now?”

Dominique placed a hand on her granddaughter and made her look at her, “You will survive and make it through the day, as you’ve always done. After all, you come from a long-lasting line of strong women,”

Joanna chuckled bitterly “Funnily enough, I do not feel strong enough to even talk to people I like,”

Dominique placed a hand on her granddaughter’s shoulder and told her “I can only imagine how you must feel, but you must be strong. Edgewater needs you, to show how a dignified heiress you—,”.

“I don’t want Edgewater anymore. No estate is worth so much tears and suffering and struggles.”

“You’d really let it fall to the Marlcasters?” Dominique asked, horrified.

“Don’t know, don’t care.”

“Joanna!” Dominique looked at her concerned, “I will pretend that I did not hear—,”

“That’s the thing, Lady Grandmother! You never listen to what I have to say, nor what I feel! It’s all about you and your stupid ambitions that only benefits you! And I’m not some doll and Edgewater is not your dollhouse! We’re all human beings, with hearts, thoughts, ambitions of our own, dreams. And I’m tired of pretending that I’m fine with this grotesque season where I am put a price due to my breeding and status, where what I think or want for myself doesn’t matter. Where wits and goals are dismissed by money and status. Ever asked how am I doing genuinely? If I really wish to marry? If there’s someone waiting for me back home, the real home? If I’m in the mood to throw money away buying a dress I will use just once? No, right? Well, Lady Grandmother, no. I do not want to inherit this. I’m not fine, I’m far from fine. I don’t want to marry that pathetic boor of Duke Richards or anyone from the court. Yes, there’s an entire family of mine waiting for me back at home. NO, I DO NOT LIKE THAT FUCKING DRESS AND I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO A PLACE WHERE NO ONE WANTS ME THERE,” She inhaled, trembling of anger, “You’re asking me too much. To give up who I am, to be exact. To deny my own true nature, to be alright with being seen like some men-pleaser and baby maker. To put up with bigotry and unfair bullying. To give up my beliefs. To be alright with people walking all over me. To endure literal predators hovering at me because they’re richer than you. Well, I’m not that woman. I cannot be that woman, nor I will be.” She pointed at herself violently, “and trying to please you and have your approval is killing me inside. Every time I do that, I feel so much self-hate that I wish to blow my fucking brains off!! So, for once, I beg you, let me be me. I don’t want to accept dishonest condolences from the people who wish me rotting on the streets or wish me ill, or to be observed like some decoration or pretending I don’t have a soul or personality that is made for court life only. I’m not demure, obedient, silent and unbothered. I am not meek and stupid and air headed. I’m not a doll waiting to have an owner. My life is not to be defined by my husband’s wealth and breeding and the number of children that I will bear. Which I do want to, but not like this. I refuse to pay that price. I refuse to reduce my existence to a man’s need of an heir and someone to be their fucking mother.”

“Joanna, I did not realise—,”

“If I asked you to describe me, you’d get it all wrong! I’m not demure, or penitent, or ladylike, or obedient, or accepting and forgiving. I am opinionated, I get mad, I know things that a debutante shouldn’t know, I’m untamed and true to myself and my beliefs. I don’t forgive easily. I live my womanhood however I feel like. I like reading forbidden things, and I love being free. And if inheriting Edgewater means to cut off my wings to replace them with chains, then I don’t want it. I won’t have it, not with that price.”

“But, the law—,”

“FUCK THE LAW AND THE MORON WHO MADE IT,” She snapped. She took another breath and squared her shoulders, “I will continue this charade, but once the season is over, I will renounce my claim and pursue what I really want: live and enjoy my life on my own terms and laws, with the people I love and unapologetically. I will do what you haven’t done before: I will be free. You either support me genuinely or stand out of my way, because you won’t hold me back this time. Not anymore.”

“Joanna, I—,”

“Get out, Lady Grandmother.” She whispered, tears filling her eyes.

“…Very well.”

As she got out, the figure on the window sat on Joanna’s bed. She looked at her and asked “What do we know about him?”

“He’s indeed alive and in France, currently doing some espionage. He knows about you, but he doesn’t know about the earl’s… passing.”

She looked at her and said “Gods, Mama, say that he’s dead,”

Odessa sighed, now looking hurt, “I just can’t believe it just yet. It all happened so quickly…”

“I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose the love of your life and father of your child.”

She winced before asking “What do we know about the girl? Is she really the chosen heiress?”

“She is. I felt connected to her. And I know who’s the biological father.”

“Who?”

“Ernest Sinclaire of Ledford Park.”

“I sense that there’s something between you two,”

Joanna sighed “It’s not that simple,”

“Why? You like him, he obviously likes you. What’s holding you back?”

Joanna slumped on her bed, “Where do I even begin?”

At the church, Joanna walked to the family seats, looking the perfect portrait of a mourning lady. Her mother was also there, at the back, dressed as a servant. She seemed to cry very silently, so silently that none of the staff even noticed. She had a veil that covered her face and her gloves back on her hands. Her red hair was perfectly coiffed and even prepared a speech.

“Hello you too, Countess Henrietta. Mr. Marlcaster,”

“You’re in our seats,”

“Suck it up, Bitterta, I’m family. Blood relative, in case you’ve forgotten. Firstborn daughter. The heir of the house.” She tried to speak, but she lifted her hand, “You may sit away from me if you please, but I. Am. Not. Moving. The only way is grabbing me by the hair and making me. So choose. A spectacle, or get through this amicably.”

The countess scoffed, and put on the hurt lamb face. But her mother was faster than the countess, “You stupid little girl! Who do you think you are? You should know your place and go back to your whoring at your pig farm while you can! Edgewater will be mine, to hell what the earl wanted!” She gasped when she realised what she had said aloud and Joanna took her opportunity. She pretended to be hurt and gasped.

“You… don’t care about my father? I—I… I just wanted us to be a family. I even considered you a mother,” she heard a snort. Probably her mother, “and had grown fond of you.” She sniffled, “I get it. Mourn, if you will, and I will leave your space… Mama.”

She held back her smirk and looked for familiar figures. The four of them were there. She decided to follow her heart and reached for Mr. Harper. He quickly took her hand and without saying a word, they went to their seats. He sat with the servants, near her mother.

“Your Highness, I cannot imagine what you’re going through right now… losing so many people in less than a year…”

Joanna sniffled, “I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. Not even Duke Richards.”

“Shouldn’t you be with your family?”

Joanna’s face hardened “Those who I consider family are all dead now.”

Luke looked at Joanna. She placed her hand on his and held it tightly. As Bishop Monroe gave his speech about Joanna, she remembered the many times she was mocked because there wasn’t a man to take care of her. The many times she could hear her mother cry, holding a stack of letters. The many times she thought that loving her was a death sentence. When she first met him. Their picnics at the lake. Their commentary of Latin and philosophy. Their laughs. His questions about her mother’s adventures. Showing him funny spells. Their silent reading sessions. When she said goodbye to him.

When he died before her eyes…

Her heart accelerated. A knot formed itself on her ribcage and gasped for air. She stopped hearing the bishop’s voice. She stopped feeling Luke’s hand. She felt hot.

“I… c-can’t…” She got up abruptly and ran away from the crowd, gasping for air, before she fell on her knees. She tried to get some air, but she couldn’t. She felt like she was dying. She felt five presences behind her, but she could not think about that now. Her breath was short and ragged, trembling violently.

“I don’t—I don’t want to die,” She cried out.

She felt something was off, and she closed her eyes. She felt a violent tremble all over her body, and finally gave up to the darkness.

“I think she’s coming back to her senses now…”

“…So many emotions bottled up…”

“…heard the quake of the ground, Mr. Marlcaster?”

“…something’s off with her,”

She woke up in a sofa, a room away from the crowd. She looked around and saw Aunt Nene there, looking like she did an extenuating work waking her up, “What happened?”

“You had a panic attack. You fainted, and before that, a bit of your power busted out of you and made the floor tremble. Your friends were worried,”

“They were?”

“Yes. May I call them in?”

“…Leave that to me, Aunt Nene.”

Later that night, Joanna and the Dowager Countess stood on the staircase, watching swaths of gentry folk enter the parlour. The dowager stiffened, a small, concerning look on her face. Joanna sighed “Worry not, Lady Grandmother. All that I wanted to say to you has been said. And I’m in no mood to argue again.”

She nodded stiffly, “Do you feel better, dear?”

“Yes, just a bit tired, I guess, but nothing that a glass of scotch shan’t fix.”

“If you say so… I must rest now. I can’t take any more well-meaning condolences…”

“Sleep tight, lady Grandmother.” Though the tension was high and Joanna felt like walking on eggs—not to mention she was sure her grandmother hated her—they both seemed to agree to leave the conversation for later. And they’d have a lot to talk about.

She curtsied to her before making her way to the parlour, but before she has the chance to enter, she hears someone whispering her name. She whips her head to find Mr. Harper, and she smiles at him for a brief moment “I’m glad I caught you… The countess would have my head if I came inside,”

“You people should start to stop being scared. She’s all bark.”

“Easier said than done. But what I wanted to say is… should you need me… you can find me by the stables.”

“It’s your safe haven. If I didn’t find you there, I’d worry,” then, she fumed “you ought to be mourning him, not be forced outside like some stranger! My father would’ve wanted you there.”

He gave her a small smile before clearing his throat, “Aye, but in this case, I’m grateful. In a way, tending to the horses helps me grieve.”

“Like a coping mechanism.”

He arched a confused eyebrow and Joanna shrugged, “Psychology slang. What I mean, is that it’s your way to go through the tunnel of grief and find the acceptance of the loss of someone who you held in high regard.”

“That’s an interesting way of seeing grief,” he commented.

“It’s the way, you people just haven’t given it a name just yet.”

The silence nearly killed her before he spoke up again, “I have a song I wish to share with you. Come find me later if you wish… we can escape for a while and we can remember your father together.”

“I will spare it a thought,” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek for a brief moment before leaving to the parlour. She could swear she felt him smile.

She scanned the room, looking for familiar faces when Mr. Chambers approached her. She gave him a weak smile, “Lady Joanna, may God rest your father’s soul and bless yours.”

“Mr. Chambers, you’re a sweet fallen angel, as usual. I am grateful for your friendship and kind words.”

He smiled gingerly “You flatter me unjustly. You look a proper lady tonight. Your father is smiling upon you, I’m sure.”

“I do what I can to honour his memory and legacy.” She gave him a saddened smile “He would’ve been glad for your presence tonight.”

His face fell “The earl was one of the first people who helped me navigate this society… I’m forever indebted to him.”

“I haven’t realised that the two of you were close. The loss of a mentor is always awful.”

“Not as much as a father’s loss.”

She looked around before whispering in low voice “May I ask some… delicate matter?”

He nodded before turning his head on her “What is it, Lady Joanna?”

“Is it true? That you’re familiar with Marianna Howard and her daughter?”

He gasped surprised “How do you know about them?”

“I know it all, Mr. Chambers. Even the girl’s father,”

He looked flushed, sparing a small stare to Mr. Sinclaire, “He doesn’t know yet. Miss Howard begged me to give him an audience in private, the three of them.”

“And she shall have it. It is their destiny to find one another. He must know… but not now. Not yet. He isn’t ready for her yet, but he will be ready.”

He was about to ask something “I… will leave you to your guests now.”

She didn’t even bother. She didn’t want to push her luck just yet. She looked around the parlour, where she spotted Mr. Sinclaire and Prince Hamid sharing stories, about her father, she was sure. She too spotted Miss Parsons, frowning at Miss Sutton and Miss Bowman, and Mr. Marlcaster brooding by himself.

She decided to join the men, who were deep in an anecdote “Do you remember the look on the Duke Northumberland’s face?” Prince Hamid asked.

“He couldn’t have picked his jaw up with both hands even if he wanted to,” Mr. Sinclaire finished.

“Well, that sounds like quite the scandal, go on.”

“We are reminiscing the time your father fell asleep in Parliament,”

Joanna snorted silently, incredulous “He what again? My responsible and dutiful Father, falling asleep in Parliament?”

“We were both stunned when it happened…”

I can imagine…

“He must have been dreaming of the proceedings…” Continued Mr. Sinclaire, “When his name was called, he sat bolt upright and gave the proper speech without any faults.”

Joanna bit her cheek, but in the end, she couldn’t help it. She let out a fit of laughter, her hand on her mouth to muffle the sound, doubling in laughter at the image. When she caught the sight of the men, she flushed and cleared her throat, looking away, but the men did not see scandalized by it.

“It is refreshing to see you laugh at such a dark time, my lady. You’ve made me forget for a moment about my pain,” Commented Mr. Sinclaire.

Hamid looked pleased and amused “I’m pleased that our small tale could make you laugh in such a hazardous time. It is always a delight to see you laugh,”.

Joanna smiled for a brief moment, it seemed like a shadow. She looked up to them and nodded them thank you.

“Your father was a most honourable man,” Said Mr. Sinclaire, his face now saddened. Joanna had remembered how much he had lost as a boy. She wished she could squeeze his hand.

“Even in his blunders.” Hamid commented, gaining a guffaw from Joanna.

“I’m relieved that he shall remain alive on our memories.”

“For years to come.”

“I’d venture centuries.”

A group of noblewomen passed by her. They looked at her from head to toe before moving on. Joanna scoffed, clearly annoyed “Have they no shame or respect whatsoever? Oh, wait! Every titled noble is just like that.”

“It cannot be easy for you to have so many eyes on you when your heart’s heavy.” Hamid sighed.

“If you need to get away, I can take you to Ledford Park. It’s much more… inviting than a room full of gentry.” Mr. Sinclaire offered.

“The stars provide me great solace. If you would like to go stargazing with me, I will be here waiting.”

Joanna gave them a ghostly smile “I shall spare a thought to your requests.”

They nodded their heads to her and she kept doing her rounds around the parlour. She walked over the trio of women.

“She looks a proper lady today…” Miss Bowman mused.

And you have that ugly dress still on.

“I would hope so. It’s the earl’s funeral, after all…”

Coming from you, that’s rich.

“Miss Bowman, Miss Sutton, I cannot believe the two of you.” Miss Parsons snapped, an icy glare on them. Joanna looked at her with a surprised but pleased look.

“Do you really have to gossip about my appearance at my father’s funeral? Don’t you two have something better to talk about…or do?” Joanna said, now glaring at them two.

“Oh, Lady Joanna…” Miss Sutton threw her arms around her and she allowed it, patting amicably her back, “I’m so, so sorry, you must be so sad.” So many so’s. Her grip became even tighter.

“I am. Thank you for your compassion and kindness, Miss Sutton.”

She patted her back a few more times before she released her “Would hearing the latest news about Miss Holloway’s sister cheer you up?”

“I won’t let you turn this day into a gossiping event, it’s shameful.” Miss Parsons spitted. Miss Bowman and Miss Sutton were stunned into silence by Miss Parsons’s sudden snap. Her face fell “I can’t stand to be part of this chatter and eyeing each other. Escape with me later if you wish… I’d love to show you my favourite Edgewater room. It always lifts my spirits.”

How long has it been ever since they had a nice moment together? This could be a great opportunity to show her more of her powers and put her in contact with her kind… and biological father.

“That sounds lovely. I shall consider your proposal.”

She squeezed Miss Parsons’s hand before leaving the group.

She saw Mr. Marlcaster by himself, with a glass of scotch, staring at the window “Mr. Marlcaster... I’d ask you how you feel, but since it’s a stupid question, I just wanted to say… I’m sorry. I don’t know how this must be for you… after your biological father’s death…”

He looked up to her “You… remembered.”

“You know, I do pay attention when you speak.”

He swirled his glass, accidentally spilling. She gave him a handkerchief and helped him. He nodded her thank you, “He was the only father I ever knew…”

“I know the feeling very well.”

“I’ve lost two fathers…”

She placed her hand on his elbow and gave it a squeeze “I truly am sorry. I cannot begin to fathom what it must feel like.”

“I…Thank you, my lady. It’s really kind of you.”

She sighed before confessing “Just because I’m always collected and seem in control does not mean I am not capable of empathy or to have feelings or thoughts. I am a human being, just like you, with the same beating heart and soul. You, me and everybody. Some of us are just better at hiding the feeling of wanting to scream and send everything to hell and curl yourself in bed, not facing the world for a long time.”

He swallowed “I… did not know we had so much in common…”

“I’m not that bad, sir, when you get to know me. Some people say I can be quite nice to be with, just like you. Everybody is a handful in their own way, and that’s fine. We’re not perfect.”

“Perhaps… you’re not so bad.”

She chuckled “Likewise.”

He stared to the ground “I’m sorry… for your loss too.”

“Thank you, brother.”

She studied him carefully before giving him a small hug. At first, he resisted, but then, he gave in and joined her embrace, “Should you need someone to smash things or just talk or be with you… you know where to find me.”

He nodded and finished his scotch “I’ll try my best for you as well… but first, I need more scotch.”

He staggered off to refill his glass. She turned around to watch the room and saw some people clutching their hearts. She looked around to chat with other group when she heard some people whispering her name. Not standing it anymore, she went out to breathe some air.

“I can’t stay another moment with those hyenas…”

She thought again of the all tempting offers of the four people she needed to see. Ernest’s tour to Ledford Park… stargazing with Hamid… Luke’s song… and Annabelle’s favourite room in Edgewater…

“I must get away for a while… and have a sincere talk…”

She decided to go to Mr. Sinclaire first. She saw him standing with Miss Sutton, his lips pursed in a thin line, enduring her ceaseless chatter. His eyes softened at the sight of hers.

“Can you believe the countess did not shed a tear during the service? I know she’s a bit… intense. That just seems unheard of from a widow.”

“I, um…” He tried to say.

“Maybe she has already shed all the tears she could muster… If my Mr. Marlcaster were to die… Oh, I can’t even bear the thought!”

“Miss Sutton, my dear, while Mr. Sinclaire is clearly entertained by your interesting conversation, I’m afraid I must nick him from you. There is some matter of vital importance I must speak with him right away.” She gave her the most convincing ‘I’m serious’ look.

“Yes, I’ve been waiting… a few hours to talk about that matter. You must excuse us, Miss Sutton.”

She seemed to take the hint and nodded “Of course, excuse me…”

He let out a slow sigh of relief as Miss Sutton scurried to the next conversation at sight.

“I appreciate the rescue, Lady Joanna.”

“Funny, I thought that the rescuer of the night could be you… I’d love that Ledford Park tour if you’re up to it.”

“Certainly.”

He escorted her out of the manor and into the crispy night. After a short walk, her eyes went up the big, imposing manor… she chuckled, impressed. It was a tall and large manor, made of white marble stone and with an impressive architecture.

“The famous Ledford Park… it’s one of the most impressive manors I’ve ever beheld.”

“Thank you, my lady, though I have very little credit for its architecture. It was built during the Renaissance by its founder.”

She squeezed his arm, “It turned out beautifully.”

He smiled at her and led her through the gardens, its flowers welcoming her presence. He cleared his throat “I’m still getting used to… well, your hidden world.”

“It can be a lot, yes.” She stopped on her tracks and sighed “Though I did say the truth back there… there is something I must talk to you about. It concerns who you are… and your destiny.”

“What do you mean?” He asked, now looking at her attentively.

“Back when you summoned the sword… it’s just the tip of the iceberg of what you can do. You’re descended from a powerful bloodline of Nighthunters, bound to protect mortals from the evil monsters that lurk in the shadows. It’s similar to magic, but with certain works… it takes years to learn all the tricks.”

“You mean… I can do magic?”

“In a way, yes.” She nodded at his sword “The sword is blessed with elven magic. Only a firstborn Sinclaire may have it, for the firstborn has the needed power to wield it. You, for that matter, are the new wielder of the sword, as your father was once, long ago, and as it shall be with your firstborn.”

He chuckled bitterly “I do not have a firstborn of my own.”

She took a few steps behind and threw him a ball of ice. He gasped and put both hands in front of him, shielding him from the impact! A blue shield appeared from him and melted the ice. He gasped, staring at his hands.

“To harness the power inside us, we must have control over our emotions and instincts first. Your instinct of survival saved you from me freezing you to death. Just as your primal emotion of punching someone can be lethal if not well dealt with. That’s the secret of controlling magic. Emotions. Motives. Instinct. Intentions. Those four are the keys to true power. A man who can control oneself is a powerful man.”

“It’s all it takes?”

“And practise.” She snapped her fingers and a small ball of light appeared on her hand. “You must visualize what you want to show or do. Focus on it. Ask your inner self to summon it.”

He closed his eyes and snapped his fingers. And again. And again. A small butterfly came out of his fingers and he chuckled “It’s incredible. Am I really able to do that?”

“Yes. Try something else. You can get a memory from me.”

He closed his eyes and placed his hand on her cheek. Her mind wandered back to the carriage, the puffy scenery, their bodies together, nearly pressed against one another, her pupils blown wide and her heavy breathing. The image of her under him. Her warmth. But this time, he did not pull back, but against him, gaining a gasp from her, almost feeling her bust against his chest. His lips almost touched hers when he took off the hand.

“Hm. Could’ve sworn you enjoyed that new version.”

“I… did not meant disrespect to you, my lady.”

She placed her finger on his lips “You cannot disrespect me if that’s what I want too.” She saw how he lost his breath for a moment, blushing furiously.

He cleared his throat “About your closed-in feeling… I had a similar sentiment when my father died. The quiet anguish of having all eyes trained on you is an intensely personal time.”

“Those bunch of egocentric hyenas whispering about you even in your darkest time is mostly rude. It is frowned upon not to talk about the deceased during a funeral. Many are kicked out in The Circle for disrespecting the mourning moment to a grieving kin or close acquaintance. Poor Nya would be beyond scandalized if someone talks about something that isn’t the deceased or to express condolences.”

“How does one grieve in your city?”

“It’s an emotional and personal process. There’s a private mass where the family says goodbye, no matter if you’re a bastard or a new-born. It’s rude to deny a member of the family their rightful place there and it is encouraged to leave the bad blood for the day. We bury our dead sooner. You have a whole night to prepare the body and then we get it to the Holy Chapel where the family mourns and says its goodbyes and things left unsaid for four hours before the public mass. Until dawn, the chapel is open and then we bury it. In my family’s case we have a special pantheon for our members and bury them there. We leave a token or a letter and we burn it there, for it represents that you’re sending it to your loved one. Then we host a dinner with people who were close to the deceased, they stay over and, in the morning, we have some drinks in the gardens and everyone expresses their condolences with either a story or something that reminds us of them and build an aisle. My deceased uncles, Fabian and Niklaus have their own at my house’s garden with their best portraits. Each member of the family has a portrait. I shall have mine when it’s time. Every October we gather to honour our dead and fallen ones. It’s quite a lovely ceremony.”

“That’s a beautiful way to mourn someone, and with far more respect to the family.” He said frankly.

“What was your father like to you?”

“My father was an upstanding and honourable man. He treated the responsibility of upholding the family name with grave importance. Most importantly, he taught me that it isn’t a man’s name what makes him great, but his character.”  

“He sounds like a wise man one would like to have around.”

“In a word, yes.” He smiled.

They walked in a wistful silence around the gardens when Joanna cleared her throat.

“There is something else you must know… about your future and destiny.” She took a deep breath “Nya may have mentioned you, but there is a girl that will soon come to your life. She will be all alone and… you’re all she has. She has an important role in both our lives.”

“What do you mean?”

“Just…” She cleared her throat and looked around the gardens “Did your grandmother design the gardens here as she did with Edgewater?”

Ernest noticed her wish to change the subject and he obliged. He’d have that conversation with her later “The way I’ve heard it, she buried the roots of every plant with her own bare hands.” He said proudly.

“She had a way with nature. I love this view.”

As they moved further into the gardens, they found themselves a gurgling fountain. Mr. Sinclaire quirked a smile “I was… a rather sullen child—,”

“You’re a rather sullen adult, but continue.”

“Yes, yes. When I got into a mood, my mother would bring me into this fountain and make a wish. She said that it was easy to sulk when you couldn’t put a name to your gloom, but once you spoke your wish, you had a goal to guide you forward. Now, it’s difficult to me to be anything but hopeful in this place.” He beamed.

“Wise counsel indeed. We should give it a go!” She suggested. Mr. Sinclaire produced two coins from his coat pocket and gave one to her “Will you indulge me a demonstration?” He turned to the fountain and momentarily ruminated over the coin, which he held poised between thumb and forefinger “Allow me to guess, you’ll wish for me to stop being so secretive about everything.”

“Not exactly, but you’re close.”

He turned back to the fountain and raised the coin to his lips. He kissed it, and tossed it into the burbling water. She chuckled.

“Are you prepared, or do you need an additional demonstration?”

“Will you let me do the wish or you aren’t done being a smartass?” She chided back.

Joanna repeated his actions and decided to tease him “I wish to be kissed by the beau beside me.” She kissed the coin and tossed it over the water. She glanced at Mr. Sinclaire, whose gaze had turned into a longing one. He took her hand and slowly raised it to his lips, then pressed a gentle kiss on the back of it. She grabbed gently his cheek and begged him close “I’m not a clueless virgin. You won’t scandalize me or disappoint me if you wish to kiss me there. You have my full consent.” She drew with her thumb his lips, then kissed his cheek sensually, then placed her hands over his chest. He swallowed hard, his eyes darkening before clearing his throat.

“It is not that I don’t wish this, it’s just… I am aware of your experience, but my respect for you is too big to disrespect your persona that way. I would ruin you. I—,”

“I don’t care about what those bunch of vipers have to say. I know well what I want and I normally get it. Or you don’t wish to have me?”

He drew a breath “More than anything in the world. That’s why I must do right by you.” He said it without thinking.

She whispered to his ear “It’s my life. My body. My bed where you’ll come. I get to decide whom I bring to my bed, not them. And I know that you want it too.”

She could feel how he lost his breath “Not yet, my sweet. Not yet.”

Her face turned to his, now as close as they were in the bridge “Very well. Now escort me home before I regret it and transport you somewhere private where no one shall disturb us until I’m done with you.”

He nodded, swallowing hard before walking home, at a respectful distance. He seems to mull over something before calling her name “Lady Joana… that is, Ledford Park is at your disposal, should you need comfort again.”

“I’m counting on it.”

He began to lead her back to Edgewater. Back in the foyer, he kissed her hand and slipped away to retire to Ledford Park for the night.

She took a deep breath and weaved back to the parlour and walked up to Miss Parsons and Mr. Chambers, who were in the middle of a rather awkward conversation.

“It’s been, uh, quite a warm April, hasn’t it?”

“Mr. Chambers, my dear friend, while Miss Parsons is clearly enjoying the conversation, there’s a girl emergency that requires Miss Parsons’s assistance right away. You understand, don’t you?”

“But we were having the most riveting conversation.” Miss Parsons teased.

“I quite understand, my lady. I have, uh, pressing matters to address with Mr. Konevi.”

Joanna smiled charmingly “Of course. Tell him that I said hi!”

He politely bowed his head to both women and walked over gingerly to Mr. Konevi. She smiled at them and grabbed Miss Parsons’s arm, “Let’s get out of here before these hyenas notice that we’re away.”

“Let’s away, yes!” Miss Parsons beamed.

Miss Parsons playfully took her hand and ran towards the stairs, into her father’s study. Joanna chuckled bitterly, remembering their times there before all of this entire mess in general. The familiar scent of tea, old wood and leather chairs swirled right into her nostrils and a tear escaped her eye.

“Ahh, this room feels like home. I’ve been meaning to show it to you for ages!” Miss Parsons said, giddy.

“No need for that. Here’s where I met my father for the first time…”

“Joanna! To think that you’ve been keeping it from me all this time… Isn’t it a wonderful place?”

She nodded to herself “It really is.”

Both women laughed and nodded to themselves. Joanna traced with her fingers the spines of the books, stacked tightly on the bookshelves.

“I can’t imagine not meeting my father until I was grown… What was that like?” Miss Parsons asked.

Joanna sighed, “It was… bittersweet. All the journey, I asked myself why didn’t he come looking for me before. Was I not enough to him? Did he consider me a mistake? Would he laugh at me and use me as a charity for the estate reputation’s sake? Would he kick me out once he got to know me? Would he lock me up? But then, I came into this room… and the fear washed itself away. How gentle, how kind, how nurturing and loving he was… the way we had so much in common and the million topics we talked and the plans made for when the season was over and we had the rest of the year ahead of us… tea in here while discussing who was a better poet or our favourite Tudor consort and why, my mother’s shenanigans… it was all magical. And to be deprived of that so suddenly… no matter for how long I live, I know it will always hurt. This day will always hurt. The day the man I loved the most died before my eyes with so much left unsaid and pending things. My only hope is that time passes fast so we may find each other and be a happy family again, this time the three of us. Not Countess Henrietta, no society, no rules of decorum… just us, being free and happy.”

Annabelle ghosted a smile “That’s a beautiful sentiment. Your father was unlike any other men of his station. He cared dearly for every person in his life.”

Joanna smiled sourly, nodding in agreement, the pain of loss too unbearable.

“Ah! I have a wonderful idea! We should paint your father. I’ve been itching to paint again.” She suggested, her usual beaming smile on her face.

“Well… my psychologist does tell me that putting all my emotions in crafting when I can’t put them into words can be good for me.”

Miss Parsons blinked, not understanding a word “I’m sorry?”

“A psychologist is a doctor of emotions and damaged minds. Their speciality is to help you have more emotional intelligence and power over your emotions without damaging anyone or yourself in the process. It’s scary at first, to share your deepest thoughts with a stranger, but it’s for the best. They’re trained to do so. They never judge or mock you, but understand you and through a connection between patient and psychologist. I think they will be the future of society, though it’s a long way before they’re noticed.”

“That…sounds kind of nice, actually. Will you introduce me to one?”

“When you visit The Circle, I promise you, it will be the first thing that I will show you of its society will be her.”

“Wait, her? As in a woman?” She asked, shocked.

“Yep! Both women and men can be doctors and nurses and surgeons and… well, everything they wish to be.”

“E-even artists?”

“Especially artists. It has been a rising of female artists since the Baroque.”

“Your city truly sounds like a dream,” She squealed “you’re really tempting me to escape there and make my way into the world!”

Joanna placed her hand into her cheek and whispered “I’d love nothing more than welcome you into the city and help you thrive into Dracarian Society,” They looked at each other intensely before Joanna cleared her throat, “So, um, shall we paint?”

“I was hoping you’d say yes… I confess I grabbed your easel out from your parlour early today.”

Joanna chortled, “Snagging my things already, are we?”

“Can you blame me?” She beamed “You’re learning so quickly, I’m confident you’ll catch his likeness!”

Joanna looked away shyly “I really hope so.”

Miss Parsons let out a rather loud squeal “Let’s set up over there.”

“Why, someone’s eager, alright.”

She stood the canvas on the easel and mixed the needed colours. She closed her eyes, recalling her dear father’s features, his smile, his kind eyes, his grey hair, … For a small moment, she could feel his presence, beaming at her… she lifted her brush and started painting.

“Back when I first started calling on Harry, I used to sneak in here and read. He liked to joke that I came here because of the books instead of him.”

“I mean, what’s a man compared to a whole universe of fun that does not disappoint you at some point?” Joanna teased.

“I get your point, but Harry never disappointed. He was also very different from many men in court. He was a delight to have around, and never asked anything of me.”

“You’re fond of him. He seems far more likeable than me.”

Miss Parsons looked at her intensely, “No one is as delightful or likeable as you, Joanna.”

Her heart thumped at a deadly speed, threatening to get out, making her gulp. She took a deep, steady breath before continuing painting, her brush tracing delicately in the easel, “Ahem, so, why didn’t you simply use your estate’s library?”

“Your father had the best books. His library is full of philosophy and politics and theory… all of my favourites.”

Joanna smirked “A woman who nurtures her mind is a woman after my own heart.”

Miss Parsons winked at her “Likewise.” Feeling bold, with her free hand she lifted it and trailed her hand over her arm sensually, licking her lips and biting her lower one. Annabelle’s breath got caught and traced her fingers over her knuckles, “Joanna, we’ll never finish the portraits if you continue flirting like that.” She teased.

“Trust me, love, I can do way better… I’m just warming up.”

She caressed with her lips her knuckles and focused on the painting, leaving her panting faintly. She cleared her throat “One day I snuck here to read ‘An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice’ by William Godwin…”

“I sense that it didn’t end up well…”

She nodded and fumed “I was just grasping his thesis in the third chapter… When Countess Henrietta snatched the book out of my hand!”

Joanna rolled her eyes so hard she thought she’d become blind “Ugh, Bitterta again. Is her life so boring and uneventful that she has to torment people?”

“Right?! All I wanted was peace! Anyways, she told me the book was improper for a lady to be reading, far too studious. Do you believe it?”

“Actually, I do. Grown-ups tend to tell us women that we shouldn’t be smarter or too studious because we’d get ‘wrong ideas’ and end up in a bawdy place, when all they want is to indoctrinate us into being submissive, quiet and obedient towards them, therefore, they avoid being questioned and even called out when they’re being horrible with you. If you’re smart, you will be able to perceive what they do right and wrong and they will no longer have the power to give you the ideas they want to give you, especially about men and marriage.”

“That’s a really impressive observation, Lady Joanna. And you’re probably right. She slammed the book closed and shooed me off the room… But your father was on the other side of the door!” She smiled “he said if I wanted to discuss Godwin, I could always sneak into his study after my visits with Harry ended. We started meeting weekly at three for discussions, and he’d give me a new book to read each time. I’m convinced it was the greatest secret tradition ever.”

Joanna smiled at her “My mother insisted on educating me like a true lady. She taught me oratory, politics, science, mathematics, physics, physical education of all sorts, singing, dancing, architecture, literature, history of all kind, war tactics, … There isn’t a book in my library in The Circle I did not read or memorized by heart. Though I refused to paint and play the pianoforte, but I play the violin quite cleverly.” She winked.

“And the men in your life never said a thing?”

“They encouraged and participated in my education! I also learned Atticus Greek, Classic and Archaic Latin, French, Hebrew, Russian, Pre-Columbine languages, Spanish, Prussian and many other languages.”

“Wow! You really are an accomplished lady! I don’t think I could learn all of that, especially being fluent in ten languages! You must be the most educated woman I’ve ever met!”

“Well, I’m not the first.”

Miss Parsons sighed “I wish I were that smart.”

“Annie… you are smart, in your own way. I’ve met people who have bachelors and degrees of the best schools but in society they’re poor buffoons. In fact, there are different kinds of intelligence, both intellectual and emotional. And I’d love to teach you all about ethics and morals,” she winked “It’ll be one of the most interesting dates.”

“A date, you say?”

Joanna decided to make her laugh, imitating the countess’s high falsetto “A woman studying something that isn’t about being submissive and obedient and demure?! My, it is indeed a scandal! Oh my, you youngsters will be the death of polite society! Ohh!” Then she pretended to faint, thing that made Annabelle laugh loudly, and she joined her.

“I hear Miss Parsons has been filling her mind with politics! How dreadfully scandalous for a lady!”

Joanna adopted Duke Richards’s exaggerated high tenor voice “Indeed, my lady! Women ought to be stupid, meek and obedient to do my bidding! Oh, I can hardly stand the image! Excuse me, ladies, but such scandal requires me to go back to Wankerland, where I am King of Pathetic! Excuse moi!” And levelled her thigh up, as if hinting to show off his friend and marched through the door and pretended to slam, “Oh, my! I am such a big wanker that I cannot fit in the door! Guess I’ll get drunk by fantasies that will never become true, such as a lady enduring my endless talking about me until I am too drunk to even think!” She sat on the floor and jumped, “Oh, I forgot! I don’t think because I have no braincells!”

Miss Parsons was red with laughter, on the floor, barely making a noise as she laughs, clutching her stomach. Joanna crawled at her, crying of laughter, both on the floor, the painting forgotten.

“I did not know you were such a comedian, Joanna!” She said between laughter.

“Another part of my education. It’s called: most men are stupid.” She fitted another laugh.

Annabelle laughed again, coughing out of dryness because of the amount of time laughing.

“I feel like I’m ten again.” Joanna commented.

Annabelle nodded, wiping her tears off the face, “We should continue the paintings.” She giggled “I’m not seeing Duke Richards entering through a door the same again.”

She peeked over her painting “Joanna! Your painting is coming out beautifully! You make a quick study…” She seemed certainly impressed.

“I happen to have an excellent teacher.” She winked.

Miss Parsons looked her own painting and furrowed her brows “Oh, posh! Your painting is turning out better than mine!”

Joanna teased her again, “At long last, I dethrone the queen!”

They both giggled, “You’re terrible! I’ll still beat you to finish, though!”

Joanna snorted “You do realise I have super-speed, right?”

“But I have experience by my side!” She sticked her tongue out.

“Well, I’m not going down without a fight!”

Miss Parsons turned back on her painting, her nose scrunching up in concentration. Joanna reached out and curled one curl of hair around her finger sensually. Annabelle leaned in her caress, her paintbrush slowing “Joanna, I can’t concentrate with you doing that… Wait, was it your plan all along?”

“Maaaaybe…”

“You tease… we’ll never finish if you don’t focus! Try all you wish, but I will finish first! I can’t help that I’m such an accomplished lady!”

She drew her last words with a sense of importance. Both women shared a laugh and turned back to their paintings.

“I wonder, did Harry ever join you and my father in the study?”

“Harry was not the most… studious man. Your father liked that I wanted to support Harry in that way.”

Joanna frowned “Shame. At least he was smart, wasn’t he?”

“Socially smart, yes.” She sighed, her expression falling “After Harry died, our meetings slowed, and the ones we did have took a different tone. And now…”

“You feel guilty about skipping the meetings with him and have this regret in your heart.”

Annabelle nodded, “I think I know how you feel now. I thought I could make it up to him, but…”

“Life and London happened.”

Annabelle smiled through tears “You have this ability to read me like a book.”

Joanna squeezed her hand, “I’m just observant and perceptive. Alas, we still have each other. You don’t always lose, you can also win, and if you need me… I’ll be there. I will always be there for you.”

Annabelle beamed at her “Your company is what has kept me sane through all of this.” They both wiped each other’s tears and focused again on the paintings, adding the final touches and standing back to survey them. Joanna smiled satisfied to herself “Oh, Joanna! This is so lifelike!” She gasped, clearly impressed by her friend’s actions.

“I must thank my incredible memory and recent events for the outcome.” She smiled, proud of herself.

“And a wealth of natural talent.” Miss Parsons added.

She looked at the painting and caressed it, now feeling his presence behind her, “I’m certain he would’ve loved to see these.”

“Absolutely! You should hang it in this room!” Annabelle suggested.

“Only if you hang yours in the Edgewater room of earls and countesses.”

She smiled at her “Deal. There’s a space over the fireplace that would be perfect for it.”

She nodded “It’s though as he left that space for me only.”

Both women took each corner of the painting and hung it over the wall with care and smiled to themselves.

Now you shan’t be forgotten, Papa.

“I wish I could’ve thanked him once more for bringing you into my life.”

Joanna smirked at her “There was a first time?”

They both chuckled as Joanna hugged Annabelle by the waist. She kissed her temple and both women admired their work and all the memories within.

“Annabelle… thank you. For being always there for me. I don’t know how I could’ve gotten through all of this without your aid.”

She smiled at her “You talk me up too much… But I feel the same way, Joanna.”

She smiled at Annabelle and took her hands, drawing small ghosts on her knuckles “My father would’ve certainly loved the idea of us painting together.” She sighed “All he ever wanted for me was to be happy, and I can’t think of more joyous moments than when I’m with you.” She didn’t even think about it, she just said it.

“Oh, Joanna, are you trying to give me heart flutters?”

“If that were the case, I would do… this.” She lifted her hand and caressed the road of the vein of her arm and kissed it with sensuality and longing, “And this…” She kissed her wrist and with one swift movement, grabbed gently with one hand her cheek and the other went to her curls. With her thumb, she traced her lips and massaged her hair, gaining a gasp from Annabelle. She kissed her cheek. Her other cheek. Her jaw. Her earlobe. The hand on her hair went to her waist and drew circles on it, her lips merely inches away. Miss Parsons happily obliged as her hands went to the back of her neck and their lips nearly touched, already savouring it…

When suddenly, the door slams wide open! Joanna and Annabelle jump back and both glare at the arse who interrupted their moment.

“Have any of you seen where Mr. Marlcaster is? Miss Sutton has sent me on a wild goose chase for him. I swear.”

Joanna gave her an icy glare that could’ve melted her insides in seconds “I don’t know where the dingus is and I don’t give a flying fuck. Go elsewhere, he is not here.”

“And wherever he is, he may want to be left alone… so he can grieve in his own way.”

“Now fuck off and don’t come back.” Added Joanna.

Miss Bowman shrugged, trying not to show her fear towards Joanna’s deadly glare that had wakened an ice cold on her back, and wandered off the hall, continuing her search.

“Now that the annoying minion is gone… where were we?”

Annabelle took a deep breath “We should better leave….”

Joanna cleared her throat “Of course. I’d hate to put you through more trouble.”

She took a last look at the painting and hurried downstairs.

“I’ll return to the guests now.” She squeezed her hand and scurried off, leaving her alone in the foyer.

She grabbed her bottle and gave it a rather generous chug before considering what to do next.

Her eyes went back where Mr. Harper had scurried off before, the door still open. She glanced around before going to the promised place. As she approached the stables, she heard a beautiful song with a mournful theme, drifting towards her with the soft breeze.

“Your voice, which guided me so far, now fades to memory…”

That must be Mr. Harper.

Entering the stables, she saw Luke with his fiddle, sitting on a stool, singing to the horses. Bellefleur neighed at the sight of her owner. Mr. Harper stopped playing at the sight of her “Lady Joanna.” He smiled.

“Mr. Harper, that was a lovely song. I’ve missed your music since our tea in London.”

“You only must name it, my lady, and I shall sing for you.”

Joanna smiled at him, “I’m counting on that. Though, why are you playing such a lovely song all alone?”

“I have the horses to keep me company. They have been on edge since your father died.”

“Haven’t we all?”

“Their reason is that the earl used to visit the horses every night. It’s how I got to know him.” His face fell “They have taken notice of his absence, and they miss him. I was playing them a song to calm their nerves… and mine too.”

“This must be difficult for you… I know how much you respected my father.”

“Aye, more than any man of his station.”

Joanna chuckled “I know what you mean.”

“I’ll miss having him around the stables.”

Her face fell, “You and everybody.”

Mr. Harper rose and extended his hand to her “What say we go outside and enjoy the cool air of the night?”

“My answer is yes.” She took his hand and allowed him to guide her outside.

Mr. Harper led her through the gardens, near the lake. She looked at the water, now dark blue and then, to the path they just came from.

“You said that my father used to visit the stable. How come I never knew?”

“It seemed to be some sort of ritual to him. Horses have always been important to Edgewater, and that legacy was important to the earl. He took notice of my way with animals and we talked through the evening.”  

“I get it, you know,” Joanna said, looking at the sky, “having a legacy to protect at all costs. I used to visit the stables in the Circle, to check that this was real, that I was indeed an Imperial Princess. I, too, shared interests with the Empress. She said that my family’s castle was the most beautiful she had ever witnessed on her 955 years of life.”

“How is she like? The Empress, I mean.”

Joanna chuckled “Sweet. Wise beyond her centuries. With a knack for knowing what might happen next. Even when her husband, the emperor, was still alive, she was just as important as him. There was a royal bard that compared them to King Arthur and Queen Guinevere.”

“I never made it to The Circle. I had many chances, but my patron was fearful of what they could do to me in there.”

Joanna scoffed “The Circle is not London. We are very open-minded. Sure! There’s an arse who has a narrow mind and still lives in a cavern, but there are many of those everywhere. They wouldn’t reject you for what you think. We’re just weary of mortals because of the genocides and burnings, but not because of your race or upbringing. It’s such nonsense to hate on someone for being different! Not to mention exhausting. No other person on the planet is the same. We’re all unique. The sooner you humans own it up, the better.”

“That’s the secret of a thriving civilization?”

“Exactly.”

Mr. Harper smiled down to her “You will be a great Empress.”

“Why do you think so?”

“You know your history. You are wise, and look out for your people, and you’re fearless and inspiring, and likeable. How could you not be a good Empress?”

They walked through several paces, staring at the moonlit plants.

“So, Mr. Harper, I believe I was promised a song?”

“Aye, you were, though you heard some of it.”

“Did you write it? Impressive.”

“I surely did. I started writing it after your father passed… though I confess I do not know how to finish it.” He looked at her through the eyelashes “I hoped you might help me.”

“I’d love to. Let’s hear it, then.”

Mr. Harper released her arm and placed the fiddle within his chin. He guided his bow across the strings, eliciting the same haunting melody she heard before.

“Your voice, which guided me so far, now fades to memory… And though I carry you in my heart, it seems you’re lost to me. If I could, I’d follow you to the realms beyond my sight. But in lieu, I’ll think of you, as you pass into the night.” Mr. Harper’s hands and voice went still, and looked at Joanna expectantly.

“I think it should end up as ‘To show me how to be someone who you would be proud of.’”

Luke looked at her with fondness “He was proud of you, you know that, right?”

Joanna chuckled bitterly, “I hope you’re right.” A half-smile spread all over her face, and she drew out a sigh “You know, I’ve played many instruments, but never the fiddle.”

“I’ve taught many fellow soldiers the basics. If you see that as a worthy instruction, I would be happy to do the same for you.”

Joanna smiled at him “It never hurts to learn more. I pretty much dominate the pianoforte; this should be a piece of cake.”

Mr. Harper handed her the fiddle and placed it gently against her chin “When using the bow,” he started explaining, now his voice in a teaching tone, “let the weight of your hand provide the power. Use your muscles only to provide guidance.” He stepped back and waited for her to begin. Joanna placed the bow on the strings, a beautiful melody coming out of her hands, a melody about how one was lost in oneself, yearning to find their place in the world. Luke beamed at her, “I knew you could do it, though I’d like to provide you some guidance. May I?”

“Please.”

Mr. Harper moved behind her and placed his hands over the neck of the bow, covering her own hands. Joanna couldn’t just ignore the pressure of his body against her, the solidity of his muscles. She hummed pleased “Like this.” He moved her hands, tilting the bow and drawing it effortlessly across the strings “You will certainly get the hang of it with a bit of practise.”

Joanna decided to be a bit coy, and started to move in tandem with Mr. Harper, allowing his hands to guide hers, creating a beautiful melody “It’s beautiful…” She commented.

“Aye, like the woman who made it.”

Joanna smirked at him, pressing her body against his, gaining from him a muffled squeak “Give yourself some credit, my dear Mr. Harper.”

He cleared his throat and stepped aside. Joanna took the hint, thanking him for his guidance. He responded humbly “My fiddle and I are at your disposal, should you ever desire another lesson.”

“What if what I desire is you?”

He swallowed hard “Don’t do that, my lady.”

She looked at him with intensity “Do what exactly?”

He looked at her, his eyes burning with yearning and reluctance “Don’t give me hopes that I know will never become true.”

She grabbed his chin and whispered “If someone is to choose whom I want in my life, it is me, sir. Not them.”

She returned the instrument back to Mr. Harper, who ducked back into the stables to stow it. The few moments he was gone, Joanna took an earnest look at the large estate, weighing her options. When would be the right time to tell them? That the true heir was alive? That she wouldn’t be Countess, but Empress instead? That their lives were about to change… forever? That a war would start at any moment, any time?

She envied those mortals who when they closed their eyes, they saw only darkness. When she did so, she saw too many things: she saw mayhem, possibilities of all kind, she saw the future and the past. Too many things for her own sanity.

As Mr. Harper emerged, Joanna realised a reality she had been trying to delay for too long, her eyes welling with tears “Luke…”

“What is it? Are you alright, my lady?”

“Thomas… my father… everybody I loved, love and will love will die at some point, while I will live forever. I will always be all alone. Which means I’ll never be happy… or able to fully commit, knowing that the person will die at some point.”

He moved closer to her and placed a comforting hand on her arm, “You will be far from alone, my lady. You have your family, Briar, Miss Parsons… and you have me. Others care about you… even Mr. Sinclaire seems to be warming up to you, and I’ve never seen him being so amiable with anyone, save your father.”

Joanna chuckled between tears “All of them will die, in, what, eighty years? For you that’s a lifetime. For me, I will be only beginning my life.”

He gave her arm a comforting squeeze “Even if we do all die in the end but you, we will all be glad to be beside you and some of us might have families of our own… even you, if that’s your call.”

“I… won’t deny that the family might start growing at some point… The loneliest man of the ton will finally be able to form his own family.”

Mr. Harper frowned “What do you mean, my lady?”

She took a deep breath “I cannot say much, but… the Goddesses have chosen my heir, and her father is among us.”

“Who is he?”

Joanna sighed “I cannot tell you; but no, he isn’t aware that he has a living firstborn daughter… yet. But he will. With time. And my guidance.”

She glanced down at his hand, still on her arm. A big storm was coming, yes, but she didn’t mind. As long as she had him by her side, she’d be fine.

“May I know her name?” He asked of all sudden.

“She doesn’t have one… yet. I was thinking Tatiana, or Colette, or Eleanor.”

“Whatever name you choose her, I know you’ll be a great mother figure to her. Is he at least married?”

Joanna frowned “I’m sorry… I wish I could tell you all about it, but I can’t. I made the mother a vow to keep her secret safe from everybody. It’s not personal, I swear.”

He nodded “I understand.”

She gave him a thankful smile and cleared her throat, wiping out the tears away. Battling against her own common sense, she leaned her head against his shoulder. He reached up to stroke her own hair “We are all so fortunate to have you here, Lady Joanna.”

“Mr. Harper… Luke… Thank you. You’ve taught me today to worry about the future when it comes. I shall now look at what I have certainty about: the here and now.”

“I am pleased of being of aid.”

She leaned and kissed his cheek tenderly. Mr. Harper stiffed for a moment, not expecting such an improper behaviour, but he did not seem displeased. His cheeks were burning, but he felt in heaven for a moment, like he had been lifted to it. His cheek felt cold the moment her mouth left his skin, his heart beating at an impossible rate.

They stood there for a moment before Joanna stared at the lights of the imposing manor.

“I regret to say this… but we should head back, for our sakes.”

“Aye, that’s likely for the best. If it would please you, I’d like to walk you to the door.”

Joanna smiled at him “I’d love nothing more.”

Mr. Harper obliged and accompanied her back to the entry of the manor. She bid him adieu and returned to her guests, one last person in mind before doing what she had been waiting for a long time.

She took a deep breath and walked straight to Prince Hamid’s direction, chatting animatedly with Mr. Konevi. He was gesticulating widely, but as soon as his eyes saw Joanna, he dropped his arms, his beam visible from the other side of the room “I hope I’m not interrupting something too interesting.”

“Not at all! Mr. Konevi, I will finish my tale another time. No story is a match for the company of a handsome heiress. You understand, no?”

“Absolutely, Your Highness.” Replied Mr. Konevi, a coy smile on his face. Then, he left them both with a respectful bow and headed in direction of Mr. Chambers.

“If it’s not too late, I’d love to take up the offer of going stargazing with you, if it still stands.”

“’If it still stands?’ It’s leaping of joy at your acceptance!” He beamed, a wide smile touching his corners.

The prince offered her the crook of his arm and she took it wistfully “Let’s away.”

“Yes, let’s.”

Prince Hamid led Joanna to the lake, right into the stillness of the night.

“You keep a strong face, Lady Joanna… Stronger than I could have. What drives your perseverance?”

“Honestly? I’m not doing so well. I’m just putting through a polite face and try to contain myself from screaming and crying and kicking like a small child. I’ve done this before, but that does not mean that I will ever get used to it. It happened when my uncles Fabian and Niklaus died, but I barely remember them and I was a child. This is different. Just as it was different when my poor sweet Thomas died. Every death hits different. But this one hurts too much, and it’s hard… the what-it-could’ve-been deaths always hurt, especially when it comes to kin.”

Prince Hamid sighed “I know what you mean. When my grandfather died, even if I tried, I couldn’t be so brave. If it weren’t for my uncle, I don’t think I could’ve carried on…”

The two of them reached the lake and the soft light of the moon washed over her. The prince stopped on his tracks and cupped his hands to the sky, pretending to hold the moon “Isn’t she handsome tonight?”

Joanna chuckled “Haven’t you heard what happens to foolish men who wander at night in a lonesome field at night? Do you really wish to be devoured by some wolf or predator?”

Hamid looked at her with a twinkling mischief on his eyes “I wouldn’t mind if a certain panther decided to devour me. I cannot think of a more delicious death.” He winked.

Joanna laughed with a surprised smile “We’re at a funeral and all you can think about is that? Or you’re simply messing with me?”

He winked at her “You’ll never know.” They both chuckled before clearing their throats; not before looking at one another and looking away. Hamid wasn’t the first man who suggested her that—she had plenty, in fact—but she always rolled her eyes or slapped them, but with him, it was different. He was different than any other man she ever met. And she wanted to do things well and proper. She just hoped he’d see her that way too.

“Do you find everything the most marvellous thing on Earth?”

He smiled at her “Ah, but out of the world’s greatest beauties, you are its masterpiece.”

She smirked at him “Do tell,”

His smile grew wider, reaching its corners “Where do I even begin? Your perfect hair, as fiery and beautiful like a bonfire, your eyes, the reflection of the sea—,”.

Joanna giggled, shaking her head as the prince described her the way he saw her. If only she were half of the woman the prince saw in her “I appreciate it, but I’m hardly any of those things.”

He looked up at the moon and then back to her “You remind me of her. The moon, I mean. You have two sides: the light one that everyone sees, drawing the men’s paths and making our nights less lonely, ethereal and complexly beautiful.”

“What about the dark?”

“The dark is the part not everyone pays attention, but it’s still a part of who she is. Without a bit of dark, there wouldn’t be any light. You need some darkness in order to shine. The darker she is, the shiniest she—and you—shall glow.”

She looked at the prince through her eyelashes, not daring to meet his graze “Do you really think so?”

He lifted her hand and kissed it gently and tenderly “I know so. Besides, I’ve always found myself drawn to the moon. She helps me feel steady when I travel.”

Joanna chuckled bitterly “I feel everything but steady right now.”

“Perhaps you should lean into that feeling.”

She leaned forward, wryly, and the prince copied her, but softly fell all the way onto the ground! Joanna laughed surprised, biting her lower lip, trying to muffle without much success the sound “Are you quite alright?”

“I have never felt better! You should join me, my lady! New perspectives are good for the soul!”

“If you insist…”

She lied next to him in the grass and sighed as she looked at the sky. Prince Hamid turned to her “You are like Atlas, carrying the world atop your shoulders.”

Joanna chuckled bitterly “It does feel like it… There is so much to do…”

“Stars can be helpful during tough times. It could help you focus on them.”

“Hm. I’ve studied them and their compositions, but never seen it as something therapeutic.”

“Look at the stars… In all of my travels, I’ve learned hundreds of stories about them. They can be quite powerful! How do they make you feel?”

Joanna looked at the stars and took a deep breath, before opening her eyes “They make me feel… nostalgic. Back in the Circle, they say that the stars are the remnants of our ancestors. Their soul goes up to the sky and remain there.” She sighed “Watching over us, making sure we’re happy and all those things, you know?”

“That’s a curious yet beautiful insight. Your people are really advanced and wise.”

She chuckled to herself “We still have to learn many more things. We’re far from perfect.”

Hamid looked at her “But you’re willing to learn. Not every nation can say the same.”

Joanna chuckled “It’s never too late to learn from your mistakes.”

Knowing that this was a painful subject to her, Hamid changed the subject “The stars can tell many things about yourself. Your past, present and future are mapped out in the sky.” He smiled.

Joanna snorted “You should know by now that the stars have very little to do with the future and what could happen.”

“Eh, a man can dream.” Then, he frowned “As I told you before, I struggled greatly with my grandfather’s death when I was young. I cried for hours the day he died…”

“…Until your uncle taught you about the constellations.” Joanna finished, not skipping a bit.

He smiled at her gratefully for the memory, “I never knew those little dots held stories! I was so distracted, my tears dried.”

“I’m sorry for your grandfather.”

The prince looked at her and considered it for a moment “Perhaps for this night, we shouldn’t focus on what we’ve lost… For we have gained so much as well! Why not think of those things?” The prince picked her hand and played with her fingers, calloused with war and training and hard work. “I have so much to be grateful for…”

A small cluster of stars, almost in a shape of an arrow, called her attention. She pointed at them “That’s the Pleiades, isn’t it?”

“Good eye! My favourite! We must be kindred spirits, you and I.”

Joanna smiled at him “We may be.”

“If I remember well, it’s about a group of sisters.”

He beamed “Yes, it is. Or at least the legend says it. It reminds me of my sisters back at home.”

Joanna looked at him with curiosity “Sisters? Like, in plural? How many do you even have?”

“Yes, I have five! We were all attached like glue to each other when we were little. I miss them dearly when I travel. Looking at the constellation helps me feel like my sisters are here with me.”

“Don’t you feel outnumbered or bothered with so many women back at home?” She asked in a teasing manner. He laughed loudly.

“They can be quite annoying, but I love them with all my heart, even when they’re as gossip as a widow.”

Joanna giggled “You must’ve grown with many gits at your door declaring their love to them.”

Hamid chuckled “They didn’t lack suitors, no. Two of them are married and with children, but the others are yet to be married. My sister, Sevim, is quite rebellious. Won’t settle for a man who won’t support her writing career.”

“Hey, good for her! If a man won’t accept all of her, he doesn’t love her enough.”

Hamid smiled at her “My thoughts exactly.”

“I may have a theory of where did you learn how to flirt so brazenly…”

“You’re not wrong.”

“Am I ever?” They both chuckled “Tell me more about your favourite constellations.”

“Anything you wish, my lady. What would you like to know about?”

“Hmm… how about one about lovers.”

He smiled teasingly “You can be quite romantic. A woman after my own heart. These are Altair and Vega…” Hamid pointed at two small clusters of stars, separated by the milky way, “According to Chinese legend, they were madly in love with one another… But their parents disapproved. They separated the pair… forever.”

Joanna sighed “No matter what, history is bound to repeat itself, it seems…”

“I don’t know how anyone could pull apart two people in love… it is the greatest treasure the world holds.”

“And the purest feeling as well.”

Prince Hamid lied flat on his back and both of them took in the vast look at the sky above them.

“My people believe the stars burn bright because they’re filled with the souls of the departed,” he smiled at her “somewhere in the sky, your father and mother are smiling down on you.”

Joanna frowned, looking at him “Uh… Who do you think saved you at the races?”

He seemed now confused “Another aunt of yours?” His eyes went wide open “That was your mother?!” He lied back again “No offence, but… she looks so young!”

Joanna giggled “She’d take it as a compliment. How she came back… it’s quite difficult to explain.”

“Go on.”

She told him everything: Elias’s scheme, how he had planned to kill her, how he buried her somewhere no one could ever find her, the dagger, the war coming, the Coventus… everything. During ten minutes, the prince was silent, listening to the lady and her adventurous tale “…And I am confident that the Gods want you to fight beside me, aside from other three people. And my army.”

“This is… my tongue cannot express it well enough! Of course, I’d love to fight beside you, my lady. I would do it even if destiny wanted me away from you. But who are the others?”

“Mr. Sinclaire, Mr. Harper and Miss Parsons.”

“Miss Parsons?”

Joanna snorted “Don’t tell me that you don’t think women can fight.”

“It’s not that! It’s just… unexpected. I don’t doubt Miss Parsons—I’d be damned if I dared to underestimate that woman—but I did not see it coming.”

“One of the brigades of the knights of the Empire are all women. And they’re just as deadly or more than the men’s brigades.”

His eyes went wide with excitement “I must meet this brigade!”

Joanna giggled “Soon you will.”

Suddenly, they saw a shooting star streak across the sky!

“Quick! Make a wish!”

She closed her eyes and said to herself

I wish to form my own family someday…

She knew it’d never happen again. When Thomas stabbed her with a dagger, she had died, activating her vampire side, and vampires couldn’t have children. And even if she relied on her wolf and faerie side, the Gods would never allow her to bear a mortal’s child at any circumstance.

But only time could tell. Most of them had children with mortals. Why would she be any different?

She hoped that they’d be benevolent on her. How unfair was that they could have many children and she couldn’t?! It would be quite hypocritical of them. Especially Zeus. Not to mention awfully rich of him.

“I wish to be with the ones I love.”

Prince Hamid smiled “That is my wish as well.” He rolled over and took her hand in his. He tenderly played with her fingers and placed a kiss on her wrist. He could almost feel her pulse quicken. “If I may confess… I have been wishing for that since we met.”

Joanna snorted “You wished to be alone with a complete stranger?”

He smiled at her slyly “And how could I not, when said complete stranger is a dashing, alluring and most handsome woman my eyes have ever contemplated?” The shooting star winked brightly, then vanished into the darkness. “In my travels, I have heard that the shooting stars represent both endings and beginnings. But I like to think that someone in the Heavens is thinking of you.”

With her hand, she traced the path of the star and sighed “I miss you too, Father. Very much.”

The damp chill of the earth took over her body and shivered slightly.

Prince Hamid’s face fell “I suppose mother earth is telling us we’ve been gone too long.”

She looked at him “Mother Earth has bigger worries than us.”

She wiggled towards him and then in his arms, resting her head lightly on his chest. She could hear his heartbeat quickening beneath his chest, and felt his muscles flex beneath her as he placed his hands on her back. She looked at him with yearning and her pupils went dark and her lips separated. He pulled her even closer…

“Can I tell you a secret?” He whispered. She nodded, “When we are apart, and my heart longs for you… I always look at the moon.”

“Oh, I know this one. Because it gives you reassurance that we are not so apart and we will always be under the same star.”

He feigned disappointment “Don’t tell me I’m not the first man who has told you this.”

With a movement of her body, he was pinned in the grass, his hands still firm on her as she leaned and whispered “You’re the only one who has meant them.”

“Really?”

She nodded, her hand tracing his strong jaw… then his neck… then his chest... she could see his dark eyes were now blown pupils, his chest heaving, full of longing and a bit of desire, licking his lips.

He lifted his head, trying to reach hers, his firm hands begging her close, their chests together, both their cheeks red and breaths ragged, waiting for the other to make the move.

The prince tried to seek any signal that he was crossing a line, but all he could see in her was that she wanted him to take her there, and he might. One word and he would. His hand travelled to her hair and begged her even closer, too many unspeakable thoughts racing his mind, her word only holding him back. If she were to take him right there, he’d be all hers for the rest of the eternity of his body, mind and soul. Only hers. As it had been since that moment at the opera. He ventured that even before, as if Allah had placed him on his realm to be with her. He would not complain at all. On the contrary. He was ready to dedicate the rest of his life to worship her for the rest of his life, with virtues and sins included, no matter what, come what may.

He swore he heard her whisper his name, now with a far more vulnerable and desiring tone… he only needed to finally lock lips with her and he’d be all hers in matter of mind, soul, body and being.

When a duck loudly quacked, startling both of them out of the moment. Hamid pulled back and shook his head, “My lady, I forget myself. I think that is duck for ‘it is time to go inside’.”

“Do you really care for what a duck has to say?” She seemed bothered.

He gulped and caressed her face “I do not wish to ruin your reputation and good name or offend you in any way, my lady.”

She whispered in his ear “Let me worry about my reputation and good name.”

He inhaled sharply “My lady… do not mistake me. I yearn for this more than anything on earth, but we could be spotted and it’s your father’s funeral. It’s just… not the right time, my lady. Not yet.”

She sighed, nodding as she got up and brushed off the detritus off her dress and hair “Fine, you have a point, but I’ll take the ‘not yet’ when time comes.” She winked.

He smiled at her “I shall await every day for that occasion.” The prince offered the crook of her arm and she took it “Shall we?”

Back in the foyer, prince Hamid bid Joanna goodbye.

Looking for any signal of being watched, she ducked back out and raced towards the graveyard, where her father’s body now rested. She made sure no one else could see her and finally broke down in tears. She got on her knees, clutching her father’s ring and sobbing more loudly than she cared to admit, she started to talk “I still don’t understand why the hell did you leave us. We had so many things to do… so many things left unsaid for the rest of my life…”

“I know the feeling,” She whipped her head to find her mother, in a beautiful Dracarian mourning dress and knelt down with her daughter. They both cried in silent, leaning on the other’s shoulders and mourning him together.

“Will it always hurt so much?” She asked to her mother.

“Not always. It will always hurt, but one day, you’ll heal from the burning pain and learn how to live with it.”

When Joanna retired to her room, Odessa was left with him at last. Or, well, what was left of him on Earth.

“I always wondered, all these years… why, Vincent? Why didn’t you fight for me, for us, if your love was so deep? Why did you just… gave up on us? Turned your back on me, on her? Do you have any idea of the damage you caused? How much I…” she inhaled sharply, shakily, finally saying those words out loud “how much I needed you beside me? To raise her? Love her? Give her the infancy she deserved? I never understood. I thought our love was the rare one that really could move mountains, yet you shitted your pants the moment we were threatened and ran away from the beginning.” She took a deep breath “You made me happier than anyone else on earth, yet you broke my heart like I never thought you would be capable of so. After all I confided you, open you a heart that had been caged for five hundred years to then throw it all away for your daddy’s approval… I was angry at you. I really was. I still am. I thought you didn’t care at all. We could’ve fought back. I had the sources.” She punched the ground “Dammit, a whole empire waited for you! A family that saw who you really were, not what you expected you to be! And you chose them over us! OVER ME!!” She did not know what she said next.

She spent the next hour yelling at his grave, from calling him out to try to understand why to then beg him to come back to her. She had never felt like this before, and she hated it. Her heart ached in a way that burned her alive, slowly, agonizingly, excruciatingly. She cried and cried, over and over, finally letting go of everything she bottled up for twenty-one years.

“…And the worst of it is that I will never have the chance to tell you face-to-face!”

She wailed, now lying on the ground, her heart heavier than the universe itself.

And, for a few hours, she slept like a new-born, thing that hadn’t happened in a century and half.

A few days later, Joanna, Briar and Darcy were walking down the hall together. She paused at the entrance of her father’s bedroom and tears pickled on her eyes.

“A week later, and I still can’t believe that he is truly gone… it all happened so fast…”

“It’s odd not finding tea service or a fire in his room.” Briar added.

Darcy whined, joining the sighs of the ladies. Joanna scratched his ear.

“Shame that he never got to meet you…” She heard a meow and the little panther came out of the room, a sack of letters on her mouth. She tried to give them to Joanna. She chuckled “My father trained you well, didn’t he?”

Briar’s attention was now on the little panther “Oooh, she’s so adorable! Aren’t you a little panther that will never eat me alive? Yes, you are, yes you are!”

“Let’s focus on these letters. If this pretty girl says they might be important, they must be! Let’s go!”

They rushed towards her room and she locked it in a way not even the countess could come in.

“These span years.”

“Look at this one! It dates before I was even born! I wonder…”

She picked the yellowed envelope and started to read:

17th of April, 1795

My dearest,

I write to you with a mixed heart, for I just found out that I am with child. Your child, borne in our love.

The thought of raising your child cheers my heart, for it was what I always wanted, but also breaks it, for you won’t be able to see them grow. No matter who they become, they will always be a reminder of you and the fact that you and I are no more. The elders are angry and my world has just fallen apart. I do not know what to do. For the first time in centuries, I’m terrified. I really wish you were here to guide me. You were always the voice of reason of us both.

After the dreadful annulment, your father told me not to write, but pardon my language, he can stick his threats up to his tight arse. I do not wish anything from you. It’s been me against the world for nearly eight centuries, I won’t stop now. But it cannot stop me from lamenting that you will never get to see our sweet, beautiful babe.

Forever in your heart,

Mary.

When she finished reading, she observed Briar sniffling with Darcy in her arms “Some things never change.”

“Leave me be, it’s just so tragic!”

“Very well, we shall read them all.”

“Thought you’d never say it!”

“Even I am curious of what happened through her eyes.” She admitted. She caught one and gasped “This was from my birth!”

“What does it say?” Briar asked.

She ran her fingers through her mother’s letter and started reading:

12nd of April, 1795

My dearest,

She has arrived. Our little, precious girl is now part of this cold, cruel world that has dared to separate us. She was born as the morning birds sang and the people in the village protested about how unfair the big cities are with them—she will indeed become an opinionated woman with a fighting spirit, I can tell.

I have named her Joanna Feyre Anissa Julia Devonne Celestia, but when I nurse her I call her JoJo, like my good friend Juana de Trámstara, or known as Joanna The Mad. I figured to have a laugh at history about the name Joanna—many controversial women in history were named like that, and by how I plan to raise her, she’ll cause many turmoils among those idiotic grown men—like the dingus of your father. She has your smile—and what a smile! I pray to the Gods that she inherits your unconditional kindness and a bit of my wits—she’s so beautiful, she will cause quite a stir, and you know the price of being poor and beautiful.

I am well aware of the danger of writing to you, but I think you’re entitled to know about her. I have moved to a small village called Grovershire so she and I may be a family. Elias volunteered as a guardian. I know what you must think: he was the one to rat us out, but he is trying to redeem himself. He really is. And I believe him.

I pray to the Gods that we may be someday three.

Yours,

Mary

“I did not know that you had six names! I wonder who that Juana the Mad was…” Briar exclaimed.

“A new thing that you know about me.” She sighed “I wonder what would’ve happened if father ever read those…”

“Do you think he would’ve been able to join you in Grovershire?”

A familiar voice interrupted the women “Knowing that hopeless romantic, he would’ve cancelled his marriage to that sniper and made me his Countess and you, the Lady of the House. He was more than a dreamer; he was a firm believer of love.”

Briar gasped “Miss Mills! You’re alive!”

“No, I’m a ghost. Boo!” Odessa teased the young woman.

“Why is your hair now brunette?”

Odessa smirked “I’ll tell you one day over that tea you so love.”

Briar looked to the woman “Do you think… it would have been a chance to be a family?”

Odessa’s face fell “Perhaps, but it is too late to lament of impossible what-could-have-been. We must focus on the present now. But please, keep reading. I know those letters by heart.”

She picked a letter from the middle “Oh, look, my first birthday!”

Odessa smiled as she leaned on the window.

12nd of April, 1796

My dearest,

I did it. I survived my first year with our precious Joanna without your guidance. On challenging days, I think of you and your patience. I cannot replicate it to perfection, but I do my best.

Joanna has walked for the first time and said her first word: Papa. Which, I confess, I tried not to cry. I was overjoyed but… what was the point of saying that word when you’re not there to be as overjoyed, cover her in kisses and ask her to repeat it while you boast to everybody that your daughter’s first word is Papa? It burned my stomach alive, but when I saw her, smiling and laughing, I could not help but smile too. When she walked towards me, I saw the firmness and determination to get to me no matter how many times she fell. That was so you… I’m completely whipped about her. She is a female incarnation of you.

She is so dauntingly similar to you; it breaks my heart and makes it soar at the same time. People will start noticing how little alike me she is. I’ve had to make up a story about how I ended up in here. I never liked changing names and making up backstories and change places, but it’s the place to be me. If anyone asks, my name is Ellen Mills. Only one person knows my other undercover name.

Yours come what may:

Mary

Briar wondered “If being apart was so painful, why write? Wouldn’t that reopen the wound?”

Odessa placed a hand on the young woman’s shoulder “When you love someone so much, it does not matter how bad it hurts or burns you alive, you never lose hope of seeing their face again and tell them the things left unsaid. It is the magic of true love, dear girl. You will know it when the right man comes, no matter if it’s tomorrow or forty-seven years later. If I learned something with Vincent, it was that, no matter how old you are, there’s always time and chance to love. The funniest part is that you never know where it’ll catch you, it just does, and when it does, you pray your Gods every night it never lets you go, no matter the circumstances.”

Briar nodded “You always had the wisest advices, madam.”

Briar handed her a letter that hadn’t been so touched by time, unlike the others.

“This one is… dated years after!”

She picked the letter and began to read

31st of August, 1800

My dearest,

Forgive me for not writing in a long time, but the lack of response made me lose hope of hearing from you and not the mongrel of your father.

I write to you because Joanna has been asking for you, and often. As her curiosity grows, my persistence weakens by the day. I have been trying to give her a solid answer, but nothing has come to mind: many lives lying to half of the world, and I cannot bring myself to lie to my little girl so brazenly without my heart breaking in a million pieces. It is an utter injustice that she shall never get to know the great man who sired her.

I yearn to hear your words, your voice… I yearn for you like no other. Even if I have tried to get her a father figure, they all remind me that they are not you. They are not enough. They lack what you, and only you, have. She does not lack candidates of men willing to raise her, but it is me who is so reluctant and demanding. But can you blame me? I want the best for my girl, and the best is you, my dear. No matter what, our souls remain connected for the rest of eternity until we reunite again. Come what may.

Each stroke of the quill feels like a flog on my heart, but I have borne worse. I’m not giving up on you, Vincent. As long as I write, there will be solid proof of our love.

Yours till death,

Mary.

“Now you know both sides…”

Odessa sighed “It’s a pity that you knew about it so late and in such circumstances.”

“’Tis.”

She stared at the yellowed letters resting on her lap.

“How do you feel, now that you know the full story?” Briar asked.

“I feel… I feel angry.” She looked at her mother “You did nothing wrong. Your intentions were good. You loved and respected him, and were influential and powerful, and knew how to run an estate. Why tear you apart?” Tears prickled at her face.

“Because he saw a mere singer when he looked at me. Not either of those traits.”

Joanna looked at her mother “It’s a good thing that you assured my grandfather’s fate. Should he had lived when I did, I would have struck him down myself.”

Briar gasped, horrified “You’d kill your own kin?”

Joanna spit on the floor “He is nothing to me.”

Sunny whined. Joanna heard footsteps.

“We should hide these, and so should you, Mama.”

“Give them to me.” She said instead.

“What?”

Odessa looked at her daughter “I’ll need them if I want to clean your name. That little girl needs a good family.”

Joanna nodded “Very well. Now, run! The footsteps are growing more impatient. It must be Bitterta.”

Odessa nodded and jumped off the window, disappearing from the view as Henrietta busted into the room “Give me my letters back!”

Joanna smirked “Too late, Bitterta. They’re in better hands and in their way to clean my name. You’ve lost. I win.” She got closer to her “I always win. Do you hear me? Al-ways.”

“As if any judge would believe you.”

Joanna’s smile grew wider “I have friends too. Powerful ones.”

Henrietta snorted “Like who? The wealthiest baker in London?”

She grabbed her letter from her reticule “The Tsar of Russia. This is a copy of his letter to the Prince Regent, confirming him of my parent’s marriage.” She tried to snatch it, but she was faster “Ts, ts. Don’t grab things that aren’t yours. Or didn’t your mommy teach you that? Was she so awful at motherhood as you are?”

Her face turned red “How dare you talk to me like that?”

Joanna smirked to her “What are you going to do about it? Go on, tell me, weakling. I’m dying to know what a whining old hag like you could do to me.”

“This isn’t over!”

“It is. And I result winner. So… I’d start packing your things if I were you. You won’t step foot here while I live.”

“What would your father—,”

“DO NOT TALK ABOUT HIM AS IF YOU EVER GAVE A FUCK ABOUT HIM.” She yelled, her eyes now bright topaz, the floor trembling. The countess’s face went white and gasped before running away.

“Joanna,” Briar called “I know these are hard times for you, but you’ve been acting weirdly for a long time. Every time something like that happens, the floor shakes and people run away and call you a monster. You come with brutal wounds that should kill you and survive without being in bed for weeks! Some people call you Highness! Not to mention that in the letters, your mother mentions to have lived thorough centuries!” Briar looked at her “I need to know: why is this happening? What is that secret that you’re keeping from me?”

Joanna sighed “I guess it is time you know.” She took a deep breath “I am no ordinary girl, that you know. But I’m neither human.”

“What?”

She sat on the bed and told her everything: her origins, her powers, her mission, her plans, her mother’s shenanigans and even the next things to happen in a matter of weeks.

“So… you’re a Goddess. All kind of foul creatures exist. You were destinated to meet them all, Harry’s alive and in France and… Mr. Sinclaire has a bastard daughter that is the future Empress of the Empire?” She paced around, taking it all in “I just… this is… why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Joanna sighed “I could not take any chances, not after the witch-hunt. I thought… I’d scare you away and you’d give me up to the authorities.”

Briar scoffed, clearly offended “You thought that I’d judge you and rat you out? Me, of all people? Me, your best friend?!”

“I know, and I’m sorry. You’re in all your right to be mad at me. I wanted to tell you but… the timing wasn’t right. People get hurt when they know of this world, Briar.”

“Oh, you think me weak because I’m human and mortal?!”

“I never said that.”

Briar had been crying of rage and disappointment “A few moments ago, I thought that our friendship meant something to you. Turns out, it doesn’t.”

Joanna got up and placed her arms on hers “It does, Bree! You’re one of the best things to happen to me, and I really wanted you to know! But my mother… I did it to protect you. I’ve watched too many people die in this world and I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you.”

“Well, turns out you’ve hurt me before this ‘world’ ever had the chance.”

“Bree—.”

But she stormed out off the room before she could muster those words.

As she came out, Joanna slumped on her bed, crying, not caring for now who could see her. But when she closed her eyes, what she saw was too much.

Elias paced down his own cave, a smirk on his face and a projection of London. He looked at his army, a rather numerous one “My dear acolytes, in two nights, we shall take London and burn it to the ground, starting by Opera St. James…”

A small boy raised his hand “And then what, sir?”

He smirked ruefully at the boy “Then… we kill Vunera. With the blood of her loved ones, we have extracted and by Samael’s Blade, she shall be dead… alongside Planet Earth and everything she worked for. And after the Earth, we’ll go for the ENTIRE UNIVERSE!”

The army roared as Elias laughed wickedly, and smirked to her.

Joanna jumped off the bed, panting and gasping. This couldn’t happen. She had to prepare them somehow. But how? They’ve never fought a magical war before, and they didn’t have proper training.

Mother.

She wrote to the Empress’s secretary and gathered her things. Then, she went to find Briar, clutching the necklace. She slammed the servant’s door open and scanned for Briar. She also beckoned Mr. Woods “Briar, Mr. Woods, I require your immediate service.” She regained breath and gave them the supplies “I need you to find my mother and make sure her paperwork makes it to London and then go to a safehouse. Mr. Woods, you must protect Miss Daly at all costs. I shall reward you handsomely if she’s alive when I come back,” she sighed “if I come back. Now, there’s no more time to waste. And the rest of you, gather my father’s men! I have a feeling that they will try to take Edgewater. Backup and war supplies will come shortly. Come on, go to work, everybody!” She grabbed Briar by the arm and took her to a small corner despite her protests. She placed the necklace on her hands. It had a bright topaz stone, guarded with a strong, heavy iron and looked at her in the eyes “Look, danger is ahead and a battle will break soon. I must ensure your safety. When you feel that the battle breaks and comes into the safehouse, grab this as tightly as you can and repeat the next words: reppellio demonium averno. And loudly so it works. It will keep you safe. Now, hurry! Try to get to London before the 4th of May.”

“In three days? Why?”

Joanna sighed and looked both ways before looking at Briar again “Because in that night, the most gruesome and difficult battle will take place. And there’s a chance that I might die.”

Without saying another word, she ran off to her father’s study and started writing Flying Letters and waited at the lake.

The four people gathered with urgency at the Edgewater Lake, where Lady Joanna waited impatiently. It was Mr. Harper who asked “What is it, my lady?”

“It is time.”

“Time for what, my lady?” Prince Hamid asked.

She just looked at the road to London and sighed “I had hoped we had more time to prepare you all, but we must make haste.”

“Prepare us for what?” Miss Parsons asked.

“Tell us, my lady.” Mr. Sinclaire pleaded.

Joanna looked at them all “We’re at the edge of a big war. The world isn’t safe for you anymore. We’re going to the only safe place to prepare you and keep you safe.”

“Where is that, my lady?” Hamid asked.

Joanna turned her back on them and closed her eyes. She channelled her force and incantated the spell. A minute later, a portal with a forest that showed the way to a fantasy kingdom appeared “We’re going to my home. The Circle, capital of the Dracarian Empire.”

Mr. Harper chuckled shockingly “The greatest empire of them all…”

He was the first one to go in, eager to know personally the empire he had grown up reading about. Prince Hamid’s excited curiosity followed. Then Miss Parsons. She offered Mr. Sinclaire her hand “Shall we?”

He stood there in silence before nodding “Let’s go.”

And trespassed the portal, that closed itself after Joanna got in.

During the journey, Mr. Sinclaire’s grip didn’t falter and they arrived in a small forest. An imposing marble wall was before them. Two rather tall guardians stood there, intimidating, but Joanna didn’t flinch and introduced herself to them. The guardians’ eyes went wide and bowed before her “Your Imperial Highness, it is an honour to have you back. I take these are your guests?”

“Yes. We must go in. A war is coming and they are in need of training.”

The other guard looked at them and asked her “Are they who I think they are? The Empress’s prediction is true?”

“Yes, Aberama. They are my Four Holy Saviours. They’re finally here.”

The guardians rapidly opened the doors and bowed to each of them “It’s an honour to open the doors of your awaited homes, my lords… and lady.” They bowed one more time before they passed the walls and closed before them. Joanna smiled at them, extending her arms “Welcome to the heart of the Dracarian Empire, The Circle; my home.”

Duke Richards paced impatiently, ranting and throwing things “How the hell a mere bastard could be more powerful and influential than me?! ME!! I’m the Duke of Karlington, she should fear me!” He looked angrily at his minions “You had one job! Learn all of Lady Joanna’s secret to coerce her to be my wife! And you failed!!” He threw a jar to them and the younger one whimpered “You are both useless! You won’t get any coin from me, and I shall destroy you! GET OUT!”

“No wonder Joanna defeated you. You have no self-control and don’t know how to find the right man for the task at hand.”

He whipped himself to the white-haired man “Who are you and how did you trespass this house?”

“It’s quite easy. And as for who I am… I am the solution to all your problems.”

He scoffed “And how could you be my solution?”

He smirked “Because I know Joanna Mills like she were my own daughter. I have raised her and made her who she is nowadays. I know exactly her weaknesses and strengths. Work with me… and you shall have everything you ever wanted and more.”

Duke Richards smiled sinisterly “This is what I needed. What is your price?”

He got up and took the duke’s arm “I want the Crochane family’s heads on a spike and Joanna’s powers for me.” The duke started gasping and choking, his veins turning black as he fell on his knees and looked at the man. He smiled ruefully “For now on, I own you, Tristan Richards of Karlington. You live… and you die according to my will and pleasure.”

With that, he got into his body and the duke screamed for help, but it was too late. He dropped on the floor and passed out.

Several minutes later, he got up and looked at himself in the eyes and laughed wickedly. He was no longer the Duke of Karlington. He was Elias… more powerful than ever. With one movement of his hand, down to the floor, the so feared cross appeared and yelled “Raise, my children! War is upon us! At the end of the week, we shall have the entire universe at our disposal. Darkness shall reign one more time, and I shall be the King of Kings!” He laughed loudly, wickedly as all types of dark monsters came out of the ground, his eyes turning black and the sky darkening “I am coming for you, Vunera.”

[yoshi-self-ships]

Kaito: I’ve done a lot of dumb stuff.

Rantaro: I witnessed the dumb stuff.

Kiibo: I recorded the dumb stuff.

Kokichi: I joined in on the dumb stuff.

Shuichi: I TRIED TO STOP YOU FROM DOING THE DUMB STUFF!!!

Shuichi: Bye Kokichi! Bye Kiibo! Bye Kaito! Bye Rantaro! Bye Kokichi!

Kiibo: You said ‘bye Kokichi’ twice.

Shuichi: I like Kokichi.

Kiibo: Is having a penis fun?

Kaito: It has its ups and downs.

Rantaro: Sometimes it’s a little hard.

Kokichi: It’s a pain in the ass.

Shuichi: Oh, Jesus, fuck, guys, come on.

Kiibo: Why isn’t the statue smirking at me?

Shuichi: It isn’t smirking at anyone, they’re all just imagining it.

Kiibo: Three of us saw it, Shuichi. How do you explain that?

Shuichi: *points at Kokichi* Sleep deprivation. *points at Kaito* Paranoia. *points at Rantaro* Delusional personality disorder.

Shuichi: What did you guys get in your yearbook?

Kokichi: 'Prettiest Smile'

Kiibo: 'Nicest Personality'

Kaito: 'Most likely to start a bar fight'

Rantaro: 'Least likely to start a bar fight, but most likely to win one'

Kaito: I’m an idiot.

Kokichi:

Kiibo:

Shuichi:

Rantaro:

Kaito:

Kokichi: If you’re waiting for us to disagree, this is going to be a long day.

Shuichi: There are seven chairs and ten kids. What do you do?

Kokichi: Have everyone stand.

Kiibo: Bring three more chairs!

Kaito: The most important ones can sit down.

Rantaro: Kill three.

Shuichi: Good responses for being stabbed with a knife?

Kiibo: Rude.

Kokichi: That’s fair.

Kaito: Not again.

Rantaro: Are you going to want this back?

Shuichi: You really put aside everything and came all this way for me? How did you even get here so fast?

Kokichi: Several traffic violations.

Kiibo: Three counts of resisting arrest.

Kaito: Roughly thirteen cans of energy drinks.

Rantaro: Also, that’s not our car.

Kiibo: What does 'take out' mean?

Shuichi: Food.

Kaito: Dating

Rantaro: Murder

Kokichi: IT CAN MEAN ALL THREE IF YOU'RE NOT A COWARD.

Shuichi: Nothing in life is free.

Kaito: Love is free!

Rantaro: Adventure is free.

Kiibo: Knowledge is free.

Kokichi: Everything is free if you take it without paying.

Kaito: Imagine if someone handed you a box full of all the items you have lost throughout your life

Shuichi: Self-esteem, haven't seen you in years!

Kokichi: Oh wow, my childhood innocence! Thank you for finding this!

Kiibo: I knew I lost that potential somewhere!

Rantaro: My moral code, is that you?

Kaito:

Kaito: I was just gonna show you this cool trunk my mother left me but do you guys need a hug?

Shuichi, trying to convince Kaito to join the group: You know... I thought it'd be good to have someone come along who's really... strong!

Rantaro: And loud!

Kiibo: And grumpy!

Kokichi: And oblivious to reality!

Kaito:

Rantaro: Anyone d-

Shuichi: Depressed?

Kiibo: Drained?

Kaito: Dumb?

Kokichi: Disliked?

Rantaro: -done with their work... what is wrong with you people ...

Shuichi: Favorite horror movie?

Kokichi: It

Rantaro: Saw

Kiibo: Annabelle

Kaito: High School Musical. after watching it I spent all my middle school years terrified that the entire school would start singing something and I’d be the only one who didn’t know the lyrics

Shuichi: Are we really going to let Kokichi keep Kiibo?

Kaito: We kept Rantaro.

Shuichi: Good morning.

Rantaro: Good morning.

Kiibo: Good morning.

Kaito: You all sound like robots, try spicing it up a bit.(that's robophobic-)

Kokichi: MORNING MOTHERFUCKERS

(Part 1, part 3, part 4)

[pricemarshfield]

and sisters

Written for Day 3 of @acocweek​; Hurt/Comfort + Favorite Scene + the Twins.

When Saccharina's eyes meet Ruby's from across the battlefield, it would be easier than anything to kill her. Her arrows aren't anything special; it's her bow that's distinctive. No one would know. But there's something in her expression--the way her fear fades into an acceptance, into a cautious hope, that makes her think of Jet. It's not an expression Jet carried or anything; Jet was all brash confidence and loyalty, would never look at Ruby with anything other than love.

But still.

They talk, Saccharina sitting on a monster and Ruby feeling like one. She lets her bow drop without nocking an arrow, walks through the ruins of her old home and sees the rest of her family alive and well. Frosting on her father's sword reassures her that Jet is well and truly avenged, and Theobald reminds them that Amethar can be Emperor instead of King and that Saccharina can be Queen without her dragon eating Ruby's--their father alive.

Everything's fine, basically. Ruby still feels like she needs to kill someone, if only to do something with her hands.

She wanders the halls with her bow over her shoulder, watches Liam and Primsy awkwardly flirt hanging from one of the windows, goes to the grove and thanks Lapin for everything he did. It'll be interesting to see how Liam's wish works out, anyway, from the capital city.

"I might spend some time here," she says to Amethar at dinner, a rushed affair with too many people and no table manners, like Saccharina's feast in the mountains. Caramelinda gently reminds Liam to keep his elbows off the table, but then there's a pissing contest out of one of the windows.

Ruby's starting to understand what Annabelle means about Candians.

"What, you mean, Candia?" Amethar asks. He's acting like everything's normal, other than making stilted conversation with Saccharina rather than avoiding her entirely. Saccharina seems thrilled, excitedly talking about her plans for bringing magic back.

"Your, um. Your sister Jet," Amethar says hesitantly, and Ruby stabs her fork into the food in front of her. She's not--angry, exactly. Not at Saccharina. She deserves to know about Jet, to hear about the sister she could've known.

But fuck, it's hard to hear it in the room she had dinner with her in thousands of times, where there's still a stain on the carpet from them trying to sneak some of their dad's cola, where a portrait of the two of them hangs on the wall, pinkie-in-pinkie, lockets faintly glowing.

"I'm heading to bed," she tells them with a small, forced smile. Her mother opens her mouth to say something, but she's already made her way past most of the crowd, marauders and Tartguard and Dairy Islander allies and all.

Ruby's room had always been Ruby and Jet's room. It's the first time she's been in it since the night of their Saint's Day, giggling about a trip to Comida to meet Thad and sneak away to join the circus.

If fucking only, right?

She uses magic to quickly light the sconces in the room, casting a shadow that she knows won't have the long braid she wants to see. She turns to look anyway.

Ruby's braids have been in for awhile, and suddenly she needs them out as soon as possible, is seconds from cutting them off far higher than she needs to with her blade just to not have to see them anymore. But--no. She thinks she might let it grow out, enough for a long braid like Jet's.

She sneaks out of the room--people are still busy at the feast, so she can probably find a room with a mirror so she can at least try to get them out without hurting herself or damaging her hair too much.

The first few rooms she tries have people in it--Annabelle and a young Candian soldier she doesn't know, Primsy and Liam holding hands, one of Saccharina's marauders passed out over the back of a chair, for some reason.

The seventh room she checks is empty and has a mirror without a bunch of cracks in it, and she's about to head inside when she hears someone call her name.

Ruby twirls around, already nocking an arrow and drawing her bowstring back when she sees Saccharina, hands raised with a shield sparking between her fingertips. She drops the bow. "Sorry! I didn't--realize it was you."

"Forgiven," Saccharina says, and Ruby's not sure if the twist in her stomach is humor or annoyance. "It's been a long day. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Is everything fine?" Ruby asks. "You should be celebrating."

"I wanted to check on you," Saccharina says, and when Ruby can't quite bite back her expression of disbelief, she continues, "That's part of compromise. Which is part of being family. I'm told."

The awkwardly formality has Ruby's shoulders tensing, but she's not wrong, and Ruby doesn't miss the way that Saccharina seems unsure about it even as she says it.

"I'm okay," Ruby lies, and Saccharina nods with a little frown. "I wanted to take my braids out. You could, uh. Help?"

"Certainly easier than taking them out yourself," Saccharina says, and Ruby exhales a little huff of annoyance. "I can."

The mirror in the room is against a wall, but Saccharina uses some magic Ruby hasn't seen before to levitate it next to one of the chairs, so Ruby can sit on the floor and Saccharina can reach her braids without either needing to contort themselves to make it work.

When Ruby needed to take care of her hair during their travels through Calorum and on the Dairy Sea, Jet would help her. After Jet--after, her dad had been surprisingly good at it, only managing a gruff helped Sapphria a lot as explanation.

Saccharina's fingers are quick and she manages to comb through Ruby's curls to untangle them without yanking her head back. It's clear it's not the first time she's done this, and if Ruby were a little kinder, she'd ask about that.

Instead, Ruby keeps herself occupied by practicing a few cantrips. It's Saccharina who breaks the silence when she's about halfway through Ruby's hair, asking, "Was it because Amethar told me about Jet?"

"Don't--" Ruby says, makes herself stop and take a deep breath. "I--it's not easy, to talk about her."

"I'm sorry," Saccharina says. "I can't imagine."

"It's..." Ruby sighs. She's not generous enough to say something like you lost her, too, even if you didn't know her or feeling venomous enough to say no, you can't, since you never had anyone, did you? even if she is enough of a bitch to think it.

"You don't have to tell me about Jet," Saccharina says. "But if you ever do, I'd like to hear about her."

There's so much Ruby could say, half about Jet and half punishing Saccharina for daring to ask, especially when Ruby's hair is still barely half done.

"I think she would've liked you," Ruby says, and pretends not to notice the way Saccharina's hands still.

"Amethar was telling me that she liked to fight," Saccharina says, and Ruby laughs before she can stop herself.

"She always said she was meant for the battlefield," Ruby says. "She--really loved it. The idea of it, anyway. Flickerish was hers before it was mine. She--"

It wasn't the battlefield that killed her, though. It was Calroy, setting a trap. It was Ciabatta, with the dagger. It was Ruby, daring her to sneak around when they both knew they shouldn't.

"Another time?" Saccharina asks.

Ruby nods, winces when the comb in Saccharina's hand tugs at her hair painfully. Saccharina takes out the rest of Ruby's braids in silence, and they don't say goodbye. But when she goes to sleep in her old room, Ruby's calm enough to fall asleep there.

Progress.

[princess-of-the-corner]

I've been rereading my old mlp fics and I remembered my favorite (re)found family dynamic. So I tossed them into an Incorrect Quotes generator!

Flash: "I'm an idiot."

Sunset: "..."

Rainbow: "..."

Scootaloo: "..."

Fluttershy: "..."

Flash: "..."

Sunset: "If you're waiting for us to disagree, this is going to be a long day."

-

Sunset: "What did you guys get in your yearbook?"

Scootaloo: "Prettiest smile."

Flash: "Nicest personality."

Rainbow: "Most likely to start a bar fight."

Fluttershy: "Least likely to start a bar fight, but most likely to win one."

-

Fluttershy: "Poison is a magic transmutation potion that turns people into corpses."

Flash: "This knife is actually a Magic wand."

Scootaloo: "Meet me in the Denny's parking lot for a wizard duel!"

Rainbow: *cocks gun* "Magic Missile!"

Sunset: "What the fuck is wrong with you people."

-

Rainbow: "We've been conducting an ongoing study to see what Sunset will and will not eat."

Scootaloo: "Grass? Yes!"

Rainbow: "Moss? Yes!"

Scootaloo: "Leaves? Oh, yes!"

Rainbow: "Shoelaces? Strange but true!"

Scootaloo: "Worms? Sometimes!"

Rainbow: "Rocks? Usually nah."

Scootaloo: Twigs? Usually!"

Rainbow: "Fluttershy's cooking? Inconclusive."

Fluttershy: "How did you... test this?"

Rainbow: "You just hand her stuff and say 'eat this' and if they eat it, they eat it."

Fluttershy: "... I don't know how to feel about this."

Flash: "IS THAT WHERE ALL MY SPARE SHOELACES WENT???"

-

Rainbow: "Imagine if someone handed you a box full of all the items you have lost throughout your life."

Fluttershy: "Self-esteem, haven't seen you in years!"

Flash: "Oh wow, my childhood innocence! Thank you for finding this!"

Scootaloo: "I knew I lost that potential somewhere!"

Sunset: "My moral code, is that you?"

Rainbow: "..."

Rainbow: "I was just gonna show you this cool trunk my mother left me but do you guys need a hug?"

-

Fluttershy: "Good responses for being stabbed with a knife?"

Scootaloo: "Rude."

Sunset: "That's fair."

Rainbow: "Not again."

Flash: "Are you going to want this back?"

-

Sunset: "Favorite horror movie?"

Flash: "IT."

Scootaloo: "Saw."

Rainbow: "Annabelle."

Fluttershy: "High School Musical. After watching it, I spent all my middle school years terrified that the entire school would start singing something and I'd be the only one who didn't know the lyrics."

-

Fluttershy: "There are seven chairs and ten kids. What do you do?"

Flash: "Have everyone stand."

Scootaloo: "Bring three more chairs."

Rainbow: "The most important ones can sit down."

Sunset: "Kill three."

-

Rainbow: "Are we going to let Scootaloo keep Flash?"

Fluttershy: "We kept Sunset."

-

Scootaloo: "What does 'take out' mean?"

Rainbow: "Food."

Fluttershy: "Dating."

Flash: "Murder."

Sunset: "IT CAN MEAN ALL THREE IF YOU'RE NOT A COWARD."

-

Flash: "We need more help. Maybe I should call my friends."

Scootaloo: "Your what?"

Flash: "My friends."

Rainbow: "Is he saying 'friends'?"

Fluttershy: I think he's being sarcastic."

Sunset: "No, no no, this is delirium, they've cracked from being awake all night. Hey, Flash! All of your friends are in this room."

Flash: "I have other friends! You asked me to make new friends, I made new friends! It was a task! I complete tasks!"

-

Fluttershy: "You really put aside everything and came all this way for me? How did you even get here so fast?"

Scootaloo: "Several traffic violations."

Rainbow: "Three counts of resisting arrest."

Sunset: "Roughly thirteen cans of energy drinks."

Flash: "Also, that's not our car."

-

Fluttershy: "Good morning."

Flash: "Good morning."

Sunset: "Good morning."

Scootaloo: "You all sound like robots, try spicing it up a bit."

Rainbow: "MORNING MOTHERFUCKERS!"

-

Scootaloo: "Why isn't the statue smirking at me?"

Flash: "It isn't smirking at anyone, they're all just imagining it."

Scootaloo: "Three of us saw it, Flash. How do you explain that?"

Flash: *points at Sunset* "Sleep deprivation." *points at Fluttershy* "Paranoia." *points at Rainbow* "Delusional personality disorder."

-

Fluttershy: "Anyone d-"

Flash: "Depressed?"

Scootaloo: "Drained?"

Rainbow: "Dumb?"

Sunset: "Disliked?"

Fluttershy: "-done with their work.... what is wrong with you people..."

[crying-in-a-stall]

Incorrect Sanders Sides

Virgil: Who the fuck added me to a fucking group chat? Roman: >:O language Patton: Yeah watch your fucking language Janus: OKAY WHO TAUGHT PATTON THE FUCK WORD? Roman: 'The fuck word'. Logan: Are you stupid? You guys use the f word all the time Roman: Oh my god they censored it Remus: Say fuck, Logan. Virgil: Do it, Logan. Say fuck.

Virgil: Well, aren’t you all a rag-tag group of adventurers with unclear goals and good hearts! Oh, let me guess: you’re out to save the world! Roman: Well, actually, that sounds like a pretty fair assessment. Janus: More or less, I guess... Patton: That sounds awesome! Let’s do that! Remus: I’m new here, but I am open to the concept. Logan: I thought that’s what we were doing, guys, come on!

Roman: Hewwo. Patton: Hihiiiiii! Logan: Greetings, Humans. Janus: Three kinds of people. Virgil: I want pudding. Janus: Four kinds of people. Remus: WHAT’S UP FUCKERS? Janus: Five kinds of people.

Logan: Just be yourself. Virgil: 'Be myself'? Logan, I have one day to win Roman over. How long did it take before you guys started liking me? Patton: Couple weeks. Remus: Six months. Janus: Jury’s still out. Virgil: See, Logan? Virgil: 'Be myself'. What kind of garbage advice is that?

Virgil: Croissants; dropped Roman: Road; works ahead Remus: BBQ sauce; on my titties Patton: Shavacado; fre Janus: Miss Keisha; fuckin dead Logan: Logan, grumpy: I didn’t understand a single word of that and I hate every single one of you.

Patton: We need to distract these guys Remus: Leave it to me Remus: Centaurs have six limbs and are therefore insects. Discuss. Logan, Roman, and Janus: *Immediately begin arguing* Virgil, watching in horror: Oh this. I don’t like this. I don't like this at all.

Virgil: Rules are made to be broken. Logan: They were made to be followed. Nothing is made to be broken. Patton: Uh, piñatas. Remus: Glow sticks. Janus: Karate boards. Roman: Spaghetti when you have a small pot. Virgil: Rules. Logan: …

Logan: Dumbest scar stories, go! Roman: I burned my tongue once drinking tea. Patton: I dropped a hair dryer on my leg once and burned it. Remus: I have a piece of graphite in my leg for accidentally stabbing myself with a pencil in the first grade. Janus: I was taking a cup of noodles out of the microwave and spilled it on my hand and I got a really bad burn. Virgil: … Virgil: I have emotional scars.

Logan: Anyone d- Virgil: Depressed? Roman: Drained? Patton: Dumb? Remus: Disliked? Janus: Distrusted? Logan: -done with their work... what is wrong with you people …

Patton: Imagine if someone handed you a box full of all the items you have lost throughout your life Virgil: Self-esteem, haven't seen you in years! Janus: Oh wow, my childhood innocence! Thank you for finding this! Roman: I knew I lost that potential somewhere! Remus: My moral code, is that you? Logan: ... Patton: I was just gonna show you this cool trunk my mother left me but do you guys need a hug?

Janus: Nothing in life is free. Patton: Love is free! Roman: Adventure is free. Logan: Knowledge is free. Virgil and Remus at the same time: Everything is free if you take it without paying.

Patton: What does 'take out' mean? Logan: Food. Roman: Dating Virgil: Murder Remus: IT CAN MEAN ALL THREE IF YOU'RE NOT A COWARD.

Remus: I’ve done a lot of dumb stuff. Janus: I witnessed the dumb stuff. Virgil: I recorded the dumb stuff. Patton: I joined in on the dumb stuff. Logan: I TRIED TO STOP YOU FROM DOING THE DUMB STUFF!!!

Janus: What did you guys get in your yearbook? Roman: 'Prettiest Smile' Patton: 'Nicest Personality' Remus: 'Most likely to start a bar fight' Virgil: 'Least likely to start a bar fight, but most likely to win one'

Logan: There are seven chairs and ten kids. What do you do? Virgil: Have everyone stand. Patton: Bring three more chairs! Janus: The most important ones can sit down. Remus: Kill three.

Logan: Good morning. Patton: Good morning. Roman: Good morning. Thomas: You all sound like robots, try spicing it up a bit. Virgil: MORNING MOTHERFUCKERS

Patton: What if the person who named Walkie Talkies named everything? Remus: Pregnancy tests are Maybe Babies Janus: Socks are Feetie Heaties Virgil: Forks are Stabby Grabbies Remus: Defibrillators are Heartie Starties Virgil: Nightmares are Dreamy Screamies Janus: Stamps are Lickie Stickies Logan, annoyed: You are disappointments Roman: Why isn’t the statue smirking at me? Logan: It isn’t smirking at anyone, they’re all just imagining it. Patton: Three of us saw it, Logan. How do you explain that? Logan: *points at Janus* Sleep deprivation. *points at Virgil* Paranoia. *points at Remus* Delusional personality disorder. And you just believe everything, Patton.

Janus: Favorite horror movie? Remus: It Logan: Saw Roman: Annabelle Virgil: High School Musical. After watching it I spent all my middle school years terrified that the entire school would start singing something and I’d be the only one who didn’t know the lyrics

Virgil: We need more help. Maybe I should call my friends. Remus: ... Your what? Virgil: My friends. Janus: Are they saying “friends”? Remus: I think they're being sarcastic. Janus: No, no, no, this is delirium, they've cracked from being awake all night. Hey, Virgil! All of your friends are in this room. Virgil: I have other friends! You asked me to make new friends, I made new friends! It was a task. I complete tasks.

Patton, trying to convince Virgil to join the group: You know... I thought it'd be good to have someone come along who's really... strong! Roman: And grumpy! Logan: And oblivious to reality! Virgil: …

Roman: You lying, cheating, piece of shit! Virgil: Oh yeah? You’re the idiot who thinks you can get away with everything you do. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD Roman: I’m leaving you, and I’M TAKING PATTON WITH ME Logan, picking up the monopoly board: I think we’re gonna stop playing now.

*Patton is cooking* Roman: Any chance that’s for me? Patton: It’s for Logan. I’m planning on making some bad choices tonight, and I need them on my side. Virgil: I never realized the forethought that went into being a disappointment.

Patton: Hey, is Roman sleeping or dead? Virgil: Hopefully dead, I hated their guts. Logan: Yeah, so did I. Roman: Okay first of all, fuck you-

Virgil: Is stabbing someone immoral? Janus: Not if they consent to it. Remus: Depends who you’re stabbing. Logan, who was dragged into the dark sides meeting: YES?!?

Janus: Self care is actually getting into fights with randoms in dark alleys. Patton: No, self care is stuff like taking a bubble bath, or putting on a lot of makeup if you like it, or taking a nice warm nap! Logan: Self-care is any necessary human regulatory function which is under individual control, deliberate and self-initiated. Janus: Self care is the burning heat when rage washes over you!! Virgil: Self care is when you feel the bones crack under your powerful fists!! Roman: Self care is the fear in your enemies’ eyes!!! Remus: Lmao self care is taking your birthday cake just so I can eat the frosting. Patton: If you touch my birthday cake I’ll make you eat your hands.

Roman: You are now one day closer to eating your next plate of Nachos. Logan: That's the most hopeful thing I've ever heard. Virgil: But what if I die tomorrow and never eat any Nachos? Patton: Then tomorrow is nacho lucky day.

Roman, banging on the door: Virgil! Open up! Virgil: Well, it all started when I was a kid... Logan: No, they meant- Patton: Let them finish.

Janus: Come on, I wasn’t that drunk last night. Virgil: You were flirting with Remus. Janus: So what? They're my partner. Remus: You asked me if I was single. Virgil: And then you cried when they said they weren't.

Store Worker: Would a ‘Janus’ please come to the front desk? Janus, arriving at the desk: Hello, is there a problem? Store Worker: points to Remus and Virgil Store Worker: I believe they belong to you? Remus and Virgil, simultaneously: We got lost :( Janus: I didn’t even bring you guys here with me-

Janus, driving Remus and Virgil: So how was your day? Remus: We almost got surprise adopted! Janus: What? Virgil: We almost got kidnapped. Janus: Oh, okay. Janus: *slams on the breaks* WAIT WHAT?!

Janus: Sometimes I drink milk straight out of the container. Remus: The cow??? Janus: What? Virgil: Remus, W H Y?

Roman: Virgil, my old arch enemy. Remus: ... I thought I was your arch enemy? Roman: I have a life outside of you, Remus.

Remus: How's the sexiest person here~? Janus: I don't know, how are they~? Remus, flustered: I- Virgil, from across the room: I'm doing great, thanks!

Patton: Are you the big spoon or the little spoon? Virgil: I'm a knife. Roman, from across the room: They're the little spoon.

Roman: So, what, now I’m just supposed to do anything that Logan does? I mean, what if they jumped off a cliff? Patton: If Logan were to jump off a cliff, they would’ve done their due diligence regarding the height of the cliff, the depth of the water, and the angle of entry, so yes. If you see Logan jump off a cliff, by all means, jump off a cliff. Roman: You jump off a cliff! Patton: Gladly. Provided Logan did first.

Janus: I know you snuck out last night, Remus. Virgil: Play dumb! Remus: Who's Remus? Virgil: NOT THAT DUMB!!!

Roman: Fitness tip, never stop pushing yourself. Logan: Some say 8 hours of sleep is enough. Why not keep going? Virgil: Why not 9? Why not 10? ]Janus: Strive for greatness. Roman: Next time you’re working out do 15 push ups instead of 10. Run 3 miles instead of 2. Patton, from the background: Eat a whole cake instead of just a slice. Remus from the background: Burn your ex’s house down. Roman: You can do it. I believe in you. Thomas: There were so many mixed messages in that I can’t-

Remus: I can’t believe you live nearby, and you won’t let anyone crash at your place. Virgil: You people already know too much about me. Janus: I know exactly three facts about you, and one of them is that you won’t let any of us crash at your place.

Virgil: Janus, can I talk to you for a second? Janus: Yeah, what’s up? Remus: Lemme guess. You and Roman are having problems and you want me to teach you how to kiss? Virgil: What? No, stop that. I know how to kiss. I’ve read books.

Remus: In my defense, I was left unsupervised. Janus: Wasn't Virgil with you? Virgil: In my defense, I was also left unsupervised.

Remus: Okay, help me please! Virgil: Got two words for you. Janus: I bet they won't be helpful. Virgil: Your problem. Janus: I was right

Virgil: So are we flirting right now? Roman: I AM LITERALLY STABBING YOU Virgil: That doesn’t answer my question

Patton: Where are you going? Remus: To get ice cream or commit a felony, I’ll decide on the way there Patton: Can you get me a strawberry cone? Janus: Can you kill Virgil? Virgil: Can you kill Roman? Roman: Can you kill Janus? Logan: Can you not commit a felony?

Logan: It’s dark in here Patton: Don’t worry fam, I got this Patton: *Stomps their feet* Patton: *Sketchers light up*

Logan: So what do you do? Janus: I work in genetic research, and I'm currently trying to eliminate all Cancers. Logan: Wow, impressive. Janus: Then I'll move on to Leos.

Remus: Don’t worry, I have a few knives up my sleeve. Roman: I think you mean cards. Remus, pulling knives out of their sleeves: No, I do not.

Virgil: We went through an entire character arc during quarantine Janus: We all became more evil if you’re curious Patton: We're still in quarantine, don't worry, there's time for a redemption arc still! Remus: I’m going to get worse on purpose

Patton: Am I in trouble? Logan: Take a guess. Patton: No? Logan: Take another guess.

Patton: Oh just so you know, it's very muggy outside Roman: *holding in a laugh* Logan: Patton, I swear, if I step outside and all of our mugs are on the front lawn... Virgil: *Sips coffee from bowl*

Virgil: You kill people for money?! Virgil: Can I pay you? Janus: Virgil no- Remus: And all this time I’ve been doing it for free like a chump!

Roman: What are your goals? Thomas as Patton: To pet all the dogs. Logan: No, fitness goals. Thomas as Patton: To be able to run fast enough to pet all the dogs.

Patton: I've already sent good vibes your way… they’re coming. There’s nothing you can do to stop them. Virgil: This is the most threatening way I’ve ever been cheered up.

Virgil: Name a more iconic duo than my crippling fear of abandonment and my paranoia. I'll wait. Patton’s Card: FAM - ILY Virgil, tearing up: Okay.

Logan: I actually have a black belt. Roman: In what, karate? Logan: No, from Gucci.

Remus: Am I going too far? Janus: No, no, no. You went too far about seven hours ago. Now you're going to prison.

Patton, motioning to a Halloween display: All these ghosts! All these ghosts! I still can’t find a boo. Logan: Babe, I’m right here.

Remus: You think I really give a fuck? I can’t even read.

Virgil: Okay okay stop asking me if I'm straight, gay, bi, whatever. I identify as a FUCKING THREAT. Roman, from across the room: You tell ‘em, babe!

Roman: You can de-escalate any situation by simply saying, 'Are we about to kiss?' Remus: Doesn't work for getting out of speeding tickets, by the way.

[canisterofsoda]

incoming long list of incorrect quotes because im getting annoying on discord so you people have to deal with me now

Kei: Looking left cause you don’t treat me right

Han: Looking right because you left

Rose: Looking up cause you let me down

Oliver: Looking down cause you fucked up

Blair: What is wrong with you guys

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

Kei: Bridge the generation gap by combining old and new slang into one!

Han: Tubular AF!

Rose: Mood to the max!

Oliver, annoyed: Groovy, I hate it.

Blair, just as annoyed: If she breathes, she’s a square.

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

Kei: What’s something you guys are better than Han at?

Rose: Mario Kart.

Oliver: Yeah, video games.

Blair: Emotional vulnerability.

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

Kei: There are seven chairs and ten kids. What do you do?

Han: Have everyone stand.

Rose: Bring three more chairs!

Oliver: The most important ones can sit down.

Blair: Kill three.

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

Kei: Favorite horror movie?

Han: It

Rose: Saw

Oliver: Annabelle

Blair: High School Musical. after watching it I spent all my middle school years terrified that the entire school would start singing something and I’d be the only one who didn’t know the lyrics

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

Kei: Poison is a magic transmutation potion that turns people into corpses.

Han: This knife is actually a magic wand.

Rose: Meet me in the Denny’s parking lot for a wizard duel.

Oliver: *cocks gun* Magic missile.

Blair: What the fuck is wrong with you people.

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

Kei: Imagine if someone handed you a box full of all the items you have lost throughout your life

Han: Self-esteem, haven't seen you in years!

Rose: Oh wow, my childhood innocence! Thank you for finding this!

Oliver: I knew I lost that potential somewhere!

Blair: My moral code, is that you?

Kei:

Kei: I was just gonna show you this cool trunk my mother left me but do you guys need a hug?

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

Kei: What if the person who named Walkie Talkies named everything?

Han: Pregnancy tests are Maybe Babies

Blair: Socks are Feetie Heaties

Oliver: Forks are Stabby Grabbies

Han: Defibrillators are Heartie Starties

Blair: Nightmares are Dreamy Screamies

Oliver: Stamps are Lickie Stickies

Rose, annoyed: You are disappointments

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

Kei: Where's Han, Rose, and Oliver?

Blair: They're playing hide and seek.

Kei: Where?

Blair: I don't think you get how this game works.

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

Kei: You kidnapped Han? That’s illegal!

Rose: But Kei, what’s more illegal? Briefly inconveniencing Han, or destroying our dreams?

Kei: Kidnapping Han, Rose!!!

Oliver: Kei, listen, whatever I may think of you right now- these guys are counting on you to inspire them!

Kei: What, to kidnap people?!?!

Oliver: To work together!

Kei: TO KIDNAP PEOPLE?!?!?!?!

Blair: Kei, we all agreed a Han is a not a people.

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

Kei: Anyone d-

Han: Depressed?

Rose: Drained?

Oliver: Dumb?

Blair: Disliked?

Kei: -done with their work... what is wrong with you people ...

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

Kei: Nothing in life is free.

Han: Love is free!

Rose: Adventure is free.

Oliver: Knowledge is free.

Blair: Everything is free if you take it without paying.

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

Kei: We need more help. Maybe I should call my friends.

Han: ... Your what?

Kei: My friends.

Rose: Are they saying “friends”?

Oliver: I think they're being sarcastic.

Blair: No, no, no, this is delirium, they've cracked from being awake all night. Hey, Kei! All of your friends are in this room.

Kei: I have other friends! You asked me to make new friends, I made new friends! It was a task. I complete tasks.

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

Kei: Good responses for being stabbed with a knife?

Han: Rude.

Rose: That’s fair.

Oliver: Not again.

Blair: Are you going to want this back?

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

Kei: Are we really going to let Han keep Rose?

Oliver: We kept Blair.

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

Kei: What does 'take out' mean?

Han: Food.

Rose: Dating

Oliver: Murder

Blair: IT CAN MEAN ALL THREE IF YOU'RE NOT A COWARD.

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

Kei: If you bite it and you die, it’s poisonous. If it bites you and you die, it’s venomous.

Han: What if it bites me and it dies!?

Rose: Then you’re poisonous. Jesus Christ, Han, learn to listen.

Oliver: What if it bites itself and I die?

Blair: That’s voodoo.

Himari: What if it bites me and someone else dies?

Han: That’s correlation, not causation.

Oliver: What if we bite each other, and neither of us die?

Blair: That’s kinky.

Kei: Oh my God.

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

*The squad is over at Kei's house*

Han: Ohhhh, we each get our own oven?

Kei: ... N-No...

Kei, laughing: How many ovens do you think I have???

Han, motioning to their kitchen: Three, I thought!

Rose: I see a-

Kei, motioning to one device: This is a microwave.

Han: Oh, well I-

Kei: Hey wait wait, actually- hang on- *fiddles with the buttons on the microwave*

Kei, amazed: Its got a bake setting!

Oliver: Ohoho, you learn something new every day!

Blair: Do we- Do we roshambo for who gets to pick first?

Kei: Now I've just discovered I have more ovens than I thought, we don't have to roshambo nothin!

Kei: I am someone who owns four ovens...

Kei, louder and way too happy: I am someone... who owns FOUR OVENS...

Kei: I didn't know I was so rich with ovens...

Himari, pointing to another appliance: Also the toaster oven!

Kei:

Han: Ohhh, toasty boy! Four- Five ovens!

Kei:

Kei, fucking ECSTATIC: I AM SOMEONE WHO OWNS FIVE OVENS

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

Kei: Rules are made to be broken.

Han: They were made to be followed. Nothing is made to be broken.

Rose: Uh, piñatas.

Oliver: Glow sticks.

Blair: Karate boards.

Himari: Spaghetti when you have a small pot.

Kei: Rules.

Han:

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

Kei: Who the fuck added me to a fucking group chat?

Han: >:O language

Rose: Yeah watch your fucking language

Oliver: OKAY WHO TAUGHT ROSE THE FUCK WORD?

Blair: 'The fuck word'.

Himari: Are you stupid? You guys use the f word all the time

Rose: Oh my god they censored it

Blair: Say fuck, Himari.

Rose: Do it, Himari. Say fuck.

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

'Can I copy the homework?'

Kei: I can help you with it!

Han: Yeah, sure.

Rose: Bold of you to assume I did the homework.

Oliver: lol nope.

Blair: Wait, we had homework?!?!?!

Himari: *Read 5:55pm*

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

Kei: Time for plan G.

Han: Don’t you mean plan B?

Kei: No, we tried plan B a long time ago. I had to skip over plan C due to technical difficulties.

Rose: What about plan D?

Kei: Plan D was that desperate disguise attempt half an hour ago.

Oliver: What about plan E?

Kei: I’m hoping not to use it. Blair dies in plan E.

Himari: I like plan E.

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

Kei: We need to distract these guys

Han: Leave it to me

Han: Centaurs have six limbs and are therefore insects. Discuss.

Rose, Oliver, and Blair: *Immediately begin arguing*

Himari, watching in horror: Oh this. I don’t like this. I don't like this at all.

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

*The squad right before Kei's wedding*

Han: Well I have to go, I have a wedding to attend.

Rose: Wait... Oh! I have a wedding to attend too!

Oliver: Oh, I have a wedding to attend as well

Blair: I THINK WE ALL HAVE WEDDINGS TO ATTEND

Himari, panicked: I THINK I HAVE A WEDDING TO OFFICIATE

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

Kei: Croissants: dropped

Han: Road: works ahead

Rose: BBQ sauce: on my titties

Oliver: Shavacado: fre

Blair: Miss Keisha: fuckin dead

Himari:

Himari, grumpy: I didn’t understand a single word of that and I hate every single one of you.

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

Kei: Everytime I hear someone talking about updog, I’m torn between not wanting to fall for it and wanting to help them complete their joke.

Han: Okay, but what is updog?

Rose: Updog is a long sausage in a bun, often served with ketchup, mustard, onions, and/or relish.

Oliver: Not, that’s a hot dog. An updog is when a new version or patch of an application is released.

Blair: No, that's an update. You’re thinking of the fourth largest city in Sweden.

Himari: Surely, that’s Uppsala, where’s updog is the giant spider in Harry Potter.

Kei: That’s Aragog. Updog is a symbol conventionally used for an arbitrarily small number in analysis proofs.

Oliver: You’re thinking of epsilon. Updog is an upward-moving air current.

Rose: No, that’s an updraft. An updog is the modern version of a henway.

Han: What’s a henway??

Kei: Oh, about five pounds.

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

Kei: Just be yourself.

Han: 'Be myself'? Kei, I have one day to win Rose over. How long did it take before you guys started liking me?

Oliver: Couple weeks.

Blair: Six months.

Himari: Jury’s still out.

Han: See, Kei?

Han: 'Be myself'. What kind of garbage advice is that?

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

Kei: I CAN'T DO IT!

Han, laughing: I CAN'T EITHER!

Kei: I CANT FUCKING DO IT ANYMORE

Rose: WELL I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, YOU CAN EITHER GIVE UP NOW, OR YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT. BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU, AND WE KNOW YOU CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT US.

Kei:

Kei: I appreciate it,

Kei: BUT LOOK WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH-

Oliver: Kei-

Kei: YOU GOTTA DRAW THE LINE SOMEWHERE!

Blair: Kei we gotta-

Kei: YOU GOTTA DRAW A FUCKING LINE IN THE SAND. YOU GOTTA MAKE A STATEMENT.

Kei: YOU GOTTA LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF AND SAY 'What am I willing to put up with today?'

Kei, motioning to Himari: NOT FUCKING THIS

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

*Squad reactions to being told ‘I love you’*

Kei: Thanks fam!

Han: oh no

Rose: *cries* I love you too

Oliver: Sounds fake but okay

Blair: *A flustered mess*

Himari: can i get a refund

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

Kei: Hewwo.

Han: Hihiiiiii!

Rose: Greetings, Humans.

Blair: Three kinds of people.

Oliver: I want pudding.

Kei: Four kinds of people.

Himari: WHAT’S UP FUCKERS?

Blair: Five kinds of people.

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

Kei, walking into their house: Hello, people who do not live here.

Han: Hey.

Rose: Hi.

Oliver: Hello.

Blair: Hey!

Kei: I gave you the key to my place for emergencies only!

Himari: We were out of Doritos.

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

Kei: *Posts a super low-quality image to the group chat*

Han: If I had a dollar for every pixel in this image, I’d have 15 cents

Kei: If I had a dollar for every ounce of rage I felt in my body after I read this text, I would have enough money to buy a cannon to fire at you

Rose: Actually I did the math, Han would have $225, not $0.15.

Han: Fam I’m right here....

Oliver: If I had a dollar I would buy a can of soda :)

Kei: while you’re there could you buy me an apply juice please?

Oliver: Sorry I only have a dollar

Kei: :(

Rose: Hey I just realized my friend is right, Han would have $22,500 because it's a dollar for every pixel, not a cent

Oliver: If I had $22,500 I would buy a can of soda and an apply juice

Rose: You can buy anything you want with $22,500

Blair: Yeah and they want soda and apply juice

Rose: Apply juice to what

Himari: Directly to the forehead

Han: Great chat everyone

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

Kei: Would you guys be there for me if I was going through something?

Han: Nope, absolutely not.

Rose: I hope it sucks, whatever you're going through.

Oliver: I hope it emotionally scars you for the rest of your life.

Blair: I hope you reach out to me so I can ignore you.

Himari: I can't wait to go to your funeral, knowing I could've changed that outcome.

[takerfoxx]

Notes on Restless

A day overdue, but here it is! My thoughts on writing Restless.

Restless is, in many ways, the most important arc in the story, not because it is the most plot or character significant (though it definitely is very important to both), but because it was one of the first, if not the first story arc I planned out, and have been cooking up in the back of my mind and working toward ever since this story started. And, as indicated by the title, it is one big reference to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode Restless, which is my favorite episode and also featured all of the main characters trapped in their little dream worlds.

What can I say; I like dream sequences!

In fact, and I know I have mentioned this a few times already, but it bears repeating the first chapter of this arc was literally the very first scene I thought up for this story, back when I was still in post-episode 9 depression and wanted nothing more for Kyoko and Oktavia to reunite somewhere and be happy together (well, the story definitely gives us the former, but, um, not really the latter, because I am still a sadist). If memory serves, my original vision had the two of them and Mami relaxing in a fantasy-world hot spring that had a bunch of big crystals everywhere (because I like crystals), only for them to be interrupted by the sound of something moving nearby, and, upon inspection, they would find the doll version of Charlotte watching them.

Obviously that scenario’s gone through a lot of fine-tuning, especially when it comes to Charlotte. And the crystals got moved to the end of the story after the hot spring had been removed, but hey, they still made the final cut. Regardless, I did settle on a finalized version some years ago, and the final cut came out more-or-less exactly as I envisioned, down to Mami and Charlotte going off alone for some, ah, quality time.

The only new addition was Jerky’s little scene and the Sayaka/Oktavia flirting sequence, and, well, that happened. I honestly don’t know if I’m even allowed to say much about it without getting into trouble with someone, even though I wrote it, but let’s just say the time has come to finally kick things into high gear on that end.

Okay, so onto the dreams!

Kyoko’s dream was of course the one I came up with first, and yet ended up being the shortest. I guess it’s because while she’s white-hot mess of issues, she’s at least a straightforward white-hot mess of issues, and honestly, it came out more-or-less how I initially planned years ago, with very little addition.

Now, Mephisto gave us a pretty clear breakdown of what the individual girls’ dreams meant thematically when she started torturing them directly, but it bears repeating that Kyoko’s dream was mainly dealing with her poor reaction to loss (the concept, not the meme), specifically the loss of Sayaka to Oktavia, and her stubborn and yet misguided quest to bring Sayaka back at any cost.

We start with a perfect repeat of her dream from waaaaaaaay back from chapter five, when she was first waking up from being drugged. I was originally just going to begin with the continuation, but it had been so long since that chapter that I just copied and pasted the original dream so we can have it in its entirety, which included the all-important image of Sayaka dissolving into silver fishes.

From there it’s mainly Kyoko’s singleminded quest to find Sayaka at any cost. And from there, we see her think that she’s found her time after time, only to be disappointed, from thinking that Madoka was Sayaka (and it’s a shame that they never interacted more beyond that single episode, as they had a good dynamic), to nearly catching the silver-fish Sayaka only to have her torn away, to finally finding the fake fish-faced conductor Sayaka, further establishing her inability to accept Oktavia as not being Sayaka. The hole that her father left in her heart and how deeply she misses him even with what he did does come up, but she abandons catching him once Kyubey makes it clear that doing so is impossible, as well as showing that while she still loves her father, part of her still does not forgive him and she truly believes that he went to Hell.

Also, was that the first time I’ve had Kyubey show up and have original dialogue? Because it might be!

Mephisto’s first appearance has her occupying the same role that she would in everyone’s dreams, that of a surly gatekeeper. She’s a bouncer in Kyoko’s dream, a ticket-taker/ride operator in Sayaka’s, a hostess in Mami’s, and a receptionist in Charlotte’s. And in each one, she lets the dreamer pass while making it clear that doing so is probably a bad idea. Her design was a lot of fun, though there truly is no significance to her rainbow dreadlocks, punk-rock aesthetic, or denim outfit, other than I liked the way they looked. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Annabelle Lee and the dockengauts have very short appearances in the nightclub, as despite all the pain they’ve put Kyoko through, she is still so singleminded in her pursuit that she considers them nothing more than obstacles to be overcome, which Annabelle Lee would probably be annoyed to hear.

As for Mami’s weird striptease, well, Kyoko is just now having to grapple with her own budding sexuality, and it stands to reason that Mami would have been an early crush for her. The “ending” though shows that while she’s more-or-less okay with Charlotte, she is still very aware of how Mami died.

Like Annabelle Lee, Elsa Maria would have the same role in everyone’s dream, the same role she had in Annabelle Lee’s feverish dream during the Help arc, that of the person who points the way to what the dreamer is seeking while still advising against it, which is always ignored. Though don’t read too much into her working with Mephisto in the end, as it’s not the real Elsa Maria and Mephisto is still the one in control.

And what better place for Kyoko, now Ophelia, to start her quest to find Sayaka for real than the same train station that she originally lost Sayaka in?

Anyway, while this chapter came out basically as originally envisioned, there are a couple things that I wish I had included, firstly a scene where Kyoko loses her necklace while being swept along by the current for Sayaka to find it later, and to have the sound of the crying child from the beginning to continue throughout the whole chapter, showing that she still hadn’t forgotten her quest to find her sister, as impossible as it might seem now.

Sayaka’s dream had largely to do with her and Oktavia’s issues with personal identity, and the dichotomy that Oktavia feels at all times, but translated through Sayaka’s eyes. In fact, bits and pieces of both their personalities are present through the circus (and given that Rumia’s dream took place in a circus in Imperfect Metamorphosis, it does just seem to be a recurring theme with me). The whole knight in shining armor for Sayaka is obvious, as is her sense of righteous justice as what Lily did. But her dynamics with the various characters that she comes across, her memories in general, her growing attraction to Kyoko, and her annoyance at being addressed incorrectly is all Oktavia.

It’s the two Kyoko encounters I want the highlight. The first at the shooting gallery shows that while Oktavia does love Kyoko, she is getting quite fed up with the constant nicknames in place of her actual name, while the second in the dunking tank shows her growing concern that Kyoko’s dogheaded persistence is only going to keep getting her hurt until there’s nothing left, as well as show her growing sexual attraction to Kyoko as she is progressively more stripped.

Mami and Charlotte’s brief appearance was in part to get them on the dream, and so show that that while Oktavia cares for them deeply, she’s not nearly as worried about them as she is Kyoko, hence why they’re here so briefly. Also, them pushing Ticky Nikki around in a stroller, aside from being Nikki’s only appearance this whole arc, was also a tip of the hat to the original Restless episode from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, as Giles’s dream had him and his girlfriend pushing a stroller around through a carnival in the middle of a graveyard.

The Freakshow was a mixture of the traumatic monsters both Sayaka and Oktavia had to encounter, from the various witch familiars and to Gertrud, the first witch Sayaka ever saw, to the witch form of Charlotte, who traumatized Sayaka deeply, to Brooklyn, who briefly showed up earlier and was sort of Oktavia’s nemesis in The Heist and targeted her specifically, which left a mark.

And that whole business with Annabelle Lee “pouring” Kyoko into the tank was to lean more into dream logic, where deeply personal fears tend to be translated through nonsensical imagery. I’ve had plenty of dreams where I’d “lose” a close friend or family member because they got turned into a jar of dried corn or something and I’d just be so devastated and obsessed with turning said corn back into my loved one, and it’d be very serious and emotional, and it wouldn’t be until I had woken up that I’d realize, “Dude, dried corn?” Plus, her guilt about stabbing Annabelle Lee was a reference to Sayaka’s own increasing guilt when she realized that she wasn’t the shining hero she had wanted to be.

The clown dance is pretty self-explanatory, in that Sayaka spent so much time killing witches and treating them like monsters only to become a witch herself. Plus, given how quick her downfall was, it serves to reason that she would think of herself as a clown. Plus, I just like Lily as a character, and wanted any excuse to use her as much as possible.

The whole bit with the train station acting as the loading gate for the roller-coaster is also fairly obvious. That’s where Sayaka became Oktavia, hence the cart turning into the wheelchair, or the coaster track leading into Oktavia’s barrier. I’m honestly not too thrilled about the coaster going through Genocide City, because while having it make an appearance makes sense, since it’s literally Oktavia’s first memory, but if I recall, I had the hardest time settling on a location for the rollercoaster to ride through before heading into the castle. I tried Freehaven, the outside of the high school, and returning to the circus itself before just settling with Genocide City, which honestly was chosen mainly because the deadline was coming up and I had to go with something. I guess it works though.

There really isn’t much to say about the reversed Kyoko/Oktavia fight, as it’s literally just a perspective flip of their final battle. Incredibly important and significant as it embodies the entirety of Sayaka’s aspect as the “Monster” of her dream and hammered in her connection to Kyoko? Absolutely. Has much that I can explain that isn’t literally sitting right on the surface? Nope.

We do get Mephisto basically spelling out Sayaka’s contradictory identity in her final days though, in which she was the valiant knight she always wanted to be, she was the damsel in distress that Madoka and Kyoko tried and failed to rescue, and she was the monster holding that damsel captive. No doubt that part was inspired by the meme of the Dragonborn princess paladin who was hired to rescue herself from herself.

From there, the “Monster” is slain, and the cute mermaid Oktavia von Seckendorff is born, the only time during her own dream that she makes a full appearance. She then is treated to a montage of Sayaka’s memories, but of course, they mean nothing to her.

However, I would like to point out what amounted to the payoff of a joke I had set up literally years ago. Readers of all my stuff might remember that way back in Rhapsody of Subconscious Desire, another story that took place in a dream world, Kaguya Houraisan was split into two identical copies of herself, called Head and Body, who encountered Oktavia swimming around in a large aquarium, who in turn shot them a rude gesture and swam off. Here, we finally see the inverse of that scene, which is why a couple of previously unseen twin girls showed up with no explanation.

Next is where the dreams start to converge. Oktavia finds Kyoko’s necklace (which, again, I wish I had included in Kyoko’s dream. Maybe in time I’ll go back and edit it in) and meets the silver fish’s from Kyoko’s dream, absorbing them and turning fully into the princess and, as a result, Sayaka Miki finally returns in full.

Funny thing about that.

At this point, I didn’t know how much the whole Sayaka thing would play out, and originally she would just be Oktavia in a dress. But after having Sayaka’s memories intrude again and again, I thought, “Huh, wouldn’t it be fun if she just became Sayaka again for a short time? Have a weird inverse of the Oktavia situation?” and went ahead and did it.

This choice led to…major consequences.

Mami’s dream is next, and despite being the one that I literally had planned out the least ahead of time, ended up being the most fun to write. Naturally, her dream dreams with her immense guilt over having been Kyubey’s poster girl for so long, helping him ensnare several innocent girls into his scheme as well as kill them off herself when they became witches. Also, it served as a little nod to Candeloro’s job as a baker in WN. Anyway, the whole thing was heavily influenced by Sweeney Todd, in that victims are misled into doing something they think is innocent, only for them to be gruesomely murdered and sent off to be turned into food.

The world of candles is just something I thought would be neat imagery, so infer from it what you wish. However, it is interesting to note that Mami is the only one to have a dream that features Annabelle Lee as the persistent antagonist that she is, showing up over and over to antagonize her. There wasn’t an intended reason for this, but come to think of it, with Kyoko focused on her endgame, Oktavia just wanting her friends to be safe, and Charlotte obsessed with what was lost, Mami would be the one most living in the nowness of their situation, convinced that she is finally in Hell for her sins.

In the restaurant, Mami is indirectly guilt-tripped by Shizuku for essentially abandoning all of her responsibilities to help Kyoko, and is then given a choice: abandon her quest and stay with her loved ones, or continue on with her “duty” despite all warning signs, thereby sealing her own destruction. Charlotte even goes so far as to beg her directly to not go on, but Mami refuses, saying over and over again that she is, “On the clock,” signifying how being a magical girl essentially took over her entire life after her parents’ death, and how full she threw herself into it to shield herself from her own loneliness.

And from then on, her fate is sealed.

While descending the long staircase, the father of Mami’s occasionally mentioned former crush Ryu Hagane shows up to chastise her for throwing her life way in making her contract, and then Mami’s actual love Charlotte shows up on the big TV to remind Mami of what she was now throwing away, and curiously, when she brings out the doll version of herself, it’s not to remind her of how Charlotte kill Mami (though the worms coming out of the doll’s mouth shows that Mami still hasn’t forgotten), but to remind her of how Mami had tried to kill Charlotte upon their first meeting, as her own guilt is more powerful than even the trauma from having her own head bitten off. Annabelle Lee emerges again, and in the process, the staircase is destroyed. Mami’s choice was made. There is going back.

Sure enough, when she enters the classroom, the marionette corpse of Kazuko Saotome (a reference to how she was killed and eaten in the Oriko timeline, in addition to just being very creepy) spells out to Mami’s face what an idiot she was for trusting Kyubey, how many lives she had ruined by doing so, finishing with Homura showing up to basically say, “I told you so.”

Annabelle Lee attacks again, and Mami is sent into a montage of battles she has fought since their disastrous adventure begun, but with each of her assailants being replaced at the last second by one of her friends, showing that even after forgiveness, she still feels like she’s their murderer, as well as driving home the point that in all of her battles to defend herself over the course of this story, she was still just fighting and hurting other magical girls, and regardless of which side they were on, they were all still victims of the same scam.

Annabelle Lee is finally defeated and put down, but there is no victory, only horror at what Mami had done. She flees, but finally finds herself in the Hell she always felt that she deserved, pursued by the zombified corpses of all the monsters that had defeated her, from Lily, who had stolen her mind and made her commit atrocities, to the wild girls, whom she had slaughtered, to the Worm, whom had killed her in her arrogance.

She escapes, but that just leads her back to the bakery, signifying that no matter what, the second she had made that contract she had been doomed. It didn’t matter if she was leaping through the sky in an extravagant outfit, effortlessly defeating monsters with her magic, or if she was sinking into her own despair with a darkening soul gem, it was all the same. She was just food for the Incubators, to be chewed up and discarded, thrown into the mouth of the Worm and run down by the same vehicle that had killed her parents.

She then wakes up in the hospital, reliving a twisted version of when she had been recovered from the car wreck that had taken her parents, taking her back to her first sin that still haunted her: only saving her own life with her wish and letting her parents die. And thus, she is turned into the same monster she had spent the last few years fighting: the witch, Candeloro.

The whole bit in the hospital was a twisted version of what it must have been like for the original Mami to wake up in the hospital and learn that her parents had died. No doubt Mephisto’s dream doctors would have continued to further twist the knife had Ophelia and Sayaka not violently intervened (which gives us a rare case of blood instead of mist). And Candeloro is brought into the party, and with a Cyberpunk reference no less!

Charlotte’s dream comes last, and in my opinion, is the most multi-layered. The bulk is focused on how bitter she is at having her perfect life with her wife stolen away and how many people she resents for it, her own feelings of helplessness at being unable to prevent it, and also it addresses her own guilt at having killed Mami to begin with and how much she fears the return of the Worm that did it, but also she seems to be the only person that has some subconscious awareness of how Homura is timelooping them over and over again, forcing them to relive the same torturous sequence of events (probably has something to do with Homura being the one who killed her after she ate Mami).

In the first loop, Mami is taken by Annabelle Lee, and Charlotte is totally helpless to stop her. This is pretty obvious: Annabelle Lee has been a thorn in her side since day one. It was because of her that they were ambushed in Cloudbreak and forced into their horrible adventure. And more directly, it was because of Annabelle Lee that they fell into the Etherdale to begin with, leading to them all being enslaved by Lily and Charlotte and Mami being forced to commit atrocities.

Also, it’s hinted that the city that Charlotte is forced to march through is the same one Kyoko had been following her father through in her dream, indicating that their minds are already crossing over.

The second is a little more complicated. Yes, Charlotte and Kyoko are on better terms. Yes, they’re getting along. Yes, Kyoko apologized and they bonded. But if it weren’t for Kyoko, then none of this would have ever happened. If it weren’t for Kyoko, Charlotte wouldn’t have lost her home, wouldn’t have been targeted by Reibey, and wouldn’t have to suffer being pursued by dockengauts and valks, two creatures that she has an acute phobia of. So there is still some hard feelings there.

The third is when Charlotte is forced to confront something about herself, that no matter how many people she blames, her own actions still played a part as well. Now she is the one riding the Worm. She is the one who cost Mami her life. And in the hospital, it was her misguided wish that cost her her mother, whether she knows it or not, as well as why she became a witch in the first place.

Couple notes about the hospital: first, the cheese slices do signify how Charlotte threw her wish away for something as stupid as cheesecake, but are also another reference to the original Restless, in which a man carrying cheese slices shows up in each of the characters dreams, just to be weird.

Also, Charlotte’s magical girl outfit was in part inspired by a 4koma MamiLotte doujin from before The Rebellion Story, in which Charlotte becomes human again and crushes on Mami big time. And her outfit consists of a double-breasted coat and skirt. Also there were parts taken from the character notes from Walpurgisnacht, in which one of her familiars is an early draft of Human!Charlotte, before Nagisa had been designed, and she’s depicted holding a staff topped with the wrapped candy charm.

The final loop is where Charlotte fully becomes Nozomi (a name I think I just took from another fanfic that gave her that name) and finally defeats the Worm, this time ridden by Homura Akemi. After all, Homura Akemi is the one resetting things over and over again, forcing Charlotte to relive the same terrible events over and over. And as for that rooftop meeting…well, explaining that would be telling, so infer what you will.

The next chapter is mainly spent playing catch-up, gathering all the characters together and pushing toward the final battle with Mephisto. Here, things get less symbolic and more character based, so there’s a lot less to explain. Ophelia’s path of destruction through Sayaka’s carnival and Mami’s school are basically in line with lucid dreaming, in that once you know that you’re in a dream, everything just feels so much less solid, leading Ophelia to take down the ravaged versions of Brooklyn and Annabelle Lee with ease. Also, that scene with her talking to the dying Lily was an American Gods reference, which featured a similar scene.

So let’s talk about the big thing with this chapter. Let’s talk about Sayaka.

Originally the plan was to go straight from Charlotte’s dream to the fight with Mephisto, but then I realized what a bad idea that is. I mean, Sayaka was back! It’s something that’s been hinted and talked about all through the story’s run, but now it’s actually a thing. The original Sayaka Miki, the one that fell into despair and became a witch, is now back, and without having merged with Oktavia and gaining her memories. She’s thrown literally into the middle of things, during the gang’s weirdest adventure yet. And, it should be noted, her most recent memory is literally sitting with Kyoko in the train station, right before she became Oktavia. That is one hell of a bad day.

Obviously she reacts poorly, and who can blame her? And give her credit, she pulled herself together pretty quickly. However, she did pick up very quickly on Kyoko’s feelings for her. And why shouldn’t we just start saying it? It’s obvious to everyone! But obviously, as short as it was, Sayaka’s brief return will have major consequences that will play out over time.

Anyway, obviously everyone else has their own identity crisis. Mami turns fully into Candeloro, which provides a measure of relief from her own shame, while Kyoko as Ophelia is the rare witch that remembers everything while still sticking fully to her witch identity.

As for Charlotte, her case as Charzomi is easily the weirdest, with her constantly shifting back and forth between Charlotte and Nozomi, and her own memories fading in and out, forcing her to work extra hard to stay focused. It’s been suggested that this might serve as a metaphor for gender fluidity, and while this wasn’t the intention and thus I can’t speak to its accuracy, I can see and support the applicability. Still haven’t worked out what the long-term consequences of that will be, but I do want this to play into her future character development.

The walk up the tongue was mainly me realizing that the fighting was going to start soon, and Sayaka was going away right after, so I had one last opportunity to make the most out of her presence and I was determined not to waste it.

So we ticked off the boxes on everything we ought to address with her. She cleared the air with Charlotte over having to watch Mami get eaten. She finally got to hug Mami (well, Candeloro anyway) and got everything she wanted to say off her chest. And with Ophelia, she naturally wants to know more about exactly what Kyoko has been getting up to with Sayaka’s other self.

Sayaka again confronts Ophelia about how she feels about her (or, well, Oktavia, or maybe Sayaka? It’s weird), and naturally she is kind of freaked out by it. Remember, from her point of view, her relationship with Kyoko had been nothing but antagonistic. Whether Kyoko had been attacking her or trying to help her, Sayaka always resented her presence, so now suddenly being dropped into the middle of things and learning that her one-time rival now has a thing for her? Well, can you blame her for getting a little freaked out?

Also, it’s worth pointing out how the script had been flipped with everyone’s new identities. Now it’s Ophelia and Candeloro with the witch names, while Sayaka still thinks of them using their old names, causing them discomfort, but she has no problem calling Charzomi whatever because they had just met and she didn’t care.

And then we get to the fight, and of course it has to be a pro wrestling match. I’d also like to point out that there were a lot of songs I wanted to use for this chapter but was unsure of where to put each one. Originally the climb up the tongue was just going to have generic thrash metal playing the background, while Mephisto’s entrance theme was going to start with Mr. Sandman, only to transition into Bad Reputation (which is Ronda Rousey’s RL entrance theme), but then I was like, I should put Welcome to My Nightmare in there somewhere. And then I remembered that Cult of Personality is a thing, which is also CM Punk’s entrance theme, so I finally decided to move the first three songs to the tongue scene and have CoP as Mephisto’s entrance music.

And finally, we come to the last chapter. The magical girl fight scene was another one of those checklist things I wanted to have so long as I had Sayaka around. That way, I could actually build some real KyoSaya moments to make the KyoTavi angst all the more potent, as Sayaka realizes that she is developing an attraction to Kyoko as they fight side-by-side, letting me recreate that magical little moment from The Rebellion Story in which Sayaka basically confesses in the middle of the battle, complete with Charlotte ruining the mood.

I’ll admit, I kind of skimped out on Mephisto’s witch design and didn’t give it as much thought as I could have, but that part was never important. The important part was to recreate a classic witch fight and let the girls interact during it. I am proud of the Charlotte’s Web joke though.

What happens next is to establish that it doesn’t matter how hard they fight or how smart they are, they simply cannot beat Mephisto now. She’s taken complete control, enough to flick them through their various personas on a whim turning them into Puella Magi, then to human!witches (basically the Walpurgis Nights girls), then to full witches, then to the classic squad from the bulk of the story (bringing Oktavia back briefly), then to vanilla humans. It doesn’t matter. Mephisto has them, and can do whatever she wants.

From there, she separates them again and subjects them to a condensed version of their previous dreams, with the same themes but different imagery. Kyoko is subjected to a sermon about her poor responses to loss from her dead father, as he really lays into her over how much damage she had done. And I gotta admit, even I felt pretty bad just for writing that scene. Because I know torturing Kyoko is kind of this story’s MO, but damn.

Sayaka is a little more nuanced. Yes, the identity issues from her own dream are brought up, but it’s more focused on a new issues: mainly, now that Sayaka is back, she not only has to grapple with all the weirdness that she’s been thrust into, but also with essentially having been replaced. We see the vision of her friends getting along happily without her, the friends she had pushed away and alienated having moved on without her, Madoka basically having replaced her entirely with Homura. Of course this is not reflected in reality, as by this point in the world of the living they probably haven’t even found Sayaka’s body yet due to the time difference, but it is definitely that Sayaka would easily believe.

The next part is basically the whole reason for bringing Sayaka back in this manner. Mephisto then shows Sayaka a real memory that of Oktavia spending time with Kyoko, Mami, and Charlotte and being loved and accepted by them.

Sayaka’s character arc in the original series was driven by her letting her insecurities cause her to overcompensate and destroy herself, and Oktavia has largely been characterized as what Sayaka would be like if she didn’t have those insecurities. Sure, she’s had the shadow of the original Sayaka hanging over her, but for the most part this hasn’t seemed to bother her much, aside from getting annoyed at being called the wrong name, but it’s been taken for granted that sooner or later being thought of as Sayaka instead of herself by Kyoko was going to come to a head.

But here we have one of those happy unplanned gold veins, something I hadn’t planned on doing but am thrilled gets to happen now: we have Sayaka being forced to come to terms with living in Oktavia’s shadow.

Yes, they’re the same person. Yes, Oktavia is just Sayaka with her memory wiped and many of her self-destructive issues cleared away. But as WN demonstrated, it’s not as clear cut as that, and there is still some degree of separation between the two. And the infamously self-loathing Sayaka would most certainly be messed up by being confronted by a version of herself that people like and enjoy being around, that doesn’t feel the need to prove anything. And this is coming right off the heels of her realizing that she might have feelings for Kyoko after all (even if that is in part because of her empathetic connection to Oktavia), only to have it thrown in her face that it was Oktavia that Kyoko really loved, when she herself never did anything other than push Kyoko away. Granted, she had good reason for doing so, given that the first thing Kyoko did was try to kill her, but the point stands.

The Kyoko/Oktavia dynamic has always been messy due to Sayaka’s constant presence, but I kind of feel that that was unfair to Sayaka herself, as she deserves better than just being a memory, and I wanted her to have an actual voice in the whole deal, to be able to express her own feelings about it, even if it does complicate an already incredibly complicated situation.

Anyway, the next bit is pretty self-explanatory, with Mephisto further twisting the knife by replaying Sayaka’s last conversation with Madoka and really driving home what a wreck Sayaka had been at the time. Remember, from Sayaka’s point of view, that whole moment was only a few hours ago, at most!

Mami’s was very interesting, because the whole trial bit is self-explanatory, but it’s actually a reference to the bizarre trial that made up the final episode of the classic mindscrew TV show The Prisoner, which featured a jury wearing masks, the plaintiff sitting on an ornate chair on a raised platform, witnesses being pulled out of steam-filled holes, and an extended singalong of Dry Bones. Granted, I mainly knew about it because Reboot, one of my favorite shows, also referenced it in a dream episode of their own, but I liked that episode, and wanted to rip it off.

For the witnesses, we first get the expected faces from the show itself, but we also get a few new ones. Brooke Alexander was already named once before when Mami was reflecting on the various girls she had trained, Janice Goldberg was made up specifically for this scene, but we also get Michiru Kazusa, from the really weird spin-off manga Kazumi Magica, who was established as having a past with Mami. Kazumi Magica had its problems, but I did like a lot of the characters (i.e. The Twins), so this seemed like a good time to bring in another one.

Charlotte’s dream is the most straightforward, as it’s basically just her first dream condensed into a claw machine. What I wanted to put focus on was that Charlotte is the one character that knows who Mephisto is, as her role as the team scholar who does the most reading, she would actually have heard of the Ideal Witches, and thus would really understand just how much trouble they were all in.

And at the end of each segment, Mephisto gives each of them the same offer: submit willingly and be given a pleasant fantasy while Mephisto digests their souls, or continue to resist and get digested anyway, only in eternal torment. And her offer would give them each what they wanted the most. Kyoko wants her loved ones back, Sayaka wants to be loved and appreciated, Mami wants forgiveness, and Charlotte just wants to go home. And in light of what they were facing, can any of them be blamed for wanting to take Mephisto up on her offer?

Enter Jerky.

Jerky was a ton of fun to write for, and judging by the overwhelming positive response to his segments, bringing in the baby space raptor was a good idea. Like I’ve said before, his bits were one big love letter to Raptor Red, a novel by paleontologist Robert Bakker which tells of the life and times of a female Utahraptor from the Utahraptor’s point of view. And the nice thing about Jerky is that he’s smart enough to know the does and don’ts, but simple enough to be uncomplicated. He’s an animal. An exceptionally smart animal, but still an animal. He knows that he loves Kyoko and is loyal to her, he’s been made to understand that he can’t let Charlotte, Mami, and Oktavia see him, and he knows that Kyoko’s skin is softer than his and he needs to be careful, but beyond that he couldn’t care less of their various issues. It’s refreshingly simple.

As such, when confronted with a complete inexplicable threat such as Mephisto, something well beyond his ability to comprehend, he’s worried, he’s scared, he doesn’t know what to do, so he defaults to his predatory instincts.

When in doubt, start biting.

And it does the trick, because something that needs to be said is that while the Ideal Witches are powerful, they’re not omnipotent. Mephisto needed to lure the girls in and submerge them fully in her dream in order to control them the way that she did, but in the real world, she was vulnerable once she had manifested fully, allowing Kyoko to break free long enough to fire the final shot.

In the end, everyone escapes, but not unscathed. Kyoko especially had been scarred even further, in part from the dream of her father, but also from having to watch Sayaka basically die again, leading to her reaching what very well might be her breaking point. Mami’s slipping deeper into depression, having been forced to once again confront all the damage she unwittingly did as a magical girl, Charlotte is fully fed up with everything that had happened to them. And Oktavia? Well, now that it’s been shown that Sayaka Miki can and has come back, suddenly her own identity issues are going to become worse. She’s really going to have to grapple with Sayaka being an actual person with a legitimate claim to her body, especially since when Sayaka came back, she effectively traded places with Oktavia instead of merging with her. That’s gotta be scary.

At the very least, Kyoko did not reject Oktavia. In some way, she does understand that Oktavia is her own person, and she’s coming to respect that. But there are some deep wounds having to do with Oktavia’s creation, and they’re both going to have to come to terms with a great many things in the days to come.

And at the very end, it’s shown that Mephisto is weakened but still alive, and she’s pissed! We also learn that one of the girls did accept Mephisto’s offer before she was defeated, so that’s definitely going to come up later. And we meet the rest of the Ideal Witches. Obviously there is more to come with them, so I will say nothing further.

Anyway, I guess that’s it. Feel free to message me if you want anything explained further, or just make your own interpretations. Either is fine.

[wolftraps]

Started re-reading Reverb the other day and realised that the weekend Jon first arrived back in the past he mentioned that he had an appointment to keep (on Sunday). Was the meeting with Annabelle and how did things go down w/ the alliance/whatever happened after Jon left if he was meeting with her? How'd Annabelle take the news?

Bonus Scene!

-

Jon stands in front of 105 Hill Top Road for a long time. Too long. The ache in his chest, the irregular beat of his heart, are a reminder of why this needs to happen. Why he needs to step up and knock on the door. He just... really doesn’t want to. 

Another neighbor comes to their window to look out at him. The strange man who’s been standing on their street for however long, staring at an abandoned house. Some of them have already reached for their phones, fingers hovering over the 9 before deciding to wait just a little longer. 

“I can only hold them off so long,” Annabelle Cane says from the doorway. 

“You’re nowhere near your limit yet,” Jon responds. She laughs

“True, but I’m getting bored, and the Mother won’t let me speed things up the easy way. So. Coming?” With a sigh, Jon steps up and follows her through the door, through the web-ridden house, into the kitchen. Annabelle pours tea into two cups, adds just the right amount of sugar, gestures for him to take the seat in front of his. He takes the chair, but doesn’t touch the tea. Annabelle smirks. “It’s not poisoned.”

 “I know.” He doesn’t say that he doesn’t want the first tea that he tastes in nearly half a year to be hers, made perfectly or not.

“I suppose you do. I’ll admit, I’m somewhat glad you took your time coming here. Our friend here brought us a lot of information.” She gestures toward his cup, where a familiar spider is now crawling up the handle. Jon barely resists the urge to recoil; he had been expecting it, but... “The Mother has been pulling strings in the Institute for a very long time, and suddenly everything we’ve been working toward has been turned on its head. I suppose pushing you to the Institute, putting you under Elias’s gaze, still worked for us in a way.”

She takes a sip of her own tea. Perfectly composed. And Jon can’t read her mind. He’d never even been able to locate her, in the future, but he can still See, Hear, Know. The slight hesitation in her voice, the way her long fingers occasionally tap against the cup, the way she keeps looking him over. She’s shaken. 

“I don’t like the thought of not having a choice,” he tells her. “But if that’s the price, I’d rather be a willing pawn than an unwitting one. I want to know what I’m being used for.”

“Seems to me like you mean to be the one doing the using.”

“I...”

“That’s not a criticism, Jon. It’s a good start. You’re meant to be one of us, now, but you’ve a long way to go if you’re ever truly going to belong.”  

“What if I don’t want to truly belong?”

“Then you lose the protection the Mother has offered you. That our friend here came four years back in time to provide you. You become what you are trying so desperately not to become, and hope there is enough left to continue pursuing your goal. To save the world, such as it is. And we return to our previous goal. The Mother may not technically have ruled over that world, but it was near enough as to make little difference.” 

There’s something strained in her voice.

“You saw it,” Jon realizes. “Martin’s spider, it gave you memories.”

“Not... as such. Impressions, maybe. It seems... depressingly stagnant, for a world with such potential.”

“It frightens you.” She takes another, measured sip.

“From what I understand, you are responsible for the impressions she brought. Was Fear not the point? It sends a message, doesn’t it? Better than almost anything. The language Fear speaks, the involuntary physical reactions it inflicts on us, we remember that, long after all the details have faded.”

Jon opens his mouth to argue that he had no hand in whatever Martin’s spider shared upon crawling through the rift in the basement of Hill Top Road, and then, for once, thinks better of it.

“So what now?” he asks instead. “What are the terms? How will this work?”

“We will maintain our presence at the Institute,” Annabelle says, sitting just a touch straighter than before, composing herself, though she never truly allowed herself to be uncomposed. “Though it will largely be at your direction now, rather than mine. You will, of course, allow our spiders to remain in the Archives, and not allow any harm to come to them if you can help it. Our friend has volunteered to stay with you-”

“’Volunteered’” Jon can’t help but be mildly incredulous and darkly amused at hearing Annabelle Cane use that word.

“Jon,” she admonishes. “We do not scoff at volunteers. Please take this to heart: people are always easier to conduct when they believe they chose to dance.”

It still sits ill with Jon, but he’s distracted by a sharp pain in his hand, courtesy of the spider itself. It isn’t audible, but he can feel it chiding him too. He barely manages to keep himself from swiping it away.

“So free rein of the institute and a grip on my heart. Anything else?”

“The Mother doesn’t need a grip on your heart to puppet you. That bit is for your gain, and I believe it’s something you’ve already agreed to. We will be there, to watch and assist, however we might. And in return you let the Mother know whatever you might Know. You do not try to hide anything from her. You do not try to work against her. And if one of us comes to you, asking you to Know something for them, you do your best to Know it.” 

Annabelle had always seemed like one of the most untouchable of the Avatars. Looking over the chessboard and watching them move as she willed, or at least making it seem like that’s what she was doing. She’s taller than him, more confident, more put together. Right now, though, she’s just a messenger, and she seems almost young. Jon has to wonder if it isn’t just an act, meant to make him feel more in control, more easily satisfied by the terms. Making him think he chose to dance.

He did choose to dance, though. The alternative was unthinkable, but it was still his choice, and he’s going to see this through, no matter what it costs him.

“Alright,” he agrees.

“Wonderful,” Annabelle smiles, and there’s something so disarming and something so menacing about it all at once. “Now, would you rather our friend dig her way to your heart from the inside, or should we cut her a path from out?”

-

Walking away some time later, with fresh pain stabbing through his chest, part of Jon still clings to Hill Top Road. In sight that isn’t sight, through eyes that aren’t his own, he sees Annabelle deflate, just slightly, walk back to the kitchen and drain his cup of tea. She takes a shaky breath, and then looks, somehow, right at him, and smirks. And he can’t tell which part of that was real, and which was meant just to alter his view of her. 

Maybe all of it. Maybe none. He supposes it hardly matters, and as he makes his way back to his flat, he takes comfort in the idea that if he can just do things right, he’ll never have to go back to Hill Top Road again.

[allegedlyxen]

Rating the magnus archives fears by how hot their avatars are!

the eye: i’m only going off of jon because he’s the archivist but in my brain s1 jon was a tired gremlin, man did not sleep. s5???? very hot, shaved head and an endless amount of love for his bf and we love a healthy relationship in this household, 8/10.

the vast: Simon fairchild’s voice do be kinda hot doe, he reminds me of like every post describing boarding school and dark academia.points deducted because i’m pretty sure he’s old as fuck.5/10

the desolation: Agnes Montegue is so pretty.i know she doesn’t look like this in canon but when i picture her i see merida from brave, i too would risk my life to kiss her. 10/10

the buried: every avatar of the buried is an old grave digger. 0/10 too much dirt

the corruption: Jane Prentiss is a solid 9/10 and i only deducted points because of the fact that she fills people with bugs

the lonely: peter lukas is an old sea captain and i can only picture him in a big, bright, and yellow raincoat + hat. 4/10 Lonely Eyes is a funny ship

the stranger: Nikola Orsinov was a queen, androgynous goals. 7/10 she’s the reason tim’s dead so points off

the slaughter: Melanie King gouged out her own EYES to get away from the institute. can you imagine the willpower needed for that? 12/10 id let her stab me any day

the dark: Manuela is probably pretty cute but i doubt you’d ever really see her because she’s an avatar of the dark. 5/10

the hunt: i’ve expressed my attraction to julia montauk but i will do it again! she literally has that “i’d kick your ass” energy and i love it. plus you cannot convince me she is not a bi QUEEN. 20/10

the end: Oliver Banks objectively terrifies me, but i’d imagine he’s pretty cute despite the fact that he constantly looks like he’s never slept and smells like death. 4/10

the flesh: Jared Hopworth also objectively terrifies me but he is the funniest fuckin villain and i love it. plus he’s like 5x the size of a normal dude and his skin has to be soft if it’s constantly shifting so he’s probably good at cuddling! 7/10 you can have my bones

the web: Annabelle Cane is a manipulative queen and she knows it, 8/10 please no spiders

the spiral: 1000/10 Michael Shelley deserved better. moving on!

Bonus!

whatever breekon and hope were: 100/10 they only had each other and that’s very sexy of them

[thehiddensouth]

Annabell New Orleans, LA - 2020-4-8

Annabell: I grew up in St. Louis and had a relatively normal childhood in an upper-middle-class family.

When I was fifteen I began being sex trafficked. At first, I volunteered to do it because I needed money for my boyfriend. He was trying to sell drugs and not doing a very good job of it.  I was hypersexual at the time. That's why I thought I'd be fine with [sex work]. I was like, whatever, I was labeled a slut in school already, you know?    

I would sneak out in the middle of the night. I thought I was so bad, getting away with stuff but then it turned into more of a situation where I had to do it.

My pimp's name was... you're gonna laugh because it's so stereotypical... Papi.  

Eventually, I worked myself into a corner that I couldn’t get out of. I couldn't tell anyone. My parents didn't know at that point so instead of letting myself out as a harlot and disappointment, I ran away from home.

I was sixteen at that point. I moved in with Papi and was being trafficked all the time.  It was really traumatic.  A lot of it I don't remember because I was addicted to heroin at the time. It clouds my memories but I think that kind of saved my sanity.  

Papi got murdered. He had been violent towards one of the women that I turned tricks with and he ended up killing her. She had a baby daddy and I think he stabbed Papi. While everyone was preoccupied, I ran away.

I ran through North St. Louis. I don’t remember exactly where but it was a warehouse district, not a great place. I just kept on running. I was in booty shorts and a small cami type thing, sprinting through St. Louis with no shoes.  

BW: Sounds like you went through a lot of trauma in your teen years. Do you feel like you've gotten past any of it?  

Annabell: Does anyone ever get past stuff like that? I'm really into psychology. If I can put a name on it I can understand it better.  

BW: PTSD?  

Annabell: Actually, I think it's CPTSD. PTSD happens because of an event in which you feel helpless. CPTSD is developed when you are in situations that have no foreseeable end. Your brain has to adjust to a constant fight or flight mode. POWs are an example of people who can develop CPTSD or children who are in long term abusive situations.

I had a boyfriend a few years ago. We were having a better than usual day. We were so happy and in love. We had dinner at a restaurant. We came back home and were being all cute and funny and making jokes and rolling around, being goofballs and he tries to touch my boob or something,  I went off on him, "Why are you ruining this? We were having a really good fucking day and you just had to blow it all by objectifying me! Turning me into a little fuck thing! Why are you doing this?"  

Objectively that was crazy. We had been dating for a while at that point and it's not like he was trying to force anything on me.

Only recently in my life have I felt comfortable with anything sexually.    

BW: Did your sex drive lower right after you got out of the sex work?      

My boyfriend that I had right after that was very possessive. He hit me one time because he followed me to work and he saw that I hugged one of my coworkers. He saw the coworker grab my butt. I didn't want him to but he did. So I felt like I was cheating if I touched people. It was ground into me that if I interacted physically with other people, there's only one reason for that.    

I was also raped at around six. I don’t remember it at all.    

BW: Somebody told you about it?    

Annabell: I found an old journal when I was eleven or twelve. Actually, I tried to kill myself and was hospitalized and diagnosed with bipolar because of that. My mom had told me to clean my closet. Instead of cleaning, I was doddling, going through shit and I read my old journals.    

BW: And you wrote about what happened in the journal?    

Annabell: As much as a six-year-old could. I had a lot of misspellings. Really simple sentence structure. I talked about hurting a lot and being scared and how I couldn't tell mom. Things like that.    

BW: Do you still journal?    

Annabell: No. After that, I stopped journaling and I started painting more. I can paint the things I don’t want to talk about. Images aren't so literal, pardon the pun [laugh].  

[sweets-fanfics]

Homecoming (3/?)

Title: No Funny Business

A/N: tried to be hip and posed the gif of Catherine Braithwaite as she walks towards her burning house but I don’t know how to computer. Anyway here’s part three. I have no social life so I was able to make it.

Word count: 2376 (i wanted to write more but stopped myself)

warning: blood, violence

Tag: @rollyjogerjones

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

 You woke up with a horrible headache. Looking around you could tell you were tied to a tree.

 “Fuck… my head.” You mumbled.

 “Ah, she’s awake. Was wonderin’ if I hit ya too hard.” The man chuckled.

 You glared at him, “You’ll regret taking me, mister.” You threatened.

 “Oh, will I? Why? Cause you daddy will come for ya?” He pretended to look scared.

 “No, because I’ll kick your ass once I get free.”

 He laughed louder grabbing his sides, “Oh, girlie, you are the least threatening thing I’ve ever seen.” As he laughed he walked up and got in your face. “Too bad your a Van Der Linde, girlie, you’re pretty damn adorable.”

 You rolled your eyes, noticing he was standing over your leg. You smirked and tried to kick your foot as high as you could and ended up hitting the target of interest. The man yelled and fell back grabbing his private.

 “Fuck off.” You yelled. As he was distracted you started reaching around your sleeve for the knife you keep in there when you go to work. Men needed to be taught a lesson sometimes. When you felt it you sighed with relief. Half asleep you this morning did remember it.

 You slowly worked it down your sleeve to your hand. That’s when you heard the man walking back up to you. He yanked on your chin so you’d look him in the eyes. His face was bright red and his eyes were angry.

 “Listen here, girlie. I might just have ta break ya legs for that one.” He punched your cheek but you just took it as the force jarred the knife to fall into your hand.

 The man sat back at the fire in front of you and he looked out into the night. “Thankfully my replacement should be here soon to take ya to Colm.”

 You started cutting at the rope with your knife while he talked on about how Colm would kill you, blah blah. You had been threatened before. You and Henry had stayed in Saint Denis where you pissed off a bunch of kids who seemed to be in some sort of ‘gang.’ Long story short the Irish idiot had the same threatening skills as a twelve-year-old.

 When the last piece of the rope snapped the man’s head turned to look at you. “Hey! How did ya do that?” He started scrambling for you while you got up and started running. You had no idea where you were but you knew you had to getaway.

 You look over your shoulder to seem him close behind you. You greatly regretted wearing a dress that day as your foot got caught making you tumble down a small grassy hill. As your body stopped and you were on your back you heard multiple guns click. You looked up as more green bandana-wearing idiots aimed guns at you.

 “Bitch had a knife hidden on her!” The man who had been chasing you said running up and yanking you to your feet. “She a fighter, this one.” You swung at him but he pulled both hands behind your back.

 “Come on guys, I don’t even know my father. When I saw him in town today I told him to fuck off.” The man twisted your arm behind your back more making you yell. “I swear. I don’t know where he is, or my brother now for that matter.”

 “Why, you sure look like Annabelle, don’t cha?” A voice said as a man walked up to you and took your chin. He was an older man with grey straggly hair and grey stubble.

 You tried to rip your chin from his hands but he had a tight grip, “Let me guess… the Colm I keep hearing about?”

 Colm chuckled, “The one and only. Colm O’Driscoll at your service.” You scrunched your nose at his breath.

 “I already told your men, I don’t know nothin' about Dutch Van Der Linde.” He chuckled tightening his grip on your chin. You closed your eyes from the pain.

 “Doesn’t matter if ya know him or not, just you having his last name will bring him running.” He finally let go of your chin and started back for his horse.

 “I do know he’s smarter than you and probably won’t come.”

 Colm stopped before turning back around. “Smarter, huh? Teach her some respect boys.” He got on his horse. “Then bring her back to camp after. Maybe she’ll be a little nicer.”

 As he rode off the group of seven or so men turned towards you. As they got closer you kicked your leg back hitting the man holding you in the same spot where you got him before. He loosened his grip long enough for you to pull his pistol out and shoot him in the chest making him fall back.

 You spun around and fired again twice taking another two men down. Four left.

  One grabbed your arm and came towards you with a knife. He stabbed it into your shoulder as you swung the pistol hitting him in the head making him fall. You yelled in pain as you pulled the knife out.

 You were out of breath as you turned to the men who had their guns aimed ready. “Three against one isn’t fair.” You said through your teeth as you squeezed your shoulder.

 “Technically it’s eight against three.” A familiar deep voice said from behind you. There were three shots and the O’Driscolls in front of you all dropped. You spun around almost falling over as Henry caught you and pulled you into a hug. Arthur seemed to be checking you over as Henry did as well.

 “Dear Y/N, are you okay?” Dutch asked hurrying over to you. He almost pulled you from your brother but Henry gave him a threatening look making Dutch step back.

 “I’ll be fine, but what are ya’ll doin' here. I just said how smart you would be if you didn’t show up.” You groaned as Henry touched the should that had been stabbed.

 “Idiot sister.” Henry snapped making everyone jump a bit. “You should’ve just waited till I got to you.” He rummaged around his bag until he found a bandage he always had on him for ‘when you were stupid.’

 “You knew I’d be okay.” you sighed as he ripped the shoulder of your dress and started to wrap your shoulder. Arthur spun around quickly making sure everyone else did too.

 “You make me worry so damn much,” Henry said. You could tell he was attempting to be sincere with how worried he was but he’d never been good at feelings.

 Dutch sat on the ground next to the two of you and sighed. “I’ve had you back in my life for less than twenty-four hours and you already gave me at least three heart attacks.”

 You looked at him sadly, “I’m sorry Pa.”

 “He’s joking sister,” Henry said without looking up as he finished wrapping your shoulder. “She’s not good at knowing when people she just met are joking or not,      Pa.”     He said ‘Pa’ very sarcastically but you were too exhausted to hit him. “And don’t be sorry for getting kidnapped.”

 You sighed, “I’ll do my best, dear brother.” You said back to him in a teasing tone.

 “Thank you. All of you. Ya didn’t need to all come but I’m glad to see people were worried.” You smiled at everyone.

 “You’re part of our family now. We protect our own.” A Mexican man said grinning. “Horrible time to do this, but I’m Javier.” He walked up and shook your good hand.

 Arthur walked up and bent down to be at eye level with you. “You okay?”

 “Just stabbed, and punched with a gun, Mr. Morgan. I believe I’ll be okay.”

 He chuckled and shook his head a bit in disbelief. “Yeah, you're Van Der Linde alright. I’m glad you are okay.” He pointed at the other men who hadn’t spoken yet. “The man with the scary face is John, the man with long hair is Charles, and the big fat angry man is Bill.” All the men but Charles looked annoyed at Arthur’s descriptions of them.

 “I’m Y/N.”

 John gave a half wave, “We’ve been told.”

 Henry started to get up. “You’re patched for now but I can clean it more at home.”

 Arthur leaned forward and picked you up before Henry, or Dutch could protest. “Don’t give me that look. I’m just trying to be helpful.” He told them both as he turned towards his horse.

 “Arthur, I think it would be best if you and Javier got to their place tonight. Don’t know if these damn O’Driscolls will try again.” Dutch said getting onto his white horse.

 You suddenly remembered how you’d met Colm not even thirty minutes ago. “Father.” You called making Arthur stop as you jumped from his arms. “I forgot to say. I met Colm, he was here.”

 Dutch’s face turned into a face you hadn’t seen before. It was anger. You could see that, but the type of anger was one you hadn’t witnessed before. You stepped back a bit, not recognizing him. “Arthur, I believe you’ll need to stay near the twins for a while until I can personally kill Colm.” Henry was about to add something but Dutch kept talking. “I’m so sorry you had to be dragged into this, Y/N.” He put a hand on your cheek. “We will protect you from now on.”

 “You don’t have too… But I figure ya probably will anyway.”

 “Arthur, Javier take them home.” He started to trot away. “And Mr. Morgan,” He looked over his shoulder at the cowboy. “No funny business.”

 You sat in front of Arthur on his horse as the four of you road towards your house. You leaned against him having to sit side-saddle. “Let me know if I go to fast,” Arthur said in a low voice. You hadn’t been aware of how close his face was to you until he spoke so your cheeks started to feel very warm.

 “I’m ok. My shoulder is going to be sore for a few days. My head too.”

 “Yeah, you should clean up when you get home. There’s blood dried all over your face.” He chuckled a bit when you started trying to rub it off.

 “I bet I look terrifying.” You sighed.

 “Honestly, you looked kinda badass when we walked up and you was threatening them on your own.” You looked up at him and smiled. “But, let’s try to keep the blood loss to a minimum from now on.”

 “I’ll do my best cowboy.”  the corner of his mouth raised a bit. “Thank you again.”

 “Stop saying thank you. Hell, I would have tried to help even if your brother hadn’t come to us.” You looked at Henry as he rode ahead of you talking with Javier.

 “He tends to be… a bit much sometimes.” You chuckled, “He’s only five minutes older than me, but he still calls me baby sister or tries to parent me.”

 “Henry just worries about ya. He looked like a completely different person when he ran to our camp.” Henry looked back at us as if knowing we were talking about him.

 “Speakin’ of does Dutch usually have mood swings like that?” You asked remembering how your father looked when you mentioned Colm.

 “You noticed that too? Yeah, he’s been… different since Blackwater. He knows he messed up. But… Y/N… Colm is the man who killed your Mama…”

 “Ah…” You said softly, “I mean, I didn’t ever meet her, or Dutch until today. This whole family thing… is pretty new.” You admitted.

 “Nothing wrong with trying new things,” Arthur replied but the tone suggested he meant more than just family.

 You began to turn to ask him when you started to smell smoke. You looked ahead as you watched Henry jump off his horse and put his hands threw his hair like he does when he gets stressed. Then you began to see the orange glow.

 “Oh no,” You whispered hopping off the horse. Even in pain, you ran up next to Henry as you both stood in shock seeing your tiny cottage up in flames.

 You put your hands over your mouth. “Who…”

 “Everything we own..” Henry added.

 You suddenly thought of your violin. “Shit!” You ran forward towards the burning house. Henry tried reaching for you but you were able to slip from his grip. You ran in the door. The heat surrounding you. But you saw what you were looking for. You grabbed your metal violin case before the flames could touch it. As you turned to leave you saw Henry’s telescope and yanked it from its stand before running out hugging the items close to you.

 “Are you actually insane?” Henry yelled at you as he pulled you farther from the house. “What could have been so goddamn important?”

 You held up his telescope to him as you coughed. He immediately relaxed a bit and sighed. “Y/N, you… thank you. But please take care of your self.”

 “Gotta keep you entertained somehow.” You smiled.

 Arthur hurried to you guys holding Suzie’s reigns. “Found her hidden in the trees. Seemed she was waiting for you.”

 Suzie immediately started rubbing her nose against your forehead where you had been hit. “Ah, she just wanted to kiss my injury, huh.” You smiled rubbing her nose.

 Javier was still on his horse as he spoke up, “I guess you two are coming to camp. If you guys want, we can come when the fire is out, see if anything is worth saving.”

 “All the money I’ve been saving!” You groaned. “That’s at least a year’s worth of savings…”

 “Y/N it’s ok, we can get more money,” Henry said helping you get on to Suzie.

 You sighed looking at the house you had grown so fond of as flames roar out of it. You had hated it at first but over the year you grew to love it.

 “Come on then,” Arthur sighed as he saw the heartbroken look in your eyes as you watched it burn. “Let’s head home then.”