#Is also sweet because this proposal takes place after we fight the knight and stuff. Like 'We both went something dangerous and made me see | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

talpup · 4 years ago

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Light In the Darkness:69

Summary: Yami Sukehiro just wanted to join the Magic Knights and make his mentor proud. He knew there would be trails. He knew trouble would come his way. Knew he would be faced with discrimination for being a foreigner and a peasant. What he didn’t know. Didn’t expect. Was that literal Chaos would come his way. That he and his mentor’s sister would be at the center of world ending trouble. Or that he would fall in love with his mentor’s sister and face more than discrimination; but the jealously of Nozel Silva who loved the same woman he did.

Please remember this fic is rated mature and has warnings of violence, abuse, sexual tension, eventual sexual behavior, and other possible triggers. For a full list of story tags please check the fics AO3 (link to that at the top of my tumblrs homepage).

NOTES: No one mentioned any need for markers to avoid the assault scene with the intention of sexual assault and rape. So that made it easy to format to html for ao3.

***Also I'm seriously considering participating in No Content November. While I have some super amazing regular and occasional commenters for this fic, it's really disheartening to see yet another fellow writer friend give up posting for lack of feedback. Yes we write for ourselves. And I'm sure that friend won't stop writing. But we post to interact with readers and fellow manga/anime fans. Just because the content the you read is free doesn't mean it didn't cost the author time and effort to write it. We're not machines. We have lives and feelings.

Readers pay for content with enthusiasm, feedback, questions, a simple thank you, or smash of the keyboard. PLEASE interact with your content creators! You have no idea what hearing from you means to us.

Anyway, I have a couple more weeks to decide though I'm leaning to yes. Not just to support my fellow writer friends, but because the feedback on some of my BNHA fics is less than 1% hits to comments and I'm seriously considering a full stop on posting those. Not only will this break give me a chance to decide if I want to continue or stop posting my BNHA stuff but it will also give me a chance to get further ahead on writing this fic as I really do like the large buffer I have between the chapter I'm posting and what I have finished.***

Chapter 69

Teris paused and looked in the direction that Jax, Gendry, and Quince had set off in at first light. The three had continued to travel with them two days after Jamie and his team had splintered off. They had entered the Diamond Kingdom a week ago. And by Zara’s reckoning they were three to four days out from Morris’ seat of power. Teris just hoped that the Wizard King was right. That their getting there was really going to end this mess. Otherwise it was going to get ugly fast.

Though they had a hard go. Setting a pace each day that left them exhausted and dreading the morning. Teris knew they were the lucky ones, with thus far the much easier task. She worried about Yami, Julius, and her friends. She worried about all the Magic Knights. Nozel, she, and the rest were so close to achieving their goal. If they failed now all the others efforts to the southeast and southwest would be for not. No doubt there were horrible injuries, if not a few deaths by now. Teris shook her head. No. She couldn’t allow herself to think on such things. Not here and now. She’d go mad with it all, wondering how Yami, Julius, and the others she held dear were doing.

At least Teris knew Yami was still alive. She turned back to the southeast. Even from such a great distance she could clearly sense his mana. It was as if in place of them being able to trust letting their mana feed off each others they had been left with the ability sense the others mana no matter the distance. It was probably because their mana was so turbulent that she could sense his from so afar.

While Teris had mourned the lost of their ability to boost each others mana; preferring it over this ability to sense Yami’s mana no matter the distance. She now found herself grateful for it. She may not know exactly what state Yami was in. But she knew he was alive. That she would see him again. And be able to hold him and feel his arms around her.

Reaching the point Teris had descended to, Nozel came beside her. Wordlessly, he held out a water skin.

Teris shook her head.

“Drink. You need to stay hydrated.” Nozel told.

Teris wasn’t sure it was an order; but she pretended it was and took the skin. She drank deeply, not having realized how thirsty she was. Cold as the nights were. The days were baking and brutal. It was late September. How was it still so hot?

Satisfied by Teris’ drinking, Nozel nodded slightly and surveyed the landscape below. “Zara’s map showed a creek on the other side of that hill.”

“If I never see another rocky hill again I’d be happy.” Teris muttered.

Nozel smirked, dryly. “You and me both. This would be so much quicker and easier if we could use our magic.”

Teris looked at him hopefully. “Can we? Please!”

Nozel shook his head.

“You’re the Captain.” She argued.

Nozel huffed. That had been the first playful comment she had made toward him since the incident with Jamie on the cliff.

“Even Captain's have orders to obey.” Nozel reminded.

“Fine.” Teris sighed, handing him back the water skin.

From the corner of her eye Teris watched Nozel take a drink without first cleaning the spigot as he did when forced to share with anyone else. So he still liked her, she thought sadly. She had hoped all that would have changed after the dreadful encounter with the kiss. Or after he had seen how well Yami and she got on after having been together for nearly ten months. Teris blinked at that, realizing just how long Yami and she had been together.

“You alright?” Nozel asked, seeing her expression change.

Teris blinked again, shooing away her thoughts. “Yeah. Fine.”

“You sure?” Nozel pressed.

The acting Captain glanced at her unbuttoned blouse, faint scarring still visible on the flat of her chest. He didn’t doubt that Teris was at full strength. They wouldn’t have allowed her be out here if she wasn’t. Nevertheless, Nozel couldn’t help but worry about her. Concerned over the quick pace he was having them travel. He wondered about Teris’ thoughts and emotional state too. Being back in the field after what she had been through on the Summer Solstice.

Teris tapped down her annoyance at his obvious concern and gave him an overly sweet smile. “Yes, Captain. I’m sure.”

Nozel looked her over realizing he had once again pressed the boundaries of proper Captaincy and strayed into being a friend and Intended. His lips twitched, angry at his failing.

His tempter bled into his words as he said, more harshly then intended. “Then get going. We still have a long way to travel before we reach the proposed camp.”

Teris did as he said, wondering what would happen if it got too dark before they reached the predetermined locations. Without Jax or Jamie it would completely be on Nozel to decide. Knowing Nozel, he’d likely make them press on unless the way, weather, or lack of celestial light made progress too treacherous.

They reached the bottom of the hill, Fuegoleon and Zara waiting between the one they had just descended and the one yet to be climbed.

“What’s the hold up?” Nozel asked, stepping beside his Vice Captain.

“I swore I saw something.” Fuegoleon said, eyes searching the barren landscape.

Nozel knew better than to suggest an animal. Fuegoleon could at times be overly cautious; but he wouldn’t delay their progress if he didn’t feel real concern.

“Where’s Randall?” Teris asked, her eyes and Nozel’s joining Fuegoleon’s and Zara’s in looking for sign of movement.

“I sent him to scout on ahead.” Fuegoleon answered.

“Using his air magic?” Nozel questioned.

Fuegoleon nodded and apologized. “Sorry Captain. I know we were instructed not--”

“No.” Nozel cut off his Vice Captain’s words. “If you saw something. It’s best we know quickly and without calling further attention to ourselves stumbling about.”

Fuegoleon relaxed a bit at Nozel understanding.

“Is it possible that these are some of the men you use to run ore with?” Teris questioned Zara, eyes still searching for color or movement.

Zara shook his head. “None that I worked with. It’s the rainy season further north. Soon after the ground will freeze over. These are the few months we spent at home. There were others though. Those not working--” He cleared his throat knowing better then to admit that the Clover Kingdom employed people to bring ore from the north through the Diamond Kingdom. “During this time they switched from smuggling ore to other things.”

“Such as?” Nozel question.

“Anything profitable really.” Zara answered. “Many did that sort of thing all year if they had a gang skilled enough and willing to take the risks it brought.”

“Name a few of these other so called profitable things.” Nozel commanded, blue eyes narrowing as they surveyed the surrounding hills. They were in the worst possible location. Sandwiched between two hillsides with not even a boulder or scrub bush as cover.

Zara shrugged. “Food. Magical items. Labor.”

“People?” Fuegoleon questioned, making sure he understood correctly.

Zara nodded.

Nozel sneered. “Slave traders.”

Zara blinked thinking he had already warned his Captain and team of this. “Did I not mention--”

“Shut up.” Nozel commanded Zara, readying his magic as he watched and waited.

Teris glanced from Nozel to Zara and back. “This isn’t his--”

“Not now.” Nozel softly barked.

They heard small rocks being disturbed.

“Where’s Randall?” Fuegoleon asked, more to himself. He silently cursed. Had he just sent his friend to his death?

Randall appeared at the top of the hill. Fuegoleon released the breath he’d been holding.

Nozel knew better than to relax. Something wasn’t right. That’s when someone else appeared beside Randall. Tendrils of mercury formed around Nozel, ready to fight.

Fire blossomed from Fuegoleon’s hands.

“I can get to him.” Teris said, fairly certain she could control her light travel enough not to permanently blind Randall.

Nozel knew what she meant. Even if light travel didn’t take so much out of her, they still didn’t know the situation well enough. Even if it was anyone other than Teris, he still wouldn’t have allowed it.

“No.” Nozel told her.

Teris’ hand glowed as she aimed at Randall’s captor.

“Not unless he makes a move or I give the word.” Nozel told his team.

“Magic Knights.” Another voice called from behind them.

Nozel cursed. He and Teris spun around while Fuegoleon and Zara kept watch on Randall and his captor.

“Stand down. You’re surrounded. And so heavily out numbered that I almost feel sorry for you.” The voice said.

Fuegoleon glanced at Nozel. He didn’t want to give up yet; but would follow his Captain's lead.

Nozel waited, calculating what to do. He could rain down mercury; but if there were foes on both hills it wouldn’t be a dense shower. If the man was telling the truth about his numbers, without knowing where they were hiding, Nozel could miss a large portion of them. Even if the man was lying and Nozel was able to take most of them out; not knowing where they were and the wide dispersion of rain would likely leave many still able to move or attack. His mercury rain was dense and capable of poisoning. But if injury was only a small open wound it would take time for the effects for poisoning to incapacitate.

“Watch Randall and the one that has him.” Nozel ordered Fuegoleon. “Teris. Zara. Be ready for my word.”

Zara turned his focus back to the hill they had just come down. Teris switched her aim to the man that had spoken to them.

The man wasn’t standing too far from where Nozel and Teris had stopped and talked. Nozel remembered a gouge in the rocky hill face not far from that area, big enough to hide six or eight. He wondered how many such chasms scarred the hill; no longer thinking them natural, but created by these people for this very reason.

“Your bravery will get you and your people killed. Killing you will mean me and mine don’t get paid. Those who serve the Beast must always be paid.” The man said, referring to himself in the third person.

“Then let us continue on our way. We’d rather die than surrender to the likes of you.” Nozel said.

Beast gave a humored smile. “The likes of me? Now you’ve gone and hurt my feelings Magic Knight. You don’t even know me. Fine.” He sighed. “I’ll show you what you’re up against. Just how futile fighting is. Half of you stand.”

Nozel’s eyes widened at the force before him. Even if the man was blustering and this was all of his force; it was still a good sixty to seventy people.

“Stand down.” Nozel told the others.

Facing thirty plus on the hill Randall was on, Fuegoleon did as his Captain told. Zara followed suit.

“We can take them.” Teris said.

Fuegoleon glanced at her, angry that she was once again challenging their Captain. That’s when he saw the numbers on the hill Nozel, she, and Zara were facing.

“Stand down, Teris.” Fuegoleon told.

His voice made her turn. Seeing the numbers on her cousins side, Teris lowered her hand, the glow of light fading.

“That’s so unfair it’s not even funny.” Teris ground out in complaint about the near hundred scattered about on the two hills.

“We’ll get out of this.” Nozel swore to them, softly. “We just have to survive to be able to do so.” He turned back to Beast and called. “Well?”

“All your people.” Beast said.

Nozel’s brow furrowed. His eyes darted over to Teris, Fuegoleon, and Zara making sure they all had obeyed his command. He glanced back at Randall who still stood captive at the top of the hill.

“This is all my people.” Nozel said.

The Beast pointed. “Don’t lie to me! You think having them travel hidden and separate will keep them safe?”

“There is no one else.” Nozel told, wondering what kind of game the man was playing at. Maybe he had some kind of vendetta against Magic Knights and simply wanted a reason to kill them? But why then give them the option of standing down?

Thirty meters away an Invisibility Mage muttered. “This isn’t good.”

The Gravity Mage with her suggested. “Make Teris invisible and I’ll make her float up out of harms way. She’s the one that matters. We can just let the others die.”

“We’re tasked to protect her. What you’re suggesting would put her in danger.” The Invisibility Mage whispered back, harshly.

“In more danger than she’s already in?” The Gravity Mage retorted.

“No one’s attacking right now. If we do as you suggest they will be. Can you guarantee that she won’t get hit in the crossfire and killed?” The Invisibility Mage questioned

“This is a mess.” The Gravity Mage rumbled.

“I told you not to hover so close, Daryin.”

“So this is my fault?” Daryin asked.

“In a way, yes. If we hadn’t followed so close they might not know we were here.”

“But Teris would still be captured, Gwen.”

“But we’d still be free to watch over and protect her, unnoticed and unchallenged. I’m making us visible.”

“What! Gwen! No!”

All eyes turned to the two newly appeared mages.

“That’s better.” Beast smiled.

Beast, along with several others, jumped; his Air Mage depositing them safely before the Magic Knights. Others lept and landed around their other two prey.

Beast grabbed Nozel by the throat and lifted him up. “You’ll pay for lying to me, Magic Knight.”

Teris made for him. “Stop it!”

Fuegoleon reached to stop her; but was too slow. Beast released Nozel, who crumpled to the ground coughing and sucking in lungfuls of air. Beast grabbed Teris by the arm, pulling her to him.

Teris knew she wasn’t strong enough to pull away. Instead she allowed her feet to follow the direction she was yanked, using the added momentum. Her knee rose and smashed Beasts in the groin with all the power she could physically muster. Only her knee hit something hard and solid that made her jerk and wince in pain.

Teris wobbled on her still good leg, held up by her arm by Beast.

With a huff, Beast smirked down at her. “Think you’re the first wild one to try such a thing? I learned long ago to protect my favorite weapon against women such as you.” He leered over her, getting in her face. “In fact I may just use that weapon on you later. Take a sample to better know the worth of what I’m selling.”

“Leave her alone!” Nozel pushed to his feet, only to be kicked back down by one of Beast’s men.

Fuegoleon and Zara stepped toward Beast, only to be halted when the man standing over Nozel kicked him for every step they took.

Teris spat at the Beast. “I’d kill myself before I let you near me. You think you’re the worst I’ve faced?”

Beast hooted. “You are a feisty one! Aren’t you! I like that!” He got back in her face. “I may just keep you and break you myself.”

With great effort Fuegoleon kept his temper. Seeking to inform and divert the mans attention away from Teris, he said. “They’re not with us.”

Beast looked over at him. He pushed Teris roughly away and stepped toward Fuegoleon.

Nozel barely caught Teris before her head hit a gagged rock.

“What’s that?” Beast asked.

Fuegoleon looked up at Beast refusing to be intimated. The name, though not creative, suited the man. Beast had to be nearly seven feet tall. He was built like a mountain, his muscles seeming to have muscles. Though Fuegoleon had seen a number of men who were bigger than Tobin Giantsbane and Yami Sukehiro, he had never seen a person that made the two Black Bulls seem small. Till now.

“I said, they are not with us.” Fuegoleon repeated, wondering who the two were and how long they had been secretly following them. His first thought upon seeing them was that they were Magic Warriors or some sort of spy's working for the Diamond Kingdom. But that didn’t seem right. “If you look, you’ll see they’re not wearing Magic Knights cloaks. I know you think they were traveling hidden and separate to keep them safe. But, we didn’t know they were there.”

Beast looked back between the two groups and laughed. “And here I thought the Clover Kingdoms Magic Knights were suppose to be elite mages. You got caught in our trap and were being followed by those two and didn’t see any of it coming!”

Beast roared with amusement, his people following suit. Their mocking laughter echoed off the hills. Teris looked spitefully up at them. If only she could control her magic well enough to incinerate them all without turning her comrades to ash. She had done it at the Battle at the Border and on three other occasions; but that had been before the Summer Solstice. Before her mana had been churned into a raging, never ending whirlwind that she had to keep tightly harnessed at all times. It left her feeling angry and ashamed that she couldn’t protect her squad members and friends, and get them out of this.

“Don’t feel so down on yourself Magic Knights. I can’t speak for your stalkers over there, but us... No one, no matter how good, would’ve seen the trap we laid.” Beast said. “We’ve got this gig down. Still, we’ve never once caught us a group Magic Knights. There’s going to be a bidding war for the lot of you. Get ready for the best payday you’ve ever seen boys and girls!”

The surrounding gang of mages cheered.

Nozel gripped Teris’ arm as he surveyed the surrounding enemy. He was Captain. This was on him. Anything that happened to them was his doing.

“You don’t do anything unless I say.” He whispered to Teris.

Teris’ eyes turned to him. “What if--”

“That’s an order.” Nozel rasped, harshly.

After the attention Teris had already drawn to herself, Nozel wasn’t about to let her attempt something that would further these people’s attention and aggression toward her. As much as the thought angered and disgusted him, Teris was in the most danger here. Men like this didn’t respect a ladies honor. Their Leader had already threatened as much.

Nozel would never allow such a thing to happen. He was sure Fuegoleon, Randall, and Zara felt the same. They’d fight to the death before they’d let something like that happen to Teris. Just the thought that someone had dared to threaten her with such a thing filled him with such rage that his hands clenched.

“Nozel.” Teris winced.

He looked at her then followed her gaze. His bruised throat throbbed even more as he struggled to swallow a swell of new emotions. He quickly opened his hand, releasing her arm to find a red print marring her skin where he had held her. “I’m--”

“Button up.” Fuegoleon whispered, lips barely moving as Beast stepped over to survey the two that had been following them.

Fuegoleon trusted Randall and Zara enough to not look at his cousin in such a way. But men like this, even if Teris was covered up completely, would still stare and desire.

With slightly trembling hands, Teris did has her cousin instructed. The scars on her chest were still slightly visible under certain light but hiding them didn’t when faced with the heat of day. She would've taken off the thin over blouse, leaving her in just a tank top, if it hadn’t provided some sort of protection from the sun.

“We won’t let anything happen to you.” Zara promised her.

Staring at the two that had been following the Magic Knights, one of the gang members asked. “Are you sure you believe they aren’t with them? Could be that they’re nobility and the Magic Knights are protecting them.”

“Look at them.” Beast gestured to the two. “Even if they weren’t dressed like that, they don’t have the right look about them.”

“The right look?” The gang member questioned.

“Their hands. Their eyes.” Beast made his way back to the Magic Knights and pointed at Nozel and Fuegoleon. “I reckon those two are nobility. The girl has the right glare and attitude too. If it wasn’t for her hands, I’d have guessed she was high class as well. But there’s no way a fine noble lady would have hands like those.”

Teris scowled, fighting the urge to look at her hands. What was wrong with them? So it had been almost a year since Mistress had forced a manicure on her. But were her nails really that bad and different from Fuegoleon and Nozel’s?

Beast looked her over. He didn’t know what he had said to garner such a hate filled look from her, likely just continuing to exist was enough. The girl certainly had the hateful, haughty eyes and bearing of a noble. Maybe she had been one once or her house was near its end. Or maybe she had picked up the behaviors of the two noblemen she traveled with. Maybe one, or both of them, were grooming her as their courtesan. No. That didn’t sound right. If either of these two men had such designs on her, they’d make sure she was taken care of and looked the part. No man, even a prissy noble, liked their hands to be prettier than their woman's. Though there did seem to be a curious dynamic between the girl and two nobles.

No matter, Beast thought. If he were interested in a persons life story he would be doing something different. He looked up to where his man was holding the other Magic Knight. “Do it!”

The Magic Knights in front of him turned in time to seen their comrade fall to the ground. Before they could react Beast’s people knocked them out as was. He looked over at the other two that had been following the Magic Knights. “Anything more you want to say before we put you go to sleep too?”

“Our Master will not stand for this!” Daryin yelled, unwilling to be hushed by his companion. “You’ve made a grave mistake!”

Beast laughed, his people following suit. “And who is your Master? Tell me of his fearsome accomplishments.”

“He is Death himself.” Daryin said, lifting his chin proudly

Beast stopped at that. There was only one man he knew that was referred to in such a way.

“Pip.” Beast called to his second in command.

Pip stepped forward, her long hair tangling in the wind as she came beside him. “Boss?”

Beast nodded to two of his people, silently ordering them to knock out the tag-alongs.

The two Agents of Chaos crumpled to the ground.

Beast lifted his hand, giving his gang the signal to wrap it up and move out. A few others came down to help pick up and take away their haul.

“See that the Magic Knights and those two are put in different cell blocks. Then put the word out with our contacts. Let it be known we have a man and woman claiming to belong to the Agents of Chaos. Say that they were following a team of Magic Knights. And that we will wait three days before putting them on the market just in case the Master of Chaos has an interest or wishes to claim any of them.”

“Sure thing, Boss.” Pip nodded.

Beast looked around at his people. Raising his voice so the gang could hear, he ordered. “No one harms the men or touches either of the women. They may not be ours to toy with just yet.” He heard some of his men grumble and complain, and told. “Either way, you can be sure we’ll get paid a pretty sum for them.”

He wondered what two Agents of Chaos were doing following a squad of Magic Knights. That was if they had been telling the truth. But if they knew of the Master of Chaos, then they would know he was not someone to be mentioned so casually, even in the hope of freedom. There were far worse things than being sold into indentured servitude if caught misusing the Master of Chaos’ name. And pretending to be in league with him when not would see those worse things come to pass.

69.2

It had been four days since Mereoleona let Yami back on the front lines of the battlefield. Still, the Crimson Lions Captain had continued to watch him closely. Yami could feel the Vermilion’s eyes on him as he fought, making sure that he stayed in line.

The fearsome Lioness could watch him all she liked, Yami thought. He had learned his lesson and learned it well. He was not someone who sat back and cared for returning fighters. He didn’t have the temperament or emotional aptitude for it. Because of that he had made a whole host of new enemies among his fellow Magic Knights; having thrown them water skins from afar which had smacked them in the face, or simply told them to get their own damned refreshment. His eyes had never left the battlefield the entire time he had been back there. Those two long, seemingly endless days of not fighting alongside his fellows had killed him.

Returning from the front line, Yami collapsed under the shade of a tree, accepting the water skin that was handed to him.

Sitting a few paces away, Mereoleona commented. “You’re doing well out there. Never stepped out of line once.”

Yami said nothing. Though still on the lookout for the Smoke Mage Lotus Whomalt, he had stopped actively searching for him. He sighed, grateful that Teris’ cousin had let him back out to fight. He wasn’t about to ruin it by speaking up. Just give him a hour or two of rest and he’d be ready to go out there again.

The Crimson Lions Captain got to her feet. She had to report to Commander Greywright. “Rest up. We go again in four hours.”

“War is stupid.” Yami grumbled.

Mereoleona looked down at him. “Don’t tell me you were one of those idiots that thought it glorious.” “No.” Yami said. He might not be the smartest person around; but only a fool would think war was glorious. “Still, I didn’t think it was like this.”

“It’s not.” Mereoleona confessed. “Not really. Remember. We’re only fighting as a distraction. If this were a real war without trying for peace, it’d be different. Though no less stupid. Battles are fun and may have meaning. Wars.” She shook her head and sighed. “They’re nothing but foolish endeavors no matter how noble the cause.”

Yami made a face of disgust. The reason for this particular war was certainly foolish and far from noble.

“Get some rest. That’s an order.” Mereoleona told him, walking off.

Yami wasn’t the best at following orders; but currently that was a command he had no trouble obeying. He laid back on the dusty, packed earth. Stretching out, he closed his eyes. As usual when he had a moment of peace to himself, his thoughts drifted to Teris.

His sense of her mana told him she was alive. But that didn’t mean she was safe. Then again she was traveling with two men who loved and adored her nearly as much as he did. He trusted Nozel and Fuegoleon. Knew the two men were highly capable. Between Teris herself, Nozel, and Fuegoleon; Yami was confidant that no harm would come to her.

Yami recalled his birthday before the Crimson Lion and Silver Eagle arrived. He hadn’t meant to take things so far that morning. But could anyone blame him? He could still hardly believe Teris’ boldness. Referring to herself as his gift. Not that he hadn’t liked it. He had liked it a bit too much as the resulting outcome had proved. What he had liked even more was that Teris felt comfortable and free enough with him to show such a side of herself. Yami growled, his thoughts sending his blood south.

Eyes closed, hands laced behind his head, Yami drowsily told his growing erection. “I’ll beat you later. Just let me rest. And, no. I’m not talking to you.” He told, sensing Bronn’s presence.

“Didn’t think you were.” Bronn said, sitting a couple meters away with a tired grunt. “I think every man here is telling their spear pretty much the same. Why do you think so many little ones are born nine or so months after peace is made? Not that you’ll be doing any of that. You got yourself a fine bred lady and will have to wait. Won’t you? That’s if she’s good on her word and doesn’t end up wedding that royal brat like she’s told.”

Yami opened an eye and looked at the Vice Captain.

“I could introduce you to some clean lass’ who know how to keep quiet about their dealings.” Bronn offered. “Black Sheep need never know. I’ll even pay for your first go. Consider it thanks for saving my ass out there this morning.”

The offer was so ludicrous it didn’t even bare response. Yami closed his eye.

“Come on, kid.” Bronn urged, sitting forward. “If it all works out with Black Sheep the way you’re hoping, you’re gonna need some sort of experience. I’ve been in the baths when you’re there. That thing you’re packing will do more than scare the girl. It’ll--”

Yami’s eyes flashed open. He sat up, hand on the hilt of his katana.

Bronn held up his hands. “Got it! Got it! No talk of sex talk where Black Sheep’s involved. Geesh, you really do got a temper. Don’t you.”

Yami slowly released the blades hilt. Laying back down, he grumbled. “I liked it better when you hated me.”

“Don’t get me wrong, Boy. I still hate your troublesome, disrespectful ass. I certainly still think you’re making a big mistake pursuing that girl. Whether she’s willing to give it all up or not. Royals are nothing but trouble. Black Sheep even more so. Look at the mess you’re in with these zealots and the folk hired to kill you.”

Yami didn’t respond. He didn’t care one lick what Bronn thought. He only wished he hadn’t stepped in to help the Vice Captain, and instead left him to die. Then Bronn wouldn’t be here bothering him, trying to figure out a way to repay him. It didn’t matter that supporting and defending each other was what Magic Knights did. This was the two of them. Yami had saved Bronn’s life; and Bronn couldn’t go on feeling he owed Yami his life. The debt had to be paid.

Annoyed, Yami gritted his teeth. “You want to thank me. Go. Away.”

Bronn looked at him out of the corner of his eye. Was the young man that stupid? That’s not how this sort of thing worked. Yami had put himself at risk to help and save him. In order to clear the debt, Bronn would either have to do the same or provide a service of great cost. The woman he had in mind to service Yami was certainly that. Most of her clients were nobles, with a few wealthy merchants here and there. Before Gilly, he had occasionally visited her. The woman, looking for a good dirty romp without weak men or creepy kinks, use to call upon and take him without fee. It had certainly been a boost to his ego.

“What’s with that face?” Yami asked.

Bronn turned to the younger man, mind clearing of lewd memories. “What’s that?”

“You look proud. Almost—happy. It’s creepy. Stop it.”

Bronn picked up a small rock and threw it at him. “Shut up! I’m happy a lot.”

“When? I’ve never seen you happy.” Yami quipped

“That’s because you’re around and you piss me off.” Bronn said, throwing another rock.

The two started when rock passed through Yami.

“What are you doing.” Bronn demanded. He got to his feet knowing it wasn’t Yami.

Yami stood as well, hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his katana. “It’s not me.”

“Shut up and step through the portal.” Bronn snapped, recognizing a different form of transportation magic.

Yami growled but did as he was told. Bronn spun around, looking across the camp to where he had sent him. He cursed seeing that it hadn’t work. Yami was still fading.

Yami appearing in front of him, Bran blinked in surprise eyes clearing. The bees he was controlling to listen in on the enemies plans released from his hold. “Yami! What are you--” His head pulled back, brows furrowing. “You look weird. What’s the matter?”

Yami looked down at his hands. He could see through them now. Despite that, he could still feel himself. He was still able to grip his blade. Bran stood, the both of them seeming to have the same idea. The two reached out trying to grasp the others arm. Bran’s hand passed through Yami’s forearm. Yami’s hand doing the same with Bran’s.

Yami continued to fade. At this rate it wouldn’t be much longer before he completely disappeared.

“Captain Heath!” Bran yelled, worry taking over his voice.

Bronn stepped through a portal with someone in tow. He slapped Bran’s head. “Quit screaming. That singing fool can’t do anything about this.” He said of the Purple Orcas Captain.

Yami stepped back when the woman that had arrived with Bronn stepped into his space.

“Let her do her thing! She’s scenting you.” Bronn snapped at Yami.

Yami frowned, but stayed put. He looked down at the woman as she stuck her face into his chest taking long, deep breaths through her nose. Though he couldn’t physically feel her face passing through his chest; it was still a weird feeling.

“Hurry it up, lass.” Bronn urged.

The transport was nearly complete. Yami nothing more than a faint ghost.

“Done!” The woman declared.

Bronn felt a wave of relief wash over him. As Yami disappeared, he swore. “We’ll find you.”

“Where is he! What was that?” Bran exclaimed.

Bronn frowned. “Dimensional travel. Only a few types of magic can even track it. Lucky for us, such travel couldn’t have taken him far. We’ll have you look from the sky, and Etta here try to sniff him out. But first, go inform Greywright and Mereoleona what’s happened. Tell them we’ll need someone capable of busting their way in once we find him.”

Bran stepped to the Black Bulls Vice Captain. “I want--”

Bronn grabbed Bran by the shirt collar. “I don’t give a damn what you want, boy! Now get!” He shoved Bran in the direction of the Magic Knights Commanders tent.

Heath arrived, having hear Bran's call. “I know you’re his Vice Captain but--”

“Not now, Bard!” Bronn snapped. “They got the Lord of Destruction. Again.”

Heath straightened at that. “Who? Surely not the Agents of Chaos again.”

“I don’t know who. Muscle Head has all sorts after him.” Bronn said, snidely.

The Captain noted Bronn’s weakened mana. “At least let me help you out. Restore you before you go.”

“Fine. Sing us one of your little shanty's and make us feel better.” Bronn allowed.

He might’ve made light of Heath’s magic; but the Purple Orcas Captain was a powerful mage. And though he’d never say it, Bronn was exceedingly grateful for the mans efforts. By the end of the short song, Bronn was refreshed, his mana levels back to full.

Looking to Etta, Bronn urged. “Let’s go lass. I got a debt to cross off.”

69.3

“Teris. Teris. Wake up.”

Teris opened her eyes and found herself in an all too frightening familiar situation. She really had to stop waking up in cells. If she could just quit being captured all together that would be great.

She touched the base of her skull, wincing at the painful bump that was there. Blinking, she looked up. A small smile of relief crossed her face at the sight of Fuegoleon, Nozel, Zara, and Randall.

She looked around, taking in the iron bars. “You guys okay?”

“That’s what I was about to ask you.” Nozel said, watching her for sign of injury.

“Got the mana of all headaches. But I’m good.” Teris said, sitting up against the bars that adjoined with the boys cell.

She didn’t feel at all reassured that she was being kept in a separate cell from them; and she could see from their expressions and the way they kept on watching the door that they didn’t either. Teris laid a hand over the belt buckle Yami had given her. Grateful as she was for it, she hoped she wouldn’t need to use the blade hidden within.

“Has anyone been in? Said anything?” Teris asked.

“Zara woke first. He says it’s been quiet.” Fuegoleon told.

“Where are the other two? The cloaked ones that were following us.” Teris wondered.

“That was strange.” Randall commented. Though he hadn’t heard much from his captured position at the top of hill, seeing those other two had surprised him.

After Randall woke, Fuegoleon had relayed everything that had been said while he let Nozel think. Though Fuegoleon would never admit it, he knew Nozel had the better strategic mind.

Fuegoleon and Nozel looked at each other, both wondering the same thing. The Vermillion turned back to his cousin, Teris’ expression telling him she thought the same. That the Agents of Chaos or some other interested group had been following them.

Fuegoleon gritted his teeth. He wondered how long the two tag-alongs had been with them. If he had failed to notice danger stalking them, how could he hope to protect his cousin and fellows from harm?

The door opened and a man entered.

Fuegoleon fought the urge to make his way closer to Teris’ cell, knowing such an act would only draw further attention to her.

“Magic Knights.” The man said, setting down a tray of food in front of the men's cell. He eyed them. “Not so magical in a mana blocked hold are you? Beast is taking his time. Waiting to give first bid of you all to a particularly scary customer. I almost feel sorry for you if he’s the one who buys you lot. He’s a real nasty fellow. Slice you all up for parts and throw away the rest he will.”

Teris felt the blood drain from her face. Is this where Alowishus Spade got the mages for his sick corpse magic? But what about the two that had been following them? Were they not Agents of Chaos? If not, then who were they? And where were they now?

The man smiled. “Sorry. You boys will have to split the meal among the four of you. I only have two hands.” He moved and bent in front of Teris’ cell, setting a bowl of gruel on the floor. “Maybe you’ll be nice enough to share your portion with them. Are you a nice girl that likes to share?” He looked her over, licking his lips. “Want to share with me? I’ll see you get all the best cuts if you treat me real nice like.”

Teris’ hand drifted back to her belt buckle. Though she still had her grimoire, it would do her little good in a mana blocked cell.

The man looked back at the door he had come through. The Magic Knights tensed, none of them liking the feel of this. Almost as one, Nozel, Fuegoleon, Zara, and Randall reached through the bars when the jailer unlocked Teris’ cell. They started yelling, both to threaten the man and attract attention of any other guard that could stop this.

Teris pressed back against the shared bars of the guys cell. The man reached for her. He managed to grab her leg and tried to pull her away from the adjoining cell. Teris kicked out with her other leg, knocking him in the jaw. She pulled her leg back and tucked it under her, squeezing as close to the bars as she could. If they could make enough noise. Get someone else to enter, see what was going on, and put a stop to it.

She held onto the bars with one hand, the other free and clasping the hidden weapon within her buckle. She was tempted to pull the blade out now. Wanted to threaten the man with it. But such a thing wouldn’t work. If anything he’d bring in the weapon he had left outside the cell with the keys.

No. Teris had wait and do exactly as Yami had taught her. She had to leave the little knife hidden until the moment she had to use it.

The man laughed and tried to grab her leg again. The reach of her comrades outstretched arms kept him at bay.

Nozel’s hand gripped over Teris’ in effort to secure her hold on the cells bar. He could see the wild fear in her eyes, which only grew when the man once again managed to grab a hold of her ankle.

Though it had cost the man a good patch of hair and some scraps and bruises, he laughed, not feeling any of it. Getting a better grip on Teris, he pulled. Fuegoleon, Randall, and Zara now moved to assist Nozel in holding Teris fast.

The man was able to grip her around the waist now. He gave one last rough jerk. The others hold broke. Teris was slammed against the bars on the opposite side of the cell. If that hadn’t stunned her, the man adding his weight into the mix as he followed and rammed into her did.

The breath was knocked out of her. One side of her face screamed, throbbing in pain along area it had met one of the bars. Teris’ shoulder was grabbed. Before she could catch her breath, she was spun around. The other side of her face echoed in pain as she was back handed. Spots blurred her vision. It was a struggle to stay calm and remember what Yami had taught her.

The man thought he had won. He thought that she was some Magic Knight unaccustomed to fighting with anything but magic. But he was wrong. His arrogance was her strength. Teris waited a second after he let his guard down. His lecherous smile sickened as he looked her over.

Teris’ hand once again drifted to her belt buckle.

The mans smile grew. “You’re one those, huh? Likes to put up a fight but is all cooperative af--”

His words turned into a cry of alarm and pain as Teris charged him, driving the three inch blade into one of the key areas Yami had instructed her to. Again and again she hit, the blade puncturing and slicing with every punch she gave to his groin. Even when she had him against the opposite bars and Nozel was there to wrap an arm around the mans throat, Teris still didn’t stop.

As soon as the man had ripped Teris away, Nozel had taken a step back, frantically searching for weak points in the cells wall. They couldn’t rely on anyone hearing them and coming it. And what was to say that whoever came would put an end to this anyway? The person could just as easily help Teris’ attacker.

Judging where the weakest point was, Nozel had instructed the others and they began pounding themselves against it. He was pretty sure Fuegoleon had dislocated his shoulder as he had switched sides; but that didn’t matter now. Together they had loosened the connection point and begun to bend a bar up.

When Nozel saw Teris charge, not stopping till the man was within his reach; he was there to wrap a forearm around the mans neck, gripping his wrist with his other hand. Blind with rage, Nozel wasn’t going to stop squeezing till he choked the mans life out of him.

The others had managed to lift bend bar enough for the smallest of them to get through.

“Zara! The keys.” Fuegoleon ordered as the Purple Orca crawled through into Teris’ cell.

But all seemed to stop when Teris fell back crying and bloody.

“Teris!” Zara rushed to her.

Teris pulled away when he neared.

Zara held up his hands. He glanced at the man. Seeing him dead, Zara soothed. “Teris. It’s okay. It’s just me. He’s gone. Dead. It’s over. Are—are you okay?” He felt stupid for asking such a thing. Of course she wasn’t okay. “Are you injured?”

Teris touched her face, trying to take stock.

“This blood?” Zara asked, gently.

At that she shook her head. She looked down at the small knife she had instinctively slipped back into the belt buckle just the way Yami had taught her. “It’s—it’s not mine.”

The four male Magic Knights relaxed at that.

“The keys.” Fuegoleon commanded, again.

This time Zara listened. As soon as the cell was open, Fuegoleon was through the door and in Teris’ cell. He scooped her up to her feet with his good arm, the other still dislocated and pinned to his side.

“I got you. I got you.” Fuegoleon breathed, hugging her tight. He looked over her shoulder to Nozel who still held the man in a choke hold.

It was then that Fuegoleon saw what Zara had somehow missed. The torn fabric and bloodied mess all around the mans groin. He held Teris tighter, wondering where she had gotten a weapon. Off her attacker maybe?

Randall placed a hand on his Captain's shoulder. “He’s dead, sir. We should get out of here.”

Nozel gave a nod. Still, he found it difficult to let go of the hold. Slowly, he forced his hand open, releasing his wrist. The man slumped to the floor. Pulling his arm back from between the bars, Nozel looked down at the man.

“Sir?” Randall pressed.

With a blink, Nozel forced his mind to focus. He looked at Fuegoleon, silently inquiring about Teris. Not that it really mattered. They had to get out of here whether she was good to move of not. He saw his friend whisper something to her.

Teris nodded. She grabbed the Crimson Lions arm, and quickly and efficiently popped his shoulder back into place.

Fuegoleon gritted. A guttural groan escaped from clenched teeth.

Nozel huffed, realizing what Fuegoleon had asked as a barometer to see if Teris was alright.

Stepping out of the cell, the acting Captain ordered. “Let’s go.”

69.4

Before Yami managed to cloak his blade in darkness someone grabbed him from behind. Big mistake, he thought. Gripping the persons arm with his left hand, Yami threw them over his shoulder. He twisted the arm till he felt it slide out of place.

The figure below grunted in pain. Yami lowered his katana to the mans neck. It was then that Yami saw his attackers face.

Yami halted, though didn’t lift his blade. “Cin?”

“Yami!” Cin looked up. He held up the hand of his good arm, staying the gang around them. “What the hell, man!”

Yami blew a strand of hair out of his eye. Teris was right. He really did need a haircut.

Yami took in the surrounding gang. “Was about to ask you the same. We good?”

“Yeah. Yeah, we’re good.” Cin winced, sitting up. “Stand down everyone.”

Seeing the gangs magical attacks that had been ready strike disperse, Yami relaxed a bit.

Cin looked up at him. “You mind?”

Yami sheathed his katana. Holding his hand out to the mans good arm, Yami pulled him up. As he did so he gripped and popped Cin’s shoulder back into place.

“Son of a--” Cin shouted. Some of his people laughed while others looked ready to attack again. “Damn it! Your touch is still as gentle as a hammer.”

“Thought I’d gotten better.” Yami mumbled, mildly chagrined. Though he hadn’t had as much practice putting joints back into place as he use to.

Cin huffed. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you mean? Wasn’t it one of yours that brought me. I certainly didn’t come willingly.”

“Sorry about that.” Cin apologized.

Yami looked about at the surrounding mages. “So you’re running a gang?”

“You could say that, I guess.” Cin admitted, carefully. “What about you? Never thought I’d see you on a battlefield fighting for the Clover Kingdom.” He looked Yami over. “A Magic Knight. When did that happen?”

Yami shrugged. “Few years back.”

“So, who is she? Was she worth it?” Cin asked.

The slight tension that have never left Yami, grew. “What?”

“The girl who’s father hired us to kill you.” Cin said, assuming their employer was some girls father.

“Who’s that?” Yami asked, hoping for a name. Though he had no doubt who had sent them.

Cin chuckled. “What? There’s more than one girl?”

“No. But her father’s dead. So.” Yami lifted a shoulder, staring at his old friend.

Cin shook his head. “I remember when you didn’t have interest or time for girls. Said they were nothing but trouble and a distraction.”

“Well, she certainly is that.” Yami admitted.

“Hence why you’re keeping women to the one.” Cin smirked.

Yami didn’t answer. Let Cin fill in the blanks however he liked. Good as it was to see him, Yami didn’t know him anymore. It had been years since they had last seen each other. Years since Yami had left the tunneled home that housed a pack of fellow boys who had followed him after he had kicked each of their asses.

A couple of those boys had even doubled up in fights against him. Cin and Damon had been two of those. It still hadn’t made a difference. Yami had laid them out like the rest. Before he knew it he had a gang answering to him. Nice as it had been. He hadn’t wanted it. Hadn’t asked or demanded any of them follow him. Rather he had done his best to shoo them off. But they had still followed. Feeling lost and without purpose, Yami had gotten restless and wandered off one day, never to return.

He had met Julius soon after; and from there his life was changed. Yami had occasionally wondered what had happened to his pack of friends, but never enough to go back and look for them.

“What happened to you?” Cin asked. “One day you were just—gone. You get pinched or something?”

“Or something.” Yami answered.

Cin glowered. This was the Yami he remember. Quiet. Distant. Hard to read and difficult to work with. Which was why he was so surprised to see Yami was a Magic Knight. Following orders wasn’t Yami’s style.

Yami looked around, wondering if there were any other familiar faces. “The others? Damon?”

“We all kind of went our own way after you disappeared. Damon, Rigel, and I stuck together for a while. Rigel left a couple months back. Got a girl pregnant and wanted to do right by her.”

“And Damon?” Yami asked, remembering that he and Cin had been inseparable.

“Dead.” Cin answered.

Yami’s lip twitched. “Damn.”

“Yeah.” Cin said. He didn’t want to go into further detail. Yami didn’t deserve it.

“So how much did Nathyn Silva pay you?” Yami asked.

Cin looked up, knowing without a doubt he had never mentioned a name. Mainly because he didn’t know the name himself.

Working through a broker, Cin never met his clients. It worked better for all involved that way. A letter detailing the target, along with half the fee, came in. He and his gang did the job, and the second half of the pay came in after. It worked for him. While he had his ways of figuring out who hired him; he had rarely had a mind to know or need to figure it out. Nobody had ever tried to stiff him, so he never had reason to put in the effort of learning a clients name.

“I didn’t mention no Silva.” Cin said. “I wasn’t even sure I guessed right about it being about a girl. I just figured it wasn’t a gambling debt. You were too good at games to wrack up a sum someone was willing to kill you over.”

Yami massaged the tension out of his neck. “So you’re really not going to tell me, even though I know.��

“Not that I’d tell you if I knew myself. But I really don’t know.” Cin said. He looked his long time friend over. “Sounds like you do though.”

Yami sighed. “Yeah. Not that it’ll do me a lot of good.” He watched Cin a moment. “How do you want to handle this?”

Cin raised a questioning brow. “What do you mean?”

Yami looked around at the others still surrounding him. “Well, you were paid to take me out.”

Cin shook his head. “Ain’t happening.”

“Come on.” Yami bolstered. “You got what? Fifteen. Twenty. At your command.”

Cin shook his head again. “I saw you on the battlefield from afar. I had my concerns then. But a job’s a job. Now that I know it’s you. No way.”

“A job’s a job.” Yami echoed, tempting.

“I thought we left on good terms. Despite your sudden disappearance.” Cin said. His anger over Yami leaving without word creeping into his voice.

“We did.” Yami agreed.

“Then why do you wanna kick my ass?” Cin questioned.

Yami shrugged. “For old times sake I guess.”

Cin smirked crookedly and shook his head. Same old Yami, he thought. “I’ll have you know that I’ve gotten better. Stronger.”

Yami mirrored the crooked smile. “So have I.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Cin chuckled.

Yami finally, fully relaxed. His sense of Cin’s Ki told him the man meant what he said. His long ago friend had no interest in trying to collect his pay by finishing the job.

“So, what are you going to do?” Yami asked. “You may not know who hired you, but I’m near positive. Nathyn Silva isn’t someone you want to cross.”

Ignoring the difficult question, Cin looked Yami over. Despite all the past hurt and anger, it really was good to see him again. “You should be asking yourself the same. If it really is that royal bastard calling for your head, you’re in trouble, Yami. Folk like that don’t like to be thwarted and have all the money in the world to hire more gangs.”

“I know. This is his second attempt that I’m aware of.” Yami told.

Cin blinked at that. “What the hell did you do?”

Yami smirked and shook his head. “You’d call me a fool if I told you.”

“I’ll call you a fool anyway.” Cin remarked. The two stared at each other a moment before Cin offered. “Come with us. With me. Leave this war and the Magic Knights.”

“And run under you?” Yami asked.

Cin shrugged. “Could be worse. You could die out there fighting a soon forgotten war for a prideful, child-like King who will never be grateful and doesn’t even know your name. Or get caught unawares by the next hired gang sent to kill you.”

Or get pulled into a crazy zealots sick ceremony, Yami thought. “Tempting. But I can’t.”

“That doesn’t sound like you. The Yami Sukehiro I knew did whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted. If he wanted to leave this mess and join me, he would do so without a backwards glance.”

“I would have at that.” Yami agreed. “But there’s things you don’t know and would never understand. Things I barely understand.”

“It’s that girl. Isn’t it?” Cin guessed.

“Mostly.” Yami admitted.

“Then we’ll go get her.”

“Now that does sound tempting.” Yami said. He wondered if Teris could sense him while he was in this dimensional sphere. If she couldn’t, he had little doubt that she was going as crazy as he had during the Battle at the Border. He had to get out of here so she could sense his mana and know he was alright. He gestured to the surrounding space. “Can we--”

Understanding, Cin commanded. “Oliva.”

They were returned to normal space. Yami looked about. They were on some barren hilltop overlooking the battlefield that was more than ten kilometers away. Yami hoped that it was enough. That Teris would sense him and be alright.

“You won’t come. Will you?” Cin said, watching him.

Yami shook his head. Though it really was a tempting offer, he didn’t feel the least bit torn by saying no. For the first time since waking up in this strange land, he had a life here in the Clover Kingdom. And it consisted of more than just Teris. It didn’t matter that Teris would never go for the life Cin was offering. Yami didn’t want it either. He was, dare he say, happy with the life he had made as a Black Bull in the Magic Knights. And he would be even happier once Bronn was gone, and he and Teris were made co-Vice Captains.

Cin sighed. “I knew you wouldn’t. You wouldn’t be out there fighting if you didn’t want to be there.”

“Oh, I rather be almost anywhere than on that battlefield.” Yami said.

“I meant as a Magic Knight. In this life you’ve made yourself.”

Yami thought of Teris, Julius, and the Black Bulls. “You’re right there.”

Cin shook his head and sighed. “I suppose I’ll just have to let you pay the royal bastard back. And also pay me and mine the second half we’re due.”

Yami had been afraid of that. Still, he understood. “Gotta keep them loyal.”

Cin nodded.

“Do me a favor.”

Cin huffed. “You mean other then let you buy your life and live?”

“Oh, you’re letting me live now?”

“Shut up! What do you want?”

Yami grinned, imagining the scene and sight of Lord Silva’s face. “Let me return the funds.”

“You?” Cin questioned. “You’re not even positive it’s him.”

“It’s him.” Yami said. The only way he could be more certain was if the Silva came forward and confessed.

Cin shook his head. “Guess you haven’t changed as much as I was beginning to think. Fine. You agree to pay us the second half we would’ve received for the job. And I’ll let you pay the Silva back the first half. But if you’re wrong you’re paying whoever did hire us his portion back too.”

That sounded reasonable. Yami held out his hand.

“Crazy bastard.” Cin muttered, shaking on the deal.

“So how much do I owe you?” Yami asked.

Cin shook his head. “Now he asks.” He muttered. To Yami, he answered. “Ten thousand yules.”

“Ten thousand!” Yami repeated. He didn’t know whether to be insulted, or upset that this would take all of his savings.

“Twenty thousand yules for your life. Not a bad payday if it wasn’t you and so much work.” Cin told.

“Maybe the next gang will demand more.” Yami complained.

“You really think you’re worth that much?” Cin questioned, humorously.

“I would've kill you and yours easy.” Yami told.

“Really? And I suppose that’s what happened to the group before.” Cin joked.

Yami nodded. “Exactly.”

“What?” Cin questioned, in disbelief.

“Dead. All of them.” Yami told, not saying that there had been other Magic Knights backing him up.

Cin blinked. “All of them you say?”

“All twenty.” Yami affirmed.

Cin gave a low whistle. “I’ll spread word of that. Maybe it’ll make other groups think twice before accepting the job if Silva or anyone else thinks to try again.”

“Don’t. They might demand more pay. But they’ll still come. Only they’ll have a better idea what their walking into. With all that’s going on right now, I’d rather not have to try all that hard fending off gangs of assassins.”

“You mean there’s worse than people being hired to kill you?” Cin asked, not all that surprised.

“It’s a long story that you don’t care about hearing and I’d rather not get into.” Yami said.

“Fine.” Cin held out his hand.

Yami clasped his friends hand, firmly.

“Just get that money back to our hire as quick as you can. Me and mine can wait a bit for our second half. Let you finish up here before bugging you.” Cin grinned at him. “It’ll give us a chance to see each other again. Maybe have a drink or two and talk about old times.”

“And if I’m wrong?” Yami asked, not showing how much the thought of meeting Cin again disturbed him. At least once his old friend got the second half of his pay, they would hopefully have no cause to ever see each other again.

Cin raised an eyebrow. “Thought you said you were positive.”

“Just in case. How do I get a hold of you to find and pay the correct person back?”

Cin eyed Yami’s Magic Knights cloak. “We’ll just get a hold of you all the sooner.”

“That’s comforting.” Yami muttered.

“Don’t worry. Once we’re done, I won’t be paying you an friendly visits.”

“Those aren’t the type of visit I’m worried about.” Yami said, even though he wanted nothing more to do with his old friend.

Cin chuckled. “Then don’t be wrong. And don’t go pissing anyone else off.”

Yami huffed. “No promises there. Seems all I gotta do is breathe for that to happen.”

“You’re the one who wants to stick around.” Cin looked at his friend, smiling fondly at the memories seeing Yami brought. “Hope she’s worth it.”

Yami fought a smile at the thought of Teris. “She is. She’s worth it all, and more.”

69.5

Beast entered the cell block where the Magic Knights had been held.

“Want us to pursue them?” Pip asked, by his side.

Beast took in at the mangled cell and corpse, piecing together what had happened. “No. They’ve done what was ordered.”

Pip looked up at the towering man. “Boss?”

“Word came quickly from Death. We’ll get paid later.”

“But if he wants them...”

“He wanted them released and unharmed.” Beast said. He looked down at the dead man in disgust, hoping the girl got away undamaged. He didn’t know what the Master of Chaos wanted with the Magic Knights; but he didn’t want to experience the mans wrath if they had been injured. Turning away Beast ordered. “Have this mess cleaned up. Take that filth out to the pens for the Saber Cats. They haven’t had a decent meal in a while.”

“Sure thing, Boss.”

“Oh, and put the word out. We’ll be hosting a gaming battle tomorrow.”

“Boss?”

Beast turned back. “The two Agents of Chaos. I was instructed to make their demise as drawn out and painful as possible. It never goes well when you’ve displeased Death.”

69.6

Once they were free of the compound, Nozel had created an eagle of mercury large enough to carry them all. He flew at top speed, unconcerned about lasting the day or keeping up his energy for the next. All he cared about was getting Teris and his team as far away as quickly as possible. Even so, he had flown in the direction of the Diamond Kingdoms capital. Despite all that had happened, they still had a mission. Nozel had flown until he didn’t think his could take it anymore, and then flew some more.

“Captain. Can we stop by that stream and let her get cleaned up?” Randall asked, from behind him.

Nozel looked back at his squad for the first time since they had taken flight. His eyes lowered to Teris. She was covered in dried blood. Though apparently none of it was hers.

Nozel swallowed, struggling to control his emotions. He noted that though Fuegoleon didn’t hold her, the Crimson Lion hovered protectively over her.

With a nod, Nozel directed the shining silver eagle toward a more sheltered area of the stream. They had left the dry, rocky landscape behind for a more green, though far from lush, area. This growth may have afforded them a bit more cover; but it was still bare enough that he felt safe from possible lurking enemies.

The sun was already dipping below the horizon when Nozel had the eagle land. He looked over his squad and declared. “We’ll camp here for the night. Zara, set your traps. Make them capable of catching small mammals. We lost our rations along with our packs.” He gave Teris a small, tentative smile. “Looks like you’ll get to cook after all if you want.”

When Teris didn’t even register hearing him, Nozel’s forced smile fell. She had had a scare. They all had. Seeing her attacked like that… Nozel had never felt so helpless and furious. He would have killed himself trying to get to her. It had taken everything he had to pull himself back and think clearly when his instinct had been to rage and go mad, frothing uselessly from his cell.

Fuegoleon gripped his Captain’s shoulder, trying to comfort him. He hoped Nozel didn’t take Teris’ silence personally. Teris hadn’t spoken since they had taken to the air. At least she had slept a good portion of the flight. Though she had woken up with a start, calling Yami’s name. There had been a moment after her waking where it appeared as if her fright would bubble over; but she had quickly calmed, taking in a shuddering breath as if relieved.

“Randall.” Nozel called, taking a step rather than shake Fuegoleon’s hand off his shoulder. He didn’t want to be comforted. He didn’t deserve it. He had failed his team.

Randall straightened. “Captain?”

Nozel hated the mans use of the title. He hadn’t earned it in the first place. And with all that had happened, he had proved just how unworthy he currently was of holding the rank, even as an acting one.

“Gather some wood and build a pit to roast whatever’s caught. Then see if you can find a stone sharp enough to skin and cut.” Nozel looked back at Teris, wondering if she still had whatever blade she had taken off the man. But he didn’t want to bring it up by asking her.

Nozel watched Zara and Randall moved away to do as they were ordered. Turning back, he looked at Teris, once again fighting a swell of raging emotions.

“Teris.” Nozel said, gently. When she still appeared dazed and distant, he turned to Fuegoleon. “Why don’t you two get washed up. I’ll keep watch.”

Fuegoleon nodded.

The two men looked at Teris, waiting for her to move or show any signed she had heard. When she just stood there Fuegoleon looked back at Nozel, the two sharing a look of concern.

“Stop it!” Teris snapped, suddenly coming to life. “Quit looking at each other worrying about me. I’m fine.” She spun around and marched to the stream.

“She’s not fine.” Fuegoleon told his Captain, softly.

“At least she’s talking again.” Nozel said, relieved at that.

He had never witnessed it, but Nozel had heard that occasionally people who went through traumatic events had left them changed. Sometimes all but dead to the world. Without any type of healer, they would have had a real problem if Teris had suffered something like that. As important as their mission was, Nozel didn’t think he would have been able to go on if Teris had stayed lost in herself. The thought of returning to face his father’s and the Kings displeasure sent a shiver down his spine. But none of that bore thinking. Teris would be fine. She was strong. Teris had already been through and survived so much. He was certain that she would survive this too.

Nozel watched Teris make her way to the stream, Fuegoleon in her wake. Sure she would likely have some underlying issues for a while. He would too. But a selfish part of him hoped that this would bring them closer together. Not that he would take advantage of anything the horrible scare may bring about. But if some good could come from it, at least there would be that. Not that any good, no matter how great, that came from this would make it worth Teris experiencing the scare she had.

Teris dipped trembling hands into stream. Collecting a fistful of course dirt, she scrubbed away the blood. At first the motions were slow and gentle but then they sped, growing rough.

Tears began to fall. She brought up her hands, covering her face.

Fuegoleon watched her from a short distance. He usually knew what to do to best comfort people. It was a gift he had. But in this instance, when his cousin needed him most, he was at a loss. He didn’t know what to do. Likely because she didn’t know what she wanted. He decided to go with his own need and hoped it helped without driving her further away.

Moving to her, Fuegoleon knelt on the hard, rocky bank. Ignoring the muddy damp that instantly wet his pants, he pulled her into a hug. Teris cried into her cousins chest. Stroking her hair, Fuegoleon wondered distantly if that was her trembling or him. Never in his life had he felt so helpless. Never in his life had he wanted someone dead so badly that he would have bashed their skull in if given half a chance.

The thought frightened him. The desire to commit such violence. Even now Fuegoleon wanted to kill the man over and over again, his mind playing over the ways in which he would do so.

Fuegoleon sniffed back his own tears; his fear, anger, and gratitude that the worst of what could have happened hadn’t. Overwhelmed, he burrowed his face in her head and let the tears fall.

After a time, Teris ceased crying. “Leon? Are you wiping your tears on my hair?”

Fuegoleon lifted his head, stroking her moistened locks. “It’s good for hair.”

Teris laughed at that. “So that’s how your hair is always prettier than mine. You cry into it.”

“I usually use the tears of my enemies.” Fuegoleon played, amazed at how resilient she was.

Looking up at him, Teris soothed. “It’s alright.”

“That’s my line. No taking my lines.” Fuegoleon chastised, lightly.

Teris pulled from him, her small smile falling as she grew serious. “Scary as that was, I’ve faced worst fears.”

“You shouldn’t have to.” Fuegoleon told. He tucked a lock of her hair behind an ear, wondering how her saying such a thing was suppose to make him feel better.

“It’s just--” Teris swallowed. Try as she might to push the memory away, she could still feel the slick warmth of the man’s blood. Could still smell the metallic scent that had invaded her nostrils. “I’ve never killed anyone. Not like that. Not so close and physical. Not with my own hands.” She blinked back tears, hating the sign of weakness.

Though Fuegoleon knew better, he said. “I’m pretty sure it was Nozel that killed him. Broke his neck.” He hoped lie was believable. He doubted Nozel would like taking credit that wasn’t his. But given the reasoning, he was sure the acting Captain would allow it.

Teris looked up at him. “Really?”

She should be ashamed at how much better that made her feel. It didn’t matter who had killed the man. Even a no good, sick, fiendish person like that didn’t deserve to die without trial. A life was a life. And as a Magic Knight it was her job to protect and uphold the Clover Kingdoms law; not meet out judgment. At least that’s the way it was suppose to be. Sadly they didn’t live in a perfect world where things were the way they were suppose to be.

In her short time as a Magic Knight, she had seen so much death. Delivered so much of it herself. Teris had known that being a Magic Knight was a dangerous job and there would be death. But she had never imagined it to be at this scale. She tried to think of how much more Julius had seen during his many years of service. How much more she would see over the years, and stopped. Unwilling and unable to imagine.

“Really.” Fuegoleon told her.

“Am I horrible for being relieved at that?” Teris asked.

“No. Not in the least.” Fuegoleon assured.

Teris shook her head, lowering her gaze. “Poor Nozel.”

Fuegoleon looked at her, amazed. Even after all Teris had been through, she was thinking of and sympathizing with others.

“I’m pretty sure he’s not all that upset about it.” Fuegoleon remarked, thinking Nozel wouldn’t have been if this fiction had been reality. “I think he’s more upset about us getting captured in the first place.”

Teris lifted her head. “This wasn’t his fault. None of us realized what we were walking into. Or that we were being followed.” She stopped and thought about the other two.

Not only had they not been in the cell block with them; but they hadn’t been in any of the other cell blocks they had passed. A part of her felt silly for wondering if they were Agents of Chaos. What would they be doing all the way out here just following?

“Try telling him that.” Fuegoleon said. “If I were leading this team I’d be feeling the same. And so would you.”

“I suppose.” Teris said, wondering what they could do to make Nozel feel better about his role as Captain.

“Come on. We can’t take forever.” Fuegoleon took his cloak off. “You should wash your clothes as best you can.” He untied the sash around his waist and removed the blue over coat, holding them out to her. “You can wear this while you wash and dry yours.”

Thank you to those who have left hearts. And a special THANK YOU to those who have recently left comments or re-blogged. They really mean a lot.

Next chapter snippet:

Alowishus glared. He could end King Morris’ life here and now but that would only cause further war and problems as the Diamond Kingdom would be thrown into chaos. Funny how all his life he had been trying to wake Chaos so he could bring about death and destruction and yet here he was trying to prevent such things from happening.

#yami sukehiro #nozel silva #fuegoleon vermillion #zara ideale #randall luftair #Black Clover #light in the darkness

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sabraeal · 6 years ago

Text

We Seek That Which We Shall Not Find, Chapter 2

Written for @vfordii’s birthday....almost two months late. BUT THIS TIME I HAD A REALLY GOOD EXCUSE.

Chapter 1

Sunlight glares through the gaps in the blinds, slanting over the popcorn ceiling, and for once, since -- since everything happened, Shirayuki opens her eyes and knows exactly where she is.

Even more surprisingly, she doesn’t mind.

That’s not to say she doesn’t miss it, that even as she stares at the knobby plaster she isn’t wishing that it was tented hangings tacked over exposed rafters, that it was soft light filtering through the high window and shimmering curtains. She does, and a part of her always will, but --

But she can trade the scent of bacon and cedar and attic must for the vanilla and spice coming from the kitchen now, for the grassy smell of green tea brewing. For today, at least.

Glass jars clink open and closed, metal spoons swirl against ceramic lips, and she -- she gets up. For the first time in forever, it feels easy.

There are some things that she won’t be getting used to, not any time soon. One is how there is no longer a whole house between her and the kitchen, so when her door creaks open, Busha’s waiting, eyebrows lifted over the rim of her mug, arms crossed over the formica top of the galley’s bar.

“Well.” She sets the cup down on the counter, mouth twitching at a corner. “Someone is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning.”

It’s such a normal thing to say -- such a Busha thing to do, waiting to waylay her in the kitchen like this -- that she nearly forgets they aren’t back home, that this isn’t just every other weekend morning since she’s been a baby. Not until she sees how Busha’s eyes don’t quite settle on her, until she realizes that it’s only the creak of the door that let her grandmother know she was there at all.

“Mm,” she hums, aiming for positive but also noncommittal. Even still, Busha makes that knowing look, and even if it’s only directed in her general area instead of at her, it’s still annoying.

Shirayuki sighs, ducking into the kitchen. It’s only to be expected; when a boy invited a girl over in Busha’s day, they might as well have announced their engagement. So of course her grandmother assumes this is -- is romance, that after seventeen long years, Shirayuki finally likes a boy. She doesn’t even know his name, but Busha is already picking out china patterns, already planning out their Saturday date-nights and how he’ll come to dinner on Sundays, how they’ll go to colleges geographically close to each other and visit on long holidays and how he’ll propose the weekend of their graduation, all done up in their gowns and summa-cum-laude tassels. There will be a small, sweet wedding a year later, probably in a barn somewhere out where she grew up, and maybe even great-grandbabies --

Normal stuff. The kind of things Busha imagined for her mom, back before Mom went off and -- ah, well, had her own...less thought-out plans.

Busha starts her own humming as she bustles around the kitchen, almost unbearably pleased with herself, and Shirayuki would like to -- to straighten this out, to point out that her and Zen barely even talked as themselves last night --

But there’s no way to explain that her good mood isn’t because of Zen, that it isn’t because she kissed a boy or because she had a good night with her crush, but that -- that --

That for four hours, she was Lynet. Lynet, whose talents border both science and magic, who makes tinctures and casts spells and whose sister is trapped in their ancestral castle with an evil knight-slash-sorcerer, but at least her problems are fictional. They can be fixed.

“Where’s JaJa?” she deflects, plucking a muffin from the cooling rack. It’s still warm in her palms; she bobbles it to keep from scalding herself as she peels back the paper wrapper. The vanilla scent is even stronger now, and she can catch cinnamon and orange too, melty cranberries peeking out enticingly from the sides. “Is he still asleep?”

Busha’s mouth rucks up, annoyed. “No. He’s down around the corner for coffee.”

Shirayuki coughs into her muffin, glad her grandmother can’t see her grimace. Around the corner is Busha’s way of avoiding saying McDonalds, which is apparently where a bunch of the vets from the VFW meet every week. Ostensibly it’s some sort of coffee-cum-social-hour thing, which Shirayuki likes the sound of on paper -- after all, JaJa needs to have friends here in the city too -- but...

But she’s also not naive. If anyone misses the smell of bacon in the morning, it’s JaJa, and she has her suspicions that his friends might also be dodging the watchful eyes of wives and grown children. After all, she doubts that they’re all ordering salad, no dressing off the breakfast menu.

Busha isn’t stupid either, but she’s also not one to hurl accusations. Until she finds him with a receipt for a sausage and egg McMuffin with extra bacon, she’s happy to pretend he’s as faithful to his diet as he is to her.

“Oh right,” Shirayuki mumbles around a bite of cranberry goodness, taking the mug of green tea her grandmother holds out to her. “It’s Sunday.”

“He should be on his way back soon.” Busha settles against the counter again, smiling over the rim of her cup. “It looked like you enjoyed yourself at that...game of yours.”

Shirayuki nods, practically shoving muffin in her mouth.

“I hope you thanked that Wisteria boy for a good time,” she tells her archly. Busha clearly doesn’t think she spent four hours on a particularly rousing game of Parcheesi. “You were over there a long time.”

A full mouth saves her from having to give an answer, at least. Between four-hour make out session with a cute boy and four-hour shared fantasy adventure, Shirayuki has a good idea of what Busha would prefer to believe was taking up her time.

“I will,” she chokes out around a swallow, because well -- she’s not wrong. She should thank the Wisteria boy.

Just not the one Busha is thinking of.

Hey.

Shirayuki blinks, and behind the lids of her eyes, the letters are tattooed there in white, teasing her with their strokes and loops. It’s been -- she tilts back her head, looking at the garishly red numbers on her alarm clock -- two hours, and all she has is -- is this. Hey. Three letters she’s been staring at for so long that they’ve begun to lose all meaning.

And -- for the twentieth time -- she deletes them. Who even says hey anymore?

Everyone, probably. Shirayuki groans, dropping her head into her pillow and just -- counting. Counting probably will help. She read that somewhere, maybe. Counting and breathing.

What would really help would be knowing how to do -- this. Texting like a normal person. Having friends like a normal person.

Not exactly something she’s ever had to do before, growing up where everyone had landlines and the only places she could possibly be after school were home or one of the three houses within walking distance that had kids her age. Hanging out hadn’t required a phone, just...walking down the ramble between their houses and making sure you didn’t twist an ankle in a gopher hole.

But she lives in the city now, where people have wi-fi and kids get kidnapped or something, and at the ripe old age of seventeen years old she’s supposed to know how to -- to use all this.

The first time she texted Kihal she’d written everything in a single block of text, like an email, and been promptly told she sounded like her fifty-year-old aunt.

That is not the impression she wants to give Izana Wisteria, whose house lights respond to vocal command.

With a steeling breath, she lifts her head, and scrolls back in their chat history. It’s one of the longest she has; a couple of times she actually has to scroll and then wait for it to load. By the time she gets to the beginning, she’s feeling -- steady, emboldened.

It’s fine; she can do this. She has done this. She just needs to see how she even started this whole conversation and --

Shirayuki, I presume This is Izana Zen told me you were interested in trying out tabletop

Her head drops. This is impossible.

SOS I need help

is it boy stuff?? tell me its boy stuff

no?

lie to me and tell me its boy stuff

I mean, there is a boy? but it’s not like that?

okay good enough proceed

is hey a good way to start a conversation or is that weird?

Shirayuki sets her phone down on the bedside table, settling back against her headboard. She doesn’t -- she doesn’t need to stress about this, not like she has been the last few hours. She has plenty of homework to get ahead on; she can just...set this all aside for a minute, let Kihal get back to her. It’s not an emergency --

She springs for her phone the second it buzzes.

i mean its pretty standard, she writes, and even though Kihal isn’t sitting here, talking, Shirayuki can hear her voice going flat, dubious. is this for flirting purposes or does this have to do with your weird nerd thing.

its not a weird nerd thing. Shirayuki grimaces. Lots of people play D&D now, it’s not just -- just a nerd thing. but I wanted to thank Izana for letting me play.

jsyk this is the most wholesome and nerdy thing you have ever done and i approve of you sticking to your aesthetic like this.

Shirayuki frowns. I’m being polite

i know i love it

She sighs, flopping into her pillows. This would all be easier if she got herself into normal situations, the kind she could just use google to navigate, but there’s no WikiHows for roleplaying. Or, well, this kind of roleplaying. She’d checked, just before she had to look up how to delete internet search history.

She doesn’t even know if she should say anything. Maybe D&D is a...a Fight Club sort of situation. The first rule about non-sexual roleplay is that we don’t talk about non-sexual roleplay. See you next Saturday.

It would at least explain the lack of, you know, literature.

i think you can say hey, Kihal replies, finally. zen should have given you a primer on this or something

Her hands clench. Zen.

She’ll have to see him tomorrow.

And be normal.

She groans, throwing her pillow over her head. She not meant for this sort of pressure.

oh come on its not like he can judge he plays as a fantasy prince or whatever which is just like him btw i should have known that’s what zen wisteria does on weekends

I can still be weird somehow I shouldn’t talk too much about it but then does it seem like I’m not interested? I like playing Lynet

you are def worrying about this too much zen may be stratospherically rich but he’s an okay person or whatever im sure he’ll be cool

I’m way more worried about being the weird one

lol but wouldnt it be funny if zen turned out to be the weirdo? maybe he’ll want you to call him MY LIEGE omg

oh my goodness it would be Your Highness but oh my goodness

your pedantry is noted MILADY

There’s no reason to think he’ll be weird about it, really there isn’t.

But she can’t think of anything else as she stares up at her ceiling, tracing where the streetlight slots through the blinds.

lol what if he calls you LADY LYNET in front of like teachers, Kihal had written with an almost manic glee. what if he thinks lunch is like the ROUND TABLE omg this is too good

he didn’t before, is all she had to say, and even then, she knows it isn’t enough.

THAT YOU KNOW OF lol, Kihal replied. She hadn’t said much more on it, not until they’d said goodnight and she’d added, with an emoji that Shirayuki couldn’t help but feel like was a little too indulgent, have fun with your knight in shining armor

Shirayuki groans, rolling over. This is -- this is a tomorrow problem.

Hi. It’s Shirayuki. I just wanted to thank you for hosting this weekend I had a lot of fun

It’s while she’s watching the bare brick of her neighborhood give way to the smooth clapboard of the suburbs that she decides: she’s just going to pretend like nothing’s different. Sure, she now knows that Zen and Kiki moonlight as kingdom-saving royalty on the weekends, but -- but it’s not like that has to change anything. There’s no reason for her to assume things will be weird or -- or different, not until she’s there and it’s happening.

Her resolve lasts until her feet touch the pavement, until she sees the bronze lettering of Abel Wisteria High School stretch over the archway, and then --

Then her knees go jellied, heart fluttering a mile a minute. Maybe, if she manages to survive today, she can just convince Busha they need to move again.

Her thigh vibrates, and it takes her a long minute to realize -- her phone.

Glad to hear it

Shirayuki stares for a long minute, trying to reconcile her nerves with -- with this. Izana Wisteria texting her in the full light of day.

It was unexpectedly refreshing to have a new player I trust I will be seeing you this Saturday?

She shuts her jaw with a click. Izana -- he wants her to -- to --?

She’s being invited back. Not just as a polite end to the session, but -- but --

The phone nearly flies from her hand as someone shoves past her, and she realizes right in front of the bus drop off is probably not the best place to be having this conversation. She just has to get to class and --

She grits her teeth. She just has to get to class, and manage to be normal with Zen and Kiki too.

No problem. She -- she can text Izana Wisteria now; she can do anything.

Hopefully.

“Shirayuki”

Every hair stands on end at the sound of that laconic voice, and not for all the nice reasons it usually does. This is it, the Bridge to Terebithia precipice; this all either leads to adventure or tragedy, and she never wanted to swing across the ditch to find out --

“Shirayuki.”

Her head swivels, and Kiki is looking as perfect as she always does, jeans tucked into tall socks tucked into boots, every button on her plaid shirt in its appropriate hole in a way Shirayuki has never managed. The hand she’s raised lowers back down to the desk, no hesitation or self-consciousness in the movement, just -- the surety that she’s been seen and her attention is wanted.

She turns back to Zen, and Shirayuki just -- wishes she could be Kiki for a day. To know what being that confident was like.

And it’s that that gets her legs moving, that makes her take the swing, sliding into the desk right in front of her. Kiki spares her a glance, a friendly smile tilting her lips, and Zen --

Zen looks like he might faint.

“Hi,” he manages after a long moment of working lips. “How was your --? You had a good --?”

He coughs, reddening under Kiki’s flat stare. “There was a weekend?”

“Yes?” she tries, wincing as her voice squeaks.

Kiki lets out an amused huff, folding her arms under her chest. “Zen want to ask if you had a nice weekend.”

“Oh.” She blinks, swiveling her neck toward him. “I see.”

“But he’s also aware he pretended to be King Arthur in front of you,” Kiki drawls, feet kicking up on the book rack under her chair. “And he doesn’t know if that was too weird for you.”

The tension rushes out of her all at once, and she smiles, relieved. “I had a great weekend.”

Zen’s face splits into a boyish grin, his cheeks pink. “Good. I mean, great. That’s great.”

“I’m glad we’ve gotten all that out of the way,” Kiki interjects, flat. “Maybe Zen can stop considering a last minute transfer to prep school.”

His head whips toward her, betrayal clear on his face, but -- but Shirayuki’s just so relieved that things are normal that she only laughs, only smiles and says, “I had a lot of fun. I hope I did okay?”

“Lynet was great,” Zen rushes to assure her. “Though I still think Gwenhwyfar would have been --”

“Boring,” Kiki supplies with a smirk. “It was a great call to make a character with both offensive and supportive casting -- after all, we’re all sort of...”

“Physically inclined?” Shirayuki offers. She doesn’t know exactly what all the classes do, but even from one session, she can tell whatever magic the rest of the party uses is generally for making them hit harder and better.

“That’s a gentle way to put it.” Kiki grins. “I’m looking forward to your quest, too. We’ve just been gallivanting around doing fetch quests for the past few months.”

“It’s for the people,” Zen mutters, a prince to the hilt. “It’s important.”

“Of course it is,” Kiki replies with no conviction. “But it’s about time we got something meaty.”

YES sorry autocorrect yes, I’ll be there on saturday

The enthusiasm is appreciated

I’m not imposing am I? I know I came in with a quest I don’t want to take over the game

Not at all No need to apologize for bringing in plot I admit I had been...concerned about the balance of the game A new player can upset the dynamic of a party But my fears were clearly unfounded

Oh...good

You and Obi fit in just fine

Her hands freeze over the screen. Obi. She hadn’t -- hadn’t forgotten about him, of course, not when Lynet spent a whole scene rolling around with his tiefling on the floor of her lab. It’s just -- just --

Even looking at his name makes her skin feel tight, makes her heart beat hard in her chest. And she...likes that.

Have you coordinated with Obi for this weekend? Izana asks, like -- like they’re some sort of unit. He told me you’re on the way. There is no need for you to take a bus.

Her fingers hover uncertainly. um not yet

Let me give you his number, Izana says, taking away her excuse before she can even think it. I look forward to seeing you both this weekend

She stares at the ten digits and bites down on a scream. Great, she manages. thanks

“Hold up.” Kihal’s palm waves in front of her face. “I’ve had to hear all about your nerd night insecurities re: the trust fund twins, but you’ve never mentioned cute college boy?” She sits back with a huff, arms folded over her chest. “I thought we were friends, Shirayuki.”

She wishes her skin were like Kihal’s; at least then she might have a chance of covering up the blush working its way up her neck. “I didn’t say he was cute.”

“You didn’t have to.” Kihal nips the phone from her hands, thumbs scrolling lightning fast. “Because if he wasn’t cute, you would have mentioned him before, but now you are freaking out about sharing air with him for like, tops ten minutes, so not I know he is.”

“It’s fifteen minutes,” she protests lamely. “And he did try to kill my character. He might be a jerk.”

“But still cute,” Kihal counters with a shrug. “And he already drove you home, so you know he’s not some asshole.”

“Well, yes,” she allows, hesitant. “I just don’t want to -- to inconvenience him or anything. He probably has better things to do than cart around a high schooler.”

“First, he’s going to the same nerd thing you are, so no. Second --” she drops the phone onto the table -- “doesn’t seem like it.”

hi its Shirayuki pick me up @7 on saturday?

def

She can feel the blood draining from her face. “What --?”

“Do you think he knows I mean the nerd thing?” Kihal wonders aloud. “Maybe I just got you a date.”

“That’s --”

“Man, maybe I should join your nerd night,” she mutters, leaning back on the bench. “Zen’s brother is hot too, right?”

SOS SOS SOS I don’t have anything to wear

wear? i thought this was just nerd night not a DATE

it’s not but i should wear something appropriate

what like a robe and a wizard staff or something

. . . .

i thought college boy isnt cute so it doesnt matter what you wear

it’s not about Obi being cute

oooooh so he IS cute nice

focus please its just Zen’s house is REALLY nice

omg what like the dress code is white tie by default because he’s got money

no it’s just intimidating there’s marble in the foyer, Kihal they say it foi-yay

this is like the best info I’m gonna say foi-yay a dozen times to wisteria on monday but seriously im sure whatever your wearing is fine you dress like a cute little elf naturally

is that a compliment?

if ur going to ur nerd night it is

“Shirayuki!”

She nearly drops the phone at the pound of Busha’s knock, fumbling it midair until it lands squarely in her palms. “I’m here!”

“So is your friend,” she says in that pointed tone Busha thinks is subtle. “He’s waiting.”

I gotta go, Shirayuki texts, shoving the phone into her bag. he’s here

She sprints into the kitchen, but it’s far, far too late -- Busha and JaJa are already at the door, all smiles, crowding Obi. Who looks...nice.

She’s only met him the once, but there was something about the baggy band t-shirt and torn jeans that seemed -- like him. Something in the way he slouched around in them like a second skin, kicking up his thick-soled boots on the chair across from him, like it probably didn’t cost more money than either of them had ever seen at once.

But he’s not wearing that now. Tonight he’s -- polished, button-down over a thermal shirt, non-ragged jeans, hair looking like a brush might have been briefly introduced to it before he went out the door --

It looks very...date-ish.

“Didn’t have to drive too long, did you?” JaJa is asking, tugging on his sleeve to pull him further into the apartment.

“Have you eaten yet?” Busha may not be able to see like she could before, but she can scent skinny boys. “We still have some kielbasa and cabbage on the stove. I’m sure you could have some while Shirayuki --”

Shirayuki stomps on her boots in record time, snagging a metal tin off the counter. “I’m ready!”

Obi startles, gaze jumping from Busha to her. His eyes go wide -- it’s got to be a trick of the light, how gold they look -- and he rounds his shoulders, the smallest bit.

“Hi,” he manages with a smile she might consider shy, if it wasn’t on him. “You -- you want to get going?”

“Oh, but surely you can stay for a little bit,” Busha insists, stepping aside so he can see into the kitchen. “I made cake --”

“SURE,” Shirayuki says, far too loud, pushing past her grandparents with a warning look. “I don’t want to keep everyone waiting.”

Obi ducks his head, letting out a bark of a laugh. “Yeah, I think Izana feeds people who make him wait to the koi out back.”

She blinks. “They have koi?”

He grins. “Oh boy, you don’t even know.”

The only thing she needs to do in a car is sit, but even still, her body doesn’t seem to know what to do near Obi.

Her fingers wrap tight around the tin in her lap, the rolled metal lip digging into skin. She’d been doing well the walk down, looking at the google earth photos of Wisteria Manor Obi pulled up on his phone -- there is a koi pond, and even though she denies it, she really wouldn’t put it past Izana to feed some guests to it if they annoyed him thoroughly enough -- but now that they’re in the car, something...changes.

It’s like standing in front of the eel tank in the aquarium; she can feel the charge to air, like there’s something right on the cusp of happening but she doesn’t know what it is, won’t know what it is until -- until --

“What’s that?”

A long finger taps the lid of her tin, ting ting ting, and lightning zings down her legs, leaves them wobbly against her seat.

“Um,” she hums, trying to put her feet flat against the floor, trying to ground herself. “It’s -- cookies?”

A laugh huffs out of him, his eyes rounding. “Wow, trying bribery this early in the game? You that worried about your chances?”

“No!” she yelps, clutching the rim until the rolled lip leaves divots in the creases of her fingers. “It’s a host gift! It’s -- it’s polite.”

His teeth bear down in a grin. “That’s precious.”

She can feel the heat on her face, knows she’s burning from ear to ear and probably from chin to hair as well. “It’s not!”

His eyes flick over to her, and in the dark all she sees is gold before he turns back to the road. “Okay,” he says, insincere.

Her lips press down, a bulwark against her impulse to explain herself, to tell him this is the way she was raised, that she doesn’t understand how everyone here thinks of customary politeness as something -- something cute and rustic. Something exceptional.

That’s not really small talk material. She barely knows him. He doesn’t need all that -- that baggage from her, not when he’s doing her a favor.

She sneaks a glance at him from the corner of her eyes, taking in the brushed hair, the nice clothes.

“I’m sorry,” she murmurs, ducking her head.

His head swivels to stare at her for a moment. “What? Why?”

“For, you know.” She waves her hand nebulously behind them. There’s no graceful way to say for interrupting your date. “Back there.”

Narrow eyebrows arch toward his hairline. “Oh. Don’t worry about it.”

She grimaces. Sure, he can say that, but it’s not like --

“It’s cute.”

She stares. “Excuse me?”

“Your grandparents,” he clarifies, starkly reminding her of the embarrassing circus by the front door, how Busha had tried to feed him -- “It’s cute. Them seeing you off.”

“Oh,” she sighs, trying desperately not to sound mortified. “Yes. That. Great.”

His eyes slant toward her, eyebrow cocked. “Was there something else?”

“I just...” She bites her lip. “I only mean that -- that I’m sorry you had to come pick me up.”

His brows furrow. It’s hard to tell in this light, but for a brief moment, illuminated by streetlight, she thinks she sees -- uncertainty. Maybe even something like regret.

“I mean, I’m grateful!” she assures him. By the dubious look on his face, she doubts it’s helping. “But since you were coming from -- from --” your date -- “somewhere.”

That makes him blink, make his eyes round in surprise. “Coming from somewhere?”

“Yeah.” She gestures at him, trying to encompass the whole...look. “You’re dressed up really nice.”

It’s not like she knows him well, and Obi’s skin in that sort of copper tone that makes sorting out this sort of thing difficult, but --

There’s some pink up on his cheeks. She’s almost certain of it. “I -- I always look like this.”

It’s not like she can really say with any authority how he dresses typically; aside from tonight, she’s only seen him the once, but -- but there was an easy casualness to the way he wore his torn up jeans, work boots crossed over at the ankle; and these clothes --

Well, it looks like someone’s got a rod down their spine. Or maybe -- a book perched on their head. Some reminder of what good posture looks like.

“But last week --”

“I was in a hurry.” His shoulders round over the wheel, making his voice little more than a mumble. “I dress nice all the time.”

She knows her mouth is hanging open, just slightly, but words are jockeying for place on the tip of her tongue; things like, I don’t think you’d say ‘dress nice’ if that was your normal.

“Ask anyone,” he snaps, defensive. “I do.”

She’s not sure what makes her want to prod at him like this, but she’s ready to, ready to tease him about how only Izana knows him, and he’d never spill his secrets unless it benefited him in some way, but she’s interrupted by the looming gates of Wisteria Manor. Obi leans out, getting them buzzed through, and by the time he’s back in the car the moment feels...gone.

It’s fine. Maybe she can suggest Beaumains gets a change of outfit too.

“What’s that smile for?”

She startles, twisting in her seat, right into where he’s leaning inquisitively over the center console. “Oh, um...”

It would be rude to tell him that she was daydreaming about how to tease him. Also, she seems to have misplaced her ability to word good getting so close to his grin. “I just...like smiling?”

He lets out a huff of a laugh as he turns away, throwing the car into drive as the gates clang open. He says something as they pull away, but something happens in the vicinity of the engine, a grindy clunking that sounds like gears failing to catch for a solid second, and she can only just make out, “...trouble.”

Her instinct is to open her mouth, to protest, but --

But instead she settles back against the seat, leaning her hand casually against her chin. Trouble.

“--do you really think I’d make bombs without some kind of protection?”

All she can picture is sharp, white teeth. “You are the most interesting woman I’ve ever met --”

Maybe it would be all right to be trouble. At least for him.

The Wisterias have a valet for their guests -- Obi argues with him on the veranda, reluctant to hand over his keys, even if it’s just to a well-loved Honda that probably saw its best days when Clinton was president -- but it’s still Izana who greets them at the door, polite smile firmly in place.

“Are those cookies?” he asks mildly, after inviting them to take off their hoodies, though he doesn’t readily provide a location to which they’ll go.

“Yes!” Shirayuki pipes, hunching her shoulders over the tin. “I thought -- it would be polite?”

Izana takes the tin as if he half expects it to explode. “I didn’t expect you to be the sort that resorted to bribes.”

“It’s not!” she sputters out, clapping her hands to her cheeks, wishing it could keep them from burning. “I just -- it’s a host gift.”

“A host gift,” Izana echoes softly, staring down at the snowman on the top. She probably could have found a less...festive box, but at the time, she’d thought it seemed friendly. “How lovely.”

For a moment, they all stand awkwardly in the hall. Then Izana glides into movement, gesturing to the hall beyond with a hand and nod of his head.

“Come on then,” he says, tucking the tin under his arm. “We’re just about to start.”

Shirayuki slips in front of him, headed toward the basement door as the boys fall into step behind her. They lag behind, just slightly, but not so much that she can’t hear Izana remark, “I didn’t realize you had plans tonight.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Obi returns, cagey.

She can hear Izana’s eyebrow raise. “You’re all dressed up.”

She shouldn’t laugh, she shouldn’t, but --

“This is how I always look!”

She covers it with a cough, barely.

“Oh,” Izana says, so mild. “Of course. How silly of me to forget.”

#obiyuki #akagami no shirayukihime #Dungeons & Dragons AU #my fic #ans #there is a stunning lack of actual tabletop play in this #but Shirayuki is absolutely one of those people who would spend a weekend worried #that maybe she was weirder than the people who have been playing Arthurian Knights flavored D&D for the past three years #also you may all rest assured #that obi spent nearly an hour trying to decide what to wear #and probably texted torou like a half dozen times #wondering if looking nice was too much #and Torou spent the whole time laughing at the fact that SHE'S SEVENTEEN OBI #you spend YEARS telling me you don't want to date ever #and then decide you want to date the one girl YOU CAN'T DATE #IT'S NOT THAT I WANT TO DATE HER TOROU I JUST THOUGHT MAYBE I SHOULD LOOK NICE #torou: uh-huh. SURE

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choupetit · 6 years ago

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GOT Recap: The Last of the Starks

Airdate: 5/5/19 Season 8, Episode 4

Ack! The remaining episodes of Game of Thrones are dwindling as fast as the number of secondary characters – we’re more than halfway through the season and merely two episodes away from the end of the series. Waaaah, I just want it to last forever! This latest episode offered up a buffet of secrets, strategy, and surprises, oh my! There’s a lot to unpack, as the writers rush to neatly tie up storylines and set things up for the next big battle, so get comfy, grab a cup of your favorite Starbucks beverage and let’s hop right into the recap for “The Last of the Starks”:

We start off at Winterfell, with a somber send-off of all the valiant heroes who died in the battle against the Night King and his Army of Dead. Ser Jorah’s body lays on a funeral pyre and a grief-stricken Daenerys Targaryen bids him farewell and whispers something into his ear.

Sansa Stark stands by Theon Greyjoy’s pyre, crying. You can’t help but think of all the horror they both endured together at the hands of Ramsay Bolton – the one person who best understood what Sansa has been through is now gone. She places her Direwolf sigil pin in his vest. Awww, Theon has officially been redeemed in the eyes of the Starks.

After everybody has had the chance to pay their respects, the camera zooms out and we see the enormity of the casualites – rows and rows of multi-leveled funeral pyres stretch across the battlefield.

Jon Snow gives a heartfelt speech and reminds all the survivors of their honor and duty to keep the legacy alive of the brave men and women who died to ensure the safety of humankind. The pyres are lit, and the gigantic cloud of smoke they emit is immense.

With the mass funeral behind them, it’s time for everybody to celebrate their survival with a grand feast in the Great Hall. Bran Stark, Sansa, Jon, and Daenerys are all steated at the VIP table for the festivities, though Daenerys won’t even look at Jon. Arya’s absence is noticed by Gendry, who asks everybody he knows if they’ve seen her.

As Gendry walks past the VIP table, Queen Dany calls him out. It’s a tense moment as she asks him “Hey, aren’t you the son of Robert Baratheon? You know, the dude who tried to have me killed?” Gendry cautiously replies, “Um…well, about that, see, I didn’t even know my pops and I only recently even found out he was my dad, so…” and then Dany’s all “Dude, I’m just messing with you.” She makes him Lord of Storm’s End – which is apparently a title that is totally up for grabs, and she also tells him he’s not a bastard anymore. Because. She. Said. So. She also decrees that it’s time for the realm to have access to hand-crafted coffee drinks from entirely different universes and everybody hails both Queen Dany and Gendry, Lord of Storm’s End. Tyrion leans over to Dany and praises her on the smart move: It’s both a fitting reward for a war hero and will ensure Gendry’s line will always be loyal to her.

Across the room, Jaime Lannister convinces Brienne of Tarth to let loose and drink a bit, seeing how they have fought Death and survived.

Meanwhile Tyrion and Davos share a quick chat about Melisandre and the Lord of Light thing that was, actually, weirdly accurate - and now it’s all over without much rhyme or reason. Thanks for acknowledging my feelings, GOT writers, because, yes, it does seem odd that we would have so much cool prophecy-driven stuff and have it suddenly vanish. Tyrion cynically states that even though the Dead may be gone, they still have people to contend with – and humans are doing a pretty decent job in destroying themselves without the help of the Night King.

Tyrion makes his way to Bran and I can’t help wondering what conversation these two had the night before the battle. When he points out that Bran’s abilities as the hard drive for their world’s memories will surely serve him well as the Lord of Winterfell, Bran shrugs it off, saying he’s not a Lord, and honestly doesn’t have need for wants in this world as he pretty much spends most of his time in the past. Gah, I really want to see more time jumps!!! I’m really hoping that Bran’s nifty warging days continue and that they will have a role to play in the following two episodes.

As the men and women continue to celebrate and drink heavily, Tormund Giantsbane gives a toast to the Dragon Queen, who in turn toasts the absent Arya Stark as the true hero of Winterfell that she is. Meanwhile, Tyrion joins Jaime, Brienne and Podrick Payne for a rousing drinking game.

The night wears on and Tormund is sloshed out of his mind. He boistrously sings Jon’s praises, listing his many daring accomplishments and at one point Tormund even roars “Who flies a dragon? A madman! Or a king!!” and the room breaks out in cheers. Daenerys ain’t liking it. She sulks in the corner and gives major side eye to Jon and his group of pals who are all having a blast as she sits alone and friendless. Varys looks on with suspicious concern. She rises with a resentful scowl and exits the hall.

Brienne, Podrick and the Lannister bros thoroughly enjoy their drinking game until Tyrion pulls an a-hole move by speculating about Brienne’s virginity. It’s very Breakfast Club-y (“Answer the question, Claire!”) and it sobers Brienne up real quick. She excuses herself and walks off. Jaime follows after her.

Sansa spies the Hound and joins him for a chat. At first he’s his usual gruff self, but he soon comes to realize just how much Sansa has changed since her time in King’s Landing. He points out that she could have been spared all the torment she’s lived through, if only she had trusted him and left King’s Landing with him the night of the battle at the Blackwater. Sansa – boss that she is – goes full Christina Aguilera and tells him how all those hardships made her stronger and the woman that she is today. It’s really an awesome scene and solidifies why the Hound is one of my faves and also how savvy and confident Sansa has become since the start of the series.

Gendry leaves the hall and finds Arya, shooting arrows by herself in the courtyard. He shares the news of his Lordship with her and before you know it, he’s professing his love for her and bends his knee to propose that she become his wife and the Lady of Storm’s End. Aw, Gendry! That’s sweet, but that’s also not Arya’s jam at all. She lets him down super easy, and while it’s kind of a bummer these two aren’t going to settle down and make babies together, it’s totally the right move. Hold on, though – maybe they already HAVE made a baby together?! I know it seems a bit far-fetched to throw that log onto the storyline fire with just a few episodes left, but it could be an actual possibility. Just sayin’.

With the festivities winding down, errbody is looking for a booty call. Jaime comes a knockin’ on Brienne’s door to do some serious follow up on the question about her virginity. They hook up and it’s the first time for them both – for Jaime it’s the first time sleeping with a knight…and probably also somebody who isn’t related to him. For Brienne, it’s the first time sleeping with a dude with a golden prosthetic – which might come in rather…handy. Also, she is a virgin. Well, she was. ‘Till Jaime gave her a hand in that department. Ok, I’ll stop.

As Jon sits in his room, there’s a knock on the door. It’s Daenerys and he invites her in. She gets super vulnerable with him and tells him she loves him. Things start to heat up and they make out until Jon remembers that she’s his aunt. Weirdly, it spoils the moment. Dany wishes he had never told her the truth about his parents, and she begs him to keep it a secret. Jon reasons that he has to tell his family and he downplays the significance of putting the truth out into the world for everybody to know. Danerys counters that this will destroy them and he has a choice, but is being a d-bag about it. “Ugh, why can’t you just go along with my awesome plan to live in blissful repression so I can be queen and everything stays amazing?!” She leaves in a huff. I’m so torn by the stuff going on with Dany. The writers are turning her into this unlikeable, selfish, pouty brat. On the one hand, I feel she is justified to feel and act the way she does. On the other hand, she’s making a lot of poor and rash decisions lately and really isn’t winning people over. She needs a PR overhaul to get her mojo back, stat.

The next day in the War Room, all the important people are discussing strategy as it pertains to knocking Cersei off her Iron Throne. Daenerys has lost half her Dothraki and Unsullied troops. Same for Jon and the Northerners. They are now at an even balance with Cersei’s fighters which include the Golden Company. Yara Greyjoy has managed to take back the Iron Islands, so Dany has her support. Dorne also stands behind Daenerys’ claim to the throne, because they hate Cersei’s guts. Daenerys points out that is doesn’t matter that she has half of Westeros’s support if Cersei remains in power in the capital – she must be removed. And Dany’s gut instinct is to completely annihilate King’s Landing.

Lord Varys points out that it’s not the best move to kill thousands of innocent people, if they can find a better way to remove Cersei from power. Tyrion suggests they make use of the Greyjoy fleet and cut off all food from coming into King’s Landing – he’s seen the people revolt against their monarch on their own in the past. If they show the starving plebians what a crappy leader Cersei is, they’ll handle her downfall on their own. He also suggests that Daenerys offer Cersei a bargain, wherein the current queen can keep her life if she steps down without a fight. At first Dany bristles at the idea, but she agrees to this plan, if only because it will make Daenerys look good to the people of King’s Landing that she attempted to broker a deal with Cersei to minimize the suffering of the common folk.

Sansa speaks up and says that her men – aka the North – need time to rest and heal from the battle against the Night King. Daenerys snaps back like a petulant child. “Excuse me?? We need to attack my enemies NOW. I lent my forces for the Winterfell battle – and now that it’s time to pony up the North’s soldiers for my pet project of conquering the realm, you don’t wanna do it yet? What do we say to the God of stalling for time? NOT TODAY, BIATCH!” Jon interjects that they’ll give Dany whatever she wants, when she wants, and both his sisters shoot him a look. Ugh, I think it’s a really dumb decision on Daenerys’s part, and it is really solidifying her continued descent into becoming an unreasonable tyrant. Plus, it’s not winning her any favor among the Northerners, which she badly needs. Really, what’s the harm in waiting another week or two?

Everybody agrees that Jon and the Northern army will march south along the King’s Road. Meanwhile, Dany and her Unsullied will head to White Harbor and sail back to Dragonstone. As everybody leaves the room, only the Stark siblings are left behind and Arya grabs Jon’s arm. “We need a word, bro.”

In the Godswood, Bran, Sansa, Arya and Jon all talk about how Sansa and Arya don’t trust Daenerys. But why?! Cause she’s not family. Ooooo-kay? Jon argues that’s a pretty stupid reason (I agree), as you can’t go far in life if you don’t widen the circle of trust beyond your kin. When Arya remarks the four of them are the last of the Starks and they need to stick together, Jon says he isn’t really a Stark. Both sisters tell him that they see Jon as their brother, not their half-bro or a bastard. Jon’s face is all “Oh, crap. Maaaan, do I need to get this out now???” “Dude, it’s your call,” says Bran. And then Jon spills the beans. Or rather, he swears his sisters to secrecy and then makes Bran fill them in on the details of his true parents. Sadly, we viewers don’t get to see that part, so I’m left to imagine Bran pulling out a powerpoint presentation with a venn diagram of two circles that say “People Jon is related to” and “People Jon has slept with.”

The Lannister bros are chilling in one of the parlors at Winterfell, when who should walk in, but Bronn of the Blackwater – crossbow in hand. Tyrion and Jaime ask him what’s up and Bronn tells him of Cersei’s plan to have him assassinate the two of them for a handsome reward. Only problem is that Bronn doubts Cersei will win the war against Daenerys, and then she won’t be able to pay up. When Tyrion reminds Bronn of their mutual understanding that Tyrion will double any amount that Bronn is offered to kill him, they reach an agreement. Jaime and Tyrion can live, and at the end of it all, when Dany takes over as queen, Bronn gets to be Lord of Highgarden – formerly the home of House Tyrell. I don’t really think Tyrion is in any position to make this offer, but it gets the job done and Bronn is out of the picture till the fighting is through. He’s always wanted that Castle, and now he may actually get it. Huzzah for Bronn!

Outside Winterfell, the Hound is on a solo ride, when Arya shows up on horseback and joins him. They both disclose that they are each headed to King’s Landing for some unfinished business with no intention of returning to Winterfell. And since these two travel so well as a duo, they agree to make the trek together. When the Hound asks Arya if she’ll leave him to die again, should he get hurt she quips “Probobaly.” He grins and they trot off side by side. It’s such a good scene. These two are #FriendshipGoals. My guess is the Hound means to kill his big Frankenbrother, the Mountain. And Arya, obviously, must be planning to murder Queen Cersei. Hopefully she’ll do it disguised as Jaime and give Cersei the shock of her life when she ends it.

From the ramparts, Sansa watches Queen Dany take off with her dragons. Tyrion approaches and asks “What’s wrong, Buttercup? How come you don’t like my queenie?” Sansa considers things for a while and then goes “What if I told you there was a better choice?” Ruh-roh, don’t trust Sansa with your secrets, y’all! Gurl is savage when it comes to pushing her agenda. It’s a calculated move on her part, but damn, that is a major betrayal to Jon. I wonder what it’ll do to their relationship.

In the courtyard, Jon is ready to hit the road and bids farewell to Tormund. His wildling pal is over life south of the Wall, and plans to head back North once the winter storms calm down. Jon tells him to take Ghost, too. WTF, Jon! Rude. Sam and Gilly say goodbye and reveal that Gilly is preggers. Yay, Sam will have a legit heir for House Tarly…I mean…if they tie the knot, I guess. They’d better hop to it. Then Jon gets on his horse and trots off without so much as a belly rub or a pat on the head for poor Ghost who just looks at him like, “Wow. Ok, so all those times I saved your ass, and protected your dead body and saved your friend AND then ran like a madwolf into a horde of Dead for you…that meant nothing? Screw you, Jon Snow. P.S. I peed on your entire collection of hair ties. See ya never.”

Dany’s fleet is on the home stretch with Dragonstone in sight. Tyrion and Varys are aboard one of the ships and discuss Jon’s secret and what it means for the future of the realm. Varys questions Daenerys’ state of mind and Tyrion sticks up for her. Grasping onto hope that Dany and Jon might be able to get married and rule in harmony, Varys shuts it down. “He can’t marry his aunt, dude! He’s from the North and that just ain’t cool. You think his people would stand for that union?” But Tyrion lobbies hard for Dany and tells Varys she needs guidance from her trusted advisors. Varys just gives him resting eunuch face.

Above in the skies, Dany flies on Drogon while Rhaegal soars nearby and the dragons both shriek out happy dragon sounds at the sight of their home when…THWACK! Out of nowhere a spear pierces Rhaegal’s chest. And then another comes at him. Holy moles! Euron’s fleet has been lying in wait and each ship is outfitted with a giant dragon-killing spear launcher. More shots are fired and Rhaegal gets it in the wing and goes down, crashing into the water below. Dany is furious and steers Drogon straight at Euron – pure rage burning in her eyes. This is exactly what Euron wants. He readies the next spear and aims it at her. But when the spears are launched, Daenerys manages to dodge out of the way and changes course away from the reach of the weapons. Next, Euron turns the spears on Dany’s fleet, completely destroying all her boats. Survivors – including Tyrion and Grey Worm –make it ashore, but Grey Worm soon notices that Missandei is missing.

In King’s Landing, Cersei watches from her balcony as commoners file into the Red Keep – she plans to use them as human shields. Should Daenerys try to lay fiery waste to Cersei and the Red Keep, she’ll have to do so at the expense of the death of several thousands of innocents. Not a great way to gain the love of the masses, Dany. Euron is there, too, and confirms that Dany’s one dragon was killed. Cersei smiles smugly and tells Euron how their child will rule both the land and sea. Nice way to break the news to him – even if it’s a lie. Euron is delighted that he’s knocked her up and secured his spot as future king. As Cersei saunters away, we see she’s taken Missandei as her prisoner. Ugh, Cersei is such a ruthless biatch. I don’t understand why she wants to be queen if she doesn’t give a crap about her subjects and hates to be an actual leader to her people. Seriously, she should just go and be a filthy rich Real Housewife of Casterly Rock and day drink all the time – it would be so less stressful and her quality of life would improve immensely.

In the War Room at Dragonstone, Daenerys, Varys, Grey Worm and Tyrion all discuss next steps. Both Dany and Grey Worm are out for revenge and are driven by their emotions, due to Missandei being kidnapped. Grew Worm pushes for them to storm the city with no regard for the thousands of civilians who will die in the process. Varys advises strongly not to do this and Dany gets a frightning look in her eye as she says it’s her destiny to free the world from tyrants – no matter the cost. Somebody call Alanis Morissette because we really need to work this into her “Ironic” song. “It’s like killing 10,000 peeeeeeeps, so you can be their beloved queen…”

In the Dragonstone throne room, Varys and Tyrion are in for more hand-wringing as they discuss the Daenerys/Jon problem. Ultimately, Varys has lost faith in the dragon queen and he’s ready to bet all his chips on Jon. He questions her ability to keep a cool head and worries she’ll get more ruthless and impulsive with more power. When Tyrion protests that Jon doesn’t even want to be king, and can’t they just rule together, Varys dismisses it as an option. In the end, Tyrion chooses to stand by his queen and do what a good advisor SHOULD do. Varys, however, is ready to board the treason train. When Tyrion asks Varys what would become of Dany, Varys just give him a look. “Don’t do it, dude.” – “I’ve made my choice – now you make yours”, says Varys. Oh man. We already know Varys is gonna bite it, due to Melisandre’s prediction last season. I’m betting Dany is going to find out about his plotting and have him killed.

Word of Daenerys’s ambush is delivered to Sansa. When Jaime approaches her, she fills him in and adds “I always wanted to see your sis get executed – looks like I won’t have the chance. Tsk, tsk.” That evening, Jaime leaves Brienne’s warm bed and saddles up a horse in the courtyard. When Brienne notices he’s gone, she runs outside and begs him to stay. She believes he intends to save Cersei from Dany’s wrath. Jaime won’t be persuaded and he gallops off as Brienne sobs, heartbroken. Personally, I think he might just go and try to kill Cersei himself – because, prophecies. That is, unless Arya beats him to it. Oooh, maybe he’ll get to King’s Landing just in time to see Arya disguised as him…killing Cersei. Whaaaaat? Mind blown. It could happen.

Outside the walls of the Red Keep, Daenerys and Cersei have a parlay. Cersei stands on her ramparts – which have several dragon-spearing weapons set up – along with Missandei and the Mountain. Both Hands of the Queen, Qyburn and Tyrion, meet up. Tyrion informs Qyburn that Dany demands Cersei’s unconditional surrender and that Missandei be released immediately. Qyburn placidly parrots nearly the same demand back to Tyrion: Cersei demands Daenerys’s unconditional surrender and if she doesn’t, Missandei will die on the spot. As Tyrion attempts to reason with Qyburn, he can see it’s pointless and he bypasses him, trotting right up to the gates to talk to his sister directly.

When Tyrion approaches, Cersei’s archers all pull back their bows, ready to shoot him and oh my goodness, I’m so worried that Tyrion is about to get killed! Cersei raises her hand, and after a good long moment of trepidation, she gives her men the signal to stand down. Whew! Tyrion appeals to Cersei’s one good side – her loving nature as a mother – and he tells her she and her child don’t have to die if they cut a deal. She can end her rule, and still have a great life with her child. But Cersei ain’t having it. She walks over to Missandei, who stands dangerously close to the edge of the wall. Cersei leans in and places a hand on her arm – is she going to push her?! Will she release her?! Nah, instead she tells Missandei this is her chance for some final words. Ugh! WHY? Missandei tearfully stares out at her Queen and Grey Worm and in a cracked voice calls out “DRACARYS!” The Mountain draws his sword and in one fell blow, chops off Missandei’s head while Daenerys looks on in helpless horror. Her shock turns into pure simmering rage as Daenerys turns away and storms off. And roll credits.

Ruh to the roh! This episode was rough! Poor Missandei. And poor Grey Worm! I mean, I did assume one of them was going to die by the end of the series, but my money was on Grey Worm. RIP Missandei! I’m so upset that Daenerys is losing her most trusted people who love and support her completely. I’m not happy at all that the show really seems to be setting her up for a total Mad Queen downward spiral. Say it ain’t so.

I can’t say I really liked this episode, though I guess it was a necessary one to get all the pieces into place for the last two episodes. I found it hopped all over the place to get as much stuff in as possible and tie up lots of characters’ stories. I just hate all the things Dany did in this episode and it feels like a total betrayal to the viewer, if I may say so. They just had her be this pouty, impulsive and manipulative person who makes a lot of dumb choices. If this is all meant to lay the groundwork to make her seem more and more power hungry and unstable, then well-done, but it doesn’t seem true to her nature at all and feels a bit like a cop out. Unless the writers just WANT us to believe they are going down that track and then they’ll surprise us all. Ahhh, the GOT mind games are messing with me.

Also, I really hope Arya gets to kill Cersei and I’m thinking maybe she’ll even help the Hound kill his bro – because Cleganebowl is starting to look like a sure thing here, right? I kinda feel like Arya will die by the end of the series, because all four Stark siblings can’t possibly survive, can they?

I’m getting super excited for the big battle episode next week and I’m hoping it doesn’t leave me as disappointed as “The Long Night” in its resolution. Hang in there, friends, and I’ll see ya next week!

#GOTrecaps

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visionssofgideon · 7 years ago

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In-depth Reflection on Kingsman: The Golden Circle (Spoilers)

FUCKING SPECTACULAR, EH!

After so much waiting, watching new promos and trailers everyday, I watched Kingsman: The Golden Circle today! The sequel to my favorite movie of all time! And BOY, I have so many thoughts. I am going to try to go as in-depth as I can, and as much in order as I can but BEWARE this is nearly a shit post with me pouring all of my feelings into it and will have random points all over the place, but mainly is me trying to process everything, this is A LOT (it’s 3k) and basically a summary of the movie

SPOILER ALERT!!! OBVIOUSLY LOL okAY LET’S GO

They started off the fucking MOVIE with Take me Home, Country Roads on a bagpipe FUCK

FUCK YEAH EGGSY UNWIN! GARY UNWIN! MY MAN! MY DUDE! MY SON! YOU LOOK SO FINE IN THAT SUIT, YOU LOOK JUST LIKE YOUR DECEASED HUSBAND shit too soon

IT HASN’T EVEN BEEN A MINUTE CHARLIE GET THE FUCK OUT IDC HOW YOU SURVIVED GO AWAY also ALL THESE CARS OH FUCK IS THIS ALL POPPY! Anyways Yes yes yes EPIC drifting cab scene! Eggsy has grown so much yeah boy you kick his ass! I love this drifting cab scene, they built a custom cab that could drift how amazing is that! But oh nooo, ugh Charlie’s stupid arm made the poisonous blade kill the driver :(

Eggsy can hold his breath because he was training for the marines but also throwback to his training when he was the only one that was smart enough to see the two-way mirror! The police were like yOu wOt m8 @ Eggsy but iT’S OKAY there’s a secret Kingsman entrance under the lake! By the way HI MERLIN I LOVE YOU YOU SCOTTISH MAN but Eggsy you are a BRAVE man for jumping into shit! On a side not, the hand just hacked into Kingsman holy shite

HI TILDE agh prefer Eggsy with the love of his life, Harry Hart, but you DAMN brave for wanting to kiss a shit-covered Eggsy! Also HI JB YOU’VE GROWN SO MUCH! But wait, EGGSY MOVED INTO HARRY’S HOUSE! Just like the fanfics said! That makes me so happy

Cool transition from a bag of pot to Cambodia! Poppy is FUCKING CRAZY, actual psychopath, I mean cannibalistic burgers, delicious! Those dogs are cool, more realistic than other movies, but rip people who are put through the shredder! Ngl that burger looks pretty good

AW TILDE TRYING TO TEACH EGGSY MANNERS BUT FUCK HERE IS THE DELETED HARTWIN BREAKFAST SCENE FROM TSS! THE MYTHICAL BREAKFAST SCENE IS REAL! Eggsy paying close attention to his lover Harry Hart is

The fact that Eggsy has to hold back tears when simply thinking of Harry is so :( And he even asks Mr. Pickles, because he remembers Harry’s love for him. Eggsy Unwin was in love with Harry Hart, okay.

“Galahad, late again” HAHA just like Harry used to be! Hi off-brand Michael Caine-looking Arthur! ROXY MORTON IS MY GIRLFRIEND HI I LOVE YOU OKAY I KNOW WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN BUT I LOVE YOU! She looks so fly, so does Eggsy and Merlin! Also bye @Charlie I can’t believe he survived armless and now works for the craziest person ever!

Honestly rip this guy who just got the golden circle tat and is eating his friend in the form of a burger which btw looks pretty good! Welcome to hell!

Oh nice, the dinner scene! Eggsy is such a gentleman but he actually loves Tilde? He’s actually doing this wow and it’s all because Roxy Morton aka my gf is helping him out! Of course he doesn’t know about spanish painter Frida Kahlo! Roxy ugh ur da best from galahad, and roxy asking best friend or best agent? Both ;) AGH also NICE Eggsy started his own wall like Harry’s of the menial news! UGH Eggsy’s friend is so dumb what is he DOING! AHHHH HAND GRENADE and Eggsy cursing 100x in front of Tilde’s parents

NO NO NO BOMBING EGGSY’S PLACE! Everything is gone ALL OF HARRY’S STUFF! NO JB NONO EGGSY’S FRIEND! WHAT THE WHERE DID THESE MISSILES COME FROM oh fucking POPPY

Roxy knew, she knew, she even tried to escape but… Roxy Morton! MATTHEW VAUGHN I am utterly disgusted and disheartened! Roxy had so much potential, and remaining in a platonic relationship with Eggsy, their friendship was amazing! She was a brilliant agent, not to mention um the only female!? DENIAL! DENIAL! Roxy survived, she tried escaping, so she survived! WE WILL SEE ROXY MORTON IN THE THIRD KINGSMAN MOVIE OKAY

Arthur is dead, all the Kingsman including Percival are dead… Poppy is absolutely crazy, and is giving Charlie a new arm! God, from the trailer, the crazy slingshot arm! Agh no no no this won’t be good…

Eggsy, all alone, in despair. And here go Merlin and Eggsy blaming each other, for possible betrayal! And god Eggsy, Eggsy telling it like it is, everybody is dead, JB, Roxy, his friend, everybody… but Merlin told him to not shed a tear, to hold in emotion, as if he has done this before.

Thus, the doomsday protocol ensues- shopping, drinking. Statesman whiskey! Drinking to everybody! Drink to Scottland! Haha, nice try @ drunk!Merlin! But drunk Eggsy slurring his words and Merlin being an absolute mess and crying is just…. Somebody please get Merlin Kentucky fried chicken, please

HAHA that part of Merlin breaking in, opening the barrel! Hello CHANNING TATUM! Agent Teqila HAHA okay! That fighting was great, wow like being an American for once! WOW please don’t set their balls on fire, that would not be good! HAHA Yeah Tequila, go fuck yourself!

WAIT BUT, HARRY HART IS ALIVE! HARRY HART, SHAVING, BEAUTIFUL MALE SPECIMAN, HARRY HART! HARRY FUCKING HART! EGGSY UNWIN’S SOULMATE! He is alive, and beautiful as ever! Yes Eggsy, we understand, “Fuck me” as in you love Harry Hart we get it! Eggsy and Merlin yelling, but alas, a two-way mirror! YAY GINGER ALE TO THE RESCUE LOVE YOU HALLE BERRY MY QUEEN

Harry looks all smiley! All happy! But he doesn’t know… I predicted this, his amnesia :( Please remember bby! Eggsy is all frustrated, but look at Harry focusing on his butterflies! YES YES THE STATESMAN IN KENTUCKY SAVED HARRY wow cool technology for being American, I would like to thank Ginger! Unfortunately, Harry reverted to his old self. Before kingsman or army, he was a lover of butterflies. Wow. Before being in the army, a kingsman agent, he was a lepidopterist

ELTON JOHN, THE BEST PART OF THIS MOVIE POSSIBLY! Telling it to Poppy as it should be!

HAHA hello champ! Yay jeff bridges! What a man, he seems so chill, I want to have a conversation with him! Champ>>>>>Arthur. Will never get over the fact that the Kingsman are knights of the round table, galahad, lancelot, percival… the statesman are fckuing alcoholic beverages how American sigh,,,,, also Whiskey, hi pedro pascal!

Harry Hart reading his dear book about butterflies! No, they’re putting him through training again to jog his memory! But poor Harry is struggling no no my bby please stop! Btw Colin Firth is the best actor ever okay thanks! Agh this scene is breaking my heart :(((( Harry’s trying to hard to remember, Merlin is trying so much, but Harry’s just here soaking wet :(((

AW JB 2.0 thanks @tilde aw okay people get people they love dogs to help them…. Keep that in mind for later for what I KNOW is coming up!

Lol mini condom and penis joke bc haha America sucks! Look Charlie’s gf who Eggsy will have to get to for their mucus membrane because the trackers needs to be… Haha Whiskey “tinder-what?” me!

BLUE VEIN shit… tequila come on mate! So sugar is 10000x worse than any drug rip :( Elton John is great I love him! Poppy is crazy pt. 2, those dogs are scary, please no! Hey, Elton is friend hell yeah!

Ahhh, can I just say, even though I don’t want Eggsy with Tilde, he is such a decent man to tell her what he is going to do! Despite knowing she’s going to be mad! NO PROPOSAL PLEASE but still, Eggsy Unwin is a good man that is all I have to say! Started from the bottom (literally) now we’re here! Lol @Tilde he actually loves Harry Hart! Anyways, time to travel through the vagina! Matthew Sexist Vaughn everybody! LOL @Merlin being uncomfortable and Ginger being total 100% chill, they are perfect for each other! i ship

HI HARRY! Oh god is this the maggot butterfly scene? YES IT IS! oh fuck fuck fuck. Okay can I say, Harry Hart is so smiley, he loves talking about butterflies. THIS SCENE GOD yes Harry pin Eggsy against the wall! Btw my FAVORITE thing is when Harry says “Perhaps you mean larvae” and smiles. Such a sweet smile! And the smiles are sad at the same time, because he doesn’t know who Eggsy is! And now Eggsy is sad drinking, trying not to think about the old Harry, trying to deal with the whole Tilde situation. God, the scenes between Harry and Eggsy are making me so elated with both joy and sorrow, because Hartwin. BUT THE PUPPY! Eggsy looked up pet store and

OH MY GOD MR. PICKLES 2.0! FAVORITE SCENE EVER! Ahhh Harry smiling, or rather Colin smiling at the pupper, the most precious thing! Young, non-agent Harry Hart is innocent and will love and cherish a puppy. BUT EGGSY, stop torturing him! Eggsy is trying so hard to jog Harry’s memory, but it’s so sad! Also, Colin Firth’s acting in this scene, is just fantastic! Absolutely amazing, to see the contrast! Young Harry Hart or CGId Colin Firth is the sweetest thing, to see his love Mr. Pickles. Because truly, Mr. Pickles was Harry Hart’s pressure point. Saying that Harry would never hurt a puppy, it was a blank, and HARRY IS BACK! Harry Hart, the agent, the man who knew he was an agent, but also a man. A man with feelings, with love, with innocence! No more Eggy, hello Eggsy, your husband! GOSH, THE HUG! Eggsy Unwin on his tippy toes hugging his soulmate Harry Hart and the puppy he got him! YES, remember how Tilde got Eggsy a puppy to help him because she loved him. If you love somebody and get them a puppy, then you know that Eggsy Unwin is deeply in love with Harry Hart. I truly think this is it. Hartwin confirmed #nice

BAR NICE yay Harry is back! Still can’t believe! OH GOD Eggsy holding back tears seeing his eye, but Harry completely and undoubtedly ROCKING those eyepatch-glasses like he was meant to! Okay, who is this redneck guy calling Harry the f-word. Please, Harry Hart may be the gayest man alive (in TSS with Dean’s guy saying that there’s “another rent boy around the corner” triggering Harry just like the f-word did, as well as his smirk in TSS when saying “my black jewish boyfriend” HAHA) but this is just rude. And Harry can’t aim because his depth perception is 100x worse than before now :( Stop punching Harry my bby! #StopHurtingHarryHart2k17! Manners DO Maketh Man, but Harry still needs to relearn! Well Whiskey going to whip them into shape, Diana Prince 2.0? That’s a REALLY GOOD FIGHT SCENE! Wow Southerners are not like what I expected! I hope Harry gets better soon

UGH Poppy is crazy pt. 3! This disease is crazy, but there is Elton John to save the day! ELTON YOU DA MAN! Anyways, yikes! DANCING HHAHA, Tequila could bust some dank moves! Anyways the world is going crazy, but what else is new? OH the US president is a dick… Trump, is that you? Low-key about Trump even though this finished filming before he became president! See, the president here is what I think of when I think of Southerners.

Okay so they’re going to Italy! And Eggsy is not going without Harry! Aw, look at my sons who are so in love with each other! Nice outfits boy! Aw, Harry can’t do too much field work because he’s still recuperating :( He couldn’t aim his watch thing, but a bang will do! BTW Colin actually knows Italian, so this is perfect! HAHA River! Lol I hate @Charlie but SHIT his gf got caught hahahah yikes… Oh no Harry is hallucinating again! And here come a crazy ride, which Pedro and Taron actually felt because Matthew Vaughn wants to make everything as realistic as possible! Because Matthew Vaughn is the devil!! Okay this is hella intense for not being a fight scene but also funny because of them yelling! Lol they stopped because of Eggsy pulling the parachute (tb to TSS) but it’s an American flag wow how American! And the old man said that was the best shit he’s had in a while, so I guessed it all worked out!

Okay cabin scene, Eggsy greets his bf again yay but THERE ARE SHOOTERS SHIT also nice @whiskey really cool fight scene and DIANA PRINCE 2.0! Okay Harry just shot Whiskey and oh no Eggsy don’t blame yourself! It’s not your fault, really it’s not! But don’t yell at Harry, he just saved your life with that cologne lmao… Okay I don’t like Eggsy being mad at Harry :( OH SHIT WUDDUP CHARLIE JUST BLEW UP HIS GF yikes sucks. Btw Merlin and Ginger working together is amazing, they are a new ship!

The president sucks pt. 2 (again, Trump?) Wow this human in cage thing is crazy, dystopian shit, actual yikes! Not to mention everybody has the “dancing disease” lmao! Look, merlehad! Haha so apparently Harry should know Merlin’s favorite singer but he doesn”t rip

Thought the lawyer was Merlin ngl

Ugh Eggsy is sad, Harry make him feel better! MARTINIS! Oh shit, this is going to be emotional. Eggsy talking about Tilde to Harry, but Harry loves him. And god, talking about when he was shot by Valentine. Not thinking of anything, anybody, because he never loved anybody… Brings me back to when he wanted to go back to his mother while he still had amnesia, who most likely passed away :( Please Harry Hart, I know you love Eggsy. Somebody love him. He says love is “worth living for”, and he lived for Eggsy.. WHAT IF HE thought of Eggsy when he was dying, but he didn’t say anything here because Eggsy had just told him that he has a gf SHIT SHIT SHIT no no please hartwin no

Aw sorry Whiskey :( He lost his gf, but now he is vengeful… wow okay this is a lot

MERLIN IN A KINGSMAN SUIT! YES MERLIN, I LOVE YOU, YES YES YOU LOOK SO FINE! And the machete is his haha! Wow a baseball and bat, so American.

And so we are here, Cambodia, and SHIT LAND MINE. No no no no, this is where it happens. WHY DOESN’T THE FROZEN THING HAVE MORE THAN 1 USE what kind of faulty fucking kingsman/statesman shit is that if it only has 1 use WHY DIDN’T YOU CARRY MORE MERLIN WHY YOU’RE SO STUPID NO SORRY YOU’RE NOT STUPID ILY BUT WHY :(((( Merlin sacrificing himself for Harry and Eggsy, because he is fully devoted to Kingsman. Eggsy trying to hold back emotion, but Harry and Merlin fully knowing what being a Kingsman is. “No time for emotion” FUCK

OH GOD.TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS! Merlin singing in his scottish accent, yelling out like he was meant to. God, why. Merlin, such a brilliant man, WHY. And he’s distracting Poppy’s men to save Eggsy and Harry! Okay, DENIAL! NO. Did you HEAR that last note?! Merlin braced himself and closed his eyes, but he might’ve not died! Merlin, Hamish, survived! His legs may have been blown off, but we will see him in the third movie, legless or not! I refuse to believe Merlin is dead.

Elton John as low-key performer/drag queen is my FAVORITE! It’s Wednesday FUCK YEAH! Oh, Eggsy and Harry look so vengeful, and they are perfect fighting together! Absolutely amazing! Eggsy taking Harry’s blind side is amazing, and their fighting impeccable. THE BITCH IS BACK ON THE MOVIE THEATER, YES INDEED! ELTON JOHN JUST HIT A MAN I LOVE HIM! Harry Hart, Eggsy Unwin, spy husbands fighting side by side!

Okay, bye @ dogs! ! WOW ELTON JOHN IS A FRIEND YES HAHA, okay low-key thought Elton John was going to say “If you save the world, we can do it in the asshole” to be Harry’s Tilde but he said “you can get backstage passes” which is the same thing OKAY GOD ELTON JOHN X HARRY HART NEW SHIP?? YES YAY wow he blew a kiss to him I’m dead this is so gay I love it harry hart fucked elton john

Charlie can go die okay thanks bye. Okay the one arm thing is dumb, Eggsy you have an advantage use both arms lol, anyways YES FOR MERLIN, REMEMBER MERLIN EGGSY!

Okay last fights. Poppy is crazy pt. final! Julianne Moore’s acting is AMAZING, really great! But um, viva las vegans? That’s dumb. Okay anyways OH SHIT BOI WHISKEY Harry Hart knew it! FINAL FIGHT SCENE and this is amazing! Absolutely amazing fight scene of spy husbands vs. Wonder Woman 2.0! Whiskey lost somebody because of drug addicts, man wow Kingsman really focuses on real issues, like the environment and drug addiction, but the villains are some crazy people!

Okay, Harry Hart is absolutely amazing, and he can fight amazingly now! Also, Colin Firth doing most of his stunts is AMAZING! Still can’t get the fact that Eggsy fit through the lasso! This is like the church scene in TSS and I love it! Epic fighting scenes with gore x rock music is A+!

YAY WORLD SAVED! Everybody is back! And the president sucks, so YAY FEMALE PRESIDENT! I think this is @ the American govt. and Trump LOL wow I love this movie.

SCOTLAND WINE BY KINGSMAN FUCK… Rest in peace Merlin :(

YES, GINGER IS FIELD AGENT! Okay besides the Roxy thing and tracker going inside vagine thing, this is a feminist movie! Female president, female statesman agent! FUCK YEAH!

Harry Hart and Eggsy Unwin, once again together… but Eggsy is getting married which, let’s not think about. MIRROR SCENE PARALLEL TO TSS AHH I want Harry Hart and Eggsy Unwin to love each other, to cherish each other, even if Eggsy doesn’t know “what the fuck is going on.” Alas, denial is key.

FINALLLY WE SEE EGGSY’S MUM WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WHOLE “come live with me” fiasco from TSS HMM ALSO WHERE IS DAISY @ Matthew Vaughn you owe us

Colin Firth’s monologue as Harry Hart made me realize, that I love Kingsman and will never get over it. It is only the beginning, and I can’t wait for more. This had so much emotion, despite it being so intense. RIP Kingsman agents, JB, Roxy, Merlin. Harry Hart, I love you. Hartwin, I will NEVER give up on you.

Oh boi Tequila is kingsman???? damn okay nice hat boi

FUCK

I’m going to cry at 2 am while singing Take Me Home, Country Roads (update: I DID CRY AT 2 AM)

F U C K !

If you read until the end, you are a TRUE Kingsman fan and true mutual/reader. Nice to know there are others out there who are just as crazy as me, but what can you do when you have such an amazing movie!

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atopearth · 8 years ago

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Midnight Cinderella Part 1 - Alyn Crawford Route

(To be honest, this CG was the moment I fell in love with Alyn LOL. Omg, isn’t he such a pretty boy?! He’s so prettyyy!)

He’s also such a sweetheart~~ Initially, I wasn’t too sure about him since he’s quite the serious one that won’t like you if you don’t take your duties as the princess properly but when our heroine declared to the king that she’ll fulfil her role well, he seemed to change his mind of her.

I guess Alyn kinda feels like a tsundere hahaha! He’s always rather blunt but he bothered to take the heroine out of the castle for her to meet her student one last time and he’s always quite lenient with her despite his rough attitude. I guess that’s why I like him so much hahaha, he’s actually so much sweeter than he shows himself to be XD

I also thought it was very admirable for the heroine to try and familiarise herself with horses when Alyn initially rejected teaching her how to ride one. I mean, he is the captain of the knights so that’s a pretty shoddy job lmaoo. But seeing her resolve, that warmed my heart and probably his too hahaha. Gotta say though, I was so sad when the heroine asked him to dance at the ball and he rejected her T__T I know he wants to protect her and just stay by her side like that to guarantee her safety (and really, he should be guarding her and not dancing I guess LOL) but it would’ve been hard to swallow such a rejection T_T can’t believe Leo is his twin brother though hahaha, thought their hair was similar but I thought it was just the art hahahaha.

I’m really happy that Alyn hardened his resolve and finally acknowledged his feelings for the heroine though. How saddening it must have been for his parents to have died because of some internal royal feud in the past, well guess the heroine will be there to listen, comfort and stay by his side forever now~ loll so funny when they started taking care of some random dog together lmao, where did it come from?! Why is no one looking for it?! How did it even come in? LOL

The thought of Alyn going to war for the country thoughhh..But omg, it was very sweet of him to say that he’ll definitely come back home because the heroine is waiting for him here~~ I also love how serious he takes the heroine’s pronunciation of her love for him with her desire to choose him as the possible next king. I guess his serious but sweet and playful attitude is what I love about Alyn <3 he likes to tease the heroine a lot haha~ So scandalous for the princess to have spent the night in a knight’s room though omggg! D: lmao, I sound like an old fashioned granny but seriously!! LOL If people knew...

Nico is a traitor!! Well it was obvious I guess but dangg, heroine sneaks out too much lol, so dangerous hahaha.

It was so heartwarming when she asked Alyn if he’d join her in fighting to protect Wysteria. It’s such a beautiful common goal because of their duties. To live and die together for the same ideals is a good thing, isn’t it? Will he have to abandon his knighthood eventually though? Omg, I think if I was younger, I’d be all over the idea of Alyn kissing the heroine in front of the officials to make the point that he is the prince consort the heroine has chosen and nothing will change that. It was still cute though but so cliche and unprofessional lol. Lolol at the officials being speechless. But yeah, so cute when they both snuck out and shared a kiss~~ they’re so affectionate loll.

The conflict with the other kingdom was so easily solved lol but it’s an otome game so I guess it’s fine… Didn’t miss Alyn much though since he didn’t leave for long lolol. I found it really nice that there was another royal ball and this time Alyn asked her to dance. It was nice progress, a nice little round up. How cuteeee that he said I love you on the balcony beneath the stars~~ omgg when he kissed her ankle though lolol. I’m not sure if it’s just me but I am not fond of the idea of kissing ankles etc or just anything to do with feet LOL. I can’t find it romantic…it feels more submissive..but yeah maybe that’s just me..

Omgg Alyn can cook!! He’s perfect!! Hahahaha. I’m so biased lmao. So cute that the ceremony is the princess asking the guy’s hand in marriage practically hahaha! That’s so cool! Lolol just realised we never saw Louis in the story until he started teaching the heroine how to dance in the Ever After story haha. You know, considering how the story progressed, I’m surprised that people opposing the princess system appear now like what theee lol. And I’m surprised that no one cares that a knight is becoming king, sure he might be some sort of noble but being a knight and a king are quite different… But who am I to know I guess… It’s a weird world.

I find it so funny that the next potential replacement queen is called Cosette. Because I named my heroine Rosette LOL. She’s like a fake hahaha. Eughhh I hate love triangle shit zzzz, I guess it’s nice that Cosette is a good person..? I feel so sorry for the heroine though, she didn’t even want to be the princess in the first place and now after they’ve chosen some worthy king, they want to kick her off for being a commoner like whaat, you knew she was a commoner from the outset, you guys choose from commoners like geez.

Can’t believe she told Alyn to have Cosette as queen. He might as well not be king then since he never wanted to be one anyway. And omg Cosette is such a baby, who would want her as queen omg, she’s not even being queen for anything besides this random fickle love she has for Alyn after like one day or something omgg. I really wonder if any of these people in the palace really care about the future of the kingdom because seriously, why would you just pick another dumb girl to be queen ughhh. The heroine at least tries to be a good one. Geez at Leo trying to comfort the heroine by offering himself as a replacement lol, glad she rejected him.

Sometimes I wonder how close Stein and Wysteria is because Nico comes all the time, the king bothered to come all the way to support her as queen when he only saw her once and lol that minds can be changed so easily. But I guess it’s not like a regime they’re fighting for, they just don’t want a peasant princess that knows nothing. Which is still stupid because Cosette was a noble princess who seemed to know nothing about responsibilities. And why is it so easy to get someone to be a new queen? What’s the point of the princess elect system then... Sometimes I wonder why they don’t just have more than one princess to train if they’re so dissatisfied with a commoner. It’s like seriously, those people in the kingdom just deal with problems as they come up rather than at the forefront. Sigh, do they even think about the future properly? It feels like the kingdom is run by idiots - -”

Anyway, dangg Alyn is such a sweet guy, I’d love to be protected pls. When he proposed though <3 Overall, needless to say, I enjoyed Alyn’s route since he was a sweet guy but I hated the Ever After. Biggest chore of a story I’ve gone through ughh. I used all my chapter tickets to binge through it so I wouldn’t have to suffer days of it lmaoo. It thankfully had a cute ending with the royal prize ending thing and it’s nice that they show that married life isn’t any different because it’s not like they’d suddenly love each other more afterwards, they’ve always loved each other so nothing will change. Right? LOL. Anyway, Alyn was a good guy I guess. Heroine is quite meek and stuff but I guess she’s not that annoying so all good~ Time for Louis~~

#midnight cinderella

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totesmccoats · 7 years ago

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The Batman Who Laughs #1

This issue is easily a contender for most disturbing Batman story, so, congrats to the team on their accomplishment!

The Batman Who Laughs, the Dark Knight who leads the other Nightmare Batmans (Batmen?) finally tells a completely bandaged-up hostage who he is and how he came to be. Like the others, he was a Batman pushed too far, this time, pushed into finally killing the Joker after the latter’s most horrifying plan yet. But Joker had one last punchline to deliver – his death would release the most potent version of Joker Venom yet, but only enough to infect someone next to him at the time of death, in this case – Batman. And has Batman suffers the mind-warping effects of Jokerization, he becomes the most dangerous man in the dark multiverse, combining Bruce Wayne’s perfectly honed mental and physical abilities with Joker’s conniving creativity and complete disregard of ethics.

It’s difficult to say what the most disturbing image in this book is: Batman turning against his own family; what he does to the Justice League; or Superman in particular; or Superman’s family…

While Tynion deserves tons of credit for writing a story where Batman becomes the Joker that doesn’t feel like bad grimdark fanfic; it’s Rossmo and Plascencia art that really make this book a showstopper. Rossmo and Plascencia already proved their in illustrating the grotesque during Night of the Monster Men; but take their pop-art, almost silk-screen aesthetic to new heights in this book. Their art is distinctly cartoonish and exaggerated, which keeps it from being traumatizing, but it also amplifies the expressions of pain and sadism on the characters faces.

So far, not much about Metal has been comforting or reassuring, but this issue takes the story to the darkest places yet.

Batman #35

Catwoman and Talia begin their duel to the death. As their swords clash, Talia argues that Catwoman does not deserve Batman, citing the years of dying and resurrection she suffered only to be be rejected by the detective. Selina ripostes curiously, by saying that Batman isn’t the closest thing either of them have to an equal in love or ability, but that he’s incurably broken, and she loves him anyway.

Meanwhile, Dick and Damian sit outside the entrance to Talia’s domain, with Damian wondering why Batman proposed to Catwoman in the first place, and then why he decided to keep it a secret.

So closes this chapter of King’s experiment of Batman as relationship genre. I’d consider it a success. King’s novel addition here is that instead of other arcs that explore Batman through his own thoughts or actions; this one has those closest to him discuss what Batman is to them. Talia sees him as the closest thing she has to an equal on the planet. Catwoman sees him as a broken man who will never find her more important than a vow he made as a child. And Dick sees him as someone who is selfless to the point where he feels so uncomfortable asking others for happiness that he hides it from his own sons. It’s a story about Batman provided through others rather than himself, explaining why he’s the sun of this particular universe.

Superman #35

Superman and Lex escape from the religious fanatics that now want to put Superman on Darkseid’s throne, and kill Lex for his heresy, only to be ambushed and taken prisoner by Kalibak. Kalibak’s plan to succeed his father involves shooting the chaos cannon into the core of the planet – for some reason – and he plans to dispose of his new prisoners by throwing them into the fiery core as the cannon strikes.

But, before he can put his nonsensical plan into motion, he’s interrupted by Granny Goodness and her Furies – now including Lois. The two factions go to war with each-other, and Superman and Lois reunite in the chaos. But, amidst the fight, the cannon fires into the core, venting it completely and turning Apokolips dark.

Meanwhile Jon gets lost on Apokolips, stumbling upon a group of raiders desperate enough to start eating their own war-hounds. He steps in, scrambling the raiders and freeing the dogs, earning their loyalty.

This arc still hasn’t won me over. I don’t understand anything Kalibak was doing through the issue despite him being the biggest threat, which is a big deal. But at least lots of stuff happened? Supes and Lex use evasive maneuvers, Kalibak’s army fought the Furies, Jon rescues a punch of dogs. I still don’t really care, but at least it’s loud and colorful. Not the greatest praise, I know, but this isn’t the greatest story.

Wonder Woman/Conan #3

Some years after their first meeting; Conan and Yanna meet again as teenagers, where after picking up their flirtation, Yanna kisses Conan, and then tells him that she’s running away from her tribe, and warns him not to follow. For the first time in his life, Conan feels heartbreak.

But he has other things to worry about at the moment, like just having jumped into shark infested water to escape the slavers who now want to kill him and Wonder Woman. The two manage to pull themselves onto some driftwood, Titanic-style, only there’s room for both; but still find themselves stranded in the middle of the sea. And, with nowhere to go, the two finally begin to open up to each-other, with Conan telling Diana of his memories of Yanna.

But just as Wonder Woman brings up the topic of how, even on a small piece of driftwood, Conan has managed to not make physical contact; the two set upon by the Crow Sisters, who transport them to their hell-dimension, and tell them that they brought them together to settle a bet of which was the greater warrior. They demand another fight to the death between Conan and Wonder Woman; which they again defy by instead slaughtering one of the sisters. The remaining one promises that she shall kill the city of Shana for their defiance, and transports the two back to their driftwood.

And before the two make it to shore, where they will go their separate ways; Conan tells Diana the rest of his story: how, when Yanna fled, he chased, and the two decided to run away together.

This is the best issue of this series so far, Simone finally finding the sweet-spot between Conan and Wonder Woman’s characters and narrative trappings. While still decidedly a Conan story, Dinan finally feels like Wonder Woman instead of the relative non-character she was in previous issues. It helps that we’re also past the growing pains of this story, it seems, with Conan and Diana finally working together against a common foe. Lopresti still draws Wonder Woman a little too cheesecake for my liking, but admittedly, it does work for a Conan book.

The Wild Storm #9

As promised, Jacob gives Spica full access to his secret lab, filled with alien tech including a giant mech and a toy-looking laser gun. Action then shifts to IO, where Jackie King learns about last issue’s espionage, but still not who’s behind it. She then asks the Director, Miles, if he knows anything about a Project Thunderbook, which Miles reveals was a secret project led by the Director before him, John Lynch, that even he knows nothing about.

In New York, John (Lynch? Doesn’t look like Lynch), another ages old alien in disguise, remembers his time in feudal Japan, completely ruining the days of people transporting a piece of alien tech before being interrupted by another of his species who used to be his superior. In another building, Lucy Blaze accepts a mission from Skywatch to spy on IO and confirm the theft of their tech.

This issue is strangely paced, dominated by John’s flashback of wordlessly slaughtering the people transporting the tech he wanted, despite that scene not really pushing the story forward. The sequence is incredible, with Davis-Hunt able to translate the language of samurai/ninja movies into sequential comic art as though film stayed still or comics moved, bringing over the slicing with delayed results, buckets of ketchup-red blood, and extraordinary feats of gymnastics. What little dialogue there is in this scene is even rendered as though they were subtitles in a movie – a nice touch. But the rest of the issue feels like bureaucracy, with bosses giving orders, and employees asking for the resources they need to get those jobs done. We open and close on Spica in the lab, but don’t get to see her actually work on anything; that’s being teased for the future.

Amazing Spider-Man #791

After a night of crime-fighting with Bobbi, Peter starts his new job as the Bugle’s science editor. Bobbi’s glad that Peter seems to be putting his life back together, doubly so that he has a job that forces him to be Peter instead of Spider-Man for a while. But, while Robbie is happy to have Peter back at the Bugle, his new employees – particularly reporter Rubylyn Bato – aren’t thrilled to suddenly have a new boss who seemingly only got the job because of his friendship with the EiC.

And Robbie’s not the only helpful connection Peter has with work. Bobbi’s just started her new job at Humanitech, and offers Peter’s team an exclusive interview with her boss, Xander Zynn, and a guided tour of their lab. But, the tour ends early when Peter discovers that Humanitech’s new invention – AI powered androids – may not be entirely artificially intelligent. So, of course Pete and Bobbi gotta return to the lab after dark and in costume to properly follow up.

Seems like Slott has finished pulling Pete through the ringer – for now – giving him time to start off on the right foot – mostly – at his new job, and also have some fun being Spidey. This lightness makes this issue a really fun read, as you can really get behind Peter’s enthusiasm for the life he’s pulling back together for himself. It’s good to see my boy happy instead of stressed and depressed. Hopefully we can get a few more issues of this before this arc’s title goes into full blast.

Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #297

In a review of an earlier issue of this comic, I suggested that tense action may not be Zdarsky’s strong suit, but after this issue, I may have to reconsider that opinion.

This is an issue-long cat and mouse game between Peter and the SWAT team that ambushes him at home, looking to arrest him and Spider-Man. They have a way to disable his Spider-sense, which means Pete’s actually gotta pay attention and strategize as he tries to evade the cops without outing himself as Spidey.

The ur-reference for this issue is the SWAT sequence from Batman: Year One, and it’s cinematic adaption from Batman Begins; and while they do share a bit of DNA, Zdarsky and Kubert providing their own Spidey twists on it. Instead of bats filling up a stairwell to provide cover, Pete throws down two web cartridges to act as a sticky grenade, for instance.

And even if Kubert’s linework in this issue looks a little lazy – maybe evoking present day Miller a little too much? – his layouts give the book incredible pacing, including one page where Peter crashes through multiple floors to get to his building’s basement.

The issue’s ending can’t help but make everything preceding it feel like a waste of time; but at least it’s a ton of fun to read in the moment. And, we do get a great bit of pay-off for last issue’s big reveal.

Spider-Men II #4

Wilson comforts Miles at the funeral of his wife, Barbara, telling him about the multiverse, and that somewhere, there are other Barbaras still happily together with other Miles. Despite coming from the Kingpin, and it involving comic book science, it’s actually quite a moving idea; that no matter what happens, there’s a version of you and the people you love who are happy, and knowing that should be enough.

In the present, Miles – Spider-Man Miles – and his friends discuss the giant robot head that crashed into the school off-panel, and Barbara thanks Miles for pushing her to safety. She asks to know what he is, mutant, inhuman, or otherwise; and he promises to tell her, once he thinks of how. After Spider-man’ing off, Miles stumbles upon the Taskmaster killing some dudes and hopping on a helicopter. Miles latches onto the chopper, and calls Peter to meet him wherever he lands.

The Spider-Men meet on top of an airplane hanger, where Miles suspects Taskmaster plans to meet with other Miles. He’s not wrong, but also, this was a trap. The hanger explodes, knocking out the Spider-Men so that other Miles can finally rid himself of his curious doppleganger. But his real goal was to get proof from Taskmaster of an alternate dimension, with an alternate Barbara.

The issue starts off strong, with Wilson and Miles, but doesn’t manage to carry that level of quality throughout. Once the Spider-Men show up, the issue becomes mired in Bendis’ circuitous dialogue about power and responsibility that reads as a less successful retread of the conversation Peter and Miles had in Bendis’ Marvel Generations issue.

At least it’s pretty to look at. Pichelli has an incredible talent for drawing subtle body-language and quirks; and I can even get over her preference for tiny eyes on the Spider-Man masks.

Hawkeye #12

Following a lead on the person who provided clones to Madame Masque, Katie runs into Wolverine – Laura Kinney – and Wolverine’s younger clone, Gabby, as they track down the same dude, also for clone crimes. After a fight at a villain bar where the dude isn’t, the three go back to Kate’s office to change, and also introduce their pet wolverine, Jonathan, to Lucky.

Then they go to clone guy’s place, get knocked out, and have to fight through all of this guy’s clones. This issue isn’t the most dramatic, but it’s hard to set up a problem that two Wolverines and better-Hawkeye couldn’t easily solve that wouldn’t somehow also involve a city exploding.

So, while this issue isn’t the most thrilling, it’s still hecka fun. A superhero girl’s night out where the stakes aren’t incredibly personal for the first time in a long time for Kate, and where she has backup who she doesn’t have to protect.

The Wicked + The Divine #33

Well, this issue is basically all spoilers that completely change everything going on in WicDiv, so…that makes it difficult to talk about.

But yeah, this issue’s a game-changer. Lots of revelations. Many holy shit! moments. Really feels like we’re entering the final stretch here. And possibly the best norse-mythology sight-gag in comics.

Honestly, you should already be reading this book, so I shouldn’t have to review it. It’s good. You should already know this. Hit me up on twitter so we can gush about it together.

Comic Reviews 11/15/17 The Batman Who Laughs #1 This issue is easily a contender for most disturbing Batman story, so, congrats to the team on their accomplishment!

#batman #conan #dc comics #hawkeye #metal #miles morales #peter parker #spider-man #spider-men #superman #the batman who laughs #the wicked + the divine #wild storm #wonder woman

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