#Someone give me a turret or a raven | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

merriemarvels · 3 months ago

Text

Victor had hammered the rules into her head almost from 'go' -- almost from the very moment he'd plucked her from the burning pen. He had promised her she would live, and that meant preparing her for the world she would grow up in.

lesson one -- if you're hungry, find food. if you can't find food, sleep. find food tomorrow.

she hadn't spoken a word since they'd walked out of the fire, but that was alright. she'd talk when she was ready. the animals had fled the scent of smoke, but there were still an incautious few who didn't quite move fast enough. the fire only faintly scorched the edges of the tongue-shaped fillet of meat he held out to her, blood still oozed over her fingers as she bit into it -- but to the girl, ravenous from a diet of only processed, barely-nutritious paste, it was the best meal she'd ever had.

lesson two -- the first best place for water is in your canteen. the second best place is in your stomach.

clean water was easy to come by inside the compound, but if they had to be out long, they had to carry any they needed. radiation, human waste, and industrial runoffs tainted all but the deepest aquifers. she'd been out three days and hadn't touched her canteen. he scowled at her and made her drink the whole thing. she threw it up again. it was a valuable lesson.

lesson three -- always know where your exits are.

she got cornered -- she needed shoes, her feet had finally burst through the soles of the only pair she had, and she'd gotten brave. gone with miss ororo to find things. back to the door as she entered the shop, entranced by the colorful objects that it hurt to remember were called toys. she heard the crack of thunder and turned in time to leap away from hands that tried to grab her. she teleported back to ororo's side and never made that mistake again.

lesson four -- find the high ground. watch and listen.

he was hunting, and he told her to keep watch. she went up a tree, heights never bothered her, and could see his form loping between the trunks. could see all the way to the edges of the forest -- could see the transport approaching. coming fast. he shouted at her when she teleported to him, and then immediately 'ported them away from the spot, but when she finally explained, he patted her head. good eye.

lesson five -- never go anywhere alone, never go anywhere without telling someone when you'll be back.

for the first time, she wanted to be alone. she was moody, embarrassed. rogue reassured victor it was normal for a girl her age, it was proof she was healthy... but she disappeared for two days, and when he finally found her, she'd holed herself up in a cave that was little more than a crack in the rock face, her ankle twisted and burning with fever.

lesson six -- never willingly disarm yourself

she was supposed to be training, and between quicksilver and the robotic turrets, she was giving her all -- but she had been told to leave her quiver before going in, she wasn't allowed to teleport him or other things for this exercise, only herself, and only within the confines of the danger room. he was fast, too fast, he hit her over, and over, didn't let her stop or rest or get her bearings --

she remembered the lesson. the tiny shard of a lance in her thigh holster. it was enough to make a hole wide enough to trip him. winning was a good feeling.

lesson seven -- trust is earned. look people in the eye when they talk to you. they'll tell you the truth even if they're lying.

gambit's x-ternals had stayed at the compound long enough for a briefing. their mission was do-or-die, and most of them knew they weren't coming back, so the night before was one of distraction and indulgence. of young people doing what young people did when they didn't think tomorrow was coming. sunspot 'call me robbie' had warm hands and a soft voice, and even though for a little while he made her feel special... his eyes were empty. he promised to come back. she wasn't surprised when he didn't.

lesson eight -- the bigger they are, the bigger a target they make themselves.

don't move. stand your ground. watch, wait, and when the moment is right --

she missed it. the fist that hit her nearly spun her head all the way round on her neck, and she went flying -- only just saved by sunfire's blocking her trajectory and guiding her safely to the ground. they were screwed, they were in way over their heads --

they ran.

lesson nine -- if it looks too good to be true, it's probably a trap.

the day was nice, the sun was out. for once, birds were singing. for a second, one could imagine a world of peace, where there was no apocalypse, no cullings. just one species moving through the wheels of time like any other. hunting forgotten, she simply wandered, breathing the air, watching the bugs fly around. she stopped. on the ground was something out of place. a doe, but unlike any doe she'd ever seen before -- the coat was pure white, as white as snow if clarice had ever seen what snow looked like. she imagined how soft that pelt must be, how nice it would be once it was conditioned...

a twig broke, but the doe didn't move. clarice didn't wait around -- gone, just before the ambush that almost had her.

lesson ten -- hide if you can, fight if you must. run if it's your last option. and do. not. look back.

hell had come, at last. hell in a way she never knew possible. fire in the sky, the sounds of screams and smell of blood and burning flesh. apocalypse was dead at last, but at what cost -- their world, the world that had ended so many decades ago, was finally breathing its last, the falling rain of nuclear destruction making her skin feel tight and her teeth feel numb.

something was pulling her. in a way it felt like her own portals, yet she hadn't initiated it, and unlike the feeling when anyone else tried to teleport her. she was going and --

no -- no, don't make me leave --

Mr. Creed --!!

#rel:blink #I NEED #TO STOP #jk you know i won't

4 notes · View notes

honklore · 4 years ago

Text

is nothing sacred? | quackity

(4.6k+ word count, prince!alex, augur/seer!reader, gn!reader, angst, alex has a sucky dad, reader has a sucky family, karl appears as a time traveler ofc, neg and pos religious themes, deification is the belief that when a monarch dies they will become a god, the rapids is a kingdom in this but it isn’t an smp au)

listen to: evermore by taylor swift, foreigner’s god by hozier, (the end) by levi weaver, exile by taylor swift

There’s a warm spring just outside the monastery. It’s hidden in the mountain, a few miles away from the castle walls and yet you find that it’s too close for comfort.

Every bright and loud fanfare that announces the prince’s coming and leaving echoes off of the hills and pours through your peaceful respite. It’s just enough to make you grumpy.

It’s one of those mornings again, and you find yourself floating in the hot spring, eyes open towards the sun, wishing you had more patience with the dear prince you call your best friend.

Your robe is heavy across your torso, floating around your bare legs as you ponder your plans for today. That is, if the prince doesn’t come visit you.

That would be wishful thinking, though. You don’t have to close your eyes to know that someone has blocked the sun. With a sigh, you sink your body beneath the warm water and submerge, blinking the water off of your lashes. “Alex, this is sacred ground.”

“I know,” the prince replies, squatting down to see you. “I tied my boots around my neck, see?”

You stare at the boot he’s proudly holding up, then shift your eyes to his bare feet. “Why are you here? This is my day off.”

“Excuse me for wanting to see my best friend,” Alex sneers mockingly, rolling his eyes. “Listen, are you coming back to the castle tomorrow?”

“We literally have an augury lesson at one in the morning,” you say. “So, yes.”

“Good, I’m going to disprove all of your theories.”

“They aren’t theories, Alex. I read patterns for a living, alright? I know what I’m talking about.”

“It’s not science.”

“Neither is your father deifying your grandfather,” this time you mock him.

He holds a steady gaze, lips quirked into a cheeky smile. “You’ll tell me about the night of my coronation again, right?”

“Because it warned of extreme change,” you say, voice level. “Yet I can’t figure out what’s going to happen. There’s something the stars aren’t telling me, and I have to figure it out to protect you and the kingdom.”

Alex’s eyes are a deep brown that you could probably get lost in, if he wasn’t such a little shit. “Protect me, you say?” He’s flirting now, eyes alight with the thought of annoying you, and if this spring wasn’t so important to you, you would’ve yanked him in already. “Didn’t know you cared that much about me, Y/n.”

Your robes are clinging uncomfortably to your body, accentuating the lines and curves — or lack thereof. “Hand me my towel and look away please.”

Alex closes his eyes and turns his face away, holding out the towel. “Learn anything divine from your swimming trip?”

Alex holds the towel out like a makeshift screen, and averts his eyes while you dry off and change into the clean robe he brought you. As annoying as he is, the prince is thoughtful, and he fills in the places where you lack.

“I was reflecting,” you say, buttoning the front of the robe. “It’s good for you; clears out your soul.”

Alex tosses the towel over your head and ruffles your hair. He chuckles at your protests; taunts you with warmth in his eyes. “You’re so spiritual.”

You glare at him. “I’m an augur.”

“Right,” Alex says, holding the now-wet towel close to his chest. “But you take it so seriously, sometimes.”

“I hate you,” you say, no venom in your words.

“I love you, too,” Alex says. He leans forward, almost as if to kiss your forehead, and then remembers that you’re on sacred ground, and kissing is forbidden.

Still, the very thought of what he might’ve done sends an unwanted flutter throughout your chest.

Wax drips onto the closed letter. You dip the silver stamp into the dark purple puddle, leaving the royal seal behind.

Inside is a letter to your family. It’s a prophecy you’ve received just for them. Despite them disowning you for your gift, you still find it important to warn them of upcoming woe. Like now, for instance, when you wish to warn them about the upcoming rainstorm that could ruin their crops if they don’t take precautions.

You rub your temples and blow out the candle, leaving you in silent darkness.

Your room is on the highest tower of the castle. The turret is small; a circular room with a circular bed and a circular desk and a glass, circular ceiling that showcases the stars to you each night. There’s a telescope standing against the window, a chest for your clothes, and the writing desk you’re seated upon. However, your bathroom is a few stories down, near the bottom of the tower and closer to accessible plumbing.

The door behind you bursts open, and you know it’s the young prince and his lack of basic manners when it comes to privacy. Your privacy, anyway. “What is it, Alex?”

“I’ve been waiting for you in the tower for an hour now, silly,” Alex’s words get softer as the light from the corridor pours in, and he can see what you’ve been up to. He stills, smile faltering. “You had another vision of them.”

“I wish they would stop,” you mutter. If you clench your eyes tightly enough, you can will any tears to suck back into your head. Then you can suffer through a headache, like you always do. You’ve had this “gift” since you were a little kid; you know the ups and downs of using it.

Not that it gives you much choice sometimes.

“Are you drinking the–“

“No,” you snap at Alex. “Look, suppressing them only makes it worse. Prophecies become... darker. I see things I can’t unsee. I have to allow them through.”

Alex has a hurt look on his face, but you can’t tell if it’s because you snapped at him or because he doesn’t want to see you in pain. You selfishly hope it’s the latter.

“We can talk about something less harsh on the mind.” Alex sits on your chest, avoiding your bed. It’s another sacred place for you, same as the monastery grounds. Alex knows the rules of being a seer; the ancient laws you practice. He’s read the same books as you — if just to understand you better. He’s the most loyal friend you can think of: the only person in the entire kingdom who has never questioned your beliefs.

“I can’t stand the thought of them getting hurt,” you admit. “And with the vision about your coronation... I’m so scared this kingdom is going to crumble and it’s going to be because I couldn’t prevent it.”

Alex fiddles with his necklace. It’s a rune, one for protection. You used to wear a similar one beneath your robes, but with your fear of something happening, you’ve made Alex promise to wear it.

“It’s not your job to keep the kingdom from crumbling,” Alex relays. “All you need to do is tell me what you see. Then I hint to my father ways to change the kingdom. After that, it’s up to fate.”

You bite your lip. “Fate has a tricky way of playing its own hand.”

“Then it was never in your hands in the first place, yes?” Alex speaks honestly, but there’s a bit of cheek to his voice that eases your nerves.

You smile sadly. “Your father is too prideful, Alex. I can see it; the ravens, they flock the castle whenever he makes a speech. He wants to become a god. He wants something that’s impossible.”

“He deified Grandfather,” Alex quips, no emotion backing his voice. “Like you said earlier. It’s just to start the tradition, so that when he dies he’ll become holy, too.”

“I told him it was wrong. I told him that the stars foresee ruin if he stays on this trail of pride.” You cast your eyes down to your family’s letter. “No one believes me.”

“I believe you,” Alex’s soft voice urges you to look at him.

He’s quiet. The rune is resting on his outstretched palm and he’s looking at you. “Do you think I’d take these lessons and wear these trinkets if I thought you were wrong?”

“Maybe you do it because we’re friends,” you say. You're well aware of the fact that the prince is the only person in the entire kingdom who advocates for your beliefs. But with the rest of the realm against you, you can't help but think that deep down, he's making fun of you, too.

"You sure do worry a lot for someone who can foresee the future."

You choke out a laugh and run your hands down your face. "I'm sorry, Alex. I'm so sorry. I just– I feel like if I can't prevent every bad thing I predict, then it's my fault when they happen. I wish I was ignorant to omens."

Alex tuts. He pouts at you, dragging his lower lip between his teeth and holding it there for just a beat too long. “Let’s skip lessons today. You should rest.”

“Alex—“

“Ah!” Alex stands up. He begins to unclip his cufflinks from the hem of his sleeve before he passes you a coy glance. “That’s Prince Alexis to you, and if I say you should rest, then you should rest.”

You grumble, but inwardly you’re thankful.

There’s an altar, rectified in the middle of the castle courtyard. Though it was once a place of healing — a place seers would go to cleanse their minds — it is now standing in ruins.

You lay down your offerings anyway. Dried rose petals, and a few copper coins saved up. You wait with the objects until a few crows come to diligently take them away. To where? You don’t know. You’ve never asked.

Alex’s father plans to take down the altar and replace it with a shrine of himself. The knowledge of change reeks the air with a foul scent only you can smell.

It’s as if the entire kingdom is rotting and you’re the only one who knows.

You lift your hood off of your face and continue your walk throughout the court. Those you pass politely ignore you, though some choose to sneer at your mannerisms. The king has them wrapped in his prideful rule, and your heart aches for them.

There is no freedom in serving man. This much, you know.

You find yourself in the tower, waiting for the prince to come in time for his lessons.

“Father says he wants me to study more practical subjects,” Alex relates to you.

He’s lying across the balcony floor, and you are perpendicular, with your head on his stomach. You feel every breath he takes, and something about the closeness comforts you in a way you refuse to analyze.

“I’m not sure what else you could learn,” you say. Your eyes are stuck on a chip in the balcony railing. Stone that hardly cracks, and of course your foundation is crumbling quicker than your resolve. “You have lessons from dawn till dusk.”

“And you’re the only tutor I care for,” he says with a flippant sort of tone. “I don’t know what I’d do if I saw you less. I already wish I had more time with you.”

You’ve spoken to nuns and monks and those who swear off love in servitude to the one they worship. Most admit that it’s a lonely existence, and a torture to make up for their sins. You understand that true love must be as sacred as an old god, and to worship another person would be the greatest act of devotion. For how else do you serve a creator than by worshiping the created?

You don’t think kings are meant to be worshipped. No one with that much power should be revered with such ignorance.

But a prince is different. To worship a prince alone, in secret, for just yourself... perhaps that is the most spiritual devotion of all. Perhaps it is the most torturous.

Hearing Alex’s words makes your heart yearn for a future that can never be. You don’t need a vision to tell you that his father will soon grow tired of you. Of course you will soon be sent out of the kingdom, and Alex will forget about you in time.

You know this without a doubt in your heart, and yet Alex still clings to these moments with you.

You’d do anything to keep him safe.

“Where will I go?” You ask. “Where will I be accepted?”

Alex’s breath hitches; you feel it. And you know what he wants to say — you know what lingers at the tip of his tongue.

With me.

Your family sends back the letter, unopened. You try not to cry about it, but the truth is that you feel more alone than ever. Surely you are the last of your kind, and no one cares in the least about what you have to say.

Except maybe Alex. Lovely, beautiful Alexis. He could no sooner harm a butterfly’s wing than deny you your beliefs.

But Alex is not king. He is merely a prince, and the king does not like you. It’s a miracle you’ve lasted this long.

“You fill my son’s head with nonsense,” the king paces back and forth in front of his empty thrown.

You hide your hands in the sleeves of your robe. “Your Majesty, I only relay what I see. I fear your kingdom is in danger.”

“And you think it my fault? Tell me, what if the stars told me to deify my father? What if I am following my own visions?” The royal cackles. “You have no sensible argument. All you have are silly dreams and lies to propel your own agenda. I will not have you spoiling my son’s brain.”

“Your Majesty—“

“I forbid you to speak on anything of the sort from hence forth. The altar will be torn down, and any peep from you regarding these readings will result in instant banishment.”

The sentence hurts more than it should, considering you aren’t being willed to die. You’re quite lucky in this sentence, considering you can still see Alex. Though, a part of you cracks and splinters to think of suppressing your visions.

The vision of Alex’s coronation still remains. You fear for the prince’s life. You fear the king will have something to do with it.

How do you tell the boy you adore that his father may be his downfall?

How do you get him to believe you?

The warm spring only gets hotter as the seasons change. You sink your head under, and the heat of the water burns your closed eyelids. Your head is killing you; pounding from holding back your emotions: your tears.

The monks don’t even worship the same as you. They lend you their springs and advice, but they aren’t the same. There are no other augurs in The Rapids, so no one else really knows how taxing the job is.

More visions come to you when you’re stressed, so you try your hardest to calm yourself. The water scalds your skin, but it distracts your mind enough to keep the visions away.

It’s all the same. All the visions are the same — Alex gets crowned king and overturns the deifying decree. And only days later, he’s assassinated, and the regent — his father — takes back the throne.

As the old proverb goes: pride cometh before a fall, and the king certainly has enough pride. You just don’t want Alex to get caught in the fall.

“You’re so predictable.” Alex’s voice is warbled.

It takes a minute for the water to release from your ears.

Surfaced, you can see Alex crouched by the bank, careful not to fall in. He’s got that same gentle smile — thin, rouge lips and eyes that seem to shine when they look at you. Alex never judges. He never makes fun of your methods. He’s simply there for you, and your heart longs to be there for him as well.

“This place is sacred,” you blurt. Seeing Alex’s face in the light of the sunset just makes you think of your visions. What would a world without Alex even look like? You aren’t sure you want to find out.

You start to cry, and Alex holds a hand out silently.

He helps you out — holds out the robe for you. His boots are around his neck, and you focus on the thinness of his ankles while you clothe yourself.

“You can’t hold me.” You say plainly.

“I know,” Alex’s voice is watery. “Let’s get you back to the palace, yeah?”

“Yeah,” you sniff. “Okay.”

“I’m not dead.” Alex lightly scratches your arm. Up and down. Up and down. “I’m not going to die.”

Your shoulders are braced against his side. You keep your gaze on the white smoke rising off of his incense cone.

This is his room, and his bed, because those aren’t sacred. His bed can be slept in and snuggled in and kissed in and loved in. He has scratchy cotton sheets and incense that is too old to really smell like anything.

He’s a prince with messy documents surrounding his desk and curtains that haven’t been dusted in days. Some days you wonder if the entire castle has forgotten about him. You don’t want to bring it up — don’t want to ask — but it flummoxes you.

You reach for his hand and stop its motions. “I’m sorry I bring you into all of this.”

“I want you to bring me into everything,” Alex slurs. He’s staying awake for you, and you know it. He rests his temple against your head. “I don’t want you to keep anything from me.”

You hum. His body is warm against yours. Too warm, to the extent where you know you’ll wake up in the uncomfortable sort of sweat that comes when a child falls asleep on you, or when you fall asleep without the window open.

Something heavy squeezes your chest. It feels like your ribcage is sentient — hugging and pressing into your lungs until it’s nearly impossible to breathe without an uncomfortable stutter.

Alex falls asleep quick, so you don’t worry about him noticing.

You settle against him and breathe through your nose. The feeling will pass — it always does. You feel this way whenever Alex reveals something so vulnerable to you. You reckon it’s something to do with the tenderness of his voice, or the earnest squeeze of his hand.

There’s a need to protect him. You want to be there for him, more than anything else in the world.

Stripped of your job — the altar torn down — you resort back to your first and foremost activity: Alex’s best friend and (unofficial) advisor.

In this position, you’re confident in your abilities. You know just as well as anyone that you’d rather die than see the prince harmed in any way.

You’re kicked out of the tower, and your telescopes are left to dust. The king locks the door personally, ardent in his attempt to keep you away from any visions that might harm his reign.

You stay in Alex’s room, on a spare bed mat near the fireplace.

Of course, Alex has offered his bed, but you refuse to bother him any more than you have to. And now, with your rituals forbidden, you need a place to privately gather your thoughts.

The flames lick the stone furnace and you lie still. You watch them dance and close your eyes, hoping to rest without any visions or nightmares.

But the nightmares come, and they’re always the same.

When you wake in a fervent sweat, you know that only one thing will keep you from fearing Alex’s death. So, you crawl beneath his scratchy sheets.

You don’t snuggle into him or bother his slumber. All you need to do is know that he’s here. You rest your smallest finger against his bare arm and fall asleep to the sound of an owl hooting outside the window.

On the morning of Alex’s coronation, fog rises from the earth. You see it as a sign: this day will be confusing and blurred.

Alex is just excited to have cooler weather. The blistering heat has been plaguing the kingdom for days, so to have a day of fog and hollow wind sounds like heaven to the prince.

You wear your runes beneath your robe, and the weight of them is less than the weight of knowing you’re dead if you’re caught. But you need them; need this day to come and go without blood and tears.

Alex cannot see you. He’s far too busy with final rehearsals and receiving guests from far and wide.

You stray beyond the castle, into the square, where traders and travelers have set up shop in the hopes of making a profit.

There’s a sign. Fortunes Read Here. It’s tacked over a purple curtain, and you can see amber light shining through a thin slit. Like maybe someone is in there. Like maybe you aren’t alone.

You walk in.

Disappointment smacks against your ribs like a heavy wave against jagged rocks. It’s a scam. A boy no younger than yourself is sitting behind a table, with a green sash tied over his forehead. There’s a mystical rune of some kind that looks like a portal, and it’s tacked to nearly every surface you can see with dripping green paint. The place looks like that of a madman, and you fear you’re about to be mocked.

“Hello,” he says. He doesn’t offer a name. The blues of his eyes flicker from time to time with a shimmery purple, and you think it’s a trick of the light.

“Are you going to laugh at me?” You sit across from him. “Once I leave, are you going to think of me as just another gullible customer?”

“Can you not tell the future?” He says, and he grabs the crystal ball and tucks it under the table. “I can sense it. You want answers, genuine answers, not some promise of success.”

“Who are you?”

“Karl,” he says. “I’m from the village of The Rapids, but you know, magic is looked down upon. I doubt anyone would believe me if I told them what I know.”

You trace the lines of the rune. Your brain fogs, but as you repeat the motion, it clears up, and you suddenly see Karl, clear as day, standing in a crowd and watching Alex make a speech. “You’ve been there? You’ve been to the future?”

“Look closer,” Karl mumbles.

So you focus on the details, and you can see the black banners of mourning, and the redness of Alex’s eyes. “Oh. This is his grandfather’s funeral. This is the year before I became Alex’s tutor.”

“Walk closer.”

Unsure what he means, you continue to trace the rune, and imagine yourself walking through the crowd. Only Karl moves instead, so you pause your tracing and look at Karl.

He’s got his eyes closed, and his eyebrows furrowed. “Why did you come here? What did you want to see?”

You brought me here, you think of saying, but you wonder if this is what Karl can do. If he can travel to the past and show people what he sees. “I- I suppose I want to know why he was deified. Was it a plot?”

You trace the rune again, and Karl walks over to the king, where he stands apart from the podium. Even though his son is giving a heartfelt speech, he’s not listening at all. Instead, he’s talking to one of his trusted advisors.

“I will make a wonderful god.”

“Prince Alexis hates the new creed,” the advisor observes. “Surely he’ll overrule it once he is king.”

“Yes,” the king says. “Well, I suppose we’ll just have to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

You gasp, and even Karl seems winded as you stop tracing the rune.

He places his palms on the table. “So that’s what you wanted to find out. A regicide plot.”

“I have to find Alex,” you mutter. You stand and rip one of your runes off of your neck. Intuition. “Here, take it. You should go.”

“I can’t go into the future,” Karl warns. “I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

“No,” you think of Alex’s words. “None of us can predict fate. I have to go.”

You run out of the tent, and when you look back, it’s gone, left with nothing but a dirty sign labeled Fortunes Read Here.

Perhaps it’s past tense now.

Your purple robe billows behind you as you rush into the castle in search of the prince.

The staff says they haven’t seen him, the lords are already drunk off of mulled wine. His own tailors are running around, fearing they won’t be able to dress him in time.

So he’s gone, and that means you’re too late.

Or rather, maybe Alex is smarter than you give him credit for, and he’s gone to the one place his father won’t go.

You head up to the tower.

He’s there. Of course he’s there. And he’s in only part of his ceremonial clothes, leather pants and a cream-white collared shirt. He’s leaning his palms against the stone railing and staring out against the wind, like he’s waiting for it to speak to him. Tears slip down his cheeks and drop into the air.

“Alex…” You wrap your arms around his soft waist, squeezing tight to try and convey how thankful you are that he knew to get away. “Your father… He’s—”

“He poisoned my breakfast,” Alex whimpers. He grabs blindly for your arms, and at the touch of your skin, he folds in on himself; shifts around to face you, and buries his face into your neck. “My taster… He thought my taster was out. But he wasn’t. Now he’s dead, and the counsel are trying to figure out what to do with my father.”

“Alex, I’m so sorry.”

He cries harder, and you think your hug must feel weak compared to the comfort he so clearly needs right now. “I have to go tell the lords and the staff. We have to postpone the coronation until everyone involved is apprehended.”

You think of what he does when you feel alone. He visits your spring, and he takes off his shoes. He takes you to his bed and scratches your arm. He kisses your head and hums old lullabies from his childhood until you fall asleep.

So you grab his hand, and you pull him down the few stairs where your old bedroom lies. And you bring him toward your bed, but he stops you.

“It’s sacred to you,” he hiccups.

“You’re sacred to me,” you finally decide, and you let him crawl under your sheets.

You untie his boots and pull them off of his feet, along with his socks. Then you take the blanket and pull it up to his chin. You kiss his forehead and crawl in next to him. And you scratch his arm, up and down, and you hum old lullabies from your own childhood until he falls asleep.

While he’s asleep, you trace the moles across his cheeks and close your eyes. Suddenly, it’s like Karl’s tent, only you can see into the future, not the past. And you aren’t Karl, you’re Y/n.

The sun is bright on Alex’s back, skin tanned and warm. You’re swimming with him in the spring, and all that is sacred to you is him. All that matters is him, so he can float in the spring, and he can kiss you on holy ground, and if he can’t be deified in the kingdom, he can be deified in your soul.

And when you stop your motions, you’re back in your bed. Alex is there, sweet Alex, snoring softly and snuggling into your warmth, like you keep him safe. Like your visions aren’t the ones he believed in at all.

He has always believed solely in you.

#quackity fluff #quackity fanfic #quackity scenarios #quackity angst #mcyt fanfiction #quackity x reader #quackity x you #mcyt x reader #pixiecap//

212 notes · View notes

rwbyvein · 4 years ago

Text

Firen Lhain: Chapter 703: Minas Levain: Part II/III

"Wait?" Yang asked, "Does that means he actually wants her to give him a blowjob?"

"She's hot," Jaune stated, "and cute, but as I said, I'm not looking for more wives. Four is plenty."

"Then, perchance?.." Weiss asked.

"I was raised to mean what I say." Jaune replied, "Kind of important for a knight and whatnot, but, I honestly believe that the only way this is going to work is if we are completely honest with each other. We're here for each other, and no one is being forced into this."

"He does have a point." Ruby said, "Wait, does that mean you are going to spank us if we lie?"

"Yes." Jaune simply stated.

"I didn't think I was asking?.." Ruby asked.

"Rhetorical." Weiss stated.

"Literal." Blake said, looking at Jaune, "So, my choices here are let Aurora stay in exchange for blowing Jaune when we need it, or getting a spanking."

"You should go for the spanking." Yang said, and everyone quickly looked at her.

"Qrow did say you are like Raven?" Ruby asked.

"What does mom have to do with this?" Yang asked.

"That you seem to take after your mother." Weiss stated, "And aside from her hair, once you think about it, the resemblance is uncanny."

"And you called her mom." Blake stated.

"What does Raven have to do with this?" Yang asked.

"Nice save, sis." Ruby said to her.

"Uh-huh, yeah, thanks..." Yang sarcastically said.

"I do think we should be completely honest with each other." Weiss stated.

"Even if we get spankings?" Ruby asked her.

"If my pert posterior has to be sacrificed?.." Weiss happily asked.

"Try not to sound too eager." Yang said to her.

"...then it will be sufficient if it means harmony amongst our family." Weiss finished.

"So?," Ruby nervously asked, "are... we going to let Aurora give Jaune blowjobs, or?.."

"Am I the only one who's ever given one?" Blake asked. Ruby and Weiss would be expected, but Blake just glared at Yang.

"I may..." Yang voiced, "or may not - be all talk. I've never actually..." she said, and trailed off.

"You have?" Ruby asked, "How was it?"

"Nothing quite like that feeling of direct sevice..." Blake whistfully said, "though, my memories... I'd rather replace them with someone who's not a monster, nor will turn into one."

"Are you?.." he said and paused, "That confident in me?" Jaune asked her.

"Of all of us here, you are the least likely to turn to the darkside."

"The I don't give a fuckery," Yang stated, "is strong with him."

"Stolid." Blake quipped, and Weiss eagerly nodded at that.

"Implacable." Weiss added.

"Even when I was... you know... crying?.." Jaune asked.

"Give the circumstances," Weiss stated, "that was understandable."

"The ancients created tragedies to give men an excuse to cry." Blake added, "But the pain of that loss marked your soul. I can see the scar burning, a scar you never want to happen again."

Tears started to form on Jaune's face.

"What about me?" Ruby asked, raising her hand.

"You," Blake said to her, "are like me, you can do the wrong thing because you believe it's right. I honestly don't know what I believe anymore."

"What about me?" Yang sheepishly asked.

"Your strength needs strength to temper it." Blake said to her.

"And... if I might ask?.." Weiss asked.

Blake looked her deep in the eyes, "What you want most is to do what is right." Subtle tears started to form on Weiss' face.

"And?.." Yang asked.

"And?," Blake asked Yang, and looked back to Weiss, "what is that?" Weiss looked lost and distant in reply. "That's the thing." Blake stated, "we don't have to do this alone." She stepped forward to embrace Weiss in a deep hug. "We love you." Blake whispered, and then stepped back. "To think I'd love a Schnee. You were like Satan or Dark Brother."

"And, no offence," Weiss stated, "but you as well."

Yang powerfully punched her fists together, "Heaven help us. Hell's afraid of us."

"The power of RWJBY!" (ruj-by) Ruby exclaimed.

"I do believe we need to work on that." Weiss stated.

"Or we just call ourselves Arcs." Blake stated, "That is how it traditionally works."

"Because we're so traditonal." Jaune sarcastically stated.

"A knight and his concubines?" Weiss asked.

"Well, yeah?," Yang asked, "but wouldn't one of us be his wife?" Weiss and Blake looked at her curiously, "I mean, the knights always had wives right?, and concubines aren't wives, which means he had to have a wife and maybe concubines?" RWBY eyed each other narrowly, as if a fight could break out at any time.

"No fighting!" Jaune's deep baritone stated, and the girls quickly relaxed.

"Now that this is resolved," Weiss said, and looked at Blake, "don't think we forgot what you said about Aurora."

"Are we really doing this?" Blake asked.

"Indeed." Weiss stated.

"But?.." Blake asked, and then trailed off. "No, I'm the one who said it, so I'll have to stand by it."

"Who knew Blake was that kinky?" Yang asked.

"I suspected." Weiss said to her, and then turned to Aurora. "Aurora?" Aurora simply nodded. "Well, now that this is out in the open, I'll have to object."

"WHAT?!" Blake and Yang shouted.

"Did you really think I would accept this?" Weiss asked.

"I'm honestly completely lost here." Yang stated.

"I knew you would decline." Aurora stated.

"Then?.." Weiss asked.

"Then," Aurora said, "I have made myself clear."

"And then," Jaune stated, "she can't stay in the master's apartments."

"You heard his daddy voice." Yang stated.

"I'd pefer a mommy voice." Aurora said, and then with a shocked look, looked about bashfully.

"Well, that explains it." Blake stated.

"Explains what?" Weiss asked.

"She's a lesbian submissive." Blake stated nonchalantly.

"That," Yang voiced, "doesn't really explain as much as you think it does."

"Hm?" Blake asked, and Yang vigorously pointed between Aurora and Jaune.

"I think we've embarassed her enough for the moment." Jaune stated, "Aurora?," he asked, "guest apartments or servants quarters?"

"The guests apartments are closer to my mistress," she stated, "unless they are otherwise needed, in which case I will take the servants quarters."

"She's part of the family, isn't she?" Ruby asked, and everyone looked at her.

"Yes," Blake said with a smile, "just not in that way."

"Alright," Jaune stated, "I'm going to go check out the kitchen. Assuming Contrary is going to explore the library."

"I will accompany Jaune-dear," Weiss stated, "and prepare us coffee."

"The library is like an entire floor, so I'm sure she's going to love it." Yang stated.

"And what are the sisters going to do?" Weiss asked asked.

"I know this is going to sound corny," Yang replied, "but I'm going to guard our... apartments."

Before she knew what was happening, Jaune had pulled her in for a passionate kiss, causing Ruby to huff. When Jaune pulled away he opened his arms, and in a burst of rose petals Ruby was there, and he picked her to kiss her before putting her back down.

"Ruby?" Weiss asked.

"I'm going to see how Ilia is doing." Ruby stated.

"Very well." Weiss said, and gave her a peck on the cheek. * * *

Ruby used Crescent Rose to launch herself from the roof of the tower. Mid-way she burst into rose petals to cover the remaining distance. She reverted as she landed on the roof of the turret. She looked at the parapets, unsure of what they were. I mean, all castles had them, right? She looked around, opened the trap door, and started running down the stairway. The turret was round, about 20-30 feet across that descended anticlockwise. It was about four floors high, but the floors were much lower than the main tower. More like a regular house. The 4th floor was a large, open room with 3 beds. Ruby Petal Burst across the room to the next flight of stairs down. She got down on all fours and looked at the 3rd floor, to see Ilia looking through drawings. "Hey!" Ruby exclaimed, and Ilia turned towards her.

"Hello." she said.

"Getting comfy?" Ruby asked, and Ilia just looked at her for a moment.

"Yes." she said. "I've never been comfortable in luxury..."

"It is like REALLY BIG." Ruby stated, "But also REALLY OLD. Nora and Ren have gone to look for the ghost."

Ilia smiled, "I doubt there's a ghost."

"Well, yeah, but," Ruby stated, "REALLY OLD. And it's all ours. Isn't it exciting?"

Ilia turned to sit on a bed. She was still smiling, just a bit more weak than before, "It's all yours." Ilia stated. "I'm just tagging along. You are Huntresses, and I'm?.." Ilia asked, and flopped back on her bed, "an... assassin?" Ruby ran down on all fours and ended up at the end of Ilia's bed. When Ruby didn't say anything, Ilia nervously lifted her head. "That... isn't?.."

"You WERE an assassin!" Ruby said, wagging her tail.

With this Ilia sat up and looked at her questioningly, "Isn't that," she nervously voiced, "a problem?"

"I really don't know?" Ruby asked, "I mean, everyone else seems good with it, and I'm not really the best socially... Jaune's happy to have you."

"He is?" Ilia asked.

"He relies on you." Ruby stated.

"Doesn't make me part of the family."

"FFIINNE!" Ruby exclaimed, "We'll just hire you."

"As a what?," Ilia asked, "assassin?"

"I don't know?" Ruby asked, and stood up properly, "What's between Huntress and assassin?" Ilia just rolled her eyes. "Okay?," Ruby asked, "but Uncle Qrow was apparently a bandit, and he's still my uncle."

"So?.." Ilia nervously asked, looking at her hands, "you're... fine with it..."

"Nope." Ruby said with glee, "I mean... this is awkward... that an inside joke with me and Jaune." She stood up properly, pointing at Ilia, "Anyways!, you can't change what you've done, but you want to help us save the world, so you can't be all bad, can you?"

Ilia flopped back on the bed, and her colours changed to camouflage herself into it. Ruby pounced on Ilia. "As someone who hides in her cloak, I know how well that doesn't work."

"Can't you leave me to mope?" Ilia.

"Nope," Ruby excitedly said as she stood from the bed and held our her hand, "Weiss is making Coffeee." Ilia took Ruby's hand and let herself get pulled to her feet.

#rwby #firen lhain #faunus au #pollinated knight

14 notes · View notes

echoes-of-the-clockwork · 4 years ago

Text

Book Four: War (Gladiolus x Reader) Chapter Eighteen

Aboard the train, Noctis and Ignis sit at a table in the dining car. The strategist, with his mangled gaze, turned his head towards the window. "Feels good to ride the rails."

"Sure does," Noctis agreed.

"Eager to drive once we're in Gralea?"

"If they'll let me."

"We're fortunate to have the Regalia at all. We owe the first secretary our thanks," Ignis said.

"She'd get more thanks if she gave us a discount," Noctis stated.

"Those transceivers are top-notch. I recall when the Hydraean raged. In the midst of the empire's retreat, one conspicuous craft remained behind: the chancellor's. The last thing I remember seeing was his ship, heading for the altar. I fell unconscious...and was powerless to stop him."

"I'm just glad you're alive." Noctis makes a startled sound and leans into the aisle slightly to look past Ignis to see who was approaching them.

Of course, this didn't go unnoticed by the advisor. "Is someone else there?"

"Gladio-he just came back," Noctis answered. "Where did he go anyway?"

"On a brief reconnaissance. Something caught my ear."

Gladio walks up to their table. "Hey captain, mission complete."

"Splendid," Ignis replied.

Noctis looked toward his advisor. "So what "caught your ear"?"

"Rumors of longer nights."

"They've been growing longer, day by day," Gladio explained.

"There was talk of it back in Lucis, but recent days have shown an unseasonably sharp change. Should this trend continue, before long..." Ignis' voice trailed off.

"There won't be daylight," Noctis grimly finishes his statement.

"Well, it's not out of the question. The empire's already slain half of the Six. No wonder the whole world's in disarray," the shield said.

"I...guess."

"And longer nights mean more daemons," the strategist added.

"Seen that with our own eyes," Gladio said.

"I happened to overhear a fellow passenger discussing this very same phenomenon."

"So he sent yours truly to seek 'em out."

"Nice police work," Noctis complimented.

"Well, don't wanna keep 'em waiting," Gladio stated.

"No, we don't. Back in a moment." Ignis scoots out of the booth and used his cane to help him stand. Gladio offers him a helping hand as they leave the dining car.

Noctis sits in silence for a moment, looking out the window. As the train begins to pass a snowy mountain range covered in mist, Prompto comes running by, then tries to stop and slips when he realizes he's passing his best friend. "Whoa! There you are, buddy! Did you see this? It's unreal!"

"Yeah. Never seen anything like it. Doesn't make any sense," Noctis responded, eyes glued to the passing scenery.

Suddenly, Noctis felt a strange sensation and he looks around the dining car, realizing that no one else is moving. Everything is blanketed in gray and everyone is frozen in place. Even Prompto was missing. He stands up, confused as to what was happening. "What's going on?"

That's when he heard Ardyn's voice behind him. "It's a real mystery." The raven-haired boy turns to find Ardyn standing in the dining car. "I'm not liking that snow cloud. Kind of gives me the chills. Like, who comes up with this stuff? I couldn't dream something like this if I tried. It's a wondrous world."

"The hell are you doing here?!" Noctis growled, glaring at the man. He lunges forward to punch Ardyn in the face, but he dodges.

"Whoa, what's going on?! Easy there, buddy. Didn't see that coming. You alright?" Ardyn asked.

He conjures a sword and swings it at Ardyn, who steps back just out of range. "Shut up!"

"Be careful there! Wait-is this for real?" Ardyn begins to run away.

Noctis pursues him into the cabin car just in time to see him run into one of the cabins and shut the door. He makes his way down the aisle towards the cabin and jerks the door open. "Show yourself!"

All of a sudden, Ardyn leans over from behind Noctis. "Uh...Noct?"

Without hesitating, Noctis swings around with his fist but hits nothing but air. Ardyn has vanished again. "That son of a bitch..." He cursed before running to the next car, where he sees Ardyn backing away.

"C'mon, Noct. You're scaring me! Seriously, man, cut it out!" Ardyn begs. He then enters the next car, where Noctis continues to doggedly pursue him. "It's not safe. Plus, you're causing a scene. Quit playing around, okay?"

Noctis catches up to him and conjures a sword once again, which he immediately takes swing with, attempting to bisect Ardyn horizontally. "You think this is funny?!"

The man ducks under the blade, then quickly scrambles to his feet and runs toward the next car. "Dude, are you seriously trying to kill me?!"

Noctis follows him into the space between the two cars. "Why wouldn't I?! I've got you now."

Ardyn is barely able to stand due to being out of breath. He held out one hand, trying to convince Noctis to stop.

"What're you after, following me around this whole time? It's all YOUR fault-" Noctis bellowed. He puts his elbow against Ardyn's neck and shoves him against the door to the next car.

"What are you talking about? Do you really mean that, Noct?" Ardyn asked, confusion dripping from each word.

"Of course I do! You can't talk your way out of this!" Noctis snarled.

"You won't even let me! Noct, please. Can't we talk for a sec?" The auburn-haired man pleaded.

Noctis' glare sharpened. "Never."

Suddenly, Noctis is thrown violently to the floor as the train's brakes bring it to a screeching halt. He loses consciousness and Ardyn scurries away.

A few minutes later, the prince comes to on the floor with Prompto awakening him. "Noct! Are you okay?"

"No." Noctis looked around frantically. "Where's Ardyn?"

"Wait-he's here? If he is, that would explain all this weird stuff happening. I bet he's behind the train stopping. Ignis and Gladio went up to inspect the engine room. I say the two of us go check out the rear."

Noctis didn't pick up on how strange the blonde was talking and agreed to accompany him. "Yeah." He runs back the way he had come while in pursuit of Ardyn. In the car before the cabin car, the train suddenly shakes and windows shatter all around. Noctis falls to the floor, but quickly gets back up.

"Did they bomb us?! Noct, we have to protect the people!" Prompto shouted.

Noctis runs onward into the cabin car where a magitek trooper jumps through the glass and pursues several people. The civilians run past the two boys.

"Head to the next car!" The blonde hollered at the civilians.

"Leave these guys to us!" Noctis added. He destroys the magitek trooper within seconds.

"So much for a safe ride. More of 'em might be on board. Let's check the rear!" Prompto shouted.

"We need to get the train moving again."

"I'm sure Ignis and Gladio will come up with something."

"Hope so. Let's go."

Noctis runs onward, moving through the dining car alongside Prompto. The marksman expressed his concern. "How bad do you think it is? Hope nobody got hurt."

The prince continues on through another cabin car, where the glass all shatters as yet another violent shake rocks the train. When he reaches the car past the passenger car after that, he's thrown back by an explosion that takes out the side of the car. He was taken aback at the damage. "It blew up!"

"Man, the MTs can self-destruct," Prompto said.

A multitude of magitek troopers are visible through the twisted wreckage. Many of them were firing upon the train while others were trying to reach it. "We can't let them inside," Noctis stated.

"Well then! We take the fight to them!" The marksman announced.

Imperial shock troopers attempt to blow up the train. Noctis and Prompto head outside through the hole created when the side of the train car was blown open to protect the train. Visible in the distance is a massive pyramid-shaped flying fortress. Many smaller imperial drop ships emerge from the fortress and fly toward the train.

Prompto gaped in shock. "That thing's huge! We've got company!"

"Sure do," Noctis blandly replied.

"Let the party begin!"

The two boys begin dismantling the magitek troopers, doing their best to protect the train. After taking down a few enemies, Noctis noticed how quickly they were replaced and scowled. "It's us against an army..."

"What're the odds we'll win?" Prompto wondered.

As the two continue fighting their way through the advancing horde, they were becoming overwhelmed. Noctis clicked his tongue in frustration. "There's just too many of 'em."

"Oh, the fun never ends!" Prompto playfully chants.

After the two destroy a great number of the magitek troopers, a number of imperial tanks in the area begin firing on the train. "Looks like they've rolled out the big guns!" The sharpshooter shouted.

"Prompto, stay back!" Noctis hollered at his best friend. He warps to one of the tanks, rips open a hatch leading to some explosive cylinders, conjures a sword, and shoves it through the cylinders. Then, he warps to the safety of a water tower as the tank explodes.

Meanwhile, the train has begun moving again and Prompto's voice rings out. "C'mon, we're leaving!" He boards the train just as Noctis warps to the top of it. "Look-they're hot on our tail! They're gonna blow us to bits!"

"Not if we blow 'em up first!" The prince shouted. Noctis takes out two more magitek troopers that had gotten on board.

"How's that now?" The marksman asked.

"Shoot 'em."

"Oh, now there's an idea."

Noctis warps to the inside of one of the ships, where he begins hacking the magitek troopers to bits. "Every single one of 'em's a bomber!" Moving to his next targets, he uses the turret to take down the four assault crafts. "That'll do it! Better head back down."

Down below on top of the train stands Ardyn and Prompto, the former pointing one of the latter's own guns at him. The blonde's hands were up in the air. Noctis warps down to the train near them. "Prompto!" He takes a swing at the gun Ardyn is holding, knocking it out of his hand. The prince then swung again at the man, causing him to fall off the train.

At this point, the illusion fades and Noctis becomes able to see that Prompto is the one who's falling. Horrified at the realization, he doesn't even look behind him to see Ardyn standing there holding up one of Prompto's guns.

"How long were you in the dark?" The real Ardyn asked.

Noctis turns to look at Ardyn, but the man slams the the butt of the pistol against the back of his neck. His body falls to the roof of the train and Ardyn vanishes.

<-------------<<<<<

By the time Noctis comes to, he's still laying on the roof of the train. He remembers his mistake and clenches his fists tightly. "Dammit." He pulls out his cell phone and calls Ignis.

"What's wrong?" The strategist asked.

"Ignis, you've gotta stop this thing! Prompto fell off the train. I pushed him-I mean, Ardyn made me. I don't know where he is, but we can't leave him!" Noctis desperately tried to explain the situation.

"Stay calm, Noct. I'm as concerned for Prompto as you are, but stopping the train would endanger everyone onboard. We'd be sitting ducks for the daemons."

"What do we do?!"

"First, we drop the passengers off at Tenebrae. We'll be arriving shortly."

Noctis gripped his phone tighter. "What about Prompto?!"

"Given the chancellor's involvement, it's probable he's no longer where we left him. In any case, he may try to contact us. Let us wait and hope for now." The train begins going through a mountain tunnel as Ignis continued. "Can you make your way here? Gladio is with me."

"Are the two of you okay at least?"

"Yes."

"Okay, on my way. I'll be there as soon as I take care of these stowaways!" Looking up, Noctis saw the walls and ceiling of the tunnel were crawling with daemons, many of which begin converging on his position. "And things just got worse."

Noctis cuts down daemon after daemon as he makes his way toward the front car of the train. "Where do they keep coming from?" He eventually reaches the front car and realizes it's no longer broad daylight. Night has begun to fall suddenly and swiftly beyond the end of the tunnel. However, the air also begins to fill with the crystals of light that accompany the appearance of a summoned god. "What?! No light at the end of the tunnel?!"

The prince takes notice of many large spider-like daemons hanging from the ceiling ahead of the train. "What in the world...?"

The daemons drop onto the train as it emerges into the rapidly disappearing daylight. The train becomes swarmed as it reaches Tenebrae. Fenestala Manor looms in the distance, but Noctis is about to face a potentially overwhelming horde.

Suddenly, Leviathan emerges from the valley below and begins unleashing its water coils at the daemons, knocking them loose and shattering even more windows. A water cyclone the Tidemother has manifested sucks in the daemons as they are knocked off the train. Having saved the train, the great serpent departs.

Noctis looks towards Fenestala Manor once all the daemons were annihilated. That was when he realized it was burning. He stared in horror for a while until he decided to return to the interior of the train as it rolled into Tenebrae Station. He rejoins Ignis and Gladio.

Once the train comes to a complete stop, the trio step off. Noctis sits on the train platform along with the many other beleaguered passengers. Gladio and Ignis stand beside him. From behind Noctis, he suddenly hears a familiar voice. "Well, look who's here."

Noctis turns around and calls out to the woman. "Aranea. Guess we've got you to thank for this mess?"

"More to it than meets the eye. You wanna know who to thank? Come with me."

Slowly, Noctis gets to his feet. "Can't wait to hear this."

The raven-haired boy and his two remaining companions walk along behind Aranea toward some imperial drop ships located a little ways away from the boarding platform. The ex-mercenary asked Ignis about his eyes once seeing the heavy scarring. However, the advisor hid the truth of how he received the scars but was honest of his lack of eyesight.

All of a sudden, Aranea stops and looks at them. "Uh, wasn't there one more of you guys?"

Noctis looked away with a guilty expression. "Yeah...there was."

"We...lost track of him," Gladio said.

"Is he dead?" She asked.

"I...I don't know," Noctis mumbled.

"Then quit moping, keep hoping." She resumes walking. "And in the meantime, handle what's at hand."

"So if it's not you we thank..." Gladio's voice trailed off.

"Thank the daemons, pawns of the imperial army."

"The army that you fight for."

"Fought for," she corrected him. "My men and I are in the search-and-rescue business now."

"You mentioned being part of the relief effort. We have a favor to ask," Ignis chimed in.

"Ask away."

"In light of what you've told us, we can't allow the other passengers to continue on."

"Sure, leave 'em to me...but, who's gonna drive the train?" Aranea inquired.

"Now that you mention it, yeah. You know anyone?" Gladio answered with his own question.

"I do. In fact, I know two." She walks the trio up to two other familiar faces. "Your new engineers. Biggs and Wedge. No need to worry-they can take a lickin'."

Biggs was the first to speak. "Only if we have to. What's all this about?"

"Driving a train. To Gralea."

"That all?"

"Well, who would you have me ask?" She questioned.

"You got us there," Biggs replied.

"We'll do it," Wedge chimed in.

"Hey, really appreciate you going out of your way," Gladio said.

"Yeah. No sweat," Aranea responded.

While Noctis went to chat with Biggs and Wedge, the shield spoke to Aranea alone. "You might not be a part of imperial army any longer, but did you hear something about any new prisoners?"

"You lookin' for someone?" She asked in return.

"Yeah."

"Before we left, we did hear about this one woman who was captured in Altissia. We weren't able to hear the details, though. Apparently, that wacko chancellor was trying to keep it under wraps." The woman eyed him curiously. "She a friend of yours?"

"Something like that," Gladio vaguely replied.

Aranea easily picked up on just how important she was to him by his response. "Oh, so she's your little girlfriend. No wonder why you seem out of sorts. I wouldn't worry just yet."

"Why's that?"

"From the way the chancellor was talking, he still needs her alive. Guess you three better kick your asses into high gear and get to Gralea as quick as possible."

Gladio was slightly relieved to hear (Y/n) was alive, but he was still worried since she remained in the clutches of the empire. "Thanks for the info."

"No problem."

The shield rejoined Noctis once he finished talking to Maria, a woman who worked in the Tenebrae Manor. Ignis carefully made his way over and the three headed back to the loading platform.

When they arrived back at the train, a young girl runs up to Noctis and began asking him a few questions. She expressed her love for the late Lady Lunafreya and how she was saddened by her passing.

Once Noctis was finished talking to the little girl, he walked up to Biggs. The man asked, "Shall we shove off, then?"

He nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

Wedge, who was standing by Biggs, gestured to the train. "Climb aboard."

Before the trio boarded the train, Aranea makes her way over. "Don't worry about the civilians. They're in my good hands. Can't say the same for you. Watch yourselves in the capital." She then gave her full attention to Gladio. "Hope you find your special lady, tough guy."

"I'll get her back," Gladio declared.

The ex-mercenary smirked. "That's the spirit."

"Thanks, Aranea. We'll see you around," Noctis said.

Gladio and Ignis turn and board the train. Noctis turns and begins to follow them, but then stops when he saw something falling from the sky. Looking up, he saw snow. "It's...snowing," he mumbled.

"Get your ass on board," Gladio snapped.

Tearing his eyes away from the falling snow, he boards the train. "Yes, sir."

#ffxv #ffxv x reader #final fantasy xv #final fantasy xv x reader #gladiolus amicitia #gladiolus x reader #gladio x reader

3 notes · View notes

fire-the-headcanons · 4 years ago

Text

Follow the Beacon Qrow—Now Your Real Training Begins

[Link to Masterpost]

[What’s this? Fluff?? In MY fic???]

The next few days passed in a haze of exhaustion—the process of forging was just as demanding as combat training, but in ways Qrow wasn't used to. Raven continued to hunt with Professor Mesánychta and Port, apparently lacking success in finding the one Grimm they were trying to study.

The two of them weren't speaking much.

But tiring as it was, it was thrilling to see the scythe take shape—intricate, elegant, the weapon of a Huntsman. And then it was finished, and he could hold it in his hands, feel the weight and reality of it. It wasn't much like the Grimm Reaper's kamas, but it was his, and that was so much cooler.

"What do you think?" Carmine asked as he took a few awkward swings.

"It's amazing," he said, sweeping it down in a huge arc before letting the head rest on the ground. Similar enough to a halberd if you ignored the bizarre balance. And shape. And weight.

"Now you just gotta figure out how to use it," she said, flicking the trigger so it shrank back down to the familiar broadsword shape. "The weight distribution isn't too different from a polearm warhammer, so I'd start there for the basics."

"Professor Mesánychta uses a hammer like that, right?" he asked, clipping it behind his back.

"Yes, and she'd probably be willing to help. Miss Rose might be able to teach you a thing or two, having had that spear of hers for so long, but not all of it will translate. You'll need to be observant and pull from many different disciplines."

Well, if there was one thing Bones had taught him...

She turned back to the workbench, starting to tidy up, and he hurried to help. Tossing the extra leather from the handle back into the bin, she continued, "Hopefully we won't have to do any major redesigns before the next break, but keep me posted on any new developments."

"Redesign?"

"Oh, you'll think of something, I'm sure," she laughed. "Hold on to the Mk. I for now, at least until you're used to doing the Mk. II's maintenance. The last thing you want to do is sit out of Grimm Studies because it's broken down."

"Right." He hung a pair of pliers back on the rack.

"Have you thought of a name yet?"

"Uh…not really."

"I'm sure you'll dream up something suitably imposing." She dragged out one of the metal stools and jumped up on it, stretching gratefully. "Make sure you take tomorrow off, all right? It's good to have another set of hands over in casting, but tired brains make more mistakes. I don't want any accidents."

Plenty of students complained about Carmine's almost pathological safety rules, but Qrow was just amazed at how effective they were in the face of his Semblance. "Raven and I are meeting Summer and Tai in Vale."

"Ah! Excellent. You can come back on Monday." She grinned up at him, and then the smile slid into a faint scowl as her eyes focused past his shoulder. A woman stood in the doorway, wearing a Mistrali robe in white and gold silk—she could easily have been from Anima, but did she know she was dressed for a funeral?

"Carmine," the newcomer cooed, light and soft as silk, "that may be the most magnificent weapon I've ever seen."

"Professor Eitri," she corrected flatly. Qrow blinked in surprise— nobody called her by last name.

The stranger held out her hand. "May I?"

Unsure what else to do, he offered out the hilt. She took it smoothly and tested the balance with a few confident strokes before shifting it to scythe form. "...Breathtaking."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Blanc. What do you need this time?"

Blanc—like the company building Mountain Glenn? So that's why Carmine didn't like her.

"I came to pick up the custom ammunition," she folded the weapon back down, staring at the gears, and then handed it back to Qrow, "and see if you had considered my offer."

"Not since the last time I turned you down, no."

"Carmine, how can you believe that this is all you're meant to do? You have a gift. You have a higher calling. " It was kind of weird to hear someone half the professor's age speak to her the same way Professor Mesánychta spoke to Tai after he covered her chalk with glue, and Carmine seemed to agree.

"I happen to think what I do is a higher calling than spit-polishing turrets for engineers with more money than sense."

She laughed, charmingly, and Carmine's eyes narrowed further. "But that's why I need you, Forgemaster. All I have is funding. You have the gif—"

"Oh, get your ammo and get out." The professor turned back to the workbench and continued tidying up. Qrow glanced between the two of them. Was he supposed to leave now?

"...I can see my offer has undervalued your skill. I meant no offense—I am prepared to double it."

Carmine swore, viciously, rounding on the woman and hissing up at her like a small red cat threatening a thoroughbred white horse. Blanc backed off the same way too.

"I'M ALREADY WORKING FOR YOU FULL TIME ON TOP OF MY ACTUAL DUTIES AS A TEACHER AND FORGEMASTER. AND SO FAR, I MUST SAY, I AM INCREDIBLY DISSATISFIED WITH THE COMPENSATION! YOU ARE GOING TO GET PEOPLE KILLED THE WAY YOU'RE RUNNING THIS LITTLE PR STUNT, AND YOU HAVE VALE FOOTING THE BILL!"

The woman's serene expression darkened. "I see Ozpin has swayed you."

"You never had a chance."

"Loyal to a fault… Remnant's population has expanded at an unprecedented rate since the end of the Great War—"

"Expanded , not has expanded, it's leveling off—"

"If we don't act there will be overcrowding, starvatio—"

"Oh my gods get out or I'm calling campus security."

Blanc squared her shoulders, drawing herself to her full height, staring down at the Forgemaster. "We cannot survive if we only fight to defend ourselves," she declared passionately. "Humanity must take the offensive, or one day we will be wiped out."

Carmine leaned forward with a sly smile exactly like Summer's. "...Or, we could end up in stuck in the desert and getting beaten around the head by a child with a stick. "

Blanc turned a grayish-purple, turned on her heel, and stormed from the room. The door rattled as she slammed it closed behind her.

"...Huh?" Qrow asked, turning his attention back to the professor.

"Lady Blanc's mother was from Vale, hence her name. Her father, on the other hand, was Emperor of Mistral during the Great War. The King of Vale was half his age during his defeat at Vacuo." She set the last hammer on the rack before leaning toward him with that same conspiratorial grin. "It's a bit of a sore spot for the family."

He nodded, stomach twisting. Thank the gods she didn't notice my wrist. Even going back to Vanta would be safer than getting spotted by an Imperial.

* * *

Qrow reached the docks while the hunting party were unloading their specimens, and quickly fell in with Raven and a third-year pushing a crate up toward the Grimm studies building. "Find anything good?"

"Just Beowolves." she grunted. The thing in the crate snarled, and the whole thing rattled as it slammed into one of the walls. "Did you finish your little project? That sword looks just like your old one."

"It's new."

The crate rattled again, and the cart's handle wrenched from their hands as it toppled to the side. Everyone sprang back at the noise, drawing weapons, but by some miracle the crate didn't bust open. Misfortune was in a forgiving mood today.

"Why don't you just go back to the dorms?" Raven snapped, shoving past him as she sheathed her sword.

"Miss Taupe!" Port chided. "Your brother was trying to help."

Raven glared at him. The crate hissed, scooting an inch closer to her as the thing inside lunged at the closest source of negativity.

"…You, er, seem to have some difficulty handling live Grimm," Port continued. "I would recommend taking up meditation." Another snarl, and the crate lurched again. "Perhaps knitting."

Qrow shrank back. They were attracting a lot of attention from the rest of the party, Professor Mesánychta included. Raven either didn't notice or care, just turned heel and headed for the dorms.

"That's your sister?" the third-year asked somewhat pityingly, bracing his shoulder against the fallen crate. Qrow just nodded, mirroring him, and together they shoved it back onto its wheels. He seemed to regret his question, hastily adding "She's, uh, great in a fight."

"Is she all right?" Port demanded, resting his fists on his hips. "She's been quite the Grimm magnet this week. Er, more than usual. While it did make the enemy easier to locate, it can't be good for her health."

"She's fine," he said quickly, returning to the handle. Port's moustache twitched, but he didn't push the issue, just the cart.

It only took them a few minutes to get the specimens wheeled into lockdown, and then Qrow hung back as the other students dispersed, waiting for the professor to finish whatever paperwork she was doing on her scroll.

"Professor Mesánychta?"

"Yes, Mister Taupe? I'm afraid there's not going to be an expedition tomorrow, if that's what you came to ask."

"No, that's not—I, uh, built—I'm trying to learn to use a scythe, and its weight distribution is kind of like a polearm warhammer—would you be willing to give me some pointers?"

She smiled, collapsing her scroll and tucking it into her pocket. "I'm certainly willing to try. Do you have it with you?"

He nodded, stepping back so he could draw his sword and trigger its transformation. Carefully setting the blade on the floor, he offered the handle to her.

"Goodness. Carmine's outdone herself on this one," she muttered, rotating the blade and shotguns experimentally. "I've only seen a few transforming weapons that are more complex. The free range of motion on the barrels is a nice touch."

Qrow beamed. "That was my idea."

Mesánychta's eyebrows shot up. "Was it? Well, it's perfectly suited for this. Most hammers and axes have the guns mounted opposing the head, so the recoil feeds into the swing," she said, swinging the scythe's head around so it curved behind a metal stool. "But the way the blade is turned on this, you'll also want to be able to fire in line with the handle, to draw it toward yourself quickly."

She jerked back on the handle, pulling it in toward the stool, and her finger brushed the trigger by mistake. The shotguns fired with a roar of thunder, cleaving the stool in two and vaporizing the Beowolf in the cage next to them. "Oh. Goodness. Are you all right?"

"Y-yeah." Well, third time's the harm. Good luck never lasted long.

"You're right, the weight distribution is more like a hammer than an axe," she continued, giving it a few careful, experimental swings. Her movements were far more fluid than his own, easily switching from hand to hand and almost weaving the blade around herself like a protective cage. "What an interesting project. I'd be happy to help."

He accepted it back, still grinning broadly. "Thanks, Professor."

"Although…" she frowned, glancing at her bow and quiver leaning against the little desk, "I don't think I've ever used Spring Tide's hammer form in class."

Qrow froze, smile instantly strained. She was right—he only knew from Queen of the Hunt. But she'd taught at Signal, right? "Uh, Summer mentioned it," he blurted.

"Hmm, yes. Well, I'd be happy to meet with you the week after next. You'll still be on campus?"

He nodded, grinning. "Thanks, Professor."

Next Chapter: Taiyang—Herbicide

#rwby #qrow branwen #raven branwen #strq #team strq #carmine eitri #lady blanc #rwby fanfiction #follow the beacon

9 notes · View notes

bumblingbrujo · 5 years ago

Text

The Burnt Lady and the Threepenny Prince sit together for a quiet discussion on devotion, duty, and desire.

@thatwhichbindsus

There had been some difficulties enacting his plans, but it was no matter Miguel couldn't handle. It was only a matter of time. After dealing with the problem of nosy vermin he ended up in the courtyard again - wishing he could get on his boats and leave. Maybe, if he was fast enough, he could kill his father himself. And not rely on time and age to do his bidding for him. There wasn't much point in wishing, when the Inquisition was still going strong, and Miguel had already given all the assistance he could muster to the investigation. They knew what kind of snake the venom had come from, a dead end as far as Miguel was concerned. So instead of bothering about any of that, he whittled a long piece of driftwood into a spoon.

Ciara walked onto the courtyard with eyes as slits, but let her face clear when she didn't see Lord Cardero. There was a nervous tick to her hands as she wandered along the outer walkway, as there had been since the attempted coup by the Kesley's. Merely a distraction. She was more worried about this: someone might have found her out. As she walked, she spotted Lord Miguel, and with both company and questions in mind, wandered over. "Did the kitchens run out?"

Miguel glanced up at Lady Cirara and a smile lit up his face. "Yes, they sent all the Lords and Princes who know how to whittle out to make spoons." He let his dumb joke settle on her ears a moment before he chuckled and said: "That was a jest. There isn't much to do in a locked down keep. How are you keeping yourself busy? Maybe you could give me some hints."

"It did not escape me," Ciara replied with a smile, sitting beside him. "We are all too aware of that. Suspicion and confinement are not good bed fellows." She folded her hands over her knees and made them entirely still. "Needlework. It takes time, creates something new, and can be beautiful." It was also good for stabbing things a thousand times over. "Do your brothers also whittle in their spare time, or is it just you?"

Once upon a time, Miguel had found some solace in needlework as well - though that wasn't something he was going to share with Lady Ciara. "Yes, that's part of why I whittle. It's nice to look down and see the fruits of your otherwise idle hands." He blew the loose wood shavings off his spoon and held it up. "It's also a valuable skill when you spend so much time on a boat. Though I'm sure we could use someone to do needlework instead of the ugly mend-jobs my med do." He chuckled. And then she asked about his brothers, specifically his brothers and not just Iann. "Ah, well. Juan was the one who taught me to whittle, though I can't know if he still does it or if his time is all consumed by that damned crusade." He groaned and shook his head. "I shouldn't sound so blasphemous, I just... miss my brother." He held his spoon out to Ciara and pondered Iann for a moment. "I'm not sure if Iann whittles or not. I know he's fond of bees, honey, and mead. Not necessarily in that order."

"Indeed," Ciara agreed, looking at his spoon when he held it up to the morning light. "I have no doubt. You don't have the option of pulling into the next village." She smiled. "I do not know if mine could hold up against the ravaging storms you sometimes face. Function over form." But she was curious to learn his assessment, especially considering her current concerns. "I understand. My sister is so often occupied with the Snowdonia borders I rarely even get a raven from her." She cocked an eyebrow. "Bees honey and mead? Only the latter doesn't surprise me. But then he has much to preoccupy him too."

Miguel's eyes narrowed just slightly. Was she trying to get information about Iann and Juan, or was she just trying to soften the youngest prince of isles? "Both of my brothers are extremely busy. Juan with Summerset and crusades, and Iann as Commander of the fleet. Somehow, he still finds time for bees, honey, and mead. He's very involved, involved as he can be, with the honey farms and the breweries." Miguel tried to be involved too, but it was a tightrope walk, between endearing himself to the people by being with them, and endearing himself to the people by exploring, gaining allies, and bringing artifacts and riches back to the islands. "As the youngest, I just try my best to keep up." He let loose a carefully curated sheepish look, the look of a younger brother who didn't know how to step out of his elders' shadows.

“Impressive.” Ciara commented, looking back up to him with a piercing look. “I doubt it would be too much work for you. You impressed many with how you handled the assassination the other day, working with the inquisitor. Humility is no bad thing, young Lord, but nor is pride.”

Miguel froze a humble smile on his face. "Like I said, Lady Ciara, I have no small interest in alchemy and potions. After all, I need some way to be distinguished from my brothers. Though Lady Lacroy was the most help. I provided her with an ear willing to listen."

“Of course,” Ciara agreed, breaking her gaze with a smile, and looked back down at his hands, shaped for purpose. “Lady Lacroy is certainly very knowledgeable. Useful, when none of us now know what the future holds.”

"Everyone is in the same boat right now, on the same choppy sea." Miguel sighed and looked up at the sky, still blue - just like yesterday. "I will never make the mistake of underestimating someone, be that an ally or an enemy. Lady Lacroy meets my expectations." He glanced at Lady Ciara, and wondered what surprises lay up her sleeves.

“Which do you consider her?” Ciara asked, meeting his curious glance briefly before looking back out across the courtyard. “I try to live by the same rules. Especially here.”

Miguel looked away when she did, he didn't want to make the Lady uncomfortable. "Lady Lacroy? She has been a help to me for years now, beside this whole debacle, she helped me when a plague brushed through the Forty Isles. Have you any experience with the Gold Blood sickness?" He was open and honest then, it was the only way to gain trust. And offering information was the only way to get knowledge in return.

"Only a little. We have been blessed, it has not yet reached the Eades, but I understand it had been a cause of some distress in the isles." Ciara replied with a sympathetic look. She knew what a blight such suffering could be on their people. Not four winters past, food had run out when frost had come early. Many had not survived to spring, as there were no trading paths for which neighboring landowners to help, even if they had had the desire to. "Is it a problem still?"

"It is, less deadly than in the past, but I worry about it... and honestly, it would set me apart from Iann to eradicate the sickness," Miguel smiled a little sheepishly. Sure he wanted help for his own selfish goals, but that would directly help the people he served, the people who served him. "Still, I want my people healthy, and not beholden to a mysterious illness that comes and goes as it pleases."

“There is not much that can be done to prevent these things, except perhaps pray,” Ciara replied, but her mind was already ticking with thoughts and questions. Iann Cardero was a liability, there was no doubt about it, and with a girl missing, one that served her dearly, an ally in the isles would suit her well. “What do you hope to do about it?”

"The only thing I can do," Miguel replied. "Use the knowledge I get from physicians and alchemists to fight the illness like I would a battle. I'll find where the resistance lays dormant and snuff it out. Though, mind you, I would like to do that without killing my own people. There must be some tincture or method that would purge the sickness from their bodies.”

“I do not know of such a thing,” Ciara lied, twisting her head to look up at the sunset. It was an easy enough assist, and with such a dearth or allies it was all too urgent. “But I know who I could ask, if you wish.”

Miguel smiled cautiously. "You know someone who knows of a cure? Would they work with me, do you think?" He pursed his lips. "Of course, please contact them, if you would." He clasped his hands together and cracked his knuckles. A glance at Ciara told him there were natural wonders being missed. So, he turned and watched the sunset with her. "Lady Ciara... what do you want from life?"

“Perhaps not knows, but is aware of some possibilities no doubt.” She replied. In the golden pink sun, he seemed so innocent, so young. He was beautiful, she thought, but was not aware of any marriage in waiting for him. It was a strange thing, and an obstacle in his own desire to take what was Iann’s. “That is a dangerous question indeed, my Lord. I want what many of us want, I believe.”

Miguel chuckled. Was that her version of honesty? "Well Lady Ciara, what do many of us want? If you had asked me that question, I don't know what answer I could have given you. Some days I want to sail away never to return, sometimes I want to spend the rest of my life on the Forty-Isles keeping bees and making mead. Some days I want to see how far to the North I could possibly go before I freeze to death. And sometimes I want to switch places with Iann, to be a family man with five kids running around, devoted to my Islands and my kin." He added the last want, even if it couldn't happen, even if it was a deep desperate want. "My soul it not that of the youngest prince, though I doubt many people are suited to it. How many desires do you have to bite back because of your station, Lady?"

Ciara smiled for him, a deliciously private smile as she watched glints of gold settle on the city below, as the turrets here gleamed pink. The sunlit throne indeed, she thought. "I would never have guessed, my lord," she replied softly, smiling to him. A family to chase, it sounded appealing until she remembered just how close she had come to this fate. Rather childless and free than with many all ensnared to a tyrant. She thought of lord Avitej, lifting the crown onto his head. It was to be a somber affaire, he'd set, but not like this. "What I want I cannot have. It does not befit those of my station to dream, my lord. This is plenty enough for me."

The low light created long shadows on Ciara's face, both hiding and elongating her burns. Miguel had experienced pain, a stab here, a flu there, one time an infection that almost reached his blood - but luckily he had a good physician on his ship and he hadn't needed to lose his arm. All that said, he couldn't imagine what that burn could have felt like. The terror of her husband burning in her arms. It was a dramatic story, but Ciara had to live it. He chanced a gentle touch of his hand to her arm. "You have an admirable sense of duty, Lady. I apologize if I've overstepped."

Ciara did not hesitate to lean slightly into that touch. Just a little, a movement so small it could be denied. "Not at all, my lord. I have quite enjoyed your company."

Miguel moved closer to Ciara. A hand on an arm turned into sides pressed together. And his hand went up to lightly brush her hair, which was up and tight but a few strands had come undone. "If you ever want to pause your duty and see what life on the sea is like... know you could call on me." It was a small offer, but Miguel would enjoy that immensely. He tried to keep in mind that she was a third daughter of a small house and he was a prince. He didn't want to bully her into anything. That wasn't how Miguel liked to play the game.

Ciara knew this side of the game just as well as the kind with daggers and subterfuge, and looked down at her lap with a quiet smile. His rough, sailor hands were sooth against her hair. "Thank you, my lord. It sounds quite tempting, but I cannot abandon my family so easily."

Miguel nodded. He bit back a chuckle that wanted to bubble up from his throat. "Of course," he said as solemnly as he could. He brushed back a few more strands of hair before standing. "I'll take my leave of you, Lady. If I feel too much affection for you, I'll find it too hard to sail away." He left unspoken his own duty. But he had to sail away, as soon as the new High Raj was crowned, if not sooner.

"With words like that, my lord, you make it easy to change one's mind," She stood also, as the sun set over the city, and they were slowly cast in shades of purple. Ciara curtsied deeply and clasped her hands before her. "I will speak with you soon again, I imagine, once I've conferred with my contact." He was a sweet, kind man, this Miguel. But, as Ciara was learning, he was a clever, deceptive one too.

#ciara #got au #chatzy

4 notes · View notes

likethetailofacomet · 6 years ago

Text

Melt

Drake x Claire

Author’s Note: So fair warning, this one got away from me a little bit and is almost double the length of most of the rest of the chapters in this series, but a lot happens in Lythikos. Claire has an overdue discussion with Maxwell, Olivia stirs the pot, and things heat up in the cold.

NSFW all the way at the end. Sorry, you’re gonna have to work for it just like Claire. ;)

tagging: @sleepwalkingelite @zaffrenotes @notoriouscs @gardeningourmet @natalievgoodehenry @ooo-barff-ooo @nekkidmolerat If you would like to be added to the tags please let me know!

The drive to the Nevrakis Chateau was about 5 hours. As soon as the altitude had started to change, so had the road, winding it's way through the mountain range making each mile take much longer than normal. Maxwell had fallen asleep beside her about 20 minutes into the drive, after excitedly outlining the day ahead of them.“Olivia's winter estate is amazing!” He assured her. “You like skiing? Bam! We can do that. Ice skating your thing? No problem, there's a huge lake that's pretty much permanently frozen.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Want to warm up with a certain someone? Nothing nicer than a fire to snuggle by!”

Like magic the blood in her veins rushed warmly throughout her body. She imagined falling asleep against Drake's broad chest, the crackling fire casting an orange glow across the two of them as snow fell heavily outside. She imagined the way his arms might snake around her body, pulling her gently closer, how he might also drift off to sleep, how their breathing might fall into sync. She snapped herself from the daydream when Maxwell caught her staring, slack jawed, into space.

“Uh, Claire?” he was waving his hand in front of her eyes. “Claire?! You okay?” he had a look of shock on his face.

“Y-yeah, yes. I'm good. Fine, fun! Just...excited for the fun.” Fine, fun? Excited for the fun? You're lucky this is Maxwell and not Bertrand, Claire.

“Yes! So. Much. Fun!” Maxwell called out in a sing song voice, completely convinced by her 'couldn't-be-thinner' excuse. After elaborating on exactly how much fun they were about to have, he'd stretched and yawned, just like he had on the flight from New York, and in less than a minute he was out. He's like a golden retriever, Claire mused, taking in his open mouth and raspy snores. So much excitement and then crash!

Pulling into the driveway of the palatial estate, Claire couldn't keep a “wow” from falling from her lips. Evergreens had been planted along the long driveway, shielding the estate from sight until the very last moment, their snow burdened boughs giving way to the turrets and leaded window panes of the chateau. It was beautiful; the original architecture maintained to perfection and updated with all of the modern necessities, and the white blanketed landscape around the house went on for as far as the eye could see. She couldn't wait to stretch her legs and explore, and neither could Maxwell- he was already running up the estate steps. “Meet you for ice skating in 15 Claire! Oh, you're room's the last one on the left corridor, someone will bring your bag in for you, bye!” he called over his shoulder, all in one breath, before disappearing through the front door.

She smiled, shaking her head to herself. Stepping out of the car, her boot immediately hit a patch of ice and she slid backwards, arms going out to her sides to try to steady herself, until thudding hard into someone behind her.

“Watch it, Berkley, haven't you ever been on ice before?” Drake caught her by the shoulders and held her steady at arms length, dropping his hands as soon as she found traction again.

“Yes, and I happen to be an excellent skater...ironically enough,” she cocked her head at him and put her hands on her hips.

“You're not a better skater than me.” he stated matter of factually.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “That so, Walker? Guess we'll see about that.” She spun back to the car and grabbed her own bag, ignoring what Max had said about someone bringing it for her. Spinning back towards Drake, she let her voice drop just a fraction before saying “See you on the ice,” with a playful smirk before making her way up the steps towards the front door.

Drake couldn't help but watch her as she walked away. After slipping on the ice she seemed to be making a show of how confident she felt in these conditions, and he hated how much he liked it. “See you on the ice, Berkley,” he muttered to himself, wondering how on Earth she was going to keep from melting it as soon as she touched it. He watched the other ladies shuffling around patches of ice, fearfully clutching onto each other for stability as their drivers carried their luggage in for them. He smiled to himself as he caught Claire hefting her bag onto her other shoulder before vanishing into the estate.

“I see Claire is keeping you on your toes already, my friend.” Liam came up from behind him, clapping a hand to his shoulder, a wide, teasing grin spreading across his face. He'd made a mental note never to refer to her as Lady Claire or Lady Berkley to Drake.

“Cool it, Liam,” he said, shooting his friend a look. Liam had a tendency to get excited about things the moment they show up as thoughts in his head- and why wouldn't he? He's a prince; if he can dream it it's his. If he falls for someone, they fall for him harder. Drake had never known that luxury. Nothing had ever come easy for him. Nothing. He'd developed a tendency that was the exact opposite of Liam's. The moment things showed up as a thought in his head, he was already trying to tell himself not to bother. He simply didn't want to deal with the disappointment, the heartbreak, so he told himself that whatever he thought he wanted wasn't worth it. He was trying to do that with her, but for the first time in years it wasn't working.

Liam put his hands up defensively. “Hey, I'm just calling it like I see it, man.”

“Well...don't, okay. Not...” he looked toward the front door, toward where she'd just been standing in such stark contrast to every other woman he'd ever met. “Not yet.”

It's got to be today, Claire had told herself while she changed into her heavier clothes. She would talk to Maxwell today and tell him the truth. There was no sense hiding it from him. Liam knew, Hana knew...she hoped by now Drake believed her. If it's a problem they can send me back to the bar, she told herself. She cut herself off from finishing the thought with maybe that would be for the best. Maybe it would. But Daniel had told her that she should trust herself, and she trusted him so why not take his advice? She wrapped a chunky plaid scarf three times around her neck, fixed her hair in the mirror, and headed out towards where everyone had started to gather for skating.

Olivia and Liam were gliding arm in arm on the far side of the lake. Maxwell had advised that the pair of them had grown up together and were old friends. In the few, short interactions that Claire had had with Olivia in the boutique and other common areas of the palace, the redhead had been sharp, biting and standoffish. She thought it odd that someone as kind and welcoming as Liam would have a friend as prickly as Olivia, but then she admittedly knew nothing about courtly politics. She watched as Olivia chattered happily away at Liam as he nodded and smiled, but it was clear to Claire that he wasn't paying her much attention. She followed his crystal clear eyes a few feet away, where they landed on Kiara's flowing raven hair as she tossed it, laughing with Penelope as the two women struggled to keep each other steady on their skates. Claire wondered whether Kiara or anyone else noticed the way that Liam found any moment he could to steel glances at the lady from Castelsarreillan. Probably not. No one seemed to notice the same about her and Drake.

“Claire! Hey snowbunny!” Maxwell's cheerful voice rang clearly through the cold air. He was sitting on a bench tying his skates, waving one arm over his head. Now or never, and better when there are more people around.

“Hey, Max,” she strode over and took a seat next to him to lace up her own skates. “Want to do a lap together?” she asked when she was done.

“Claire, I'd like nothing more.” He stood, held his hand out for her and she took it smiling. On the inside her stomach was roiling.

They made their way out onto the ice and linked arms. “How are you at this?” Maxwell asked tentatively.

Claire looped her arm through his and took him on a graceful glide. “You tell me,” she said smirking.

Maxwell was impressed and clearly relieved. Claire had her hands full trying to keep him upright. Looking around it was clear that most of the nobles weren't the outdoorsy type. The second that thought had crossed her mind, Drake sped past her and Maxwell looking happier than she'd seen him since the first night they'd met. Her heart jumped to her throat and she felt a pressing need to get the conversation with Maxwell over with. She waited until they were far enough away from other ears before leveling with him.

“Hey, Max, I uh...I need to tell you something.” She didn't give him time to respond. Doing so would give her just enough time to change her mind and spin a quick lie to cover what she'd said. She continued hastily, “I need you to know the truth about why I came here and the truth is this: I thought that I had a connection with Drake the night of Liam's bachelor party, and I haven't had that in...in a long time and, I needed to see what it meant. And god you were so right that I didn't want to go back to that bar, Max. You have no...no idea how right you were, and...and I” she glanced over at him. His expression was neutral, he was waiting for her to finish. “I'm sorry. I know you and Bertrand were hoping that I'd somehow bring honor to your house but... I'm the wrong girl for that job, Max.” She looked down at her skates, watching the blades bite into the ice below them, too nervous to look back at Maxwell.

“Does Liam know?” Maxwell asked, finally.

“He does. He's...” she smiled despite still feeling bad for letting Maxwell down, “He's actually kind of for it.”

Maxwell smiled, shocking her. “Well if the Prince approves, who am I to say a word?” He nudged her with his elbow playfully. She let out a huge sigh of relief. “Besides, it wouldn't kill Drake to find a little happiness in life,” he rolled his eyes.

They finished their lap around the lake and Claire gave Maxwell a big hug, thanking him for being so understanding. “Look,” he'd said, “I know you're new around here. But marrying the prince really isn't the only reason for the social season, and it's not the only way that you can make your mark on the court.” He squeezed her hand and bounded off to talk to Hana.

A blue blur whizzed past the corner of Claire's vision, and she turned in the direction that it went to see Drake just a few feet away from her, looking like a professional skater. “Hey, Berkley, you ready to prove what you said about being a better skater than me?” He challenged. He was grinning, and without noticing, Claire let out a little bubbly laugh, her own lips pulling up involuntarily at his uncharacteristic display of happiness.

“You're on, Walker,” she called over to him. He closed the distance, blades cutting to a stop and spraying her toes with ice. “Should I skate faster than you, more gracefully than you?” she asked teasingly as she circled him. “What kind of contest should this be? Or maybe I should ask, what kind of contest do you feel like losing?” she was feeling a little more brazen after her talk with Maxwell, and reminded herself to reel it in a bit.

“Do I look like a figure skater? We're racing.” he cocked one eyebrow, looking at her like she had three heads for suggesting anything but a race.

She shrugged, “Like I said, didn't matter to me, I'm flexible,” That's reeling it in?! She scolded herself.

She thought she saw Drake's eyes darken just a bit, thought she heard a slight rumbling growl from the back of his throat before saying, “Berkley, you just go looking for trouble, don't you.”

Smirking, Claire turned away from him and skated over to the edge of the lake. Drake followed, again stopping right in front of her, so so close to her. She felt a flutter in her chest and a shiver though her bones that had nothing to do with the cold. She pointed to where everyone else had gathered, all abandoning their skates. He nodded, staring her in the eye. “On your mark,” she said, crouching into her stance.

He did the same, “get set,” he said, keeping his eyes locked on hers.

“Go!” she yelled, taking off. He was right on her heels, but she could go faster. She dug deeper, put her head down, and increased her speed. Pulling ahead, she saw that the rest of the group had noticed the race and were watching. Pushing as fast as she could, she reached the other side, slowing by doing a dramatic figure eight to great applause from Liam, Maxwell and Hana.

Drake finished just as she was coming out of her figure eight, a breathless, shocked look on his face. “You...weren't...kidding,” he huffed.

Claire smiled. “Nope. My first job was a skating instructor. Did I forget to mention that?” she stuck her tongue out at him.

He let out a slight chuckle, “Yeah you may have forgotten that detail,” he said. “Good race, Berkley.” His eyes softened but just for a second. As if remembering that the rest of the group was still looking at them, he said, “uh, everyone seems to be waiting for us, so we should head in.”

Claire nodded. The moment was over and she'd have to wait for the next one. He was like a puzzle. A puzzle you could only solve in a certain sequence at a certain time. “Okay, let's head in.” she brushed her hand against his almost imperceptibly as she passed him, but she felt him stiffen at the contact and knew that he had felt something.

Later, after the sun had gone down and everyone had taken hot showers and warmed up, Olivia led the suitors and members of the court into a large sitting room with a roaring fire and several plush couches. “Prince Liam has some stately business to attend to before joining us,” she announced, “but the bar is full, so please, make yourselves comfortable.” They all did as she suggested, and milled about chatting before pouring themselves a second drink and settling onto the various couches.

Claire got herself a drink from the bar; a whiskey on the rocks, and took a seat next to Drake on the couch. “Come to gloat about your win, Berkley?” He took a swig of his drink.

“No way, I'm no sore winner,” she said smiling. “You looked like you were having fun today.”

“I was,” he said with honesty. “Usually courtly functions mean suits and parties, endless droning on of nobles all praising one another for nothing. I like being outside, breathing fresh air.”

“I like that too,” she said. “I don't get enough fresh air in New York. I love that city, but god it can be suffocating.” she took a drink.

As Drake opened his mouth to say something, a tall shadow crossed in front of them, and he went rigid. Looking up, Claire saw their host, Duchess Olivia, clutching a glass of red wine in one hand, the other on her hip. “Lady Claire, that was quite a performance on the ice today,” she said flatly.

“Thank you, Duchess-”

The redhead cut her off, her eyes trained on Drake, red lip curling up. “Be careful though, Lady Claire. Ladies who spend a lot of time with Drake end up vanishing. Isn't that right, Drake dear?” she said, her expression sickeningly sweet.

Drake glared at her, his eyes darkening three shades. “Don’t, Olivia.” He warned in a low growl.

Claire shifted next to Drake uncomfortably. “Hey, Olivia,” she tried to interject.

“How long has it been, Drake, since you’ve heard from Savannah? 8 months? A year? More?”

“I said don’t.” The anger was making his voice shake as he stood abruptly, hands becoming fists.

“And how about dear Lady Isla?” Olivia ignored Drake’s protests and smugly pressed the button she knew would cause the biggest reaction. “She just up and left the night before Landon’s engagement ball, so very unlike her. How long has it been since you’ve heard from her, Drake?” She crossed her arms and hitched one eyebrow high.

“I said, DON’T!” He snarled into Olivia’s face.

“Or what, Walker?” she spat at him. “Lighten up, it was just a joke.” she huffed and took a sip of her wine.

“That's the fucking problem with people like you, Olivia. The world is just a fucking joke.” he growled at her, slamming his empty glass down and stalking past her towards the entry way.

Claire stood from the couch and stared Olivia in the eye. “That was cruel, you know that? You're cold. Why would you do that? Couldn't you see it was bothering him?” She was unprepared for Olivia's seemingly careless approach to people's feelings.

“Of course I could see, Claire, don't be ridiculous,” she stated and went to refill her wine.

Claire looked around but no one else had noticed Drake's departure. Liam wasn't in the room and Maxwell was busy doing some party trick or another on the other side of the room. Making a split decision, Claire left the sitting room and followed Drake out into the night.

Without the sun the air temperature had dropped drastically. Claire was used to cold winters being from the north eastern United States, but she knew that it was too cold to stay out for too long. She needed to find Drake and make him come back inside before one or both of them got hypothermia. She followed his footprints, glad that it hadn't started snowing yet. Glancing up at the sky she could tell by the clouds that that wouldn't be the case for long.

She found him standing in a clearing, hands on his head. She approached slowly, snow crunching beneath her feet. Reaching a hand out, she placed it gently on his back hesitating for half a second before doing so. As her hand made contact with his back she felt him tense up again like he had when she brushed his hand out on the ice. “Drake...” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

He closed his eyes at the sound of her voice, let his shoulders relax. It was frigid outside, and Olivia had just chilled his heart, but the sound of her voice and the weight of her hand on his back sent a comforting warmth through his body. “Berkley,” he croaked. “Why'd you follow me?” he still hadn't turned to face her. He couldn't.

“Drake...I...was worried about you. It's cold, and...” she took a step around to the side of him, peering up at his face as he continued to stare straight ahead. “And what Olivia did was wrong. I” she shook her head. “I don't know what any of that meant, but...” he looked down at her. She looked genuinely upset about what Olivia had done. “but it was wrong of her.” she said, looking up at him and meeting his eyes. She kept her hand on his back as she came fully around to the front of him, their bodies almost touching.

“I...” he closed his eyes again. “I'm not ready to tell you about all that,” he sounded deflated. It was different from his flat, stoic, sarcastic tone. It broke her heart.

“That's okay,” she said. “You don't have to, I just...wanted to make sure you were alright.” She dropped her hand from his back as the other reached up to rest on his chest. He looked down at her, unable to remember a time when anyone but his family or Liam had shown him concern. This woman was changing everything he thought he was sure about.

“It's cold,” she said after a beat. “Let's get back.” she turned back towards the estate.

“Hang on,” he said, hand darting out to grab hers. “Look,” he pointed up at the sky and she followed his finger to see the sky erupting in a brilliant meteor shower.

“Beautiful,” she gasped.

The sky twinkled and glittered like diamonds, but he'd seen it before. He'd never seen her see it, though, and he thought that the awe on her face was more beautiful that anything going on in the sky. “Yeah, it is, isn't it?” he said in a low voice, eyes not moving from her.

They stayed watching the meteor shower for a few minutes until Claire began to shiver. Drake noticed and pulled her to his side, rubbing her arm. She huddled closer as snow began to fall. “Okay,” he said, breaking apart, “let's get you back.” He took her hand tightly and led the way, Claire clutching onto him for safety- she was afraid that if she let go she might lose any hold she had on him.

By the time they had made it back everyone had retired to their rooms for the night, either not caring or not noticing the absence of the commoners. The reddish glow from the dying fire spilled out into the entryway where they stood, breathing heavily from the walk in the cold, both shivering at this point. Claire took a shaky breath before reaching up to Drake's face. She brushed snow out of his wet hair. His hand came up and caught hers and pulled her into the sitting room.

Once inside he shut the door and they collided in a kiss that made the embers in the hearth jealous. Her fingers went to his buttons, shedding his shirt, their lips still locked, tongues entwined, his hands in her hair grabbing fistfuls. Dropping his shirt to the floor she started to remove her own top when he broke the kiss.

“Berkley-” his voice was strained.

“Shh,” she said, moving to kiss the skin behind his ear. A strangled moan fell from his lips. “We have to get these cold, wet clothes off,” she said before returning her lips to his. He moaned again into her mouth at the sensation of her skin pressed to his chest. It set every inch of him tingling, an electric current buzzing through his veins. She feels amazing, he thought to himself, how is this real? How is she real?

They moved to the couch, hands roving over each other, warming themselves against one another. He slid his hand up to cup her breast and she hummed against his lips as his strong fingers kneaded her soft flesh. He could barely breathe for how it felt to touch her. Drake sunk into the corner of the couch, stretching his legs out, and pulled her on top of him. She sighed as he lined her hips up against hi own, and he took her bottom lip between his teeth, sucking, drawing a satisfying gasp from her. One hand was tangled in her hair again, the other pressing lightly on the small of her back. He felt her breath rise and fall with his, his fingertips starting to trail lightly up and down her spine. He'd slowed the kiss down, tongue gently sliding over hers, getting lost in it. They were both lost in it.

Lungs burning with a need for air, Claire reluctantly pulled her lips from his, amazed at how difficult it was to stop kissing him. Gasping, she tilted her head down resting her forehead against his chest. He smells like autumn, she thought, like the air after rain. She felt his fingers unwind from her hair, smoothing it gently now. He placed a delicate kiss behind her ear and she sighed, breath evening out slowly. She shifted her weight to lay against him, placing her cheek against the place where his heart was still thumping wildly. He looped both arms around her body and tightened his hold on her, turning his face to rest against hers, noses touching. They stayed there, not saying anything, neither daring to speak first, until Claire began drifting in and out of sleep.

Drake wanted to stay there all night holding her. He needed the delicious feeling of her warm body pressed against his own. He wanted nothing more than to wake up like that, to see her in his arms in the clear, gentle light of morning with sunbeams dancing through the blinds and through her hair. But he knew that it wouldn't look good for someone to find them like this, half naked and tangled together, sweaty and content. Fighting his desires, he brushed a light kiss to her cheek and she stirred awake, blinking up at him, a small, sheepish smile forming. “Sorry... didn't mean to fall asleep...” she mumbled, stretching and moving to get off of him.

“It's okay,” he said. It's more than okay, he thought. “But we should get to our rooms. Come on, I'll walk you.” He handed her her shirt and she slipped it on as he did the same. They left the room, fingers laced together loosely, and walked in silence until they got to her door.

“Well,” she bit her lip and looked down. “Good night, Drake.”

“Hey, Berkley...before you go...” he dropped his own gaze, pulling his hand up behind his neck. “Thank you. For coming after me, I mean.” He chanced a glance up at her and met her steady gaze.

“You don't have to thank me, I-” she began.

“No, Berkley, I do. You might not understand it but...” he sighed. “Just let me thank you, okay?”

She could see something in his eyes, like he was straining himself. She nodded. “Okay.”

“Good night, Berkley,” he said, moving back from her door. “See you tomorrow.”

“Sleep well, Drake,” she said with a yawn, closing the door.

Drake knew he wouldn't be sleeping. He'd be laying in his bed trying to remember how she had fit so perfectly against his chest, how their lips had joined so seamlessly. He would be laying there thinking about what it meant to have someone that he wanted to take a chance on, someone that could melt the ice around his heart.

#learning to love again #trr #trr au #choices trr #drake x mc #drake x claire #drake walker #drake #claire berkley #liam #maxwell beaumont #olivia nevrakis #lythikos #melt

63 notes · View notes

bxcketbarnes · 6 years ago

Text

The Innocent Girl // Part Twenty-Seven: Attack on Mount Weather // Bellamy Blake

Gif is not mine

Words: 4793

Warnings: death

Author's Note: I apologize it's so long but I wanted to get to a certain spot in the episodes where I could end it! We're getting into some doozy shit, guys. Pike's in the picture and we all know how much of a douche he is. Heartbreak is bound to come. Thanks to my lovely girl, @lovefilledtragedy, for looking over this part! ❤

I sat in the back, resting my head against the side of the Rover as my eyes were shut. Monty, Bellamy, and I were heading towards Sector 4 to meet with Kane. To be honest, nobody knows why he’s so far outside the wall with no guards with him, but he’s always been a bit insane.

Raven, Jasper, Aud, and Miller took the horses from the three dead Azgeda warriors so they could get the dumbass back to camp and get him checked out. I should’ve gone back as well, but my wound is less serious than Jasper’s in my opinion.

Monty parked outside of a tunnel, the two of them getting out and I let out a quiet sigh, popping open the back door before joining them. I drape the strap of the rifle over my shoulder, the three of us having our guns ready in case shit went down.

“You were right about Jasper, okay? Is that what you wanted me to say?” Monty asked as the two of them walked in front of me, keeping my eyes around my surroundings.

“Quiet. Keep your eyes peeled,” Bellamy muttered, glancing back at me for a few seconds. “I could’ve said no.”

Monty let out a sigh, looking back towards Bell. “He’s getting worse, isn’t he?” I scoffed at his question, rolling my eyes as I mumble something under my breath. “I mean getting drunk every night is one thing, but smiling with a knife to your throat and almost sacrificing one of our best friends, that’s next level damaged.”

Bellamy and Monty slowed down as I kept my eyes on the ground. I bumped into the back of them, muttering an apology before moving to stand beside Bell. “Wait, who’s Kane with?” I asked, squinting my eyes a bit as the bearded man weave through the trees with someone else.

“Indra,” Bell answered, his elbow brushing against my arm.

“That’s Indra?” Monty asked.

“He must’ve told her we broke the truce,” Bellamy mentioned and the three of us stepped forward. I let out a huff of breath, running a hand through my hair. “Sir, before you say anything, there was a good reason-,”

“I’ll deal with that later. This is about Clarke,” Kane cut him off and my head snapped towards him, suddenly interested.

I look towards Bellamy and Monty who looked at each other. “What about her?” Bell and I asked at the same time as I rest the rifle to my side.

“She’s being hunted,” Indra answered our question.

“By who?” Monty questions and the older woman looked to him.

“By everyone.”

Monty was driving the five of us back to Arkadia as Kane, Indra, and I sat in the back of the Rover. I kept my eyes looking out the small slits of the window, resting my chin on my hand as Monty’s voice snapped me out of my daze.

“Sir, we’re almost out of range,” he commented, glancing towards the radar, “are you sure you don’t wanna tell the Chancellor?”

“I’m sure. I don’t wanna worry Abby until we know something,” Kane answered and I turned my gaze to the ground, fumbling with my fingers.

“We know there’s a kill order,” Bellamy mentioned, his deep voice sending butterflies through my stomach, smiling to myself. “You people are big on those.”

Indra rolled her eyes, turning her head towards Bellamy. “It’s not a kill order. It’s a bounty. Clarke’s a symbol. She’s known as Wanheda. The Commander of Death.”

My eyebrows furrowed together about to speak up when Bellamy beats me too it. “The Ice Nation guys we killed asked about Wanheda. They’re looking for Clarke, why?”

“My people believe that when you kill someone, you get their power. Kill Wanheda and you command death,” Indra informed us and my lips parted slightly.

“She’s just one girl,” Kane told her.

“So was the Commander. What Clarke did at Mount Weather weakened her. The Ice Nation is emboldened. Their Queen wants Clarke’s power. If her people believe she has it, she’ll break the coalition and start a war, I can’t let that happen,” Indra explained and I leaned back, attempting to take in all the information.

The radar began to beep and I lean forward, my gaze moving to Bellamy. “Welcome to Sector 7 Where to now?” Monty asks.

“If she’s here, she’ll need supplies. We’ll start at the training posts,” Indra spoke and Monty shifts the Rover into another gear, speeding down the dirt road.

“Excuse me, Indra?” I quietly called out, not wanting the attention of the others. She glanced towards me, raising her eyebrows and I swallow thickly. “C-Can I sit there?” I ask, moving my eyes towards Bellamy and she followed my line of sight.

She looks between the back of Bellamy’s head and I, feeling my cheeks heat up a bit. “Sure,” she gives a small smile and I quietly thank her, getting up to sit in her seat. Bellamy’s head turned back slightly, giving me a small smile before reaching his hand back. I squeeze my arm through the space between the passenger seat and the door, grabbing his hand before lacing our fingers. His thumb rubbed the back of my hand and I lean my head against the metal fence.

After ten minutes of driving towards Sector 7 in silence, Monty suddenly stepped on the brakes. My head bashed against the fence, letting out a small groan as Kane laid a hand on my knee. “You okay?” He asks and I nod my head, letting go of Bellamy’s hand to rub the side of my head.

“We have to move it,” Monty muttered and I leaned forward to look out the windshield, seeing the large tree in our way. The two began to get out of the vehicle when Indra stopped them.

“Wait,” she started, looking towards the four of us, “it’s been cut down.”

I bit my lip, looking back towards the tree as I tried to figure out if she was telling the truth or not. “You don’t know that,” Bellamy mutters, taking his rifle before opening the hatch.

“Please be careful,” I whisper, not sure if he heard me or not as I watched him. I look around as a rumbling sound began to get louder, my hand shooting out to grasp Bellamy’s pants. “Bell!” I call out and he lowers into the Rover, his brown eyes wide.

“We do now,” Indra told us as Bellamy sat down between my legs, his hands resting on my shins. My fingers instinctively fumble with his jacket, my heart pumping quickly. Deep Breath in… Deep breath out.

We’ve been sitting in the Rover for hours, waiting for the people who cut down the trees to make their move but… nothing. I focused my hearing, trying to figure out if anyone is around the vehicle. I let out a frustrated groan, running a hand through my hair as I lean forward to glance out the barred window.

“It’s been three hours. What are they waiting for?” Bellamy asks, his deep voice laced with impatience.

“Even with the light, I don’t see anyone,” Kane comments while I fiddle with the rifle.

“I say we make a run for it,” Monty offers and I let out a dry laugh, shaking my head.

“Monty I love you and all but that is such a bad idea,” I chuckle, turning my gaze towards him.

“No,” Kane mutters, Monty and I glancing towards the older man as he looks out the back door, “that’s what they want us to do.”

So what? Are we basically sitting ducks? This could go on for days… “The boy is right,” Indra pipes up, looking over at Monty. “They can’t wait longer than we can.”

The inside of the Rover was filled with silence for a few moments before Kane speaks up. “Okay, Bellamy. You get in the turret and you cover us,” he starts and I part my lips, ready to disagree when the older gentlemen continue, “once we get to that ridge over there, we’ll cover you.”

“Copy that. Run fast,” Bellamy mumbles while zipping up his jacket, my eyes looking towards the shaggy-haired man.

“W-Wait. I don’t think this is a good idea,” I mutter loud enough for them to hear and no one listens to me while Bellamy moves to slide open the turret door before standing up. Not even two seconds after he stood up I could hear him gasp.

“They’re here,” he breathes and my heart leaps in my chest, sitting on the edge of my seat. All four of us look up at Bellamy’s body.

“Everybody out or the boy dies,” a muffled voice speaks before pulling Bellamy out of the turret hole. I don’t think I’ve ever listened to a command so quickly and I pry open the back door, literally tripping over the edge of the Rover, falling to the ground. I shove my rifle to the ground, placing my hands up after I move to lie on my back, noticing many grounder warriors around me as I gulp.

“Okay! Okay, we’re coming out,” Kane yells, looking down at me to make sure I was okay. My eyes were fixed on Bell’s. The men grab the rest of our people, shoving them to their stomachs on the ground.

One of the men roughly grabs my arm, flipping me over onto my stomach before twisting the arm they were grabbing. I let out a pained cry, my free hand digging into the dirt as I squeezed my eyes shut, trying not to think about the pain. “All targets secure!” A woman yells as the device Monty had was continuously beeping.

The man holding him down picks him up as another grabs the tracking device from his belt. “Found it,” he mumbles and Monty begins to struggle in the warrior's arms.

“It’s mine. Give it back!” The teen growls as the arm around his throat tightens a bit.

“Monty! Let it go!” I yell, feeling a blade pressed against the back of my neck.

I notice one of the grounders look towards my best friend. “Monty?” She calls out and everything seems to freeze. Mama Green?

“Mom?” Monty whispers and I kept my eyes on the woman, hearing her breathe heavily while pushing her hood down and taking the mask off her face. The two walk towards each other as she lets out a sigh of relief, bringing her son into her arms. My eyes well up with tears as they hold onto each other tightly. Monty begins to sob a bit, most likely surprised and glad his mother is still alive.

“Farm Station, stand down,” the leader commands and the people let us go. I wince as I stretch out my arm, pushing myself up from the ground.

I move towards Bellamy as I watch Kane’s eyes widen a bit at the shortish man who stood above him. “Pike?” He asks and the man took off the head wrap and mask, a smile on his face.

“You have no idea how good it is to see you,” Pike mentions, helping Kane up from the ground. Bellamy took my arm in his hands, rubbing his thumb over my skin.

“You okay, angel?” He asks and I nod my head, giving him a small reassuring smile. The freckled man brought me into his arms, holding me close to him as his chin sat against the top of my head.

“You good, freckles?” I mumble into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist. I feel him press a kiss to my head, muttering a yeah.

I suddenly jump as our people around us hoorah!, my head twisting around towards Pike and Kane who stood beside Monty and his mother. “Clarke!” I mumble, looking up at Bellamy. He nods his head, his hand rest against the small of my back as the two of us walk towards the others.

“Hate to cut this short but we gotta find Clarke,” Bellamy mentions to Kane as Pike turns to look at us over his shoulder.

“Clarke Griffin?” He asks and the two of us nod our heads.

“If only all of my Earth Skills students were as good as her… and you, of course, Britt,” he compliments and I give him a grin, chuckling softly.

Bellamy gets this really cute smile on his face as him and the former teacher shake hands. “It’s good to see you too, sir.”

“Okay, move the tree,” Kane orders and Pike tells the guys around us. I stand beside Pike and Kane as I watch Bell and Mon shove the tree trunk out of the way. I made my way towards the two after they were done, stepping up to Monty to bring him into a tight hug.

“He didn’t make it, Britt,” he whispers into my ear and I swallow the lump in my throat. I rub his back, muttering that it was okay as my other hand smoothed down his jet black hair.

Bellamy brushes past us as a hand is on his sidearm. “Kane, it’s time to go,” he calls out and Monty and I pull away from each other. He walks back over to his mother as Kane tells the teen to give them the coordinates to Arkadia. Our ex-leader grabs my hand, pulling me towards the Rover and places his hands on the side of my arms. “I want you to head back to Arkadia. I’m sure Audrey is worried sick about you and by the looks of it,” he mutters, moving some of the hair from my face to brush against the wound on my neck, “that needs to be cleaned before it gets infected.”

I bite my bottom lip, letting out a sigh before reluctantly agreeing. There’s no use in arguing with him since he’s a stubborn fuck. “Okay. Just be careful and come back alive,” I whisper, staring into his beautiful brown eyes. Bellamy nods his head, dipping down to press his lips to mine quickly. “I love you.”

“I love you too, angel,” he grins, kissing my forehead before I adjusted the rifle on my side. I walk towards the group that’s going back to Arkadia, glancing over my shoulder at Bellamy as Pike, Kane, Monty, Mrs. Green, and Indra walks over to him.

You’re one of the best things that have happened to me.

The group got back as quickly as we could, making it before the sun went down as people greeted our people from Farm Station. I walk past everyone, feeling the dampness of the cloth on my neck and I pull it away, seeing it drenched in blood. “Fuck,” I curse, picking up my pace as I made my way towards medical.

“Abby I need your hel-,” I start but cut myself off as I see Jasper sitting in front of her, his back to me. I stop in my tracks, not exactly ready to see this idiot.

“What do you need, Britt?” She asks and Jasper turns his head back, seeing me standing in the doorway.

“Britt,” he starts and I shake my head, muttering incoherently before walking away. I head towards where my mother and father were staying, pressing my hand to my neck in case I was still bleeding.

I knock on their door and I look left and right before the metal door opens, my mother standing before me. “Oh my god, sweetie. What happened?” She asks, pulling me into the room. I sit on the bed, letting out a sigh as I explain everything that’s happened while she cleans my wound. “I’m surprised you didn’t stay with Bellamy,” she mutters and I chuckle, looking up at the ceiling as she places the gauze on my neck.

“I would’ve but he wanted me to come back and have this cleaned. He’s too stubborn so I didn’t fight with him,” I giggle, grinning ear to ear as Bellamy fills my mind.

“You really like him, don’t you?” Mom asks me and I turn my head towards her, nodding my head slowly.

“I love him,” I mumble, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear as she lays a hand on mine. “I really do. He makes me so giddy every time I’m close to him and I get so worried when he’s in any form of danger.” I look back up at her as she finishes bandaging up my wound, a smile on my lips.

“He sounds like a keeper, honey.”

Apparently, we’re moving people into Mount Weather now. Not the greatest idea, but I’m not the Chancellor so there’s no way anyone would listen to me. Audrey, Octavia, Raven, Gina, Bellamy, and I rode in the Rover in the grassy area, always loving how the scenery looked.

The Rover comes to a stop and we all get out of the vehicle, fiddling my fingers together as I remember what had happened in this building. I let out a heavy sigh, hearing Raven grunt a bit and make my way towards the mechanic.

“I knew I should’ve taken my horse,” O mutters as she jumps out of the back. I playfully roll my eyes, glancing back at the younger Blake as I see Bellamy staring in the distance. Gina walks up to me, motioning me to go towards him. I leave her with Raven, hearing the grass crunch under my boots as I stand beside him.

“Hey,” I whisper and he lowers his gaze. “The summit delegation will be fine,” I tell him, running my hand up and down his arm.

“I should be there,” Bellamy mutters and I bite the inside of my cheek, sliding my hand down his arm before lacing our fingers together.

I press my lips to his clothed shoulder, inhaling his unique scent. “But then you wouldn’t be here with me,” I smirk playfully and the brunette smirks as well, stepping towards me.

“You make a good argument,” he whispers, his free hand gliding up my arm, goosebumps covering my tannish skin.

“Plus since I told you to be safe and you came back with an injured leg… maybe this is payback,” I chuckle while his forehead rests against mine.

Bellamy licks his lips, his hand squeezing my arm before pulling away from me. “My leg’s fine,” he mentions, limping towards the Rover to grab my bag before handing it to me, “Kane’s trying to teach me a lesson.” I mhm’d while grabbing it, my eyes following him.

The six of us made our way inside and Audrey and I walk behind Raven and Gina as the mechanic told the story of how she saved Sinclair’s ass. I glance towards my best friend, hating the fact that we’re so distant ever since Finn died. I tried to talk to her on some occasions, but I’m pretty sure she’s not fully over his death yet so I try to give her space. Music was heard as we got closer to the recreation area, my eyes widening at commotion happening in front of us.

“This is still a bad idea,” I mutter and Audrey hums, agreeing with me.

“Welcome!” Pike shouts, getting up from his chair as we piled into the room. “Come. Join us.”

I stood beside Raven, looking around as everyone was eating and chatting. “Looks like someone’s made themselves at home,” the mechanic mutters and I let out a quiet snort, bumping my elbow with hers.

“There must be thirty of them in here,” Octavia observes.

“Thirty-six, but the more the merrier,” Pike smiles as Bellamy steps up to the man, shaking his hand.

“Wow, thirty-six. The grounders are gonna think we moved in,” Octavia bluntly stated, annoyance in her voice as I walk down the two steps, resting a hand on her shoulder.

I press my lips together as I can feel the tension, Bell looking back at his sister while Pike speaks up. “Well, there was no room at the inn.”

“So this was your option?” She counters and Bellamy looks back again.

“O,” he mutters, raising his eyebrows before she mentions that she’s out of here. I take the bags she’s holding, giving her a small smile while she walks out.

“Reyes, your three hours late,” Sinclair’s voice booms throughout the room. I look towards Raven, silently wishing her luck before following Bellamy, Pike, and Audrey.

I found myself going back outside, needing air as I open the giant door, taking in a deep breath as the slight breeze washes over my face. “Can’t take it in their either, huh?” Octavia’s voice calls out and I jump a bit, turning around to see her sitting on top of the roof.

“Jesus, O. You scared the hell out of me,” I laugh, making my way towards the ladder on the side of the building, climbing up before sitting down beside her. “It’s hard to be in there after everything that happened,” I confess, frowning as I swing my legs.

“Tell me about it,” she mutters. It was silent for a couple seconds, the sound of the door opening bringing my gaze downward, seeing Bellamy stepping outside. Both Octavia and I stare at his back and he slowly looks behind him, seeing us sitting above him.

“You okay?” He asks, the question directed more towards his sister than I. She nods her head and I pat her thigh a few times while Bellamy made his way up here as well. He grunts a bit as he reaches the top of the ladder.

A small smile covers my lips as I stand up, taking a few steps towards him. “Do you want me to leave you guys alone?” I ask, glancing back at O as she kept her gaze forward.

“Actually, yeah. Gina and Audrey could probably use your help, babe,” he mumbles and I nod. I press a short kiss to his lips before getting down, leaving the two siblings alone.

I was currently helping Raven and the girls with some of the power stuff when we were called to the recreation room. I keep trying to think of the reason why as we walked down the white hallways, the lights flickering as the mechanics were talking to each other, not really paying attention to what they were saying.

“Okay, if we want to get to Polis before the attack we have to move,” Bellamy stated and I raise my eyebrows, lips parting in shock. Attack? What attack? Echo?

“Attack? Do we have confirmation of that?” Sinclair asks as I stand beside Octavia and Raven.

“We radioed, but no answer,” Bellamy mutters, swinging his hands around.

“They may already be dead for all we know,” Pike mentions and I run a hand through my hair, letting out a sigh. Jesus. When will the fighting stop?! “And if they are, we need to be ready to respond.”

I furrow my brows as the shorter man looked towards Sinclair. The head engineer steps towards him, shaking his head a bit. “Don’t make this about the missiles.”

“This is about survival,” Pike reasons, “we don’t have the numbers but the missies in this mountain even the playing field, and you know I’m right.”

“Even if I did agree with you we still don’t have the launch codes,” Sinclair mentions and Raven steps forward, a smirk on her lips.

“No, but we have me.”

Gina follows the engineers as Audrey follows Octavia and Echo and I stood still, Bellamy walking towards me. “I’m going with you,” I mumble as my heart pounds against my ribcage.

He shakes his head, his hands resting on my hips while pulling me closer to him. “No. You need to stay here. Help them get those missiles up and launching. I need you to be safe,” Bellamy whispers, his breath fanning my face and I glance towards the floor.

“Bell-,”

“Please don’t argue with me. You mean so much to me and if there’s an assassin at Polis then I don’t want you anywhere near it,” he explains and I sigh loudly, looking up at him through my eyelashes.

“Fine. I’ll stay. Don’t make me repeat my words the last time we parted. Don’t get hurt this time, alright?” I mutter, my hands gripping his guard jacket. I pull him closer to me, connecting our lips together.

I move my lips against his, putting all of my passion into this one kiss. Bellamy’s hand slides around my lower back, dipping under my shirt as our chests are pressed against each other. He pulls away after about a minute, both of us panting a bit as our foreheads were touching.

“Go be a hero,” I mumble quietly and Bellamy chuckles, placing a short kiss to my lips before taking off after Pike, O, Aud, and Echo.

I bite my lip, taking a few steps back before jogging towards the main control room. I come to a stop at the door, opening it quickly as Raven stood at the front of the room, looking through a book as Sinclair and Gina were searching the computers.

“Have we got anything?” I ask and Raven quickly looks over her shoulder before shaking her head.

“It’s a twelve-digit code, there are a trillion combinations. It’s gonna take me a minute,” she comments and I frown, walking up to her.

Sinclair pushes his chair out, standing up and crossing his arms over his chest. “Gina, what do you got?” He asks.

“Don’t look at me. I’m just a grunt,” she puts her hands up in surrender as I lean my back against the table.

“Oh, come on, guys,” he sighs, pacing around the room. “It’s gonna be dark soon. We’re working analog, we’re working digital, what are we missing?”

I scratch my jaw, thinking a bit and it baffles me that anyone could remember a twelve digit code. “How did the president remember a code that long?” I ask aloud, looking at the three of them.

“Not well,” Raven mutters and Gina tilts her head to the side.

“Wanna bet he wrote it down somewhere?” Gina asks and my eyes widen, turning around to look at the papers strewn across the table.

Raven scoffs a bit, stepping towards the others. “Come on. That’d be like setting the code to all zeros.”

“Well, it’s certainly something we haven’t tried yet,” Sinclair offers and Gina glances towards me.

“Britt and I will check the president’s office,” she states and I nod, following her as the two of us leave the control room in a hurry. I set the walkie on the waist of my pants, tying my hair up in a ponytail.

Gina and I searched every damn inch of the president’s office and came up with nothing. I let out a frustrated groan, tightening my ponytail before running my hands over my hair. “Let me go check his quarters,” I mumble, remembering when I ran past it earlier.

I ran quickly to the room Cage used to sleep in, whipping open the door before searching in every book that sat on the shelves. “Fuck!” I shout, pushing over the bookshelf before making my way back towards the office.

“Gina did you have any-,” I started asking but was cut off by the sound of her struggling. I look up, seeing her hunched over the desk and she looks back at me.

“B-Britt… go! Get out of here!” She struggles to yell while I saw the numbers on the small screen descending. “Save yourself…”

“I’m sorry, Gina,” I mumble, my vision blurring from the tears as I back out of the room, sprinting towards the door. My heart is pounding in my chest as I can see the exit about fifteen feet away from me, trying to push myself to move faster when the explosion goes off.

I let out a scream getting thrown across the room and I bash my head off the stone wall while hearing the mountain collapsing.

Raven’s POV

I breathe heavily, tears in my eyes as I stare at the collapsed mountain. My hands shake as I pick up the radio before speaking into it. “Bellamy. Bellamy, come in,” I state, my voice shaking as I sniffle a bit. “The grounders attacked Mount Weather.”

“What are you talking about?” His voice comes through as I sit completely on the ground, my hand running through my hair.

“It’s gone. It’s gone. They’re all gone. Sinclair and I are the only ones left,” I tell him, my heart clenching at the fact that Britt and Gina were still in there. “I’m so sorry,” I sob, squeezing my eyes shut as I lean back, tears continuously streaming down my cheeks.

Taglist: @writing-in-riverdale @lovefilledtragedy @lachicadelamanzana @kaylinfayezink @clique25 @1happygir1 @panda-pops701 @twd-rocks-blog @literallyhelpme @jodiereedus22 @simplisticwriting @wisestydia-15

88 notes · View notes

phoenixryzing · 7 years ago

Text

Twilight Family: New Beginnings (Part One)

[bios] [chrono] [next]

“Okay kids, let’s see who can unload the van the fastest!” Twilight called, and two quick “I will!”s followed. She smiled as her two smallest children- four-year-old Amaya and seven-year-old Raven- jumped out of the van with their bags and raced into their new house.

Her smiled faltered as she looked back at her other two children. Five-year-old Aster had her nose in a science book, as usual; and nine-year-old Shadow was staring moodily out of the window. Twilight said gently, “I know this move is hard on all of us, but let’s try to make the best of it, okay?”

Aster didn’t look up when she said, “The house is old and falling apart. Is it even safe?”

“Well, you can help fix it if it is!” Twilight said brightly, but Shadow cut in, “Mom, stop it. The house is horrible and you know it.”

Twilight sighed and looked over at their new house. It was an old, Gothic house, quite magnificent with it’s high windows and turrets- but it was decapitated , paint peeled and beams sagging in places.

“I know it’s not the best place,” Twilight said quietly. “But it was the best I could do. We’re trying to start over, remember? And a new house will help with that. Come on. Get your things, and let’s go explore our new home.”

Inside, Amaya and Raven were shouting excitedly from somewhere upstairs. Twilight left the other two and went to investigate, only to find Amaya sticking her head out of the opening in the ceiling to one of the turret rooms. “My room! I call it!”

Twilight looked at the opening, the obviously-missing staircase, and asked, “How’d you get up there? Did you climb? What if you fell?”

“Ray-ray would’ve caught me!” Amaya shot back. “Sides, its easy to climb these walls, they’re so soft!”

“Where is Raven,” Twilight muttered to herself, only to turn when she heard soft footsteps behind her. Raven appeared from a gap in the wall. “I’ll take this room,” she said quietly. “The door’s broken, but I can get in and out. And don’t worry about Ammy so much,” she said, smiling up at her mom, “She’s safe. I won’t let her get hurt.”

Twilight sighed and said, “I know you won’t, but I want her to be careful regardless. You won’t always be there for her you know.”

Raven looked away and said fiercely, “Yes I will. I’ll never leave her.”

“That isn’t-” Twilight started, only to be cut off by Shadow calling, “Hey, where’d go Mom? We found somethin’ weird!”

Twilight walked downstairs to the kitchen, where Shadow was staring at a trapdoor. Raven had followed her down, and slipped around her to look at the door. “What’s this?” she asked.

“A trapdoor,” Twilight and Shadow said simultaneously, then looked at each other and away, uncomfortable. After a moment’s silence, Shadow asked, “Ya, but why do we have one. What’s it for.”

Twilight gave Shadow a hard look. “It leads to the cellar. And you know very well what it’s for. It won’t be easy for Aster or Amaya to open this, and it’s the best place to keep him.”

Shadow humphed. “Hiding, hiding. I thought we were done hiding?”

“We’ll be done hiding when it’s safe for us to stop,” Twilight snapped.

“And when will that be?” a little voice asked. Twilight turned to see Raven staring at the floor. “I.... I don’t want to hide forever. I want to see the world, see people....”

Twilight sighed and knelt down to look her small child in the eye. “I know it’s hard sweetie. But it’s not safe for you guys to go outside, not quite yet. But that’ll change soon, okay? I’m trying hard to make it safe for you. It’ll just be a little bit.”

“But we’ll always be freaks,” Shadow said. Twilight froze, then looked up at her si- daughter. “You are not freaks,” she said firmly.

“Aren’t we?” Shadow shot back, then gave a bark of laughter. “Isn’t that exactly what I am? A reanimated corpse? And look at her,” she said pointing at Raven, “A test-tube baby! And the other two! We’re all freaks!”

Twilight stood up and loomed down at her daughter. “We are not, and I will not have you speak that way!”

“That’s just because it’s your fault!” Shadow shot back.

Twilight stood still as Raven cried out, “Shadow! Enough, please. Please don’t fight....” she looked up at her big sister with wet eyes.

Shadow looked down at Raven and sighed. “Okay ray, if it’ll make you happy. Now come on, let’s go unpack.”

Raven nodded, and they started to leave the room, when Twilight said, “Shadow, please stay here for a moment.”

The two girls looked at each other, but Shadow sighed and turned back. “What, Twi.”

Twilight rubbed her head and said quietly. “I’m sorry.”

“You’re-what?”

“I’m sorry. For making you. All of you. Like this. Your right.... it is my fault. But I’m trying to fix it Shadow. Can’t you see that?”

Shadow looked away. “Can you? Can you ever fix all this?” she said gesturing around her.In the distance they could hear Raven calling for Aster and Amaya to help her move stuff in, Amaya replying enthusiastically, Aster snapping that she was busy restoring things.

Twilight and Shadow listened for a moment, and then Shadow said, “And... can you fix this?” she said, pulling out her small, small soul, barely a fourth the normal size.

Twilight sighed and pulled out her own, looking at the fourth chunk missing from the center. “You’re right,” she said quietly, “I can’t fix that, any more than I can fix Raven stunting, Aster’s fusion, or Amaya’s animalness. But maybe someone can. That’s why we’re really here,” she said. “To find someone who can help. To start repairing things. To have a fresh start. Because.... what else can I do?”

Shadow looked away. “Nothing, I suppose, short of killing us.”

“Shadow!” Twilight said angrily, “You know I’d never do that!”

“Wouldn’t you?” Shadow asked, her amber eyes piercing. “You might have, not long ago.”

Twilight looked away. “Perhaps I would have. But I’m not that woman any longer. I’m trying to fix my mistakes.... even if I never can. Just give me some time, please,” she said, turning back to Shadow.

Shadow sighed and said, “Fine. We have time. This body will take awhile to grow older anyways. But Twilight,” she said, softer, “be careful. If you go.... I don’t know what will happen to us.”

Twilight smiled and said, “Don’t worry, you won’t get rid of me that easily. Now come on. Let’s go unpack.”

Shadow smiled and nodded, and the two headed out, ready to turn their new house into a home.

#twilight family #part one #chapter one #worldview #amaya #aster #raven #shadow #and here we go!#part one of hopefully many #I want to make this a true series #but we'll see!#Let me know what you think #ya #nay #or otherwise #Any feedback would be helpful!#my work #Story Post

2 notes · View notes

kingjamesonfawkes · 7 years ago

Text

Oh defo defo!! I plan on making a page for them later because stuff with my ocs gives me life & I have a few interactions written between them and canon characters that are just.. chillin on my computer.

So more info about OCs under the cut if you want to read about them!

Azalea and Sullivan are the most fleshed out but I have a lot of ideas for all 5 of my babies.. Feel free to send me asks about my ocs~! I love talking about them I’m a huge nerd haha.

If y’all are REALLY interested, like i said I have a lot of interactions written for most of them saved on my computer. ((mostly with Sullivan but I have some of all the others as well))

________________________ Azalea

Azalea is the first overwatch OC I made! She started as just like “this is me, but in overwatch” and since I made her she’s grown into her own character. There is still a lot of me in her personality but her background and some parts of her personality are completely different now.

Azalea is a 35 year old who lives in Las Vegas. She’s a magician by trade. She’s very very flirty and one-night stands are abundant. She has problems with getting close with people, it gives her anxiety and stress, and this leads to commitment issues. She’s originally from a small town in the southwest where, when she was 8, she saw her first magic act and she was like “magic is cooool” and she started teaching herself party tricks. Over her life & during the time of the uprising she studied technomancy because she wanted to be the World’s Greatest Magician. This got her her show in Las Vegas. (Her stage name is the Mistress of Mysticism) Her show in Las Vegas led to a party lifestyle, and she got into heavy drugs which fucked up a lot of her personal contacts. She hit rock bottom and almost lost her magic show, which is the only thing she really cares about, so she went to rehab and got clean. She’s really careful now but certain situations trigger her urge to use again. Her manager and closest friend is an omnic named “Edie,” and she commonly is seen supporting omnic rights and protecting them from assaults. At the time of the recall she is recruited by Winston for Overwatch because he thinks she would be an asset to the team.

She’s 5′4′‘ with wavy dark brown hair and green eyes. She wears glasses. She has pale skin with freckles on her body. Her outfit is a black and white tuxedo dress with lime green details. She has both of her arms covered in sleeve tattoos of florals in black lineart. Her weapon (& key item in her shows) is gold with green and purple gems on it. [The first thing i drew of her] [Here’s a ref] But i forgot her tattoos [Heres a page of doodles] (spoiler i ship her with Hanzo)

“In Game” (support hero) >Creates ‘orbs’ from her staff. (Works similar to Zen’s harmony & discord orbs) She has to aim them and shoot them, they do small amounts of poison damage when hitting an enemy, and heal when they hit a teammate. Hitting the same target more than once builds the effect. >Smoke Bombs for quick getaways. Enemies in the smokebomb area show up red like with hanzo’s sonar or widow’s ult. Smoke lasts for only a few seconds. >(I dont have a secondary ability for her whoops) >>ultimate: “Grand Finale” : heals nearby teammates and poisons enemys in the radius, Azalea disappears for a quick getaway (invisible like sombra) She passively heals her shields but not her health.

Voiceline ideas: Her ult “GET READY FOR THE GRANDE FINALE!” Elimination “Easy as pulling a rabbit from a hat” “That’s the trick!” “It’s all in the cards” (dorky magic stuff tbh)

Sullivan

Sullivan is my first junker oc, I have 2 of them. I ship her with Jamie or sometimes poly with Mako too depending on mood.

Miley “Hot Rod” Sullivan is a 24 year old from Junkertown. She’s eccentric and high energy, determined and quick witted, very very skilled in mechanics and machinery. She has severe mental health issues that put her at risk from herself and cause large periods of depression and anxiety. (this stuff is based on my own experiences with mental health issues & not from the web tbh) When she was 13 or 14 she lost her family and both of her legs in an explosion that also left her homeless. She almost died, and had to cauterize her own legs in order to try not to get infections, it mostly worked. The amputated parts of her legs are messy and awful looking but she doesn’t really care anymore, not like she did when it happened, plus everyone in the outback is at least a little roughed up. ((Another thing is that she can’t have children, radiation sickness fucked that up for her.)) Instead of prosthetics, she built herself a wheelchair & souped it up. It’s her prized and only possession.

She has firey natural red hair with golden undertones, shaved into a mohawk with dangling "sideburns". [styled like this] On top of her hair, she wears a brown pilots cap that isnt properly fitted to her head, so it's pushed back and her hair comes out the front and back of the cap. on the cap she has big black goggles that she uses during her mechanical work. these DO fit and she DOES wear them occasionally. She has deep set eyes and her eyes are brown. Her "make up" leaves one wondering, IS that make up, or is that dirt & soot??? the world will never know. She has dark circles because she stays up too long working on projects and hyper fixates on things she wants to do when shes set on a task, she could work on something for 2 days and forget to sleep and eat until she finishes or Mako (or less likely, Jamison) makes her stop. She's very frequently smeared with grease esp on her hands, face, and arms. She wears a denim jacket, littered with patches, studs and safety pins. it's pretty old and belonged to her father and before that her grandfather, who was obsessed with "old" (but not so old to him lmao) punk bands (ramones, the clash, ect) it's kind of falling apart but she stitches it back together when she needs too because its her favorite possession other than her chair. under that she wears a black form fitting crop top. she doesnt wear a bra bc fuck bras and also she has like b cups ("more than a handful is wasted" she tells people who tease her about small boobs.) She wears really short jean shorts that are black and stitched together with gromets on the sides like a corset and they also have studs on them (these are VERY SHORT! VERY SHORT!! like basically underwear. and probably no underwear bc thats who she is) [reference] and under her jean shorts there is a high-waisted band of fishnet [example]. around her waist she has two bandoleers of bullets for her turret that she wears like a belt. they sit just a little under the top of her shorts. Her legs end about halfway down her thighs and the amputations are naturally scarred. She also has burn scars on other parts of her body, but not very extensively. She also has a few tattoos, [on her left leg above the scars] [on her right wrist] [across her sternum]

“In game” (offense hero) Her wheelchair is equipped with her primary fire which is a scavenged and repurposed bastion turret. (since she is more mobile, it would not be as powerful or a fast) The turret sets over her shoulder while shes using it and folds back to behind her when not in battle. See [a really old ref i drew] to show this. >Grenades, simple & basic grenades >speed boost, souped up wheelchair has an engine in the undercarriage and she flips a level to “overclock” it and speed up for a short period of time. >>ultimate: makes her more mobile/faster and powers up her gun, giving it faster speed and higher damage.

Zed

Zed is my 2nd junker babe! He is a good boy and i would die for him.

Zed is a mecha fighter from Junkertown. His full name is Ezekiel, he goes by Zed to his friends, and does not like being called Zeke. He's mixed, mostly black and maori but he doesn't know exactly what else since heritage is hard to track in Junkertown. He's 19 years old and since he was very very young he's been building. His pride and joy is his Mech that he uses in battles. He's a small town hero bc he fights until he literally can't anymore and puts his whole heart into his mech. His father was the reigning mech battle champion for a long time before he died, and he wants to win back the title and keep it in the family. he's never known his mother. He literally built his mech from nothing and has been working on it for years. He changed his mech's name to Manaaki after his father's death. Manaaki basically means protector and to look after someone, which resonated strongly with him as someone that he wanted to become

[a ref i made on a dress up maker] [a better ref that i doodled]

about his mech: It's shaped pretty much like a large bird that he can climb inside. (it's based on the australian raven) and its painted black with like oil slick. its a junker mech so its not perfect and its in battles so it gets scuffed and dented. it also has patches of metal where its been repaired with scrap paneling.

In Game: (Tank hero) Zed relies on his mech to fight, so if you destroyed it he would go with it, unlike D. Va. The mech is piloted similar to a jaeger from pacific rim, but on a much smaller scale, about the size of D. Va’s meka. >Primary fire is the rifle on the head of the mech, where the beak would be on a bird. >Primary ability is flight, it would work as like a mix between pharah and d va but without as strong as a boost, and when in the air has a passive glide ability like mercy, but this is disrupted when hit or hacked and he must land. >Secondary ability would be shielding himself and teammates with the wings of the mecha, teammates must be close to be shielded. >ultimate: an air strike, in a straight line roughly the range of the "point" square (maybe a little larger) and when he uses his ult you hear a great roaring caw and see the shadow of the mecha over where the drop is

proposed interaction between D. Va and Zed: Zed: D. Va! Yer mechs looking betta than eva! How 'bouta rematch sometime? D. Va: Sure, If you think you can keep up this time! (playful laugh)

Vivian

Viv is my brothers fav oc of mine haha other than maybe Sully. She’s a bitch and I love her. I don’t have AS MUCH figured out about her as I do my other characters.

Vivian is a movie star "by day", big fancy life in the limelight, but "by night" she's a talon agent and a spy. The only people who know she's a secret agent are other high ranked Talon agents, and she has infiltrated Helix to gain information from them for Talon, and because of her status as a celebrity she talks to organizations she infiltrates like "hey can we keep this on the downlow bc like i know im a good agent but the paparazzi would have a field day with me if they found out about this, and acting is my first love i cant give it up" she acts like a huge bitch but she is pretty sensitive about a lot of things, she just doesnt let people in.

[a ref i made from a dress up maker]

In Game: (offense i think) >Primary weapon is a handgun >Primary ability is “infiltration” that makes it look like shes on the enemy team to that team. >secondary ability “paparazzi” is a flashbang that looks like flashing camera lights and stuns the enemy. >>ultimate ability is basically a guise that anyone in the effect radius on the enemy team sees their teammates as enemies as well and can deal friendly fire to them. lasts for only a brief period.

My last oc I just made this week so I haven’t figured out a lot about her, she doesn’t even have a name yet lmao but here’s a copy/paste from my groupchat where i talked about her concept

Support hero. She's based on valentines day/cupid/eros

she has a bow and arrow, like ana's gun they heal her teammates and damage enemies. her powers are ""divine"" is what she tells everyone but its really technology lmao. it fools no one except gullible people like junkrat

>her primary ability is "true loves kiss" and she blows kisses at her teammates and gives them small amounts of shield (shield that works like doomfist's shield and lucio's soundbarrier) and she can stack this ability >idk what her other ability is, probably a glide or low-air flight >her ultimate stuns and confuses the enemy, knocking them prone, and gives teammates in her radius a larger amount of shield

shes a gossip and shes petty and she sticks her nose in EVERYONES business and she would try to get people to date each other and theyre like "No" and shes like "but youd be so cuuuuute"

her color scheme is white and pink (& a little red), she's from greece, and she has brown eyes and really long magenta hair

#junk.txt #my ocs #canon insert ocs #azalea tag #sullivan tag #zed tag #vivian tag

6 notes · View notes

rwbyvein · 3 years ago

Text

Firen Lhain: Chapter 712: Collision: Part III | III

Aurora breathed in deep to try and even herself. She did have a job to do, after all.

"Oh, no." Jaune said, and everyone looked at him curiously. "You've been through too much." he said to Aurora, "I want to see you off your feet and relaxing."

"Why does she get to relax?" Yang asked.

"Because she's not used to being shot at." Weiss simply stated. "In this one case, I will offer you my husband's other arm."

Jaune slowly lifted it up and Aurora nervously walked over. She sat down, and Jaune wrapped his arm around her.

"Can we stay for?.." Yang asked, and caught herself before she revealed it.

Jaune simply looked between her and Ilia a few times. "You were the one who wanted me to stop staring at Ilia, who probably wants to get dressed, or in the bath, or..." Jaune said, and paused, "Nothing I say is going to be right, so I'm just going to shut up."

"I would like to remain." Ilia voiced, and Jaune looked at her curiously.

"That... uh... works for me..." Jaune voiced. "So, what day is it? Because it's certainly been a day."

"Alright, sis," Yang said to Ruby, "let's go get the... uh..."

"Can we help?!" Nora eagerly asked, a smiling Ren beside her.

"A'ight." Yang said, and waved them on. The four of them walked out of the room. A minute later they returned carrying a square, four-tier cake.

"What the?.." Jaune asked.

"Did you really forget what day it was?" Yang asked him, and Jaune shrugged his shoulders.

"Perhaps?," Weiss asked, "he has not had reason to consider it important?"

"Let's all say it at once!" Ruby exclaimed, "One, two, three!"

"Happy birthday!" everyone but Ilia shouted. She just nervously looked at him.

"My what?" Jaune asked, and then was momentarily lost in thought, "I didn't tell any of you?" he cruiously asked.

"I am quite good at my job." Aurora said with glee.

"And," Weiss added, sitting forward, "we made sure you would have more than enough cake."

"I love you guys." Jaune said.

"Even, like, Ilia?" Yang asked, and Jaune just stared at her nude form. Weiss gently pressed her shoulder into him, causing him to snap back to consciousness. She then glared at Yang.

"What's up, Linnet?"

"Perhaps?", Weiss asked her, "You could not ask him questions that have no good answer."

"At least give him a chance to defend himself." Blake stated.

"Yes, yes." Nora stated, "Love and hugs, but do I need to remind everyone that we have cake?!" She gestured to the cake, "Renny and Aurora worked really hard on it."

"We helped too." Yang stated, "Tried to help?"

"We gave them moral support." Ruby stated.

"I suppose that is thinking like a leader." Weiss said to her.

* * *

Jaune groaned as he walked down the stairs. The first birthday ever he had more than enough cake. Somehow this still managed to be the best birthday ever. He reached the bottom and saw Ren and Nora eagerly waving at him. "Hey, guys. How's our prisoner."

"Kind of pouty." Nora stated.

Jaune turned to look at the cell and what he was feeling was not what he was expecting. It wasn't anger, it wasn't rage, but pain, hurt, and sorrow. He recognized the look in her eyes that did not care if she died. He recognized it from all of the times he saw it in the mirror. Even more, she had lost someone, someone she held dear. He walked up to the cage, and she barely seemed to notice his presence. It was more the great shadow over her that got her attention, and she slowly turned to look at it. He leaned forward, grabbed the cell, and sighed. "I know you're hurt." he said, and her head slightly turned towards him. "I know you lost someone." he said, and her head instantly swung over to look him in the eyes. "I know what it's like to not have anything to live for." She stood up and jumped over to the bars before she realized what she was doing. Even slouching over as he was, he still towered over her. She found herself nodding, unsure of how much time had passed. "You're not the first one to try and kill me I've tried to reform."

She looked at him, first curiously, and then as if he had lost his mind.

"How did you think Cinder got out?"

She looked at him again for a full moment before giving him a look as if she was questioning his sanity.

"You know?" he asked, "You're right."

She once again looked at him questioningly.

"She killed Pyrrha, by the way, with her own hands. How did your guy die?"

Neo held her right hand vertically, and then mimicked a bird neck and beak biting her left hand.

"Ah." Jaune stated, "Nevermore?" he asked, and she shook her head. "Gryphon?" She nodded her head before she caught herself and then gave him a sour look. Jaune breathed in deep, unsure of what to say. "What are you fighting for?" he asked.

"Uh, Jaunie?" Nora asked, and Ren placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked at him and understood. Jaune had a plan. Or at least thought he did.

Neo looked into his eyes for a moment before looking away. She then looked around nervously.

"You're looking to die, aren't you?" he asked. She looked him in the eyes as if he understood. "But dying just because isn't a good reason, is it?" She shyly looked him in his eyes. "You were kind of hoping to go down in a blaze of glory, weren't you?" he asked. She looked him strongly in the eyes, and the two understood. "Too bad you failed." Jaune said. "So, what we're going to do, is lock you in the cell, and talk every day. See where this goes." She gave him an uncertain look. He turned to Ren and Nora.

"I have a question, if I might?" Ren nervously asked, something that was so rare for him. Jaune nodded his head. "How did you know she was looking to die?"

"If you promise not to tell anyone."

"I will take this secret to my grave." Ren stated.

"And I'll do anything for you, Leader." Nora stated.

"Because I am too." Jaune stated. Nora looked shocked, and almost panicked as she tried to find something to say, but she had promised him, and she was going to keep this promise. "Or was, maybe." Jaune said and shrugged, "I've got a family now." He then turned to the stairs before turning back. "Oh, and so there's no question, you two are definitely family."

"Like a sister?!" Nora eagerly asked, and Jaune shook his head. She looked down sadly.

"You mean a lot more to me than my sisters do." Jaune said quietly, and then turned to walk away again. As he tried to walk away, Nora glomped onto his back. He stumbled forward and nearly fell down.

"Nora." Ren admonished, and she let go.

"What'd I do?" she nervously asked.

"His bones are brittle after shedding." Ren stated.

"How did you know that?" Jaune asked, and Ren just smiled at him.

"So?" Nora asked, "I guess the tower won't be shaking for a while."

With this Jaune nearly stumbled again and let out an awkward laugh.

* * *

Winter climbed out of the downed airship, satisfied she had acquired all she needed.

Raven landed on the roof of the turret and reverted, augustly walking down the stairs. She found them all lounging on their beds.

"Don't feel at home with all of the warmth and hugs?" Cinder asked.

Raven just glared at her before looking away.

"Is that why she's here?" Mercury asked.

"Believe it or not," Cinder said, staring Raven in the eyes, "she was actually worried about us." Raven turned to climb back up the stairs. "Birds of a feather and all that."

Raven turned around, "I'm a Raven. What the hell are you?"

Cinder developed a minor burning light around her. "I do hope to rise from the ashes."

"Yeah." Raven sarcastically said to her, "Phoenixes who need someone else to resurrect them?" Raven asked, and then turned to walk away.

* * *

Ilia returned to the lounge, properly clothed this time, and Jaune just stared at her for a moment.

"You still imagining it?" Yang asked him.

"I, uh, I mean..."

"Now." Weiss gently admonished her, "You were the one who suggested she remain, in the nude, while we celebrated his anniversary."

"But we just got married?" Ruby asked.

Weiss turned towards her. She raised her hands to say something but decided against it and so just looked at her. "You are lucky to be as cute as you are."

"I heard Raven say the same thing about our dad." Yang stated. "Oh, come on, don't tell me they're all lovey-dovey."

"Perhaps we should not be judging other relationships by our own standards?" Weiss asked.

Blake was laying back on a couch, but sat up. "We are one in a million. Or less, much less?" Blake asked. She then turned towards the others, crossing her legs, "Though, Huntsmen having harems was definitely a thing back in the day."

"What changed?" Ruby asked, and Jaune sighed.

"Jaune-dear?" Weiss asked.

"The good king..." Jaune voiced, "Oz... He felt too much power was being concentrated at the top."

"So, what?" Yang asked, "We get off on good behaviour."

"We did save the world a couple of times." Ruby stated.

"The General seems to consider us as important to the safety of Remnant as his army is." Weiss stated. "As harrowing as the thought, is."

Taiyang walked in with a piece of cake on a plate, Qrow right behind him.

"Oh, good." Yang said to them, "You found the cake."

"What's the occation?" Qrow asked.

"Oh." Jaune said, and sighed, "It's my birthday." he dismissively added.

Taiyang walked up to him, put his cake down on the coffee table, and offered him his hand. Jaune looked at him nervously for a moment. "Come on," Taiyang stated, "I don't bite."

"We both know that's not true." Qrow stated, "You guys just couldn't help yourself."

"What's he sayin'?" Yang asked.

"That your parents had a loving relationship." Blake said with a cheshire grin.

Jaune reached his hand out to Taiyang, and the two firmly shook. "Sorry." Jaune stated, "I should have done this sooner. And I want you to know that this was definitely not my idea."

"Son?" Taiyang asked him, "I know how energetic my daughters can be. I honestly saw this coming back in Patch."

"You did?" Ruby asked

"One way or the other." Taiyang stated, "Wasn't sure which one was going to make the first move. Which, by the way, which was it?"

"Duh?" Yang asked. Taiyang developed a wide grin and held his hand towards Qrow.

"Yeah, yeah." Qrow voiced, as he slipped him a Lien card.

"You were betting on us?" Yang asked.

"Your father bet for you." Blake added, and then shrugged.

"You were doing a better job of hiding it," Taiyang stated, "but you had more confidence."

"What do you mean?" Yang asked.

"I mean," her father continued, "you let him pick you up and carry you like a princess. You haven't let me do that since you were five."

"You let me down, kiddo." Qrow sarcastically said to Ruby. "Your passion was just bubbling out of you."

"What about me?" Yang asked, "I mean, I am kind of passionate and all."

"You just let it out on whatever is in front of you." Qrow said, and shrugged, "Figured with that release you might be better able to contain it. But, you kids all love each other."

"Even Ilia?" Blake asked, and turned her deep gaze to Jaune.

"As a..." Qrow said, and paused for thought, "trusted something. Team dynamics are not exactly my strong suit. That's why we had this guy." he said, and pointed to Tai.

"Ilia stalking me," Jaune stated, "has gone from something that worried me to something I count on." He then looked at Ilia, "We count you as part of the team."

"I thought she was a minion." Yang voiced.

"What did we settle on?" Jaune asked, "Girl-at-arms?"

Ilia's skin shifted to pink and red with blotches of white before quickly resettling on her usual colours.

"That's like wicked cool." Yang stated. "Could you make it look like you're wearing thigh-highs?" she asked.

"I never really thought about it?" Ilia asked, as her skin changed to look like she was wearing thigh-high stockings. Yang bent down to have a look at them. "Lace around the ends, too." Yang stated.

"Must you get that close?" Weiss asked, and Yang stood up and stepped back a bit. "You could walk around naked and pretend to be fully clothed."

"What am I, an animal?" Ilia asked.

"We are Faunus." Ruby stated.

"And we're back to this debate, again." Yang stated, "Everyone but Blake agreed you-all in Menagerie have a bit of a hang-up."

"And Blake?" Ilia asked, causing Blake to look about nervously.

"Didn't say anything," Yang replied, "but she is acting a lot more cat-like." Yang then turned back to Ilia, "So, you know, what Jaune said is that we're people first and foremost, and every person is different. We can't expect everyone to act the same way or anything. Blake's a cat, Jaune's a buck, you're what, a chameleon or something?"

"Uh, yeah." Ilia nodded.

"So, what?" Yang asked, "You feel the need to sunbathe or something? Because, you know, I get that way myself."

"And what do you do about it?" Ilia asked.

"Oh, right now I just grab Jaune or a wife or two and snuggle up, steal their warmth, you know?"

"She says that," Weiss stated, "but she's warm enough for the two of us."

Taiyang finished his cake and put it down on the coffee table. "Okay, now might be the time for the talk."

"THE talk?" Yang asked.

"A talk." Taiyang replied.

"Is it a dad talk?," Ruby asked, "because we're like adults now."

"Kind of," Taiyang stated, "more of teacher talk."

"Alright, everyone's had cake."

"Except my sister." Weiss stated.

"We still got plenty enough for her to have a piece." Yang stated, "Why don't you get us some coffee, and we can have this not-a-dad-dad talk."

"Thank you." Taiyang stated.

"It's not about dad taxes, is it?" Ruby asked.

"Oh, much more serious than that." Taiyang stated.

"What's more serious than dad taxes?" Ruby asked.

* * *

Winter paced in front of the tied up and patched up mercenaries on the tower's roof. "So, you are going to tell me everything you know."

"And if we don't want to?" Whitaker asked.

"Will you just learn to shut up, Whitaker." the captain said to him. "If we cooperate, we'll likely get clemency. Or did you want to spent the rest of your life in prison?"

"I'll shut my mouth." Whitaker stated, and Winter squatted down to look him in the eyes.

"It's not that you will shut your mouth, but that you will tell me EVERY SINGLE THING I want to know. Is that clear?"

"Yes, ma'am." a nervous Whitaker uttered.

#rwby #firen lhain #faunus au #pollinated knight

9 notes · View notes

rwbyvein · 3 years ago

Text

Firen Lhain: Chapter 803: Échecs: Part III/III

Yang eagerly followed Ren and Nora down the stairs, Blake with a cheshire grin following them.

* * *

They walked into the library. "Oh, Remnant!" Yang exclaimed, "You're on, Sis!"

"Me and Blake are going to kick your ass!" Ruby replied.

* * *

Aurora arrived with a large carafe of coffee and a platter with several cups.

"So, who called the Little Bit?" Yang asked.

"Called her?" Weiss asked, "I don't believe I've ever called her."

"She simply comes out of the mists." Blake quiped.

"With coffee." Ren said, looked Aurora in the eyes, and nodded.

"If you are going to bring us coffee?" Ruby asked, "Could you?.."

"Cookies are already in the oven." Aurora said with a smile.

"Man, what did we do to deserve her?" Yang asked, causing Aurora to blush, though hard to see through her treefrog colouration.

Weiss moved over to sit on Jaune's lap.

"Hey!" Ruby exclaimed, and Weiss simply stuck out her tongue.

"Did she just do that?!" Yang asked.

"Perhaps my wives are rubbing off on me?" Weiss asked.

* * *

Jaune moved a single piece and then ended his turn. "Is that it?" Weiss asked.

"The first few turns are about building your army." Jaune replied. "You don't want to get too spread out?"

"What happens?" Weiss asked.

"Well, for one, Grimm can attack. And units too far away from the kingdom risk running out of supplies. It lowers your morale."

"I would say it would." Weiss quipped.

"Your morale is how strong your units are." Blake said, while Ruby and Yang were glaring at each other.

"This is why," Jaune added, "the game often takes hours."

"Hours?" Weiss asked, "But, our game..."

Jaune kissed her on the cheek. "You didn't know what you were doing, and let Yang lure you into a trap."

"With her Nevermore." Weiss stated. "Wait, does that mean you can control Grimm?"

"Ehn." Jaune stated.

"Since you got Ladykiller," Yang stated, "you probably won't be so easy this time, I guess I can be honest. The Grimm cards are traps."

"Forced encounters." Ren stated.

"And they all have a chance of backfiring." Yang continued.

"I believe," Ren voiced and paused for a moment, "it represents luring your enemy into a group of Grimm."

"I suppose that makes sense." Weiss stated, "Well, what about Ruby and Blake?"

"Blake wasn't paying attention." Jaune said, "And Yang is too used to fighting Ruby, so she knew how to counter her."

"Is that what happened?!" Ruby asked Yang.

"Shakin' in your little booties, Sis?" Yang asked.

Ruby put her right boot up on the table. "Suck it."

"Only if you win." Yang shouted.

"Seriously?" Weiss asked.

"Okay?" Yang replied, "Maybe I'll lick it, how about that."

"You're on, right Blake?" Ruby asked.

"What do you plan to lick in return?" she asked.

"Hm?" Ruby asked her, and then looked at Yang,

"If I win, you can do what you want with my hair."

Ruby and Yang reached across and shook.

* * *

Emerald paced across the common room in the turret. "If you can't even go inside, how can you possibly get him to trust you?"

"By sucking his cock?" Mercury asked, causing Emerald to scoff.

"You would suggest that."

"I'm actually hoping she doesn't." Mercury added.

"Well, for one, he's not neutral, he actively doesn't trust me." Cinder stated, "For two, he already has plenty of girls on his list."

"None of them can hold a candle to you." Emerald soulfully said to Cinder. Cinder in reply reached out to craddle her face.

"Unfortunatlely, he doesn't agree with you."

"But." Emerald tried to say.

"This is his house, literally." Cinder said. "While we're not allowed into the house, we are allowed?.."

"What?" Mercury asked, "In that mess they call a garden?"

"Bingo." Cinder delightfully stated. "He might not trust me, but he does believe me, and that's a start."

Mercury glared at Emerald, "Which means that any of your bullshit and we lose everything we've gained."

"My bullshit?" Emerald asked.

"Petty theft," Cinder stated, "and your Semblance."

"But?.." a wounded Emerald asked her.

"But, my dear, they are the opposite of trust."

"But... before?.." Emerald asked.

"I recruited you because of your useful abilities." Cinder simply stated, "I'm keeping you because... you both are dear to me."

* * *

Raven walked into the basement to see Qrow and Taiyang.

"Hey, Rae?," Qrow asked her, "did you talk to the kids?"

"Why would I do that?" Raven asked.

"Just admit you're a big softy," Taiyang stated, "and didn't want to interupt their game."

Raven huffed as she walked over. She nervously leaned down to kiss Taiyang on the lips, before looking over at the cell. "Just so you know, I'm the Spring Maiden. If you try to break out of here, you'll have two Maidens to face off against."

Neo used her hand to mimic annoying chatter, causing Raven to glare at her, and the boys to start giggling.

Qrow and Taiyang stood up. "See you, Rae." Qrow stated. Taiyang dipped her to give her a passionate kiss, and the two walked off. Raven struggled to regain her semblance of authority. She looked at Neo, whom was smirking at her widely.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" Raven asked, and Neo looked about her cell. She then looked back at Raven and shrugged.

* * *

Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury were standing in the garden. "It's been all day!" Emerald exclaimed, "Where are they?!"

"We are losing the light." Mercury stated.

"We'll have to try again tomorrow." Cinder voiced.

* * *

Weiss let out a disappointed sigh. "Sorry." Jaune stated, "This is my first time ever playing as Vale, so I honestly don't know what I'm doing."

Weiss gave him a peck on he cheek. "You certainly know far more than I do."

Ruby and Yang aggressively glared at each other while Blake moved pieces on the board. Yang looked back at the board. "Wait, what?"

"You're going down, Sis." Ruby said to her, "That's what."

"I do believe it's our turn." Ren stated.

* * *

Aurora and Taiyang placed blankets on the kids whom had all passed out on the table.

"Shouldn't you be getting to sleep, too?" Taiyang asked her.

"I am my mistress' personal assistant." Aurora replied, "It's my job to assist her with everything she does."

"Everything?" Taiyang asked.

"Everything." Aurora nodded.

"Even?.." Taiyang tried to ask.

"If she asked me to, yes." Aurora replied.

* * *

Yang started to rouse, slowly pulling herself up from the table, looking around. Ruby and Blake were cuddled together over the table. Ren and Nora were cuddled together over the table. Jaune was somehow laying on the table, sleeping, but still holding himself from crushing Weiss. How the hell could she be so elegant in such a strange position?

She looked around the room and saw someone sleeping on a couch. It was Aurora, who seemed to know when Yang had awoken and was looking her in her eyes. Yang tiredly waved at her. She slowly stumbled to her feet. She groped around, managing to pull the blanket over her shoulders and shuffled over to the couches. She slumped down onto one of them. Breathing for a moment as her thoughts returned to her. "Okay," Yang whispered, "I know you're like really into this assistant thing, but you don't need to be like, sleeping on the couch here if we need you."

"I'm more comfortable than you guys are." Aurora whispered in reply. "Besides, I started with nothing. Everything I made that wasn't putting food in my belly was developing the skills I would need to join the corporate elite. It didn't matter how good my skills were on paper, though."

"Why not?" Yang groaned.

"The moment they saw my face." Aurora stated. "I wasn't lucky like Blake, who could hide her Faunus nature with a bow, or like my mistress, who had the resources of one of the most powerful families on Remnant. Whenever they saw my face, they knew exactly who I was. I got good at seeing through the token effort they went to pretend like it was an interview. I actually thought that my mistress was one of them."

"But?.." Yang asked.

"Until I held the contract in my hands." Aurora stated, "I still didn't believe it. It was a pretty standard, ironclad, no wiggle room contract, except for one thing."

"Hm?" Yang asked, huddled under her blanket.

"Termination clause. On a one year contract, being paid several years salary upon termination is... actually understandable for an executive... except..."

"Except?" Yang asked.

"My face." Aurora simply stated.

"They would never give it to a Faunus?" Yang asked, and Aurora subtely nodded before sitting up. She slipped from the couch, adjusted her clothing, and walked over to Yang.

"Relax your weary head." Aurora stated, and guided Yang's head to a pillow she did not know was there. Aurora adjusted Yang's blanket, adjusted her beautiful hair. "Sleep tight."

"Mmm." Yang positively moaned.

* * *

Yang woke up with Blake laying on her. Blake looked up in her eyes and smiled, making no movement to get up. Yang looked over to see Aurora's couch empty, except for a folded blanket. She found Ren and Nora together, along with Ruby and Weiss sleeping on Jaune's massive chest.

"Does anyone remember?.." Yang tried to ask,

"Little Bit left you a note." Blake stated, and passed her the note.

Yang read the note, 'It's your turn, Yang. Breakfast will be ready by 0700.'

"Oh, shit, the game's still on." Yang said, and sat up.

#rwby #firen lhain #faunus au #pollinated knight

6 notes · View notes