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moonchildsaurora · 4 years ago

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Garden of Words

✤ prince/king!Yunho x tailor!reader ✤ genre: Prince AU // angst, fluff ✤ t/w: sfw, lots of bittersweetness, rated PG ✤ count: 3.5k+ ✤ [ part 2 ] of Lacuna miniseries

a/n - look, when I was writing my plan out for this, my notes only centered around the garden scene. . .and here we are 3000+ words later hahahaaaaaa, this is what happens when the mind goes “what if” and gets invested in the before/after rather than just the now 😔 one day I’ll be able to write shorter, sweeter pieces but today isn’t the day. I’d like to whole-heartedly thank anyone who reads through this entire piece, for your time and hopefully it was worth it. Also I’ve decided to have a little bit of fun with subtly featuring other members in each others’ mini stories, so see if y’all can spot who the next character we’ll be visiting next! 💙 P.S. paragraphs in all italics are flashback scenes!

“Excuse me, are you the fae of the garden?”

The watering can of butterscotch shade in your hands tilted back to pause in the sprinkling of water droplets on the freshly bloomed red gardenias. Turning around, you found the source of the small tinkling voice.

“Good morning Young Prince,” you greeted him, setting the watering can down on a nearby bench before making your way over. Sunlight shone abundantly down on the Royal Glasshouse, some areas where the stained-glass windows stood were bathed in colourful hues. Where the light hit your peachy robe made of georgette-silk gave an ethereal glow to your figure.

The Young Prince looked at you with wonder as you bent down to his level before speaking to him again, “and how did you manage to find your way here, little one?” You recognised the mahogany velvet capelet that wrapped around his form; after all, just two weeks ago were you tirelessly hand-sewing those dainty pearls that left a trail of constellations across the velvet surface.

“Hmm…I followed the pretty blue butterflies!” the Young Prince excitedly pointed to where several of them were fluttering over the yellow hibiscuses. Of course he would, he is the King’s son after all and his smile was perfect proof of that too.

Your eyes soften and the sides of our lips tilted further up, “Well they definitely have led you to a special spot haven’t they?”

“Please don’t tell anyone!” the Young Prince turned to look behind him quickly, as if to check if the coast was clear before taking a few shy steps closer to you. He brought up his little hands to cup them around his mouth and anticipating that he was going to whisper, you leaned in with a listening ear.

“I’m not supposed to come here on my own but Father brings me here sometimes and always tells me that the flowers here are most happy because of the fae who cares for them. I wanted to meet the fae because they never are around when Father and I are here.”

With great effort you suppressed the giggles that threatened to spill out, not wanting the Young Prince to think that you were laughing at him but rather at how adorable of a pout he formed by the end of whispering his little secret to you.

“Who told you that you couldn’t come here by yourself?”

“Everyone says that this glasshouse is Father’s most favourite and no one should come in without him saying ok. Even Mother doesn’t come here.”

Now it was all starting to make more sense to you, trust him to give you a title like fae of the garden. Letting out a gentle sigh, you gave the Young Prince a reassuring smile and held out your pinky.

“I promise not to tell, if you don’t.”

His eyes sparkled immediately as his little pinky was quick to curl around yours, “Oh thank you great fae!”

The soft spot in your heart grew once more.

“Would you like to see what fresh blooms will greet us today, Young Prince?”

The initial shyness he had melted away and the eager tug on your hands with a delighted laugh was a clear answer to your question. You let him lead you down the cobblestone pathway, patiently answering his questions whenever he’d point out flowers to you along the walk.

“Ah! Father’s favourite flower!”

The both of you slowed to a stop where the sea of multi-coloured freesias clustered, like a protective circle, around the Juliet Rose bush. With glowing apricot coloured petals that looked tender to touch, the rose bush stood dignified in the middle. Oh, the amount of care and love that went in to growing these roses, it truly is the treasure of the Royal Glasshouse.

You could still feel the phantom prickles on your fingertips from when you’d accidentally catch on one of the thorns whilst pruning. But you also remembered the warm hands that used to encompass yours and those same hands fought many more thorns to build this piece of Eden just for you.

“Shall we get some to give to him later on?” you suggested, having swiftly gone round the corner to retrieve the pruning knife from the crate.

“Yes, yes! Oh but won’t our shoes get muddy going in there?”

“Your Father didn’t mind losing many good white trousers to the dirt when he used to tend to the garden.”

“Father did that?” gasped the Young Prince, his eyes locked on as you moved with practiced ease. Still unsure as to whether he should risk a scolding from his tutor later on, he stayed behind the pebble border.

You hummed in reply, tip-toeing to avoid disturbing the freesias to reach the rose bush. “He drove the palace tailors mad with the amount of buttons he’d lose…but it was all worth it in the end.”

Your hands cupped one of the larger roses, observing the intricate layers of petals within the heart of the bloom. Just like the layers of memories that stirred within you in that moment.

”Not again Your Highness!”

Shoving the tunic you had been sewing to fix up a rip at the seams to the side, you hurried over with a handkerchief towards the Crown Prince as he came out of the Royal Glasshouse. When he wasn’t attending his classes or royal duties, all free time was spent on the garden. The only rule was that no one but the Crown Prince was allowed inside.

“Blossom, we’ve talked about this. You know I’d prefer it if you used my name.”

“That’s the last thing you should be worrying about now! The Queen won’t be too thrilled to know that you–“

A snow white camellia was tucked behind your ear, distracting you to a pause. Your hand immediately reached up and your fingers were met with the morning dew still upon the petals.

“This is first of the few that have successfully bloomed.”

“You’re distracting me on purpose, Yunho!”

“Well it got you to say my name, did it not?” he laughed, crouching down slightly to allow you to help wipe some of the soil off his cheeks. Even as you continued to fret over his mess of a stained blouse that certainly will cause a ruckus over afternoon tea, Yunho looked at you with so much affection that it would’ve made the rest of the flowers blush.

“You are impossible,” with no real bite to your words.

“And yet you’ve stayed by me all this time.”

You weren’t just the child of the Queen’s personal seamstress, no, you were Yunho’s first real friend within the palace. He treasured the friendship, for being with you meant Jeong Yunho could breathe freely.

The hallway had a woeful chill despite the midday sunlight streaming through the arched windows. Perhaps it was reflecting your current state of mind, your feet scurrying with haste to carry you to the safety of your chambers. Only behind closed doors did you allow your walls to crumble.

“It’s settled then, we shall entrust you with the task of creating the wedding gown. After all your sewing skills are immaculate and the Princess herself personally requested for you.”

Your mind kept replaying the announcement, echoes taunting the reality right in your face. Extremely confused at the absence of feeling on top of the world that you’ve been tasked with such a prestigious request nor were you jumping with joy knowing that Aethevintis and Cilon were officiating a strong alliance through a royal engagement.

“Every tailor in the kingdom would’ve killed for this job! Soon you’ll be making a name for yourself!”

The palace staff showered words of encouragement and your mother couldn’t be any prouder…

...yet it did nothing to ease the piercing cold emptiness that invaded your shattered heart.

“Blossom that would be considered as assault against the Crown Prince.”

You threw an unamused look his way, right after you had nearly kneed Yunho in the face when he effortlessly hitched you over his shoulders. Without so much as giving you a valid explanation as to why he arrived unannounced at the tailors’ room, only to whisk you away from your half-sewn bodice.

“Some of us need to work, Yunho!”

“You’ve been working a fair bit lately, I simply miss spending time with you.”

Now that you have actually acknowledged your feelings towards him, you couldn’t afford to let such words feed the false hope; not when you knew there will be an inevitable split in your pathways. You had been purposely avoiding him since preparations for the Engagement Ball have started, under the guise that you needed complete focus on your commission. It numbed the hurt inside temporarily, but you couldn’t deny that you’ve missed him.

Terribly so.

“Where exactly are you taking us?”

Scrunching your nose slightly at the smell of hay and heavy worn leather upon entering the stables, you noticed the saddle was already on Yunho’s Friesian stallion. Had he planned this beforehand?

“On an adventure!”

Of course, Yunho may have forgotten to notify you that he was supposed to be at a council meeting at that moment instead of bolting out of the stables like your lives depended on it.

He needed to breathe again and you decided to run with him for once, rather than away. The faint shouts of his name could be heard in the distance but consequences be damned if it meant seeing his radiant smile be set free and feeling the steadiness of your entwined hands.

“Watch your step.”

For whatever reason you couldn’t fathom, that Yunho somehow managed to sneak away from his own Engagement Ball without getting noticed and now was guiding you through an alternate and poorly-lit route towards the garden. Had it not been for his insistence that this matter was of great importance, you would’ve dragged him back in to the Grand Hall yourself.

Not even daring to think about the implications of his future wife being left, having to wait inside and what should happen if any of the guests or palace staff saw you with the Crown Prince in this questionable state?

“I’ve already talked to Captain Song and requested for his guard unit to ensure this area is kept clear for tonight, so you needn’t worry.”

His warm hand that held onto yours gave a reassuring squeeze, dampening your anxiousness just a little. You ended up facing the entrance to the Royal Glasshouse, the window panes were crystal clear in the dark that you could see the stars that hung above in the night sky in the reflection. Admittedly this place hadn’t graced your mind in months and you immediately felt disappointment towards yourself for not checking in with Yunho over time about his progress.

As you were about to speak, your vision suddenly goes pitch black.

“Hope you don’t mind but it’s a surprise,” Yunho whispered softly and only then did you realise that those were his hands covering your eyes. Wordlessly you nodded and allowed him to lead you in, an array of floral scents hitting your senses almost immediately, indicating that you both have made it well in to the glasshouse.

Something brushed against the top of your head unexpectedly and you flinched back, hitting Yunho’s solid chest.

“It’s ok, it’s just the blue jade vines. I’ve got you.” You wished your heart would stop fluttering as you felt him shuffle around you.

“Had it been anything else, I would’ve been right out the door and never stepping foot in here again,” you murmured.

You heard Yunho’s low chuckling before, “And leave me behind? That’s harsh. Who would I ever share this with then?”

His hands lifted and you blinked a few times to settle the initial haziness. Your breath caught in your throat as you took in the view; there were lanterns both hanging from the roof and ones scattered around to illuminate the interior with a soft glow, fireflies danced about unbothered and even with the vast amount of plants it wasn’t a suffocating space.

Taking tentative steps to look at some of the flowers up close, you couldn’t help but let out a breathy laugh. Just when you thought Yunho couldn’t get any more incredible than he already is.

“Yunho, this is…you really did it! From which fairytale did you pull this garden out of? All of this is exquisitely stunning!” you said, gently running your hand over the pink and white baby’s breath bushes.

Unbeknownst to you, Yunho’s barely keeping himself together under his calm façade. His heart has been yearning to just go against all odds and take you away with him but that meant condemning you to a lifetime of hardship, in a world where tradition doesn’t take too kindly to change.

He would never do that to you.

If he couldn’t be free to love you openly, then he’d love you in all the ways that required unspoken words. He poured his time and love into creating something, untouched by others and solely from himself, that he could give to you.

Just like he already has with his heart.

So when you heard him call your name, rather than the usual term of endearment he’d use, it set off the butterflies in your stomach. He reached out for you and you met him halfway.

“Did you know these are my favourites? They’re still young but as they grow, you’ll see that they aren’t just ordinary roses. They’re called Juliet Rose.”

Yunho showed you around the garden, telling you of the different flowers and their meanings. Peruvian lilies for lasting bonds, bluebells for devotion, gladiolus for strength, chrysanthemums for happiness, carnations for faithfulness. You were so caught up with keeping track that you nearly missed what Yunho had said next.

“–for an undying love or you’re the only one…”

“What...did you say?”

A barely-there whisper as you choked the words out. The running water from the mini fountain in the lily pad pond was the only sound among the silence that stretched between you both. And then there was the feeling of dread again, that you needed to run. Far away. Now. “W-We should go, th– your future fiancée is wait–“

You barely made it past 4 steps before Yunho caught your wrist and this time, he wasn’t going to let go. He called your name again.

“Please look at me.”

Perhaps it was the desperation in his voice that got through to you, telling you that you’d deeply regret it if you were to leave. So you willed your heart to stay through the pain and to stay for Yunho. It wasn’t until you felt damp velvet against your cheeks that you realised it was from the tears that cascaded down from your eyes and soaked in to Yunho’s suit, for he held your shaking form close to him.

“I’m such a fool.”

“Well, I guess we’re both just fools very much in love then.”

And then it dawned on you.

This entire garden being Yunho’s vow to you, which made you cry even harder than if he would’ve just confessed out loud to you right from the start.

Your hands grasped onto his back, fisting the fabric as you buried yourself further in to him. Noting that he smelled of clementines on a cool breezy summer day, you ingrained that scent to your memory. Wishing upon all the stars above that time would stop and allow you both to just live in your little garden.

“And with your permission, could you allow this fool to be selfish for a while more?”

A light kiss to your forehead before your face was tilted up, sore tear-stained eyes meeting his matching ones. “You? Selfish? Impossible.” Keeping your voice soft, partially from not wanting to break the peaceful ambience as you clumsily wiped his tears away.

Yunho knows he already has been selfish especially with time, he can’t stop it but he can draw it out at least. And he’s selfish in wanting to take from you when he knows he cannot give back entirely. But if it’s once in this lifetime that he gets to have you before having to return to the cruel world of normality, then he will get on his knees to beg for your forgiveness for being selfish.

He pours out everything in to the searing kiss he places on your lips and whilst you never imagined your first kiss to be like this, at the very least you finally have closure. Swollen lips, rosy cheeks and warm hands that refused to part until the very last second. Words that you both have been meaning to tell each other over the years are woven into poetries.

The garden kept it all, kept your love safe and your hearts safer.

“Do they make you happy too?”

Just like that, you’re brought back to the present. “What gave it away little one?” you asked, glancing to smile at him before focusing on cutting off two large roses.

“You were making the same face at the roses as Father does when he’s happy…when he tells me about you and the garden,” replied the Young Prince with honesty. The blue butterflies from before came fluttering around the roses that you held in your hands, much like the ones that stirred inside you once more when you heard the words.

Some things never change, do they?

You started to take the thorns off the stems with the pruning knife before replying, “They do, and this is my happy place.” Once you deemed the stems were safe enough for the Young Prince to hold, you made your way back over to him. You knelt down and presented the roses to him, “What do you think?”

He cautiously took the flowers that dwarfed his small hands, peering in to the layers curiously and taking a whiff of the delicate scent. “They’re really pretty! I think Father will like them very much!”

“Shall we go look for a few more blooms? You can create your very own little bouquet.”

The Young Prince made little noises of excitement and rushed to hold on to your hand once more, continuing on the quest to pick more flowers. It wasn’t until awhile later when you were showing the Young Prince how to arrange the flowers he picked to tie them together, that you heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

“Father!”

If Yunho hadn’t already learnt how to harden his heart these past years, the scene before him would’ve surely made him cry with happiness. For a second he could pretend that this was real, that you were the one with the aquamarine diamond band around your finger and that he was coming to join his actual family for tea in the garden. His eyes never wavered from yours, even when his son came barrelling in to his legs waving his bouquet merrily in the air.

“Your Majesty,” you greeted with a formal bow, not missing how Yunho’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Father, I finally got to meet the great fae! We spent all morning finding these!”

Only when you subtly flicked your eyes down towards the child did Yunho respond, quickly reaching down to take the bouquet from his son’s outstretched hand and bringing him in for a hug too.

“I had a feeling I’d find you here, sneaking off from your tutor again,” amusement lacing Yunho’s tone, “and what an intriguing choice of flowers you’ve got there.”

Father and son both adorning mirrored grins on their faces, “they’re for you, do you like them? And I’m sorry for sneaking in here Father!” said the Young Prince, little brows furrowing slightly.

“Very much, thank you…the both of you. And it’s ok as long as skipping your lessons doesn’t become a habit,” said Yunho as he ruffled his son’s hair affectionately and drew his gaze back to you.

“Unfortunately we must take our leave now.”

“How come? Do we really have to go?” The Young Prince seem to have inherit the puppy-dog eyes from his father, putting on the best pout he could muster as he looked between the two of you. Yunho shook his head, bending down to pick his son up. “Remember Grandpa and Grandma are coming by for lunch? Your Mother even asked the cooks to prepare our favourite dessert,” as if attempting to appease him.

“But…I wanted to spend more time here!”

“You’re always welcome back here little one, if His Majesty is ok with that–”

“Of course, although I hope it won’t be too much trouble?”

You gave a gentle smile and eyes twinkling with mirth, “Considering he hasn’t lost more than two dozen buttons within the last two weeks nor requires daily stitch repairs, I’d say it won’t be too much trouble at all Your Majesty.” That drew out an apology and light laughter from Yunho.

You walked the King and the Young Prince back to the entrance of the Royal Glasshouse, and just before stepping out Yunho turned to you once more. “Have you stopped by the pond recently?” the random query puzzled you.

“I thought I saw something interesting growing there the other day.”

Please go.

Right after waving a goodbye to Yunho and his son, without a care of making it obvious you hurried to where the lily pads floated at. It wasn’t hard to miss the bundles of serene blues nestled in the damp soil near edge of the pond. As you got closer, the realisation of what those were made your heart soar and ache at the same time.

A couple of tears fell onto the sea of blue petals as you reached out to cradle them with your hands.

“As if I could ever forget…my beloved King,” you whispered to the forget-me-nots that silently delivered Yunho’s words for you—

This garden is forever yours and so is my love, always. Never forget that.

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dadzawa-adopt-dabi · 5 years ago

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Learn some dam self care Keigo.

Dabi has noticed Keigo getting tired.

"What's the matter? Don't they don't give you Heroes breaks?" He mocks to cover up the sliver of concern.

"Not me." Is the short and bitter response. Its genuine for once.

Dabi puts off the next meeting for a few days to try and give him a break. Spying and working double shifts nearly everyday is obviously leaving the Hero with little time to rest. He’s not worried, really he isn’t, but Keigo may have stumbled a few times last meeting. He caught himself and didn't appear drunk wich leaves exhaustion.

When he messages the hero again it's just to tell him the next meeting time and location. Hopefully the dumb bird has rested up and they can get back to exchanging information.

Dabi ends up running a little late again. Toga wouldn't leave him alone about meeting Hawks and he had to shake her loose before he came to see him.

Keigo is curled into the corner of a sofa and is folded into his wings when Dabi walks into the warehouse.

"No greeting birdy? And after i let you have time off" Dabi notices that Keigo actually dosnt look much better than he had a couple days ago. He makes a note to check social media and see if Hawks had been pulling double shifts the entire time.

"It's fucking cold. Let's just get on with this." Keigo grumbles from inside the cocoon of his wings. He sits himself up straighter but keeps his wings around himself as a makeshift blanket.

It's about 20 minutes into the conversation before Keigo stops talking midsentence. A few moments later he falls forward and Dabi rushes to catch him.

That's it. Its officially intervention time. Keigo is obviously being overworked. He had stopped talking at several points in the meeting, loosing his train of thought or dozing off before jolting himself awake. He's looked him up on his phone while Keigo was struggling to stay awake and Keigo hasn't had a night or day off in weeks. Its past a burnout pace.

So it's not a complete surprise when he finally gives up and falls asleep.

Dabi calls Kuroguri and tells him to pick him up and prepare for a guest as Keigo struggles to wake up again. Keigo is mumbling at him and trying to stand but stumbling, so Dabi walks him straight back into the opening warp gate.

"Your meeting the boss. Oh and I'm kidnapping you until further notice." Dabi casually states and follows after him to see Shigaraki steadying him on the otherside. He had on his gloves he usually used for gaming and was scowling at Dabi already. Kuroguri had warped them right into the living room.

This is going to cause shenanigans and Shig knows it.

"Is he drunk? He can't even stand. What are you doing bringing him here right now?" Shigaraki let Keigo go when he tried to jerk out of his hold.

"I- I'm too- I can't, Dabi?" Keigo mumbled and moves toward Dabi.

"It's fine Keigo. Shig is just concerned. It's fine he's got his gloves on." Dabi muttered to the tired bird and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Is he drunk or what?" Shigaraki hovered nearby.

"Remember how I was saying the Hero commission was pushing him too hard? He's not drunk, just sleep deprived and exhausted. So I kidnapped him"

Shigaraki scratched at his neck.

"Is he always like this? Is there anyone coming to look after him?"

"Not as far as I know. Hey Magne can you start a bath? He's pretty cold." Dabi started leading Keigo down the hallway.

Toga appeared at his elbow and got a good look at Keigo.

"He can use one of my bath bombs. He looks like he needs some self care."

" You can lecture him on self care when he wakes up later." He continued supporting Keigo and was guiding him down the hall to the bath.

" Can you make sure he stays upright in the bath?" Shigaraki asked Shuichi in the corner.

Shuichi hoped up passing his game to Shig to save for him.

"I can bath myself." Keigo insisted and pulled away from Dabi. Waking up a little bit more. He stumbled again and leaned against the wall.

"This really isn't necessary, I appreciate it, but this happens all the time."

Shuichi grabbed his hands and pulled him upright causing a glove to slip off.

"Shouldn't happen at all" muttered a concered Kuroguri from the kitchen as Shuichi made a choked sound.

Keigo snatched his glove back and shoved it on.

"Fuck that's gotta hurt dude, no need to hide those here. I've got mine long. No one cares if I cut them or not bro" Spinner spread his hands out to show Keigo the talons Magne and Toga had painted just a few days ago.

He took Keigo's other hand and tugged off the glove. Keigo's nails revealed as talons clipped short and frayed.

"Dabi can keep watch." Keigo muttered. If this was going to be how he met the rest of the LoV it was better the devil he knew with him while he was vunerable.

Dabi wheezed behind him and coughed to clear his chest.

"Not a good idea" he coughed out.

"No he can not. He would be useless" Shig said while trying not to laugh.

"The hell you all standing around talking for? Let's get bird boi bathed changed and in bed. Not Dabi's bed. They're still not at that point evidently" Magne stated.

"I'm not a child. And I have patrol in 3 hours. I can't just skip." Keigo followed anyways. Sleep sounded so nice and technically he was still spying while he was here.

"Stage one kidnapping and get Kuroguri on a soapbox for Hero treatment and schedules. Got it." Sako grinned.

"You better give me that soapbox. First Shouta now this young man. I've got quite a bit to say to society on how much they demand from heros." Kuroguri appeared to be writing a speech already.

"I'm here so how are you going to fake a kidnapping?" Keigo was really getting tempted by the idea of that rest. Why the hell was the LoV so nice? Maybe if he asked Dabi would dry his feathers off for him?

Too nice. All this sounded too good to be true.

"Magicians never reveal there secrets"

"Wouldnt you like to know feather boi?" Toga cackled as she reappeared with gold and pink bathbombs.

"Keep your secrets then. Also thank you Toga I've been wanting to try these." Fuck it Keigo decided. He was tired and could spy properly when he more rested. This was somehow nothing what he expected the LoV to be and everything Dabi had implied they were for him.

"We are talking about whatever the hell these guys think is going on when I wake up" Keigo took the bathbombs and followed after Shuichi. Only bumping into the wall a few times.

Keigo only nodded off in the bath once and Shuichi threw a rubber duck at him when he did.

"What else does the Hero concil have you hide?" Shuichi asked trying to keep Keigo talking and awake.

"Um I have a 3rd eyelid my visor obscures? My talons are actually my fault at this point. I have to regularly clean and straighten my feathers or use them all up. They are a lot of maintenance but most of its second nature at this point." Keigo stuttered in some parts.

"Eye markings?" That's something Shuichi was actually curious about.

"Not makeup. Most people just assume its eyeliner but I was born with them." Keigo finished rinsing out his hair and held out a hand for a towel.

"Cool. Dabi thought so but I totally thought it was eyeliner."

"How often does Dabi talk about me?" Keigo shrugged into some sweats and a shirt that had a deep v already cut for his wings. That was thoughtful.

"He talks about you a lot."

"Does he like me or something? Do you think he would mind helping me dry out my wings? I dont want to annoy him" Keigo went to leave.

"How are both of you this clueless? You are literally wearing his sweats. Yes he would help you with your wings. we all would if he would challenge us to a pvp for the honor." Shuichi facepalmed.

"They kinda suck though, and make people uncomfortable. My feathers are basically a bunch of knives. Maybe Toga wouldnt mind? She likes knives" He muttered and shuffled towards the room he came into. There had been a couch and he could always use his wings as a blanket. Wet or not he would pass out almost immediately.

"I've never seen Toga and Dabi fight yet and I am not eager to see it now." Shuichi nudged him towards a diffrent room.

"Your rooms over here."

"I have a room?" It was probably because he was so tired but Keigo started crying. They were so nice to him already.

"DABI, your bird is crying. Come fix him." Shuichi yelled towards the main room.

There was some cussing heard and a few seconds later Dabi was beside him.

"Why you crying pretty bird?"

"I'm mostly just tired but you guys have been so nice! I have a own room already and you kidnapped me and my shirt has holes cut and no one minds my talons." Keigo babbles and leans forward until his head is resting on Dabi's shoulder.

"Well yeah, as soon as I started talking about you seriously joining us Shig set you up a room. The sweats and sleep and acceptance is just basic decency. Let's get you in bed." Dabi led him in the rest of the way.

"Wait can you dry my wings? They're wet and gross and Spinner said you wouldn't mind? I promise they won't cut you." Keigo muttered. Dabi would probably say no but he was too tired to detach them all and spin them around until they dried.

"Sure. Go to sleep already birdy."

Keigo finally got to sleep knowing it would be for more than a couple hours. Dabi running his heated hands through his wings was definitely something he was going to ask for again.

Fuck the commission he was staying here. Maybe Toga could give him a face mask next time.

#dabihawks #LoV as family #takami keigo #bnha dabi #shigaraki tomura #leauge of villians #mha #bnha #bnha hawks #thedarkonewrites #still not satisfied #no more deleting #very keigo centric #gah

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ngame989 · 5 years ago

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“Onward” - TGG SVTFOE Fanfic Collection Ch. 7

Writing: @ngame989

Art: @toxicpsychox

Editing: @toxicpsychox, @seddm, an IRL friend

Alternate fic links - FFnet, AO3

Summary: Bloodlines clash over the past on the first anniversary of the Cleaving, while Star, Marco, and others try to focus on looking forward.

Comic Page

Masterpost

Sorry for the big delay. In the meantime, we did a pretty massive in-character RPish Q&A session taking place in the time of the fanfic collection storyline just before this chapter, so check that out here! Post-summer schedules are settling in now, so hopefully we can get back on track for regular updates. See below for the text, hope you enjoy!

“Think we should head back downstairs soon?”

Star poked her head out from the closet to find Marco had taken his hoodie off and spread himself akimbo on their bed, breathing heavily with his eyes closed. “We probably should,” she admitted, turning the swords she held in her hands over a few times. Her own blade was relatively simple compared to the ornate craft of Marco’s falchion, the Cleaver. That name seemed especially fitting now, since it was exactly one year ago today that their new world was created. She carefully set them against the wall, still in their protective sheaths. “Ooooor we could just use my messiness as an excuse for why it took us extra long to find these!” she drawled out dramatically, giving Marco a sly grin. He finally tilted his head towards her and opened his eyes, treating her to his soft warm gaze while she kicked off her tennis shoes and adjusted her old sky-blue dress. Their day had begun only a few hours ago, yet she was already feeling drained, and his slight wince when she dropped onto the mattress, reclining against a wall of pillows suggested he mirrored her sentiment. “You OK?”

“If your uncle’s hug didn’t break something, your aunt’s sure did,” Marco mumbled, testing his joints for injury with a grimace before scooting himself further towards her and dropping his head into her lap. Normally she’d be all for the rowdy family party going on right under their feet, but today felt like it should be their day too. Earthni was a wonderful place for sure, but today was the anniversary of so much more for her. The perfect bliss of loving Marco, the terror of losing Marco, the overwhelming sadness of missing Marco, the enrapturing contentment after reuniting with Marco...

“Marco, Marco, Marco…” she singsonged, thoughts leaking out into words. Her left hand caressed his cheek while she tangled the fingers of her right in his hair; he closed his eyes and nuzzled further into her contentedly. Her smile grew all the wider as she upped the ante, squishing his cheek and poking his mole then finally honking his nose. After a few moments of trying his best to ignore it he started lazily swatting her hands away, but she persisted nonetheless. This adorable face was hers for the booping, dangit!

“Star.” His tone was firm, but she knew better than to assume he meant it.

“Yes?” she innocently crooned.

He caught her wrists and held them away from him. “What are you doing?”

“Having fun, silly.” She wriggled free and got a sneak attack in, pinching both cheeks at once. When he went in for the counter, she pulled back so quickly that he slapped himself, causing Star to fall backwards onto the pillow clutching her sides and laughing. Marco lifted himself off of her and onto his knees, and she caught only a glimpse of his cocky smirk before he dove forward, pinning both her arms above her. “Oh no! You got me, Diaz! I am at your mercy. Whatever shall I do?” Try as she might to keep up the mock damsel in distress act, she failed to suppress her giggles. Only a second later, he released her hands and planted a quick kiss on her lips before resting his head on her shoulder. Her arms wrapped tightly around him. When she’d made the fateful decision to risk leaving everything else behind for Marco, this was why, this was what she couldn’t see herself living without.

“Star… ow…” Her grip slackened and he wheezed in relief. “You definitely… got that… from your dad’s side of the family.”

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly.

“Hello, dears.” Eclipsa’s voice rang from the doorway, catching them both off-guard. Marco yelped and rolled off of Star, flopping to the floor with a thud. “Don’t mind me, I was just sent up to see if you two were ready for your demonstration. I must say, everyone seems quite excited for it.”

“Oh heeeeeey, there’s the swords!” Star pointed with a totally convincing shocked expression. “Silly Marco, I told you they wouldn’t be under the mattress!”

Eclipsa laughed heartily enough to make the light purple hem of her summer dress sway around her. “There’s no need for excuses, dears. In my younger days, I would have killed to have Globby with me at even a single family outing. I’m not one to tattle on the tomfoolery of love. You should probably go, though, before any more Butterfly-Johansen friction spills over.”

“Uuuuugh,” Star groaned. Things had been pretty civil amongst all the various interdimensional families thus far, but she’d known it was only a matter of time before something happened. When she was a kid it was fun watching everyone punch each other off cliffs to vent their frustrations, but now it just seemed petty and pointless to her. Had they learned nothing from everything that happened? She helped Marco off the ground then grabbed their weapons for the exhibition spar that all their guests were apparently anticipating. He slid into his hoodie while she slipped back into her shoes, then they closed the door behind them and descended the stairs.

The Diaz living room was largely occupied by the Butterflies for the time being, while Star could hear the characteristic Johansen ruckus from the backyard. Wouldn’t it be nice if they could all just get along forever? Probably, but she could scarcely fathom how that might ever happen. She glanced around to find her mom trapped in conversation with Great-Aunt Etheria in the kitchen. Despite wearing more casual clothing, Mom was in total “queen” mode right now, politely tut-tutting at all of Etheria’s observations. Maybe that wasn’t the best term for it, but it was how Star had known her mother most of the time growing up. However, there was still no mistaking the strain in her expression: even the Queen Moon of her childhood couldn’t put up with Etheria for long, and Star had no idea how the mom she’d gotten to know in recent years could handle it for more than half a minute. When Etheria noticed Star’s presence and strutted towards the stairs, Star could see her mother breathe a slight sigh of relief before following.

“Ah, dearie, there you are. Come, come, let me see this magnificent blade I’ve heard so much about.” Eclipsa held it up, but the eldest Butterfly snatched it from her grip without even a glance before running her fingers all over the blade. “Fine craftsmanship, indeed… where did you get such a thing? I must commission the maker for a new display.”

“It was actually Buff Frog who recommended me an old friend of his, she’s really cool. She does experimental art with molten metal that’s really pretty-”

“Ah. Hmmph.” The woman handed the sword back to Star tersely. “Well, it is well-made, I’ll give it that.”

“Speaking of artistry,” Moon chimed in before Star could respond, “weren’t you saying something about Marco’s parents, Aunt Etheria?” Star and Marco glanced at each other anxiously.

The large woman perked up, scorn diminishing in an instant. “Oh yes, they’re wonderful. A poet and a sculptor, how splendid! It’s positively delightful to see such devotion to the most noble of endeavors. The graceful wielding of a blade or a brush are signs of a good temperament. I’m glad at least your family can appreciate the finer, more delicate things in life, boy.” Star cringed a bit, and out of the corner of her eye she could see Marco doing the same, but the tension she didn’t even know she had in her shoulders dropped. Despite the tone, it was nice that Marco was being accepted, but… yeesh. “Let’s get on with this display, shall we?” The group headed outside where the Diazes had taken advantage of their spacious backyard.

Star instinctively shielded her eyes with one arm, blocking out the blinding light of the sun. Two poles held a banner up above a table loaded with all kinds of meats and vegetables. ‘Butterfly-Johansen (and Diaz) Annual Picnic’. Marco’s parents had resisted inserting themselves for long enough that Star had scrawled the addition on herself. They were hosting the freaking thing, why shouldn’t they be an official part of it? The Butterflies who had followed them outside were audibly scoffing at the various Johansen men and women sweeping up armfuls of meats and jamming them into extra large tortillas that were still far too small for the task. Finally she found her dad, who was guiding cousin Rock through the various foods that had become a staple of his diet, and when he noticed her in kind he skipped over. “Star, honey, there you are! And Marco, my boy, tell me: did you have your first encounter with Grandpappy Bear? The man with the grey beard down past his knees?” Marco nodded at the clarification.

“Ha! My father used to tell me stories of how he’d vanquish foes by opening his arms to feign surrender. Many great men and women fell right for it- went for the hug and had the life squeezed right out of them!” His eyes narrowed intensely, getting right in Marco’s face, and Marco’s nose ruffled at the wild beard hairs.

“Yeah, I can see that,” Marco dryly responded. “My everything hurts.”

“Nonsense, lad. If you’re even still standing, you’ve done better than most! It’s like you’re part of the family already.” He clapped Marco on the back with a joyous laugh, and Star grabbed onto her boyfriend’s arm to keep him steady on his feet.

“Try not to break the boy,” Etheria sneered from the doorway behind them, joined by a few of Star’s aunts and uncles.

“They are quite talented at breaking things,” Heartrude murmured low enough that anyone farther away than Star probably wouldn’t hear.

“Aye, we’re just having fun with ‘em,” Aunt Crag hollered back. “From what Rivey tells me, he’s gonna be an honorary Johansen soon enough!”

Daaaaaaad. Star tried to bury the rising heat in her cheeks. While her brain was still putting itself back together, Marco had jumped between them with a nervous grin on his face. “So, swordfighting, huh? What’s the deal with that?”

“Yes, I suppose some entertainment is in order,” Etheria sighed. “Are you quite sure that we can’t stage a rousing game of Flags, Moon? After the last few cancellations due to…” Her gaze flickered to Eclipsa and Globgor briefly. “Circumstances on Mewni, and now the Butterfly Kingdom being dissolved altogether, I dare say some stress relief might do us all some good.”

“Hear, hear,” the Butterflies behind her chanted. Even a few Johansens were mumbling their assent, though they’d never be forthright with their agreement with the eldest Butterfly.

“Be that as it may,” Moon spoke up, “my decision still stands. If there’s anything I’ve learned these past few years, it’s the value of letting go of the past if it’s holding you back, and Flags, fun as it may be, just kept this feud going. We have our whole lives ahead of us. Perhaps it’s best if we can all learn to find that which binds us together.”

“She’s right,” one of the Johansen cousins added. Phew. Finally, maybe people were starting to see the sense in- “Since we don’t have to bother with politics anymore, maybe we just shouldn’t put up with them!” Oh for the love of- calm down, Star. Deep breaths. Though she tried to ignore it, a tiny voice in the back of her mind pondered those words carefully. Why were they trying to make the families get along? Sure, it’d be nice for its own sake, but it wasn’t like her parents were BFFs with any of their in-laws, either. Maybe it was selfish to think, but what did they get out of it?

As the tensions mounted more by the second, Star felt something prodding her clenched fists. She looked over her shoulder to see Eclipsa surreptitiously handing over her sword, while Marco already had been given his. Star took the hint. Too late to turn back now.

“EN GARDE, MARCO!”

***

To anyone else, the sun being blocked out completely in the middle of a summer afternoon would have been alarming, but for Eclipsa it was a most welcome sign. “Having fun, my love?” a deep voice boomed above her.

Globgor shrunk down to smaller than his default size, his form-fitting sweater vest and pants scaling appropriately, and dropped down on the grass next to his wife to hand her a cup of tea. She took a test sip: black, with milk and a generous serving of honey. He only ever put that much in when he thought there was something bothering her, and as always, he was correct. “I get the unfortunate feeling we’re not quite welcome among some of the clan, Globby. Especially those on our side. The Johansens seem quite fond of you, though.”

“Ehhhh.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re right, they’re definitely nice in their own way, but I think it’s only because I’m strong. They kept laughing about eating people, and said maybe Etheria would be a gourmet meal.”

“Well, that is a perfectly acceptable reason to like you, dear,” she crooned, placing her free hand on his arm. “But yes, that is… troubling.” It didn’t surprise her, really; it had taken her nearly a year to find her place within the small portion of the Butterfly family consisting of just Star and Moon. Eclipsa had accepted being an outcast from the remainder of it, given her supreme infamy in Mewnian lore, but it wasn’t in her nature to sulk, and in all fairness it had been a good year for them. Perhaps she hadn’t been the best at guiding her people safely through dangerous times, but she still had earned respect and camaraderie from much of Monstertown. Rebuilding the town after Mina’s destructive rampage had been a satisfying effort, and she still had far more time to enjoy the company of her family than she ever could have dreamed.

Taking another soothing sip, her gaze wandered over to the only other people she knew that needed this time to be together as much as she had. Star’s combat style was fierce, unrelenting chaos guided by warrior’s instinct, but Marco balanced it perfectly with a keen eye for when to defend and when to counter. Eclipsa had guessed where they’d end up from quite literally the first moment she’d met Star, and where they complemented each other perfectly as a team, they were equally matched as opponents. The shimmering steel clanged over and over, neither combatant spending more than a handful of seconds on the backfoot at a time. Marco deftly ducked under a ferocious two-handed swing and jabbed forward, so Star rolled with her momentum to dash backwards. She was about to back into a cactus behind her when Marco kicked off the ground and lunged towards her, grabbing her free hand and twirling her to the side, eliciting hoots and hollers from the enthralled crowd. They both giggled before squaring their stances, and combat resumed.

“They’re quite extraordinary, aren’t they?” Eclipsa turned away from the match in progress at the sound of Moon’s voice. Globgor extended an enlarged arm towards a chair leaning against a picnic table and dragged it over for her.

“They’ve both turned out to be some of the best of us. Even with all my strongest magic, I wouldn’t want to get between them. It looks like they could keep this up forever.”

Moon raised an eyebrow and folded her hands in her lap, sipping from a mug with an ornate floral pattern. Royal status or not, Moon had a taste for the finer things. “I wasn’t talking about the swordfight, Eclipsa.”

“Nor was I.” Eclipsa playfully smirked, and Moon conceded the point with the two sharing a knowing look.

Globgor shrunk and hopped onto Eclipsa’s shoulder, gathering some of her flowing green hair with his tail as a headrest and reclining into her neck. “Wouldn’t it have been nice to be like that at their age? We only ever had minutes at a time to ourselves, and it’s not like we could just use giant mirrors or big glowy portals to chat whenever we wanted.”

“True enough, my love, but Star had been devoting everything to keeping an entire kingdom afloat at age 15 for half a year, and Marco’s own service merited knighthood in less. Even if we debate the details, I’m not sure I envy them.” She gently ruffled his hair with her fingers. “And besides, we’ve had the last year, and however many more follow to do whatever we wish.”

Globgor smiled back up at her, hugging one of her fingers. “You’re right, dear. Oh Moon, that reminds me, how are those big plans you mentioned a few weeks ago?”

Moon crossed her arms, frowning slightly. “It’s not anything that big yet. I’ve... just been gathering some information. Wrathmelior was quite helpful in finding Historia Homewnum for me, it’s older than the Butterflies themselves. I don’t even know what I’m going to do with it yet, but I want to talk to Star first.” She turned away from Eclipsa and Globgor, gazing with a solemn smile towards her daughter who was laughing hysterically as she chased Marco down and tackled him into the grass, weapons forgotten. “How we look back on Mewni requires guidance from those looking most forward.”

“How do you look back on it, Moon?”

Her brow furrowed as she took one sip, then another, clearly lost in thought. By the time she spoke, the entire glass had been drained. “I’m not proud of many of the things I did, or even those I felt I had to do, in my time as queen, but it’s a legacy left behind nonetheless. The people of this world deserve to know it as it was, sometimes noble and sometimes flawed.” A shout of “why I never!” was heard from the distance, and everyone turned to see one of the younger Butterfly cousins hastily retreating from an encounter with Johansens. “Very flawed,” Moon sighed. “The Johansens at least mean well, in their own ways, but my side… well, let’s just say it’s a good reminder of why the Cleaving was necessary. My apologies for any trouble they’ve caused.”

Eclipsa laughed sardonically. “Until quite literally hundreds of years after she perished, my own mother would have drawn and quartered me just for being in love. Family problems are nothing new.”

Globgor hopped off her shoulder, enlarging as he pointed across the spacious yard closer to Moon and River’s yurt, which had become a veritable house in recent months. “Is that River?” Eclipsa squinted to block out the sunlight and get a better view, and sure enough he was locked in a struggle with Heartrude, who was trying to wrestle a large drumstick out of River’s teeth.

“In all fairness, Moon, the Diazes are excellent chefs. I wouldn’t blame anyone for that level of passion over the catering,” Eclipsa sniggered.

“For heaven’s sake…” Moon grumbled while dragging her hands down her face. “River!” She darted off towards the scene, leaving Eclipsa and her husband alone once more.

A few of the others glanced over their way, but none responded. Globgor grew a little more and stretched his limbs before sprawling himself out on the ground, yelping sheepishly when his actions knocked the chairs over. That’s my Globby. Eclipsa giggled and jumped over the wreckage into his arms, using his chest as a pillow. They both loved their daughter more than anything, but time for just the two of them was always welcome. “There are certain advantages to not having much of an audience…” he said, chuckling and gently pulling her closer for a kiss. When she’d first started secretly dating monsters in her youth, the Mewman lore had maintained that size-shifters were clumsy oafs when large and insidious creeping vermin when small, and that was saying something since the pages written about the middle ground weren’t exactly flattering either. No matter his outward appearance, he always knew how to handle her with precision and grace, and they’d worked up a complete comfortability with the shifts in their daily lives. One of Globgor’s favorite amusements was trying to solve any mundane issue he could with only size-shifting, leading to some incidents such as the shelving unit they’d had to rebuild after he tried expanding in a confined space to reach some baking ingredients at the top, but it never failed to amuse her. They flirted in the grass until they’d lost count of the minutes, uncaring of who may have been looking at their innocent (by their standards) shenanigans, until the sunlight in the corner of Eclipsa’s eye went dark once more.

The moment that it took for Globgor to stop being distracted by her kisses lasted about as long as the time it took her to recognize that the usual cause of this was already beneath her, and both snapped to attention together. “Gotcha! Now we’re even-steven,” Star gloated.

All four eyes below her blinked a few times. “Um, it’s Globgor, not Steven.” The other three looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter. “What, what’s so funny?”

“Nothing, darling,” Eclipsa responded. They both stood up, brushing any stray grass marks off their clothing. “Excellent fight, dears, though I’m afraid I was too, ahem, preoccupied to catch the ending. Who won?”

“Star did,” Marco said.

She poked him in the cheek, beaming with pride and doing a little dance. “First time, too! I was like, swing, swing, slash and I did this really cool twirl and knocked it right out of Marco’s hands. I did it!”

He wrapped an arm around her affectionately, which also served to calm her antics. “I was off-balance from pulling you away from the cactus,” he mumbled, rolling his eyes.

“Love made you weak, Diaz, but I love you for it.” She nuzzled into his shoulder and he rested his head against hers. “Anyway, how are things going for you guys?” Star wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at them.

“The party is delightful. It’s so nice to get to celebrate with everyone, even if there’s the occasional spot of friction.” It wasn’t worth troubling Star and Marco over; this celebration was in service of them, in a way.

“The Butterflies don’t seem to like us too much, and I think the Johansens like us for not so great reasons,” Globgor ever so helpfully stated. Well, there goes that idea.

Star growled under her breath. “Why are they always like this? It seemed like things were turning around after the last Flags,” she moaned.

Marco shrugged his shoulders. “Eh, sometimes old grudges last a long time. I remember Uncle Miguel didn’t speak to his wife, Aunt Juanita, for 15 whole years because of a stolen enchilada. She’d even bought him one the next day, too. Probably explains why Cousin Bobby is a bit weird.”

Star puffed up her cheeks in indignation. “OK, I know this isn’t the point, Marco, but every story about your extended family just makes me want to meet them even more.”

“Maybe once the government sorts out all the passport stuff,” Marco said, “and maybe on their own, too. I’m glad your family likes my parents, but I’m, uh, not so sure how they would all get along.”

“Good to know.”

“Can’t you just eat like a well-behaved member of society!” The group heard from a distance away.

“I don’t want to be part of any society that has someone do the chewing for them!”

More and more Butterflies and Johansens clustered together in the center of the yard; it seemed like this whole debacle was about to reach critical mass. Eclipsa surveyed the scene carefully: Moon and River were trying ineffectually to calm it, and the Diazes watched from the sidelines, babies in tow. It seemed like they were the only ones left in action. Marco gathered them into a huddle, with Globgor shrinking down to the appropriate size. “Alright, how do we figure this out?”

“Families bicker sometimes, darling,” Eclipsa offered somberly. “Perhaps them getting along just isn’t meant to be.”

“I don’t get it, though! Okay, fine, they’re annoyed by each other, but who isn’t annoyed by family sometimes? Heck, even Marco grates on me when he says I should ‘eat less sugar’ and ‘eat something besides sugar’ and ‘stop pouring sugar into my soda until it becomes a thick paste’! Have you ever seen the nutrition labels on the Sugar Seeds you eat too?”

“Hey…” Marco pouted.

Globgor raised a hand. “Well, Star, healthy eating is an important-”

“Not the time!” she growled.

Marco squeezed her shoulder, which calmed her down enough for him to speak. “Well, when Uncle Miguel and Aunt Juanita’s feud finally ended, it was because his brother stole one of his enchiladas and then gave it back, so they made up really quickly. I guess that helped him realize he didn’t even know why he was still being so mean about it. So maybe if we just got them to realize their issues are normal…”

“They could just be annoyed by each other normally,” Star finished. “Marco, you brilliant man, you.”

Folding her hands in contemplation, Eclipsa finally spoke. “All well and good, but how? Even though my time was 300 years ago, I don’t think much has changed in just how stubborn any of these royal families can be. They’re not just going to give up hating each other so easily.”

Globgor’s tail swished up against her in excitement. “Remember when you helped me become a vegetarian?”

“Yes, of course.”

“For a while, I still thought about eating Mewmans every single day, so you made all those veggie-filled scarecrows for me to find. They weren’t that good.”

“Not my best work, I admit.”

“But being able to still have some way of scratching that itch was what helped the most, and now it’s not even a problem anymore!”

“So you’re saying we just need a way to still let out all their aggression without doing any serious damage, then. Globgor, you brilliant man, you.”

Rafael and Angie poked their heads in between Marco and Globgor. “If I may contribute a suggestion…” he said.

“Aaaa!” The other two couples stumbled back in shock.

“Sorry, we heard you from over there and we had an idea. You’re not that good at being quiet,” Angie laughed, ruffling Star’s hair.

“When I was growing up,” Rafael continued, “we used to always play silly games in the backyard and everyone got very competitive over it. I think I have some of the equipment still in the shed. Maybe a friendly competition is in order?”

“I love it!” Star shouted, her eyes lighting up with joy. She stuck her hand into the middle of the group, grinning fiercely at the gathered crowd. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s stop our families from killing each other over petty grudges. Globgor, lift all the equipment. Nachos can help too, she should be coming back from her afternoon stroll right about now. Mr. Diaz, set it all up. Eclipsa, Mrs. Diaz, plan the rules of the competition. Marco, let’s go try to distract my family. Team Family on three!” Regardless of whether it would work, Eclipsa felt quite enthusiastic about this as well. She couldn’t say whether it would work, or how it might impact her own standing within the group, but the simple fact that there even seemed to be a chance to set things in the right direction for Star’s family at all was far more than she’d ever had the chance to do in her past.

“Alright, on three,” Eclipsa said, leading the charge. “One, two, three, family!”

***

Marco followed Star across the yard, needing to jog to keep up as she pulled him forward by the hand into the center of the ruckus. Moon and River had their backs to each other as they tried to keep the seething rage from either side at bay, but a few people had already crossed the battle lines and an all-out brawl was beginning to erupt.

“Don’t worry Mom and Dad, we got this,” Star confidently shouted over the din. Admittedly, Marco was a bit less certain than she was that this would work. He was the odd one out in terms of his upbringing, and Star’s families honestly spooked him a little bit with their intensity. The Diazes were quirky, sure, but like most other things on Mewni, this whole situation just seemed amped up to 11 all the time. Still, he wanted to see it through for Star’s sake, if nothing else. So much of what they’d gone through was due in some way or another to family disputes, it was very clearly a personal affront to her. “Alright, everyone, settle down!” Didn’t work. “Butterflies! Johansens! Could you please just stop-” Even at the top of her lungs, nothing changed.

River pushed her back a step. “Don’t worry, sweetie. I’ve got this.” He inhaled enough air that his bare chest visibly expanded. “QUIETTTTTTTTTTT!” Dead silence hung in the wake as every member of the families turned their full attention towards Star, Marco, and her parents. One Johnasen even paused mid-headlock of Heartrude. “Listen to my daughter speak!”

“Thanks dad. Hello, everyone!”

“Hello, Star,” the crowd mumbled hesitantly.

“Butterflies, Johansens, I know you both have your differences. I know that nothing I’m going to say will make you just get along forever. But I have a question for you. Uncle Heartrude, you hate the Johansens for how they eat, but haven’t you ever been annoyed whenever Uncle Jimothy uses salad forks for meat?”

“Well, yes, but I don’t see how-”

Star pointed directly at one of her larger cousins, and even just a sideways look at the fire in her sapphire eyes inspired him as well. “And Boulder, didn’t you once say Rock was a snooty little pebble for waxing his shoulder-horns twice a day?”

“Aye, I did.” His thick brow furrowed and his voice came out a bit muffled from behind his enormous brown beard.

“But you still love each other like brothers, so why are you still trying to break Heartrude’s leg right now?”

“Oi, I guess I am,” he said, letting go of Heartrude’s leg. “Sorry about that.”

Star squeezed Marco’s hand in hers hard enough that he could feel her pulse beating rapidly in exhilaration.

“So sure, we all get mad sometimes. But instead of trying to kill each other over it, let’s just settle it like we would any regular family feud. With friendly, non-lethal competitive fun!”

River tapped her on the shoulder. “Um, sometimes the Johansens do actually settle them by-”

“Not now, Dad,” she forced out through gritted teeth.

“Right-o, dear.” He quickly hustled back to Moon, who was watching with a proud but cautious smile.

Etheria shoved her way through the crowd and confronted Star face to face. “That may all be well and true, but the Johansens spoiled our royal bloodline-”

“That was my own choice, thank you very much, Aunt Etheria,” Moon huffed, hugging River closer to her.

“Besides, I’m proud to be a Butterfly and a Johansen,” Star continued. “And so what if it’s not what you wanted for the ‘royal bloodline’? Earthni to Etheria, we’re not even royals anymore! Who cares about some stupid bloodline when my mom was able to actually be happy?"

“Traditions are important, child. Now, I’ll grant you that we no longer hold claim to a royal throne, but neither do you, so why should we listen to you anymore?” A few murmurs were heard among the Butterflies and Johansens both. How ironic that the first time all day they could agree on something was on their right to hate each other.

“Because… because…” Star floundered for the first time in her speech. Her hand trembled in Marco’s, and the Star he knew and loved wouldn’t have faltered until hope seemed almost completely lost. He had to do something. Think, Marco, think… the Johansens respected might, the Butterflies respected prestige, what did any of them have that could appease both? They were so upset about Flags being cancelled in the first place because both wanted its bragging rights so badly. Wait… that’s it!

Alright Diaz, you got this. Marco stood tall and squeezed Star’s hand back to let her know it was OK. “Because I, Marco Ubaldo Diaz, am the reigning Flags champion, and I say to do what Star says!”

“Marco, what the horse-flipping heck-” Star wheeled on him incredulously, but he quickly turned her back towards the crowds. Their gazes roved over the faces in the crowd. All of the fight had left them. His gambit had worked.

“Huh,” Star uttered matter-of-factly, still in shock. “What would I do without you, Marco?” she whispered to him under her breath, and his heart fluttered as it always did. “Alright, listen up, people! This isn’t about epic conflicts or generational feuds. You’ve got a problem with someone? Challenge them to a short, safe, and fun game to settle that score. Marco’s parents and Eclipsa and Globgor are in charge of the event planning. They’ll help you set everything up. May the best person at resolving all their conflicts win! Welcome to the first annual...”

“Game of Yards!” Star and Marco triumphantly shouted in unison.

“Remember to have fun!” Star shouted before tugging Marco’s hand away once more, but she steered them away from his parents and then further away from the entire party.

“Um, Star, what are you- where are we going?”

“Can we talk about something? I need to get away for, like five seconds.” Marco hadn’t heard her sound that exasperated in a while.

“Yeah, of course, let’s decompress. Anywhere special you wanted to go?”

Her gaze frantically darted around them. She’d taken them back towards the forest, near the edge of the territory their parents had acquired. “I don’t know, I just kinda walked. How about there?” she asked, pointing to a small hill in a clearing, covered by the shade of some Mewnian oak trees (thankfully, the benign sort). Marco nodded, and they both went over found a suitable spot.

“What’s on your mind?”

Star shifted restlessly after sitting on her legs. He tried to convey as much support as he could through the gentle caress of her hand laced with his. Even from hours after they’d met, he’d always been ready to be right beside her when she needed, and that resolve had only strengthened as the years went by. Once she’d gathered her thoughts, she began to speak. “Who am I, Marco?”

Of the many ways he’d thought this conversation could open, this wasn’t exactly one of them. “Huh?” was all he could mutter.

“It’s just… Etheria’s right. I’m not a princess anymore, and when all that went down I just wanted to be a normal teenager, but I’m not gonna be a teenager forever either, you know?”

“I understand.”

“Yeah, but when you turned down Eclipsa’s knighthood, already had a plan for stuff you wanted to do. Didn’t you say you wanted to go to college and all that junk? You can do that now since you finished high school, right?”

“Mhmm.” Marco fell back onto the grass, resting both his arms on his chest and staring up into the clear purple sky. “I- I guess I haven’t thought about it much since then, either. Mom told me that the college she teaches at was still taking students, and it’s still really close to home, and- and I thought about signing up but I wasn’t sure.”

She plopped down beside him, rolling over to face him and taking one of his hands in hers. “You should! Marco, whatever you want to do, you’ll be amazing at it because you’re Marco Diaz, and I’ll be right there every step of the way.”

“Thanks, Star.”

“I never had anything like that. I didn’t think about it too much when I was a kid, and then I was gonna be a queen because, well, that’s what princesses did. And then the first moment that I seriously got to thinking about what I wanted, kablam-o! Solarian warriors attack, magic’s gone, and Earth and Mewni merge. Once the craziness finally stopped, all I could think about was being with you. Don’t get me wrong, the past year just being with you and doing whatever we want has been incredible, but now I just need to figure out what else is out there for Star Butterfly, and honestly...” She squirmed uncomfortably and scooted closer into him, resting her head on his chest. “I’m scared, Marco. I know I need to ‘find my calling’, or whatever Mr. Candle might call it, but I have no idea how, and I don’t want to lose this either.” Her arms buried underneath him and held him closely. There was a bit of dampness that Marco could feel seeping its way into his hoodie, and that caused a few empathetic tears to well up in his own eyes.

He brushed them away with a sleeve and then hugged her tighter to him, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “We won’t, Star. Ever. Even if it takes a year, or ten, or a hundred years, or even if you never find some perfect job you want to do forever and ever, that’s fine! As long as you’re happy and fulfilled, that’s all that matters, and I’ll do whatever I can to help. Promise.” They rested in silence for a few moments, holding each other closely as thoughts of potential futures whirred in Marco’s mind.

Her chin lifted up and dug into his chest as she stared at him. “Any ideas?” Those Earth-sky-blue eyes that had filled him with a sense of purpose for so long now implored him to return the favor.

“Well, you’re not a princess anymore, but… maybe the stuff you liked doing as a princess could help? You’re a natural leader, you inspire people to be better than themselves, you worked so hard to make Mewni a better place.”

“Marcoooooo,” she crooned, and he lovingly pecked the blushes rising on both of her cheeks.

“For real, Star, you’re the coolest person ever, you could do whatever you put your mind to. Not long after we first met, you were terrified of all the princess duties, and you ended up figuring out how to do them the Star Butterfly way. Just remove the ‘princess’ part of it, and figure out whatever else you’re gonna do the Star Butterfly way.”

A teasing smirk rose on her face. “Weeeeell, I can think of at least one thing, mister…” she booped his nose with hers, and it was his turn for a fiery blush to arise. “You’re so cute to tease. Have you ever thought about what would happen if none of it happened? Like, if I never stopped being a princess and then I had to be queen someday.”

“A little? That whole year on Mewni was kinda a bit weird and all, with the squiring, and…” His voice dropped to a mumble. “Figuring out how I felt about you.”

“Right back atcha, there. But what if we’d still done all that, just without completely changing the world?”

“Being a knight would have been really cool, I guess, but the whole Lifelong Post thing… kinda weird. Maybe I could’ve been one without it, or something? Or maybe I’d have just picked you, officially,” he said, poking her nose. “A knight and princess being together is a story that’s, like, 1000 years old, after all.”

“That’s really sweet, Marco, but… nah,” Star dismissed him, turning over to stare at the same sky he was, folding his hands inside hers.

“Nah?”

“Nah. You wouldn’t have been a knight for long.”

“Oh yeah? How come?”

“If I was still a princess, then you’d be my prince.”

He jerked upward out of instinct, only stopping because of the weight on his chest. “Uh, Star? I, um, I don’t think that’s how noble ranks, um-” Stream of consciousness took over while he scrambled to collect his shattered thoughts.

“Princesses can do what they want, silly. I’d declare you Marco Diaz, Prince of Echo Creek, and your mom and dad could get little crowns, and there’d be all sorts of ridiculous contracts to sign. You’d be free to whatever you wanted on Earth, too! But we could still be together.” Her head tilted up and her eyes met his once more. “Forever.” The determination in those pools reflected love at him, and even with the impact from the gravitas of her statement, it still just felt natural, it felt right, like everything with Star always seemed to. She leaned upwards to kiss him, slow and soft and sweet as her hands ran over his face and through his hair as his reciprocated. When they finally broke apart, Star sat up, and the Sun framed her hair in the most beautiful way; Marco found himself needing a few more moments than usual to catch his breath. “I’ll always love you, Marco.”

“No matter what, Star, I’ll always love you too. Now come on,” he said, pushing off the ground to a standing position. “Let’s go win some Yards, my princess.”

“We just had a moment, Diaz. You get a pass, this one time… my prince.” She puffed up her cheeks indignantly, but a radiant smile cracked the facade almost immediately, clearly as lighthearted and giddy as he’d ever known her to be, and he felt much the same.

Their fingers intertwined as they dashed away towards their home once more, looking forward to finding their place in the world and - more importantly, perhaps - tag-teaming to kick some butt.

#starco #svtfoe #star vs the forces of evil #globclipsa #tgg svtfoe #fanfic

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ua-hc7 · 5 years ago

Text

TRANSCRIPT: August 29, 2:12 AM

[Note: The following contains implications/references of and to a variety of abuses. Drug use and sexual content is explicitly mentioned and described.]

[Note: Official recording started midway conversation. The above is paraphrased.]

[Note: Uncensored transcript requires further authoritzation.]

.. ... @ua-hawks ...

[Incoming call. Hawks is still putting himself back together at home. The rustle of a jacket being thrown over something and his clumsy, erratic footsteps can be faintly heard.]

[Shichirou picks up. It's quiet on his end asides from the soft rustling of wings.]

SHICHIROU: ... ▇▇▇▇▇? Sweetheart, what's happening...

[He stifles a yawn, his voice slow and heavy with sleep.]

HAWKS: Hi,

[Hawks' voice is drained of energy, yet he's still rushing. He hasn't been able to get out of his work headspace.]

HAWKS: Sorry. Did I wake you up?

[The way his words slur becomes more obvious.]

SHICHIROU: No, no...

[More rustling, the soft sound of fabrics moving together this time. There's a soft creak of a mattress as Shichirou sits up in bed.]

SHICHIROU: Have you been drinking? You haven't answered my question...

[A door shuts. Hard.]

HAWKS: Yeah.

[He's pacing. Restless. Exhausted.]

HAWKS: What'd you say?

SHICHIROU: What is going on?

[His voice is suddenly stern, though only slightly so. Still, it's a clear change of tone, all the drowsiness in his voice suddenly gone.]

SHICHIROU: Tell me what has you so upset.

HAWKS: I don't know. I just. I had to like-I had t'arrest or-no-I had to bring a kid in, to like a hospital...

[As he explains the distress rises. He's talking before he can even find the words to say what he needs to say.]

HAWKS: I was on my way to my meeting with Dabi and he was there and I don't know why-he's a-a fuckin ua kid, you have to have heard about it,

[It's completely silent as he listens. He only interrupts by the end, his voice quiet, firm and calm.]

SHICHIROU: Hawks. You are our main source on the League at this moment. Everything we hear, we hear through you.

[He waits a moment for his words to (hopefully) cut through his panic before continuing.]

SHICHIROU: Please clarify. You've brought in a UA student? Name? And which hospital is he in, are you there now?

HAWKS: Monoma.. [A sharp, shaky breath interrupts him.] Neito. Monoma Neito...

[He does pause. Let himself calm down as much as he can. The pacing stops.]

HAWKS: Sorry... 'm sorry I just... He was so fucked up, Chirou, I can't even.. I shouldn't be doing this right now I just need to write the fucking report and-and I need to get back to my interns and..

[He barely catches a gasp as he starts crying. It's sudden, even to himself, suppressing it best he can. He doesn't want Shichirou to know how weak he's gotten.]

SHICHIROU: ...

[He waits a few moment, listening to his stifled tears. Quietly, he writes down the boy's name. Then, he presses a program to start on his phone to record the rest of the conversation, cursing himself quietly for not doing that right at the start.]

SHICHIROU: You don't need to be doing anything right now, Hawks...

[He sighs, urging patience back into himself. He wants more information on the case but it'd have to wait...]

SHICHIROU: What have I told you about taking care of yourself? That's what's most important. Just concentrate on letting it all out, please, you'll feel better... I want you to be okay.

... Do you need to come over?

HAWKS: Yeah, well-

[Unintentionally, Hawks snaps, catching himself for a second.]

HAWKS: I can't exactly do that when I'm at everyone's fucking beck and call, can I? Dabi could hit me up at like 5 am and be like ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and I'd probably do it just cuz it's the mission.

[He let's go again.]

HAWKS: And he has! And he has. And I do it. And I feel disgusting and-fucking Monoma-▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ I...

SHICHIROU: ...

[He sighs again, a slow, careful breath.]

SHICHIROU: Was he...? Hawks, can you explain what you saw? Please?

[A pause as he frowns to himself.]

SHICHIROU: You're doing good work, love... You really are. It's all going to be so worth it when we're done, I promise you.

HAWKS: I...

[He lets out an aggravated sigh.]

HAWKS: I saw ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. That's it. I went to where our meeting was gonna be and Monoma was ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ He was all sortsa fucked up and I pulled him aside and he-I don't know, maybe he thought I was someone else but ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and I.. I don't know...

[Another shuddering breath, more tears.]

HAWKS: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇... [He forces a sad chuckle.]

SHICHIROU: ... ▇▇▇▇▇ ...

[He'll have to cut that out from the recording. The commission was well aware of Hawks' true name but he still tries to respect the boy's privacy nonetheless.]

SHICHIROU: It's okay. It's okay...

[So much to unpack and try and soothe away. Shichirou rises from the bed, starting to snap the lights of his house on.]

SHICHIROU: Please, come over. I'd like to see you. About the boy, unless he ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇-

[He pauses, shakes his head.]

SHICHIROU: Remember, Dabi is a violent criminal, Monoma's probably been abused into a mindset that makes him ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, it doesn't mean he does. It's a good thing you caught them before this could get even worse, because now we can help him, and now we can press more charges against Dabi when we finally arrest him. Does that make sense, dear?

HAWKS: ...

HAWKS: One second..

[Hawks drops his phone, wiping his face and letting another few sobs shake his body before he collects himself again and picks up again.]

HAWKS: ...

It does.

...

But I don't think I wanna move.

[Already, Shichirou is throwing open his closet so he can retrieve a jacket.]

SHICHIROU: I can come to you. Tell me where you are, please.

[He shakes his head again, muttering to himself, floorboards creaking under his feet as he strides.]

SHICHIROU: You're drunk, you shouldn't be moving much anyway... Are you on any other drugs right now?

HAWKS: I'm at my place...

[Hawks is on the floor, sitting against his bed. He feels ready to pass out. He probably will by the time Shichirou gets to him.]

HAWKS: Yeah. Dunno what. Dabi likes to give me shit... Think it wore off though.. 'm getting sober too..

[A pause and he lifts himself again, wandering to his kitchen, mumbling to himself as he opens cabinets until he finds what he wants.]

HAWKS: Fuck..

SHICHIROU: I'll bring a drug test kit.

[There's a jingle as he snatches his keys from his desk.]

SHICHIROU: Depending on what it is in your system, that's possession. That's another charge, Hawks, you're doing so well. Are you drinking water? You should be laying down...

HAWKS: Yeah, well.

[A pause-he drinks. Its just a shot of vodka.]

HAWKS: I know he's got ecstasy and opiates and shit. Dunno where he gets it. Coke. Other shit, probably. Dunno.

[Another shot.]

HAWKS: I'm fine.

SHICHIROU: Hm.

[Silence as he considers that. He slips his shoes on and throws the door open, steps loud against the pavement outside.]

SHICHIROU: Try and find out his sources. Drug crime has been on the rise again.

...

Go lie down. I'm not telling you again.

HAWKS: Mmm...

[The phones microphone is covered momentarily, uncovered once Hawks has set down the shot glass again.]

HAWKS: Fine.

[He finds his way to the couch, sinking down into it and almost relaxing.]

SHICHIROU: Thank you.

[A variety of sounds as Shichirou unlocks his car and gets inside, the usual shuffle of trying to adjust his wings comfortably continuing for a few long moments.]

SHICHIROU: I'll be there in 20 minutes. Can you keep me on the line, please? You don't have to keep talking much if you don't feel up to it anymore.

HAWKS: What, you worried I'll die between now and then..

[Hawks huffs out like he's trying to laugh, listening to the faint sound of his wings. It'd be better if he was there.]

HAWKS: I'll be fine...

[Hands pat against his pants and shirt, trying to find his cigarettes and a lighter, unsuccessful with both.]

SHICHIROU: Yes. I am worried.

[Shichirou falls quiet. He starts the car, pulling out into the road. For a long moment, the only sound from his end is the hum of the engine.]

SHICHIROU: ▇▇▇▇▇, you're allowed to take breaks sometimes. I hope you know that.

HAWKS: ...

[Silence falls on his end. He listens to Shichirou's car, his soothing voice.]

HAWKS: Not really.

[Shichirou chuckles. It's a sad sound.]

SHICHIROU: ...

SHICHIROU: I care about you. You know that at least, yes?

HAWKS: I do.

[More silence.]

HAWKS: I hate this.

HAWKS: ...

HAWKS: I hate... it.

SHICHIROU: I know. ... I'm sorry.

HAWKS: I can't take a break... And I don't even know when I'll be able to. IF I'll be able to. Fuck, I might DIE before this ends, I...

[A sharp gasp and he's crying again, swearing to himself.]

HAWKS: I'm sorry...

SHICHIROU: ...

[Silence as he listens to him start to cry again.]

SHICHIROU: ... Do I need to take you off this case?

[He says it as gently as he can manage.]

[That sobers Hawks' thoughts for a moment, somewhat.]

HAWKS: No...

[He breathes the word out, wiping his face and forcing himself back together.]

HAWKS: No. No, I'm the best fit for it and we're already this far and... No.

HAWKS: ...

HAWKS: 'm just drunk and high and shit don't... Just. Just ignore me, alright...

SHICHIROU: I have no intentions of ever ignoring you, love.

[Another soft sigh.]

SHICHIROU: I'll keep that in mind, however. No need for any rash actions, I'll keep quiet... I don't want you to feel like you can't talk to me, ▇▇▇▇▇.

[He makes a pained sound, but nods.]

HAWKS: Still don't love that you call me that...

SHICHIROU: Sorry, sorry... Habit.

[A few seconds of silence, then:]

SHICHIROU: Do you have food at home? I can pick something up for you if you'd like. You should eat something small at least, it'll help absorb the drugs in your system.

HAWKS: It's fine. 's whatever....

Nah, I don't have much here... nothin I want, at least... Just.. pick up whatever, I'll eat it...

...

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.

[Shichirou chuckles a little, fond.]

SHICHIROU: ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, too.

HAWKS: Are you gonna be here soon...

SHICHIROU: Few more minutes...

HAWKS: Good... okay.. thank you.

SHICHIROU: Of course.

HAWKS: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ...

SHICHIROU: ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, too.

I'm almost at the door.

[A few more seconds of silence and Hawks hangs up.]

#shichirou.log #administration.arc #nurturance.arc

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the-phyrexian-is-a-part-timer · 6 years ago

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Fanwalker Bio: Xelos Vekka

Homeplane: Salzeno

Abilities/Skills: Metallomancy, Necromancy, Divine Magic, Engineering, Runic Magic

Born in a renaissance like period, Xelos was the son of a proud aristocratic family. His father’s side was steeped in selling material goods made from exotic animals, while his mother’s side owned a good amount of the mines in the local area. The union of these two families was turbulent, and as such his birth was hopefully the final thing to settle it.

At a very young age, he was expected to be the best at everything he did. He was drilled relentlessly on a numerous amount of subjects and skills (wizardry, swordsmanship, economics, art, mechanical design, etc.) to hopefully make a proper heir to the family. His siblings never were never pushed as hard or as far as he, something that he both detested and held with pride. Xelos started using all his extra time after his schooling to study independently on those subjects, learning from different sources to achieve a nuance of the skills taught to him. With his learning becoming more self sufficient, he started devising a plan to earn a little more freedom in his life. His extensive tutelage was ended abruptly at age 15 when he outperformed his teachers on the subjects they were supposed to be teaching him, some in part to his own skill and some due to substantial planning. Seeing the dedication he put into his own education, his parents both agreed he was free to study unrestrained and unsupervised.

His latter teen years was filled with frequent visits and outings planned by his parents to show of their “genius” son. The main push in these endeavors was for him to find a person to marry and help his parents political game. He usually found the manipulations quiet boring and grew a wholehearted distaste his parents fretting. The worst part was the dual nature of it; both parents were acting apart from one other trying to set him up. It wasn’t even that he wasn’t interested in people, he just didn’t like their people. It wasn’t until one fateful day after a particularly infuriating confrontation with another one of his parents prospects did he find someone that caught his attention.

He was being driven on carriage after a being asked to leave the home of said prospect when he caught a glimpse of a girl. She was hunched in an alleyway, looking out like she was afraid. She, to his eyes, was beautiful. Long dark hair which seemed to be unkempt, a gorgeous drawn out face, and long toned limbs. What caught his attention, thought, were her choice of garments. She wore what appeared to be a simple shirt and shorts with gloves and shoes made of some sort of hard overlapping black material. As soon as he could, he told the driver to park and wait. He got out with a rush hoping to ask her about it, but found she had disappeared. He kept a close eye out for her when he traveled in public but couldn’t find her anywhere.

He asked his father if he knew of the fashion his mystery girl had worn, since his business usually kept him in the know on that sort of thing. Going off his description, his father didn’t point him to a stylist, but an armor maker. The armorer, Kjed, was able to identify it as scale mail and show him some of the higher end examples of it, but nothing like the fine detail that she wore. Kjed and Xelos kept correspondence to see if anything like that showed up. During that time, they became good friends and because of Xelos’ knowledge of metallomancy and craft they became good partners in business too.

At age 17, Kjed and Xelos opened an armory organization. Using his magic, Xelos was able to shape the armor in much finer detail that Unfortunately that led to Xelos’ parents becoming more involved in his life, as most of the materials that his business used was brought in with his parents trades. His parents, in another effort to hitch their son, threw a large party after a successful commission was given to the armoring business. While trying to avoid any would be admirer, he stepped outside of the grand hall and onto one of the terraces that dot his home. From this vantage point, he saw the mystery girl again.

She was headed for a servant entrance when she stopped in her tracks seeing him. He called out to her, but she ran. A chase began through the house till Xelos used his better knowledge of the house to catch up to her. He reassured her that she was not in trouble, but he was very curious about the clothes she wore that day. After describing them, she is hesitant but tells him they were just something she found and that they are tattered now. He offers her some food and they begin to talk. The girl, Sofia, reveals she doesn’t have a home and he offers her to stay in one of the bedrooms in the house.

As Sofia gets to know Xelos better, she opens up more. She’s an orphan who fled her homeland for reasons she doesn’t want to talk about and ended up in the city because it was a good place to not be noticed. She is also 25 years old, which surprises Xelos because she looks younger than him, who was 18 at the time. He is also devoting a good amount of resources to hide her from his parents, knowing they would make a scene out of letting a random lady into their house. Sofia is restless and constantly curious about what’s happening, making it hard to hide her from prying eyes. Eventually she is caught, but Xelos covers for her saying she is an apprentice who he is personally tutoring. After a few snide remarks from his mother and approval of his “methods” by his father, she is accepted into the household.

To keep the ruse, he starts actually tutoring her in magic, particularly she seems to be interested in illusory magic. As the lessons continue, they become closer and closer. Soon Xelos and Sofia start going eveywhere together, Xelos more explaining the intricate parts of his business and higher class life and Sofia grabbing and asking about them faster that he can keep up. Xelos notices her appearance changing little by little based off of his parents remarks and some of the more statuesque nobles Xelos deals with. One night, while they are talking when he notices it happen again. Concerned, Xelos asks her to drop the illusions to see what’s wrong. After some coercion, and a final “are you sure” from Sofia, she reveals she is a dragon. After accepting her for who she is, their bond deepens and they become a couple officially.

A few years later, at age 24 for Xelos and 31 for Sofia, Sofia tells Xelos she has to go to her homelands alone. He is concerned, but she lets him know it’s just some dragon thing that should be no problem now. Seeing Xelos alone and moping a bit a few months after Sofia’s departure, his father invites him on an excursion to track down high value material that just came back into availability. Xelos agrees begrudgingly, and they set off. While not giving away what they are after in hopes of surprising Xelos, his father quizes him how well he knows his bestiary during the trip into a forested mountain range. As they get ready for “the hunt” Xelos is skeptical on what they are doing due to how rare his father is saying the animal is. After the forward party find the hideout of the creature, still not giving it away as to surprise Xelos, they start cornering it back further into the cave. Xelos and his father stay back for safety reasons while the hunters move in. It’s not until Xelos hears a familiar voice roar that he goes to see what’s happening. The hunt was for his soon to be fiancee Sofia. He desperately tries to stop the hunters, but it is too late. One of them shoves a pike through her chest, and brings her down. Xelos rushes in to try to see what he can do, but he and Sofia both know it is too late. With her last amount of will, she says her goodbyes. With fits of uncontrolled magic, Xelos scares away the hunters so he can mourn over his love. He stays in the cave for about a week before he comes out. His father asks if he is done and if they can go in and “get what they came for”. Immediately hearing this, Xelos angrily brings the cave down with a flash of magic. His father gets mad at him for “wasting such good materials” and they leave without saying much more the entire trip home.

I just noticed the time so part two tomorrow for this.

#fanwalker #backstory #xelos #part one #way too long

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divulgacion-alternativa · 4 years ago

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Ben Ful Links - February 15/2021

Ben Ful Links - February 15/2021:

As a part of this offensive, the U.S. and Japanese military are ready to respond because the recent attack on their forces near Mt. Fuji (fire at base of mountain on left side) has been traced to that city. This is in part because Kiyosu Takayama, a self-declared Knight’s Templar, has been traced as the source of disinformation about the February 3rdattack. He claims that in the attack the “U.S. Navy destroyed the world’s largest adrenochrome factory.” https://blog.goo.ne.jp/mokushiroku666/e/d9ea9ad13066e7c7077c58932514feff

Russian FSB sources for their part directed our attention to the following video showing then U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo standing in front of a model of the Third Temple to be built in Jerusalem that does not contain the Al Aqsa Mosque. (minute 1:01): https://twitter.com/SecPompeo/status/1109083029430067200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

The sources also say the link below shows a “photo of the Super Intellect Logos, in the underground Synagogue 3 Temple in Jerusalem. Super Intellect is a golden shell was dug up in Karabakh.” https://sputniknews.com/world/201903231073479183-mike-pompeo-jerusalem-third-templemodel/

significant economic event is a security challenge. If you look at the Thirties, that started as a very significant economic crash and that acted as a very destabilizing feature.” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/02/12/general-sir-nick-carter-interview-joining-fightagainst-covid/

The UK is not alone. On February 12th Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia is ready to sever ties with the EU if the bloc imposes new, economically painful sanctions. Again in diplomatic speak severing relations is one step behind a formal declaration of war. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56039075

The attack on Japan was also linked to the fact the Japanese government refused to sell itself to unnamed “private interests,” as can be seen on page 30 of Japan’s annual report submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6th, 2020. https://sec.report/Document/0001193125-20-211213/

The report notes that in 2015, the Japanese Parliament passed an act allowing the Japanese government to maintain a veto-wielding “in excess of one third” share in the Development Bank of Japan. Furthermore, it states it will control “one half or more for DBJ’s special investment operations.” https://sec.report/Document/0001193125-20-211213/

Since this bank basically owns Japan financially, it means former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, for all his faults, refused to hand over control to the Khazarian mafia and their proxies like KKR Japan. By the way, we noted the United States Corporation has vanished from the SEC listings and has been replaced by the “United States Corp Co” with an SEC CIK#000101575. The SEC noted, the “United States Corp Co has not filed any forms with the SEC apart from initial company registration.” https://sec.report/CIK/0000101575

We did not have the time to deep dive further but did note that entities such as the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Mexico are also

registered with the SEC. PRC: https://sec.report/CIK/0000909321

The Mexico corporation: https://sec.report/CIK/0000101368

Also interestingly enough we found a registration for the planet Earth under Earth Co. and that “Security and Exchange Commission registration information for Earth Co. Documents include ownership statements, and insider trading documentation,” and that “Earth Co. has not filed any forms with the SEC apart from initial company registration.” Our own sources tell us it is the Rothschild family who claims ownership of the Planet Earth. https://sec.report/CIK/0000030977

Now let us take a bit of a deep dive at the sort of thing the self-appointed “owners” of Planet Earth are doing. The biggest business seems to be mass mind control. Take a look at this picture: https://img.ifunny.co/images/2951e201badcc0f814d23517f80556aef77790c1c1ea3ae2cdeebac4fa5 594ea_1.jpg

They were also forced to end the farce after being caught using fake evidence. https://theweek.com/articles/966168/most-important-person-impeachment-trial-missing-isnttrump https://www.zerohedge.com/political/democrats-caught-using-fake-evidence-impeachment-trial

“I think that the American people, like I said, I think they’re just absolutely tired of everything that they’ve seen in our political establishment,” General Mike Flynn said in an interview with the Western Journal. https://www.westernjournal.com/bombshell-twj-exclusive-hour-long-featureinterview-gen-flynn/

We note that Flynn’s brother, Army Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn, was assigned late last month to be the commander of the U.S. Army Pacific forces. Hopefully, he will work with the Russians, British, Japanese, Taiwanese, etc. who want to finish off Khazarian Mafia rule once and for all. https://www.westernjournal.com/general-michael-flynns-brother-command-us-army-pacific-forces/

In any case, the Khazarian Mafia is beginning to totally lose control of its “Covid-19” justification to vaccinate everybody into permanent slavery with gene-altering CRISPR technology. As proof of this, Pfizer has abandoned India rather than submit to safety tests for its vaccines. Pfizer executives are being actively hunted down and killed and will soon be an extinct species, WDS sources promise. https://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=165947

Furthermore, riots and demonstrations against the Covid-19 fascism are breaking out all over the world. For example, take a look at this unmasked crowd telling police to choose sides. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8FBZU4Cjjs&feature=youtu.be

A general revolt is also underway in Israel, the most brainwashed nation on Earth. https://www.debka.com/half-measures-in-israels-coronavirus-battle-cause-confusion-defiance/

In any case, the Covid-19 campaign is now being unwound and will be over by May, Russia’s FSB insists. https://www.veteranstoday.com/2021/02/10/sars-2-lies-ties-among-us-china-scientists-ingates-shade-disclosed-by-daily-mail-and-die-welt/

The Khazarian Mafia will go down tooth and nail and appears to be carrying out multiple acts of sabotage such as destroying a German power plant and trying to poison Florida’s water supply. https://www.euroweeklynews.com/2021/02/09/germany-state-of-emergency-declared-innuremberg-after-major-power-plant-fire/amp/

They also apparently used a space-based weapon to destroy 500 gas-transporting tankers on the Iran/Afghan border. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/13/huge-blaze-on-afghanistaniran-border-spotted-from-space

The sudden polar vortex hitting Texas is also a space-based attack, U.S. Space Force sources say. That is why, as one trader memorably told Zero Hedge about the gas market: “We’ve officially hit ‘Holy fu*king $hit levels’ here.” https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/energy-emergency-texaspower-provider-warns–rotating-outages-cold-weather-tests-limits-grid

It is no wonder an increased number of observers note the U.S. establishment has gone “crazy.” https://www.rt.com/op-ed/515385-american-establishment-trump-insane/

On a final note, we wish to point out a couple of growing hints at some sort of imminent disclosure event. One is the massive earthquakes prompting Antarctic base evacuations. https://sputniknews.com/latam/202101241081861137-chile-issues-tsunami-warning-ordersevacuation-of-antarctic-base-after-7-magnitude-quake/ https://www.news18.com/news/world/tsunami-warning-for-new-zealand-other-nations-after-7-7- magnitude-earthquake-rocks-south-pacific-3416810.html

The other is disclosures by the Pentagon that they are testing materials taken from crashed UFOs. https://www.the-sun.com/news/2321251/pentagon-admits-testing-wreckage-ufo-crashes/

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ii-thiscat-ii · 7 years ago

Text

Part two of what turned out to be three. The last will be up shortly. Have the rest of Incandescence.

Part one. Part three.

On Ao3

Oskar pulled at the collar of his shirt with one hand while the other was kept responsibly on the wheel of the car. The tie might have been tied a little too tightly, but he was almost at his destination, so he would wait until he was there before adjusting it.

Placing the hand back on the wheel where it belonged, he went through his breathing exercises. Breathe in, four seconds, hold it, seven seconds, exhale, eight seconds. Repeat. He was fine.

Breathe in.

He was a simple inspector, making a visit to a lab on behalf of the sponsors, just to make sure it was actually doing what it had been hired to do.

Breathe out.

Not a federal agent at all, oh no.

Breathe in.

Because there certainly had not been an anonymous, untraceable leak exposing large amounts of a large criminal syndicate’s communications without alerting them. What a ridiculous idea.

Breathe out.

And he was definitely not Oskar Rasmussen, intelligence officer. He was John Zipp, Mafia enforcer and currently inspector, going to take a look at the progress of the project the bosses had commissioned, and he was perfectly calm.

He flexed his fingers on the wheel, then brought one hand up to his eyes. It did not shake even a little.

Just to make sure, he touched his fingers to his throat. His pulse was perfectly calm and steady.

He put his hand back on the wheel again. Did another breathing exercise.

This was good. He was good.

The researchers already knew he was coming. The bosses had sent them an e-mail about it, just a few hours ago. Soon enough that they could be there to welcome him, but not enough to hide away any mistakes. Perfect.

It would all be fine. All he needed to do was go there, talk to them, demand they showed him everything, and explained it too, and hopefully no one would have to get angry, yes? No reason to be upset. They’re doing everything they’re supposed to be doing, yes? Now please show him more things, because they would, of course. Yes?

Yes. Good.

He drove up and parked right in front of the door of the innocuous building, and took a moment to adjust his tie before he got out of the car. Showtime.

John Zipp walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.

It took less than a minute before someone turned the lock and the door opened. Inside stood a woman about thirty years of age, dressed in a sweater with the sleeves rolled up and with her hair in a ponytail. She looked nervous, but attempted to smile politely.

“Oh, hello,” she said. “I’m Doctor Ida Sheyenne. You got here alright?”

He nodded curtly at her. “John Zipp. I’m here, aren’t I?”

“Right, right.” She nodded nervously and hesitantly stepped aside to let him past, smile still in place. “I know the place can be hard to find, though, especially with the roadwork that’s been going on lately, and with the roads all soaked from the rain-”

He brusquely pushed past her into the room. “I’m not here to small-talk, Miss Sheyenne.”

She faltered slightly. “Um, Doctor,” she said. “Doctor Sheyenne, please.”

He drew a breath, stopped, and turned toward her, looking her in the eye. “I’m not here for small-talk, Doctor Sheyenne,” he said. “I’m here to make sure you are doing what we paid you to do, or if there will have to be consequences, understand?”

She swallowed, then nodded. “Perfectly.”

“Good. Now, where exactly is this facility of yours?” He kept his body language to a minimum, and so did not gesture to the normal-looking residential hallway leading into a living room, which was mostly empty save for a few worn chairs that matched the faded wallpaper. Less body language meant less involuntary communication meant more control over how he appeared.

Sheyenne nodded again, and walked past him to lead the way to a door along an inner wall. She opened it to reveal a staircase going down, and flipped a light switch on the wall before she started descending.

“Downstairs,” she said over her shoulder.

He closed the door behind him as he followed. They passed a landing on the way. There was an entrance into a room containing a few tables with chairs around them. A few people sitting in the chairs looked up as he paused to have a look.

“What is this?” he asked.

“Oh, that?” She stopped at the edge of the landing, about to head further down, and leaned back to glance into the room. “Cafeteria and rest area for the people who work here. Further down is cut off entirely from all background magical fields and mindscape connections, and it can be distressing over longer periods even if you’re used to it, so we repurposed the old basement.”

“I’ll have a look later,” he said.

“Of course, we’ll want lunch,” she said. Then she resumed walking, and kept talking. “It has to be this far underground to be warded sufficiently. This spot is ideal, being about as far away from any major leylines as you can get in a populated area. It was relatively easy to isolate the sub-basement entirely.”

She gestured to some lines on the wall as they descended, and he looked closer to see that they were in fact the visible, runic parts of several high-level wards and containment circles. He knew enough about the subject to tell that they were professionally made and likely did what she said they did.

“So you’re hidden from any tracking methods down here?” he asked.

“Oh, I suppose,” she said. She stopped at the bottom of the staircase, one hand on the handle of the door there, and briefly furrowed her brows. “That wasn’t the original intention, as such, but yes, tracking something down here would be very difficult.” She shrugged. “Nothing gets through these wards.”

He gave another curt nod and looked pointedly at the door handle.

She seemed to remember herself, and opened it.

The corridor they stepped into looked more official than the homely building above. White walls lined with steel skirting. The doors along the walls looked like something out of a hospital. From what he could see, the sub-basement was much bigger than the area of the house indicated it should be.

Sheyenne hesitated for a moment. “I’m not sure where to start…”

“I want to see everything,” he said. “Start with what’s closest.”

She glanced at him and then nodded before she walked towards one of the closest doors. “In here then. The stasis room. It’s where we keep the bodies.”

He was glad she had her back to him, so she could not see the way he twitched at that. “…The bodies?”

She nodded without turning back to him. “We grow the bodies before we do the mind insertion. We do that in another room, further down, but when the accelerated development is complete, this is where we put them.”

She reached the door and held it open for him to walk in. He had luckily managed to blank his facial expression again.

It looked more or less like a hospital room without the privacy screens. There were five beds, four of which were occupied, with one a little separate from the others.

The figures on the bed were all human women, because that was what had been commissioned, he knew, and he carefully kept his emotions off his face at that thought. They were all young and relatively pretty, and all asleep, hooked up to various machines keeping them nourished and breathing. The separate one on the far left had more machines standing around the bed, and had a complicated harness around her head and chest in addition to the life support.

“You’re keeping them comatose?” he asked.

“Oh, not really,” she said. She gave a nervous little laugh. “This is why we have to be down here. They’re all soulless. Shells, at most. Without a mind and soul in them, they’ll just stop breathing if you leave them. You couldn’t wake them if you tried.”

Oskar nodded and breathed a little easier. He did not have a medical education, but they would not have sent him down here if he did not have basic knowledge, and he could read enough information off the instruments around the beds to tell that what she said was at least plausible. “That one?” he asked, nodding to the one in the harness.

“Right.” Sheyenne walked over to that one, relaxing slightly and smiling with a hint of pride now. “This is the one we’re currently prepping for mind insertion. It’s a complicated process, but within a few days we’ll hopefully have her walking and talking. We’re calling her Magdalena, for now.”

Oskar looked down at the shell Sheyenne called Magdalena and skilfully ignored the dread climbing up his spine.

“Just a few days?”

Sheyenne shrugged sheepishly. “Or a few weeks, it all depends. We want to see if we can learn more about what we did wrong with Eve before we start, you understand?”

The dread intensified. He looked up at her a little more sharply than intended. “Eve?”

She looked startled. “Oh. Eve is the first working prototype. She isn’t perfect, but that just means we have a lot to learn and improve on! I can almost guarantee Magdalena will work out better.”

“I see,” Oskar said. He forced his hands to relax at his sides. He was fine. Breathe in, breathe out. John Zipp would not be disturbed by this. “Do you still have her?”

“Yes, we do,” she said. “We want to see how long she’ll survive, now. It’ll give us valuable data. Um, we can go see her later. In the meantime, if you’ve seen all you needed to see here…?”

He glanced around the room again and nodded at her.

She nodded back and walked towards the door. “Okay, then we can go see the growth chambers, if you want.”

The life support monitors in the stasis room had been right at the edge of his medical knowledge. The operation and function of the artificial wombs and growth pods where they supposedly created the bodies was far beyond him, but he made her explain, and with the help of the two assistants already in the room monitoring things, he got a basic rundown of how the process went. Enough, at least, that he was convinced that whether or not they were truly soulless, as she said, the bodies were never awake and probably never aware.

Despite how disturbing it was to see them lie there as dead, he could admit that the medical applications of such technology could be astounding. Still, looking into one of the pods to see a human toddler strung up and still inside was decidedly uncomfortable.

It might be just as well that the thought of this Eve kept him distracted throughout.

He tried to supress the sigh of relief once they finally left that room. He let Sheyenne lead him on to what she called the mindscape labs.

Unlike the medical ones, the mindscape labs were mostly filled with various computers and machines Oskar could make neither heads nor tails of. A man of maybe forty years stood up from a chair when they came in and introduced himself as Doctor Garth Enns.

Oskar curtly introduced his cover before he said, “Now tell me what these things do.”

Enns nodded and turned to the machines.

Most of the explanations went over Oskar’s head, and would probably still have been too advanced for him even if the machines had been in use, which they were currently not, and, Enns said, would not be until they were closer to the next insertion attempt. From what little he understood, they were meant to see and manipulate objects in the Mindscape directly. Exactly how they did this past the wards was one of the things he did not catch, but it had something to do with virtual aetheric tubes, whatever that was.

Enns also followed them into the next room, where there was more medical equipment again, arranged together with more mindscape connectors around an operating table.

“This is where we do it,” Enns said. “The only reason most of the equipment is up right now is because it’s a pain to take down, but at least you get to see what it looks like when we’re using it.”

“The body goes on the table, I assume?” Oskar said.

Sheyenne nodded, and the two of them began to explain the process. Oskar listened with half an ear, nodding when it seemed like they expected response. He had most of the information he was looking for already. The place seemed to have no defence aside from staying hidden, though he would have to look closer into that to be sure. A team storming the place would not need any particularly heavy guns. The research itself was as of yet within the confines of the law, if narrowly, but if they succeeded, if they had succeeded, it would likely be a severe breach of several laws under sapient rights.

He dearly hoped they had not succeeded yet, no matter what they said.

They wrapped up their explanation neatly, giving him the impression that at least some of it was rehearsed.

“And you have already done this once?” Oskar asked.

“Yes. Eve,” Enns said. “Eve was… a success, of a sort, though not quite what we were looking for. We will do better next time.”

“What exactly was wrong with her?”

The two researchers exchanged a glance.

“We’re… not entirely sure,” said Sheyenne. “She seemed like she worked alright to begin with, but then she started fantasizing things, imagining things and confusing them for reality. Then she apparently decided that we were the enemy, and eventually she turned aggressive. Bit a chunk right out of someone’s shoulder. We had to restrain her.”

Oskar processed that. One thing about it stood out to him. “She spoke?” he asked.

“Oh yes,” Enns said. “Primarily English, but in the beginning, while she was still a little cooperative, we questioned her quite a lot, and she knows bits and pieces of several other languages. Probably it came with the memories we built her mind out of.” He huffed in apparent amusement. “If only that was all that had come with, things would have been easier, I imagine. At least we think we know what to look for now.”

“So you will be able to deliver the finished product relatively soon?” Oskar asked. Breathe in, breathe out. He did not care much for the answer, but it was what Zipp would say. He needed to stay in character.

The two of them exchanged another uncomfortable glance. Sheyenne shrugged apologetically when she looked back at him. “That isn’t really the only problem,” she said. “She’s also getting weaker.”

“Getting weaker?”

She nodded. “Yeah. She’s been refusing to eat, so in the beginning we thought it was just that, but we’ve been able to get her most of what she needs through what she drinks, and she’s still fading at a far too quick rate. Almost like something is stealing away her energy.” She shrugged again. “We don’t know, so we’re waiting until it comes to its natural conclusion and then we can cut her open and see what we can make of it.”

“I see,” Oskar said. He was glad the character he chose to play was one that kept his face blank and stern at all times, because he could fake that. Trying for anything else when he really just wanted to punch someone was unlikely to end well. “And you’re keeping her here?”

“Of course,” Sheyenne said. She glanced at Enns, who gave a small shrug, and looked back. “I know you wanted to have a look at her, but it’s about time for lunch. How about we take that first?”

Oskar raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want me to see her?”

At once, Sheyenne’s eyes widened and she raised her hands in a hurried denial. “No! No, that’s not it, it’s just… she’s not a finished product. She doesn’t look all that good, and I wouldn’t want you to draw any mistaken conclusions from looking at her, you understand?”

He hoped she was lying to him. He hoped so very much that she was lying to him.

“If you say you can fix the mistakes, I will believe you can fix the mistakes, Doctor,” he said, voice hard, “but if I have to go back to my bosses and explain to them that you had nothing at all to show me for all the money they have been throwing at you, they will not be very happy with you. So I will advice you to show me what you’ve got.”

Sheyenne took a deep breath, and said with a meek voice, “Yes, okay. It really is almost lunchtime, though.”

“Then we will have lunch,” Oskar said, “and then you will show me where you keep Eve.”

---

Lunch was an awkward affair. The scientists were too worried about him to make more than stilted half-attempts at conversation, and Oskar made no effort at acknowledging them.

There were other people in the room as well, eating or talking in low voices, and they occasionally sent glances Oskar’s way.

That was fine. He had no interest in putting these people at ease. He did not care to make friends here. The silence worked well for him. He was already drawing up the layout of the facility in his mind and theorizing at the best strategy for rounding up all the people and evidence in the most efficient possible way.

By the time lunch was over, he was almost surprised to see he was out of sandwich.

He brushed his hands off and stood up. “Well?” he said.

“Right.” Sheyenne hurried to stand, leaving the remains of her own lunch forgotten at the table. “Right, yes. I’ll show you.”

She started walking towards the door to the landing and once again he followed her. She nervously fiddled with her hands as she walked.

“It’s really more impressive than it looks,” she said. “We’re closing in on the end of her lifespan, I think. There isn’t as much left of her as there used to be.”

Oskar said nothing. They reached another door, pretty far into the sub-basement. He nodded towards the last few doors before the hallway ended. “And what’s in there?”

“Oh, nothing,” Sheyenne said. “We haven’t put them to use yet. I’m sure we’ll make plenty of them once we get further into the work.”

Oskar nodded and went through the layout of the place in his mind again to make sure he had it memorized, then looked back to the door they were currently standing in front of.

Sheyenne still hesitated. “We, um, we used to have a camera in here,” she said. “But she broke it. We think she might have realized what it was for. She hardly does anything these days, so we haven’t bothered putting a new one in.”

“Okay,” Oskar said, trying to communicate that she was being irrelevant. “Are you going to show me in?”

“Of course,” Sheyenne said, and opened the door.

The room was dark, with plain, sterile walls and a laminate floor. It was entirely empty, save for a single metal-framed bed along the opposite wall. Leather straps hung from the sides of it, evidence that someone had needed to be tied up, but right now they hung slack and empty against the floor, despite the shape lying on the bed.

She was a woman, almost definitely, with ghostly pale skin and dark, dirty hair. Maybe black, maybe dark brown; it was hard to tell in the dark. She lay straight on her back on top of the sheets, wearing a thin dress, possibly a hospital gown. She was completely still, facing the ceiling and with her arms straight and limp by her sides.

For a moment he thought she was dead, or uninhabited, like the ones at the stasis room. Then he thought she was sleeping. Then Sheyenne said, “Hello, Eve. I brought you a visitor,” and Eve turned her head to look at them, eyes open but empty, and he realized she was awake. Awake and staring at the ceiling in a blank room.

Eve did not answer, did nothing but stare at them as if they were no more and no less interesting than the ceiling.

Sheyenne did not seem to expect an answer, as she just continued without waiting for one. “This is John Zipp. He’s here to take a look at you. Are you going to be nice?”

Eve blinked, and turned back to the ceiling.

Sheyenne sighed, and turned to him. “Well, there she is. You can look if you want, but there isn’t much to see.”

Oskar was very glad the darkness hid his expression from her, because the current set of his jaw was not in annoyance. Instead of risking his voice betraying his emotions, he just nodded, and stepped closer to the bed.

Eve glanced at him again before apparently dismissing him as unimportant. He made sure to stop before he came within arm’s reach of the bed, feeling the need to give her some space.

There were marks down her arms, newly healed wounds, possibly scratch marks from nails. She was skinnier than the bodies in stasis, evidence of not having eaten. Mostly, she looked bad because she looked dead. Somehow she looked deader than the bodies did. They were empty, but cared for, ready to have new life put into them. Eve was withering away from the inside. Whatever life there had been to her was either hidden or entirely gone.

He needed to talk to her. He, not who he was pretending to be.

“May I have some time alone with her?” he asked of Sheyenne.

“Uh…” she answered, voice wavering, and a moment too late he realized what that had sounded like.

Whatever. Let her think whatever she wanted about John Zipp.

“Sure,” she said. “I, uh, I guess I’ll just wait upstairs? Just… don’t hurt her or anything. We still need that data.”

He nodded, and she backed out the door. He could not see her face against the light from the hallway, but from her voice he assumed she was at least mildly disturbed.

The door closed, and the room was once more plunged into darkness. He took out his phone and turned the flashlight on, putting it on the floor so it pointed at the white ceiling and illuminated the room. Then he looked back at the woman on the bed.

She had her eyes closed. Against the light, he realized.

“Sorry,” he said. “Is it okay if I sit down on the bed?”

She squinted up at him. There might have been a hint of curiosity in it that had not been there earlier. Then she closed them again and whispered, “I don’t care.”

He sat down on the very edge of the bed, careful not to touch her. “I’m not with them,” he said. “I know it seems like it, but I’m not. I’m lying to them. My real name is Oskar Rasmussen, and I’m going to get you out of here.”

Then, and only then, did she give him her full attention.

“Are you?” she asked, and it was not a whisper this time. It sounded vaguely accusing. She raised a hand and tapped her chest. “Will you get me out of this too?”

He frowned in confusion. “I’m sorry…?”

“You don’t understand,” she said, in a single monotone statement. She looked back up at the ceiling.

“No, I don’t,” he said. “So will you explain it to me?”

He would have said she stilled at his words if she had not already been perfectly still. Maybe she stopped breathing.

When she finally spoke again, she did not look back at him, and her voice was smaller, frailer. He heard hopelessness in it that broke his heart in two. “I have tried,” she said. “I have tried and tried to explain, but they never listen. They don’t care. They don’t believe me.”

He leaned an inch closer and his hand twitched in a need to comfort he was not sure would be well received. “I told you, I’m not with them. They told me what they did, but I don’t trust them. Please, explain. I need to understand.”

Her eyes reflected old, tired pain. She only ever moved her head and face, but it was enough to communicate as much when she turned back to him. Her next words were whispered again. “They stole me. They took me and broke me and locked me in this meat prison. I don’t know what I am anymore either.”

Bile rose in his throat at what she insinuated, and he swallowed it back down. It was increasingly clear that he had been right in assuming the worst.

“You existed before they tried to make you?” he asked.

“I did,” she said. “I remember. It’s real, no matter what they think. It still feels more real than this.” She closed her eyes, possibly trying to lose herself in memories. “It’s hard to describe the void in your words. It’s not physical like this place, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t real. The pastures are almost physical, though, by his power. It is more real than anything.”

He found himself nodding along. The scientists had said Eve fantasized, and that might have been what this was, but it did not feel that way. He wanted to believe her, if only because building a person that accidentally remembers being some kind of otherworldly being seemed less plausible than actually capturing an otherworldly being. On that note…

“They call you Eve,” he said, “but that’s just what they named you, isn’t it? Do you have another name for yourself?”

Her eyes sprung open in shock and disbelief, and she gasped, just a little. He was not sure the question warranted such a reaction, but she stared at him as if he had peeled his skin off to reveal her long-lost lover, so he figured it was important to her.

She stared at him for a long moment before she answered. “…I’m not sure I deserve it anymore.”

He sat back and tried a smile. It came out more like a forced grimace, and he quickly stopped. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“They put me into this,” she said. “They made me ugly and dull, and broken, and I don’t think it suits me anymore.”

“A name is for what you are on the inside, not the outside,” he argued, hoping there was something he could do to ease that pain of hers. This seemed like the right direction from her reaction, even if it was small.

There was a pained hope in her eyes, maybe a hint of longing, but still she said nothing. Scared, perhaps, that he was lying, or wrong.

He sighed. “I’m not sure if I should call you Eve. At least tell me what your name used to be?”

She drew a long breath, swallowed, and then, without blinking or taking her eyes off him, whispered very quietly, “Incandescence.”

“Incandescence,” he repeated. “That’s a beautiful name.”

A smile graced her lips. Just a small one, but it was real. “Thank you,” she said, voice filled to the brim with gratitude. “I think so too. The Master gave it to me.”

“The Master?” Oskar asked.

“Yes.” The smile stuck around as she once again retreated into memories. “The Master took me in, gave me a home and family. He smiled the most beautiful smile the first time he saw me, and I was so distracted by it all I didn’t know what to pick when he asked me what I wanted to be called, so I asked if he could find something that suited me and he picked that. I said that it was beautiful, and he said that then it really did suit me, and it was the best thing in the world. It was all the best and I wanted to stay there forever, to be his Incandescence forever. He’ll come find me.”

The last sentence was sudden and halting, as if it had been unintended. As if it had been a mantra, repeated so many times it came automatically. It took her smile with it as it ended.

“Incandescence…”

“He said he’d take care of me, that he’d look after me, keep me safe. He promised. I know he’ll come find me, he has to!”

“Incandescence!” He put his hand on hers reflexively, and she recoiled from the touch, her whole body shuddering before she shut it down again. He quickly removed his hand and apologized, then asked, “What is your master, exactly?”

“A demon,” she told him. “A strong one. He should be able to find me easily, but he hasn’t and I don’t know why.”

Oskar had to scramble to keep his emotions off his face. A demon. Gods. She had given herself to a demon and still thought it would save her. And he did not dare tell her otherwise. Not when it was the last bright spot she still had, even though any demon would likely have dismissed her as a lost cause from the moment she disappeared. All he could do was try to give her some hope.

“No one can find anything down here,” he said. “The place is warded tighter than a nuclear bunker. Even if he is searching, he wouldn’t find you here.”

That information was apparently too much for her to handle. Her face twisted through an array of unidentifiable emotions, most of which involved very wide eyes, and she gaped without speaking for almost a minute.

When she spoke, it was desperate and solid, accompanied by her hands clutching onto his shirt. “You said you were getting me out of here?”

He blinked once before he answered. “I- Yes. Once I leave this room, I’m pretty much done here. Just down the road there’s a base with a squad waiting for the information I’ve got. Within half an hour of me walking out that door we’ll be coming down on this place like divine judgement, and I’ll make sure we get you out of here when we do, I promise, Incandescence.”

“Half an hour,” she whispered, then said more insistently, “How long is that?”

A quick glance around the room confirmed what he already knew. There were no clocks there. After a moment of consideration, he unclasped the watch from his wrist.

“Here, I’ll show you,” he said, and she pulled herself up to watch. He pointed at his watch, digital, luckily. “You know how to read numbers?”

“Yes,” she said.

“Okay, well, these are hours and these are minutes. There are sixty minutes in an hour, so thirty is half of that. Look, the minutes are at twenty-four now, so after thirty minutes they’ll be, uh…”

“Fifty-four,” she said, and he blinked in surprise. “The fast ones are seconds?”

He blinked again. “Yes. There are sixty of them per minute. Uh. Click this button here to light up the screen, and try not to click any of the others, or you might change the screen. If you do anyways, holding this button in should get you back to the clock. Got that?”

“Yes,” she said.

He handed her the watch. “I’ll want this back later, okay?”

“Of course,” she said. Then she looked up from the watch in her hands. “Thank you, Oskar Rasmussen. Please come back quickly.”

“I’ll do my best.” He stood up and nodded at her. “Keep breathing, Incandescence. We’ll figure something out.”

He looked at her one more time before he left, sitting on the bed with the watch cradled in her hands. There was more life in her now than there had been when he came in, the echoes of a smile at her lips and a focus in her eyes. Still, her cheeks were sunken, her eyes bloodshot, and her hair dead and matted. She still looked dying, and he dearly hoped he could help her.

The door closed behind him.

He took the opportunity while he was down there alone to look through the last few doors, and confirmed that there was truly nothing behind them other than a bit of stored equipment.

It seemed naïve to him. Either these people truly believed they would not get in trouble for this, or they believed there was no chance of them being discovered. He was betting on the latter. Either way, they would be severely outmatched when he brought the team down on them.

He could not quite find it in his heart to feel sorry for them.

Making his way upstairs, he briskly told Sheyenne that he had seen everything he needed to see.

She half-rose from her seat before she stopped, expression somewhere between surprised worry and relief. “O- Oh,” she said. “Okay, good! Do you need me to escort you out?”

“I can find the door,” he said, and left before he could see her reaction. Either way she did not follow him.

He left the house and opened the door of his car with haste. Even as he started up the engine he was tapping away at his phone, making a call.

“Sir, I have all the information we could want. Yes, we want to get the strike team ready. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

---

Incandescence watched the numbers tick away.

The little screen was the only thing in the room that made light, and it was as weird and fuzzy to these senses as everything else, but that was not important.

31 minutes 44 seconds.

45 seconds.

46 seconds.

Were there really wards around this place, or was it just something Oskar Rasmussen had said? She was not sure.

On one hand, she wanted to believe it. She wanted to believe that there was a reason the Master had abandoned her for so long. On the other hand, she had never heard of any wards strong enough to keep her master out. Maybe they existed. She was young enough to not have seen it yet. Or maybe Oskar Rasmussen was just trying to give her hope. It seemed as if he wanted to.

50 seconds.

She did not know.

He seemed like a good human. He had promised to come back for her.

(The Master promised to take care of her.)

54 seconds.

Maybe there were wards, keeping her hidden away. Maybe there was just dirt and stone, weighing on her even as the body choked the light out of her.

One way or another, he had promised to get her out. She wanted out. She wanted air.

32 minutes 03 seconds.

The screen went dark, and she clicked the button again to light it up. It did that once a minute. It took her half a second to react and click the button. She had checked. There were even smaller numbers than the seconds racing away in the corner. She thought she was getting faster at it.

14 seconds.

They ticked away, one by one. Each second exactly as long as the last. Not like she was used to.

Back home, in the Mindscape, time went in starts and stops. Sometimes it sauntered away, savouring each second like a breath of fresh air, pausing at the corners to contemplate itself. Sometimes, it leapt, sprung ahead like a spring lamb, ecstatic at itself and scattering seconds like dust behind it.

30 seconds.

Not like this.

31 seconds.

Never like this.

32 seconds.

This was strict, and cold, but in a way, she appreciated it. Everything down here was cold and wrong, unless it was hot and wet and even wronger, but the numbers on the watch at least made sense. At least they carried promise. They gave her something to focus on, something else than the hunger gnawing so deep she was afraid she would start consuming her own memories.

43 seconds.

44 seconds.

45 seconds.

The Master would come find her.

She had to believe that. She had to believe there was still light in the world.

In the meantime, Oskar Rasmussen might make good on his word, and get her out of this cold, wrong darkness, and into something else.

She held no hope that the something else would be any less wrong, but it had to be better than this.

33 minutes 00 seconds.

He had told her she still deserved her name. That it depended on her, not what she was wearing.

03 seconds.

The screen went dark again. She clicked it back on. At least this she had control over.

04 seconds.

Did she still deserve it?

The hunger ate at her. She did not know how much of her was left within all the wet and squishy things in this body. She did not know if there was anything left to put the name to.

08 seconds.

He had called her Incandescence. It felt… warm, and right.

She closed the eyes and recalled the feeling. It was a faint echo of the warmth she associated with her Flock, with the Master humming old songs and giving her ears a casual rub as he walked past, but it was warm. There had to be something left of her if she could still feel that warmth. She had to believe that.

She opened the eyes. The screen had gone dark again. She clicked it back on.

35 minutes 12 seconds.

Less than twenty minutes left. Incandescence waited.

36 minutes.

37 minutes.

38 minutes.

At 45 minutes 32 seconds, she heard a sound that was not the mortals moving around or talking among each other. At least she did not think so.

She froze up as far as she could and listened as hard as these ears would let her. A loud noise of something hitting something else. A door maybe? Raised voices. Heavy footsteps. Still far away, but getting closer.

She closed the eyes and tried to will the sounds closer.

They did come closer, getting louder and louder until they were right outside the door. Then it opened, and there stood Oskar Rasmussen, wearing different- no, wearing the same clothes, but with a vest of some kind thrown over them. He held a gun in his hand pointed at the ground. Beside him stood two other mortals, also wearing strange vests and with guns.

“I said I’d come and get you,” he said.

“You did,” she answered. She might have smiled. She held his watch out for him. “You can have this back now.”

He jogged over to her and took it back. “Thank you. Can you stand?”

Could she? She reached out for him and he took her hands to help her get up. Balancing on the legs was harder than it had been the last time they made her walk. There was less power in the body, but with Oskar Rasmussen’s help, she stood up and started walking towards the door.

“You’re barefoot,” he noted. “Unless we can get you some shoes we’ll have to carry you out to the car.”

“I can walk,” she said. She only needed to lean on him a little now that she had the hang of it again.

Around them, the other mortals with vests were hurrying in and out of various doors, talking into little receivers and searching the corners.

“You’ll hurt your feet,” Oskar Rasmussen said.

“I don’t care,” she answered absently. There were stairs. There were wards marked up on the walls of the stairs.

She held a breath as she climbed past the marks. She felt like there was something. Maybe a slight change in temperature, or pressure. Maybe a sound she could only barely hear. Maybe there was nothing but her own imagination.

“Were those the wards?” she asked.

He nodded. “Yeah, we should be out of them now.”

“So it’s possible to find us now?”

He hesitated before he answered. “Yeah, if you’re looking. No one can be looking everywhere at once.”

“Right,” she said. The traitorous echoes of her twisted dreams still did not let go.

There was another door at the top of the stairs. She leaned heavily on him, having exhausted her little energy on the climb.

There was yet another door behind that one.

Then there was sharp sunlight spearing through the eyes, and an ice-cold wind registering through the feeble senses of the skin.

She tasted blood.

When she stopped walking, he picked her up and helped her into a car. His flockmates followed them, getting into cars and herding several of the mortals from her time in the dark into other ones. The mortals from the darkness looked confused and unhappy. Oskar Rasmussen and his flockmates looked determined and satisfied, for the most part. That was fine, she thought.

One prison down, one to go.

You’ve been abandoned. You’re going to die, the echoes of her dreams whispered.

She ignored them. It would be fine.

It had to be.

Next part >>>

#transcendence au #My writing #it is DONE!#Yuss!!

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shooktim-blog · 5 years ago

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It had been so long since I last visited the largest city in Virginia, that I treated my recent visit to Virginia Beach as a first experience. I’m glad I did too, because I discovered parts of the community that I would have otherwise missed and had an incredible experience along the way. I may be biased since I’m originally from Virginia, but I think there is a wealth of things to do throughout the Commonwealth and especially in the active community of Virginia Beach. If you’re visiting for a long weekend or even a longer escape, here are my favorite experiences that I think anyone will love. [I’m working with Virginia Tourism on this project but, as always, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.]

The Cavalier Hotel

Historic hotels are unique in that yes, they offer incredible luxury, but they also have a certain quality that’s impossible to replicate. Their age and the many guests they’ve welcomed have created a patina of hospitality that, while not visible, is an important part of the experience. That’s especially true at the newly reimagined Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach. Originally built in 1927, almost immediately The Cavalier became a hotspot for the rich and famous. Thanks to nonstop trains from cities like Chicago, the halls of the hotel were soon filled with those who wanted to see and be seen. The Fitzgerald’s, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and several Presidents all were guests of the hotel and many say that The Cavalier is what put Virginia Beach on the map in the first place. This Golden Era came to an abrupt end though in World War II when the hotel was surrendered to the US Navy and became a site for radar training. Although the hotel was returned to its owner, it had lost its pizzazz and in the intervening decades lost the brilliance for which it had once been known. Several years ago though it was sold to new owners who went through an extensive renovation and restoration process and, somewhat miraculously, brought back the luxury and hospitality that made The Cavalier, now part of the Autograph Collection, famous during the Roaring Twenties. Everything at The Cavalier is done to perfection, from the quirky yet refined design to the food and of course the hospitality. The Cavalier originally put Virginia Beach on the map and it’s redefining it once again in the 21st century.

Paddling Around

There are few things I enjoy more than being out on the water. There’s just a certain peace of mind and solemnity that accompanies it, and getting a little exercise along the way is an added bonus. Sure, I spent time along the city’s famous beach, but for something a little different I joined a morning kayak tour with VB Surf Sessions. The company specializes in paddle boarding excursions, including one that visits local pubs, but it was the kayaking that grabbed my attention immediately. Rudee Inlet is located in the Virginia Beach Oceanfront District and is next to the Virginia Aquarium. Most folks know the inlet for its marinas and restaurants, but it’s also a great place to go for adventure sports. Paddling along the tall grasses of the estuary, we saw all kinds of wildlife, including eagles, osprey and more. But it was also just nice to paddle around, exploring small little waterways and appreciating Mother Nature in what I think is the best possible way.

Great Bites

I could, and I will, devote an entire post to the culinary side of Virginia Beach because it really was that impressive. Like so many other communities around the world, Virginia Beach has enjoyed a culinary renaissance in recent years, with creative chefs, brewers and even vintners opening shop and offering their visions to the local community. Although I don’t eat seafood, I do recognize it’s an important aspect of visiting Virginia Beach for most people which is one reason why I was excited to dine at the new(ish) Porch on Long Creek. Overlooking the beautiful Lynnhaven River, this is a light and airy space that specializes in American Coastal cuisine. Yes, their clear strength is fish and seafood (brought in fresh daily) but they have an expansive menu so that even a non-pescatarian like me can thoroughly enjoy the experience. Another great spot to enjoy a delicious night out is back at The Cavalier Hotel in their equally historic Hunt Room. Originally a quiet space for duck hunters to enjoy a meal in the early days of the hotel, that same rustic feel is what I first noticed walking into the new and impressive Hunt Room. A massive brick fireplace is at the heart of the room, creating a warm and inviting space that I loved right away. The menu is just as impressive with modern twists on Virginia classics, like the charcuterie board made with local meats and cheeses and even a delicious fried quail as a main course. This is also where you’ll find the hotel’s on-site distillery, Tarnished Truth. This, the first hotel distillery in the country, features several craft spirits, including bourbon, rye whiskey and even AVA Vodka. Guests can also take flight tastings, tours and cocktail lessons here.

For me, breakfast is always an important part of staying at the beach, and in Virginia Beach the clear winner is the locally famous May’s Parlor. Recently celebrating their two-year anniversary, this small cottage at the Oceanfront serves up incredible fresh-made pastries, along with cakes and pies and other light bites guaranteed to fuel your day. There’s a lot to love about eating your way around Virginia Beach and I think that, like me, you’ll leave both surprised and impressed.

Finding LOVE

Love is everywhere if you’re willing to look for it, but in Virginia that’s more true than you might realize. Most people know that the state has had the slogan “Virginia is for lovers” for 50 years but unless you’ve been to Virginia in the last couple of years, you may have missed these massive LOVE signs found in every corner of the state. The LOVEworks project encourages local communities to come up with their own unique take on the LOVE sign and so far there are more than 160 around the state. I love this for so many different reasons but especially because in a time of increasing negativity it’s a good reminder that most people everywhere are basically good hearted folks. Virginia Beach has several of these now iconic signs, which you can find via the official LOVEworks site. It’s a fun way to explore new regions and what you discover on the way to the signs is many times even more impactful than the works of art themselves.

Amazing History

As a Virginian, and someone who lived for quite a while in Williamsburg, I thought I had a strong grasp on the Commonwealth’s impressive history. But I was surprised to learn that Virginia Beach has a lot more to contribute to the story of the country than I originally thought, starting at First Landing State Park. The average American doesn’t realize that the first English settlers landed in Virginia and not Massachusetts and that original landing spot is here in Virginia Beach. First Landing State Park honors the 100 English settlers who landed there in 1607, before they headed further up the James River to Jamestown. It’s more than a simple commemoration though, it’s a massive 2,888-acre park that features miles of beachfront and more than 19 miles of trails through protected salt marsh habitat. It’s a beautiful area and appeals to just about any type of traveler no matter their interest. While you’re at the park, also be sure to visit another historic site, the Cape Henry Lighthouse. This was the first lighthouse commissioned in 1792 by the newly formed US Government and although there is now a newer one, albeit built in the 19th century, both are beautiful to behold. You can also climb to the top of the original lighthouse for incredible views of the region.

Fish Frenzy

Visiting a beach community also involves spending time inside as well, and in Virginia Beach I couldn’t wait to visit the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center. In recent years I’ve been somewhat wary of zoos and aquariums and I make sure that they conduct research and important work as part of their mission, which is most definitely the case at the Virginia Aquarium. The facility is expansive and offers a terrific look at a variety of global ecosystems as well as native Virginia flora and fauna. In addition to the indoor exhibits, there’s also an outdoor nature trail running alongside Owls Creek Salt Marsh. I love how they intertwine the nature around them with the displays and together it’s a fun and definitely educational experience.

I honestly enjoyed my time in Virginia Beach a lot more than I thought it would. The community has changed a lot in recent years and the influx of creative individuals has left its mark on the city and surrounding region. But they haven’t lost sight of what made them popular in the first place and it’s how the traditional and the innovative are fused that fascinated me so very much. There’s also a lot more to see and do than I had time for, but hopefully this brief list has piqued your interest in visiting Virginia Beach.

The post My Perfect Visit to Virginia Beach in 6 Steps appeared first on LandLopers.

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cryptobrief · 6 years ago

Link

The United States Government are in the midst of a historical shutdown, one that has continued for over 30 days now. Shutdowns within the US government are not as bizarre as you might think, they are commonplace within US politics however this time, the shutdown has continued on for a historical length of time, with no view to when it might come to an end.

What does the shutdown entail?

The shutdown does what it says on the tin, the government has shut down and therefore nobody is working. The government and it’s staff are not at work and nobody is making decisions, as a matter of fact even the governments catering team have shutdown, leaving President Donald Trump to make a mass purchase of McDonalds in order to feed a visiting College Football team due to the fact that they had no staff in to cook for them.

Why has the government shutdown?

According to CNN:

“Congressional lawmakers and President Donald Trump failed to come up with an agreement to fund the parts of the government on Saturday after funding for roughly a quarter of the federal government ran out on Friday night at midnight.”

In more recent coverage of the story:

“A White House official said using funds from civil asset forfeiture is one of several ideas the White House has considered as administration officials search for options that could allow President Trump to fund construction of his border wall if lawmakers don’t reach a deal. The official confirmed the White House has also looked into diverting disaster relief funds — but no decision has been made as to what Trump might do to bypass Congress for wall money, if anything at all. Trump said today he would like to avoid declaring a national emergency right now, as he called on Congress to do its job.”

Nobody can agree what to do next

This seems to be a bit of a never ending battle, nobody can agree on what to do next, though we expect that sometime, somehow Trump will get his own way. Whilst this continues, there are major implications for the looming Bitcoin ETF decision deadline, big implications that we should all consider, simply because if this shutdown continues, the Vaneck SolidX Bitcoin ETF could reap automatic approval.

During the shutdown, the Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) operations are also affected. As it stands, based on their most recent statement the deadline for the ETF approval stands to arrive on The 27th of February 2019. As a direct result of the current shutdown, the SEC are currently unable to apply to extend that deadline. According to Bitcoin.com, Jake Chervinsky, a prolific lawyer in the United States has stated:

“The SEC doesn’t have the power to extend the 240-day deadline. The statute absolutely prohibits any further delays … By law, that means if the SEC fails to make a decision by the February 27 deadline, the ETF will be automatically approved.”

We should consider that during this shutdown, some of the SEC processes are still in place, the SEC haven’t fully ceased to operate, therefore we can expect that on a surface level at least, they are still discussing the legality and the processes of the Bitcoin ETF - they will make a decision if they are unable to extend their deadline because if they don’t the Vaneck SolidX Bitcoin ETF will be automatically approved, this in turn would make a laughing stock of the entire approval process, one that has been going on for many months now.

Chervinsky has added:

“In fact, the SEC has *already* taken action during the shutdown to avoid missing deadlines on other proposed rule changes … the SEC has a skeleton crew handling proposed rule changes during the shutdown. It isn’t likely to stay in effect for long. Automatic approval isn’t a lifetime guarantee & can be undone easily. When the shutdown ends, the SEC can just force the ETF to be delisted.”

Chervinsky believes that the SEC are still working on this and that if the shutdown continues, they will make a decision. Automatic approval is very unlikely but in a sense, it is possible. Moreover we have to consider that this shutdown might not go on long enough for the SEC to require a deadline extension, though, we believe that if it does go on any longer, assuming it ends in time for the SEC to apply for an extension, they will. If we see a Bitcoin ETF approved as a result of this, then hopefully we will finally see some green sweep through the markets. This whole shutdown saga, in reference to the SEC is one to keep an eye on for now. If we start to see signs that an automatic approval is looming, get ready for a surge. It’s hard to predict what might happen here, therefore hold on and watch closely!

Crypto Revolution Giveaway

Have you heard? Crypto Daily have launched their latest Ethereum giveaway, one that is set to inspire the start of a new crypto revolution!

Click here for more information

Click here to take part!

#briefs

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enchaffin · 7 years ago

Text

Hello, Alligators!

I’m so glad you’re here today.

Since you are reading this post, I suppose you have an interest in how I came up with the story of my debut novel Loading Life. And I suppose (with my fangirl side locked tightly away) that I’ll tell you.

If you don’t know what Loading Life is about, let me tell you:

Hero Leander, the official troublemaker of Devi Omega Academy, is one mess up away from being permanently kicked out of school – or worse. To save him, his teacher and guardian, Mr. Kirkland, pairs him up with Annie Mei Fields, a straight-A student and the top Charisma-user of the school, on a history project. Hero is determined to leave her hanging, but Annie Mei will have none of that.

As she forces him to hit the books, they soon discover that an evil corporation is kidnapping teens in order to cure a deadly disease. Annie Mei thinks they should fight back. Hero doesn’t want to get involved. . . That is until his only friend is also taken.

Hero and Annie Mei put their lives on the line in order to save their world. But with gang attacks, drug deals, twisted corporate goons, and a teacher that won’t get off their case, these two unlikely fighters have little time to think about their next step. They have to save the world, and hopefully get a passing grade.

And as I was writing this adventurous sci-fi/fantasy, I was drawing on the love I have for anime and superhero stories.

But where did I even get the idea?

It all started with a random thought I had one day. You see, many people have told me that I’m very nice and that’s why others are attracted to me – why they want to hang out with me. This was on my mind when I thought ‘hey. What if that was my superpower? Likeability, or niceness, or charm, or . . . charisma?’ It was from that point that I knew I wanted to make a story about a girl with charisma.

When I had downtime, or was just letting myself think of nothing in particular, ideas starting popping up about this girl. What if she was a sweetheart villain? Or maybe a superhero who would save the day? I kept thinking and thinking and thinking. I wrote down all these ideas in a notebook one of my friends had gotten for me for my birthday. And within a matter of time, I had a huge bulk of the world made out.

It was also during this time that I came to the realization that I wanted to write books for a living. I was actually working on another novel, when I came to a giant wall. This particular novel would take me a great deal of time to fully develop. The world was so vast! And I didn’t really want to wait. That’s when I picked up my little notebook of ideas and started designing a world that was closer to my own.

Devi Omega was born. It was in this vast city that I wanted a computer/virtual reality-like world to unfold. I wanted my characters to be like those in video games. It truly reminded me of Sword Art Online at first. (And, if you don’t like that anime, please read the manga. It goes further into depth about the characters and the world. Just saying.) But I wanted something more than that.

I asked myself: ‘What if the citizens of Devi Omega were born and lived their lives in a video game? What if their world was a video game and had nothing to do with the outside – with the ‘real world’ that I grew up in?’

That’s when the characters started having health bars and attack bars. That’s when they all started getting powers that I call special abilities. And everyone in Devi Omega has a unique special ability . . .

Everyone except Hero Leander.

You see, I wanted my book to feel like an anime in words. I wanted a main character who people didn’t like- except the sarcastic best friend, of course. I wanted a main character that could hold his own, but still be able to grow into someone even better. And I wanted to use the base of the main character that I had developed for the novel I had put to the side. So I used that base and created a wannabe-thug with terrible grades and an even worse mouth, who no one could understand. And I gave him a heartbreaking name that would play into his overarching story. Hero Leander was born.

But I knew I needed someone else to play opposite him. His best friend, Reut (said like root) was a good pick, but not the best. I also needed to keep that Charisma girl in the story somehow. I had created this whole world for her, and I didn’t want to throw that away. And that’s when I started to develop her more. Since Hero was a thug-like character, I wanted her to be sweet and intelligent. I also wanted her to be physically capable of kicking butt, even if she didn’t have the so-called body for it. (I didn’t want her to be super buff just to take on some badies.) I wanted her to be feminine, to combat Hero’s masculine nature. And she absolutely had to be liked by (almost) everyone, since that’s what hero powers were about. But I knew I needed more than that. She had to have depth. She had to be someone who loved learning and reaching her goal of being the best she could, but also yearned to be out of the spotlight and just be her. Even if it was for a little while. That’s when I created Annie Mei Fields. And she was perfect.

When I got my two main characters established, I added even more. I needed a guardian for Hero and parents for Annie Mei. I needed bullies and bad guys and surprises. I also needed a few characters that my readers would know nothing about. At least not at first.

And when I had my cast and my world, I started writing. I wrote the first draft for only a few chapters until I realized that my story was going nowhere exciting. I had to stop, make an outline, and get back to writing. I tweaked the outline through drafts two, three, and four. When I finished with draft four, I tracked down a beta reader – and sadly, I only had one – who read my book and gave me the feedback I needed to improve my story. I rewrote it again and thought that was it. I published it with a beautiful cover created by one of my best friends, MadCatStudios. And I loved it. But . . .

After a few months, I realized I had so many spelling and grammatical errors in the book! (And this is why you hire an editor!) I also saw that many people didn’t find my cover appealing. I became a little depressed about the whole thing and didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t be a writer . . .

And then life slapped me in the face.

My overnight job I was working was getting worse. Between working nocturnally, missing out on seeing friends and family, and just being tired ALL THE TIME, I wanted out so bad. I needed this book to succeed. So I went back to the drawing board.

I asked my friend if I could get a new cover. I didn’t want to hurt him by not using the picture he worked so hard on. But he understood and told me I should do what I needed to do. And I needed to make my book appeal to the masses of anime nerds.

(And let me just take a second to say that MadCatStudios is an amazing artist! His work is great and I love it. I didn’t just ask him to do the first cover because it was free. I asked him because he has talent. So go check his stuff out on DeviantArt!)

Anyways. . .

I hunted down a great editor and artist on Fiverr.com. After sending my manuscript to the editor and my ideas for the cover to the artist, I waited as patiently as I could. My editor was amazing and he sent my work back in a timely manner! I worked hard for a week incorporating all of his edits. (Visit him here!)

Yet another problem arose.

The artist I commissioned didn’t fulfill his promise. Between a few missed deadlines and ignoring many of my requests, I finally asked him if he’d like to break it off. And he did without fuss. I honestly think he had many projects underway and he couldn’t fulfill his promises to me. It was sad, but I didn’t dwell on it too much.

I had to find an artist!

I searched one of my folders on Fiverr that I had saved some artists in. I found one that was perfect and sent her an email. After a few back-and-forth messages, I commissioned her for a piece. And I definitely got what I asked for:

(If you love the art, please visit the artist here!)

I took the time to create a cover that would match my story. And after I reuploaded my cover and fully-edited story onto Createspace, I laid down and breathed a sigh of relief.

My book was done. Completely this time.

And now I’m here, telling you all of this. And I hope you learned something from my story. Between never giving up and always hiring an editor, anyone can become an author. With buckets of sweat and tears that is.

Thank you,

E.N. Chaffin

If you’re interested in reading Loading Life, please check out the first three chapters here! Or if you’d like to buy it, the eBook and paperback versions are sold on Amazon.com and other retailers listed below.

Amazon – https://tinyurl.com/LLebook

Nook – http://tinyurl.com/nookLLbook

iTunes – http://tinyurl.com/itunesLLbook

Kobo – https://tinyurl.com/ycx7byjt

Inktera – http://tinyurl.com/inkteraLLbook

Smashwords – https://tinyurl.com/LLsmash

24 Symbols – http://tinyurl.com/24LLbook

The Story behind Loading Life: How I created my debut novel. #writerslife #amwriting #anime #manga #videogame #fantasy #scifi Hello, Alligators! I’m so glad you’re here today. Since you are reading this post, I suppose you have an interest in how I came up with the story of my debut novel…

#cartoon #cover #fantasy #Loading: Life #magic #scifi #story

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