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{{Infobox Character | nameJp = {{ruby-ja|伊|い}}{{ruby-ja|吹|ぶき}} {{ruby-ja|萃|すい}}{{ruby-ja|香|か}} | nameEn = Suika Ibuki | nameIPA = iβɯᵝki sɯᵝika̠ [[Media:Pronunciation_SuikaIbuki.ogg|(♫)]] | image = [[File:TH105Suika.png|275px|Suika Ibuki]] | caption = Suika in [[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]] | chartitle = {{H:title|Tiny Night Parade of One Hundred Demons|小さな百鬼夜行}} | species = [[Oni]] | abilities = Manipulation of density and sparseness | location = Somewhere in [[Gensokyo]] (Commonly seen around [[Youkai Mountain]], [[Heaven]] and the [[Hakurei Shrine]]). Used to live in [[Ancient City]] | MusicThemes = *{{H:title|{{lang|ja|御伽の国の鬼が島～}} Missing Power|Onigashima in the Fairyland ~ Missing Power}} ([[Immaterial and Missing Power OST|Immaterial and Missing Power]]) *{{H:title|{{lang|ja|砕月}}|Broken Moon}} ([[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody OST|Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]) | appOfficialgames = *''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' (Playable Character, Final Boss) *''[[Shoot the Bullet]]'' (Extra Stage 7 and 8 Boss) *''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]'' (Playable Character, Possible Opponent) *''[[Subterranean Animism]]'' (Playable Partner) *''[[Touhou Hisoutensoku]]'' (Playable character in arcade mode) *''[[Double Spoiler]]'' (Scene 6-2, 6-4, 6-6, 6-8 Boss) *''[[Hopeless Masquerade]]'' (Background Character) *''[[Impossible Spell Card]]'' (9th Day Boss) *''[[Violet Detector]] (Nightmare Friday Boss) *''[[100th Black Market]]'' (6th Market Boss) | appPrintworks = *''[[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]]'' *''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'' (Prologue Cameo, Chapter 1, 9 and 13 cameo) *''[[Strange and Bright Nature Deity]]'' (Chapter 4 cameo, 17, 18) *''[[Oriental Sacred Place]]'' (Chapter 1 cameo, 12 cameo, 18 cameo) *''[[Wild and Horned Hermit]]'' (Secondary Character) *''[[Forbidden Scrollery]]'' (Chapter 2 cameo, volume 1 omake cameo, Chapter 10 cameo) *''[[Strange Creators of Outer World]]'' Vol. 3 (Profile Section) *''[[Visionary Fairies in Shrine]]'' (Chapter 2 Cameo, 6 cameo, 7 cameo, 9.5 cameo, 10 cameo) *''[[The Grimoire of Usami]]'' (Section 2-3) *''[[Lotus Eaters]]'' (Secondary character) | appMusicCDs = *''[[Immaterial and Missing Power OST]]'' (CD cover) }} {{quote|I've been watching all of you this whole time. You all responded to my 'foregathering ability' without noticing, and came to these feasts. Do you know what this means? It means none of you can defeat me.|Suika Ibuki|[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]}} {{nihongo|'''Suika Ibuki'''|伊吹萃香|Ibuki Suika}} is the main antagonist of [[Immaterial and Missing Power]]. She's a typical [[oni]] that loves drinking and fighting. Just as the folktales say, she has two horns on her head that symbolize her oni heritage, and enough physical strength to throw large boulders single-handedly.

==General Information== Suika chiefly appears in the spin-off game installments of the ''[[Touhou Project]]'', such as ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' and ''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]''. Her only appearance in a main game is appearing as a support character for [[Reimu Hakurei]] in ''[[Subterranean Animism]]''.

It is unknown exactly where she is living currently. In many endings of ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'', she is shown spending her time at the [[Hakurei Shrine]], but in ''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]'', it says she is mainly active around the [[Youkai Mountain]], and when visiting it during the events of ''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]'', she comments on how nostalgic it feels. In ''[[Strange and Bright Nature Deity]]'' she is shown to be coming and going between [[Gensokyo]] and the country of oni in the [[Underworld]]. At the end of her route in ''Scarlet Weather Rhapsody'', she was seen spending some time in [[Heaven]] after having defeated [[Tenshi Hinanawi]] in battle, but she was shown to be in Gensokyo after that.

===Personality=== Her personality is jolly and quite childish, as you would expect from her appearance. Despite her childlike exterior, however, she possesses great amounts of raw power. She loves drinking and is frequently seen in the fighting games drunk; she claims she's been drinking sake for some hundreds of years now.[[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]] - Suika article and interview.

Suika bears the typical personality traits of most [[oni]], valuing strength and fair play while despising dishonesty and cowardice. However, she is apparently slightly less honest than a typical oni. In addition, she doesn't kidnap [[human]]s, which is known to be the "strongest bond of trust" between oni and humans. However, she is nonetheless quite honest.''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' - Suika ending.

Though she is generally a happy-go-lucky oni, as one of the most powerful [[youkai]] in [[Gensokyo]], she can be very observant. In addition, she is seen being very critical of others in ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'', such as by calling [[Alice Margatroid]] a coward and telling [[Youmu Konpaku]] how people make fun of her.

===Abilities=== ; Strength Suika, more than the abnormal strength of an [[oni]], possesses super-strength. [[Aya Shameimaru]], who has probably seen or heard of nearly every [[youkai]] by now, once referred to Suika as "simply the most powerful [[youkai]] in [[Gensokyo]]" Suika's Spell Card [[Shoot the Bullet/Spell Cards/Level Ex|"Night Parade of a Million Demons"]] . That doesn't mean there aren't others that could be nearly equal to her power, but she is still thought of as the strongest/most powerful [[youkai]] in Aya's opinion. Of course, this may be because she is a [[tengu]], who were once subordinate to the oni. At the time of ''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'', among the people that [[Reimu Hakurei]] knows, it seems that she had the greatest super-strength Chapter 16 ''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'' , but she admits that [[Yuugi Hoshiguma]] might be (physically) stronger than she is.''[[Symposium of Post-mysticism]] - ''According to fellow oni Suika Ibuki, "She's weaker than me in magical powers, but might be stronger than me physically."'' She once uttered "my army is the night parade of a hundred demons! No [[human]] or [[youkai]] can stand against foregathered oni!"[[Immaterial_and_Missing_Power/Story/Reimu%27s_Scenario#Immaterial_and_Missing_Power]]

;Manipulation of density and sparseness [[File:GoMIllus-Suika.jpg|thumb|left|192px|A giant Suika about to squash [[Marisa Kirisame]], as illustrated in ''[[The Grimoire of Marisa]]''.]] Suika's ability to manipulate "density" gives her the power to control the density of any given object; to put it simply, assembly and dispersion. As the object's density increases, it heats up, and as it decreases, it turns into a mist.[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]] - Suika article. During her spell cards and other attacks, she can also create smaller versions of herself and make herself giant. She can also decrease her own body's density to become a mist, as she did during the events of ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'', making it impossible to attack her.[[The Grimoire of Marisa]] - Suika's spell cards. By doing this all over [[Gensokyo]], she can effectively keep an eye on everything going on. She can also gather things without shape, like people's souls, which caused the incident in the first place. She has also affected the [[Moon]] as reflected in sky (the canopy) to make it explode, then take the falling fragments and turn them into mist as well, but the details as to how are unknown. [[Youmu Konpaku]], after striking her with one of her swords, commented that the sword itself reacted strangely.''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' - Suika route, stage 3.

With this power, she was able to assemble the thoughts of people and youkai, and made the residents of Gensokyo periodically have a party. Furthermore, with this power she is able to split up into small pieces and become a giant, and she is also able to disperse into the atmosphere. Other than that, she is able to compress her attack and increase her power, and is able to draw the opponent into something like a black hole, and sucking the opponent's power, out of nowhere she assembles rocks and health, and the way she throws it can be seen. It seems like she is able to turn a mountain into sand by this power (according to ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]''). During her mystery attacks on [[Myouren Temple]] in ''[[Wild and Horned Hermit]]'' chapter 9, she was capable of one-hit knockouts without being seen. She was also able to collect all the trash around the Hakurei Shrine in three seconds.[[Immaterial and Missing Power]] - Ending n°7 (Alice's good ending)

Unbelievably, in her last spell in ''Immaterial and Missing Power'''s story mode, "Pandemonium" or "A Million Oni Parade the Night," her spell gauge and her health gauge disperse, making an unthinkable system-intervention model for its usage method.

===Possessions=== Suika has a gourd that she calls the Ibuki Gourd, which has been soaked in the extract of a [[sake bug]], making it capable of turning water into sake.[[Strange and Bright Nature Deity]] - Chapter 18. To prevent it from overflowing, the gourd has a stopper on it, and she can't pour out more than the gourd will hold at one time. Closing the gourd will make it refill right away.''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' - Yukari ending.

==Backstory== Before appearing in [[Gensokyo]], Suika lived in the [[Underworld]]. However, before even that, she apparently lived on the [[Youkai Mountain]] as one of the four "Devas of the Mountain", along with [[Yuugi Hoshiguma]], [[Kasen Ibaraki]], and one other. Since the oni were superior to the other residents of the mountain, such as the [[tengu]] and [[kappa]], they all still remember her even now as someone to be respected.''[[Subterranean Animism]]'' - Marisa/Nitori route, stage 3.

==Character Design== [[File:PMiSS suika.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Suika in ''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]'']] ===Origin=== Suika is most likely based off of [[wikipedia:ja:酒呑童子|Shuten-douji]]. Shuten-douji was a man who lived a [[half-youkai]] existence, with an existence between that of a human and [[wikipedia:Yamata no Orochi|Yamata no Orochi]], known as one of the {{nihongo|Three Great Evil Youkai of Japan|日本三大悪妖怪}} alongside [[wikipedia:Tamamo-no-Mae|Tamamo-no-Mae]] and the [[tengu]] form of [[wikipedia:Emperor Sutoku|Emperor Sutoku]]. In the prefectural border between Gifu Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture was [[wikipedia:Mount Ibuki|Mount Ibuki]], which was his birthplace. Furthermore, in the [[wikipedia:Otogizōshi|Otogizooshi]] Shuten-douji is said to have been abandoned after birth at the foot of Mt. Ibuki, and to have been previously been known as {{nihongo|||伊吹童子|Ibuki-douji}}.

[[wikipedia:ja:大江山|Mt. Ooe]] was a mountain that extended over [[wikipedia:Fukuchiyama, Kyoto|Fukuchiyama]], [[wikipedia:Miyazu, Kyoto|Miyazu]], and [[wikipedia:Yosano, Kyoto|Yosano, Kyoto]]. It was once a mine heavily mined for copper, nickel, and chromium. There is a legend where the aforementioned Shuten-douji and his subordinates were exterminated, and in fact, '''completely massacred''', and in the town centre of [[wikipedia:Ōe, Yamagata|Oe]], near the [[wikipedia:Oe Station|Oe Station]] ([[wikipedia:Kitakinki Tango Railway|Kitakinki Tango Railway]]), there are many associated images, [[wikipedia:Onigawara|Onigawara]], mozaic images, and other things like that lined up. One of her ''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]'' spell cards, "''Complete Massacre on Mt. Ooe''" probably comes from this.

Among Shuten-douji's subordinates, among the especially powerful "big four," there was one oni by the name of "Hoshikuma-douji." This is where the name of Suika's ally from the [[Big Four of the Mountain|big four]], [[Yuugi Hoshiguma]], comes from. Furthemore, according to the legend, [[wikipedia:Ibaraki-dōji|Ibaraki-douji]] (on whom [[Kasen Ibaraki]] is based) was a subordinate or even lover of Shuten-douji. Within the Touhou setting, Kasen and Suika's relationship is as of yet unknown.

===Name=== Her full name is {{nihongo|''Suika Ibuki''|伊吹萃香}}. Her first name {{nihongo||萃香|Suika}} is not a legitimate Japanese word, but literally it can be translated as "gathering fragrance". Incidentally, {{nihongo||スイカ/西瓜/水瓜|suika}} is the word for watermelon in the Japanese language (in common Japanese, the [[wikipedia:Japanese pitch accent|pitch accent]] for "watermelon" is flat. In order to distinguish, native speakers pronounce her name as "Su[high] i[high] ka*[low]"). Her last name {{nihongo||伊吹|Ibuki}} can mean [[Wikipedia:Chinese_juniper|Chinese Juniper]] in Japanese, but in her case, it's highly likely to be a reference to {{nihongo|[[wikipedia:Mount Ibuki|Mount Ibuki]]|伊吹山|Ibuki-yama}} the place where [[wikipedia:Shuten-dōji|Shuten-douji]] supposedly was born. In addition, {{nihongo||酒呑|Shuten}} means "alcohol drink".

===Design=== Suika has two long straight oni horns on her head, decorated with ribbons. She wears a tattered pale pink blouse, a long purple and pink skirt, and three chain accessories tied to her belt. Her eyes are brown.

The three symbols are related to [[Wikipedia:Sengai|Gibon Sengai]]'s Picture "[https://www.wikiart.org/en/sengai/the-universe-the-circle-triangle-and-square Circle, Triangle, Square]" (or Three Dimensions of Somatic Attunement). This picture is so esoteric that there are several interpretations on it, but the significance of the three diagrams would be mentioned by [[Rinnosuke Morichika]] in [[Curiosities of Lotus Asia/Chapter 22|Chapter 22]] of [[Curiosities of Lotus Asia]].

Though fighting games sprites represent her with blonde/light brown hair, it must be considered as an error; Suika's real hair color actually being ginger (orange) according to [[Alphes]]' artworks and [[ZUN]]'s artworks and sprites.

==Appearances== ===Spin-offs=== [[File:314tr9g.gif|thumb|Suika Sprite in Immaterial and Missing Power]] ;''Immaterial and Missing Power'' :{{Main|Immaterial and Missing Power/Story#Suika.27s_Story|l1=Immaterial and Missing Power Story}} During the events of ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'', the people of [[Gensokyo]] were manipulated into having feasts repeatedly, one right after another, by Suika's ability to "gather" anything. She intended to draw all the other [[oni]] out of hiding with continuous, non-stop celebration. Her motive for this was the short spring in ''[[Perfect Cherry Blossom]]'' and the lower number of flower viewings that could be held because of it.

In most characters' scenarios, Suika was defeated and the number of feasts began to decrease. In Suika's scenario, she managed to defeat all of her major foes in a feast, but her plan failed anyway due to [[Reimu Hakurei]]'s ability and her own short-comings as an [[oni]].

;''Shoot the Bullet'' [[File:Th095Suika.png|frame|Suika in ''StB'', ''DS'' & ''ISC'']] In ''[[Shoot the Bullet]]'', [[Aya Shameimaru]] encountered Suika on the Extra [[stage]] and took photos of her [[danmaku]], being the first [[shoot 'em up]] game Suika appears in.

;''Scarlet Weather Rhapsody'' :{{Main|Scarlet Weather Rhapsody/Translation/Suika's Scenario|l1=Scarlet Weather Rhapsody Story}} In ''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]'', she notices that temperaments are being gathered from everyone into the sky, so she decides to climb up the [[Youkai Mountain]] to follow them. Once she reaches the heavens, she locates [[Tenshi Hinanawi|the perpetrator]]. Instead of trying to put an end to whatever plot was going on, Suika demands a living space in the heavens. She later gathers everyone to the heavens to attack [[Tenshi Hinanawi]], although whether it was to punish the celestial or just to pass the time is unclear.

;''Subterranean Animism'' :{{Main|Subterranean Animism/Translation/Reimu and Suika's Scenario|l1=Subterranean Animism Story}}

;''Touhou Hisoutensoku'' :{{Main|Touhou Hisoutensoku/Translation/Suika's Script|l1=Touhou Hisoutensoku Story}} If connecting ''SWR'' with ''[[Touhou Hisoutensoku]]'', then Suika can become a selectable character to play with, although she appears in no scenarios.

;''Double Spoiler'' [[File:Th135Yuugi&Suika.png|frame|Suika with Yuugi in ''Hopeless Masquerade'']] In ''[[Double Spoiler]]'', Suika appeared as a [[stage]] 6 target, where she uses a few [[spell card]]s and had [[Aya Shameimaru]] and [[Hatate Himekaidou]] take photos of her and her [[danmaku]].

;''Hopeless Masquerade'' Suika made a background cameo appearance in ''[[Hopeless Masquerade]]'' on the [[Human Village]] stage. She is seen standing on a balcony of the tavern with [[Yuugi Hoshiguma]], drinking beer.

;''Impossible Spell Card'' :{{Main|Impossible Spell Card#Story|l1=Impossible Spell Card: Story}} After apparently reading the newspaper by the [[tengu]] about a mischief-making [[amanojaku]], Suika becomes one of the many strong [[youkai]] and [[human]]s to try and stop [[Seija Kijin]]. She uses [[spell card]]s that are considered impossible to dodge.

;''100th Black Market'' Suika appears as one of the potential bosses of the 6th Market, located in [[Rainbow Dragon Cave]]. Given that the depths of the cave are usually anoxic, Marisa theorizes that Suika filled the cave with air so that she could host a party inside, with [[Mamizou Futatsuiwa]] and [[Momoyo Himemushi]] being among those who attended.

===Literature=== {{multiple image | align = right | width = 150 | image1 = 072BAiJRSuika.jpg | caption1 = Suika, as illustrated in ''[[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]]''. | image2 = 073BAiJRSuika.jpg | caption2 = Suika with [[Aya Shameimaru]] in said fanbook. }} ;''Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red'' :''Main article: [[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red/Suika]]'' [[Aya Shameimaru]] realizes that the [[Moon]] has exploded late one midwinter night and goes to interview the person responsible, Suika Ibuki. Suika is drunk, but she manages to tell Aya that she did it as a threat to all those who were partying, reminding them of onis by shattering the sky, a proof of their awesome strength by splitting the sky apart so easily to blow up the Moon.

During the follow interview, Suika challenges Aya to a drinking match even as she asks her for sake. Aya seems to accept and invites Suika to drink with her at a nearby food cart, with hilarious results as Suika talks about silencing the [[Mystia_Lorelei|poor owner]]. Aya then mentions her surprise at Suika and the onis being back. Suika responds that she is the only one, and she's come back only for a while. She also tells Aya how sad she is that the tengu have lost most of their influence. Suika finishes by accusing the tengu of not showing their strength and Aya ends the discussion by inviting Suika to drink about gathering news for her. [[File:WaHHSuikaAppearance.jpg|thumb|right||120px|Suika appearance in [[Wild and Horned Hermit]] chapter 9]] ;''Strange and Bright Nature Deity'' In Chapter 17 and 18, Suika gives a jug with a [[sake bug]] in it to [[Reimu Hakurei]]. However, it's soon stolen by the [[Three Fairies of Light]], who replace it with a fake. The real jug is later taken to [[Eientei]] for analysis, and when Suika returns to the shrine, they find that the jug no longer contains the bug. She is not particularly concerned at it, however, and proceeds to explain to Reimu and [[Marisa Kirisame]] what it does.

;''Wild and Horned Hermit'' In the end of Chapter 9, Suika is revealed to be the culprit behind the strange attacks that have been happening lately, especially in and around the [[Myouren Temple]]. She eventually went to the shrine hoping to see [[Kasen Ibaraki]], but she disappears before they meet. She reappears at the end of Chapter 16 for the same purpose, having received a tip from [[Yuugi Hoshiguma]], and thinks to herself that Kasen doesn't need to keep hiding, and that she hasn't seen her in a long time. In chapter 20, Suika disguises as the merchant of a stand where Kasen goes, where she explains that knows what Kasen's real plans are and that she is trying to cross the barrier, but Suika is interrupted by Reimu before she could end her explanations of how to do it.

==Relationships== ===Yuugi Hoshiguma=== Suika and [[Yuugi Hoshiguma]] were two of the four devas of the [[Youkai Mountain|mountain]], and are very good friends, although it's been a while since they've actually seen each other before ''[[Subterranean Animism]]''. Of course, their reunion during that time was not in person, but instead Suika talking with Yuugi using Yukari's yin-yang orbs. Suika hopes the four of them can go mountain climbing again, some day. They've been seen hanging around together in the background of the [[Human Village]] of ''[[Hopeless Masquerade]]''.

===Yukari Yakumo=== [[Yukari Yakumo]] was Suika's friend before the oni went to the [[Underworld]]. It is unknown how or when they became friends. Yukari cares about Suika, as her (hypothetical) ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' story has her stop Suika because she's worried that people will find Suika whom won't be as forgiving as Yukari is. Suika does favors for Yukari, such as rebuilding the [[Hakurei Shrine]] in ''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]'' or going along with her scheme in ''[[Subterranean Animism]]''. The two play danmaku battles with each other, though it's been a while since the last one before ''Scarlet Weather Rhapsody''. In ''[[Oriental Sacred Place]]'' Chapter 12, Yukari is with Suika at the Hakurei Shrine New Year's Festival.

Suika (an oni) does tend to get annoyed with Yukari's "dirty tricks", but doesn't go beyond snapping that they're dirty. Suika referred to Yukari's existence as fraudulent to [[Youmu Konpaku]] in ''Immaterial and Missing Power'', and stated to Yukari that it was rare to see her "on this side of the world" in broad daylight in ''Scarlet Weather Rhapsody''. These may be simple figures of speech, or they may show that Suika knows many deeper things about Yukari.

===Reimu Hakurei=== [[Reimu Hakurei]]'s honesty in ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' impressed the oni when they first met. The oni now drops by the shrine often. Reimu usually has Suika pick up garbage. Once Suika even gave Reimu a [[sake bug]] as a gift so they could drink quality sake together (unfortunately, a series of events resulted in the worm being lost). She has teamed up with Reimu to go along with Yukari's scheme in ''[[Subterranean Animism]]''.

===Miyoi Okunoda=== In ''[[Lotus Eaters]]'', [[Miyoi Okunoda]] possessed the Ibuki Gourd (without permission) to be able to see the world outside of [[Geidontei]]. Though Suika is aware of this happening, she did not interfere at first to see what Miyoi would do. When Suika finally questioned Miyoi, they got along and came to an agreement: Suika will let Miyoi stay in the Ibuki Gourd whenever she wants to and, in return, Miyoi will keep Geidontei open late whenever Suika stops by.

===[[Kasen Ibaraki]]=== Their relationship is obscure, but because Kasen was trying to avoid Suika as much as possible in the ''[[Wild and Horned Hermit]]'', their connection should not be light. Later, Suika finds out about her from Yuugi but decides to leave it alone as she's curious on what Kasen's scheming. The two speak on familiar terms when they do come face to face, and Suika knows what Kasen's true intentions for hanging around the Hakurei Shrine are.

It is eventually revealed that Kasen is the third of the four devas, explaining the two's familiarity with one another. How their relationship changed after the breakup of the devas is unknown.

===Minor relationships=== ;[[Tenshi Hinanawi]] Suika travelled up to [[Heaven]] and beat up Tenshi to get some land. Iku mentions in her ending that Tenshi must have gave it to her without consulting any of the other celestials about the matter. Since then, Suika played at least one prank on Tenshi by gathering up many others to come fight her. Tenshi initially figured that it'd be okay because Suika will get bored and leave heaven soon, but by the time the final story (Tenshi's) in ''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]'' ends. Suika's still up there, causing Tenshi to worry about just how long the oni plans on staying.

;[[Iku Nagae]] Iku first encounters Suika when Suika is climbing to [[Heaven]] to see [[Tenshi Hinanawi|someone]], where she tested Suika before allowing Suika to move on. Suika won, surprising Iku with her power. Iku later runs into Suika while searching for [[Tenshi Hinanawi]] to file a report on earthquakes. The oni requests Iku play with her for a bit and fights Iku in a duel. Iku is extremely confused why the oni is still in Heaven, but had to get back to her job. Eventually, after a long string of being attacked by various residents of [[Gensokyo]] for no reason whatsoever and an infuriating meeting with Tenshi, the poor exhausted [[oarfish]] arrives back in heaven and runs into the oni again. Suika's story of Tenshi giving her land gets the oarfish even more exasperated at the celestial, and Suika cheerfully comforts her and pours her a drink, encouraging Iku to vent her complaints to the oni. It is unknown if they became friends after that or not.

;[[Patchouli Knowledge]] After the events of ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'', Patchouli seems to have developed a bit of an obsession with taking down the oni, although the feeling isn't mutual. She now has [[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red/Patchouli|the Scarlet Devil Mansion host Setsubun]] (basically an anti-oni festival) every year, despite how none of the other residents like it (the fried beans burn [[Remilia Scarlet|the mistress]], and the fairy maids hate cleaning up afterwards). Suika has taken note of this and in retaliation to the first festival, [[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red/Suika|destroyed the moon as a display of her own power]] (actually only an image of the moon, by shattering the heavens to do it). It is unknown if residents of the [[Scarlet Devil Mansion]] noticed.

In ''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]'', Patchouli goes right past [[Tenshi Hinanawi]] (the real culprit, quite confused) to attack Suika, instead. Patchouli has no books on the oni, but dialogue shows she knew what oni were before meeting Suika. Her wariness towards oni subconsciously existed before that, as it is revealed in Sakuya's ending that despite claiming she didn't know about oni, Patchouli knew an oni caused the feast, revealing a subconscious knowledge on the matter. Prior to that, every once in a while, Patchouli would order coffee made from good beans instead of the usual red tea. Sakuya did not know why, but after discovering this subconscious trait, she finally understood. Oni are weak to fried beans. Patchouli only consciously realized she was supposed to use fried beans, specifically, for the coffee in her own ending, but by then, she's also realized it'd be better off used as danmaku. It is unclear if she realized that she subconsciously drank coffee all along as a preventative measure to oni. It is unknown why Patchouli developed this wariness towards the oni.

;[[Yuyuko Saigyouji]] Yuyuko might have known Suika before Suika went to the [[Underworld]], as she describes the mist in ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' to [[Patchouli Knowledge]] as nostalgic in Patchouli's story, even though she isn't sure what it is. When Yuyuko meets Suika in her own story, she disappointingly says that she had hoped to find a good memory but ended up finding a little [[demon]] instead, and the two proceed to insult each other very harshly. Although the double-speak and metaphors aren't completely clear, this could imply that Yuyuko knew Suika from long ago, and the two did not get along.

;[[Yamame Kurodani]], [[Parsee Mizuhashi]], [[Satori Komeiji]], [[Rin Kaenbyou]], [[Utsuho Reiuji]], and [[Koishi Komeiji]] These are various denizens of the [[Underworld]] that Suika got to see in ''[[Subterranean Animism]]''. Of the six, Suika has never met Yamame, Rin, or Utsuho personally (or at least gotten to know them personally), but is familiar with their species. She knows Parsee, but to her, Parsee is just some lowly [[youkai]] that guards a bridge. She knows Satori, but like everyone else, stays away from her because she dislikes having her mind read. She also knows Satori's sister Koishi, to whom she is a bit warmer, inviting her to come play the next time Koishi goes above ground. She believes Koishi's ability to read the subconscious compensates for Satori's weakness in a fight, indicating she may have gotten into battles or duels with the sisters before (probably playful, but maybe not).

==Gallery== ===Covers=== File:Th075Cover.jpg|Cover of ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'', featuring Suika's silhouette File:幻想曲抜萃委.jpg|Cover of ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power OST]]'' featuring [[Yukari]] and Suika File:WaHH 4 Cover.png|Suika on the Vol. 4 cover of ''[[Wild and Horned Hermit]]'' File:CoLA29CleanCover.jpg|Suika in ''[[Curiosities of Lotus Asia]]'' File:ThGI3Cover.jpg|Suika in the cover of ''[[Strange Creators of Outer World]]'' 3

===Artworks=== File:09Suika2.png|Suika art from ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]''

===Sprites=== File:Th123SuikaColors.png|Suika's different color palettes from Hisoutensoku. The 2nd one corresponds to her second color palette in ''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]'', while the 3rd one corresponds to her ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' palette.

===Illustrations=== File:Suika Whos Who.png|Suika from ''[[Who's Who of Humans & Youkai - Dusk Edition]]''

===Screenshots=== File:SBND18Suika.jpg|Suika in ''[[Strange and Bright Nature Deity]]'' File:SSIBSuika.jpg|Suika cameo in ''[[Silent Sinner in Blue]]'' File:WaHHSuika.png|Suika reforming from her mist form in ''[[Wild and Horned Hermit]]'' chapter 9. File:LE_Suika.jpg|thumb|Suika in ''[[Lotus Eaters]]''

===Others=== File:GoMSigil-Suika.jpg|Suika's sigil from ''[[Grimoire of Marisa]]''. File:Th123SuikaSigil.png|Suika's sigil from ''[[Touhou Hisoutensoku]]'' File:Suika_rough.jpg|Concept art of Suika by ZUN.

==Skills== {{hidden begin|title = Skills|titlestyle = background:paleturquoise; text-align:center;}} {{#lsth:List of Skills|[[Suika Ibuki]]}} {{hidden end}}

==Spell Cards== {{hidden begin|title = Spell Cards|titlestyle = background:palegreen; text-align:center;}} {{#lsth:List of Spell Cards/Touhou Project 1|[[Suika Ibuki]]}} {{hidden end}}

==Additional Information== *A silhouette of Suika occupies the front of ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'''s jewel case. *In ''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]'' Suika's final [[spell card]], {{nihongo|"A Million [[Oni]] Parade the Night"|百万鬼夜行|Hyakuman Ki Yakou}}, cf. the 1776 Japanese work: {{nihongo|"[[Wikipedia:Gazu Hyakki Yakō|"The Illustrated Night Parade of A Hundred Demons"]]|画図百鬼夜行|Gazu_Hyakki_Yakō}}, is capable of completely erasing the HUD, leaving the player unable to know directly how much life/super meter either has.[[File:UBUnusedGourd.png|frame|Unused enemy in ''UB'']] *Her alternate palette in ''[[Touhou Hisoutensoku]] gives her a red ribbon and a dark blue dress, somewhat similar to [[Keine Kamishirasawa]] in appearance. *Suika is the only character to appear as a [[boss]] in both ''[[Shoot the Bullet]]'' and ''[[Double Spoiler]]''. She is also the character with the most consistent appearances in danmaku side games, having appeared in all of them up to [[100th Black Market]]. *In ''[[Uwabami Breakers]]'', an unused enemy may be a reference to Suika, since it appears somewhat similar to her Ibuki Gourd.

==Fandom== {{main|Fandom/Spin-offs#Suika Ibuki|l1=Fandom: Suika Ibuki}}

==Official Profiles== {{hidden begin|title = [[Immaterial and Missing Power]] - 上海アリス通信.txt|titlestyle = background:lightblue; text-align:center}} {{Profile Quote | image = [[File:Th075Suika.png|Suika Ibuki|256px]] | text = 　○萃まる夢、幻、そして百鬼夜行　　伊吹　萃香（いぶきすいか）　　種族：鬼　　住処：鬼の住むと言われる国（現在は幻想郷のどこかにいる）　　能力：密と疎を操る程度の能力　　　幻想郷にはいないとされる鬼。彼女はその鬼だと言う。　　　鬼は一般的に陽気で酒好き、勿論宴も大好き、人間との真剣勝負が大好きで、勝負事なら格闘だろうが呑み比べだろうが何でもする。気に入った人間を見つけると人間が用意したルールで戦おうとする。そして、勝負に勝つとその人間を攫って行くのである。　　　鬼は楽しいと思ってやっていた事だが、人間はそれを楽しむすべを知らなかった。どれも人間が敵うレベルでは無かったからである。本当は人間も鬼に勝つぐらい強くなれば、互いに楽しむことも出来たのだが、それもしなくなった。そればかりか人間は、卑怯な策で鬼を一網打尽しようとした。　　　鬼が人を攫うのは、人間の恐怖心の象徴であり、それが鬼の存在理由でもある。人間にとってもその恐怖心は必要だったのだが……それを、人間は全て自分達の都合で一方的に壊してしまったのだ。　　　鬼は、繰り返される卑怯な鬼の乱獲により、そんな人間達を永遠に見捨て人間の手の届かない場所に移り住んだ、と伝えられていた。もう、鬼の姿を見ることは無かった。　　　彼女はその鬼だと言う。　　　確かに陽気で酒好き、三日置きに宴会を行わせる位宴会好きである。今回何故この様な事をしたかという話は、ゲーム中で語っているのでここでは語らない。でも本当は、鬼と人間の信頼関係を取り戻したかったのである。では何故それが失敗したかというと……？　それもゲーム中で最後に語っている通りである。　　　性格は上で言っている通り陽気で酒好き。無邪気で非常に単純。大勢と一緒にいると場が明るくなるが、二人っきりで長くいると段々とうざくなる。というか非常に子供っぽい。　　　能力は、密と疎を操る事が出来る。如何なる物も、集めたり散らしたり出来る。人の想いを集めれば、宴会のようなものを開かせることも出来るし、自分を散らせば霧のような状態になることも出来る。妖霧は非常に薄い彼女なのだ。新しく力を生むのではなく、その場に在るものを集めたり散らしたりするだけだが、集めることで別の物に変化させることも出来る。それは特殊な創造の能力に近い。さすがは失われた鬼の力、と言われるだけの事はある。　　　身体能力も非常に優れており、力、スピード、妖力、全てにおいて人間を遙かに上回る。唯一の弱点は、萃香のリーチのなさだが、彼女は様々な手段でそれを補う。人間との決闘が大好きなだけあって、酒に酔っていてもめっぽう強い。と言うか酔うほど強い。と言うか酔ってない時が余りない。 | translation = '''Forgathering Dream, Illusion, and thus [[wikipedia:Hyakki Yakō|a Night Parade of a Hundred Demons]]''' '''Suika Ibuki'''

Species: [[Oni]] Location: Some hidden country occupied by oni (currently she's living somewhere in [[Gensokyo]]) Ability: Manipulating density and sparseness

There are supposedly no [[oni]] in [[Gensokyo]], but this girl insists that she is an oni.

Oni are generally jolly and love to drink, feast, and compete with [[human]]s in any kind of contest, from simple melee to drinking games. When they find a human that they like, they tempt that human into challenging them in any way the human desires. Should the human lose, they are abducted.

The oni find these games to be great fun, but humans don't appreciate the nature of that fun. Put simply, humans cannot compare to an oni's level of ability. Humans ''could'' enjoy themselves as much as the oni if they tried to reach the power level of their opponents, but they don't. Worse still, humans attempt to destroy the oni with underhanded tactics.

Abduction by oni used to be a symbol of human fear, which was the oni's reason for their existence. In a way, that fear was necessary to the human race… Yet, the humans selfishly put an end to it.

The oni, growing weary of being duped and killed repeatedly, abandoned humans for all time and moved to a place beyond human reach, or so the legend says. In any case, the oni have not been seen since.

This girl insists that she is an oni.

She is certainly jolly and loves drinking, and likes feasts so much that she has them every 3 days. The reason for that is given in-game, so I won't mention it here. But to tell the truth, she wants to restore the relationship between humans and oni. Now why did that fail…? That's also mentioned in-game, toward the end.

··

As mentioned above, Suika is jolly and drink loving. Innocent and simple-minded. She raises an upbeat atmosphere in a crowd, but when you're alone with her, you'll gradually become irritated by her childishness.

Her ability allows her to control density and sparseness. She can gather and scatter whatever she desires. By gathering people's sentiments, they will have parties; by scattering herself, she can become as mist. The strange mist was herself, in very thin form. Her ability does not produce new power and can only gather and scatter that which already exists, but it can also transform one thing into something completely different. It's kind of close to creation in that way. The long lost power of the oni is truly exceptional.

Her physical ability is outstanding as well; her strength, speed, and magical power all far exceed that of a human's. Her sole weakness is her small stature, but she compensates for that in many ways. Since she loves competition against humans, she is quite tough even when she is drunk. That is to say, the more drunk she is, the tougher she becomes. Or rather, there's hardly a time when she isn't drunk. }} {{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|title = Suika Ibuki rough|titlestyle = background:lightblue; text-align:center}} {{Profile Quote | image = [[File:Suika rough.jpg|300px|Suika rough]] | text = 萃まる夢幻、そして百鬼夜行　伊吹萃香他のキャラとポーズが違う…。ボスっぽく大げさにしてみました。賑やかさを押し出しつつ。鬼っぽくないですが、自分的に鎖は鬼の象徴（笑） ○は、無、つまり拡散を意味し、△は調和、つまり萃そのもの。 □は、不変、それは自分を示す。 ZUN 04.1.10 | translation = Forgathering Dream, Illusion, and thus a Night Parade of a Hundred Demons Suika Ibuki

Her pose is different from all the other characters' … I tried to make her grandiose, like a boss should be. I really brought out her liveliness. She may not look very oni-like, but for me, chains are the mark of an oni (g) The circle is for nothingness, which signifies diffusion; the triangle is for harmony, or collection. The square is for permanence, and stands for the self. }} {{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|title = [[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]] - chara.html|titlestyle = background:lightblue; text-align:center}} {{Profile Quote | image = [[File:Th105Suika.png|300px|Suika Ibuki]] | text =　○''小さな百鬼夜行'' 　　伊吹　萃香（いぶき　すいか）

　　伊吹萃香

　　種族：鬼

　　住家：不明（神出鬼没）

　　能力：密と疎を操る程度の能力

　　性格：豪傑だが単純

| translation = '''Tiny Night Parade of a Hundred Demons''' '''Suika Ibuki'''

Race: Oni

Primary residence: Unknown (comes and goes as she pleases)

Ability: Manipulating density and sparseness

Personality: Impulsive, but simple }} {{hidden end}}

{{hidden begin|title = [[Subterranean Animism]] - キャラ設定.txt|titlestyle = background:lightblue; text-align:center}} {{Profile Quote | image = | text = 　○小さな百鬼夜行　　伊吹　萃香（いぶき　すいか）　　Ibuki Suika

　　種族：鬼　　能力：密度を操る程度の能力

　　地底に住んでいた鬼の一人。　　最近は地上に出てきているのだが、普段は何処に住んでいるのか不明。

　　地底で何か起こってるみたいという噂を聞いて、紫の作戦に乗ってみた。　　自分で調べに行けばいいじゃんと思わなくも無かったが、面白くて面倒で無くて、お酒飲みながら出来る紫の方法が気に入った。 | translation = Tiny Night Parade of a Hundred Demons Suika Ibuki

Species: oni Ability: Manipulating density

One of the oni who lived underground. She spends her days above ground now, but it's not known where she lives.

She heard rumors that something was going on underground, so she tried going along with Yukari's scheme. She did think about going to see what was happening herself, but this way looked fun and was convenient, so she was pretty impressed with Yukari's technique, which let her tag along while having a drink. }} {{hidden end}}

==Official Sources== {{hidden begin|title = Official sources|titlestyle = background:pink; text-align:center;}} *2004/12/30 '''[[Immaterial and Missing Power]]''' - 上海アリス通信.txt *2005/08/11 '''[[Bohemian Archive in Japanese Red]]''' - Article and Interview: Suika *2005/12/30 '''[[Shoot the Bullet]]''' - Extra Stage Spell Card comments *2006/12/27 '''[[Perfect Memento in Strict Sense]]''' - Suika Ibuki *2008/04/26 '''[[Strange and Bright Nature Deity]]''' - Chapter 18 *2008/05/25 '''[[Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]]''' - chara.html *2008/08/16 '''[[Subterranean Animism]]''' - Reimu/Suika Scenario; Reimu/Suika Extra Stage dialogue; キャラ設定.txt *2009/07/28 '''[[The Grimoire of Marisa]]''' - Suika Ibuki's Spell Cards *2009/08/26 '''[[Oriental Sacred Place]]''' - Chapter 12 (cameo) *2010/03/14 '''[[Double Spoiler]]''' - Stage 6 Spell Card comments *2011/11/25 '''[[Wild and Horned Hermit]]''' - Chapter 9 *2013/04/10 '''[[Wild and Horned Hermit]]''' - Chapter 16 {{hidden end}}

==See Also==

[https://hisouten.koumakan.jp/wiki/Suika_Ibuki Suika in Touhou Hisoutensoku wiki]

==References== {{smallrefs|2}}

{{Navtemplate| {{Navbox Characters}} {{Navbox IaMP|nocat}} {{Navbox StB|nocat}} {{Navbox SWR|nocat}} {{Navbox SA|nocat}} {{Navbox HSTS|nocat}} {{Navbox DS|nocat}} {{Navbox HM|nocat}} {{Navbox ISC|nocat}} {{Navbox VD}} {{Navbox HBM}} }}

[[de:Suika Ibuki]] [[es:Suika Ibuki]] [[fr:Suika Ibuki]] [[pt:Suika Ibuki]] [[ru:Суйка Ибуки]] [[vi:Ibuki Suika]]

[[Category:Characters]] [[Category:Characters in Immaterial and Missing Power]] [[Category:Characters in Shoot the Bullet]] [[Category:Characters in Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]] [[Category:Characters in Subterranean Animism]] [[Category:Characters in Touhou Hisoutensoku]] [[Category:Characters in Double Spoiler]] [[Category:Characters in Hopeless Masquerade]] [[Category:Characters in Impossible Spell Card]] [[Category:Characters in 100th Black Market]] [[Category:Characters in Violet Detector]]

[[Category:Characters playable in a fighting game]] [[Category:Returning 1st Windows Generation Characters]]

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idfkwhatimdoingeither · 4 years

Text

I just finished reading another dnf fanfic.

listen, (I don't know if I'm telling myself this to feel better because I feel uncomfy about shipping real people, but) I don't ship them. the fanfics are just genuinely written so good ???

plus the fanfics have become a hyperfixation of mine at this point so shush

anyways

the fic is called "Dear Dream" and it's on Ao3. authors name is Qekyo and yes, it's only one chapter long/a one-shot. 19039 words.

one word:

p a i n.

I actually cried and am still crying a bit. but then again, it's an war au so what do I expect.

but to best describe it, here's what I have told my friends :

"if you ever see me and I'm about to read a war AU fanfic, shoot me in the arm, in the head even. it will pain me less then the story would. I now remember why I usually do not read those sort of writings.

I'm actually crying while writing this."

and then I send this (it's a quote from the story, from one of Georges letters):

and captioned it " p a i n "

I also said:

"and of course I had to listen to sad music while reading it. I despise myself for doing this. for listening to music while reading this, for even having an ounce of consideration to read it and going against my better judgement and reading it."

yes I punctuated for dramatic effect.

and yes I worded it like that cause I'm still feeling effected by the time fitting writing of the fanfic and the letters in it

anyways, 10/10 would recommend, only if you're okay with crying and war related things tho

do not recommend reading while listening to sad music, specifically not having yellow by coldplay on replay. especially if you have read "a field of dandelions" (another great fic, it's on wattpad) and have an attachment to the song. will make the crying worse

#dreamnotfound #dnf #dreamnotfound fanfic #dreamnotfound ff #dnf fanfic #dnf ff

51 notes · View notes

snowdice · 4 years

Text

Big Bang (Sort of) Editing Story [Day 42]

I started writing this fic while editing my Big Bang story, but am going to continue doing it for other things now that Kill Dear is out. I will write and publish 100 words of the story every time I finish doing whatever task I’m doing. If you’d like to block these proceedings, please feel free to block the tag proofread stories. I will reblog this post with the parts of the story I do today. Edited chapters are linked; everything else I’ve done so far is under the cut.

My Master Post Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15

Alright. Time for a bit more editing because I decided to just go to bed last night.

Chapter 16

“Well done,” Logan complimented when Virgil looked up at him for approval. It was the first time Virgil was trying to make the protection charms without Logan’s direct help. Logan was, of course, still in the room in case he had questions and the boy had a written set of instructions next to him, but for the most part Virgil was doing it on his own.

“Now,” Virgil said squinting down at the paper next to him, “we wait for 35 minutes.”

“Fifty actually,” Logan corrected.

“Oh, yeah, right,” Virgil said. He grabbed the timer and set it for the appropriate time. Then, he stepped away from Logan’s nontoxic potion station. Logan saw him edge a bit closer to peak at what Logan was working on, though he was careful to maintain a distance. Logan wasn’t sure if this was because he’d been warned of the possible harmful substances Logan sometimes used at his experiment table or because he was worried Logan might not want him to approach.

Logan looked up at him. “You can come closer. Nothing here is very dangerous.”

Virgil nodded and walked over to peer at the boiling pot. “What are you making?” he asked.

“I am once again attempting to invent a potion that will reliably remove cat hair from clothing and blankets,” Logan said, glancing over at Patton.

Patton looked up from the bracelet he was making and stuck his tongue out at Logan.

“I can never seem to find an adequate solution,” Logan said.

“The solution is to accept all parts of kitty love!” Patton insisted.

“Or maybe the solution is to exile you from my room for the rest of time,” Logan muttered. Patton chose to ignore him and went back to working on the bracelet.

“Do you want any help?” Virgil offered Logan.

Logan smiled at him. “I’m actually almost finished with this step and there isn’t much left to do but thank you.”

Virgil nodded. “Oh, okay,” he said. He shifted back and forth a few times.

“You’re well on your way to mastering this potion,” Logan said. “I was thinking that I could start teaching you how to make a tracking charm. I marked a passage about it in the book on that shelf.” He gestured to the shelf near the station Virgil had been working at. “Why don’t you go ahead and read that while you wait?”

“The…” Virgil said. “The green book?”

“Yes,” Logan said. “I left a bookmark in the correct page.”

“Um… yeah, sure. I’ll go… read that.”

Logan nodded and turned back to put the finishing touches on his own potion as Virgil walked away. A few minutes later, he finished up what he was doing to his potion and covered it to let it simmer. He looked over to see that Patton had flopped onto his back, still working on the bracelet and Virgil had sat near to him with the book open on his lap. Logan walked over to them.

“What do you think?” Logan asked.

Virgil glanced up at him. “Erm,” he said. “Looks good.”

“Which option do you like best?”

“…The second one.”

“Really?” Logan asked, surprised.

“Uh… yes?”

“I’m surprised,” Logan commented. “I figured you would shy away from the ones that require your own blood.”

Virgil’s eyes widened. “Oh,” he said. “I… didn’t notice that. I would like to not do that one, please.”

“You didn’t notice?” Logan asked. “Half of the entire first page is dedicated to a discussion of it.”

There was a beat of awkward silence.

“Virgil,” Logan said slowly. “Would you read the first paragraph on that page for me?”

Virgil grimaced.

“You can’t read?!”

“Logan, tone,” Patton snapped when Virgil flinched.

Logan took a breath. “I am not upset that you cannot read, but what have you been doing for the past week when I have given you written instructions for the protection charm potion?”

“Not… reading it.”

“How have you been making the potion?” Logan asked.

“I just remember the steps, and if I’m not sure I ask. You’re usually distracted enough that you barely notice.”

“If I had known this, we would have done a completely auditory explanation.”

“Sorry.”

Logan sighed. “You didn’t need to pretend, Virgil.”

Virgil blinked up at him. “Sorry.”

Logan just shook his head. “There is nothing for you to be sorry for. In fact, you are the one who is owed apologies from many people in your life for a multitude of reasons.” He knelt down to take the book from him. “Here,” he said. “For now, I will read this passage to you while we wait for the potions to finish brewing. Later we can talk about changing my lesson plans in reference to the potions as well as adding reading lessons into your schedule.”

“You… want to teach me how to read?” Virgil asked.

“If you are willing,” Logan replied. “It’s a useful skill to have and opens up many doors.”

“I don’t know if I’ll be any good at it,” Virgil said with a frown.

“If you can memorize an entire potion recipe from start to finish with inadequate vocal instructions, I’m sure you can learn the alphabet perfectly well.”

“Okay,” he replied, sounding a bit doubtful.

“And once we get you to an appropriate level, I’ll let you read a book about stars I enjoyed in my youth.” He seemed pleased with that prospect, and Logan smiled at him. “For now though, let’s read this together.”

“Okay,” Virgil said. Logan opened the book in his lap and started to read. He noticed that Virgil was leaning over to look at the page despite the fact that he couldn’t read it, and so he began to point to the words as he read. His reactions to the words on the page were honestly quite funny when Logan caught them. His nose would scrunch up in confusion every time he thought an instruction nonsensical, and he’d squint his eyes at the words as though willing the sounds and letters to connect in his head. Logan wouldn’t be surprised with his memory if he had parts of it memorized by the end.

After a few minutes of reading, a light weight descended on Logan’s shoulder. Virgil had settled his chin on Logan’s shoulder to peer at the words. Logan did his best not to draw attention to this fact and shot a glare at Patton when he clearly noticed, sitting up to smile widely at them. Luckily, Patton was sensible enough not to squeal as he oh so clearly wanted to. Logan pointed out a picture while explaining what the caption said and then gave a personal antecedent. Virgil touched the page curiously and asked a question about the story before laying his head back down on Logan’s shoulder. They continued in this way until the potions were finished.

Chapter 17

Virgil’s suspicion was growing. Logan and Patton seemed to have something planned. Luckily, whatever it was didn’t seem to be malicious, at least, Virgil hoped it wasn’t. He truly didn’t think that Patton had it in him to be so clearly excited about anything cruel. He also didn’t think Logan had it in him to be cruel, he was just was better at masking his excitement.

“What?” Logan asked innocently when Virgil gave him a pointed look the second Patton left to do ‘something’. Virgil would almost believe he truly wasn’t planning anything if it wasn’t for the way his lips twitched just a bit at the corners. Virgil glared harder.

Logan dared to laugh lightly at the expression on his face. “Come here,” he requested. “Patton wanted me to make you pick out a book for him to read to you tonight since, I quote ‘You’ve gotten to read him all sorts of stories the last few days.’ I attempted to explain that it was not purely for fun, but he insisted.”

Virgil grumbled, but wandered over to look over at the books laid out on Logan’s bed, settling his chin on Logan’s shoulder. “What do they say?” he asked.

Logan pointed to each in turn. “Five Dragons and a Flame. The End of May. A Stone in the Meadow. Or you can continue to read The Never-ending Garden.”

“I want to finish The Never-Ending Garden,” Virgil decided.

“Good choice.”

“Now will you tell me what you’re doing?” Virgil asked.

Logan just chuckled. Honestly, it was like he didn’t know that he had an assassin right next to his carotid artery. “Why do you think something is happened?”

“Patton’s a shit liar.”

“Be careful,” Logan said. “I might just have to tell him you said that.”

“Then I’ll tell him what you said when you accidently dropped the lavender into that potion,” Virgil threatened back.

“Hmm,” Logan said. “Truce?”

“On that,” Virgil agreed, “but you still need to tell me what’s going on.”

“It is a surprise. A nice surprise,” Logan informed him. He looked at Virgil’s face. “Don’t pout at me.”

Virgil had not been aware that what he was doing was pouting, but he did whatever it was harder.

“Patton would murder me,” Logan claimed, “but I suggest you try that on him the next time you have a chance. You will certainly get whatever you want.”

Virgil sighed and gave up, figuring he’d learn whatever the surprise was soon enough. He chose to flop down on top of the pile of pillows on the floor that had been laid out already. It was his fourth ever slumber party and the first had only been a week ago. He did not know much about slumber parties, but that felt like a lot.

Goodness, it had already been two weeks. He looked up at the ceiling. He felt safe here. He felt like he didn’t need to watch Logan’s every move as he organized things in his room, but it wasn’t going to last, was it? The king was set to be back in a week. Virgil needed to actually attempt to escape soon. He hated that fact. He didn’t want to leave, and he certainly didn’t want to go back. Maybe he wouldn’t. Maybe he’d figure something else out, but no mater what, he did have to escape, and soon. He looked over at Logan who was slotting the books Virgil hadn’t picked back into place on the bookshelf. Not tonight.

There was a knock on the door in a familiar pattern, and Logan walked over to open it for Patton. Virgil sat up to shoot a confused look at the giant thing that Patton rolled in.

“Ta da!” Patton said excitedly.

Virgil blinked at him.

“It’s food,” Logan explained.

Virgil perked up immediately. That must be a lot of food if he needed that to carry it.

“I know you haven’t gotten a chance to try a lot of different foods, so I asked Mama if I could use the kitchen earlier today and made a bunch of different type of food samples for you to try.”

That sounded like literally the best idea in the universe. These people were very good at surprises and Virgil would not question them again ever for the rest of his life (or, well, the next couple of days he was around them before he tried to escape and either managed it or died a bloody and painful death).

Patton seemed to feed off of Virgil’s excitement, practically vibrating himself as he gestured to different parts of the cart. “We have a bunch of types of cheese and crackers, mini sandwiches, different smoked meats, six types of pasta, and every leftover I could find on this shelf. On this shelf, we have things with hot sauce, things with spicy dry rubs, curries, and things with a lot of peppers. I’ve ordered them by spiciness level so we can what you can handle, and we’ll only go as far as you want. Then this shelf is a bunch of types of cookies, mini cakes, pies, and ice cream!”

“We are not starting with the sweets,” Logan said firmly.

“But Lo!” Patton whined.

“We do not want to make him sick, do we?” Logan asked.

Patton pouted. Virgil honestly had no preference. All food was good food in his experience.

“Fine,” Patton said. “We’ll start with the cheese.”

They had him sit back in the center of the blanket pile and handed him little portions of things. Some of the cheese tasted weird at first and Patton would giggle at the faces of surprise he made, but Virgil managed to if not like, then tolerate almost all of them.

Then came the different sandwiches, some hot and some cold and all of the pasta and leftovers. Virgil eyed the plate of fettuccine alfredo long after they had moved on.

“You can have some more at the end if you still have room,” Logan promised with a fond smile. Virgil frowned at him. “You want to try all of the food, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then you can’t eat an entire plate of fettucine alfredo.”

“Maybe you can’t,” Virgil said darkly.

Logan just rolled his eyes and passed him another plate.

Eventually they moved on to the next shelf full of what was deemed ‘spicy food.’

“Part of this is figuring out what level of spiciness you can handle,” Patton said. “So, tell us when it gets to be a bit too much and we’ll move on two the deserts. Also, milk helps wash the spicy stuff that so drink some if you need to!”

Virgil nodded and accepted the first dish on that rack.

Virgil, it turned out, liked what they called “spicy” food even though some of it made his nose run a little bit. It was kind of fun to eat them, honestly. Some of them hurt a tiny bit, but they also tasted really good. It was strange.

“I am impressed and horrified,” Logan said when he finished that shelf. “Do you… have nerve endings in your mouth?”

Virgil shrugged. “Well,” Patton said, sounding pleased. “Now it’s time for the best part! Assuming you still have room.” Virgil nodded immediately and Patton handed him a plate he’d covered with chunks of cookies he’d torn off. He ate every single one of those and then went through the rest of the deserts. Everything was fantastic and he’d like to investigate a few of the cakes once more, but…

He pointed insistently at the fettuccine alfredo.

Logan shook his head but handed it over. “How many stomachs do you have?”

Virgil did not care to respond, choosing instead to shove his mouth full of pasta.

When he was done with that, he laid back to relax and digest the food, feeling very content. Logan and Patton had also eaten a bit of the different dishes and were finishing up themselves.

“You good there?” Patton asked after a moment of Virgil just laying with his eyes closed.

Virgil nodded.

“Did you like your surprise?”

“Uh huh.”

“It seems he will not be doing any of the other planned activities for a little while at least,” Logan said. “So now might be a good time for you two to read,” he suggested. “I’ll get the rest of the food stored in case we want something more later.”

“Okay,” Patton agreed. Virgil didn’t open his eyes, but felt Patton settle next to him. Virgil rolled slightly, so his head rested against the side of Patton’s leg. A hand touched softly down on the top of Virgil’s head and Virgil heard a page flip. “So, let’s see. I’m not sure when exactly you fell asleep last time, but how about we start at the Troll Bridge?”

Virgil hummed his ascent.

“Okay,” Patton agreed as he started to read. “‘Melly stepped onto the bridge backwards while sticking her tongue out at Al, but Lydia’s eyes widened as a large looming figure stepped up behind her….’” Virgil listened happily to him read about the four children. He liked this book. He hoped they managed to finish reading it before Virgil had to go.

Chapter 18

They made it all the way to the big blowout between Al and Melly where Melly got mad and left the group to their fate in the magical garden by the time Virgil awakened completely from his food coma (he’d never actually fallen asleep, or at least he always responded when Patton asked) and squirmed around for a bit before sitting up.

Logan hadn’t been particularly interested in the story he’d heard many times before and was reading a book of his own on Patton’s other side, but he put a bookmark in his book when Virgil sat.

“Want to take a break from reading?” Patton asked. “We can do a bit more later, but we have more than just food and books planned for tonight.

“Okay,” Virgil agreed easily.

“Great!” Patton said clapping his hands. “We’re going to introduce you to the most fun sleepover party event ever!”

Virgil tilted his head.

“Dress up!” Patton said. “Also make-overs. We’ll do you first and then we’ll help you learn how to help pick out other people’s outfits and make-up. If you want to, of course.”

“Sure,” Virgil said with a shrug.

“Yay!” Patton hopped to his feet. “You stay here. Lo and I will get everything ready.”

He pulled Logan to his feet and over to the chair that was the perfect height for doing make-up.

They set up what they’d need for make-up and then Patton instructed Logan to grab the clothes of his they usually used for this sort of thing out the closet that Virgil wasn’t set up in while he grabbed the pieces he himself had brought upstairs and strew them over the bed so they could see anything.

Smiling happily, Patton looked over at Virgil who had stood up in the giant pile of pillows and blankets to watch him with intense eyes. He looked like he was memorizing every action Patton took as though expecting a test at the end. He was so adorable. A rush of affection and a touch of mischief hit him suddenly.

“Hey Virgil,” Patton said. Virgil looked over at him. “Can I tackle hug you into that pile of pillows?”

“Tackle hug?” he asked.

“I run over and hug you so hard that we fall into the blankets. I do it to Logan all the time without warning, but I didn’t want to confuse you.”

Virgil considered the offer for a couple of seconds. “Okay,” he finally decided.

“Great!” Patton did a little hop before launching himself across the room. He slammed into Virgil, who apparently had very good balanced because they didn’t immediately fall backwards, but then he seemed to remember that he was supposed to let Patton slam him into the pillows, and so he fell back on his own power.

Patton giggled when they hit the ground and drew back to look at his face. “I got you!” He leant forward to kiss him on the nose. “Oh wait! I should let you fight back.” He propped himself up on one arm and held out the other hand. “Pinkie promise not to hurt anyone if I let you use the 3rd setting again?”

“Pinkie promise,” he agreed with a grin, linking their pinkies.

“Great!” Without hesitation, Patton did the hand motion to allow the restraints to be in the third setting.

Patton was on his back almost instantly, but he didn’t even have a chance to think about worrying before Virgil pressed a kiss to his nose in a mirror of what Patton had done a moment before. “I got you,” he said proudly.

“So, you do,” Patton agreed with a laugh. He reached up on of his hands to card it through Virgil’s hair. Virgil leaned into the touch and then practically melted on top of him. “Virgil,” Patton laughed. “It isn’t nap time.”

He grumbled something unintelligible into Patton’s neck making Patton giggle more.

“Sweetie, please.”

Thankfully Logan saved him from the unrelenting cuddling by poking Virgil in the side. “I have finished preparing the stations for the makeover and dress up. You need to get up now.”

Virgil made a noise that sounded like a growl, but he did roll off of Patton.

Patton hopped to his feet and helped Virgil up before pulling him over to the piles of clothes. “We pick the outfit first, but you don’t put it on. Then, we do your make-up and hair based on it. Then, we get you dressed and do touch ups. Okay? Pick anything you want.”

Virgil looked over the options, eyes going a bit wide. “It…” he said. “It all looks really fancy and expensive. Are you sure you want me to touch any of it?”

“We wouldn’t be offering anything we didn’t want you to touch,” Logan said gently. “In fact, I insist you touch all of it. Beyond just appearance, making sure the texture of the fabric is agreeable is a large part of this activity.”

Patton picked up one of the pieces of fabric he knew was very soft and offered it to him. He touched it with careful fingers, his eyes lighting up at the feel of it. They had to continue nudging him into feeling the different fabrics, and he hesitated when they asked him to pick his favorite at the end, but eventually he shyly pointed at a dark purple dress.

Patton clapped. “Great! Ooo, I already have some ideas for make-up that will go with that.”

Virgil let Patton pull him over to the chair they’d set up and settled down on it.

29009

Patton hummed. “I think silver and purple make-up mostly?” he said.

Logan nodded and they grabbed a few things from the make-up kit. Logan let Patton do most of the make-up as he tended to be better at the more creative parts, but Logan was the one who gave him the fancy winged eye liner with purple sparkles because he was really good at them.

“You look fantastic!” Patton squealed when they were done. He held up a hand mirror for Virgil who studied himself in it for a long few moments. “Do you like it?”

“It’s really nice,” Virgil confirmed. Patton smiled and hugged him.

“Next hair. We have a lot of accessories. I’ll let you pick from the purple ones.”

He and Logan sorted through the jewelry box full of different hair accessories for the royal family and ended up finding three purple ones. Patton hesitated a bit over one of them, but Logan picked it up and set it in front of Virgil for him.

“Your choice from these three,” he said.

One was a purple feather with little hooks to braid into hair, one was a smattering of purple and silver stars that would weave through the back of someone’s hair, and the last was a string of silver leaves with purple tips that would wrap up the back of a person’s head from a bun.

Virgil thought for a moment and then pointed to the one made of leaves.

Patton glanced at Logan who took the hairpiece. “I’ll do your hair right for that one,” he said. “I know how it fits.”

He grabbed the brush and carefully ran it through Virgil’s hair. Virgil seemed to like the attention, leaning into the touch, and a smile flickered over Logan’s face. Logan started gathering the hair together to make the low bun that would be the base of hair arrangement. Patton honestly did not expect him to speak, but then he did as he started to secure the piece with pins.

“This was my Pa’s favorite hairpiece,” Logan said. “Not the father you came here for, but my other one. He died when I was six.”

Virgil went shock still. “I don’t have to...”

“I wouldn’t have let it be offered if I wasn’t okay with you using it,” Logan said.

Virgil didn’t move as he finished securing the hairpiece. “There,” Logan said when he was done. He picked up the hand mirror and positioned it so Virgil could see. “It suits you.”

“I…” Virgil said. His eyes were wide, and he clearly didn’t know what to say.

“Now,” Logan said. “I believe there are some other pieces of jewelry that would match this very well in the other room. I…” he turned away. “If you will excuse me.”

He turned away and exited through his bedroom door into the hallway. Patton watched him go and then turned to Virgil. “I’m going to go make sure he’s okay, okay?” Patton asked. “You didn’t do anything wrong, there’s just a lot of emotions.”

“I can take it out…” Virgil said.

“No,” Patton said. “I think he likes that you’re wearing it.” Virgil bit his lip. “He never really moved on,” Patton felt inclined to say. “This is… a lot for him, but I think it’s good too.” He leaned forward to kiss the top of his head, being careful not to mess up his artfully done hair. “I’ll be right back.”

He turned to follow Logan out of the room.

Chapter 19

Thomas sighed in relief as the door to the royal wing finally came into sight. He was exhausted from his journey to Lamir for many reasons. Beyond just the physically taxing journey, he’d also had to deal with the emotions of loosing someone he had thought of as a friend while also trying to help her young daughter who had just had the crown thrust upon her.

Now he just wanted to see his own child and curl up into bed. He smiled at Owen and Kalani as he approached. “Is Logan here?” he asked.

Owen nodded. “The prince and his royal advisor are having a slumber party.”

Thomas smiled. “Of course, they are,” he said.

He said goodnight to the two guard as they’d be getting off duty soon even if he did manage to drag himself out of his room again tonight and walked past them into the hall.

He walked past the room where they kept the jewels, though was unsurprised to see that the room was unlatched as Patton loved playing around with the different jewelry and had probably left it open when he grabbed them. He was however surprised when his son’s room’s door was thrown open, as Logan usually couldn’t stand for the thing to be open with or without him in it.

Thomas didn’t think much of it however, and simply walked over to look inside. He was surprised when he didn’t see his son or Patton and instead saw that the only person in the room was a young boy that Thomas did not recognize. He was seated in one of Logan’s chairs and had his head tilted looking at himself in the mirror. He seemed to be trying to get a look at the ornament on the back of his head, and Thomas felt his heart seize a little bit when he recognized the hairpin.

He hadn’t recovered from that gut punch when the boy’s eyes drifted and met his in the mirror. There were a couple of long seconds where the two of them stared at each other in silence.

“Hello?” Thomas finally managed to get out.

Panic. There was suddenly horribly intense panic in the child’s eyes, the likes of which Thomas had never seen before. Thomas could only blink dumbly as he hopped to his feet like his seat was suddenly made of hot coals and then threw himself across the room to the opposite side from Thomas.

He looked around himself, back to the wall and considered Thomas with wildly spooked eyes. Clearly, he realized that he was pinned in Logan’s room by Thomas being in the door.

The boy dropped suddenly and disappeared under Logan’s bed.

“Uh,” Thomas said, confused and shocked and still a bit in pain from seeing that piece of jewelry in use. He crossed slowly over to the bed and bent down to look under it, moving the bed skirt slightly to the side. He saw a small shaking blob curled up into itself under the bed. “Um, hi,” he said softly.

The blob did not respond except to continue shaking.

Thomas frowned and settled himself onto the floor. “It’s okay,” he said softly. Had he been here stealing things? Thomas had to wonder as he wasn’t sure why someone here for legitimate reasons would be acting so terrified of being caught. Though, that posed the question of how he’d gotten past the guards, and why Logan hadn’t noticed him. “I’m not mad,” Thomas said. “You’re fine.”

The boy looked up briefly from his knees looking terrified. Thomas tried to smile at him gently, but that just made him hunch into himself more, his breathes coming faster. That wasn’t good.

“No, shh,” Thomas said softly. “It’s okay. I promise it’s okay.” He did not seem to believe him, and Thomas winced. What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t just leave him here but trying to talk him down himself didn’t seem to be working.

Luckily, a familiar voice spoke from behind him then. “Dad?” Logan asked.

Thomas looked back at him. Both Logan and Patton were standing at the door, a couple of pieces of jewelry in their hands. They seemed very surprised to see him.

“You… seem to have a guest,” Thomas informed them.

“I…” Logan said, beginning to edge into the room like he was expecting something to blow up at any moment. “Yes.” He got to Thomas and squeezed himself between him and the bed, putting a physical barrier between Thomas and the boy. Confused, Thomas took a couple of steps away without challenge. “That,” Logan glanced behind him. Patton had moved to the opposite side of the bed from Logan and Thomas and had gotten to his knees to look under it. “That is Virgil.”

Thomas blinked at him. “Virgil?” he asked.

“He’s… new to the castle,” Logan explained. Patton started speaking softly the boy, but Thomas could not make anything he said out. “Patton and I… invited him to a sleepover.”

“The guards didn’t mention anything,” Thomas said, sure that they would have warned him if there was a stranger in the royal wing.

“Uh, well, Virgil is… shy and we didn’t think you’d be back for another week. So, we snuck him past them.”

“Shy?” Thomas asked doubtfully. That was a lot more than shy.

“Particularly of adults,” Logan said.

Thomas took a moment to let that sink in. “Oh.” He was… scared of adults. Thomas could imagine many reasons why that might be the case and none of them set well. “I see.”

“Hey, no, sweetie, stop that,” Patton said, sounding distressed. Patton had managed to draw Virgil out from underneath the bed, though they were both still mostly hidden behind it and Thomas had no question in his mind that if he went to step towards them, Virgil would be back underneath it in a moment. Currently the boy seemed to be clawing at his own head. “No, baby shh,” Patton said, trying to stop him from tearing the pinned in hairpiece out, Thomas realized. “I’ll get it out,” Patton promised him. “Just calm down and let me do it.” He sounded close to tears, and Thomas couldn’t particularly blame him with the way the boy was acting. “You’re hurting yourself, baby.”

He must know, Thomas realized. If Logan had known he was here, then he must have allowed him to use that hairpiece. He’d probably even told Virgil that it belonged to his dead father. Now he was probably terrified that Thomas would be mad at him for touching it, especially when he’d come in to find Virgil alone without Logan to explain.

Patton managed to get all the pins undone and placed the piece delicately on the bed before wrapping himself protectively around the boy and hushing him.

Logan was looking back at them as well. He looked between the puddle of upset on the floor and Thomas. “Could…” he said. “Could I maybe come and see you in a few minutes, Dad?”

“Of course,” Thomas said. “Of course, I’ll go wait in my room. Take as much time as you need.”

He was careful to move slowly as he stepped towards the door, so the poor thing didn’t notice him move and mistake it for him approaching. He closed Logan’s bedroom door softly behind him feeling even more drained than he’d been before as well as anxious and a bit sickened. He went to his own bedroom to wait for Logan.

Chapter 20

Logan let out a slow breath as his father closed the door behind him. That could have been very, very bad. He turned his attention to Virgil and Patton. Patton had curled himself around Virgil as much as physically possible and had tucked the boy’s head under his chin.

Logan slowly rounded the bed and knelt in front of them. “It’s alright,” Logan said, cautiously moving to put a hand on his shoulder. Virgil didn’t pull away. “I asked him to leave. It’s alright.”

Virgil tilted his head slightly too look at him. Logan rubbed a circle into his back as he slowly got control of his breath.

Logan smiled softly at him and reached out to touch his cheek with a gentle hand. “You… didn’t hurt him. You didn’t even try to hurt him.”

Virgil shook his head.

“Why not?” Logan asked curiously. “It was a perfect opportunity.”

“Promised Patton,” Virgil mumbled, and the idea that perhaps the thing that had saved his father’s life was a pinky promise just about gave Logan a migraine, but then Virgil ducked his head. “And it would make you sad.”

“I see,” Logan said, heart in his throat.

Virgil kept looking towards the floor, his eyes starting to fill with tears again. “Are you going to turn me in now?”

He was shaking and barely holding back a fresh wave of tears. Logan knew of course that no one would hurt him here if he turned him in to his father and the guards, but he also knew that Virgil would be terrified if he did so. He was already terrified. Logan didn’t want to know what he thought the fate Logan would be condemning him to.

“No,” Logan said before he could even truly think it through. “No, I’m not.”

“You’re not?” Virgil asked.

“Well, there wouldn’t really be a point, would there?” Logan asked. “The reason we planned to turn you when father got back in is because you posed a danger to him, but you have just demonstrated that is no longer an issue.”

“Really?” Virgil asked, sniffling a bit and Logan saw Patton’s arms tighten even more around him.

“We will have to figure out a better cover for you than just that you’re new to the castle, but I believe it will work fine. No one besides the two of us would ever guess your origin anyway.”

“S-so I can stay?” Virgil asked, “and you won’t throw me into prison or execute me?”

“I promise you were never going to be executed Virgil,” Logan said. “Even if we turned you in, but yes you can stay with us. We’ll figure out a backstory for you that doesn’t involve assassinations and you’ll have to keep up the lie, but I doubt anyone will question it.”

“I’ll do whatever you want,” Virgil said, chocked up. “Thank you. I really didn’t want to go.”

“Well, you’re our friend now so there will be no going anywhere,” Patton said kissing him on the cheek. Virgil relaxed back into his hold, pleased with the affection.

Logan smiled at them both. “Can I see your wrists, Virgil?”

Virgil blinked but offered them and Logan tapped the restraints doing a quick incantation. They popped off after a moment.

“You’re letting me go?” Virgil asked, eyes wide.

“Of course,” Logan said. “We’re not just going to keep you prisoner for no reason.”

“That’s…” Virgil said, eyes watering as he clearly was trying not to cry. “You’re the best people I’ve ever met.”

“I wish that was not so clearly the case,” Logan replied. He slowly reach up and set a hand on his shoulder. “I’m going to go speak with my father. Patton will stay with you.”

“Okay,” Virgil agreed, seeming a bit hesitant.

Logan smiled softly and leaned forward to gently touch their foreheads together. “I will be right back,” he assured. “We will finish our slumber party, though perhaps we will table the rest of the dress up activity for another night.”

He stood then, leaving Virgil in Patton’s capable hands to exit his own bedroom and cross the hallway to his father’s. He took a brief moment to compose himself before knocking on the door.

“Come in,” his father called.

Logan opened the door to see his father sitting on one of the armchairs in his room. Despite the almost disaster that had taken place a few minutes ago, Logan found himself smiling at the man. It was nice to have him home.

“Sorry about that,” Father said.

“It was more my fault than yours. If I knew there was a risk of you coming home today, I wouldn’t have left him alone.”

“Is he alright?”

“I believe so,” Logan answered. “Patton is with him and will certainly smooth out any lingering distress.”

“Good,” his dad said. “That’s good.” There was a pause and then he gestured at the seat beside his.

Logan settled himself down on it. “How was your trip?” he asked. “You’re back a week early.”

“Yes,” Father said. “The trip went better and worse than anticipated.

“How so?” asked Logan curiously.

“Well,” Dad said. “The purpose of the trip was to convince the new queen of Lamir, Cecil not to ally with Mocnejsi, but by the time I’d arrived there wasn’t really a risk of that.”

“Why not?”

“After investigation, it turned out that Cecil’s mother had been poisoned by an assassin from Mocnejsi.”

“Oh,” Logan said, mind already racing.

“They figured out that one of the young women who had been hired on in the kitchen for the winter had done it, and had learned her origin when they questioned her,” Dad informed him. “Considering Cecil was immediately approached for an alliance with Mocnejsi, their aim was likely to manipulate her going forward because of how young she is. Luckily, Cecil is a smart girl and has the help of her mother’s advisor as well as her own. By the time I got there, my only real role was to extend my condolences and reaffirm out alliance. I would have stayed longer, but the possibility that Mocnejsi may think to attack us in a similar way hastened me home.”

“That…” Logan said. “That is wise. I assume you are going to institute more security.”

“I am, yes,” Dad replied. “I would like your input on plans in the coming day.”

“Of course,” Logan agreed.

Dad smiled at him, “But for now,” he said, “I think it’s time you get back to your slumber party and I get to finally go to sleep.”

Logan nodded and got to his feet. He leaned over to hug his father perhaps a bit longer and harder than was strictly necessary, but Dad did not seem to mind at all. “Goodnight,” Logan said.

“Goodnight, son.”

Chapter 21

Virgil woke with something soft but kind of stringy in his face. That was weird. He didn’t know what in the closet would feel like that. In fact, as he woke more he noticed more things that he couldn’t sus out the origin of, particularly the warmth curled up against his side. Curious, he blinked open his eyes. Oh, right. Patton.

The soft stuff in his face was Patton’s hair and the warmth next to Virgil was the rest of the boy’s body. Patton had all but refused to let Virgil go last night after Logan had taken off the restraints and Virgil hadn’t minded the attention. They must have fallen asleep together in the piles of pillows and blankets on the floor.

Virgil brushed his hair gently away, internally (for fear of disturbing him) shaking his head at him. He’d fallen asleep hallway on top of an assassin. He had no self-preservation instincts. He looked at his wrists. It seemed no one had any self-preservation instincts. This of course, included himself as instead of running off when free in case they decided to turn him in after all, he had fallen asleep on the floor with Patton too.

He looked to the side and saw Logan was already awake, reading on one of his chairs. He seemed to sense Virgil’s eyes on him because he looked up after a moment.

“You can get up if you like,” Logan said. “He is a heavy sleeper and won’t wake up if you squirm out of his grip.”

Virgil frowned, unsure if he wanted to risk it.

“I have breakfast ready for you.”

Okay, Virgil was going to risk it.

He carefully squirmed out of Patton’s grip, leaning down to press a kiss to his forehead in apology for leaving him before getting to his feet.

Logan handed him a plate of eggs and toast when he walked over and gestured to the chair next to him. Virgil sat there to eat while Logan continued to read.

Virgil ate his food quickly, and then glanced over at Logan once he was done. Virgil was honestly at a bit of a loss. Usually, they came and got him out of the closet only once they were ready to do something, but Patton was still sound asleep on the floor and Logan looked engrossed in his book.

Virgil fidgeted slightly, unsure what he should be doing or even if he should be doing anything. Considering Logan hadn’t given him any instructions, he should probably not do anything. He didn’t want to screw up the first day of… whatever this was now.

Logan glanced over at him after a few minutes. “Don’t forget about the potion,” he reminded.

Virgil nodded and stood, walking over to the closet since it would still be in there from the previous morning. It was about half gone now and it had gotten to the point where Virgil didn’t feel any immediate affects from it anymore other than some warmth. It basically just felt like drinking tea.

He said as much to Logan when he walked back over to him.

“That’s good,” Logan said, “it means it has been working. It has healed any damage it can from malnutrition. Any internal organs that were damaged should be mostly healed. You may even notice your eyesight getting slightly better. Your immune system should also be boosted. You will likely also find it is easier to gain muscle and while you likely will never be as tall as you could have been, you will likely still grow a few inches during your next growth spirt.”

Virgil studied his hands where they were sitting on his thigh now as though he could see the changes that allegedly had already taken place in his body. “Thank you,” he said quietly.

“Of course,” Logan replied, eyes already back on his book like it was some normal thing and not a huge kindness he’d bestowed on Virgil before even really knowing him. As though Virgil didn’t just owe him more than just his life going forward.

They sat in silence then for a few more minutes, before the was a soft sigh from the floor and Patton started to wake. He sat up and looked around. His eyes landed on both Virgil and Logan sitting together and he seemed to light up.

“Good morning!” he chirped.

“Good morning, Patton,” Logan said as Patton popped to his feet, “I have breakfast for you.”

“Thank you Lo,” Patton said, throwing his arms around Logan’s neck, and giving him a kiss on the cheek. Virgil presumed from the lack of surprise on Logan’s face that this was normal for morning Patton, not that the fact surprised him considering how night Patton acted.

He still managed to be somewhat surprised by the fact that Patton turned to hug Virgil a second later. Patton’s lips were pressed briefly to Virgil’s head and then he turned to grab the plate Logan had saved for him.

“So, what are we doing today?” Patton asked.

“I was thinking Virgil and I could continue our reading lessons if he is not opposed,” Logan said. Virgil nodded, happy with that prospect. “Other than that, I have no plans. I have already spoken with my father before the two of you woke. He is going to spend most of his day catching up on things he missed and said I could take the rest of the day off royal duties.”

“A whole day to relax then!” Patton said, happily chewing on his toast. “Reading sounds fun, but we should do something more active too.”

Logan hummed. “We can show Virgil the courtyard after the reading lessons,” he said.

It took a moment for it to register, but then Virgil froze. “Wait,” he said. “We’re going outside?”

Logan raised an eyebrow at him. “Yes.”

“So, we’re leaving your room?”

“Are you alright with that?” Logan asked cautiously.

Virgil nodded quickly.

“Oh,” Patton said at his enthusiasm. “I guess you have been cooped up a while, haven’t you?” He smiled sadly and turned to Logan. “Maybe we can do reading lessons in the garden.”

“That would be satisfactory.”

“Great!” Patton said. He looked over at Virgil. “If we’re going out, we should probably put your hair up and get you in some clean clothes.”

Logan nodded. “You finish eating, and I will help Virgil find something to wear.”

Logan found him an outfit, though it was a bit baggy on Virgil and the hem of the shirt went halfway to his knees. When Patton finished breakfast, he sat Virgil down and carefully worked a brush through his hair.

“Can I braid it?” Patton asked.

Virgil hummed his consent. Having his hair brushed and done up by another person was a lot more enjoyable than he’d anticipated. He’d liked it when Logan did it the night before, though he had to very firmly push away thoughts of where that led.

“Okay!” Patton said after a few moments. “You look good. Ready to go?”

Virgil nodded and they both led him out into the hall. He paused before they got to the door. “What about the guards?” he asked hesitantly.

“I’ve already given them the same story as I did Dad,” Logan replied. “They know you’re here.”

Virgil still hesitated.

“It’s okay,” Patton promised. “Here, hold my hand?”

Virgil took the offered hand immediately, and Logan stepped in front of them both. Virgil felt himself relax a bit knowing the prince was between him and the guards.

They led him to the door.

Logan greeted both of the guards at the door, and they said good morning back. Both of them glanced at Virgil curiously for a moment making him shrink into himself, but they quickly averted their gazes.

Patton pulled him past them without incident and soon they were in the small dining hall Virgil had passed through his first night here. He remembered how he’d snuck around at the edges of the room in the shadows with the aim to kill the king, but now he was being pulled through the middle with the prince having just wandered past the royal guards in broad daylight like it was nothing.

It was so strange, and Virgil still couldn’t totally believe this was happening. The retraced his exact steps back down the spiral stairs near the kitchen and out of the door he and the nice gardener had came through. He could even see the shed he’d been hiding in from here. With a blink, he remembered they were going to the garden, and he wondered if he’d see the man again.

For now, he just looked around them as Logan and Patton led him past the garden shed towards an area with many trees. Orange and yellow leaves were starting to fall from many of the trees.

They made a satisfying crunching sound under his feet as he was led to a tree. He had seen the group of trees when he’d first arrived here and had even thought about hiding amongst them instead of in the shed, but they’d seemed scary in the dark. They were pretty in the daylight, however, and Virgil found himself tilting his head to watch the branches sway in the slight wind.

Logan sat down under it and pulled out a book and some writing materials from the bag he’d brought. Virgil settled down next to him so they could both look at the book at the same time and Patton flopped down on the other side, immediately setting to work tying fancy knots in the yarn he’d brought with him. Patton shuffled slightly to the side so they bumped shoulders as Logan opened the book and started Virgil’s reading lesson.

Chapter 22

Patton bit his lip to keep from laughing or awing. “Do you like the flower, Virgil?” he asked.

Virgil glanced up at him briefly and then his eyes returned to the flower he’d found. “It’s nice,” he said.

They’d finished the reading lessons and let Virgil explore the garden a bit. He’d found a dark purple and yellow flower (a pansy, Patton thought) and seemed to be endlessly fascinated by it. He’d been staring at it for minutes now, almost as though he expected it to do something. Patton did not quite understand his interest, but he was still adorable.

Logan sat next to him and the flower, smiling at him softly. “I imagine you’ll enjoy the garden in the spring,” Logan said. “There are many more flowers then. Of all types. We’ll have to show you all of the best spots. Mr. Deknis has a particularly good eye for colors, and it is always quite beautiful.”

“Who is Mr. Deknis?” Virgil asked.

“He’s the head gardener,” Logan said. “He’s a nice man, though a bit prickly when it comes to his garden. We may see him today if he’s in this part of the garden.”

“Would he have been the multrum I saw in the gardening shed when I hid there?”

“Ah, yes, that would be him. I was unaware you interacted with anyone in the castle.”

“He caught me in his garden shed, but he wasn’t mean,” Virgil said, he tilted his head curiously at Logan. “Why…” he trailed off.

“Yes?” Logan asked.

“Why is he the gardener?”

Logan looked confused, “Well,” he said, “I guess because he wants to and is good at it.”

“No,” Virgil said with a frown. “I mean. Shouldn’t he… he’s…”

Logan seemed to think hard for a moment. “Right,” he said. “You’ve been under a blood compulsion. I’d guess you would have only worked with multrums in the military.”

“I guess I didn’t realize that they could be other things…”

“Of course, they can,” Logan said. “Their abilities don’t make them any less of people. Mr. Deknis likes to garden so he gardens.”

Virgil blinked at him.

“…Of course, all things considered, that may not be a familiar concept to you.” Virgil turned back to look at the flower instead of answering. “Right,” said Logan.

There were a couple of awkward beats of silence. Patton bit his lip and happened to glance up. “Oh,” he said. “Speaking of Mr. Deknis.” He gestured to the gardener who was coming up the path between the trees.

Logan sat up on his knees as Patton waved at him. He saw Patton and turned to walk towards them. “The two of you had better not be up to mischief in my garden,” Mr. Deknis called, his voice a bit gruff. He clearly did not see Virgil who had laid flat on his stomach to stare at the flower.

Logan rolled his eyes automatically. “We were just reading Mr. Deknis,” he said. “Your piles of dirt are safe.”

“No mud cakes?” Mr. Deknis asked skeptically still coming towards them.

“It has been a literal decade…”

Patton saw when Mr. Deknis was close enough to see Virgil.

He stopped in his track and looked down at Virgil who was already watching him a bit warily. “Hello,” he said, his voice a lot softer than it’d been a few moments before. His expression completely flipped in a moment to something very gentle when he saw Virgil and the cautious look on his face. Virgil did seem to have that effect on people.

“Hi,” Virgil replied.

Mr. Deknis looked at Logan and then at Patton and then back at Virgil. “This is our new friend, Virgil,” Patton offered.

“Hello, Virgil,” Mr. Deknis said with a nod.

“Virgil, this is the gardener Mr. Deknis.”

“He’s not nearly as grumpy as he sounds,” Patton assured.

“Well,” Logan said, “yes he is.”

Mr. Deknis shot him a look that only served to prove Logan’s point if Patton was being honest. Logan just smiled back. Mr. Deknis apparently decided to let it slide because he turned back to Virgil.

“It’s good to see you again,” Mr. Deknis said. “Are you feeling better?”

Virgil nodded. “I’m a lot better,” he said. Mr. Deknis considered him for a moment, clearly reading how true that statement was. Patton was glad he seemed satisfied with the answer.

“I see you’ve met these two.”

“Yeah,” Virgil said.

Mr. Deknis smiled slightly. “Be careful with this one,” he said, pointing to Logan. “He’s a bad influence.”

Virgil frowned in confusion. “He’s the prince,” he pointed out.

“And a bad influence,” Mr. Deknis repeated. “He’s a beacon of irresponsibility and mischief and he corrupts that one,” he nodded to Patton.

“I am completely responsible,” Logan replied.

“Need I remind you of the cucumber incident.”

“I was 8,” Logan said.

“I know how old you were,” Mr. Deknis replied, “and you are hardly any older.”

“I resent that.”

Mr. Deknis just smiled and turned back to Virgil who was watching the interaction with pure curiosity.

“I just picked a few more of those apples for Patton’s mom to make into apple sauce. Would you kids like some?”

Virgil glanced over at Logan and Patton.

“That would be nice, thank you,” Patton replied for them all, standing up. Seeing that, Virgil also climbed to his feet.

“It’s back this way,” Mr. Deknis said, inclining hid head back the way he’d came and then turning to lead them that way. Patton followed him. He glanced back to see Logan put his hand on Virgil’s shoulder and give him a gentle push to get him going. “So, what are you kids up to today?”

“We wanted to show Virgil the garden and courtyard,” Patton said. “He’s been cooped up inside for a bit.”

“I see,” Mr. Deknis said. He glanced back at Virgil. “Feel free to come out in the garden anytime you like. As long as you don’t go about purposefully destroying stuff, I don’t mind you being out here.”

“I won’t destroy anything,” Virgil promised instantly.

“Well I hope you manage to keep that attitude even while befriending the large upright groundhog behind you.”

Virgil looked a little bit nervous. “He’s just teasing Virgil,” Patton assured. “He loves Logan.”

Mr. Deknis glanced back again and seemed to read the same thing Patton had read on Virgil’s face.

“Yes, of course,” Mr. Deknis said. “I have simply known the prince for a long time and joke with him in that way often. Logan is aware of that.”

“Indeed,” Logan agreed, his hand squeezing a bit on Virgil’s shoulder. Virgil relaxed a touch.

Mr. Deknis stopped and reached down into a bucket next to a tree. “I wouldn’t offer my apples to people I don’t like,” he said, tossing an apple underhand to Logan. Instead of trying to catch it, his eyes widened and he dodged out of the way.

“You would however throw apples at them despite knowing they have never been able to catch things.”

Mr. Deknis just rolled his eyes fondly, but Virgil frowned and turned to Logan. “You don’t know how to catch things?” he asked scandalized. “You should know how to catch things. What if someone throws a knife at you?”

Mr. Deknis looked… probably the right amount of concerned about that statement coming from a 14-year-old’s lips.

“Haha, yeah,” Patton said awkwardly. “Maybe you can teach Logan how to catch things Virgil, but later. Right now, why don’t we just get the apples and then show you the courtyard.”

Virgil was still frowning, but he did not argue with Patton’s suggestion.

Thankfully, Mr. Deknis did not push, though Patton did have to dodge many a meaningful side eye. He might… need to make sure he did not get cornered by the gardener in the coming days… or brush up on his lying without lying skills.

For now, though, he just handed out the apples, not tossing them this time. Virgil thanked him softly and Patton could see the way the usually fairly gruff man went all melty at that. He even slipped an extra apple to Virgil for later which Virgil perked up at.

Patton and Logan pulled him away gently after that so Mr. Deknis could go back to work, but Virgil seemed happy with the apples and copied Patton at waving goodbye to him cheerfully.

Despite the fact that he liked Mr. Deknis and he’d been nice, Patton still took a calming breath when they were no longer at risk of lying about something and getting caught by the man’s powers. They went back into the castle towards the courtyard.

Chapter 23

Logan was unsurprised that after showing Virgil the large courtyard, Patton almost immediately decided to instigate a game of tag. They were, after all, here with the goal of getting Virgil a bit active after having had him only in Logan’s room for weeks.

He was also unsurprised that Virgil seemed confused about the concept of tag, and Patton had to explain the game in detail to him.

It made him wince, but he still was unsurprised when Virgil went about inquiring after the consequences of losing the game.

He was, however, very surprised when, after getting all of the facts about tag settle, Patton was chasing after Virgil trying to tag him and suddenly the boy disappeared.

Patton almost ran into a wall in his confusion. He stared at his hands stretched out and just a couple of inches from touching the wall for a moment, before slowly looking up.

“Virgil!” Patton exclaimed. “What?”

“What?” he asked.

“…What are you even hanging onto?”

“The wall,” Virgil replied.

Logan walked closer to the two of them and tilted his head up to look at him. Virgil had jumped up and somehow managed to find hand and foot holes on the seemingly smooth wall. He climbed about 5 meters above their heads and was peering down at them curiously.

“Okay,” Logan said. “New rule. Virgil is not allowed to scale walls during tag.”

Virgil frowned down at him. “Why only me?”

“Because Patton and I cannot do that anyway,” Logan said. “We would not be able to actually play if you remain up there.”

Patton glanced over at him and reached over to touch Logan’s shoulder. “No tag backs,” he said. Logan glared at him. “Why don’t you come down sweetie?”

“But Logan will tag me,” he said.

“Well, honey, that’s part of the fun,” Patton reasoned. “Don’t you want to try being it?”

Virgil seemed to consider this for a long moment. “Okay,” he agreed.

To Logan’s terror, he simply let go of the wall, falling straight down and landing crouched. He blinked at Logan. Right. With a start, Patton took off, so he’d have a head start. “No tag backs means a 10 second head start for me,” Logan reminded. Virgil nodded, and Logan reached out to poke him in the arm before immediately running off in the opposite direction as Patton.

Logan’s strategy worked out since, knowing he couldn’t go after Logan for a few seconds more, he chose to turn and go after Patton. After finding one of the statues to hide behind on the edge of the courtyard, Logan risked glancing back.

Virgil was faster than Logan (and likely Patton) had accounted for. Patton had gotten a good head start on him, but Virgil closed it quickly. Patton shrieked as Virgil barreled into him, bringing them both to the ground.

“Virgil!” Logan heard Patton giggle. Logan figured he was more than okay despite the tackle. “This isn’t how you play tag!”

“I combined tag and tackle hugs,” Virgil declared, making Patton giggle more.

“That’s very innovative, honey,” Patton said. “Now are you going to let me up?...Virgil… I’m counting down your 10 second head start in my head, and if you don’t let me up I’m going to tag you again.”

This did not seem to have the intended effect as Virgil did not remove himself from Patton’s person. Patton laugh when it became clear he was not going to move and began counting down “7, 6, 5, 4, you’d better let me go sweetie, or you’re going to get tagged again.” Virgil did not seem to care. “3, 2, 1.” Patton reached up and bopped him on the nose. “Tag!” he declared.

Logan was surprised when Virgil instantly jumped off Patton at that. He whipped around.

‘Oh,’ Logan thought as the boy’s eyes narrowed in on Logan immediately, ‘I see.’

“Virgil was already halfway across the courtyard towards him before Logan could even think about running away. There was no way that he was fast enough to outrun him. Perhaps he could outthink him, he thought. His eyes scanned his environment in the seconds he had left and landed on a large square piece of stone that held flowers in the spring. It was just full of dirt now, but it was still about waist high. Perhaps if he kept that between them, he could outmaneuver him. He sprinted towards it and scrambled to the opposite side from where Virgil was heading.

He really should not have been as surprised as he was that Virgil did not even slightly slow as he approached the planter box, instead grabbing ahold of the side of it and vaulting over it. Logan stumbled back, bracing for impact, but instead he just got a quick tap on the shoulder.

Logan blinked at him.

“I don’t know if you would be okay with tackle hugs,” he explained.

Logan considered him. “I would be okay with a nontackle hug.”

Virgil happily jumped forward to hug Logan, pressing his nose into Logan’s shoulder. Logan chuckled and patted the top of his head. “Six,” he said, “5, 4, 3…”

Virgil bolted away suddenly, actually making Logan stumble a bit. He paused just out of reach of Logan, looking at him with anticipation. “2,1,” Logan finished with a raised eyebrow. He already knew he was being played with, but he indulged him by starting towards him. Virgil danced out of the way, eyes alight. Logan sighed. “Is this truly how it’s going to be?” he asked.

Virgil didn’t answer, but to watch him with wide, excited eyes.

“Fine,” Logan said. He dashed towards him again, only to have him continue to maneuver just out of Logan’s reach each time Logan went forward. He’d call it taunting if there was any sign of malice in it.

They ran around the courtyard in spirts of Logan charging at him and Virgil expertly dodging. Eventually Patton came closer to them. Logan could tell that Virgil was aware of his presence, by how he glanced back at him briefly, but considering he was not ‘it,’ it seemed he chose to disregard him. However, he was not aware of the way Patton winked at Logan as he walked up behind Virgil.

Logan, on the other hand, knew exactly what was happening. He went to spring for Virgil again, and Virgil again moved to dodge, but this time Patton grabbed him around the waist, allowing Logan to actually tag him.

He turned slowly to face Patton who started to giggle immediately at the perplexed look on his face. It cleared into something else as soon as he heard Patton laugh. “Traitor!” he claimed. “We were on the same team and you betrayed me.”

“I just thought we should probably have mercy on poor Logan,” Patton replied.

“Hmm,” Virgil said, eyes again full of that playful mischief Logan had not seen until today. “Plea for mercy not accepted.”

Patton once again half-shrieked half-laughed as he was pounced on. The two of them went rolling across the grass, Virgil clearly keeping the rolling going longer than it should have as they made it a good few meters.

36284

Virgil sprung off of him a few moments later.

“Oh, is it my turn?” Patton inquired with a huge smile. He slowly got to his feet. “Hmm, I’m probably at about 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!” He took off after Virgil, but Patton had a bit more endurance than Logan, so instead of doing quickly calculated lunges at Virgil as Logan had done, he just ran at him full tilt without stopping.

Virgil ran from him, though Logan was pretty sure he was intentionally slowing himself down a bit so Patton had some amount of a chance. He kept turning to check behind him and make sure Patton was still somewhat close as he ran.

Which is why he didn’t see the imminent disaster in time.

Chapter 24

Thomas should have been paying more attention, but his mind had been on the meeting he’d just had with the castle guards about increased security in the wake of the possible threat from Mocnejsi. He’d decided to take a brief walk around the courtyard to clear his head but was still distracted with mulling over the options that had just been presented to him. He stepped into the castle courtyard and did not have time to step out of the way of the much smaller body rocketing towards him. Virgil slammed into his front, but not before Thomas got a good look at his face.

Virgil’s expression changed dramatically in the few seconds between him registering Thomas was there and running into him. For the briefest moment, Thomas could see that he must have been having a lot of fun. He’d caught the wide smile and sparkling eyes as Virgil turned his head back from looking at Patton who was chasing him across the greenery. He’d looked very happy which made it all the more painful to see that happiness die in and a few instants. When his head had turned back towards Thomas, there was a flicker of confusion at something being in his path.

Then, clearly everything about the situation registered, because his eyes blew wide in horror as he tried to stop himself, but there was no way he’d be able to in time. Thomas saw that fact register on his face the moment before he hit. Gone was any trace of happiness or joy in that split second. All that was left was dread that had no place anywhere near a children’s game of tag. It was the expression Thomas would expect from someone who felt ice give way under their feet in the middle of a lake they had thought was frozen solid.

He hit hard, but he wasn’t nearly big enough to actually harm Thomas. Thomas was thrown slightly off balance but managed to stay on his feet. He reached out a hand to his shoulder automatically to steady the child. There was a moment of pseudo calm where they both absorbed the impact and stilled.

Then, the boy’s shoulder slipped out of Thomas’s grip as he went crashing to the ground in a move that made Thomas wince for the state of his knees. Thomas couldn’t quite grasp what was happening for a moment as Virgil face planted onto the ground in front of him, but when he did, Thomas couldn’t help but flinch and take a step back from him.

Thomas had been bowed to before, of course, seeing as he was a king, but this was not out of respect or courtesy or even just tradition. This was out of terror. He was begging for mercy and it made Thomas feel sick.

“I’m sorry,” he said, meek and shaky into the ground, and there was almost something worse about the fact that he did not beg for forgiveness with his words, but only his posture. The way his breathes came far too quick and shallow said he was likely on the verge of a panic attack, but he was not blubbering through apologies or even not speaking at all. He gave a clear, if shaky, apology, and waited for whatever he thought Thomas planned to do to him. There was no way that was not learned.

“You don’t…” Thomas stuttered. “You don’t have to do that. It’s okay.”

“I’m sorry,” he said again, but he reacted in no other way. He did not even react when Patton made it to his side and knelt down next to him. Patton’s hand hovered over his back, clearly wanting to touch down, but he pulled back on that instinct.

“Virgil, honey,” he said softly. “It’s okay. No one is mad. It was an accident.”

Virgil did not react to this at all.

Thomas caught Logan’s eye as he hurried over to them himself. “Sorry,” Thomas mouthed. Logan just nodded and turned his attention to his friend.

“There is no reason for any of that,” Logan said, his voice firm, almost clipped. “You are not in trouble. Now sit up.”

Virgil did respond to that, slowly shifting back on his knees. He kept his head down looking at the ground. “Sorry,” he said again.

“I…” Thomas said, surveying the three kids on the ground in front of him. Thomas slowly sunk to the ground to be at their level. Virgil was tracking his movements out of the corner of his eyes, his head still bowed and his shoulders tensed. “Hey,” Thomas said softly. “Were you three playing tag?”

Virgil hesitated, eyes flickering as he debated whether he should respond or not.

“Yeah, we were,” Patton answered for him after a moment of stressful silence.

“Well that’s fun,” Thomas said. “I’m sorry for interrupting the three of you. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

Virgil glanced up at him for just a moment before looking away again. Patton apparently felt it was safe enough to touch Virgil, because he settled a hand on the boys shoulder.

“Yeah, we’ve just been having a fun day,” Patton said, carefully matching Thomas’s light tone. “We went to the garden and did some reading. Then, Mr. Deknis gave us some apples.”

“That’s nice,” Thomas replied. “He’s been talking about the new apples he’s been growing. He’s been working on them for years and they’re just beginning to bare fruit this year. I haven’t gotten a chance to try any yet. Are they any good?”

“They’re very good,” Patton told him. His hand rubbed slowly on Virgil’s back. “Isn’t that right, Virge?”

Virgil nodded a bit, a little less tense now, but still nowhere near calm.

“Well, I’ll have to try them soon,” Thomas said with a smile. “Thank you for the information. Now, I’ve got to get back to what I’m doing, but I hope you three have a good day.”

“I’ll see you later, Dad,” Logan said.

Thomas nodded and pushed himself to his feet. “Goodbye you three,” he said before turning away towards the door back into the castle. He paused to take a breath when the door closed behind him, cutting off the courtyard. There were a lot of thoughts to shirt through in regards to that conversation. He hated that Virgil was so obviously terrified of him. Both of their two interactions had ended with the poor thing panicking on the ground. He wished he had some idea of how to help him or at least someone to talk to about it.

Maybe he’d go visit Mr. Deknis himself and not just for the apples.

#proofread stories #not writing

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izzyizumi · 3 years

Photo

Digimon Adventure x Digimon Adventure tri ~ featuring CHARACTER: Koushiro[u] Izumi [Koushiro “Izzy” Izumi in US dub] (+relationship with Mimi Tachikawa) [+Taichi Yagami] + IMPORTANT DIALOGUES (in Adventures & connecting to tri.) + CHARACTER/STORY PROGRESSION

also known as: KOUSHIRO vs. COMMUNICATION {further a.k.a: Communication Is Hard.}

{the following related quotes and information relates more specifically to Tri!Koushiro. There will be minimal spoilers for both his & Mimi’s roles in tri, without majorly spoiling the ending / plot surrounding Meiko.}

“I WISH THAT KOUSHIRO would act more spoiled and unreasonable instead of always keeping it inside”

“like a 'GOOD BOY’”

“I want him to tell me what he LIKES”

“and” “HATES”

“That’s what being A KID is all about!”

“...Don’t you think so?”

- Mrs Izumi, Adventure Episode 31 (Japanese version)

{... Or maybe it would have been better if you

NEVER SAID ANYTHING AT ALL.}

- {Koushiro, internally, @ himself, Often, Probably} [?]:

Original Posters’ {Mine} Commentary:

{Some Food For Thought TM, Maybe}

(a refresher, of relevant Koushiro backstory potentials from the novels written by Adventure director Kakudou!) {I tend to refer to these passages a Lot when discussing or analyzing Koushiros concepts for Reasons}: [with translations thanks to Onkei; as tumblr refuses to show posts with links in the tags nowadays, please check in comments if you want the links to novels, thank you!]

- from the opening chapters; when lost on File Island

- from the part covering Adventure episode 28; a.k.a. “the Gate”:

“Before now, before he had come to the Digital World, Koushiro had considered himself

an insignificant and WORTHLESS human being.”

{Note: it should be important to be kept in mind that Koushiro within this point of the pre-series story [Novels, above] is 10~ years old and he’s been feeling those things SINCE HE WAS A TINY CHILD [Ages 5~10].}

{“THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH BEING [INTO/OBSESSED WITH] COMPUTERS!”} [Note: in novels, it’s translated as “obsessed with”.]

BONUS:

{from later in the same sequence of Adventure #31, above}:

{from later on in Tri; Kyousei ending}:

THE BIGGEST BONUS:

tri. head Director Motonaga: As tri. is connected to 02, the entire theme of this work is depicting what the first generation of Chosen Children would be thinking about as they become adults.

Because the question of what kind of adults they’ll become has already been answered, we’re working on the problem of getting to that answer, in a sort of reverse problem-solving.

(on Koushiro) As Koushiro begins to try changing his clothes in Part 1, he wants to become someone who can do something by himself.

- Otomedia, February 2016 (Digimon Adventure tri. interview) [with translation credit thanks to website DigiLab Blog!]

“what they were learning in Tri.”: (KOUSHIRO):

“ After understanding about himself, GAINS ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND OTHERS. Learns to easily/OPENLY ACCEPT OTHERS’ LOVE TOWARDS HIM .”

- from a post-Tri livestream interview given by Kazumasa Habu (who, along with Kenji Watanabe and Mr. Maekawa, are members) of the Digimon Staff that works with the LCD Virtual Pets [with translation via Onkei]

{pictured: Habu holds up the planning sheet for Tri.}

MIMI - ‘selfishness’{-like quality, aka ‘Jikochu’ in Ketsui} disappears, learns to be courteous towards others

[&] Learns not to expect others to be sweet on her "just because she's a girl." {<- this includes Koushiro Izumi!} learns that when it's necessary, she'll have to get dirty herself and give in to things.

start of {Kokuhaku} / {Confession} [Movie #3]:

(earlier on, as well), {Ketsui}:

{Kyousei} / {Coexistence}; Movie #5: {when she becomes stuck in a familiar-to-the-viewers setting with Tentomon}:

[hey, wouldn’t you know, she’s very clearly not upset with Koushiro anymore?]

{Kizuna}:

[the last we have of Original!Koushiro so far, from the credits; he’s now the head of his own company, having learnt how to UNDERSTAND others while openly ACCEPTING LOVE towards HIMSELF, from the people who CARE about him, {and even simply learning how to communicate in TEAMS}]

(people who CARE ABOUT HM): {ALSO KNOWN AS: HIS FRIENDS} & {HIS FAMILY}

“KNOWING NOTHING is just a chance to learn new things, RIGHT?”

“PLEASE KEEP LEARNING NEW THINGS,

... AND ENJOYING IT.”

{Note: this post is part of a series discussing Koushiro using canonical references and quotations from the original Japanese version [and not the U.S. dub] to attempt to explain his progressing storyline; you can view more of my headcanons thoughts and analysis at my Neurodivergent Koushiro analysis series!}

caps/gifs by @izzyizumi,

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#digimon adventure tri #digimon adventure tri.#tri koushiro #ketsui spoilers #izumi koushirou #tachikawa mimi #yoshie izumi #yagami taichi #koushiro meta #tri meta #taichi and koushiro #koushiro and mimi #koushiro tls #koushiro refs #izzyizumi posts #izzyizumi gifs #izzyizumi tri gifs #izzyizumi tri koushiro gifs #tri koushiro meta #autistic koushiro #autistic koushiro series #autistic koushiro headcanons #koushiro and empathy #koushiro and communication #low empathy koushiro #(THAT ASIDE WHOO BOY I have a LOT OF COMMENTARY on Koushiro and Communication and whoa here have all these direct quotations to connect it)#(this is only the start SORRY I have to make like 10210200120120 more gifs and videos to explain every single Koushiro scene Apparently)#(you know???? it'd be cool to stop seeing people constantly trashing my fav because of mischaracterized fanon that ppl INSIST on spreading?)#(look.... look i'm trying to be patient anyway if you could PLEASE consider most of the references i'm showing here i'd greatly appreciate)#(me 'hey??? hey all??? HEY can we please consider NOT trashing any aspect of canonical Koushiro you know that one who is ADOPTED????')

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danjaley · 4 years

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Story Process Challenge

Tagged by @nocturnalazure in the text, but I hope this counts :)

1. Your writing process - show us a part of your script or explain how you write your scenes. Do you write in screenplay format or novel format? Etc, etc.

Sims-stories I write in digital format almost exclusively and usually in dialogue form. Here’s the first page of “Wild Hunt”. It all started out with Lavinia’s character description and stayed there a very long time. Then it also has a stock of Gothic names, which is copied from another document, hence the German headline. Being me, I sometimes leave some silliness, like the extra-characters. (The thing about the blacksmith was that when these ‘barbarians’ caught an artisan, they sometimes crippled them so they couldn’t run away, but had to work for them. Unfortunately I couldn’t fit such a character into the story. He’s still there from brainstorming days)

This is the market scene from Chevalry, along with a lot of cut scenes. I always quote this as an example why some of the best scenes aren’t even there in my writing. The text is green because I used this to mark it as the story-in-the-story. (The expression ‘shock-blanket’ is a reference to an episode of Sherlock. Some expressions (”slain” “daughter to”) are also borrowed from Shakespeare-plays)

2. Scene building - show us you in the middle of scene building through pictures, gifs, or a video. Explain what is the best thing about scene building and what is the worst!

I rarely take pictures of half-built sets. Wherever possible, I prefer using places built by experienced builders. I have zero sense of architecture. A square small place is the most I can be trusted to do myself. Generally I prefer to work with decor and plants. This travelling cart was a different kind of challenge. I built it on a 10x10 lot and it had to be placed first, before I constructed a new set around it. On the second picture you also see the cleverly camouflaged mailbox :)

3. CC/Pose Making - do you make your own cc/poses for your scene? If so, what is your process like to create? Do you just go off the top of your head? Do you use reference photos?

I think it’s safe to say that I’m a pose-maker. Although I make a lot less poses than I used to. Partly because of time, partly because I don’t like the washed-out Blender under Windows 10 :/ In the heyday of Chevalry, I would quit the game and pose the scene myself, if I wasn’t 100% satisfied. Though the only scene I ever posed start-to finish was the haircutting-kiss. Nowadays, I rather try to work with existing poses. Back when I took requests, I sometimes worked with reference pictures, and they do give the scene some extra depth. The scene modelled after a still from “Anastasia” really taught me how much detail the artists had put into their characters’ expressions, and this translated back to the resulting poses.

4. Getting in the zone - What do you do to get in the zone to work on a scene? Examples include: show us your playlist you use when working on a scene, what’s your go-to scene snack/drink, etc.

I kinda miss living on my own, when I could dedicate a whole day to shooting a battle-scene for Chevalry. But in fact I decided to tell this story then and there because I knew it was the perfect time of my life for doing so. I’m super shy with music, and I have a limited music-library (by modern standards), which I listen to over and over again. Many of these songs have influenced characters, but can’t even bring myself to hunt them up on the internet.

5. Screenshot folder - give us a look into your screenshot folder to show us just how much goes into ONE scene for your story. (Scrapped pictures encouraged!!!)

Here is Of Chevalry, end of Chapter 6. The green ones are reference shots for depth of field blur (I don’t use Reshade). The ones with Sarmanna in a bath-suit are for editing her hands back into the picture, when they clipped through the dress.

MCarric Scenes, most recent: You’ll notice there’s a lot less greenscreen blur nowadays. I usually draw it with the blur-tool now. I still need to find a good occasion for this lovely rainbow I captured...

6. Captions - are you a caption on the picture kind of storyteller or captions in text box type of storyteller? Why? Do you do both?

Although I am more of a visual storyteller, I very much prefer the text in the post. I’m very given to typos and spelling errors and I’d hate having them baked into my pictures. Also I find the text easier to read in the post.

7. Editing!!!!! - explain and show us your process editing a scene through a video, gif, or picture. A Before and after will suffice if you aren’t in the middle of editing a scene as you answer this.

I like editing my pictures in a way that makes them look like they had been like this in game all along. Here’s Sarmanna in a bath-suit again. In cases like this one, you can even bring out the feeling a bit more. I could have dug her left arm out of the skirt. But as she’s feeling very shy and vulnerable in the scene, I made it look like her arm was close to her body. I also have a photoshop action which gives this slightly desaturated old-painting look to the images.

8. Throwback- show us an ANCIENT story scene you did in the past and explain how you would do the scene differently today!

In 2014 I tried to tell the backstory of Anja Tilney, a Maplethorpe Island inhabitant. It was the first time I tried messing around with poses, and I remember I included this shot because Simmagmeg had just released these poses which meant much to her. This scene I still think turned out cute, but on the whole I wasn’t feeling the story any more, after a while. It was rather simply constructed, but still I felt I couldn’t do it justice with my skills back then.

I just reread it for the first time since (here...), and it isn’t quite as bad as I remembered, but back then I scrapped the project and decided to stay well away from Sims storytelling in the future...

tagging @arielovessims, @thethingshesaidthesims3, @windermeresimblr, @unsimspirational

#tagged

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caltropspress · 4 years

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Notes on Pink Siifu’s NEGRO

You and anybody else who wants to get their random vicarious kicks off White Power can stay the fuck away from me.

—Lester Bangs

Tell a nazi he can suck my dick. —Pink Siifu, from “SMD”

My first contact with white america was marked by her violence, for when a white doctor pulled me from between my mother’s legs and slapped my wet ass, I, as every other negro in america, reacted to this man-inflicted pain with a cry. A cry that america has never allowed to cease; a cry that gets louder and more intense with age….A cry? Or was it a scream? —H. Rap Brown (Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin), from Die Nigger Die!

it is the hour of conflict, antagonism, struggle the world turning autumn in warpaint everything silently prepares to scream —Amiri Baraka, from “Disorder”

White institutional power operates to negate or suppress. To that end, white institutional power bestows awards on singular figures when it’s convenient. Let’s call one such example Kendrick Lamar. Pulitzer Prizing DAMN. is white institutional power taking cover. This, in no way, defangs DAMN. But it does provide crowd control. Pink Siifu, meanwhile, won’t be awarded a Pulitzer for NEGRO. If he did, I’m confident he’d pull an Adrienne Rich, telling President Clinton to choke on his National Medal for the Arts, seeing as how the U.S. gov’t drives “the demonization of our young Black men.” Siifu would be PE boycotting the Grammys on the grounds of Black invisibility. Or John Lennon relinquishing his membership in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire because, well, empire (see: Biafra).

NEGRO is what happens when Three 6 Mafia goes full bandolier, full decolonization, full Thomas Sankara. When the emphasis is on the 666 sirening[1] across white cop foreheads, reflecting off Makrolon face shields. Siifu cites and channels Sun Ra, June Tyson, Death, and Bad Brains, but you also hear the mass hysteria of Abbey Lincoln’s vocal cords trembling, of Max Roach’s We Insist! in a street brawl showdown with the LRAD. Basically, it’s Ornette blowing sax in a riot, harmolodics like incendiary devices.

“FK” is the primal scream reaction of hearing the news another one of your people has been killed, snuffed out. Suffer through our screams, it says to the listener. And “out of body, out of mind” distorts what we see with what we witness. It’s the re-played, re-tweeted, re-shared visuals of Black death.

At moments, NEGRO sounds like Aaron Dilloway organizing a chapter of the White Panther Party.

Siifu’s lyrics are a Stokely speech draft. His artistry is prismatic, shattered pane glass: crust punk, jazz cat, marching band drummer, hood ballerina, noisemaker, bareknuckle emcee. His lyrics should be run off on the mimeo and saddle-stitched into a chapbook for Totem Press to publish.

“SMD” samples from Ivan Dixon's 1973 film The Spook Who Sat by the Door (“Do you hear me, man?...I am BLACK!”). Just like dead prez sampled the dialogue before Siifu on “We Want Freedom.” Siifu and dead prez are bedfellows, for sure, but Siifu's head rests on a pillow of static. It’s the friction that electrifies.

NEGRO is the art of de-arresting in audio form. As the comrades at Mask Magazine have stated, de-arrests “are beautiful,” reminding us “the law and the state are not supernatural forces.”[2]

I’ve always felt uncomfortable using the word freedom. It’s a word that’s been co-opted and gutted to the point of parody. I subscribe only to a different form of freedom, one articulated in noise. Suicidal Tendencies’ “Freedumb” cuts it: “Peace through politics is a fallacy—that doesn’t exist.” Liberation more seriously expresses the extinction agenda. Poor Righteous Teachers taught the curriculum out of Trenton, on “Freedom of Death”: “Consciousness—it’s a must / Just avoid the wicked, wicked ways of this pale Caucasoid.”

Regardless, we see freedom, liberation, knife through even with Siifu’s orthography. Revolutionary thought requires revolutionary language. Ask the Combahee River Collective. Come correct. Fuck autocorrect. Remember womyn. Siifu spellings like: nxggas, eye, tyme, iono, and the evergreen ameriKKKa. The abbreviated words—eliding letters wherever possible—don’t reflect self-censorship so much as the mindmaze of a harried man. Deliberate typos demonstrate no faith in the system. It’s like if Bon Iver (see: “22 (OVER S∞∞N)”) decided to forgo BLM symbolic gestures (Mahalia Jackson) and straight-up encouraged looting. Siifu is CAPS LOCK happy, too. We’re witnessing the joy of militancy.

To begin with, it must be said that former African slaves and their ancestors have been the avant-garde of everything in this country. There’s no culture in America, in this American wasteland, without us. There’s no classical music; there’s jazz, and that was invented by us. And besides that, America has nothing to offer the world and it never has. —Idris Robinson, from “How It Might Should Be Done”

Siifu in the audience of the Congress of Afrikan Peoples, and Baraka imploring him like, “Get up, Pink Siifu.” It’s nation time. But on “Nation Tyme.,” Siifu groans, I’m tired…can’t fall…asleep. Black rage, of course—but what of Black insomnia? The French revolutionaries abolished the calendar. CPT, so, is rightly weaponized. “I feel fettered by Western time,” Gregory Pardlo writes in “Colored People’s Time.” Punch clocks need punching, smashing. I saw Baraka roll up to a conference panel late as fuck once, cane-walking right down the center aisle, shameless, commandingly.

In a somnolent slur, Siifu says, “They treat me like I’m wasting away / I know I’m worth more than they pay.” What of these capitalist definitions of work? What of productivity? What does it mean to monetize every waking moment? He’s been quoted as saying, “I ain’t have to work for no white man.”[3] “Nation Tyme.” picks up there.

10. Feel like deadmeat. They say I’m deadmeat.

“DEADMEAT” is a pig siren stuffed into an industrial-grade slaughterhouse grinder. It sounds the way Alan Vega's sculptures look—hazardous masses of electronic junk, like wires raveled inside a homemade bomb, like buzzing viscera.

I want to see Siifu perform it at the Meat Locker, a cellar club in the underguts of Montclair, New Jersey (s/o the dramacydal Outlawz). The place is dingy and bedecked with feces—a venue befitting a GG Allin opener. GG Allin, a racist, who also hated cops. Who, on “Shove That Warrant Up Your Ass,” a track that appeared on the posthumous Brutality & Bloodshed For All album, sang, “You say I broke the laws in your state… / Your courts and cops should all be hung.” Allin hoists a headless, legless, armless torso on his hip in the cover photograph—a slab of meat. Like the Beatles with baby doll parts and prime cuts in their laps, bloodless butcher coats on the original Yesterday and Today (1966) artwork. Like the papal kill floor in Francis Bacon’s “Figure with Meat” (1954) with its tapestry of offal. But what you don’t get from Bacon, or the Beatles, or GG Allin is what Siifu needs us to hear. What Siifu tells us is the reality of corporeality is that cops continue to make carcasses of Black people.

11.

That cellar club can be scream therapy, can be cell therapy. Siifu brings us there—to the darkest, dampest corner of the Dungeon Family’s dungeon. Big Gipp, speaking self-defensively: “Try to separate me from the blood / Is disrespect like you coming in my home and not wiping your feet on the rug.” It’s echoed in Siifu addressing the question of his audience: “This [album] is for black people, but I know white people are going to fuck with it. I’m mad cool with that. I just want everyone to know, before they come through the door, that this is a black house and you have to respect my people.”[4] The theme of respect as it relates to a sense of home, to cultural tourism, is paramount in both. Everyone’s got to know their place. No listener should approach ignorant of the auction block. Siifu’s noise refuses the separation of kinsfolk and his stubbornness makes the dungeon shake—he is rightfully “tough, dark, vulnerable, moody,” and, on NEGRO, he has a “definite tendency to sound truculent.”[5]

12.

“ON FIRE, PRAY!” eventually grinds the brakes to a cavernous slowjam pace. “Blood on my body / Blood on my face.”

13.

The racist dog policemen must withdraw immediately from our communities, cease their wanton murder and brutality and torture of black people, or face the wrath of the armed people. —caption on Huey Newton photograph

NEGRO’s album cover, painted by Junkyard, is a call-and-response. Pink Siifu is a portrait of exhaustion, slouched, shirtless like Huey was when he was released from the Alameda County courthouse in 1970. It’s a tableau like Huey in that rattan peacock chair was. Eldridge Cleaver orchestrated it, right down to the zebra rug.

If you squint, the glimmer of Siifu’s gold fronts looks like his jaw is wired shut. Of course, violent threats are routinely directed at Black people—that's how the system operates. Media is often behind the scope. Relentless orders to “shut up,” to silence yourself, police yourself. We know this from David Wojnarowicz, photographed with his lips sewn shut, blood dripping like shadows, in “(Silence = Death)” from 1989. The violent threats on queer life are kin to those on Black life. But Siifu, like Wojnarowicz, refuses the censorship. After all, those aren't wires—they're the glint of his grill. Siifu is dribbling blood, too, and those black splatters across the flag are like pen bursts—ink poisoning for all. If you squint, the mind’s eye might see the Pan-African flag.

The flag above his head recalls Jasper Johns’ flags: elliptical, non-patriotic, made slop-bucket sloppy from newspaper shreddings and other detritus, i.e. amerikkka is a trash heap. At least the stars are black in the “Flag (Moratorium)” rendition. Bullet hole dead center, too.

If all goes well, the riots going on—bless them—will go on interminably. Sly Stone’s customized flag with black in place of blue[6] and sharp solar-flared suns in place of Betsy Ross geometric stars is yet another parallel to Siifu’s flag. Like Sly, Siifu isn’t opposed to police ambushes. They both know you’ve got to grin at the gun of the devil. (“Don’t you mind people grinnin’ in your face,” Son House sings eternally.) Citizen takes on cop on “Thank You For Talkin’ To Me, Africa”: Bullets start chasin’, / I begin to stop. / We begin to tussle. / I was on the top. Just the same as Siifu on “SMD”: “Iono why eye ain’t shot ya.” Or on “run pig run.”: “Kill a cop / Left a pig dead.”

14.

We can't disparage any aggressive protest on the reductive grounds it's aggro or violent. I think of Pam Echols in Milwaukee in 1968. Siifu’s assertion of you are my enemy on “steal from the ENEMY” corresponds with Paris’s sophomore and shadowy album, Sleeping with the Enemy. Like on the corrode-ode “Coffee, Donuts, and Death”:

You get poached when you fuck with black folk. Said it ’til my voice was hoarse. I ain’t down with excessive force, But of course I wasn’t heard so I’m silent now. Black folk can’t be non-violent now. […] The only motherfucking pig that I eat is police.

Which is to say, try no pork, ameriKKKa.

15. RE: punk

Think of Bad Brains playing CBGB’s in 1982. Lester Bangs writes of a woman in the scene who referred to Black people as “all these boons.” He tells us a Black friend of his believes the clubgoers “[strive] to be offensive however they can.” Anti-Blackness plagued CBGB’s and nascent punk like vermin, a pestilence. A white woman in the music business claims she “liked [Black people] so much better when they were just Negroes.” These anecdotes are culled from Bangs’ 1979 Village Voice piece entitled “The White Noise Supremacists.” He notes Ron Asheton’s predilection for “swastikas, Iron Crosses, and jackboots.” He cites Ivan Julian, guitarist for Richard Hell and the Voidoids—one of the few Black individuals to grace those inchoate punk stages—as saying “whenever he hears the word ‘n-----’…he wants to kill.” He calls Nico a “dumb kraut cunt” for her brazen, Third Reich-ish brand of racism, which was no industry secret. Bangs even implicates himself, quoting an earlier article: “…it’s the n-----s who control and direct everything just as it always has been and properly should be.” He meant this, somehow, as a compliment.

16.

On “we need mo color. Abundance,” there’s no innocence left in asking “tell me your favorite color.” Siifu answers rhetorically, parenthetically, melanin. Don't settle for forty acres of color—demand abundance. Take, loot in abundance. And don't be contained by the gendered parameters of “pink or blue.” “You can have any color you like” suggests the limitless possibilities if you move your mind beyond the imposed parameters.

The “favorite color” invoked on “we need mo color. Abundance” becomes abundantly clear on the following track, “BLACK!”

17.

“ameriKKKa, try no pork” starts in a slurry of radio static, news reports of Black death. Black, Black, Black, Black. Sped up. Slowed down. Drag the progress bar. “Progress,” ha.

18.

“run pig run.” See the pig / Run away / Run, pig, run. Like a Dick and Jane basal reader. Like picking your favorite color. Like a Three Little Pigs fable. Like huffing and puffing. These are childhood exploits for childhoods that aren’t allowed to be. As long as the Kenneth and Mamie Clark doll experiments keep providing the proof, there can be no childhood innocence. So it's a carnival game in the meantime: See a pig / Shoot a pig. Huffing and puffing: Run, pig, run.

19.

"myheartHURT" is the safehouse after the shooting. It's the cooldown, the chillout. The hypnagogic nightmare. It's vaporwave minus whiteness. We all know Biz had the vapors before Daniel Lopatin. As if DJ Screw was just an apparition, a codeine cloud. The fact remains, Screw's phantasmagoria hovers above all our heads.

20.

The wail of distorted police sirens introduces “Chris Dorner.,” a track gleefully indebted to Ice-T and Body Count’s “Cop Killer.” Repetition was a popular device and it still is: die, pig, die. Chris Dorner has achieved folk-hero status in anarchist circles and beyond since he waged asymmetrical warfare on the LAPD. His manifesto has been published as a zine.[7] “No one grows up and wants to be a cop killer,” he wrote. Begs the question.

21.

“faceless wings,BLACK!” nods to Frank Castle[8], a figure who may or may not be recoverable from militias and thin blue liners, despite Gerry Conway’s best efforts.

22.

White institutional power operates to negate or suppress. Pink Siifu, through NEGRO, refuses suppression and negation. Siifu delivers a hole in the head, and it’s sublime.

Footnotes:

1 “The Law comes sirening across the town.” Gwendolyn Brooks, “THE THIRD SERMON OF THE WARPLAND” from RIOT

2 “De-Arrests are Beautiful.” Mask Magazine.

3 “The Necessity of Pink Siifu’s Rage.” Marcus J. Moore. The Fader.

4 “Pink Siifu’s ‘NEGRO’ is a Riotous Mix of Jazz, Rap and Punk.” Max Bell. Bandcamp Daily.

5 Baldwin, the god.

6 “What did I do to be so black and blue?” (see: Armstrong); light a reefer and listen to the phonograph (see: Ellison)

7 Research and Destroy New York City. https://researchdestroy.com/

8 https://archive.org/details/PunisherPigs

Images:

Emory Douglas work (detail), courtesy of Sean Stewart archives | Makrolon face shield, Google Image Search result | Amiri Baraka performing at the Congress of Afrikan Peoples (screenshot) | Alan Vega light sculpture (photograph) | GG Allin Brutality & Bloodshed for All album cover | The Beatles Yesterday & Today album cover | Francis Bacon, “Figure with Meat” (detail) | Goodie Mob “Cell Therapy” (screenshot) | Splitting up a family at auction, Public Domain | Huey Newton Black Panthers Minister of Defense, photographed by Blair Stapp, 1968 | Andreas Sterzing, David Wojnarowicz (Silence = Death), 1989 | Sly and the Family Stone There’s A Riot Goin’ On album cover | Jasper Johns, “Flag (Moratorium)” | Pam Echols punching cop, 1968 (photographer unknown) | Sid Vicious, nazi (photographer unknown) | Emory Douglas work (detail), courtesy of Sean Stewart archives | Biz Markie Goin’ Off album cover | Oneohtrix Point Never Memory Vague album cover

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charmed-asylum · 5 years

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The Partners

The Partners, part two

Summary: Finn Cox had everything boy would ever dream of a hot cheerleader girlfriend, loved by everyone, and caption of his hockey team. So why is since Camille Dawson step into his life he starts to have second thoughts about everything

FYI: So haha guess who was clowning herself thinking she could split the first chapter(2011) into two parts. This gal here that's who lol. Here is part two we got it all a bit of angst mention of death. You know the good stuff. Lets CHAT Come get a tag or Whatnot. If you are new catch up :)

Previous Chapter (1)

tagged: @weapinggwillowss @nottherightseason @strangerfictions @thewolfswriting @hauntors

Finn drove down Seaward Highway he wasn’t sure if he had the address right. This area was far more luxurious and well Camille wasn’t the image of rich kids or even a trust fund baby. On each side of the street, off the main road was huge houses far back on spread apart. He pulled to a driveway that has gold numbers reading 212 and stops. The house was as big as a castle with an excellent view. He pulls up the red clay driveway he stops. The only thing he thought the whole drive was how to say sorry but now he was full of more butterflies. He walks up to the double size glass doors and hopes for the best. DING DONG

Finn waited for her to answer. As the door started to open handsome man step in its entrance. He was tall probably 6’3 well built great jet black hair. Finn tried not to stare at him. Finn love that ladies but even he had to admit the man was good looking. Pulling the phone to the side he looks at Finn. “ Yeah, we can’t do that. So what you want” the man asked.

“Sorry, sir. Here for Camille Dawson ” Finn asked. He looks at Finn strange and shook his head no. “ Wait, Jackson. No, we agree over golf you even sign by hole 5 the contract” he stops "Who are you" the man said looking at Finn confused.

“Sorry. I think I got the wrong house. Camille does she live here” Finn asked embarrassed. “ Well, I just gonna have to email it to you. Check it out. I got another call. Bye. Camille what is wrong with her” the man asked texting.

A female voice sweet like honey came from behind him and open the door wider. “What happened did Jackson get it. Paula wants to do brunch when I go up this weekend to check on the Brandy account. She wants to know when you coming up so she can do a double date “she said not paying Finn any attention.

The man looks at Finn as he was left speechless. Gazing at the maturer woman. The man winks and kisses her on the lips and point at Finn. The sweet goddess of Finn dreams smile and look at him. “ Who are you. Why he wants Camille she okay” she asked. He shook his head. “Oh no. Your... Camille fine. I go to school with her. She said to come by” Finn said taking a deep gulp in. The two look at each other and whispers a bit to one another. “ She did. What you're her boyfriend?" she said with a giggle her long straight sugar blonde hair shake as she laughs. “ Honey I’m sure we would notice if she had one. Your not her boyfriend are you” he asked his eyebrows bend up a bit. “ No no. She just my partner. For class” Finn said tugging at his letter jacket. The man looked down at his phone and answer, walking away with the door open. “ Come in. Just sit down here. If she told you to come over why isn’t she with you“ she said looking at her phone. Finn glance away from her butt and simply said,” I play sports. So I came right after practice “. She nods and looks again at her phone. The man came back still on the phone. “Sports. I use to do sports guess” he said holding his hand to the phone. She smiles and hits his shoulder. “ Don’t embarrass us?” she said giving Finn a playful smile. The man waves his hand and walks over to Finn. “ I did high school and college Tennis and Rugby. Rank top of state too. That’s still a thing right” he asked. “Yeah yeah, it is” Finn said. They both nod their heads and continue on their phones not paying him any thought.

“ I called you” a soft voice said behind Finn. He glanced back away from the album he was looking at. It was her. She gracefully walks over to Will and kisses his cheek. They talk for a little bit before joining. “Hey ” Camille said dropping her purse onto the glass table. “ He came by looking for you. You told him to come by. Cam cam” Tina said kissing her on the cheek and went off back into the house. She stood still watching as Tina walk back inside then back at the guys.“So you're staying for dinner right Finn. I won’t take no for an answer. Finno" Will said checking his phone. “ Yes sir” Finn said smiling at Camille.

She sat on the arm of Will chair and gaze at Finn. Shaking her head no. Will phone started to ring. “ Its Will. Alright, I’m going inside. Camille, you're in change do what I forget to say” Will said and walk inside talking on the phone. Camille slides into the chair and stares at him. “What are you doing here. Finn. You made it clear you didn't want to work together" she stops and looks down at a photo album. It was open to a young girl with a big smile with a crown on and a first-place ribbon. Happy moments.

“ I’m sorry. Okay. I’m sorry. I’m a stereotype ass. Cliche 90s jackass jock. But I’m working hard I even read the essay and have noted” Finn said holding out the paper. Camille sigh took the notes and glance over them. Finn studies her. " Anyway, it looks like someone got beauty and brains. I am sorry. I don’t apologize for much but I was a complete ASS. To you. I'm sorry. Cam cam. what did my friends do to you anyway?" he says closing the book. She opens her bag and takes out some books. " It’s nothing. Finn. Please don’t talk so loud they don’t know. Just how can I trust you. You have been pushing this off. I had to bust into a party and force you to work with me. I know you don't like this but. Help me help you" she says in a whisper.

He looks at her. It was weird how she talks to him. The truth was he was afraid of the truth. Camille looks at him then at the window. Her uncle was gone. She gets up and grabs Finn's hand. "Let’s restart. The only way this will work, we only have a few weeks. I think the fact that you look at me and I to you what they want us to see. I will try. Here we just two people. Me a pageant winner that now lover of books blah blah and so on and you" she stops lick her bottom lip deep in thought.

Taking his hand they walk over to an old treehouse in the back. She lets go and walks to an antique pink cart. “ When they got this place. There was this unfinished treehouse. We kept trying to finish it but it never happened. Everyone that comes signs it. Here were my parents' sign” Camille said pointing at two names.

He wanted to smile they been talking more than ever before. “Have your fun Finno. Your lucky they usually not here. I’m sure you got that” Camille said taking out a pen and notebook. “ I understand that. It’s like that at my house. When we are all there it’s just clipped art perfect family or - “ Finn started to say. “Silence” Camille finishes his sentence. “Yeah. Look I’m sorry about my friend at the party” Finn said. Camille glances back to the window. Will was in there talking while on the computer looking like he belongs in a fashion magazine. “ It’s alright. You were probably drunk somewhere. Nothing happened like that. Just the usual food was thrown at you nasty words and clothes being pulled” Camille said writing some things down like it was nothing. “ Why you being nice opening up. Normal “ Finn said. “Same as you. Finn let’s get to work” Camille says with a giggle. One that sounds more innocent than the seductive one her aunt had earlier.

They talk laugh and well just smile at each other, enjoying each other's company. Finn poking fun at Camille being a pageant kid Camille poke at him being a jock. As it got late Will came out washing his hands. “ Dinner cam come help set up alright. I got a few calls to make “ Will shoot out. Getting up from the ground Camille grabs her things. “ You're the guest. Just hang chill lax inside there drinks tv what not” Camille said. “ I’m gonna be in a minute just gonna check in with my parents “ Finn said taking out his phone. Camille nodded and started to walk in. Looking down at his phone he stops himself and walks over to the treehouse. It was covered in names quotes handprints. By the swing was an out-of-date pink tea tray with paint marks. Taking the paint he wrote his name by Camille. Finn Cox + Camille Dawson

Camille was finishing up the table when he came in. Finn sat beside Camille with Will on the head and Tina on the other side. " Come over cam cam. Your classmate here on the hockey team. He Invited us to one of the games" Will said. Dinner was as imperfect as a dysfunctional family could be. But who would care ain't everyone's family just the same? However, it was different. Camille looks at Finn then at Will. Then back at her plate. Finn smirks at himself than continue eating. Will feeling awkward starts to speak. " So Finn-o have any plans after high school. You kids like seniors or something" he says looking at the both of them. Camille drops her fork and quickly glance at Finn." Uncle Will, we are only sophomores. I don't think Finn is thinking abo" she starts to say. Finn still eating looks at Will. " Get a full ride thanks to a hockey scholarship to Minnesota State. Where my major would be business. After I’m drafted within my years in college. I go to New York or Toronto or some top-five team and play for about 5-10 years. I get at less about six endorsements. Retire move back here respectfully with my trophy wife. Where I take over my family business" Finn said looking at his plate.

It was silent. " Well at less your going to New York or Toronto. Good teams there. Hope you don't forget about uncle Will when you become pro. But just wondering is that what you want to do. Or that what you told" Will says looking at Finn. Camille glance at Will then at Finn interested what he was going to say. Finn surprise shrugs his shoulders. He never really asked that. Something he doesn’t know the answer to. Camille feeling bad gets up and takes out a carton of strawberry ice cream from the freezer. " Ice cream anyone" she says holding ice cream and spoons.

After the awkward dinner. Camille walks Finn to the door. Finn smirks never left his face whole night and waves bye to Will and Camille. As he got close to his car he feels a soft hand on his shoulder. He turns around its Camille. She standing outside freezing. " Sorry about Will. He doesn't understand I guess us. He usually ... well always busy. Like my aunt. You know if you do something someone else wants you to do you will never learn or be able to love it. We are young. Most of us don't think about those things. Well...." she stops and rubs her hands together. " I was alright with you coming over. And I guess I see you tomorrow" she says giving him a gentle rub in the shoulder then walking back. He watches her going back inside to the door and stop to watch him drive off.

By the time Finn was able to get home everything but living room light was on. “Where have you been” dad asked. Finn stood by the doorway. “Huh, nothing after practice. I went to work on a project. I told you about it” Finn said rubbing the back of his neck. Dad nods his head and takes out another beer from the fridge. “Mom sleeping. Next time call us. Okay. Your brothers are not here which makes you the second commander. So start acting like it. A phone call or next time no car“ Dad said and walked to the bed. Finn tosses his bag on the floor and hops on his bed falling asleep thinking about Camille.

Nikkei waited for Finn outside his house the next day. Upset that he didn’t wait for her after cheerleading practice. “ So where were you yesterday. You had practice then you were gone” Nikkei said standing by his car with a few of her friends. Finn glanced down at his phone to see if Camille text him. “ I had to take care of my mom. What is one day going to do? I pick you up after today okay “Finn said. Nikkei rolls her eyes. “ We need a ride. Take us would you” she said chewing her gum. He could not understand how someone like Nikkei was who she was. “Oh, that reminds me to look at what I posted last night” Nikkei said looking back at her friends. She shoves it into his face, it was Camille waiting for the bus by herself. “ Come on I’m driving and maybe stop being a fucking ass. You could have been right with her if you didn’t have me being fuckin your taxi “Finn said underneath his breath. Her friends giggle. “ Well, she a freak and you know all freaks deserve to be put somewhere away from us normal people “Nikkei said. He hated she says that. Normal. He wanted to scream shit kick her and her minions out but he couldn’t that’s not what Finn the sweet boyfriend does.

He watched as each person walks by waiting with his school letterman jacket over his shoulder. Chewing on a string. He made up shortly after with Nikkei when they made out behind the stairs. Camille strolls in with an AC/DC sweater two sizes bigger of coarse thick leggings and some black army boots. He watches her as she went to her seat in homeroom. Turning his head over mouth hi to her even though she wasn’t paying attention. After a few minutes, she finally mouth hi back.

“ So I have to ask your aunt. What she a model. I wish I took a picture to show my friends. Camille sexy hot aunt” Finn said putting his books down the seat across from Camille. She looks around at the classroom everyone was working. “She not a model well not anymore. She did some modeling when she was young. You gonna work “ Camille said with her glasses tilt down. “ God damn” Finn said excitedly. Camille looks at Finn and shook her head. “ Wait you playing with me” Finn said tapping his pen. “ Isn’t that the point. What you and your buddies love to do. I know I’m a project but news flash you are too. And yes. She was a model” Camille said with a smile. Finn nod and look around. “ So why you said we are both projects “ Finn asked. She stares at him for a minute. “ Finn you think it strange she put us together. Anyway as you said before I was being a butt head” Camille said putting her hair behind her ear. “ What if we do that. This is me. What I am dealing with it. We are all different and unique ” Finn said excited pleased with himself.

Clapping her hands slowly, “Now Finno I think you had your first own idea”. Finn started to laugh into his sleeve trying not to pee himself. “ Alright, cam cam” Finn said smiling at her. It was like they had a secret. One only they both knew. He loves it. “ I got hockey practice I can’t miss so I guess no popup. Cam, can you do the essay? “ Finn asked grabbing his backpack. Camille looks up and nods okay.

Outside of class, they went their separate ways. He would see her around outside of class and before he would just glance and go on. Now it was different folks were starting to notice it.

Finn walks over to his gym locker and grabs his gear. Even though he was a sophomore he was captain of JV for two years and well probably be captain next season. Hockey was his outlet with everything school Nikkei friends and home. Before she became sick she uses to always watch his practice the games. “ Dude where was you at bro” Kevin said walking in with his blades. Closing his lockers,” Oh yeah the other day. I had to go home. Parents stuff. Riding me like a horse” Finn said slapping his hand. “ Yeah man sorry about that. Old man riding me too. I heard that guy you hit goes to the other school on their hockey team. Talking smack” Kevin said walking beside him. “ Nah don’t worry. Kev we got it. Let him talk shit. He is eating my ice chips by the time we are done” Finn said patting his back. As he blades hit that ice it was like stepping on the welcome home mate. Striding back and forth hitting each puck into the goal. He was himself before that stupid fight before Camille before it was all a show and Finn in his glory.

After practice, he and the guys went to the diner for some grub. Where he was the life of the party. Joking around laughing at the dumbest stuff. Just him and his brothers his friends. Later he caught up with Nikkei to do homework and making out. “ Hey, I’m sorry babe about before” Finn said putting his shirt on. Nikkei slides over and kisses his ear. He turns around and kisses her again. Camille he whispered into the kiss. Getting up quick he stops. The hell. Nikkei stood on her knees confused. “ The hell. Finn” Nikkei said pulling at his pants. “ Sorry” he said kissing her. Minutes pass and their phone started to vibrate. Quickly getting up again he stumbles putting his shirt back on. “ Sorry. I got an emergency. I call you later” Finn said kissing Nikkei on the lips.

Finn rush to the Northern Sky Hospital. She was getting so much better how could this have happened. Probably that selfish dick fault. His dad was outside talking to the doctor. Alright screaming at him. Demanding answers. “ Finn won't you go in there with your mom. Me and dumb ass got some more talking “ dad said. Finn nod and walk inside. His mom was hooked up into IVs and a feeding tube. Sitting beside her he holds her hand. “ Finn it’s gonna be alright. Baby. I slip and your dad making a big deal” mom said weakly. Finn hop onto the bed lay beside her comb his finger through her hair. It looks a few days for his mom to talk him into going back to school which he dreaded. Everyone texted him what was up but only Camille was sincere about it. Which was different for him not wanting anything out of it.

“ Finn can you go and get me some soup and crackers from the Chinese spot I like. Before you come home” his mom texted. Text back fine and went to pack up his gym bag. Since the scare, he hasn’t talked to anyone outside of his mom and brothers to keep them each update. Even Camille was in the dark but he could tell she knew. How who knows but she knew. From the way she talked to him to how she acts. Nicer. Then those looks she would give when they saw each other in the hallway.

Pulling up to his driveway he stops to hear the radio inside booming and laughing. Laughter was one of those things that became foreign to him. Something that simply doesn’t assist anymore. He could hear his mom and dad laughing from the kitchen. “ Yes, then I remember seeing him just standing there mopping the floor with the toilet water in his little rocket diaper” mom said laughed. Finn walks in. His mom and dad stop talking. “Finn. Look who came over. She made these yummy cookies” mom said handing him one. Finn took and ate it. Damn it taste like heaven on one bite. “ It’s good. So huh Camille what are you doing here” Finn said surprise. “ Well, you did say that we should work on the project at your house. Like how you did at mine two weeks ago” Camille said with a smirk. Finn's dad got over and patted his back. “Great to see you hanging out with some people that got something going for themselves “dad said. “Mr. Cox your son be a great help to me. He even came up with the idea “ Camille said saving him from another burn. “ I invited her to stay over. She gonna help me cook wanna help too” mom said. Camille smiled and nod yes. “ Yeah but then we gotta work on the project “ Finn said grabbing a knife. Camille nod. “ I’m gonna call my uncle to let him know. He gonna wanna know what time to pick me up” Camille said taking her phone out. “ No. Finn take you home after dinner” mom said a huge grin. Camille looks at Finn.“ Yeah. Cam cam I take you” Finn said. Camille mouth thanks and left to make the call.

Mom looks around to make sure she was gone. She slapped him on the shoulder. “ I like her a lot. You think she has a boyfriend ” mom said with her hand on her hip. Finn started to blush he knew his mom wasn’t a fan of his girlfriends, especially with Nikkei. “That I know of no. She doesn’t “ Finn said. Mom sigh. “Girlfriend" she said. “ No. mommy. Why you ask wanna set her up with Brent” Finn asked. “ No. you. I like her for you. You don’t see but she good for you. Not like that other girl” mom said. Camille walks back inside right on cue. “ Mom did she tell you she uses to do pageants” Finn said. Camille glances up to him from cutting the carrots. “ Yes. She did. I show her your Boy Scout pictures. He doesn’t want anyone to know but he still apart of it to this day. Meetings every Wednesday night” mom said. “ MOM. Come on you cramping my style “ Finn said embarrassed. They all started to laugh together.

Finn sat in his chair swinging back and forth with Camille's feet cross on the edge of the bed. “ So I guess you got me back” Finn said. “I forgot about that. You didn’t seem like yourself so I came to check up on you” Camille said. “ So you care. And all this time I thought you were jealous of my charm “ Finn said jokingly. “ No. I’m just jealous you didn’t tell me about this brother of yours “ Camille said with an eat shit grin. Damn did she look hot. Finn stops spinning in his chair and looks at her. Shit, she heard everything “ What you hear” Finn said coming closer to her. She had a sweet scent. She gazes in his eyes and started to laugh. “Yeah not gonna happen. I’m not telling you. Just next time tell your mom I like dudes and dudes alone” Camille said looking down. Finn nod and push back away. “Sure. And you would not like him he boring. Not cool like me, you know “ Finn said nonchalantly. She rolled her eyes and said okay.

Finn sat next to Camille on the black leather sectional sofa with his mom sitting on the other end with dad. They sat together and watch a movie. He looks around at his family then his partner before he would have thought it was strange stupid. Now it something to this day he remembers as one of the happiest days of his life. Looking over his mom was lending on dad's shoulder. “Thanks, Cam cam" Finn whispers to her. She touches his shoulder softly and said any time Finno.

Finn waited for Camille in his car. She hugs both of them walk out towards the car. Mom rushes to her and passed her a paper and kiss her cheek. The drive was silent though the music that played on the radio. Finn turns it down and pulled to the side of the road. “ Look Camille I.. I “ Finn started to say. Camille turn to him put her finger to his mouth to stop him from going any further. “ Finn don’t worry. I won’t say anything” Camille said gazing at him placing her hand back on her lap. Finn ropes his arm around the back of the seat. “ Thanks. I don’t know why it’s a big deal. Honestly, they all don’t care. Stupid huh” Finn said with red cheeks. She sat facing him and nod her head no. “ It’s not stupid. At all Finn. It’s what you want. You should know your dad and mom are so proud of you. Like really really proud. That’s what we talked about before you came” Camille said sincerely. Finn nod. “Thanks. I haven’t seen them laugh in a long time. Then dinner. It’s like it was fake but real. My dad usually can’t stand being in the same room with us” Finn said. She looks at him. He knew what she wanted to say. “ My aunt and uncle never eat with each together either. If you could not tell from the way they act. Since I live with them we never even use that dining table. I don’t even think I ever had dinner night, to be honest. Finn in the future if you need someone to talk or to listen please call or text me. It is less gray hair for me “ Camille said softly rubbing her hand through her dark caramel curls. He smiled. No one ever did this before “ I keep that in mind. Thanks, Camille. It means a lot” Finn said. She looks away then again at him. “ My parents died in a horrible car crash. I was there when it happened too. I woke up bald to be told they were gone. Then to be giving to people who don’t want kids. I wish I could enjoy time with them even one second. That’s why I don’t want to tell them about the party. It just is one more thing they can probably believe is a problem” Camille said with sorrow. He never really saw much from her. Emotion. She probably never told a soul open up but he knew she was showing him it was okay. No matter what happening going to happen it will be okay.

Finn wiped his eyes and drove her home. She hugged him and whisper it be okay. Okay. Walking back inside he stops at his parents' room and covers them with a blanket. They were together. Dad wasn’t on the recliner mom wasn’t crying. No, they were at peace. One day and she change that like a heaven touch.

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silliusssoddus · 5 years

Text

The First Names Concept - Night 2

(Roger Taylor x Reader x Vince Neil)

MASTERLIST

A/N: THANK YOU FOR THE LOVE ON NIGHT 1, I DEADASS THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A FLOP BUT Y’ALL ACTUALLY LIKE IT :’) aight bear in mind i’m not rewriting everything scene for scene, but i might use direct quotes from either movie from time to time. but i did use a scene from harry potter and the deathly hallows for a part in this anyways this is a psa to watch teenage kicks, seeing as i wrote most of this watching it this is also a psa to listen to ‘hot love’ by t. rex, a whole ass bOp

WARNINGS: SMUT (marked with when it starts and stops), oral and straight up sex, slight degradation/praise kinks, squirting, swearing, drinking, blink-and-you’ll-miss slight angst/fluff

WORD COUNT: 4,407 (i apologise)

CHAPTER SUMMARY: the boys take you to see mötley crüe without knowing that you’d previously met the singer the night before.

since i used the movie gifs in the first part, i’ll use them real life peeps in this one. i’m not gonna spoil the chapters before you read it with these, but i will caption quotes that will make more sense when you read that part. for example:

‘...the charm on his necklace...’

(creds: @tenementfunzter)

‘...you heard him whisper in your ear.’

In their defence, Mötley Crüe was just a band trying to get themselves known, not too different to the spot Queen were in just 10 years ago. But you did feel like the ground should just open up and swallow you whole as you walked into the Whisky a Go Go, Vince shooting you a subtle wink after he noticed you immediately.

“Our last song is gonna be something our very own Nikki Sixx picked out, because he’s a slut for the band T. Rex.”

The audience erupted into a fit of cheers and yells. Even Roger cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered, a boyish action that never failed to bring a smile on your face.

“This one’s called ‘Hot Love’.”

The audience died down slowly as they lost themselves in the music. You couldn’t blame them, because you yourself let your head nod to the beat. The cheesy, ‘You’re My Best Friend’ style rhythm seemed to take over your body as everyone around you - even Brian, who wasn’t one for dancing - started to hop around.

John, the disco master himself had bopped on over to you, taking your hand and spinning you. You giggled a lot, feeling more bubbly than the champagne bottle the five of you shared before the show, which was also the reason why you were late.

John and Freddie exchanged a quick look, nodding to each other as John spun you out of his arms and let you go. It sent you pinballing off of various people in the crowd, before Roger caught you.

“You alright?”

“Y-yeah.”

You pushed yourself off of his chest and found your balance on your heels again, desperately avoiding his eyes because God only knows what you’d do if you met them.

But his grip on your shoulders didn’t seem to have the intention of moving themselves anytime soon.

“Let’s dance, Mayflower.”

Your head snapped up at the old nickname, seeing the giddy look on his face fall.

“I- only if you want to. F-For old time’s sake.”

You smiled, wrapping your arms around his neck. Of course, you were surprised that he had even remembered those nights you stood on his feet and danced around to an Elvis record in the background, but you were more overjoyed to do so again.

As you both copied the movements of your young, teenage selves, you felt like you were transported to the times where you didn’t care about whether he liked you or not. You knew that you were his, even if it was only for a few minutes.

He started off by swinging your arms from side to side, clumsily crossing his legs over each other as you slowly turned around. You laughed hard, completely having forgotten that Roger never was the best dancer, but you could see that it was mostly the nervousness that was holding him back. So you eased into the movements yourself, letting him spin into your side.

The frequent twirling continued throughout the song, along with your shared giggles whenever you accidentally stepped on each others toes, or nudged your elbow in the side of each others ribs. But it kept you occupied in the 70s and it couldn’t have felt any better.

During the final ‘la’s of the song, you sidestepped a couple more times, holding each other in the waltz pose and felt yourselves getting closer, your chests pressed against each other. The smile on his face faltered against your shoulder and you placed a reassuring hand on his, resting your chin on it shortly after. His arms slowly crossed the small of your back, tightening around your waist softly.

You could barely hear Nikki, the bassist, thanking you all for being a great audience, before he and the rest of the band walked offstage into the wings to slap some sense back into Vince.

Because what you didn’t know was that Vince frequently lost his focus throughout the song.

He kept stealing glances from you to admire how stunning you looked twirling around. A vivid contrast from how you were yesterday, if he did say so himself.

“Look, I’m sorry guys-”

“Whatever, man, just sort shit out with your girl and don’t fuck up tomorrow.” Mick, their guitarist, scoffed, walking off toward their individual dressing rooms as Tommy, their drummer, followed him.

Nikki himself was about to go, if it wasn’t for being stopped by Vince’s tight grip on his arm.

“It’s not my girl that’s the problem, it’s someone else. Man, what the fuck do I do?”

“Alright, alright. Show me who this chick is.” Nikki sighed.

Vince pulled his arm enthusiastically toward the curtains again, forcing him to peek out of it and turned his head to where you all were standing.

“Holy shit, that’s Queen!” he gasped, starstruck.

Vince then used the same hand to turn his head toward your direction, where you and Roger were still wrapped in each other’s arms. It was an embrace you couldn’t bare to break out of. And Roger didn’t want to let go of the smell of vodka just yet.

“I miss you, Mayflower.” you heard him whisper in your ear.

Before you had the chance to think about what he meant, let alone ask him, you started to notice the people around you disappearing more thanks to a cold waft of air breezing through the club. It forced you to break off the hug, but you quickly turned away to find your brother, too scared to confront him.

“Okay, maybe they’re not together.” Vince mumbled, struggling to fight the fucked-up smile of relief off his face.

Nikki ran after Freddie, determined to both help his bandmate out and meet one of his idols. He repeatedly called his name out to catch his attention.

“Hey man! I’m name’s Nikki Sixx, a huge fan.” he beamed, sticking out his hand for him to shake it.

Freddie took it eagerly. He always liked talking to fans, especially if they were musicians themselves.

“Very nice to meet you Nikki. You played the bass, right?”

Nikki nodded, honoured that the Freddie Mercury had seen what he did. He then turned to see John standing next to Freddie.

“John Deacon! I love your bass lines, man!” his eyes widened in awe as he shook John’s hand.

John blushed. He wasn’t used to getting compliments - he wasn’t even sure if people knew his name at all, so he felt more than flattered.

“Oh, i-it’s nothing, you’re much better than I am anyway.”

“Aww, c’mon dude. Where’s the modesty?”

“Disappeared after Brian wrote ‘We Will Rock You’.” John gave a shy chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

Luckily for him, the others found it funny and his grin grew bigger.

“That’s a cool sweater. Wouldn’t expect that from a rock band.” he laughed, elbowing Vince.

“Did you not see what Tommy was wearing on the way here?” Vince replied, noticing that John had blushed deeper from being called out like that.

“Shit, you’re right. Dude, Tommy totally needs to see this.”

“Tommy Lee’s, our drummer.” Vince explained to the boys.

“Yeah, he went to go change but he’ll be back to pack the stage. C’mon, I can introduce you.” Nikki beckoned for John to follow him.

With a shrug and an apologetic look to Freddie (who replied with a shrug himself), the two bassists set off to walk backstage.

Freddie had started making his way over to his curly haired friend, when he noticed that Vince was following him.

“Uh, d’you mind if I come with? I kinda wanna say hi to Y/N. We talked yesterday before you had to leave.”

“I...don’t see why not.” Freddie smiled.

“I must say that I love your pants. Not everyone can pull off white leather.” he continued.

“Thanks, man. My girlfriend bought it for me. They were, like, $800.”

Freddie relaxed at the word ‘girlfriend’. Maybe Vince wouldn’t get in the way with you and Roger after all.

“Aren’t you a lucky man?” Freddie grinned, punching him on the shoulder playfully before turning to walk again.

“Yeah, she’s great.” Vince frowned, hearing the uncertainty in his voice himself.

“There’s the pretty lady!” Vince called out, shocking you out of your conversation and making you turn around. Your face immediately lit up as you walked into his outstretched arms.

“Hey Vince! You were so good up there.” you said, feeling his rough hands slide across the bare skin on your waist thanks to your crop top. It felt rougher than Roger’s hold, that was for sure. Maybe it was the way his biceps flexed into your sides.

“Thanks, dude. I tried to sing that last one to you.” he managed to speak quietly, so that Brian and Freddie in their own conversations couldn’t hear.

You felt your cheeks heat up from how upfront he was, but then you remembered what you had been doing the majority of the song.

Vince seemed to have noticed you biting your lip and he apologised immediately, worried that he had hurt your feelings somehow.

“You good?” he asked when you failed to say anything.

“What? Oh. Yeah. Bit knackered from the dancing is all.”

“Why don’t we sit down and have a drink? Then you can tell Dr Vince everything.” he joked, nodding his head over to the mini bar situated behind you.

“Yeah, I could really use one.” you shrugged, following him over to the counter. The bartender seemed to have anticipated his arrival and immediately put a cocktail and a bottle of whiskey before you.

“So, what’s this between you and that other dude? Do you like him?”

“Huh? Who?”

“Taylor.”

“Roger.” you snapped back quickly.

“That’s it.” he laughed.

You started stirring your drink, not really wanting to take a sip. But you did shortly after, as a way to avoid the question.

“Well?” Vince egged on.

“I don’t know, it’s a long story.”

“We got time.” Vince replied, beckoning for more drinks.

“I don’t have money.”

“It’s all on the house anyway.” he said, letting out a chuckle as he heard the bartender groan.

“Okay, fine.” you sighed, gulping down a big mouthful before continuing.

“I’ve known him since I was 13 and I instantly fancied him like mad because, well, he was a long, blonde haired, blue eyed drummer with a beautiful voice in a rock band. Everything you’d want in a guy really.”

“I wouldn’t know.” Vince snickered.

“Anyway,” you giggled, “he and Brian were great friends and he moved into our little apartment a few months later. Naturally, I was terrified to have my crush around in the house 24/7, but we did grow closer. It’s funny, really. I found myself liking him more than my own brother. And what I loved the most were the times I couldn’t sleep or I had a nightmare. He’d sing me to sleep.”

You smiled to yourself before taking another sip, but you found your head somehow turning in the direction of Roger’s laughter as you drank.

The band were back onstage with Roger, Freddie and John and it seemed as if their drummer was teaching Roger how to twirl drumsticks. Evidently, he wasn’t good at it. He managed to make one fly across the room toward a group of girls, winking at them as he went over to pick them up.

“But then I found out - well, I heard - that he kept bringing girls over every night and that’s when I decided that I had to move on. He started seeing one girl in particular, so then I found Oliver. And it wasn’t like I was using him to get back at Roger, ‘cause Oliver was trying make his ex jealous.”

“Jeez, the both of you are so fucked up.”

“Hah, that’s not the end of it. They stopped dating and I broke things off with Oliver, around a month before I turned 18. That’s when everything changed.”

The bartender refilled your glass and you thanked him.

“We started talking to each other again and it felt like nothing changed...until one trip to Hyde Park two years later. I was meeting up with one of my friends, Dominique, and he wanted to come with me because he wanted to tell something. I still don’t know what he wanted to say, because as soon as he caught the French girl’s eye he couldn’t resist chatting her up.”

You chuckled pathetically at the memory. He’d ruined your favourite place.

And you were just about to sit down on that stupid bench.

“He would always ask me how he should get her attention.”

“Well, there was your perfect chance to sabotage it.” Vince laughed.

“And make him hate me? Yeah, I didn’t do that. I just gave him stupid excuses to see her.”

“Like what?”

“Uh...this one time I got annoyed at him, so I picked up a random daisy - bear in mind it looked ugly and half of the petals had fallen off - and told him to give it to her and say he thought it would go well with her clothes.”

“Noted.” Vince laughed, throwing his head back at how absurd it sounded.

“So is he still with this Dominique?”

“Honestly? No idea. They’ve been constantly breaking up and getting back together for 5 good years now.”

“Judging from that dancing, they’re probably on a break again.”

“Oh, yeah. That. The first time we’ve hugged in...8 years? Give or take a few.”

“Jesus Christ- this is the worst game of cat and mouse I’ve ever seen.”

You turned to him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

From the little time you had gotten to know him, you wouldn’t have taken him for a serious guy. You wouldn’t have expected a single word of advice from him, but what he said next completely proved your judgement wrong.

“Look, man, don’t stress it. Like, not trying to be a hippie and shit, but if the universe wanted it to happen, it would’ve by now. Dunno if you should be wasting more time on something the universe doesn’t want.” he said as a matter of factly, finally prying his eyes away from you to take a sip of his Jack Daniels.

“Huh, you actually listened. I just thought you’ve been undressing me with your eyes this whole time.”

“Well, Y/N, eye contact is important to maintain a conversation.” he paused his drinking to say, raised eyebrow and all.

“Careful, or I might have to knock those smarty pants off of you.” you scoffed, rolling your eyes and finishing the last few drops of your drink.

“How about you start with my normal pants?” was his reply to that, a force of habit he should really work on.

“Never mind, I was right the first time.” you smirked.

Vince placed a hand on his chest with a jokingly hurt look on his face.

“Please, I’m a gentleman. Way more than your Roger friend apparently.”

“Oh really? Prove it.”

You laughed a few seconds after at the look of defeat on his face.

“No, wait.”

He took his leather jacket off and wrapped it around your shoulders, both for you to put on but also to reveal his abs in all its viewing glory.

“There. Did I do it?”

Embarrassingly you were too entranced to hear anything he said, let alone tell him that you weren’t cold in the first place, and you gulped. Hard enough for your worries about Roger to wash away. Loud enough for for him to snicker over it.

His hands trailed down your shoulders to your fingers, intertwining them lightly as his thumb drew circles on your knuckles.

“I’ll let you take the rest off, pretty lady.” he leant in to your side and growled quietly.

You bit your lip and nodded, letting him fully grasp your hands and pull you up, following him as he lead the way.

*it’s sinning time boys*

His hands left yours and grabbed your waist instead, pulling you in close to him as he walked backwards into one of the toilets. You kicked the door shut behind you, tugging the charm on his necklace lightly to connect your lips.

You felt his hips roll against yours before his hands went further down the back of your thighs, pushing your legs slightly apart to hoist you up on the sink. Your lips parted for a second, giving him the chance to bunch your pencil skirt up to your hips and admire the sight in front of him.

“Fuck, you’re perfect. And no panties, you naughty little shit.” he growled, his hungry, hooded eyes meeting yours.

But something seemed off with the way he looked at you.

Roger had soft eyes, the calming kind. Vince’s felt threatening, like he’d pounce on you without a warning. Even his grip on you was tighter, more aggressive, but at the same time comforting.

Like he was desperate to keep you.

It was something you weren’t used to, but you were starting to like it.

You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, bringing him in for another heated kiss while your fingers flew down to his waist to palm him through his leather jeans.

A smile formed on your face as you watched his head fall back with merciless groans leaving his mouth, but his hands grabbed your wrists to stop you.

“Not yet, pretty lady, I wanna make you feel good first.”

His words brought out what was a mix of a whimper and a moan from you, as you felt his fingers brush up the inside of your thigh. His head fell into the crook of your shoulder and started to plant small pecks, eventually turning them into deeper kisses that undoubtedly would leave marks, while his fingers teased your folds.

“Taste how fuckin’ wet you are.” he said, letting you swirl your tongue around his digits before returning them back to where they were.

“Good girl.” he growled, starting to rub firm circles on your clit.

“Oh...Christ.” you gasped.

He smirked at your reaction, sliding two fingers down and pumping into you slowly. You could already feel your walls clenching around him and you saw the way his cock twitched in his pants at the thought of how you’d feel around him.

“More...please…”

“I’ll gladly give you more.” he whispered huskily as he latched his lips onto your clit, his fingers continuing to curl in and out of you.

“Oh- blimey...” you moaned, your whole body shuddering as his tongue played with your bud.

Then his head whipped up with an amused laugh.

“‘Blimey’?”

“I-It’s a British thing. It’s, uh, it’s like saying...damn?”

“Yeah yeah, I know that,” he chuckled again, “but is it ‘cause you don’t swear?”

“I- no, not really. I’m sorry.”

“Nah, it’s cool. It’s cute. Are you a mormon or something?”

“God, no. Just not used to it. The boys swear all the time and it just...feels weird.”

“Bet I can help with that.” he smiled and winked.

You felt warm and giddy again.

He bobbed his head down to where it was before and continued from where he left off.

“Try it.” he mumbled before sucking your bud.

The sight of his hollowed cheeks made you let out another breathy moan.

“F...fuck…” you hesitantly breathed out along with it, feeling him smirk against you.

“Let go, baby, I know you’re close.”

His raspy voice caused vibrations to ripple through your body, enough to send you to your high as you grabbed onto the sink and screamed his name, your legs shaking around his shoulders.

“Good girl.” he repeated, swirling his tongue around the evidence of your orgasm.

“‘m sorry, I’ve never done that before.” you felt your face heat up with embarrassment, just as it was starting to cool down.

“No one’s made the pretty lady come?” Vince smirked cockily and raised an eyebrow.

“And that’s only your mouth.” you shook your head and chuckled shyly, eyeing the painful bulge in his trousers as your hands went to unbuckle his belt again.

This time he let you, but it was a struggle. The leather had really tightened itself around his length and it seemed impossible to even get the waistband past his hips. Both of you erupted with laughter as you watched him hop around.

Eventually, he managed to slip it down to his knees, which made him let out a massive sigh of relief and a chuckle when he saw the look of shock on your face.

“What, bigger than you expected?”

He was big alright, with veins bulging out and the swollen tip leaking precum. You were about to hop off the sink to repay him, but he placed his hands on your thighs to stop you.

“Another time, baby. We’ve already been gone for a long time, they’re probably looking for us.” he chuckled lowly, grabbing your hips and lining himself up against your entrance after rolling on a condom.

“Besides- fuck.” he groaned as he pushed in slowly, “watching you cum almost got me there.”

You whined when he pushed in completely, your walls adjusting to his size.

“Fuck, you’re so tight.” he mumbled, snapping his hips into you. He quickened his pace, knowing that there wasn’t any time to take things slow, even if he wanted to.

One of his hands hooked onto the back of your neck, pulling you in for a kiss while the other one ran up under your shirt to your boobs, his rough hands massaging them in a way that sent a shiver down your back.

*smut ends*

The room was filled with sounds of skin slapping against each other, blissful moans from the both of you, tiny yelps from when you tugged the ends of his hair playfully and short giggles when you accidentally nudged each other’s noses, or when you bit each others lips from kissing.

Until the shriek of a blonde-haired woman rang out from the doorway.

“What the fuck?” she yelled, making the two of you snap your heads round. You were trying desperately to place if you had seen the woman before, but gave up as soon as you saw the look of regret on Vince’s face.

“You bitch!” she gasped, but you weren’t sure if it was directed toward you or Vince.

“Babe-” he started, pulling out of you to brace himself from the slaps he was about to receive.

And all you could do was sit there and witness it, partially in shock but fully knowing he deserved it.

“Fuck you, you piece of shit!” she grabbed his trousers off the floor and slapped him on the shoulder repeatedly.

“Motherfucker!” she huffed, turning round to walk out and slam the door behind her.

“My pants! Babe!” he tried to call out after her, but all he received was a muffled ‘fuck you!’ in return.

Roger was the only one that didn’t have anyone to talk to, seeing as John had stolen Tommy away from him, Freddie and Nikki were chatting away like aunts at a family reunion and Mick and Brian were too busy complaining about their childish bandmates.

Roger was also the only one to notice the woman that was stomping across the club, white leather pants slung across her shoulder and her forehead wrinkled in annoyance.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he said, hopping off the stage and walking over to her.

“Ugh, just my asshole boyfriend deciding to fuck another girl.”

She looked up to meet Roger’s gaze, immediately softening when she was greeted by the older man’s sympathetic blue eyes.

“Like, I never took Vince as a person to do that.” she pouted, trying her best to sound seductive.

But he didn’t notice. He had understood who Vince was with and he was beating himself up for not putting two and two together after realising the both of you had suddenly left.

He decided to break his streak of not using groupies to distract himself from you and shoot his shot.

“Oh, that’s awful.” he said, managing to muster up all the genuinity he could in his voice as he slung an arm around her shoulder, walking toward where he assumed the dressing rooms would be.

“Ah, Roger. Ever the charmer.” Brian chuckled and shook his head, ignoring the confused looks Freddie and John were giving each other.

“Yep. It’s always the blondes.” Mick rolled his eyes and chuckled with him.

“Nikki and I aren’t blonde.” Tommy laughed, giving Nikki a high five.

“It’s just you that doesn’t like groupies, old man.” Nikki agreed.

“Not my fault I’m old fashioned.”

“Yeah, It’s perfectly normal to only want one woman in your life. Isn’t that right, Brian?”

“Deaky!” Freddie hissed, the others started laughing when they saw Brian’s face turn into that of a tomato at the reminder of Chrissie.

“Just wait for our next album.” John hummed, taking a sip of the bottle of beer.

“Hey, speaking of blondes, where’s ours?”

“Based on the fact that Brian’s sister is also gone…” Freddie started, ready to greet Brian’s temper.

But, to both of their surprises, his reaction was completely the opposite.

He laughed.

“Ah, it was time she did. But I always thought it’d be Roger.” he said, turning to look at John and Freddie’s shocked expressions before they started laughing nervously as well.

“Yeah, so did we.”

Vince was busy trying to explain everything to you, but you didn’t want to listen. He had made you the reason for another person’s sadness, maybe even the reason that they can’t trust anymore. You couldn’t believe it, you couldn’t believe him.

“Don’t lie to me.” you hissed, putting your clothes back on again and swatting away his hands that tried to help you. You’d be lying if you said you didn’t find it cute.

The two of you stood in silence for a while, like you were expecting him to do the same, but then you realised that he had walked in shirtless.

“I’ll go find something in your dressing room.” you sighed, trying your best to tame your hair before walking out of the bathroom without a second thought.

“Even when you’re mad, you’re still fucking generous. Thank you, pretty lady!”

A smile formed on your face.

The same smile fell when you walked past a row of doors leading to Vince’s dressing room, where you heard familiar grunts.

Familiar, because they had been the source of many of your sleepless nights.

The door to an occupied was left open by a crack and all it took for your heart to plummet to your feet was seeing Roger’s head being thrown back in pleasure.

But you didn’t deserve to feel jealous, betrayed, or anything like that. Because you had hurt him the exact same way.

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NIGHT 3

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