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witch-hazels-musings · 4 years ago

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nightmares

Includes: Childe, Albedo, Xiao

Warnings -> STRONG emotional images (panic attack, spectral hands grasping at character, feeling of overwhelming fear and dread) -> leads to comfort

Synopsis: Nightmares plague the characters sleep and they wake up startled - the reader comforts them

I’m a SUCKER for painful things man - I want to put them through hell just to pull them back up again ...

Anthology

Childe

He was drowning, suffocating by the thousands of hands pulling him deeper into the terrifying darkness he ran from. Their nails dug into his skin, pulling it back to reveal the horrors laying underneath. The thousands of vile acts he had done in service of the Tsaritsa, for the Fatui, now pouring from him and feeding the hunger of the hands, urging them to dig deeper into him until there was nothing left.

He reached out toward the distant light, gasping and desperate.

Childe...

The light called to him, speaking his name as if he were worth more than being a simple tool, a means to an end. The dirty hands grabbed at his face, he struggled with every ounce of his strength to get away. The fear of seeing what lay beyond the reach of the light spurring his determination. He screamed and nothing came out, instead his mouth filled with bloody fingers.

Childe violently awoke, lurching forward with incredible force and urgency. He was drenched in sweat and fiercely forced air into his lungs. When he felt a hand on his arm he jerked away stumbling from the bed in heartbreaking distress.

“Childe …” he heard your voice, saw your hand reaching out to him, saw how you looked at him as if he were some wild animal: fearfully. “It’s me … do you see me.” he watched as you moved the sheets from your legs. “You’re safe, it’s okay.” you moved toward the edge of the bed, “Put the knife down.” He looked down into his hand and saw he was gripping onto the knife which he kept in the nightstand. His fingers wrapped so tightly around it that they had turned a painful shade of white.

The beating of his heart continued to race even as he straightened himself out, even as he rubbed the sweat from his forehead.

“I’m okay …” he spoke the words more to himself than to you, like a montra he recited every day. I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay.

He heard the bed creak and, returning his attention to you, he saw you making your way toward him, hands open in an attempt to show him you didn’t mean any harm.

“Is it okay? Can I come to you?” the words are covered in honey, and he knew you were trying to cover up the hesitation of your steps. He placed the knife on the windowsill and nodded, making sure you knew he wouldn’t hurt you.

The feeling of your arms wrapping around him was akin to a drug. You provided him with comfort he’d never known, the sensation of your face resting against his chest, he reveled in it. Your voice had this magical power of reaching him no matter where he was, or what he was.

“Your heart is beating so fast. That must have been one intense dream.” your lips connect with the space over his beating heart.

“You can’t imagine,” he breathes into your hair, resting his face in it’s wild locks. He lets your scent fill him up, and this connection helps to calm him.

“Do you want to tell me about it?” you shift your head making him lift his own, you stare at one another in the moonlit room before he finally answers your question.

“I don’t want to make my fears your own,” he places a kiss on your forehead.

“I’m pretty tough, I can handle it.” you squeeze your arms around him in a playful manner which elicited a chuckle from Childe. “But, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to. I’ll always listen, if you ever change your mind.”

His heart rate slowed, thanks to the proximity of your own giving it the ability to match it’s pace.

“Thanks,” He scooped you up and led you back to the bed, and once you got settled in between the sheets he slid down to rest his head against your chest. There he was able to drift back into a peaceful sleep by the rhythmic thumping of your heart and the movement of your fingers in his hair.

Albedo

There was a long hallway, incredibly long, unending. His footsteps echoed off the walls and when he glanced upward he couldn’t find the ceiling. A child was laughing further down the passage, and he followed after it until he reached a blinding light, without hesitation he stepped through it.

On the other side was a bustling city filled with laughing citizens weaving between one another, going about their day under the warmth of the sun. As he walked through the streets, he noted how the citizens didn’t seem to mind him. A woman stumbled before him and he reached out his hand to help her, when she turned to thank him her face contorted into uncomfortable, inhumane shapes. She screamed causing Albedo to stumble backwards and, in unison, every citizen stared at him, their mouths open, screaming. Their voices culminated into an unholy sound which unraveled his soul.

Suddenly, shackles appeared around his wrists, his ankles, his neck. Their icy touch seeping into his skin. When he touched them the screaming only grew louder which caused him to cover his ears, tears falling from his eyes onto the stones below, which were now covered in snow. He looked up and saw burning buildings. Screaming families desperately trying to hold onto their children as the walls crumbled around them. He looked onward, and without warning the ground beneath him opened up and swallowed him whole.

Albedo, in a hysterical fit, pushed himself off of his chest and onto his knees. His arms extended to keep him from the mattress and he watched how it became damp from the sweat dripping off of him. His heart was beating way too fast, he couldn’t breath, his chest felt tight and it began to make him panic.

“Albedo?” a voice called to him, but the beating in his ears made it impossible to hear. He felt a hand slide along his back and it caused him to sit up suddenly, smacking the hand away from him. When his eyes saw you in the darkness he wondered what face he must be making based on the way you looked at him.

“Albedo …” you called again. He grasped at his chest hoping he could find a way to pull the invisible weight off of him. His breathing still erratic. “Hey, look at me.” you told him, and when he looked at you he saw you were now sitting closer to him, your hand extended to his chest. The warmth of your fingers broke through the chill smothering his body and he watched as you pulled his hand to your chest.

“Do you feel my heartbeat? Feel my breathing.” and he did. The even in and out of your chest, the steady thump of your heartbeat. He felt them. “That’s it, match my rhythm.” You placed your other hand on his shoulder, which provided him another way to ground himself. The images started to fade from his mind and were replaced by the outline of your frame, illuminated by the soft light from the bedside table.

You looked at him and gave him a warm smile. “Keep breathing, I’m here.” You stroke his face and that’s when he learns he had been crying. He pressed his face into your palm, breathing in the sweet smell of your skin. “I’m here, and I’ll be here until you’re ready to sleep again.”

You stayed with him even as the sun started to fill your room and birds chirped out morning salutations.

Xiao

An epic battle raged around him, the sounds of victorious and pained screams mixing with the clashing of swords and heavy claymores. He was running quickly through the mass of bodies thrusting and flying through the air. His mind focused and clear, it had to be if they were expected to win.

To his left he saw the flash of red fabric, to his right he heard the booming voice of another and when he found the source he smiled to himself. It seemed that even through all of this the yaksha’s were able to relish and live. He felt his heart move at their elegant movements, how they used the strength of one another to quell the mania of the world. Xiao continued to run, his movements turning into a blur at the speed. In fact, he ran so fast that time seemed to move with him until he came skidding to a stop in an open field.

He looked behind him confused as to how he got here, wondering if he had passed through some portal or door. He was alerted to a shriek and turned forward only to feel a sharp stabbing sensation pierce his chest. It propelled him backwards and as he fell, red strings claimed him. They wrapped around him, completely enveloping him and held him suspended. Again, there was a shriek. He turned his head and wished that he hadn’t. He saw the face of his kin pleading and begging to another before being struck down violently. Their body ripping in half before him. The yaksha decorated in purple garments turned and with a great thrust of their weapon impaled another. Xiao watched as their body, bathed in blue light, went limp and with the flick of the wrist were tossed into oblivion.

Xiao writhed and pulled at the strings capturing his limbs, he spat and yelled but couldn’t escape. His head shook violently, unable to deal with the scene in front of him, and unable to do anything to stop it. He closed his eyes letting his angry tears drop into the black water slowly rising over his body.

“Xiao,” a voice called out and when he opened his eyes he saw the dangling bodies of his yaksha family impaled against the nothingness which drowned him.

He awoke in a fit. He felt the scream spill from his throat as he lurched upward. Around him things began to fall to the floor, toppling back to the ground as if a huge gust of wind had picked everything up all at once. Before his eyes a piece of paper fluttered past him before slipping under the trunk next to the window. Something touched his shoulder and in a second he had the perpetrator in a tight hold, one hand viciously wrapped around their wrist and the other gripping onto an arm.

“It’s me, it’s me!” his eyes were clouded, but he knew the voice. “Come back … it’s me.” The breath in his lungs was hot, almost as if he had been standing next to an active volcano. His mouth was heaving in an attempt to grasp back to reality, to still his overworked mind. The sound of humming filled the room, it’s soft, slow tone pulling him in. He focused on it, taking the tune in as if it were a lifeline, the only light in the dark space which surrounded him. After a bit, his eyesight began to clear and when he saw you, eyes closed humming to him, and his hand digging into your wrist he quickly let go.

“You’re back,” you whisper, sending him a soft, ‘i’m relieved’ smile.

He crawled off of the bed and made his way to the window, desperately in need for some fresh air, and an escape.

“Whatever you saw in your dream, must have been very frightening.” your voice stilled his movements. “I’ll be here when you decide to come back,” he looks back at you, your legs crossed, hands resting in the blanket. The moonlight illuminates the space there, casting white shadows along your chest and face. You look like an ethereal being in this moment, and there is a call in his chest to return to you.

His heart is still so heavy, and even though his breath has returned to a normal state, buzzing energy continues running through his veins. He looks at your wrist and can see a bruise beginning to form. He can’t risk letting his energy out with you near him, it’s too dangerous. Even though he feels the stab in his chest, he slips out the window and into the night sky.

In the morning when you wake up you find qingxin flowers resting on the table next to the bed. You lift them and inhale their scent.

“How did you sleep?” you turn to see Xiao perched in the window, his eyes downcast.

“Alright,” you sniff the flowers again, “you came back.”

He huffs at you and looks back out the window. His back resting against the windowsill, one leg bent so he can rest his arm on it, the other dangling over the edge. Sliding out of the bed you make your way over to him, taking up the space at his side. He looks at you and you can see he is looking at the bruise on your wrist. Placing his head in his palm he reaches down and grabs onto your wrist with the other. His fingers brush over the darkening skin.

“Welcome back.” you whisper into the wind.

#genshin impact #genshin impact musings #genshin impact fiction #genshin impact X reader #childe X reader #genshin childe #childe #albedo x reader #genshin albedo #albedo #xiao x reader #genshin xiao #xiao

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marvelmusing · 3 years ago

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The Baron’s Return

Helmut Zemo x Fem!Reader

My Masterlist

Summary: you’re the custodian of Castle Zemo, you’ve been maintaining the building and have been using it as a children’s home for a few years. But what happens when the butler returns with an old friend, which happens to be the Baron?

When the Baron returns. That was the excuse you used on the regular. Usually when the children asked if they can play with a historic family heirloom. You’d pacify them with an “I’ll ask the Baron”. Of course you knew that it was likely that the Baron would never return to Castle Zemo.

One evening you find yourself giving the same excuse.

“Miss [Y/N]?” Lotte, one of the youngest girls looks up at you, you bend to scoop her up. She often walked around the castle at night. Tonight you’d found her staring up at some family portraits.

“Yes darling?”

“Are you the Baroness?” You frown a little.

“Why would you think that?” You ask her.

“Well you look after the castle. And Klaus said this is the Baron’s castle. So you must be the Baroness.”

“Well I’d have to be married to the Baron for that title.”

“Why don’t you ask him?”

“You only marry someone you care a lot about.” You explain.

“But you look after his castle!”

“I know.” You relent, setting her down in her bed. “How about this? The next time I see the Baron, I’ll ask him.”

“Really?” She looks up at you in excitement. You nod, leaning to tuck her in, and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

“Yes. Will you stop your midnight wandering now?” She nods, closing her eyes to sleep. You turn the light off, and shut the door quietly.

As you walk through the castle, heading towards your office, you think of what the Baron would think of your work. After the Battle of Novi Grad, there was little left of Sokovia. Castle Zemo was one of the few historical buildings still standing. It was summer when you first visited. You immediately befriended the kind people who were trying their hardest to maintain their home. Most of them had been employed by the barony when they were young, and they refused to abandon the castle. You’d had little plans for your future, nothing determined. That was until you fell in love with the castle. When you decided to stay. That you’d help Oeznik, the old butler, Edith, his wife, and the gardener Walter. You’re not sure how it started, during the blip you began taking in children off the streets. They were hungry, cold, and alone, and you had more than enough space to keep them safe and cared for. From then onwards, Castle Zemo had an ever changing number of children running through it’s halls.

You had heard about what happened to the Baron. That he had lost his family in the destruction caused by Ultron. That it had led him to split the Avengers apart, which had then led to his arrest. You’d seen on the news that he’d assisted in the fight against the Flag Smashers. You’d also heard that he’d begun working with a number of government organisations - perhaps to secure his freedom? You’re unsure, and tend not to discuss it for fear of getting Oeznik’s hopes up. As your thoughts ponder the old man you remember that he should be home soon. He’d told you he had to pick a friend up from the airport, and that he’d likely be home late.

As you settle into your office, you look out of the window. You nestle into the window seat with a few pieces of paperwork in hand. The rain continues to pour down across the countryside. You lean your head against the windowpane, attempting to read through some of the papers in your hand. The sound of the rain soon pulls you to sleep, despite your uncomfortable position.

You’re deep asleep when Oeznik returns, so you don’t see who he returns with. He pokes his head around your office door, noticing that the light is still on. The man beside him follows his gaze, and soon notices your sleeping form by the window.

“Is this a regular occurrence?” The man asks Oeznik. He nods,

“She’s a very hard worker.” Oeznik moves to lift you, wanting to take you to your bed. Out of concern for his old friend, the man insists that he will carry you. You’re sound asleep, and don’t wake when you’re pulled into a pair of strong arms. You don’t wake as they walk you through the castle up to your room. And you still don’t wake once you’ve been settled into your bed, with the covers tucked carefully over you.

The sun streaks through your curtains, light shinning across your bed onto your face. You blink the sleep from your eyes, before lifting your head from the pillow. You dress and head down to the kitchen. You don’t remember going to bed that night, your last memories before you fell asleep were you sitting in your office. As you enter the kitchen you spot Oeznik sitting at the table, reading the newspaper. He smiles up at you.

“I thought I told you to wake me up if I fall asleep in the office? I don’t want you falling over because you were trying to be a gentleman.” You scold him, as you make your way to the cupboards, fetching a cup for your tea.

“I know you did, dear. But I didn’t carry you.” You spin around to face him,

“Then who-“ The words get stuck in your throat, and you nearly drop the cup in your hand. The Baron. Baron Helmut Zemo. He’s here. “I see you collected your friend from the airport.” You observe, attempting to stay calm. “If you’d told me it was the Baron I’d have put the flags out.” You joke nervously.

“There’s no need for such a fuss. I am simply happy to be home.” He comments. He’s still retained his Sokovian accent, his voice is coated in an light early morning gravel. You glance at Oeznik momentarily, seeing the smile shining on his face, before moving your attention back to the Baron.

“Is this legal?” You ask, worry lacing your tone. “Because, I recognise that Castle Zemo is your birthright, but it’s also my home and a home for these children and I won’t allow anyone to put them in danger. Not even you. And if it comes to it, I’ll leave. I’ll leave and I’ll take the children.”

“[Y/N]! You’ll do no such thing.” Oeznik states. You’re about to argue back, but the Baron beats you to it.

“If it came to such a situation I would bring no trouble to your home.” He tells you. “And I assure you, I have been allowed to stay here completely legally.” You nod, not quite sure what to say to him. You settle on a small,

“Thank you.” He nods in acknowledgment. Your conversation is interrupted by the sound of pattering feet. You look over towards the door as a few of the children scamper in. They all observe the Baron quietly, before sitting at the table. Lotte approaches you, clinging gently to your legs. You bend down to her level, smoothing her bed head down.

“Who’s that?” She whispers to you, looking towards the Baron.

“He’s a friend of Oeznik’s.” She stares hard at him for a moment, a small frown of puzzlement crinkling her face. Then recognition dawns her expression.

“It’s the Baron!” She gasps. You press a finger to your lips,

“That’s a secret for the moment, okay? So don’t tell the others.” She nods hurriedly.

“Are you going marry him now?” You laugh softly,

“Not yet darling.” She nods decidedly, before joining the other children at the table. Your heart warms at the sight before you. The Baron helps lift Lotte onto the chair beside him, and the boys proceed to tell him about their latest adventure in the gardens. You clear your throat lightly, “Would either of you like anything making?” You ask, looking between Oeznik and the Baron.

“Miss [Y/N] makes the best pancakes.” Lotte tells the Baron. He gives her a highly interested look.

“Is that your not-so-subtle way of asking for pancakes?” You tease her. She giggles as you sigh dramatically, a wide smile on your face as you begin making the pancakes. Oeznik lifts his head from his newspaper to ask for some, the Baron mimics the request ‘if it’s not too much trouble’. The rest of the children arrive as you’re cooking, and by the time you’ve assembled a large plate full of pancakes every seat around the table is taken. You pass plates and forks around as the children begin to help themselves. You pull up a chair beside the Baron and tuck in to the breakfast. You scold Klaus lightly, as he pours far too much syrup over his plate. Oeznik wisely moves the bottle from the young boy’s reach. You’re far too busy minding to the family you’ve built for yourself, for you to notice the Baron’s gaze. Oeznik notices the admiration shining in his eyes as he observes you cutting up little Anna’s pancakes. From then on he begins to hope. That his two favourite people would be able to find happiness together.

#helmut zemo x reader #baron zemo x reader #zemo x reader #zemo fanfic #helmut zemo imagine #baron zemo imagine #zemo imagine #baron helmut zemo #helmut zemo #baron zemo x y/n #zemo au #zemo fluff #baron zemo x female reader #baron zemo

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biggest-stupidhead · 4 years ago

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hello love! can i request erwin x fem reader smut where they're quite the opposite, and after a mission they're tired and just fuck (maybe in the woods or something) because they're so stressed but also because they've been wanting to do it long before? like everyone feels the tension between them except they don't wanted to admit it? thanks! i love your blog. 🥺✨

Hey babes, of course! Thanks for sending this one in, I love writing for Levi but I need to switch it up sometimes lol.

Warnings: lowkey hatefucking, intercourse obvi, fucking in da woods, wrap it before u tap it!, unprotected sex.

Summary: Erwin is selfish, but it’s okay because you are too.

Word Count: 2.4K

Your breathing was uneven as you hunched over, chest rising erratically. Your blades were dull and gas was running low, you tapped on the cans ruefully, the dull din signaling how empty the canisters truly were. You were just starting to regain your senses when the sound of hoofbeats startled you. Hange tugged the reins of her horse, the beast turned its head and bared its teeth when she pulled so harshly on the bit.

“Excellent work! That was a clean cut.” Hange complimented as she smiled wryly down at you. You nodded and lifted your fingers to your lips and whistled for your own mount.

“Thanks, it was a big one too. I’ll have to find the supply wagons though, gas is almost gone.” You said as you tossed the dulled blades off to the side and slide the handles of the gear back into the scabbards.

“Ah you’ll have to work on that.” Hange said, her head swiveling to keep watch while you waited for your horse to return. A few moments passed before the sound of your horse trampling through the foliage alerted of its return. You caught it by the reins and threw yourself onto its back.

“Let’s return to the formation then.” Hange said, once again roughly jerking her horse into the right direction, you close on her heels. The two of you rode through the trees at break neck speed, trying to make up for lost time. You finally managed to make out the sight of Erwin and Levi, their own steeds galloping back in the direction of the wall.

“What’s going on!? I haven’t caught my titan yet!” Hange wailed when you reunited with the other pair.

“Too many casualties.” Levi quipped, expression sour and hands bloodied. You rolled your eyes and clutched the reins harder.

“We just need a few more minutes, let’s not call it off yet.” You insisted and Hange exclaimed excitedly at the shared sentiment.

“Won’t be possible, we can’t risk loosing more lives. There’s been enough bloodshed for one day.” Erwin’s voice was tense and his blue eyes were icy as he shot you and Hange down.

“I don’t see why it matters, if we already have lost most of our men...why not push onwards?” You weren’t sure if you really felt that way, or if you were looking for a fight. You were well aware of how Levi felt about losing his men, and how little Erwin truly cared about loosing lives. You knew that was what separated the two of them, Erwin only cared for his own selfish goals, although he hid it well. Levi on the other hand truly cared for the soldiers, and wanted victory for humanity.

“Shut your filthy fucking mouth.” Levi hissed, gunmetal eyes dark and jaw tense as he bit back his words, waiting for Erwin to tell you off.

“We simply don’t have the means at this time.” Erwin said simply, eyes trained forward. You glowered at him, you couldn’t deny that you held some malice towards him, for his seeming lack of empathy towards his men. But could you blame him? You had joined the scouts for your own selfish desires as well, he just had the power to ensure that his desires were acted upon.

“Very well.” You growled, leaning into your horse’s neck as the four of you picked up the pace. Erwin lifted a flare gun and fired the signal into the air for retreat.

The march into the gates and through Shiganshina was brutal as always. The citizens murmured of their wasted tax dollars and the waste of human life. You silently agreed with them, glaring at the back of Erwin’s perfect blonde head. You wanted nothing more than to scream at him, maybe even slap him, then you’d fuck- wait no. Not that last part, you shook your head in an attempt to rid the vulgar thoughts from your mind.

The castle was notably vacant when you arrived. Having lost so many men, the grounds were less busy than usual. You wandered around, having already put your horse away and assisted with the unloading of the excess supplies. You were grateful for the summer breeze, the last rays of light poking through the trees. You wandered off towards the thicket of trees that rested between the castle and the mountain range beyond.

The sounds of the forest seeped into your bones and reminded you of your home, your family, why you had originally agreed to this regiment. You were so caught up in your own thoughts, you almost didn’t hear the twig snapping off to your right. You whipped your head towards the noise, catching the flash of blonde hair and a stark white dress shirt.

“Following me?” You growled, turning to face him fully, Erwin’s cold blue eyes shone in the dim light.

“To an extent.” He shrugged nonchalantly and you bristled at the admission.

“Come to ravage me?” You pushed, wanting a reaction from the usually stoic man.

“Not exactly.”

“Then what? You men are simple creatures after all, only so many motives behind your dull eyes.” You bit, unable to keep the frustrations from your tone. Erwin’s thick brows pinched together at your words.

“I came to tell you that....I want you to be a squad leader.” Erwin’s jaw ticked as he waited for your response. You let out a scoff of disbelief, eyes shining with mirth.

“Why? Because I showed a fraction of the coldness that you display?” You hissed, marching across the small amount of space between you and attempted to get in his face. Although it was difficult seeing as how tall he stood.

“Precisely.” Erwin’s voice was a bit airy, eyes now seeming to shine with something besides the cunning that usually resided in them. You narrowed your own eyes and let loose a growl fisting the front of his shirt as you considered your options.

If you accepted the position, you would be no better than him. But then again were you really any better in the first place?

“I’ll do it.” You released him and took a step back, determination gleaming in your eyes.

“I knew that you would.” He smirked, lips curling into an annoying grin, making your stomach flip.

“Could this not have waited until morning?” You asked, eyes drifting to the last glimmers of sunlight that spotted the forest floor.

“I suppose it could have...but I wanted to see you before then.” You wrinkled your nose in disgust, earlier suspicions proving true.

“Oh really?” You huffed with a dramatic roll of your eyes. Erwin’s expression darkened, and he took. a step forward, invading your space. You stood as tall as you possibly could, not wanting to let on how nervous you really felt in his suffocating presence.

“I wanted to ask you...why you are so bent on challenging my authority.” It wasn’t a question, more of a statement, putting you on the ropes. You glowered at him, his chest bumping yours, prompting you to take a few healthy steps back. Which you did, until your back met the rough bark of an oak tree.

“Why should I listen to someone who holds no regard to human life?” You snarled in response, but it felt more like a yelp, your heartbeat picked up as his hand gripped the tree, trapping you between his towering figure and the large tree.

“I can’t help but wonder if it could have something to do with the way you stare at me….” His breath tickled your face as he craned his head down, your cheeks lit up as you blushed.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You denied, although it was true, you had developed a bad habit of seeking out his form in the dining hall. Watching him too closely during meetings. He was attractive, that was an undeniable fact, but the resentment that you held for him had always prevented you from seeking out anything more than the professional relationship that had been established.

“I know you do, I’ll only offer this once and never again. I’ve had this on my mind for a while now, if you aren’t interested then we can pretend that this never happened.” He paused, gauging your reaction as you looked up at him in shock.

“I want to fuck you. Right here.” He pointed his finger towards the ground and his eyes flashed with an animosity you’d never seen before.

“H-Here?” You stammered, unsure of what to think, but the ache between your thighs was quickly overcoming your senses.

“Yes.” His other hand slid up your side and rested over the strap of your gear over your breasts.

“What will it be then squad leader?” He hummed as he toyed with the buckle. You swallowed thickly but managed to nod curtly, not wanting to verbally admit your attraction to your commander.

“Use your words.” He ordered, tugging harshly on the strap, pulling you flush against his chest. You gasped, head tilting up to meet his cold gaze.

“I….want you to fuck me commander.” You grew more confident with each word, and you could see the pleased smirk curling over Erwin’s features.

“Glad we finally agree on something.” He huffed, fingers easily unbuckling the strap and then deftly unbuttoning your blouse. As he did so he walked you back against the tree, he left your shirt on, instead favoring unbuttoning your trousers. You gripped his jacket as he slid his hand down to cup your pussy. He chuckled at how wet you were, his large fingers gathering your slickness before slipping into you. You let out another gasp and pushed his jacket off of his shoulders, he withdrew from you to help you undress him as well. You only got to undo his pants before he pressed his lips to yours, tongue pushing past your lips.

He leaned down and scooped you up, hands supporting the backs of your thighs as he used the tree to keep you steady. Your head hit the tree roughly as he continued to attack your mouth, you could do nothing but open your mouth to meet his lips. He slid one of his hands up and gripped the waistband of your pants, pulling them just below your knees, it was a bit of a struggle due to the position he had you in. But you got there eventually. The air felt cool against your exposed sex, and you found yourself blushing crimson as he pressed you harder into the tree so that he could free his cock. You bit your lip in anticipation as he finally managed to pull himself free of his pants.

He pulled away from your lips, eyes lidded and clearly focused on lining himself up to your entrance. You hissed when the head of his cock slid effortlessly along the length of your pussy. Finally he pressed the tip inside of you, pausing as he shifted to grip both of your thighs and gain better leverage.

“Erwin please.” You whimpered, rocking your hips in an attempt to get him to fully sheath himself.

“Beg for it.” He hissed, breath hot against the shell of your ear before his tongue darted out and licked a stripe up the side of your neck.

“I-I need you so bad, please I need you to fuck me.” Your hands clawed at his shoulders as you used your core to keep yourself upright and legs spread for him.

“Good girl.” He growled, finally snapping his hips and sheathing himself in one thrust. You groaned at the fullness, walls stretching to accommodate his size. His own breathing seemed to grow more erratic as he began to rock his hips back and forth. Your back burned from the friction of rubbing against the tree behind you. There was no doubt about you having some kind of scratch in the morning.

You threw your head back against the trunk of the tree as he picked up the speed, hands roaming up from your thighs to your ass, you clenched your legs to wrap around his waist. Your muscles burned but the coil that was building in your stomach kept you motivated, wanting nothing more than to cum over his cock.

He grunted as you twitched around him, his hips somehow seemed to gain more speed, nose burying between the space between your neck and shoulder. You felt him leave a wet kiss there before sucking harshly on the skin. You tilted your head in the opposite direction, giving him more room as he lapped his tongue along the newly exposed skin.

“E-Erwin I think that-”

“Wait.” He snarled against your throat, biting it a bit roughly, you moaned wantonly at the action and dug your heels into the small of his back. His cock stroked along the rigid spot inside of you and you nearly screamed, barely containing your orgasm as he had asked you to. He struck that spot relentlessly, hips meeting yours harshly as he pounded into you.

“Just like that.” He groaned as he pushed you flat against the tree, using all of his strength to keep you there as he drove into you.

“Please Erwin let me cum.” You sobbed as he bit your collarbone, his dick twitched inside of you at your plea, he pulled back, icy eyes locked on your wrecked face as tears rolled down your cheeks.

“Only since you’ve been such a good girl.” He growled, and reached down between your legs, you tightened your grip on his shoulders to make up for the lost support as he pressed his calloused finger to your throbbing clit and rubbed tight circles. Your legs twitched as you felt the coil snap and your cunt clamped down around his dick. He hissed at the sudden tightness and groaned as he came as well. You felt the warmth trickle out of you as he pulled away. He held you up as you shook, coming down from the high he had given you.

“See what we can do when we work together?” He chuckled darkly, hand toying with your bra as you clung to his neck.

“Keep dreaming eyebrows.” You huffed, pulling away from him and shakily pulling your pants up. He tucked himself back into his pants and picked up his jacket from the forest floor.

“See me in my office tomorrow and we will discuss your promotion.” He called after you as you marched back towards HQ, cheeks burning from the interaction you’d just had with your commander. You threw your hand up dismissively, trying to ignore the dark chuckle he let out when he saw how flustered you were.

Maybe he wasn’t all that bad after all….

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tsarisfanfiction · 4 years ago

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Unexpected, Not Unwanted

Fandom: Thunderbirds Rating: Gen Genre: Family Characters: Lucille, Tracy Family

A new PoV for #fluffember day 15 - Son/Daughter. I’ve never tried to write Lucille before, but I’ve tackled Jeff a few times now so it was time to switch things up a bit. For those that haven’t noticed, I use the birth order Scott>John>Virgil in my fics, which usually doesn’t affect the stories all that much but is very important in this one!

It might not have been her intention to end up with five sons, but that didn’t mean she loved them any less.

She would never say any of her sons were an accident, because that implied a level of unwantedness that could hardly be further from the truth. She’d always wanted children, one day, excited to explore the challenges of motherhood once she found the right man to be her husband and their father.

That didn’t change the fact that her first pregnancy was unexpected. Her first absent period was the clue, the second confirmation, and from there it was a whirlwind ride of hormones no anecdotes from her own mother nor her mother-in-law could properly prepare her for. Nine long months of mood swings, pains and underlying panic that she wasn’t ready to be a mother, not so young and still in the honeymoon phase of her marriage, was rounded off by a surprisingly quick labour, for her first child.

Scott’s love of speed started early.

She hadn’t been ready to be a mother, the weight of the wedding ring on her finger still feeling fresh with less than a year since she’d received it, but one look at determined blue eyes and that didn’t matter. She was a mother, and this small, delicate child she’d brought into the world needed her.

It wasn’t easy. Jeff was gone for much of it, already dedicated to an expedition before she’d realised she was pregnant. He’d managed to be there for the birth – an anxious first-time father somehow more terrified than she was – but it was barely a month later that he was gone, leaving her to turn to her parents and in-laws for help.

Still, despite the absence of his father for much of the first year of his life, Scott didn’t seem at all daunted by the world. She didn’t know it at the time, but four more sons later and it was painfully obvious that he’d been paving the way for his future siblings.

(She wondered, sometimes, if he’d always known he would have little brothers).

John, at least, was planned. In all honesty, he was the only one that was, a nice two years younger than Scott – close enough in age to bond, but far enough apart to grow into being their own people. In a mirror of Scott, Jeff was off planet when he was born – a relatively last minute change of personnel and a reluctant baby to leave the quiet of the womb for the noise of the world combining to whisk her husband away a week before her waters broke.

Like Scott before him, John’s first year of life was largely filled by grandparents, although he also had a curious toddler poking and prodding at him with big blue eyes. She was never sure if it was curiosity or jealousy in those earliest days.

If Scott was loud and fast, then John was quiet and patient. He rarely fussed, content to sit and watch the world around him – and then the sky, after one memorable evening where she found Scott had escaped his bed and instead of running to her, as toddlers were known to do, had run instead to his little brother to point at the stars.

(She never knew what he’d told John, but from that day onwards, John always looked to the stars).

After the noise of Scott, John’s comparative silence had been a point of concern. She knew that babies were all individual, but such a stark contrast between her sons caught her off guard. It was only after a few months that she realised John was quiet because Scott made the noises for him. The big brother instinct he became known for later in life started almost immediately; somehow, he always knew when John needed something before John started to cry, and John – smart, observant John – learnt fast that it was less effort on his behalf if he let Scott make the noise instead.

Virgil, for all that he was equally spaced from Scott and John, followed his biggest brother in being unexpected. It was not that they didn’t want more children, but it was very easy to track the date of his conception back to Jeff’s return from another mission. Like John, he was reluctant to leave her when the time came, several weeks after he was due, but like Scott he was a noisy baby.

She thought that bemused Scott a bit, finding that the tricks he’d figured out for being the best big brother he could to John didn’t work for Virgil. Virgil had a big set of lungs and absolutely did not need biggest brother to talk for him. John found this utterly bizarre, but quickly and begrudgingly realised that with Scott’s attention no longer entirely on him, he had to speak up for himself, now. Much to her amusement, while Scott may not have consciously known how to big brother Virgil, despite that, as soon as he could crawl it was Scott, and not her, that he aimed for.

(Virgil always was drawn to Scott, right from the start.)

Like his brothers before him, Gordon was unique. Scott had been fast, John quiet and Virgil reluctant, but Gordon was troublesome. Another unexpected pregnancy – once again with suspicious timing around Jeff’s latest mission return – he couldn’t let anything go to plan. Complication after complication arose, giving rise to suspicions amongst the midwives that her body wasn’t fit for a fourth pregnancy.

She could never give up on him, though. Not when gentle hints were dropped that perhaps it would be better for her if there was no fourth child, that the signs were there that he wouldn’t survive to term. Not even when she was induced after a shade over seven months because the complications got too much. Gordon didn’t give up either, lungs to rival Virgil’s as soon as he realised how to use them.

(She knew that Gordon was like mithril, from the stories. Light and delicate in appearance, but stronger than the toughest steel.)

With three elder brothers, Gordon wanted for nothing. John sat by him as he read his books, letting him shriek uninterrupted and shooting disapproving looks at anyone who tried to quiet him. For a child who loved silence, he was surprisingly tolerant of noise from his brothers, as long as he was experiencing it on his own terms. Virgil alternated between a clear adjustment of not being the family baby anymore and attempts to emulate Scott by being the best big brother he could be – even if that meant letting Gordon near the paints and the carnage that always followed that.

Scott, old enough to understand now that all babies were different, watched. The same instinct that had him crying on John’s behalf resurfaced as a silent guardian, observing what Gordon liked and what he didn’t. It was Scott that first got into a water fight with Gordon, small splashes at bath time that Gordon returned with a fervour beyond anything he gave to everything else he threw himself into – a feat she hadn’t thought possible.

After the difficulties of Gordon’s pregnancy, they made the decision that they shouldn’t risk a fifth. Jeff had been terrified throughout the seven months, to say nothing of the panic in her three boys whenever Mommy went into hospital again.

In many ways, Alan was the most stubborn of the five. Unexpected in that she’d been on birth control to prevent further pregnancies, and then determined to prove them all wrong. The midwives sighed in quiet despair, Jeff returned to blind panic, and Scott – now old enough to know what, exactly, had happened with Gordon – drove himself into a frenzy to keep both her and his fourth, yet-unborn, sibling safe.

It was Scott that made the decision easier. The idea of ending a life never sat well with her or Jeff – a belief that was solely responsible for Gordon’s continued existence – and with their eldest son firmly attached to the new life they agreed to risk it, once more.

Proving Scott’s faith in him right, and perhaps trying to show up his immediately older brother, Alan was as smooth sailing as Scott himself had been, all those years earlier. Easier, in some ways, because this time she knew what to expect. Right on time, eager to follow his brothers, he’d brought himself into the world with the same determination he’d continue to face the world with.

Gordon, long used to being the baby of the family, found no use for the squealing creature she brought home. Not, at least, until Alan was big enough to become a partner in crime, at which point a switch was flipped and it was almost impossible to find one without the other, much to the consternation of the older three. Virgil, emboldened by his success at big brothering Gordon, took to the expansion of his responsibilities like a duck to water. If she ever needed a little help, it was always Virgil there first.

Much as he had with Gordon, John sat quietly with Alan. She caught him by Alan’s cot one night, pointing at the stars and patiently teaching him constellations when the youngest should have been fast asleep, and wondered if he remembered Scott doing something similar for him, once. As for Scott himself, if there was anyone who could claim to perfect the art of being a big brother, it was her eldest son. He let Virgil run ahead, because Virgil wanted to help, but he was always there one step behind, watching over both of them and ensuring Alan always had whatever he wanted. Piggy back rides were far from uncommon.

(It was clear that Alan wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with his brothers.)

She and Jeff were blessed with five beautiful boys, even if Jeff was rarely around for their infant years, and there was nothing she would ever change about any of them. Scott was protective and bold, John quiet but sharp, Virgil calm and loyal, Gordon wild and strong, and Alan stubborn and determined. Together, they balanced each other perfectly.

(People asked if she wished she had a daughter, if that was why she had five sons? That question was barely worth an answer. Wishes implied she was unhappy with what she had, and that couldn’t be further from the truth.)

#fluffember #thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds are go fanfiction #tsari writes fanfiction #lucille tracy #jeff tracy #scott tracy #john tracy #virgil tracy #gordon tracy #alan tracy #thunderfluff

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gemsofgreece · 4 years ago

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Hello, may I request some comedy/light drama etc. recs from the golden age of Greek TV?

Okay, then *cracks knuckles*

(For anyone who didn’t read the first answered ask, the “golden age” of Greek TV is 1990 - 2010)

I don’t know if you are the Anon who had asked the 2010 onward shows because they didn’t mind the subtitles. If you definitely need subtitles, I am afraid there are only two shows you can watch right now:

Είσαι το Ταίρι Μου (You’re My Soulmate)

Romantic comedy / light drama (2001 - 2002). Vicky and Stella are two very different friends who are Greek immigrants in Australia. Vicky is stunning and men go crazy for her but she has many insecurities. Stella is not conventionally attractive but she allows nothing to bring her down. They both fall for the same handsome rich Greek, Nikos. It’s no brainer who wins - Nikos is a womanizer and falls immediately for Vicky. The interesting part is what happens next - when Vicky’s insecurities make her come up with a crazy plan / prank that will unleash hell over these three, Nikos’ entire family and a couple of friends living in Athens and change their lives forever...and everyone will then get what they deserve... or what they are brave enough to claim. Overall just a hilarious and clever comedy, with great acting and memorable characters you end up loving and an ending that isn’t a cliche. Here’s the link to watch with english subtitles.

Στο Παρά Πέντε (In the Nick of Time)

Mystery / Crime Comedy / Light drama (2005 - 2007) One of the two most famous Greek comedies. Five totally different people happen to be witnesses to the murder of a politician. Before he dies, the politician asks them to find who did it and take revenge for this and other crimes they have committed. These five unassuming people become friends and start solving the mystery together like hilariously amateur detectives. In time, they will find out that there’s something more that unites them besides their friendship...and maybe not everything happens accidentally. Here’s the link to watch with english subtitles. This one is being subtitled right now.

So bad news: only two shows with English subtitles. Good news: They are the best of the best, so no problem.

But if subtitles are not necessary, let’s proceed with the rest I love in no particular order:

10 Λεπτά Κήρ��γμα (10 Minutes of Scolding)

Comedy (2000 - 2003). The life of Leonidas Alivizatos, an untamed only child with divorced parents. The story is basically the endless ways Leonidas find to escape the limitations his parents put to him and the shenanigans he does with his best friend Telis and his girlfriend Marilena that drive his family crazy. Fun fact: My generation, we all had at some point a crush on Leonidas...right?

Singles

Romantic Dramedy (2004 - 2008). The show has four seasons although it’s the first one that mostly had a lasting impression on me. The story revolves around the social, professional and romantic lives of six young single people: Maro, a sensitive hopeless romantic, Rania, an angry cynic who hates relationships, Lila, a sex crazed cheerful woman, Orestes, an average I’d say young man who has his eyes on Maro though, Arthuros, Orestes’ best friend and a socially awkward man with a dark family past and Loukas, a divorced father who seems to be quite the catch. There’s something special about the first season, it had an atmosphere, a style that I loved. The music was great too. I still remember the episode with the Reaper nightmares and that green light. In the following seasons, half of the cast changed. Y’all Greeks here do you remember the title song? I love it.

youtube

Δεληγιάννειο Παρθεναγωγείο (Deligiannis School for Girls)

Comedy, Drama (2007 - 2008). Summer 1939. The events of the series evolve at the last period of the Greek Regime, the Greco-Italian War and the Nazi Invasion of Greece. Mimis Metaxas in the headmaster of the School and trapped in a miserable marriage. His father-in-law invites Agape, his niece, to teach at the school. Mimis falls desperately in love with Agape but of course he keeps it a secret. Agape is a free-spirited woman and it is soon clear that she is a Communist (or at least leaning toward left ideals) and Mimis tries to balance his job as the Headmaster of the school, his sad marriage, his love and the historical events happening in the country with his need to keep Agape protected at all costs and under full secrecy.

Κωνσταντίνου και Ελένης (Constantine and Helen’s)

Comedy (1998 - 2000). Okay, this is officially the best Greek comedy to date. After it ended in 2000, it has been on TV repeatedly and continuously to this day. For twenty years non-stop. It still has bigger viewership than new current shows. An old aristocratic childless man writes two wills right before his death in which he gives his big residence. The one will is for Constantine, his aloof and conservative nephew who is a professor of Byzantine History in the University. The other will is for Helen, the only daughter of his beloved poor gardener who is a potty mouthed waitress. Constantine and Helen arrive at the house the same day and they are both determined to inherit the house and they can’t wait until the court date. The story revolves around everything they do to get rid of each other and their friends who are just as crazy as they are. There’s an interesting story about this show: they had done some tests and pilots and they were convinced that nobody was going to watch their show so the show became low budget and the actors were free to go batshit crazy. This ended up creating this hilarious masterpiece that is being rewatched by million Greeks to this day.

Οι Μεν και οι Δε (Them and the others)

Comedy (1993 - 1996). Dionysis Dagas, a famous lawyer who defends criminals lives with his wife Vana, an aristocratic lazy woman, in their apartment in Kolonaki. In the apartment right next to them Timos and Nana Stamatis come to live, unemployed and a jewelry artist respectively. Timos and Nana attempt numerous times to take money from frugal Dionysis and in general a big war starts between them as snobby Dagas are the exact opposite of the hippy Stamatis.

Σαββατογεννημένες (Born on Saturday)

Comedy (2003 - 2004). A sexist and all around horrible man named Savvas wins 7 million Euros at the lottery and as he learns it he has a car crash and loses his memory. His three ex-wives, the Greek language teacher Keti, the actress Bia and the tourist shop owner Soula, all very different and hating the guts of each other and Savvas, team up to find the lottery ticket before Savvas' memory recovers. But in order to achieve that, they have to act a lot and they have to take care of incapacitated Savvas themselves.

Το Καφέ της Χαράς (Chara's cafe)

Romantic comedy (2003 - 2006 and 2019 - now). Chara Chaska, an Athenian unmarried mother decides to start anew and takes her daughter with her to go live somewhere close to nature. They go to a village in Mountainous Arcadia, named Kolokotronitsi. What Chara doesn't know is that the village is extremely traditional and backwards and governed by the conservative and misogynist mayor Periandros Popotas. Popotas and the villagers will start a big war against the newcomer, especially when they find out she wants to open a modern lounge cafe and is not married. Chara has only few supporters there but soon she will also have the interest of her biggest enemy. The show has been revived since last year, as the continuation of what happens many years later but I haven't been watching.

Dolce Vita

Romantic comedy (1995 - 1997). Christina Markatou is the mature rich widow of a tomato factory owner and now she runs it on her own. Christina visits her daughter Dorita in Italy where she studies and upon her return to Greece she unexpectedly has a one night stand with young Antonis Kaloudis. What they both don't know is that Antonis is Dorita's fiance and travels to Greece to meet her family. After the initial shock, Antonis realises he prefers the mother but Christina tries to resist. The love though is too strong. Christina begins seeing Antonis, full of regrets and self-loathing, and tries to hide the affair from her daughter, the nosy housemaid Aspasia and the absolute terror that her mother-in-law is, Olga Markatou. Is there any chance for happiness?

Εγκλήματα (Crimes)

Black comedy (1998 - 2000). Alekos and Flora have always been in love but never got together and got married to evil Soso and kindly Achilles respectively instead. Alekos finds Flora and they start an affair. Soso finds out about the affair quickly and tries repeatedly to kill Alekos. All the crazy things that happen start from all of Soso's murderous attempts and affect the lives of the aforementioned as well as their close relatives who are as crazy as the main characters. Will Soso achieve her biggest ambition to become utterly evil and kill Alekos and whomever else stands in her way?

Σ' αγαπώ, μ' αγαπάς (I love you, you love me)

Domestic comedy (2000 - 2002). The hilariously realistic life of a couple, Dimitra and Thodoris (the actors play with their real names). The actors had such great chemistry that they were chosen as the voice actors for Greek Marlin and Dory in Finding Nemo (also with great success).

So, these are my favourites but there are many others I like or that are very popular but not my cup of tea. Any other Greek is welcome to recommend their own faves.

#greece #tv shows #tv series #greek #greek tv #greek shows #greek language #anon #ask #mail

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gumnut-logic · 4 years ago

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Reactions (Bit 13)

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We’re getting there ever so slowly. We have some herding of brothers to get through first.

For @soniabigcheese who started this one :D

-o-o-o-

From that point onwards, it was all about family.

Virgil threw himself into looking after his brothers with the same vigour he looked after his ‘bird the five days previous.

There was guilt, so much guilt. He had put himself over his brothers, ignored them even and hid away nursing his own wounds.

Gordon yelled at him about it, but Virgil was focussed on Scott. He had never seen his big brother so down. It was almost as if his fire had been extinguished.

John refused to leave orbit, determined to deploy as much energy and equipment he could into fixing this mess. Virgil let him be. For now. He had plans to later climb up into orbit himself to check on his space brother. He had no doubt the astronaut was running himself into the ground.

Alan was recovering and for lack of a better description, reminded Virgil of a pissed off terrier. Angry as all hell and willing to take on the neighbourhood great dane.

There were words.

Emotional words.

Alan continued to snarl.

But his little brother was now mobile and buzzing around the house in a hover chair. Grandma was keeping an eye on him.

Grandma was keeping an eye on all of them.

Virgil got one hell of a talking to about looking after himself and received chicken soup as punishment. At least he thought it was chicken soup. The cucumber was confusing.

Kayo was simply gone. On the other side of the planet, most likely. Virgil didn’t know exactly where. The few times she contacted the Island, he grilled her on her health status and was ignored for the most part.

Virgil worried.

About all of them.

It hit Scott the hardest. The commander saw it simply. He saw it as failure.

This was their father’s dream and somehow it had all crashed and burned. Virgil regretted his absence in those first days more and more. If he had been there to support Scott...

But he wasn’t.

He cursed himself in every language he knew.

Gordon was almost as much a concern as Scott. The aquanaut was fuming. No sorrow, no fear, just anger. He spent most of his time in contact with various people and Virgil had the urge to ask John to monitor his fish brother’s communications in case he was planning a world coup of some kind.

But as the days wore on the picture of exactly what was happening did become clearer.

The scathing media continued. Jack reported in almost daily, apparently his entire practice had been mobilised across several attack fronts. They were winning several, but the battle appeared to be a long one.

One of the worst moments was when a hurricane hit the Bahamas and Florida. IR was refused deployment, no matter what angle John tried. The astronaut directed calls to emergency services as best he could, even called in a few Tracy favours from the Jacksonville plant of Tracy Industries, their machinery switching to emergency supplies and relief production to help the people in the beleaguered cities to the south, but even that received a rebuttal. The head of GDF communications cut into IR frequencies and demanded Thunderbird Five cease interference.

Virgil had never heard John so angry.

Scott was as cold as the Arctic. “Do as they ask.”

“Scott-“

“Do as they ask!” Blue eyes like ice, Scott’s expression was stone.

So, theoretically, Five stood down.

Virgil was on the elevator within the half hour.

Eos pummelled him with questions all the way through the stratosphere and into space. John had stopped answering apparently, so she was looking for another Tracy to help.

Virgil stepped onto a silent Five.

“Where is he, Eos?”

“Communications hub. I honestly don’t understand, Virgil. Why would they do this? John is trying to help.”

Virgil’s lips thinned as he strode to the airlock that separated the gravity ring from the central hub. John had to know he was there, yet, there was no greeting, no acknowledgement.

Virgil drifted through the lock to find that Five had most certainly not shut down.

His brother floated in a sea of information. Aunt Val’s picture cruised past. Another document with the GDF logo at the top darted over Virgil’s head as his brother threw it across the room.

“Eos, I need the results from breach fifty-nine.”

“Not until you rest.” Eos’ voice was determined. “And now I have Virgil to help me look after you.”

Turquoise flickered in the engineer’s direction. “Virgil.” It was a greeting and a dare all rolled into one.

“What are you doing, John?”

His astronaut brother wove code with one hand while reaching for a document with the word ‘classified’ stamped across its header. “Exactly what you suspect I’m doing, no doubt.”

“John, I thought we had an agreement.”

“You thought you did. I’m only doing what needs to be done.” The coding hand finished something off and with a swipe sent it on its way.

It was replaced with a scroll of information, rapidly accumulating in a simulated pile.

John smiled thinly at it before turning to face his brother.

“What do you want, Virgil?”

If Virgil had been in a gravity affected situation, he would have taken a step back. As it was, he hadn’t gotten his space legs quite yet and was reduced to a half-strangled gasp.

John was ever so pale, his eyes little more than caverns, his usually perfect hair looked limp and straggly, hanging down over his face.

“Have you slept at all?!”

“I’m doing what needs to be done.” His brother returned to juggling information.

A beat and an incoming comm flashed up. “Johnny, Brandy says the orders have come down. The launch is set for next week. We should tell Scott.”

Virgil blinked.

A swipe of his hand and John answered. “No need, Gordon. You’ve just told Virgil.” A pause. “And don’t call me ‘Johnny’.”

The aquanaut startled as, no doubt, Virgil’s image appeared in his office alongside John. “Oh.” A shrug. “Hey, Virg. Whatcha doin’ up there?”

“What are you doing, Gordon?”

“What needs to be done.”

“And what exactly is that?”

“Saving International Rescue. After all, ‘saving’ is what we do, isn’t it, Virgil? We don’t sit on the side-lines while people die.” The aquanaut poked at something out of transmission range. “Johnny, you gonna brief our big brother or let him dob us into Scott and tackle both explosions at once?”

“Gordon…” John’s voice spoke of exhaustion. “I will handle this.”

“FAB. Sending you Brandy’s report.” Another document flashed up, this one with the WASP logo at the top.

Hell.

Gordon’s hologram held his stare for a moment before blinking out.

“John?” Virgil put every bit of big brother he had into the name. He wasn’t Scott, but he hoped he was enough.

The astronaut sighed.

“General Strom has commissioned a new rescue force for the GDF.” John waved a hand and an array of aircraft and equipment appeared, floating in the recycled air. “They’ve called it ‘World Rescue’ and on the surface it appears legitimate. Brains is even impressed with some of the technology.”

Brains? Brains was in on this as well?

Virgil eyed the largest ship in the list. It was no Thunderbird Two, but it appeared formidable. “They don’t have our technology.”

John frowned. “No, they don’t…yet.”

Virgil mirrored his brother’s expression. “What?”

Another sigh and John flicked through a series of documents. “Lady Amelia traced the source of the equipment to a project initiated about the same time we lost Dad. It appears that even then, these people had their eyes on us.”

“But why? Running a rescue organisation is not a money-making exercise. We both know that from experience.”

“It is if you are the only one.”

“But-“

A hand caught his shoulder and Virgil’s eyes widened. John was definitely tired if he was reaching out. “Even if they don’t charge for the service, the GDF will gain popularity. Our popularity, Virgil. We have a huge fan following. You know this.”

“But that is just for fun!”

“Virgil, popularity is the key. That list of our weaknesses is also a list of our strengths. The GDF’s popularity has been inversely proportional to ours. We’re stealing their thunder, literally. This has led to budget cuts and a drop in recruitment. They’ve lost money because of us.”

Virgil blinked.

“They want it back.” As Virgil continued to stare, John swallowed. “But that is only part of the equation.” John let go of Virgil’s shoulder. “The call for expressions of interest is a farce. They have a launch planned for the first fleet next week.”

“Next week?”

“To capitalise on our negative press. The world is calling for a replacement service and they are answering.”

“We’re being replaced.”

“By Jim Lucas and Robotics Industries. Eos has found connections between Lucas and Wainwright. Lucas went to college with her. Strond is the only part of this equation we haven’t been able to fully clarify. His is the position responsible for the project funding. Lady Amelia is working on it.” John’s shoulders dropped.

“You need sleep.”

“Virgil, this is important. Aunt Val is in the firing line because of us.” A frustrated sound. “Because of me.”

Virgil drew in a breath. He knew that their Aunt had turned a blind eye for them on several occasions, particularly where John’s fingers had poked into certain pies that perhaps they shouldn’t have. But John only did that to save lives. Aunt Val knew that. She was their support within the GDF and she took that position seriously.

Even Virgil knew enough to know that was why she had been removed from the picture.

Scott had been in contact. Had thrown Jack at her. Tracy money was doing its best to dig her out of the hole they had dug for her.

“She wouldn’t want you killing yourself over this.” Virgil kicked off the wall gently and caught his brother by his arm. “C’mon, John.”

“Virgil, get off me.” John wriggled in his grip.

The holographic display suddenly shut off, leaving the hub a bleak grey. “You’re not doing any more work, John. I have Five under control. Attend to your bodily needs.”

John pushed him away and Virgil let him. A turquoise glare hit him between the eyes.

“I can look after myself.” He glanced at the camera beside the airlock. “Just let me be. Both of you.”

“I tried that and look what happened.” The AI was defiant.

“Eos, turn the hub back on.”

“No.”

“Eos!”

“No! Listen to your brother, if you won’t listen to me. You need sleep and food. Your vitals are a mess.”

Virgil set himself. John could be as stubborn as the rest of them, and as slippery as an eel. “It can wait, John. You either sleep up here, or I drag you downstairs and you can deal with Scott.” Who was just as bad, but John didn’t need to know that.

“Virgil-“

“No, John. Food, then sleep. If Scott isn’t enough of a threat, I have a direct line to Grandma. Don’t think for one second that twenty-two thousand kilometres is enough to keep her out of your hair.”

Turquoise lit on fire. “Fine.”

Virgil wrapped an arm around his brother. “And after we will look at what we can do.”

John just grunted at him.

Virgil drew him closer and led him from the hub.

-o-o-o-

#thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds #thunderbirds fanfiction #Virgil Tracy #John Tracy #nuttys fandomversary

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mirkwoodshewolf · 4 years ago

Text

Guardian of Creatures; AU! Queen x oc female x reader Chap. 12

*Author’s note*

Well this took some time and planning about what chapter I wanted to do next but I finally took a route and went with it. So NEW CAST MEMBER IS ADDED TO THIS LIST!!! It took me forever to figure out two of my top choices until I decided on how to use them both in a way. So for those that might not know his face, you MIGHT have heard his voice over work so the chosen one to play the Devil, Lucifer Morningstar himself, I’ve chosen Troy Baker. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and until the next update :)

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things

@waddles03

@psychosupernatural

@ixchel-9275

@simonedk

@queensdivas

@queen-paladin

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels

@kinole009x

@queendeakyy

@geek-and-proud

@glitter-at-the-panic

@wormzteef

__________________________________________________________

Chapter 12,

The search for Archimedes

*Serafina’s POV*

It took who knows how long but I finally arrived at the edge of the desert over a gorge where the Nile river ran it’s course. I got off my mare and stroked her nose.

“Time for you to return to the village. Thank you for your services Nefertiri.” She nickered lovingly and nipped at the ends of my hair. I stroked her powerful neck before she took off racing back to the village where we bought her and her mate. “Chile ehh? It’s been awhile since I’ve been in a Spanish speaking country but I hope I remember enough.”

I took a deep breath and focused my energy to shapeshift into a falcon so that I could take the long flight there. Soon I felt myself shrinking, feathers began to slowly peek out from my skin till finally I was flying through the air.

‘Alright! Now to fly all the way to Chile.’ I then took off over the Nile which would soon lead me to the Mediterranean Sea and from there I would be over the Atlantic ocean once more.

It took practically an entire day plus a few extra hours but finally I saw the mixture of both jungle rainforest and urban towns of Chile. I swooped down and managed to find a descent alleyway to hide away in to transform back into human form. I let out a tired groan as I collapsed against some old boxes and bins.

“Guess I need to use any bird shapeshifting longer than a few hours. Man I hadn’t been this exhausted since the first time Freddie took over John and mine’s training.” I muttered to myself. I heard the crash of a bin nearby and jumped but I relaxed once I saw it was just a street cat.

It looked pretty well-fed for a street cat and it didn’t seem to be as intimidated by me as most street cats can be.

“Hey boy, you friendly?” I made a small sardine appear on the ground and that’s when the tomcat slowly got closer and closer to it. He cautiously looked up at me. “Don’t worry this is not a trick. You can eat it.” He sniffed the sardine and immediately began chowing down on it. “Good boy, good boy.”

After eating his fill, he walked closer to me. I extended my hand and he gave me a sniff before rubbing his head against my hand and let out a soft purr. His caution now completely disappeared as he was now wanting pets, rubbing up against me and marking my knee with his scent glands.

My eyes shifted red as I now tried to reach inside the cat’s mind so that he and I could communicate.

‘Can you hear me?’ I asked.

‘Whoa what…..oh it’s you. The lady who gave me the Sardine. How is this happening?’

‘Long story short, I’m not really human. Well all human, I’m a witch.’

‘Ahh la bruja.’

‘Sí. You know I’m surprised you can speak good English.’

‘My humans were originally from Phoenix, Arizona. They shipped me here over a year ago when they got tired of me.’

‘I’m so sorry to hear that.’ He stretched himself out and said.

‘It happens. You scratch the curtains one too many times and next thing you know, you get the boot.’

‘Well it’s not right for them to have done that to you.’

‘Well some humans are like that señorita. Now what can I help you with? By giving me my first real meal in a while I’m honored to be any help I can for you.’

‘I don’t know if you can help me señor gato.’

‘Puss. My name is Puss.’ He told me.

‘Okay Puss.’

‘And maybe I might be able to help. I’ve been practically everywhere from the city to the rainforest, just tell me what or who you’re looking for and I might be able to help you.’

‘I’m seeking the former 3rd apprentice of Merlin. Archimedes the Wise.’ At this, Puss stopped his rubbing and stood still. He walked a couple feet away from me and he said.

‘Ahh now that. That is a dangerous path. Are you sure you wish to open that door señorita?’

‘Please Puss. I need to find him. I—’ I trailed off trying to think of what to say. I couldn’t blow my cover story, what if Puss knew Archimedes personally? It’d scare him and he’d go running off somewhere else. ‘He has secrets about my family bloodline. I deserve to know the truth.’

His tail curled around him and his ear twitched. He stood up and walked back towards me before hopping up on my lap.

‘I’ve heard uhh—what is it called uhh—rumors? Yes rumors from the local parakeets that fly by here. About a strange man who lives deep within the forests. A man who has the power to cure any sickness that any animal has, heal any injury. But—human must beware.’

‘Why’s that?’

‘There have been stories of people venturing too deep within those woods. Once they go in, they’re never found the same way they came in. Speaking about visions of their past, others speaking of their sins, or even seeing their worst fears. The people in the village call it-- el bosque de la locura.’ The forest of Madness huh.

‘Do you know where it is?’

‘I’ll take you as far as I can. But after that you’re on your own.’

‘All I want is the forest and you can be on your way.’ I stood up and quickly changed my Arabic attire to fit the Chilean culture. Puss lead me out of the alleyway and he hopped up onto my shoulder and told me just where to go.

After getting out of the village and hiking up a few steep hills, I felt that the air was starting to go thick, and the jungle was slowly going silent.

‘We’re getting close Serafina.’ Puss told me. We walked along the wide earthy path, both my feet and his paws crinkling under the dried up grass patches we’d walk along till finally he stopped. ‘Lo siento, but this is as far as I’ll go.’

‘Understandable. Thank you Puss.’ He bowed before taking off.

‘Serafina wait!’ he said after running a few feet away. I turned to face him and he gave me one final warning. ‘There’s said to be a path that the humans take. Stay on that path if you wish to remain sane. For once you leave it, you’ll never find it again.’

“Okay, thanks for the warning Puss.” He let out a meow before racing back to the village. I turned back towards the trail and took a deep breath before exhaling softly and continued on.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the Forest of Madness. Hundreds of trees stood together. The wood itself rotted and decayed; the leaves dry without any moisture. But what struck me was the very magic seeping from this very forest. It felt—sick. As if a disease were upon it.

Just ahead of me I saw the opening of the forest and there I saw the path of stone and brick. The bricks were old and chipped away, and the stones almost buried underneath the dead leaves.

“Alright Serafina come on, you can do this. The fate of the world depends on finding him. You can’t turn back now.” I proceeded onward and entered the Forest of Madness.

Deeper and deeper into the woods I walked, soon enough any trace of the sun vanished from the winding branches above. I kept my eyes downward on the path and carefully felt around the ground once a corner turn would appear. Using my tracking abilities thanks to Brian, I was able to determine just where I had to go.

Of course it wasn’t easy. For soon the magic in this forest was really starting to seep its way into my head. First my vision started to go blurry. Not in the blindness sense, but like—well you know how when you first wake up after a long nap and your vision gets that hazy overview, that’s what I was seeing right now.

Then I started hearing whispers on the wind, even though there wasn’t any wind at all. No sunlight, no fresh air, not even the sound of birds or other animals.

Just trees. Trees and trees and more trees! Merlin’s beard is there no end to this damned forest! SNAP OUT OF IT SERAFINA!!

This forest is playing with your mind. Just—focus on the…..path? Where is it? Where’d it go? The path it just—disappeared from underneath my feet. No, no, no that’s not possible I did not leave the path once. I was-I was—I was standing right on the path! Did I move? I could’ve maybe—I don’t know! I need to find it, need to find it need to find the path again.

Trailing on ahead, the forest seemed to get even thicker and thicker as the trees seemed to come closer together. As I walked on I heard a deep, thunderous voice say.

“He was never good from the start!” No it—it couldn’t be. I raced over the high roots till I came what looked like a river. But it was probably the nastiest looking river I had ever seen. It was so black it practically looked like tar than water. Dustings of dead leaves floated on top, looking like a river itself. But a figure stood there.

A male figure with long black hair and wearing familiar robes that I knew very well.

“Father?”

“He’s a Deacon. He could get us all killed! Could get you killed!” but when he turned around I saw the most horrifying sight. His eyes were whitened over like death, dried up blood coated his lips, scars from a knife aligned each of his cheeks, and seeping from his robes was blood. I let out a scream and tried to push him away with my telekinesis but nothing came out.

I tried again but nothing. My hands weren’t even glowing red like they normally do. No it-it can’t be…..I’ve—I’ve lost my powers. In a blur, my dad went right from the lake and tackled me right down to the ground. His hands gripping my throat trying to strangle me.

“He was dangerous! His family DID THIS TO US!! And you left us to die!”

“I’m sorry……I didn’t—mean to leave!”

“Our whole family is gone! CAN YOU NOT SEE!?” suddenly I saw the vision of each of my family members dying. Instead of just seeing the flashes like in my recent dream, I saw it full on.

I heard the high pitched, psychotic laughter of Bellatrix as she fired shot after shot of the Cruciatus curse at my aunt Molly and uncle Arthur until finally she called the Avada Kedavra curse to finally end their suffering. Ronan stood over my cousin George who was already holding a dead Fred in his arms.

‘You could’ve saved us.’ My father’s voice echoed in my head. ‘But you abandoned us, like a frightened child.’ My cousins Ginny, Belle and Charlie were slaughtered by John’s uncle Lucius, Ronan’s cousin by actually setting them on fire (like the witches of the Salem witch trials).

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!” I screamed out as I held my arms out and soon all went quiet once more except for my harsh panting.

‘And soon they will follow suit.’ My father’s voice echoed hauntingly in the wind. When I opened my eyes, every one of my family was gone.

I looked around frantically but no one was there. The forest was once again dead silent. I shook my head and slapped myself a few times.

“It wasn’t real. It’s not real. It’s not real.”

‘Oh Serafina, this is just beginning.’ Another voice came out from the forest. I then heard a low growl coming from the trees and soon coming out were Thor and Seraffel.

However they didn’t look like them. Their skin was cold and pale, their eyes pure white and they had spears sticking out of their chests. Their dragon fangs and claws extended out as well as their wings (almost as if they were stuck in mid transformation).

Coming out from another part of the forest was Brian and Roger. Roger in his full Nokken form, an open, gaping wound bleeding from his abdomen, his hair now the famed sickly seaweed green instead of his luscious golden locks, and his hands dripping blood. While Brian looked deathly pale. In his Elvish armor, he held his sword out that was stained with blood, and his eyes pure soulless almost as if he were a zombie.

“I told you before of your visions.” Soon slithering out and walking beside him were Freddie and (Y/n). (Y/n), like Brian, their skin looked decaying and cracking away, and dirt and ash covered their chapped skin. Freddie had various scars across him.

One on his forehead that actually made blood seep down on either side of his nose, trailing down his eyes almost like he was crying out blood. A long gash across his stomach and a puncture wound just an inch above where the gash was.

“Freddie?” I asked bewildered.

“Everything you see before you, is all too real.” They all soon surrounded me, cutting off any chance of escape. “You will always be that frightened little witch that chose true love over her own family. And because of that, we have fallen as well.”

“No! I-I-I-I didn’t abandon you guys! Balthazar said I wasn’t abandoning you!”

“Well he lied. Just as all the Deacons do. Kill her.” He hissed. Soon to make the first strike was (Y/n). They used a spell on my but I quickly dodged out of the way. But soon piling on top of me with sharp teeth and claws were my own sons and Roger.

With my son’s dagger like teeth mixed with Roger’s serrated ones biting into my skin, it made me cry out in pure agony. It felt like they were pealing off my skin slowly with each bite and their claws, dug deep into my flesh like a knife to a roast. I tried to fight them off of me, trying to shapeshift into a lioness or a bear but not even my shapeshifting magic was working.

All I could do was scream and try to just push them off of me but it did me no good. Soon I felt a tackle behind me and I went forward down a steep, rocky drop. It felt like eternity that I was rolling over jagged rocks or hard solid earth until I landed hard on my back. I groaned as I tried to sit myself up.

“Yes! We’ve got her!” Freddie hissed from above as they all came sliding down the hill towards me. Brian took the first leap with his sword held high, ready to strike me down. As quick as I could I got up and ran just as he came down and struck his sword downward. Roger, Seraffel and Thor taking the chase. “You can’t hide from us! Where you go, we go!”

I felt Thor tackle me from behind, taking me straight down into the dirt. I quickly turned and grabbed the spear and pushed it deeper into him which made him scream and recoil inward in pain. I hated to see my baby boy hurt like that but I had no choice but to keep running.

But soon I was trapped by a closed off gorge. Nothing but rocks and boulders blocked my only way out. I turned to see everyone of my family getting closer, Roger and Seraffel’s roars, Freddie’s hissing sent chills up my spine.

Without any other choice, I proceeded to climb up. I climbed and climbed and climbed, I would even send a trail of rocks down towards them to try and deter them away. It only worked for a second till they would just wait at the bottom, almost as if they were wanting me to fall.

Exhausted, dizzy, and dehydrated I still tried my best to climb up the gorge. It seemed like every second I would find myself slipping, almost about to fall god knows how many feet to the dangerous animals down below. After an eternity, I was now dangling from the last few inches of finally being free, but a figure stood in my way between freedom and death.

The figure removed their black hood and I saw John standing above me. His face expressionless as he stared down at me.

“John!” I pleaded. I felt myself slipping from the edge. “My love, help me!” my feet kicking the side trying to stay up, rocks slipping down from underneath me. John continued to look down at me expressionlessly, almost like he didn’t even care whether or not I died.

From his robes he took out his grandfather’s wand and said the two most dangerous, horrifying word I’d never thought I’d hear him say to me.

“Avada Kedavra.” The wand flashed green and I felt the spell hit me. I felt every muscle and vein in my body slowly shut down as John crouched down in front of me and whispered, “The last of the Black family finally extinguished.”

My grip soon faltered and I felt myself falling to my death. I was frozen, the last thing I saw was my beloved John Deacon with the very wand he never wanted to inherit, and his eyes turning the same color as his grandfather’s. One brown while the other a ghostly white.

*3rd Person POV*

Down below a flash of a figure came running across the forest. It leaped up the gorge before grabbed Serafina before she could impact hard onto one of the many rocks which would soon cause an avalanche of boulders, surely killing her that way.

He leaped from rock to rock till he reached the top of the gorge, looking down at the young witch who was now paralyzed by the magic of the forest. He set her down and placed two fingers on her neck, checking to see if she still had a pulse. She did but it was faint.

He soon picked her up before racing off deeper into the forest. His body only a flashing blur with how fast he was moving.

*Serafina’s POV*

Darkness. That’s all I remember. Being in nothing but pure darkness. It was also cold, and I felt scared……scratch that terrified. But then out of nowhere I felt this—warmth. Surrounding me and a voice that I—I couldn’t recognize or put my money on but it felt—familiar to me.

I don’t know how long it took but finally I was able to open my eyes and the first thing I saw was some light from candles surrounding me. As my eyes tried to focus, I saw some flowers being placed beside me and a voice said.

“Well, look whose coming back to sanity.” It was true. I felt more aware of my surroundings. The magic that once had been weighing me down had finally been lifted off of me. I was no longer drowning in darkness or fear. And that voice—I looked to the foot of my bed and the figure was lit by the candle’s glow.

A devilishly handsome man with short, combed over sandy blonde hair. His piercing light blue eyes stared right at me as he did a cross between a light smirk and a genuine smile. A light beard crowned across his face, making his appearance seem even more handsomer than if he were clean shaven. He wore a fine suit with the jacket fully open and a couple of buttons from his white shirt unbuttoned, exposing a part of his chest.

And he was lounging, I mean really lounging on his seat with one foot crossed over his leg. His right hand decorated with a couple of rings similar to John’s and over his left hand was the Ouroboros tattoo (the snake eating its own tail).

I adjusted myself as I felt myself lying on probably the softest bed I had ever been on in my entire life. The smell of azaleas lingered in the air as well as the smell of a light lavender incense.

“Lucifer.”

“In the flesh and at your service my lady.” He said with a bow of his head, his hand going over his heart. I looked around and asked him.

“How long—how long was I in that forest?” at that his face grew solemn as he leaned down to take my hand and he said gravely.

“3 years.” Hearing that made my heart stop. My eyes grew wide in fear as I whispered in shock.

“What?” his solemn face stuck there for awhile till he grinned and chuckled, his shoulders shaking with his laughter. At that I rolled my eyes and took my hand back.

“Fuck you.”

“Oh so now you finally cave in on my offer. I must say Serafina you sure do keep a Devil waiting. It’s been on the table for what? 600 years?”

“700 actually. Belfast 1226.”

“Ahh yes. Back when I had black hair and had a different face.”

“At least back then you were a Brit. Now what you’ve gone American now?”

“Most of my clients have been America, plus have you been to Los Angeles? The Devil’s City I love it!” always the prideful one. Along with greedy and lustful. No wonder where Roger gets some of his sins from, he and Lucifer are practically cut from the same cloth (literally. Lucifer is like 50% responsible for the creation of Nokkens. Poseidon’s blood and Lucifer’s sins, that’s what created the sirens, nokks, kelpies, and merfolk).

My thoughts went back to the Forest of Madness. The magic that was surrounding it, Freddie said my magic was even more powerful that John’s yet it easily corrupted me.

“That magic……over the woods.” Lucifer’s teasing face turned back to solemn as he leaned back in his chair, but his eyes were focused right on me. “What was that? I’ve…..I was—sickening yet……heartbreaking.”

“If you didn’t have the support system you have today, yours and his magic would be cut from the same cloth.”

“Archimedes?” he nodded softly. I sighed heavily and continued, “Well……if you hadn’t shown up my mind would be just as twisted as my mother-in-law’s so……thank you.”

“Sorry what was that? I-I didn’t quite catch that last bit.” Lucifer teased as he leaned in closer putting his hand to the side of his ear. I shook my head and rolled my eyes but took his hand that had the Ouroboros tattoo and said as I looked him dead in the eye.

“Thank you. Lucifer Morningstar.” He smiled genuinely.

“You’re welcome.” He then cleared his throat as he once again lounged in his chair saying, “Besides; now this just means you owe me a favor.”

“You saved my life just so I could owe you a favor?”

“Well that and along with seeing that beautiful face of yours without that persistent husband and overprotective dragon sons of yours lingering over me.” His face then went sympathetic as he continued, “Oh sorry I……”

“Actually, we found them. My sons.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. They were alive all this time. Sealed within that bloody urn John’s family tricked me to use.” I snarled the last part lowly as I sat myself up.

“You don’t say. So those boys of yours managed to stay sealed away at the hands of your in-laws?”

“That’s in the past now. All I care about is the fact that they’re alive and they’re back with John and I.”

“So why aren’t you with them now? In fact just what in the hell have you gotten yourselves into? Last I heard was that a wyvern came to attack you guys.”

“Well that part is true. But that’s when the boys came in and killed the wyvern along with Freddie.” At the mention of Freddie’s name I saw the corner of Lucifer’s lips curve into a smirk.

“That old son of a bitch always does like to show off his fighting skills, especially when it comes to the dragon species.”

“Stop it! I know what kind of fetish you’re thinking about so knock it off! He hasn’t once thought about you since the last time we met.” I warned him.

“Aww I’m hurt. Cause he’s all I think about.” He teased.

“Please Lucifer, you still believe that I’ll join in a threesome with you and Maz. And Maz wouldn’t touch you to stab you.” As I tried to stand up, Lucifer reached out to help me but I held my hand out telling him I didn’t need help. After getting my bearings together, I slowly stood up.

Slightly wobbling but soon I found my footing. I took a couple steps forward.

“In all seriousness Lucifer, how long was I in those woods? Clearly it hasn’t been a day if my legs are this wobbly.”

“2 weeks. And you were out for almost another whole week. Took almost every spell I knew to even get your mind back to sanity.” So it’s been 3 weeks since I last seen the others. “Now you didn’t answer my question; why are you here? I’ve never seen you this far from John’s side for as long as I’ve known you. And the only reason for that is if—”

“Yes Lucifer. It’s time.” I told him. His eyes narrowed.

“So, the human savior Fred spoke of has finally came into the picture.”

“Yes. And I also know the truth. The real truth about the fall of the 3 apprentices. Balthazar came to me in his true form and told me about Archimedes. I can only assume that since you’re here, you know where he is.”

“I might.” He shrugged nonchalantly.

“Don’t screw with me Lucifer!” he just looked at me. “I know about the Guardian of Creatures. About Wanda Arya Black.” His eyes widened for a brief second. “You knew her too?”

“Not personally but Roger is very descriptive. When I first met you, I had to do a double take because you were exactly how he described Wanda to be. But I guess reincarnation can exist among the wizarding community.”

“Lucifer I need to find him. A Guardian of Creatures must ascend. I need to train under him.” He sighed deeply.

“He already knows you’re here. Now whether or not he knows what your purpose for being here is, I don’t know.”

“Can you take me to him?” he stood up from his chair. He spoke not a word but walked out of the room. Without question I followed in his footsteps till we came out of house.

I noticed that is was at the peak hour of dawn where night was just about over but the sun had not yet risen. We walked through the forest trail, I noticed that this part of the forest wasn’t coated with that spell that surrounded the rest of the forest, probably making this section the ‘Eye of the Forest of Madness’. Like the eye of the storm where everything is calm and quiet before the second wave hits.

“Follow the trail North to where the Phoenix rises in the sky. There, you will find the Sorcerer you seek.” Lucifer told me as he pointed outward.

“But what if I get lost again? Lose the path and be driven mad again?” he turned towards me and walked up to me. His hand came to the back of my head and in a flash his lips crashed onto mine. My eyes widened and I pushed him off of me. “What the fuck Lucifer!?”

“You’ve now been given a protection spell from the Devil himself. No spell, not even by the great Sorcerer Supreme, can even touch you so long as you bare my seal.”

“You couldn’t have at least given me a pendant? Or spoke it verbally?”

“You and I could’ve had sex but I knew you’d say no to that.” I went to say something but he was right. Damn him! “And come on don’t tell me you at least didn’t enjoy it a little bit.”

“Shut up!” I snapped at him turning my head away, and I hate to admit this but I did feel a blush coming across my cheeks.

“Yeah I see that blush Sera.” Lucifer teased with that smug cheeky grin on his face.

“I said shut up!” I snapped at him louder before taking off to where he told me to go. The last thing I heard was his laughter ringing out. Merlin’s beard he could be a real dick at times.

As I walked along the trail I soon came to the entrance of a cave. Cautiously I entered in the cave and the first thing I was hit was an aura of ultimate power.

Another advantage of my telepathic powers is that I can sense the spiritual aura of another being. The powerful the creature/being, the powerful the aura. At times it’s overwhelming (like when I first got to see Freddie’s aura, and of course Lucifer’s) but overtime I’ve come to control of how it affects me.

This however—this was a magical aura I had never felt before. As I walked further into the cave, I noticed that there seemed to be drawings of some sorts. I wonder if I can now…..I focused on trying to summon a light with my red aura. But nothing came out.

“Worth a shot. Guess this whole place, even in the eye of this very forest is magic-proof.” Soon enough I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. The sunrise was finally coming.

I raced towards it and soon I came to an extended ledge that stood over the rest of the forest. For the first time in weeks I got to finally feel the rays of the sun hit my face and it felt like a wave of relief. I inhaled the clean air as deeply as I could as I extended my arms out, letting the sun’s rays embrace me.

Soon my ears heard the sound of a bird. It was unlike any muggle bird I’ve heard and it defiantly wasn’t a griffin or hippogriff. It was like heard a song, but it sounded heartbreaking. As the sun rose higher and higher into the sky, a figure soon emerged out of the sun itself.

It continued to let out a few more of it’s broken-hearted song-like cries as it came flying towards me, leaving a trail of fire in it’s wake. No way it—it was a phoenix.

It now hovered above me and that power I felt just before I entered the cave, it was now stronger. And it was coming from this phoenix. But wait, I knew phoenix’s carried such great power but this—this wasn’t any ordinary phoenix.

It’s eyes stared directly at me and it may have been the after affect of falling under the forest’s spell, but I could swear I was hearing voices singing a song. A choir of voices. It was very faint and I couldn’t quite make out the words but I could hear their song.

The phoenix swooped down and landed before me. Another thing that made this phoenix—well different was that it actually came up to the height of my waist. Phoenixes are actually fairly normal sized birds, no different than the size of a falcon.

The phoenix continued to stare at me and it even took a step closer to me. I backed my right foot away not surer what to do. Without any weapons on hand or my powers, I was defenseless against a bird that can easily set itself on fire. And speaking of which, the phoenix soon burst into flames, the fire shooting upward like a volcano.

I shielded myself as best as I could. The wind and fire mixed together created such power but it was when all went quiet once more that I now stood in shocked awe.

In the place of the phoenix was the silhouette of a man in a familiar yellow wizard robe. At his hip was a sword of Elvish made, only one blade would catch the light of the sun and make it shine like a star. His hood was up over his face but just based off this power he was giving out; I had a hunch of just who this was.

His hands reached for his hood and he revealed his face. The very face that has not aged since he was last seen alive by any Wizard. Those brown eyes looked at me in disbelief, his lips slightly parted as he gawked at me.

“Archimedes.” I spoke his name.

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pcttrailsidereader · 3 years ago

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Tehachapi to Lone Pine: Hell Comes in October -- Part 1

By Dave Baugher

Dave is nearing the end of his MYTH, as he refers to it (Multi-Year Thru Hike). He completed the southern half of Washington State this year ending at Snoqualmie Pass. This story is from a hike he took in autumn of 2015. As he notes, it is in crisis that we learn the most about ourselves (and the trail).

This is a two-part account. You will have to wait until Monday to read the rest of the story.

Figuring I did not get enough of the Pacific Crest Trail in the spring of 2015, I asked my wife Luann if I could go back on the trail that fall. According to my copy of Gray's Anatomy, the human head weighs between 8-12 pounds. The variance is probably due to the absence of common sense, at least in my case. Brutal? Yes, on that September trip, I discovered several valuable lessons about the trail and myself. Especially learning there are Trail Angels always looking over you. It was a tough trip, to say the least. Let me tell you about it.

Pack loaded, Luann drove me to Modesto, CA, where I boarded an afternoon southbound train to Bakersfield. After a warm kiss goodbye, Luann returned home, and I headed south. Amtrak runs down the sun-drenched eastern side of the San Joaquin Valley in California. The train sped past emerald green fields of alfalfa, endless almond orchards, and golden waves of dry autumn grasses. This was the section where Theodore Solomon first looked at the Sierras and thought about a concept: "The idea of a crest parallel trail through the high sierra came to me one day while herding my Uncle's cattle in an immense unfenced field of alfalfa field near Fresno," he reflected in the Sierra Club Bulletin in 1940. That idea became what we know today as the John Muir Trail, an essential part of the Pacific Crest Trail.

Earlier that spring, I had hiked solo from Idyllwild to the PCT crossing at Cameron Road and Highway 58, between the California cities of Techappi and Mohave. Ending my 400-mile hike at the highway overpass, I called Kern County transit. The passing bus picked me up and dropped me off right at the Bakersfield Amtrak Station for my return home.

Contemplating the JMT, PCT, my spring hike, and Mr. Solomon's notions, the arrival at Bakersfield swiftly arrived. I departed the train and walked out of the train station to the local car rental office, where I had reserved an SUV for the final leg of the trip to Techappai. I would spend the remainder of my day preparing to return to the Pacific Crest Trail the following morning.

Speeding down Highway 58, a short hour's drive took me to the town of Tehachapi, where I rented a room and unloaded my gear. Then to Walmart, where I purchased gallons of water and some snacks. Car loaded, music playing, I headed out into the hot California afternoon, driving to pre-determined locations along the PCT to cache water. I spent the day hiding the jugs along a 70 mile stretch of the PCT, where the trail crossed near local roadways.

With my trail preparation chores done, I returned to the hotel and called it a night. Tomorrow would be my first day back on the dusty trail, the heat outside was omnipresent, yet I was excited to return.

I woke up to a bright clear day greeting me on that September morning; it was one of those sun-stricken Pacific Crest Trail days that you get in September, and I was ready to go! I returned the car, walked back to my hotel, enjoyed a last cool shower, and checked out of my room. Then, pack on my back, I walked to the bus stop a few blocks away from my motel. Where the Kern County transit was right on time, magically appearing along the roadway. Just like a time machine, the bus was rolling away in a cloud of dust, and I was right back where I stopped last spring at Hwy 58 and Cameron Road.

The Pacific Crest Trail crosses the highway via the Cameron Road overpass then parallels the highway eastwards for a few miles before turning northwards into the "Wild." So I stood was the infamous starting point where Cheryl Strayed, author of the book "Wild" began her journey northwards in 1999.

Cheryl chronicled her 900-mile trip along sections of the Pacific Crest Trail. At the age of twenty-two, she thought she had lost everything, her mother's passing, the family scattered, and a defunct marriage. So she made an impulsive decision with nothing more to lose: To hike the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington. But, having no experience as a long-distance hiker, she had a tough time on the hike.

My trip did not start as Cheryl's, as my start was hot, dry, and I started hiking late that sun-baked morning. After leaving the highway, the path immediately began gaining altitude. Still, it was great to be back on the trail with songs running through my mind. In the glaring southern California sun, my body took a toll from the heat, and I realized it was time to get out of the sun. Five miles was enough at this point, and a beckoning grove of Joshua trees looked just like the shady ticket I needed to get out of the sun.

Approaching the trees, I was surprised to see two pairs of eyes, bright and alert, as a couple of teal ducks looking back at me. Saying a cheery "Hello!" to the two girls lounging in the shade, I asked if I could join them. "No Problem!" Unloading my pack, I relaxed on a clear patch of ground in the shadow of the trees. Then looking at them, these two hikers, what a surprise, because, at the sound of their voices, I knew immediately who they were from an earlier encounter that past spring.

Angie and Claire were two young ladies from England who had read the book "Wild" and impulsively decided to quit their boring jobs and hike part of the PCT. My wife, Luann, and I had met them earlier in the summer as we returned from a High Sierra Camps outing in Tuolumne Meadows. They were just starting southwards on the PCT with large packs and a copy of "The John Muir Trail" by Elizabeth Wenk clutched in their hands. Knowing the book well, we said hello and asked about their plans. Their goal was to hike the JMT/PCT into Southern California. We chatted for a bit while standing on the bridge spanning Lyell Creek, and their enthusiasm for adventure was contagious. They were so excited!

Fast forward to lounging in the afternoon shade of a Joshua Tree, reunited along the trailside. We talked about our trips, people we met, and experiences along the trail for a couple of hours. Their plan was to catch a ride at Highway 58, then make their way to Disneyland for a couple of days before the trip home. Time passed, and as the sun lowered toward the western horizon, we bid farewell; best luck and continue onwards.

That night I camped near a noisy windmill farm, and hence the days began passing in a blur of heat, incessant gnats, glaring sun, nights spent on the unforgiving hot ground. The sun was vicious, the land stagnant. I could not even remember what a cool breeze felt until I reached the Walker Pass public campground. There I found water and a campsite. The trip had been brutal, and my body in poor shape. Not realizing it at the time, but I was dehydrated, and my electrolytes were off, and I was not thinking clearly. Logically felt that I would be ready to continue on the following morning; I wasn't.

Sunday morning, I wearily broke camp and shuffled to the PCT-Highway 178 crossing at Walker Pass. The sun breaking the horizon, I stared up the monumental ridge before me, and I resignedly said to myself, "I can't do it." Turning my back to the trail, retreating down the road, with songs playing in my mind, I told myself: Dave, "Sunday was a day of rest, and your soul needs some," I told myself. My trail guide noted local trail angels hosting hikers at their place, allowing backpackers to use their converted garage as a rest stop, so I headed in that direction.

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amalgamau · 5 years ago

Text

Prologue

Welcome to the Amalgam AU! Let’s start at the beginning. This takes place during the attack of Blue and Yellow Diamond during Reunited. As an aside, during the evacuation Connie’s parents and Greg all evacuate with the rest of the people. Cat Steven as well, for as cruel as I am.... I can hurt no kitties.

Directory:

First | Previous | Next

The last thing Steven remembered was Yellow Diamond charging at him, her foot coming towards him, then nothing. As he came to, he could hear Connie calling to him, but it sounded distant and muffled.

He opened his eyes to see Connie above him.

“STEVEN!” she cried.

“Connie, what’s wrong?” he called in response.

As tears filled Connie’s eyes, she continued to plead as if she hadn’t heard him.

“Come on, please wake up!” “I’m up, I’m up! What’s going on?!” Steven replied, but to no avail.

Steven sat up.

“Connie... I’m right here,” he said in a comforting tone, but as connie looked down, she didn’t seem to notice.“Come on Steven,” she continued. “We need you...”

Steven turned behind him to see himself lying on the ground behind him. He shot up and stumbled, scrambling to his feet with a shout. “What the hoo-hah?!” he exclaimed, startled. He examined himself, and the version of himself lying on the ground.

“Huh...” he thought aloud, “Well, this is new... What is this place?”

As Steven looked around, he saw large statues of each of his friends standing at attention with their eyes shut. Atop the head of each statue stood the person it signified, brandishing their weapons as they fought an invisible threat. The sound of their attacks echoed in the otherwise quiet realm. In the distance, Steven could see Lapis rising with pillars of water as she called out into the void.

“What else have you got?! I’ve only just begun to fight!”

Suddenly, Lapis was enveloped in a yellow energy as she convulsed and cried out in pain. A cloud of blue dust erupted and enveloped the area. As it cleared, both Lapis and the statue were gone, and a Lapis Lazuli gemstone floated up in its place next to the gemstone of the already poofed Peridot. Steven gasped and called out to Lapis before looking higher at the towering figures beside hers to see the imposing statues of Yellow and Blue Diamond, with the equally imposing figures towering above them, their aura radiating off of them from above.

Steven turned back to Connie in disbelief.

“Connie, are you seeing this?!” He cried out in shock, but much to his dismay, she seemed unable to hear him, instead responding by calling for him to wake up once more. However, suddenly he heard her voice in an echo, her mouth didn’t move but he could hear her talk, as if in her head.

“We’re supposed to be in this together, remember?”

Steven stepped towards her in concern

“Uh, Connie, I’m o-kay?” as he spoke and reached for her he stumbled in shock as he stepped entirely through her, he spun around in shock as Connie seemed to suddenly become aware of his presence, calling out into the void for him in confusion.

Steven grabbed her hand, shouting.

“Connie! It’s Me!” “Huh? Wh-Where are you? How are you doing...” she stammered.

“I’m not sure...” Steven replied. “But I think it’s a classic psychic ghost type situation...”

“Ah, of course... So, what’s the plan?”

“The Diamonds won’t listen to me out there... but maybe I can get through to them in here. They’ve got to know Pink Diamond wasn’t shattered. Please protect my body while I’m gone.”

“Got it! Good luck out there, Steven.”

With that, Steven let go of Connie’s hand and walked to the edge of her statue, staring ahead at the statues of Garnet, Amethyst, Pearl, and Bismuth, then past the gems of Peridot and Lapis, at the looming towers of the Diamonds. With a deep breath, Steven leaps forward to Garnet’s mindscape. As he lands, he hears Garnet’s thoughts.

“This is it, I’ve got to hold it together. I’ve got to hold everyone together!”

“You can do it Garnet! Remember...” Steven cried out as he jumped through Garnet’s form “You’re made of LOVE!”

“Steven?” Garnet asked in shock before smiling to herself. “Huh. Always full of surprises.” She then returned to her assault on the invisible threat, much more empowered than before. Steven smiled as he turned and jumped on to Amethyst. Upon landing he could hear Amethyst chanting to herself, “Don’t get shattered, don’t get shattered, don’t get shattered!”

As Steven ran through her and jumped onward he called out to her.

“You can do this Amethyst I believe in you!”

“Steven?”

She paused in shock before returning to her attacks with a heightened fury, now chanting to herself, “I can do this! I can do this! I can do this!”

While landing at the next Statue, Steven heard the voice of Pearl reassuring herself.

“I won’t give up! Everything I do, I do it for her! I do it for him!” As Steven runs through he interjects.

“Don’t forget about yourself, Pearl!”

“I do it for ME!” she added as she continues her fight.

Collecting himself on Bismuth’s statue, he hears her inner doubt.

“I just got my friends back, and now I’m gonna lose ‘em again?”

Steven places a hand on her shoulder before diving forward and continuing his journey.

“We can still do this!” he cries out. “Together!”

Bismuth stands determined and reaffirms, “What am I thinking! We haven’t lost yet!”

Standing on the floating gemstone of Peridot, Steven pauses.

“Hang in there, Peridot. You, too, Lapis!”

Steven gathers himself before launching himself with all his might and pushing himself to the figure of Yellow Diamond, radiating her electrical Aura. As he approached, he heard her thoughts.

“How miserable. I knew Pink couldn’t handle her own colony, but I gave in, and now I’m to blame for her fate.”

He turned and saw Blue next to her and heard her thoughts as well.

“What good will any of this do? The more I make these gems suffer, the more I long to see you again, Pink.”

Steven pushed his way through the aura surrounding Blue Diamond and placed a hand on her head.

“Blue Diamond, please listen!” he managed to squeak out before being blown away by the aura surrounding her. As he caught himself, Blue looked around with a tear in her eye.

“I-I felt something! Someone...” Blue gasped in shock.

Steven pushed back through with a determined look, placing his hand on her again.

“Pink isn’t gone!” he cried.“I can explain everything if you just stop this fighting!”

“There it is again!” Blue stuttered in confusion.

“What are you jabbering about?” sighed Yellow in annoyance.

“A presence!” Blue responded. “It feels like...”

“Please Blue, you’re being hysterical. More so than usual,” Yellow once again sighed before Steven managed to push through her aura, laying a hand on her cheek.

“Listen, Yellow, Pink’s fate is different than you think! She faked her shattering!”

Steven was blown away from them by Yellow’s aura as the two diamonds stood back to back.

“This feeling, I know it!” Blue stated with concern and confusion.

“It must be a trick!” Yellow cried out. “You gems would dare mock us like this?! We’ll destroy you for this!”

In a tsunami of energy, the two diamond’s auras ripple throughout the mindscape, and in an instant, all the gems below Steven scream in anguish before poofing. Steven cries out in shock as he looks to see his family fall.

“Please! Stop! Listen to me!” Steven cries, trying to force his way through the waves of energy and raw emotion pushing him further from the Diamonds. A loud crash, like the sound of glass falling apart as it hits the ground echoes throughout the void as Steven whips around in desperation to see the Gemstone in Amethyst’s slot break apart and crumble into the inky depth below.

“AMETHYST! NO! PLEASE STOP!” Steven cried out as next the gems of Ruby and Sapphire, next to each other as Garnet shatter and drop. Steven whips back around blasting himself forward with strength he didn’t know he had. Tears filled his eyes as he screamed gutterally, pushing his way to the Diamonds. As he does, he hears the gut wrenching sound of glass once more as something... someone... falls... He desperately hopes it doesn’t mean what he thinks... what he fears.

“I NEED YOU TO STOP. YOU NEED TO KNOW. WHO. I. AM.”

As a pink aura explodes outward from Steven, it instantly absorbs the aura surrounding Yellow and Blue. As they both turn, a loud, sickening crack echoes from behind him.

Both Diamonds utter, “P-Pink?” as Steven slowly sinks to the hands of the Diamonds, his eyes begin to flutter open as Steven prepares for the worst.

#steven universe #steven universe au #su au #tw: character death #tw: major character death #writing #fanfic #su steven #su au amalgam #su pearl #su garnet #su amethyst #su amythest #su blue diamond #su yellow diamond #su bismuth #su bismith #su connie #su amalgam fic

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mowulf · 4 years ago

Text

Misplaced

HEY GUESS WHO’S BACK Okay, here’s the deal. Half the reason I have a hard time posting stories on this site is that I’m no good at keeping up with the previous/next buttons. I hate it, it takes a lot of time, and I just don’t want to. SO I’m gonna get around this by just reblogging the original post with the next chapter every time I update this story on AO3. I am currently in the process of rewriting and only the first 1.5 chapters will remain the same. That said, here’s chapter 1!

He clawed his way to consciousness. His whole body ached and a dull, pounding pressure had built up behind his eyes. An unnatural energy hummed around him, but he ignored it in favor of trying to figure out where he was. Pushing himself to his knees, he immediately took note of the scorch marks surrounding him. They formed an intricate array that encircled him and he immediately recognized the markings as forming a part of a spell. He didn’t know what spell, or where the information had come from, but it made him nervous.

He scooted back and gently eased himself off the pedestal. The floor wasn’t too far and he landed with a hollow thump. Blinking, he scanned the room he found himself. It was dark, making it impossible to determine the exact size, but he could tell the room was massive. The pedestal he’d woken up on was one of four that decorated the center of the room and a nearby carpet led the way further into the gloom.

With nothing better to do, he followed it. Deeper and deeper into the darkness he moved. With time, his eyes adjusted to the lack of light. Shadows danced in the corners of his vision, but when he turned to look closer, he found nothing there. Voices whispered at his feet, begging for release or someone to share in their torment. He carefully ignored them and kept moving. As long as he didn’t stop, he’d be fine.

Just keep going. Don’t stop, don’t ask, and don’t try to ask who was there.

Turning a corner, he paused at the slice of light that filtered through the crumbled section of wall. The light wasn’t blinding and he assumed it was dark out, but it was still enough to hurt his eyes as he approached and stepped through. He blinked rapidly to adjust to the abrupt change in lighting.

The hum of energy increased and a shudder ran down his spine. Invisible hands grabbed at him, trying to pull him back within the darkness, unwilling to let him leave. Without looking back, he marched onward, hands wrapped protectively around his chest.

Something followed him, he could feel it. The unnatural energy crackled and hummed and a memory of green fog danced across his mind. Shaking his head, he kept moving. As long as he didn’t look back, he’d be fine. Don’t stop. Keep moving. Don’t look back. Just a little bit further.

Abruptly, the energy seemed to go away and the unnatural hum died down to something annoying but tolerable. He didn’t stop to question the sudden change, but took the opportunity to charge ahead until he stumbled onto a road. He was still no closer to figuring out where he was, but where there was a road, there was bound to be a town. Picking a direction at random, he hugged the orange vest closer and began walking.

—

Morning found him curled up in the back of a pickup truck. The driver had found him walking and offered to give him a lift to the nearest town. He’d hopped into the truck bed and settled down. With the lack of movement, exhaustion had crept up and washed over him. He’d only meant to lay down for a moment.

He pushed himself up, blinked the sleep out of his eyes and grabbed blindly for the edge of the truck bed. There was a loud clank of metal hitting metal and he recoiled. It took him a moment of searching before his gaze finally fell on the metal fingers clinging to the truck.

Metal?

He pulled his hand up and wiggled his fingers. They responded as he expected, but the metal glint showed that they weren’t real. Just to make sure, he grabbed a finger and tugged gently. His brain registered the tug and the pressure of his flesh hand, but otherwise there was no sensation. How odd.

Where had it come from? Why was his arm missing? He sat down and wiggled his fingers again, trying to dig through and pull up the relevant memories. Nothing came at first and he started to give up when the impressions of sleepless nights, helplessness, and pain bubbled forth. The memories were disjointed and out of order and, as he sifted through them, he found gaps in the available knowledge.

There wasn’t time to deal with this. He had things to do. He had to figure out where he was, for one. Maybe find someone to help. The missing arm was a problem for tomorrow. Standing up again, he grabbed the edge of the truck bed and slipped out. Glancing at the truck one last time, he rubbed his shoulder where flesh met metal and began to walk away.

Keep going forward. Don’t look back.

He walked until he found a gas station and entered. He scanned the room and finally found the maps in a back corner. Meandering over, he pulled a map out and looked it over. Everything looked familiar in the sense that he had seen it before, but he couldn’t seem to draw on the information locked away in his brain.

Trauma? Concussion? Magic? There was something. He could feel it just out of reach. Every time he started to get close, a mental block would pop up and he’d shy away. Fine. He would worry about it later.

Making his way to the front, he eyed the inhabitants of the little store nervously. The map was spread on the counter as he looked up at the cashier. “Excuse me,” he asked, trying to ignore the way his voice shook and the hoarse quality from disuse (or had he screamed until his voice broke? He couldn’t be sure). “Can you tell me where I am?”

The cashier looked him over before leaning forward and tapping a small city on the map. “Right here. You alright kid?”

“’M fine.” It was a lie but it slipped out before he could come up with anything else to say. “Just lost.” He scanned the map until his gaze landed on a familiar city name. Shouting, engines, and gasoline fill his senses. Familiarity and safety. Home. He needed to go there.

He dug around in his pockets until he found a leather wallet. There was just enough cash for the map and a cup of coffee. He didn’t bother trying to use the card. A niggling feeling told him that it wouldn’t work and he couldn’t remember the PIN for it, anyways. As he left the gas station, map in one hand and coffee in the other, the hum of energy increased and he felt out of place, like he’d been badly photoshopped into an image.

He returned to the gas station once more, just long enough to get a sense of direction, and started walking. Midday rolled around and with it came the beginning of a headache. By the time the sun set, his head was pounding and his left shoulder throbbed in time with his pulse. A barely tolerable pain was coming. Something far worse than anything he would ever be capable of dealing with. But there was nothing he could do except grit his teeth and bear it.

Cars drove past and, for the most part, he ignored them. He was too tired and panicked to risk hitchhiking. It wasn’t until a car pulled off to the side a little ways ahead and someone stepped out that he finally stopped to consider.

“Are you okay?” a woman asked as she hurried over to him. He blinked back at her for a moment before he took a shuddery breath and shook his head. The woman reached out to him and said, “You poor dear. Where are you trying to go? Would you like a ride to the next city, at least? You’ll never make it on foot.”

He didn’t want to impose. The truck ride from earlier had been an ordeal, but she had a point. He couldn’t possibly walk everywhere, and maybe they could cut the travel time drastically. He clumsily pulled the map out of his pocket and held it out to here. “Um. I uh… Here.” He tapped a city that he had circled back when he’d first gotten the map and was again gifted with a sensation of comfort and promised familiarity.

“Oh, perfect!” The woman said as she grabbed his wrist and began to guide him to the car. “We’re actually planning to pass through there. We can give you a lift there. Here we go.”

They were a family of four: mom, dad, and two boys. He found himself in the back seat between the two brothers. The conversation was kept light and loose. For the most part he let the family drive the conversation, answering questions as needed and chiming in here and there.

All good things had to end eventually, however, and the family came to a hotel when the night was finally too dark and too late to keep going. For a moment, he considered staying. He had no money, and they were well aware that he had nothing to his name, but he couldn’t impose. Besides, as he waited by the car, the hissing energy prickled and nipped at his ankles and he knew he couldn’t stop even for rest.

He started to walk away when a hand grabbed his shoulder and he turned to see the mom. “Where are you going?” she asked. “It’s late. Come on, we’ll get you a room.”

He shook his head. “I-I-I’m sorry. I can’t. I- I just…” He rubbed at his eyes as the mom deflated.

“I understand. But please wait for just a minute, okay? I’ll be right back. Just a minute.” he didn’t even look up, too ashamed to risk seeing the disappointment. He waited until he felt her grab his flesh hand and press something papery into it. “It’s not much,” she said sadly. “We don’t carry a lot of cash and we don’t have a lot to spare, but it should be enough for food and a ticket to wherever you’re going.” He looked up and she gave him a sad smile. “Be careful, okay?” He nodded and she finally retreated back to her car.

How odd. He hadn’t realized just how starved for company he was until he’d been surrounded by conversation. But now he was alone. So very, very alone. He bit his lip and rubbed the port on his shoulder before finally turning away to continue his journey to wherever.

He didn’t sleep that night. He did, however, find a bus station that would take him straight to his destination. The pounding behind his eyes had steadily increased to a constant thrum and he found himself absently rubbing his temples while trying to avoid any and all sources of light.

Morning brought an entirely new level of hell. The intense migraine had brought along light sensitivity and nausea. What little money wasn’t spent on the bus ticket went to various over the counter pain killers and the strongest coffee he could find. As he resettled into his seat for the umpteenth time, he leaned against the cool window and closed his eyes. Perhaps if he could sneak a nap in, he would feel better.

He woke up to the bus about to leave his stop and only barely managed to get off in time.

It wasn’t hard for he to orient himself once he took the time to look around. One street sign and he knew what direction to take. The layout of the city came to him gradually as he walked, like a map in a video game that had to be filled in through exploration. With it came vague almost-impressions of a happy childhood spent running and playing and generally getting into trouble. He took his time walking until the familiar shop finally came into view. Hope bloomed and he dashed the final yards to the main office.

“Hello?” he called, looking around and trying to ignore the desperation in his voice. There was no answer, yet somehow he knew not to expect one. The shop had obviously been closed for the evening, which meant the work area would be deserted.

But the garage was built into a house. If he could just find the main entrance…

A quick search revealed a side entrance painted in such a way so as to not stand out. Hidden near the door, roughly hip height, was a doorbell which he pressed a couple times. It wasn’t long before heavy footsteps stomped over and the door flung open.

“What’d’ya want?” a rough voice snarled and he was hit with the impression of oil stains and endless patience. The word ‘lance’ danced around in his head but he couldn’t, for the life of him, figure out why the man reminded him of an ancient weapon.

The man’s gaze landed on him and his eyes widened in shock before narrowing. “If this is some kind of sick joke,” the man snarled and he recoiled, apologies spilling forth before the thought could be finished.

“I’m sorry! I’m sor- I-I-I, Hhhh- I didn’t know wher-where else to go!” He cowered, every instinct screaming to run away. He took a step back, still babbling in a slowly ramping panic. “I’m lost. Didn’t know where else to go. I thought you’d help me. I can leave. I’m sorry.” He turned and managed all of three steps before a rough hand grabbed his right arm and held him. With a frightened yelp, he dropped and twisted, metal arm bent to protect his head and face in preparation for the blows to come.

Instead, a familiar voice soothed, “Woah there, son! Not gonna hurt you. Just…” he glanced over, still hiding behind his arm, as the older man sighed. “C’mon. Let’s get you inside.”

It took some prodding and quite a bit of effort to get him inside. He was determined to leave, the previous impressions of warmth and safety long since replaced by fear and uncertainty, while the man seemed determined to get him inside. In the end, he found himself slung over the shorter mechanic’s shoulder and hauled inside, where he was quickly deposited on the couch.

“First things first, what’s yer name, kid?”

He dithered about, flesh fingers playing with the metal port attached to his shoulder as he weighed the pros and cons of giving an answer. Finally, he ducked his head and replied, “Arthur, sir. I think...” He missed the man flinch, expression twisting as though he’d expected the answer though it still hurt.

“Drop that ‘sir’ business. It’s Lance. And hold your head up! God, yer a sorry sight.” Lance looked Arthur over before holding up a hand. “You can sleep on the couch. We’ll deal with… this,” Lance gestured at Arthur, “in the morning.”

Arthur nodded and moved to sprawl on the leather couch as Lance left the room. He’d just gotten comfortable when the man reappeared with a blanket and a pillow. The pillow was handed over and Arthur quickly readjusted himself before the blanket was unfolded and draped over him. Nothing else was said as the light was turned off and Lance retreated for the night.

Left alone, Arthur tried to settle down to sleep. It wasn’t long before the unnatural hum of energy returned in full force. His skin crawled with it and he quickly gave up on sleep. Throwing the blanket aside, he jumped up and began to pace. Keep moving. Don’t stop. As long as he kept moving, the energy couldn’t find him and he’d be safe.

Safe from what, he didn’t know, nor did he want to find out. He just knew that stopping was bad. Needless to say, he didn’t get much rest that night.

Please reblog and comment. It fuels my desire to write and I love interacting with the fandom!

#msa #misplaced #fanfiction #I'm back baby

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antihero-writings · 4 years ago

Text

Stolen Sunlight (Ch3)

Fandom: Tangled | Tangled the Series | Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure

Fic Summary: Arianna never thought she'd find herself afraid of a fourteen-year-old boy, but the events of Secret of the Sundrop won't seem to leave her.

She needs to talk to Varian in prison. Not for his sake...but for her own.

Character focus: Arianna

Notes:

Aaand here comes another internal monologue-heavy chapter XD

This was probably the chapter that gave me the most trouble when attempting to edit over the years, so this feels really good to finish! (At least a version of it, I may edit it more as time goes on XD). I would have liked to cut down the internal monologue, but I decided to just keep it in for now. I also kind of wanted to split this chapter into more than one to make it more palatable, but the ideas tie into each other so much I felt like I couldn't really do that? By the time the next chapter came out, the connections between ideas would be lost? I don't know...

The next chapter should have more dialogue XD But be warned it may take longer, as now we're getting to the part I haven't really written.

All your support for this fic has been such a HUGE help in giving me motivation to continue!! I definitely wouldn't have posted the next chapters so fast without all your support!! So thank you all so so SO much!!!!

Also! I forgot to mention the songs I like for this story! I've been writing this for so many years I have a list of songs for this fic XD but the two songs I thing fit most for this fic (especially the themes in this chapter) are "Towards the Sun" by Rihanna and "The Sun is Rising" by Britt Nicole.

P.S. I’m thinking of creating a Tangled-specific side blog (mostly as a Tangled-only writing blog, but I’ll likely reblog other Tangled related things there too), do you guys have any ideas for urls? The one I like the most right now is “two-words-where-one-will-do” XD

Chapter 3: Burglarize, Criticize, Sympathize

When she arrives at the dungeon’s door, carrying notebook between her hands, it is almost nightfall. The last of the day is at her back, urging her onwards. Her shoes tick against the tiles as she ventures down the hall.

Everything looks different during the day. At night the navy air was a haze, clouding her thoughts, magnifying all the negative feelings within her. Now her head is clear, and the waning blue day urges her onward, fueling all the positivity and determination in her.

“Your majesty,” the guards hold their halberds higher, puffing out their chests, as if to show they’re strong for this kingdom, “Is there something we do for you this evening?”

“Thank you, Stan, Pete.” She folds her hands and inclines her head in a sort of bow to each of them. “There is, in fact.”

They stand expectantly for her request.

“You can let me into the dungeon.”

They glance at each other.

“Of course, your majesty,” Stan bows, reaching for the door.

“Um…May we ask what this is about?” Pete steps forward, more hesitant.

Perhaps servants ought to do what their masters ask without hesitation. But, in a way, it was only fitting—some might say even more in line with their duties—for him to be apprehensive. He is concerned for his monarch’s well being after all. It wasn’t exactly normal for her to go down to the dungeon, nor is it a place a Queen would be most welcome.

“You know Varian is down there, right?” Pete speaks behind his hand when she doesn’t answer.

“I am aware. In fact, he’s the reason I’m going down there in the first place.”

Their eyes widen, then they give each other a look.

She steps forward before they can say anything more. “He’s just a boy,” she says softly.

“Uhh, yeah, a boy who fed me evil cookies!” Pete exclaims. “And let’s not forget, he kidnapped you!”

“Well…yes, that’s true. But he’s still just a boy.” She looks down at the notebook and runs her fingers along the cover. “He’s hurting, he needs help” she says half to the air, “…Besides, he can’t hurt me from behind bars.”

“But—with all due respect—your majesty—“

“I appreciate your concern,” she says in a conversation-ending way, stepping forward and placing her hand on his shoulder, “but…this is something I must do.”

They glance at each other once more, before lowering their heads and opening the doors, reluctance in their motions.

Her shoes sound against the winding stone staircase, leading her down, down into the realm beneath the castle. The last dregs of day drip from the open door along the staircase a few steps ahead of her, as if saying Hey, come on! Follow us! Don’t be afraid! We’ll be with you each step of the way.

Arianna is not doing this for him. She reminds herself of this. He was not gentle that day, and she knows prison is unlikely to have made him any tamer. He never asked for her forgiveness, whether or not he wants it, and he will not likely be kind in his responses, like the boy she had once met in the castle halls above. He no longer belongs to those halls; he haunts the space beneath them. At least, that’s what everyone thinks…including him.

She’s trying not to.

She must admit, she is doing it for him in some way; in that she, even now, even after everything he did to her, even after—or perhaps because of—the sleepless nights… she cares. Some would say it’s one of her fatal flaws. She wants him to realize there is more to him than this cell, these chains, and a few black—and one amber—rocks sticking up from the floor. He is more than metal and moonlight.

But she also knows if this is for him and him alone, she will fail in her endeavor. If she thinks she is saving a poor, lost boy’s soul, she will lose both their souls in the process, and leave them wandering in the dark.

Forgiveness has never been about the one who did the crime.

“Your majesty!” the guards patrolling the dungeon bow low. “What an honor! What can we do for you on this fine evening?”

“Thank you.” She inclines her head in return, then says without a hint of hesitation or anxiety, “You can take me to see Varian.”

“You’re…here to see… Varian?” They glance at each other. “Your majesty, with all due respect, are you sure you want to do that? Varian he…hasn’t been very cooperative.”

She gives a small, sad smile. “I understand. I’ll be very careful.”

They stand on either side of her, leading her to him.

This was something important, something she had to do. For her state of mind, and of her soul and conscience, even if no one else understood. The bars and chains would be enough to keep him from any attempts at action, and the guards would be ready to act at the moment anything went wrong.

On her walk to his cell, the other prisoners spit in her face and footsteps, laugh her name as she strides by. She had come to accept their attitudes and actions, and ignore them, a long time ago; let them have their threats, a few pitiful insults are all they have left in here, and they are not enough to make a dent in her pride anyways.

Varian is not some beast, like the one he sent after those she loved that day—(then again…neither was that creature truly a beast)—he won’t claw through the bars.

Still, as she draws nearer, her heart speeds up.

Why does stone and metal seem so feeble now, when it was unbreakable, when it was alive, then?

Maybe its the one who was using the metal; he was someone who understood what it was made of, sympathized with its chemistry.

She may know nothing of metal…but she knows what he is made of.

And she sympathizes.

They bring her to the furthest cell from the door.

Her expression softens when she sees him; he’s on the bench in the corner of his cell, hugging his knees, like the world forgot him.

Fractures of light drain across the form of a boy—even smaller and weaker than before, his hair greasy and long—and sizzle on the cold, stone floor. Though the rays dance, urging him to come play with them, as they had with Arianna, they can’t seem to cut through the shadows upon his face. Already it seemed he had told himself the sun couldn’t reach him down here, even when it was draped across his eyes.

They even chained his hands …which is more than he did with her.

She can’t exactly blame them. He is the most dangerous person in the kingdom, after all. Or so he’s called. And, being here in his presence—or, more so the presence of the memories seeing him brings—she isn’t exactly complaining about the extra precaution.

But he is still just a fourteen-year-old boy.

—(Or was it fifteen now? Had he had his birthday in this cell? She hates to think of that, of a young boy spending his birthday without presents, or parties, or a cake, or even so much as a nice wish from his dad. She tells herself that he must be fourteen still to ease the pain.)—

Sitting in the dungeon he hasn’t changed; hasn’t transformed into some sort of monster just by being caged and fed scraps. He is still so young. Just a boy, who deserved better. Fourteen years old, all rage, and pain, and grief.

The queen holds the notebook she brought—the reminder of her intentions in coming here—tighter to her chest, which itself is growing tight.

She is a queen, yes, but also a mother. Not his, but something motherly in her sees his hurt, and wants to comfort it, sing to it, read to it, hold it close, and tell it everything will work out in the end, even if she isn’t sure it will. She knows what it’s like to lose family, to have tragedy in your heartbeat.

Kindness, childhood innocence, is something people take for granted. Everyone has their troubles—more pressing matters—so, there are times when everyone brushes this kindness by, knocks it to the cobblestones, in the presence of the problems we must face and fix, here and now, while we are still young—(though we are no longer innocent ourselves). At some point everyone denounces something so bright and precious as their own conscience, as naiveté and ignorance, so as not to regret their actions. They don’t mean it, actively think it, but it’s there, all one must do is stop looking away. That compassion was all he had, all he was, at one point. A heart full, forgiving and, kind. The mistakes he made were just that; mistakes. Not some purposeful show of capability, and control.

That was before. Before the storm, and the amber, the broken promises, and the flower.

Fourteen years old, yes. But he is not a child. Maybe he wasn’t before either, but it’s different now. He’s different now. Something’s missing. Something important to making you a child. He’s missing something…someone. She knows what that’s like. She once missed someone. Something important to making her a parent.

She knew Rapunzel never meant any harm, never meant to break her promise, and that she had had to make the hardest decision of her life that day, the day she and Frederic were gone—(oh how she wished they had never left). She also knew Rapunzel hadn’t chosen wrong, nor had she chosen right, she had simply chosen, and that’s what being queen is all about. What being human is all about. …And that is everything wrong with being queen. Everything wrong with humanity. Rapunzel had just learned that too early, or perhaps too late. (Everything always felt too late when it came to Rapunzel, and it made Arianna feel sick sometimes).

The fact that the breaking of a promise, and the breaking of a heart, is enough to cause an entire kingdom falter in one night, is not something one can ever really get used to, no matter how long the crown has been sitting on their head.

But maybe—something bright, hopeful…naïve? in her wonders—though it isn’t Rapunzel’s fault… maybe it isn’t completely Varian’s either.

Maybe there isn’t ever only one at fault. Maybe the fault lines run along each of us—much like the black rocks jutting up from their kingdom’s ground—they are everywhere, in all of us alike, creating cracks in solid relationships, there’s no pattern to them, no way of really breaking them. The best we can do is try to understand them instead of ignore them. We can only hope to build bridges, and that we won’t burn them down as we cross them.

There aren’t a lot of people like Varian. In the kingdom, in the world, she supposes; fourteen-year-old boys with heads full of knowledge, and hands that liked to slip, a heart full to the brim with nature of a good kind, but a bit too bittersweet, a little too easy to break. And when his hands didn’t do what he told them, important things, like glass, and trust, shattered upon the floor. There were fourteen-year-old boys who were smart, and ones who were kind, there were clumsy ones, and funny ones, and inappropriate ones, and sly ones, but this one, with all the kindness, and intelligence, in tandem with all the clumsiness, and the grey, was a rarity. It was rare for someone to be so bright, and so dark. Most people are just one or the other.

They didn’t take into account the messes he made, how he could wreck his hometown on accident, simply because he had…what was it? a vision? a dream? an ambition? a simple hypothesis? A plot, a plan, a ploy. All depends on the word you use; words are like spells, sometimes creating the affect you intend simply by repeating them enough. He could destroy a town on accident, all because there was something, something good he wanted to do, a problem he wanted to solve, and he miscalculated a percentage. They didn’t take into account that they really should have been asking themselves, if this was a miscalculation… what kind of damage can he cause when he does the math right? If this was an accident…what kind of damage can he do on purpose?

They all shared blame for the unasked question. But when Rapunzel came home that first day she met him, Arianna never took a second to—instead of smiling at her stories, and the drawings in her journal—ask if maybe that made him dangerous.

And when her daughter came to her after the storm—her hands curled into fists, waging war against the tears in her eyes, and ran to her, burying her face in her chest, her arms around her, saying she didn’t think she wanted to be queen after all—she never once thought to ask if maybe they should send someone to go check on Varian.

Then, on that day he was not the flowery drawings Rapunzel made of him in her journal, not the boy she had met once, on a sunny afternoon, not the desperate child crying for someone to save his dad in the midst of the storm. He was still confident, and stubborn, and his words were still playful… but without the smile. He was still desperate, without a single tear, or plea for help, he was everything he once was, without the light. He was a mask, the color green shimmering in her eyes, her title, and a command to sleep. He was a cause, a curse, misguided conviction, desire, and grief. Not a fourteen-year-old boy, not compassion, not kindness, or naiveté, just that stubbornness, that desperation. Everything else, even those things that he once would never touch with his disobedient hands, became means to his end.

“I’ll make them hear me!”

…Was that all he wanted? If that was all, why couldn’t they listen? Why couldn’t they just go check on him, and see if maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t okay? They should have listened to him. One of the saddest things in the world is to watch a child’s words fall on deaf ears; to watch a child standing in a crowd, going after person after person, tugging at their clothes, trying so hard just to be heard. And eventually, if they never are, the scene either inevitably ends with anger or tears. All they had to do was listen. It would have been so simple.

When Arianna was younger, first growing accustomed to the weight of a crown, they told her that villains would topple the woman beneath, spill her blood, to reach the jewels. She would receive threats, some real—backed with blades and armor—and others empty as the hearts who made them, and she would have to learn to tell the difference. Frederic had said in a show of sweet, but somewhat sappy, sentiment, that she was ‘the kingdom’s most precious jewel’, and her protection was his first priority, no matter the cost. She was grateful for the gesture, but being an adventurer, she was perfectly capable of handling herself. Adding a crown to the weight of the life she already knew how to protect didn’t rattle her.

She never imagined that one day, she would be kidnapped, and the one to succeed would be, not bandits on the road, or separatists, or sorcerers, but…a kid.

When she woke up in his lab, chains around her ankles, the blue of his eyes not much better than the pale, emotionless glow of the mask, she still couldn’t believe the sweet kid she had once met was behind that ice. No, not this boy. Not this villain. Maybe she didn’t know him before, but when they did meet, it had struck her how bright his eyes had been. His eyes, his voice, his smile... Without that light he seemed like a different person.

“Any moment now, your highness.” he had hissed, before singing that he had made a pact with the darkness, that they deserved all this, and they he might not be ready, but he was as ready as he’d ever be…

Varian scared her.

There was no other word for it, no other way to describe it. She would have tried to deny it; it seemed silly, after all, to be afraid of a fourteen-year-old boy who had once posed no threat, who she had even joked with. In fact, she would have once laughed at the very thought that he would one day scare her. But there came a point where there was nothing left to think but the truth.

When all it took was a drop of a mistake, a mistake he made that led to the rest, a mistake her daughter made that led to a test, an amber crypt, a few hurt-soaked words…that scared her, he scared her.

Because there came a time when that green chemical he had teased her with fell and burned on the black, turning amber and solid, cracking, crawling—not inanimate crystal, but some creature, alive, after all the things she held dear—towards her…

Watching orange and golden spires crackle closer, her heart couldn’t remain steady. And, yes, it would have been scary for anyone; to sit there while imminent imprisonment, or demise—(they couldn’t know which)—crept ever closer, while they were tied to the floor, with no means of break or escape….but that wasn’t quite enough to cause this sort of reaction.

She’d faced life-threatening situations; her own death or imprisonment before. One could never face it with a steady heart, breath, and sense of reason, but there was an exhilaration to it too; being close to death made life closer too. When the bandits put swords to her throat, or some creature took her back to its lair, yes she was scared, but sometimes she’d smirk at Willow, and, as she cut herself down, as she clashed swords with the villains, she would feel so very alive.

There was nothing exhilarating this time, nothing exciting, nothing that made life feel as close as death. She’d had no one-liners or fun strategies…was she just getting old?

He was very different from the bandits she had once faced in her travels. He wasn’t some sniveling storybook villain, or routine thug just looking for some extra cash. He had much deeper reasons for doing this.

He told them that they deserved this. All this pain. That sweet boy in the sunlight thought they deserved to be torn from each other, and used for their parts. Was that possible? Was any of this possible?

He had much deeper reasons for doing this. He was hurting. He was human. And that makes for a far more terrifying villain; the toughest villains to face are not the strongest, or the most powerful… but the ones we can see ourselves in. Because we have to break the mirrors, and that may just give us seven years’ bad luck. Break our views of ourselves. Break our views of the other. And maybe see them as people like us, worthy of being saved, of forgiveness. How had it had taken her thirty-odd years to learn that?

It wasn’t he himself she was afraid of. What made fear truly latch on to her, was just how easy it all was. How one drop of his solution could create a prison of amber. How one choice could lead to a path of hatred. How easy it was for him to watch his father become entombed in a prison of gold, to lose a parent, then turn to face her daughter, and attempt to take a parent from her. All because she broke a promise; chose to save the kingdom over him. That was enough for him, enough for him to find a place for that pendulum of blame to land. What scared her more than her own peril was how easy it was for him, for this compassionate, sunlit boy, to throw everything else aside, away, shut off the light, and plunge himself into darkness.

—(And, if he was human, didn’t that mean she could do that too?)—

And, as far as the life-threatening went, what scared her most was not her fate; not he amber, nor the chains, not the kidnapping, nor the blame. Her own peril may have unsteadied her heart, but what made her blood run cold as that storm with both fear and anger was her daughter’s life and safety being teased before her. How easy it was for him to hold his friend’s life in the balance. The way she cried out in pain as he hooked her hair up to that machine—(he once did so long ago with no ill intent)—the way she cried out in pain in that lab, that lab that lab—

This fear for her daughter, more than own well-being, had been a part of her for a while now. Ever since Rapunzel was born. Even more since she came back. When she was told of the dangers of wearing a crown, she wasn’t afraid for her own fate. But when Rapunzel was born everything changed.

It was Rapunzel. Always Rapunzel. When their daughter was born, she learned there was a jewel worth more than her life, and the weight of a crown. Suddenly Frederic’s statement about ‘the kingdoms most precious jewel,’ the lengths he went to save her life, made sense.

And all too soon, she learned then what it was like to have someone you love snatched from you, without warning, or threat, or a second glance.

That night, when Rapunzel was stolen from them, just like she was another jewel.

That night, when the wind was quiet, but fast, and cold, and the moon was full, and their little sundrop was stolen away by a woman in a cloak of night.

She knows how hard it is to forgive that person. She could understand that. How hatred and revenge burn in your gut, and can corrode through your heart if left unchecked. The weight of the faultline is a heavy one. She could understand how, especially when you’re young, it would be difficult to accept such a weight upon yourself. That one might do anything and everything in their power to slough it off, to keep from breaking the mirror. And if you are simply looking for someone besides yourself to place the burden of blame on, how everyone could suddenly seem at fault. But she also knows how to move beyond vengeance, into forgiveness—or, perhaps not so far as forgiveness, but at least something that isn’t unforgiveness.

This boy is not Gothel. He is different. She knows that. He is just a boy, a boy who is unbelievably smart, a boy who was kind, but whose kindness they mistook for naiveté, and brushed aside, enough that he forgot himself. He is a boy who lost someone, just like she did. He is grieving, and misled within his own head, just like she is. And she knows how much easier it is to hate someone else, than to admit you were wrong. That they’re gone, and even if you didn’t mean to, even if it was by mistake, some of the fault lies with yourself…

She could have hated him for what he did to her. She could have hated him more for what he did to her daughter. She could have chosen revenge, and unforgiveness. No one would have faulted her for it—she wouldn’t even have to bear the weight of the faultline.

But that wasn’t her. She wasn’t going to turn around and do to him what he did to them. It had taken this long to forgive—(or something close enough)—Mother Gothel, to choose the fact that she had Rapunzel back, the light, over wallowing in the dark. She wasn’t going to throw away what she learned then, now, especially not when she knew that that light hadn’t abandoned him, even if he had tried to abandon it.

She wasn’t going to abandon him.

It was a parent he lost, and it was a parent he needed.

What mattered was not what Gothel took her from her, it was that she has Rapunzel now.

What mattered to him—whether he knew it or not—she was sure, was knowing that there was still hope, still something, someone there for him now. She had to help him realize that it was not about what he had lost, but what he still had—(which was more than they all thought. A mustard seed of kindness is more than most of us have). She wished they had arrived soon enough to teach him that earlier. She hoped she could still show him that now.

He is still fourteen-years-old. Still a kid. A kid, lost, and hurting. Despite her own animosity, she could detect the desperation in his voice, the pain flickering behind his anger when he cried “It’s not my fault! None of it is!” And when those blue eyes blew out their circuits, and swiveled to their daughter, all rage and pain, looking for somewhere, some place, someone, to blame, and his voice became so much like a beast’s growl that the adventurer in her wanted to hunt him down—

“It’s her fault.”

…But he was—he is—not a beast. Even then.

That’s what made it so scary, after all; that he was still human. It would have been easy to call him a monster. That would have made things easier on the rest of them at least, to forget he was human. Easy to lock him up and leave him. But what was scary was that he was human, and she would never be able to forget that. What made it so scary was the pain behind the growls. If she had forgotten, she could have left him here in the dark without guilt or precedent.

The part of her that wants to denounce him as a beast doesn’t want to admit there is something else there, something searching to be redeemed, searching for any last hope, and…And that was something she understood. Despite the fear, how easy it was, she knew what it was to look for anything, any single shred of hope to cling to. And how even a spiderweb of hope can save lives.

And wasn’t the ease the other thing that scared her about him? How he turned to the dark so quickly?

So no, she wasn’t going to go gently into that goodnight.

He wasn’t completely right then, about Rapunzel. But he wasn’t completely wrong either. Some of the blame didn’t find its home with him. It didn’t justify the lengths he went, and how easy it was for him to leap them, but they had left him, after all. Someone should have gone to see him, to make sure he hadn’t lost his way in the storm.

This, and one other small fact led her to believe that he wasn’t completely gone; he never chained her hands. Just her feet. He didn’t do it kindly, and she was sure he didn’t intend it to display mercy. Others may have called it an empty gesture, said So what? You were still chained, what’s the difference?

Thinking about it later, it was the smaller gestures like this that mattered, that betrayed the spiderweb’s difference between hope and despair.

It’s the hands that are dangerous; they’re what slip, and let things break, and catch us all the same. He only chained her method of escape, not her hope to twist his plans—(almost if deep down he wanted her to twist those plans, like he was giving her that thread of hope himself).

He is a fourteen-year-old boy, and they left him there, in the dungeon. And that is not something she can live with. She was the one he kidnapped, so perhaps she is the one with the most right to be angry.

But they left him to rot in here, like the Flower she hadn’t known Frederic had kept.

He stole a flower to save the one he loved…that sounded like another story she knew well, and that story had ended in disaster too.

The more she thought about, Frederic couldn’t see how, when Arianna herself was dying, he would have done anything to save her life, and how Varian, in a way, was doing the same thing. That didn’t excuse his methods, but, still, the similarities gave her pause. They were both angry, both afraid, desperate to save those they love. But Varian wasn’t a king, and his methods were not so pure, so he was left to the dungeons, his father still trapped, and the king walked the halls above, his wife safe and well, without punishment, even though they both stole the sun in the hopes of healing the hurt, making the clock reverse.

She wouldn’t have necessarily wanted things to turn out differently, still, she had to admit there was irony in the situation.

If she had been angry, if she had come down here to spit in his face, they might have called it justice.

But that is not who she is. Who she wants to be. Forgiveness may not be a word she can quite use with Mother Gothel, but she did everything she could to fight the dark then. When Rapunzel came back, she did everything she could to stop herself from locking her up and keeping her safe from everything that dared hurt her.

She let her go out and make friends with him…but letting people in meant giving them the chance to betray you. The only way to keep her completely safe was to lock her away. …But doing so would have made her the villain. And she of all people knew danger was the name of living.

Forgiving him doesn’t mean she approves of what he did. Doesn’t mean she isn’t afraid, or angry, or has fully recovered. It just means that she isn’t going to let the darkness that had taken him so easily have its way with her too. She didn’t want to leave him, she wanted him to be better, she believed that he could be—she had seen what was right in him, she had seen what was left of him. She needed to let him know that someone cared, that she believed he was human, like the rest of us. Not a villain, not a monster, and that she didn’t think he deserved to be left behind in chains. …But he had to see it too.

When she appears before him, a progression of bars and some well-trained guards don’t seem like quite enough—though once upon a time she talked to him without the bars, or the animosity, and he had seemed more than harmless then.

There are no words of respect. He doesn’t bow, or even address her, or look at her at first. She isn’t a queen here, to him, anymore; she is simply the mother of the girl who never broke a promise, except the one she made to him. She is simply a chess piece he once chained to the floor of his lab.

He doesn’t give her any sign of respect, or that he’s even noticed her. But he also doesn’t throw curse at her feet like many of the other prisoners did.

At first, he remains silent. His eyes both have somehow lost their fire, and are as electric as they were that day, glowing in the cold grey of the room.

Everything grey. No black or white here.

“Varian.” Her voice is steady and sober.

“Your highness.” His response pounces, sharp as a claw through the bars.

His words are grey too.

He merely addressed her, but there is a bite behind her words. That sting doesn’t feel so empty in his mouth as it did in those of the other prisoners—(just like how he felt different as a villain, now he feels different as a prisoner)—but the words are worn, ragged, from his voice being kept too long silent. A quiet resolve. A lost, broken conviction, but standing nonetheless. He doesn’t hiss the phrase like he did then—all dauntless, and confident he is right, and they’re all wrong, sure he cannot, will not, lose—but he also doesn’t say it kindly, in any way that asks for forgiveness, or implies respect. Nothing betrays the fact that he is a broken boy, lost and hurting. It is simply stated as a fact, hanging there in the air; she is her highness, she walks the castle high above him, and he is here, in this cell fading in the darkness below.

But she is no angel, and he is no demon, even if everyone else treats him like one.

He is just a boy. She has to remind herself of that. Over, and over, until it finally sticks. That, and that she is not doing this for him.

She is doing this for herself. For her own heart. If she doesn’t forgive him, if she tells herself that the light cannot—or worse, should not—reach him down here, she really is letting darkest parts of herself win.

Forgiveness has never been about the one being forgiven, but about the one doing the forgiving.

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rallis-fatalis · 4 years ago

Text

Humanity, Animality

Humans hate and fear monsters. Monsters hate and fear humans. That is the natural order of things. It appears one human and monster didn’t seem to get the memo as fate pulls them together for a purpose far beyond their understanding. Although an unlikely friendship between a druid and a dragon might not seem like much on the surface, it is truly the first domino to fall in a giant chain reaction that will one day lead to something far greater. Every great adventurer has their first step into the world and this is Rallis the blue dragon’s

A shadow zipped through the nooks and crannies in the rocks of a large system of caves, scraping against heated rock as it wriggled through the tight corners it knew well. It slithered and slid in the dark, passing over sleeping beasts and patrolling men in black, staying absolutely silent. Now away from anything else, the shadow leapt down onto the ground from atop a rocky ledge and ran. Deeper and deeper into the caves it went until it reached light, a river of lava, and crouched by it. It dropped something large it was holding onto out of its mouth and dunked it into the lava for a moment before continuing onward into a nearby hole in the wall. It quietly crept inside, looking for something, and it quickly found something very large curled up and sleeping soundly upon the ground. The shadow hunched down, poised itself to strike, and leapt onto the hulking sleeping shape, roaring a tiny roar as it did so. The giant beast groaned and rolled over to bring down a massive clawed paw and grabbed the small shadow, looking it in the eye as it held it above its terrifying scaled head, menacing teeth glittering dangerously.

The small shadow giggled as it was being held. "Hi momma!" The large creature rolled over and put the little one down. It was a mother blue dragon, and quite a large one at that. She rubbed its face against the smaller creature, a much paler and smaller blue dragon that stood on two legs instead of four. The odd creature was one of this mother dragon's beloved children. The mother dragon stopped cooing over her child as she smelled something. She motioned to the thing held in the smaller creature's hands which it held proudly in response. "Human food!" It was a chicken, burnt in a few places from the lava bath it received. The dragon mother shook her head. "Don't take from human. Bad and dangerous." The smaller dragon pouted. "No one see! Safe!" It took a bite as protest. The big dragon sighed as it resumed napping. The creature happily continued to eat. Time passed. Two other smaller blue dragons wandered in, the mother dragon's two other children, and played with their weird sibling before napping themselves. The smaller weird dragon finished its meal and tossed the bones into the lava pool outside and came back to curl up with everyone else and started to sleep. It was soon woken by an unfamiliar sound. Outside, a weird sound bounced off the walls and into the cavern the four were sleeping in. The small dragon and mother dragon perked up, wary of the noise. It was getting louder and closer. The mother dragon curled around the three of her children, hiding them from view should something come inside. The small dragon wriggled its way out from under the dragon and snuck closer to the entrance of the cave. The mother dragon hissed as if to say 'get back' but her child didn't listen. It peeked its head out to see two humans in black looking around, searching for something. The creature gasped and ran back to its mom. "Humans!" The dragon growled and rose, shielding her three children in case the intruders came inside. The two smaller blue dragons started to wake up, wondering what was wrong. The humans grew closer and closer, speaking up as they drew nearer. A light illuminated the entrance, the light of a torch, as they walked inside. They were two men dressed in heavy black plate armor, swords at their sides. As they stepped inside and cast the light to the back of the cave, they gasped and yelped, drawing their swords. The large blue dragon roared at them, shaking the cavern. Wisps of flame flew out of its mouth, threatening to unleash an inferno. The small creature cautiously peeked its head out from behind the dragon, getting a look at the two humans who were currently preoccupied with slowly backing away from the angry mother dragon. The littlest dragon looked up at its mother scaring away the humans. 'Help mom!' it thought, and jumped out from behind the dragon. It made itself look as large as it could and roared, certainly not as loud or as intimidating as its mother, but it tried. The mother dragon worriedly tried to push it back with her tail in an attempt to hide it, but the humans were able to shine their light on it and get a good look at whatever it was. It looked like a blue dragon, a blue scaled creature with two large horns atop its head and six more running down the sides of its face, but it stood on two legs like a human. It had a long blue tail with white feathers at the tip and the smallest most useless and misshapen white feathered wings they had ever seen. It was as if someone glued the broken wings of a pet bird onto this thing's back and called it done. And it had floppy ears! What kind of dragon has ears like a mammal? It was an abomination. One of the humans angrily yelled as it pointed to the small odd blue dragon, something about it killing someone, and the other one pointed its sword their way. The mother dragon roared and let fire loose, a burst of heat blazing down the length of the cave. The humans screamed and ran away, back to wherever they came. The four breathed a collective sigh of relief as they left. The blue dragon spun on the small odd dragon, furious. "You must hide! Stay safe! Why you not hide?!" The odd dragon puffed herself up. "Help mom! Help family! Not scared! I help!" The mother dragon shook her head. "No. Hide. Stay safe." She motioned for the three of them to follow her. "We go. Find new home. Hide." The three small dragons whined in protest and she shut them up with a growl. The four found new territory deeper in the collection of tunnels upon a ledge. It overlooked a large part of the floor below where many other creatures roamed. The odd little dragon knew the cavern layout enough to know this wasn't that far from one of the entrances to the surface world. It could almost smell the grass and feel the sunshine it dreamed of roaming through. Eager to scope the new territory out, the little dragon asked its siblings to come along on an adventure. There was a large open area where other blue and black dragons roamed about, and a slope that led downwards to a long corridor carved out of the rock, obviously leading to some kind of magical mystery. But the two baby blue dragons didn't want to go. It was too far from mom and they were still a bit shaken from the humans finding them. So the little dragon left to explore. Many days had passed since the encounter with the humans in black. Thankfully there were no more interruptions for the family of four dragons and life returned to the usual. The little dragon explored more of their new territory every day, finding the best hiding spots and hunting grounds. They found the entrance to the surface and nearly crawled up to enjoy some natural light, but they didn't want to be the reason their family had to flee from danger again. On one of the dragon's many explorations it found a gated area guarded by two suits of armor. At first it thought they were humans, but after realizing they didn't move and coming over to give them a cautious sniff, it realized they weren't dangerous. There was a big pot inside the room they were guarding, boiling with a nasty looking goop. It smelled horrible, but maybe it secretly tasted good. The dragon wanted to explore the room with its pot of bubbling goop, but it was getting late. It was time to return home. The next day the odd dragon ran back to the weird gated room with the boiling pot, watching for humans from a well-hidden overhang. It wanted to see what was inside the pot and it was determined to find a way in. Confident there were no humans about, the dragon snuck its way down the corridor and to the room with the pot. The room was sealed away by a locked metal gate and tipped with jagged spikes at the top to prevent climbing over, but the dragon figured it could still try to wriggle around the points and get inside. As the dragon grabbed hold of the gate and started to climb, however, the armor standing guard moved. They shuddered and clanked as they came to life, drawing their swords and turning toward the dragon. One slashed their sword down on the gate where the dragon just was, beast narrowly avoiding being cut in two as it jumped off the gate over their heads. The odd dragon turned to run away, but one of the animated suits of armor blocked them with its shield, pushing it back into the other suit of armor. Against the dragon's back was a wall and cornering them were both suits of armor poised to strike. The dragon was trapped! The dragon tried to scramble up the rocky face behind it in a panic. It slipped on the lack of footholds and from its sloppy scared movements, and as the suits were about to bring their swords down, a shrill sound echoed down the hall and the armor stood still, frozen in place. The dragon stopped trying to climb the wall, instead sliding back down and nervously nudging the armor aside to get by, and froze as it heard footsteps nearby. The dragon looked over the armor to see a human with a face full of messy white hair and dressed in green robes standing only a few feet away, looking at the beast in shock. He said something to the dragon, but it couldn't understand. He waved his hand and the suits of armor backed away, taking up their former post. The dragon stared at the human warily, not understanding what was going on. He said something again but it still couldn't understand. He spoke quieter than the other humans in black, though. He sounded nicer. He said something else and pointed to himself, then spoke to the dragon and pointed to it. The dragon didn't know what to do, but it remembered the last time it saw humans their family had to move because they had been in danger of being found by more humans and being hunted. So it did the only thing it could think to do and sprinted as fast as it could in the opposite direction, far away from the man and his living armor and the gated pool. The man thought to himself and looked at the gate, then back in the direction the creature had run away. He smiled to himself as he had an idea and left the caverns. ___________________________________________________ The little dragon stayed at home for a long while after that day, not daring to explore any more in case it was found and followed home. Its mother was getting worried. This wasn't how her child usually acted. The large blue dragon wrapped her tail around the small dragon, who leaned up against her in response. "What wrong?" the mother dragon asked. The odd dragon just shook its head. The large dragon straightened herself and started to sing. It was an odd sounding song, with no words she knew, and sounded more like low whines and shrieks sung as a melody than actual words. The odd dragon looked up at her with wide eyes and smiled, singing along. The little dragon’s mom might not know what she was singing, but the odd dragon did and it made it happy. The two sat there and sang, the sound echoing throughout the cave beautifully. The mother dragon lowered her head as she stopped, nuzzling her oddly shaped child. It giggled in response, nuzzling back. "Better?" the dragon asked. The little dragon nodded her head. "Thanks momma." Some days later, the little dragon cautiously ventured back to the gate with the armor guards and the cauldron. It had been a while since it had been spotted by the human and it didn't seem to be tracked back home like the last time, so it felt confident enough to resume exploring. It nervously peeked around the corner to look at the animated armor guards, but was shocked to find them missing. The dragon stumbled from out of its hiding spot and over to the gate. The dragon looked around in every direction, looking high and low for the armor guards, but found nothing. It grabbed hold of the gate as if to climb it, testing it in case the guards materialized out of nowhere, but nothing happened. 'Safe now?' it thought to itself. It tested the gate once more, and with nothing turning around and attacking it, the dragon crawled up the fence and nimbly over to the other side. They were in! Inside was a small room with more gates on every exit. There wasn't much inside, save for a few dead and dying trees, but resting in the center was the large bubbling cauldron. The dragon walked over and peered inside, taking a sniff at the weird blue liquid inside. It snorted and recoiled in disgust. The goop smelled foul. "Bad," it muttered aloud. "No eat." That was a shame. It was hoping the goop would be edible what with food growing scarcer lately. "You're back!" The dragon nearly jumped out of its scales at the unexpected sound, whirling around to find the same man in green from last time. The dragon spread its claws and roared at the human, tail angrily swishing across the ground. The man put his hands up in defence. "Whoa there! I'm not here to hurt you, calm down!" The dragon didn't back down. "Hmm, you really don't know what I'm saying, do you? That's a shame. Every other animal I’ve encountered seems to. What makes you different?" The dragon stood its ground, acting as big as it could while glancing around for a way out. There were three gates to climb over. It didn't know where the other two gates went, and the one that led home was being blocked by the human. The man continued to speak in a language the dragon didn't understand. "My name is Kaqemeex." He pointed to himself. "Kaqemeex." He pointed to the dragon. "You?" "RAAAAAAH!" the dragon roared back with a hiss, not liking the sudden motion. "'Raaa, hiss'... Hmmmm," he said thoughtfully. "I got it! I'll call you Rallis! Until I learn your real name of course." The dragon was confused by all the talking the human was doing. Why wasn't he running away? He needed to leave so it could run home. Although the dragon could easily kill the man, he had no armor or weapon to show, it didn’t want to risk angering more humans and having them try to find the dragon and its family. The human repeated his pointing motion before. "Kaqemeex," he said pointing to himself. "Rallis," he said pointing to the dragon. He repeated himself a few more times as if to hammer it home, but it all flew over the dragon's head. Kaqemeex went to pull something out of his pack, alarming the dragon. "Easy there. Look." He pulled out something the dragon had never seen before, alarming it even more. The object was bright like the color of lava and round. He rolled the sphere its way, stopping at its feet. The dragon jumped back a pace in fear. Kaqemeex had pulled out another one of the weird orange balls and kept it for himself. He ripped off the outside of it then ate what was left. The dragon's ears perked up in curiosity. It was food? Was it bad? Was it good? It looked down at the ball by its feet and slowly picked it up. The man motioned to the dragon as if to take it and do to it what he had. The dragon jabbed a claw into it and cut away the outside like Kaqemeex had and grumbled as it started to leak, sticky watery stuff dripping down the dragon’s hand. The man laughed to himself and motioned for the dragon to try it. It nervously took a bite of the squishy ball thing and physically took a step back from the way it tasted. It stared down at the food in wonder. "Tastes good! What is it?!" the dragon asked the man, but he didn't understand. He just chuckled.

"I’m glad you like it. You looked hungry when I first saw you. I have more if you want one." He pulled out another one and held it her way. The dragon took a step forward but then stopped itself. What was it doing? He might have looked different but this man was still a human. Humans hunt dragons. It shouldn't be trusting a human like this. The dragon backed away fearfully, saddening the man. "Maybe next time then," he said. "Here." He left two more on the ground by his feet and walked away. He unlocked the gate the dragon had climbed over and left it. "I hope I see you again next time, Rallis!" he said and walked away. The dragon stood there for a moment, trying to process everything that just happened. This was so weird, so different. It walked over and picked the two orange balls up and walked through the gate, jumping back startled as it shut and locked itself as the beast stepped out. The dragon ran back to its family and showed them the joy of the weird orange food that tasted very good, its mother cautiously wondering where her child found it but enjoying it nonetheless. The odd dragon knew it shouldn't stay near that room and the man because it could lead to dangers in the future, but it found itself wanting to see him again, curious about what he was doing down here with his delicious snacks. So the dragon continued its routine of checking in on every adventure to see if he was there. Sometimes he was, sometimes he wasn't. The next time he was there, he didn't try to corner the dragon in the gated room like before, instead waiting inside with the doors wide open. The dragon could see him from outside the room, but didn't like how open the corridor was so it slowly stepped in. He waved her way. "Hello, Rallis! Good to see you again. Here." He pulled something different out of his bag, this time red not orange, and a little more wobbly round instead of perfectly round. He clumsily rolled it to her and ate one for himself. "It's an apple," he said pointing to the food. "Ap-ple." The dragon picked it up, gave it a sniff, and took a bite. Oh it liked this one too. It was less messy and more crunchy, but still had the good taste from the last one. "Good! What is it? Where get it?" Naturally, he didn't know what it was saying. He just heard happy curious chirping. "Guess you like that one too. Must not be much variety down here, huh?" He placed two more down for her, not too far from himself, maybe a couple feet away. "Do you like them enough to get closer though, I wonder?" The dragon eyed him warily. What was he trying to do? The dragon didn't move to get the sweet snacks for a while, instead watching the human to see what his next move was. He didn't do anything though, which confused the dragon. He just stood there thinking to himself. The dragon took a cautious step closer. The man didn't move. It took another step, flaring out the claws on one of its hands just in case. No change. It slowly crept closer and closer, keeping its claws out toward him, but the man still didn’t move an inch. As the dragon neared the food, it quickly scooped them over with its tail, grabbed them, and ran back, and was surprised to see the man still hadn't moved. He just had a small smile on his face. "I'm glad you're growing more confident with me," he said with a smile. "Hopefully that's a trend." He walked away, going wherever it was he needed to go. "Bye Rallis," he said with a wave. “I hope to see you again.” And with that, he left and disappeared down the hall of rock. The same occurred many times after that. He brought different foods for the dragon that he thought it would like, and the dragon would get a little closer to him every time. He would talk to it, hoping that maybe one day it would understand something. This dragon wasn't a mindless monster, he could tell. Something was there, something special. He contemplated following the dragon into the caves one day to see where it hid, but he abandoned the thought. It could throw the trust he'd finally managed to gain away. It had been maybe the 8th or 9th time he had come this month and this time he wanted to try something new. When the dragon walked through the gate and he pulled out the food, he didn't roll or toss it over. He held onto it instead and held it out for the dragon to grab. "If you want it, you'll have to come to me." He motioned for her to come take it. The dragon froze. It didn't like this. This was different, and different was dangerous. The human could be up to something. But he hadn't done anything yet so maybe he was okay. The dragon slowly walked over to him, eyeing him and watching for even the slightest change. It was right in front of him now, probably the closest it had ever been to a human without killing them, and took the item from his hand. Kaqemeex didn't do anything aside lowering his hand, but he had a huge grin on his face. The dragon hadn't stepped away either, instead pacing around him and getting a first good look at him. It noticed the large green cape he wore every time had a drawing of some weird green thing on the back, and that the pack he had at his side had little pockets with different green things sticking out of them. It didn't know what they were but they smelled good. It paced around full circle and stopped in front of him again, looking him in the eye. 'What you doing?' it thought. "Rallis," he said, startling the dragon a bit with the silence shattered. He pointed at the dragon. "Ral-lis." He said it a few more times for emphasis. The dragon pointed to itself in question and he nodded. "Rallis!" 'Human word for me?' it thought. 'Says a lot.' He pointed to himself. "Kaqemeex. Kaqe-meex." He repeated it in similar fashion and the dragon understood. "Rallis?" he prompted. It took the dragon a moment to understand what he wanted but it pointed to itself, making the man ecstatic. "Kaqemeex?" The dragon pointed to him and he grew even happier. "Oh great Guthix you DO understand! I knew you could! Now we need to practice." The dragon took a step back, unsure of the excitement. He motioned for the dragon to come back, saying its name to get its attention. He pulled out the red wobbly and round fruit again and showed it to the dragon. "Apple. Ap-ple. Apple." He handed it over and pointed to it, saying its name. "Apple?" he asked. The dragon pointed to the fruit. "Rallis?" he asked. The dragon pointed to itself. "Kaqemeex?" The dragon pointed to him. He couldn't believe it. He was teaching a dragon Common! He laughed to himself. "Amazing... absolutely amazing..." He sighed happily. “Guthix was right saying there was something special about you! I knew Sanfew and the rest were fools for doubting me and my vision! Oh this is so exciting!” He gave the confused dragon some space and left the room. "Bye Rallis," he said with a wave. "I'll see you soon with even more things to learn!" The dragon watched him go before starting the walk back home as well, staring at the "apple" in its hand. Kaqemeex brought more things with him the next time they had one of their meetings, and not just food anymore. He brought leaves and sticks and water and all sorts of things, slowly teaching the dragon a whole assortment of words. The dragon caught on quickly too, able to point to whatever he asked. The dragon didn't speak, but he knew it knew the words and was learning. The dragon practiced trying to say the words at home as well, the sounds alien to it. These weren't shrieks and howls that relied solely on song anymore, but rather took a lot more effort to say. "Rrraaaaa-hhhh-thhh-llll," it groaned in frustration and flopped onto the floor. The dragon stared up at the rocky ceiling and sighed. "Rraa-hhh-llll... Rraaa-lll-isss. Raaa-llisss." It hummed in approval. "Rallis."

________________________________________________ Kaqemeex was beside himself when he learned Rallis said the name he gave to it. The dragon learned a decent few words on their secret teaching sessions, mostly nouns like things he brought or could see, but eventually the dragon learned some of the more complex words too. He was even able to teach the dragon complex thoughts that weren’t present in the dragon’s life, namely gender. Kaqemeex found out Rallis didn’t think of themself as a boy or girl, but when he taught the dragon that he himself was a boy and people like moms were girls, it wanted to be a girl like its mom. He couldn’t help but chuckle at how excited Rallis was to have a name and gender of her own now that she understood what they meant.

Many months had gone by now since Rallis first met Kaqemeex. She met with him nearly every day, excited to learn more words. He would tell her about the world he came from and she in turn would do the same. She talked about her two brothers and her wonderful mother, about how she was scared and angry with humans because of what they had done to her and her family. And she told Kaqemeex that he was the first human she ever felt like she could trust. The man took that as a great honor and promised he would never harm her or her family. He told Rallis of his village outside the caverns, a place called Taverley, and she learned that the caverns she lived in were called the Taverley Dungeon. He told her about simple things from the world above that she found fascinating. The sun and sky, the moon and stars, the rivers and ocean, fields of grass and the open world. It sounded like a dream. Rallis’ mom had forbidden her children to wander outside the caverns, saying it was a dangerous world full of hunters, but the way Kaqemeex described the world above sounded so magical. She wanted to share his stories with her mom, but she knew her mom would panic if she found out Rallis had been seeing a human for all these months. One day, Kaqemeex asked Rallis something. “Rallis, you want to see outside?”

Rallis’ ears bolted up in excitement. “Outside?! Yes but mom say no. Not safe.”

“Safe with me,” Kaqemeex assured her. “See a little?”

Rallis was nervous over the thought of going outside and disobeying her mother, but then again she had been disobeying her mother for months now by befriending a human and secretly meeting with him all these times. She supposed it would be okay.

“A little,” she said. Kaqemeex excitedly pulled her along toward the entrance of the caverns that led to his hometown. The glow of lava and torches faded away as the shine of sunlight lit the way. Rocks crumbled away to reveal grass and the silence of the stony halls was replaced by the soft sound of crashing waves in the distance. Rallis closed her eyes as they left the dark safety of the caves. The sunlight was so much brighter than the soft glow of lava, her eyes weren’t used to it. As her sight adjusted, Rallis took in her new surroundings with awe. The world had opened up, the endless sky greeting her instead of the closed-in rocky ceiling of the underground. She could see endlessly in every direction, no cavern walls to obscure her view. The smell of nature filled her nose, so much more refreshing than the stale smell of stone and old dusty hunting grounds. She took in a deep breath and smiled. Something about this outside world felt so familiar and so right, far more than being in the stuffy caverns felt. Kaqemeex smiled watching her.

“I’m glad you seem to like it up here. I was hoping you would.”

“I like it,” Rallis agreed. “I like it… Mom say outside not safe. I like outside.”

“Outside safe and not safe,” Kaqemeex admitted. “I make outside safe for Rallis.” He held out his hand to the dragon excitedly. “See more outside?”

She wanted to. She desperately wanted to. And she almost took his hand. But something stopped her. This felt like a big stepping off point. If she went out into this new world, it felt like something would happen, something she couldn’t go back from. She couldn’t go with Kaqemeex, not without making sure it was the right thing to do.

“No,” Rallis said sadly. Kaqemeex couldn’t hide his sadness at her answer. “I say to mom… Not leave mom and family. I say to mom human friend and Rallis go outside. Say I want outside.”

That was reasonable he had to admit. She wasn’t going to just leave her family to go exploring a foreign world with someone she had only known for some months. “Alright. You come back after?”

“I not know.”

“I will wait for you,” he told her. “Where we always are.”

Rallis nodded and ran back into the safety of her home, leaving Kaqemeex with only the gentle breeze and his thoughts. He sighed as he watched her go. ‘I hope you come back, Rallis. I think you’re meant to.’ With that final thought, he sauntered back home.

______________________________________________________ Rallis slowly made her way home, taking her time to think about how she was going to tell her mom about what she had been doing. She thought about the outside world and how right it felt to be in it and how she wanted to see more of it. Every step that brought her closer to her home also filled her with worry and dread. There was so much she had to say and she was beyond nervous. Rallis soon reached the entrance to her family’s cave and braced herself for the inevitable worrying and possible screeching her mother was about to do after hearing what she had to say. She stepped inside the cave and found her mom watching over her two brothers as they played around. Rallis steadied herself as she stood in front of her family. "Momma?"

The large blue dragon turned to face the sound and smiled, lowering her head to her little dragon. “You gone for long time! I worry!” She rubbed her face to her child’s with a purr, but stopped suddenly when she smelled something different on the little dragon. It smelled like grass and nature not native to the caverns. She knew that smell immediately. Outside. She grew worried over the smell and when she saw how tense her odd little child was she knew something was wrong.

"Momma, I say something. You no worry."

Her initial reaction was to worry from that comment alone, but she held back, lowering herself to listen. "I..." Rallis nervously swallowed and continued. "I see human. Human friend. For long time." Her mother grew scarily still, but let her continue. "Human show things, new things, good things. Human good friend, no hurt me. He safe. Teach me to speak human. Show..." Rallis paused and took a steadying breath. “He show outside.” Her mother growled at the world, but it wasn’t an angry sound. It was more scared and worried. Rallis told her mother as much as she could, and her mother sat still as a statue, taking all this new information in. Rallis finished with her adventure from today where she set foot outside, and for a moment all was quiet. Neither spoke a word, until Rallis broke the silence. "Momma. I think... I need to go outside. Want to go outside." Her mother sadly dipped her head and rose. She turned to her other two children playing behind her, neither paying any attention to their conversation, and told them to stay as she led Rallis out of the cave to talk. She led her out and around the massive cavern system, passing by other dragons and creatures going about their day. "Human friend..." her mom said as they walked. She never thought those two words could be in the same sentence without the word ‘not’ between them. Rallis bashfully nodded. "Yes... He a good friend. Good human." "Humans kill father," she responded. "Humans not good." "This human good. Safe. Friend." The dragon sighed but said no more. They had been walking for a while now and Rallis began to wonder just where they were headed. They soon stopped by a rocky enclave near where the black dragons and demons fought frequently for territory. The mother dragon sat down and stared sadly at the ground. Rallis walked over confused, resting a hand on her mother's arm as she looked up at her. "Other... you... not mine," she started. "I found here. You almost dead. Not dead yet, almost. I save you, take you. But you not mine. You from outside. I never tell you. You not my child, but I save you like my child." Rallis reeled back. "You... not my mom?" she squeaked out sadly. The dragon shook her head. "No. I take you. Die if I leave you. I make you mine." She wrapped her tail around the shocked little dragon and pulled her closer. "You from outside. Not here. Go back outside. Find your home." Rallis hugged her mom and cried. "You my mom. This my home. Always. I need to go outside, but this home and you mom and you all family. Always." The dragon curled around her. "I love you," she said sadly.

“I love you, momma.” Rallis spent her final night together with her family, explaining to her two brothers that she had to leave and go figure things out for herself. They whined and protested but she promised she'd still come and visit. This was home after all. She said goodbye the next day and wandered back to the room she and Kaqemeex always met in. Like he promised, he was there, waiting hopefully that she would come back. He grinned as she came closer. "Rallis! I’m so happy to see you! See more outside?" he asked as he pointed toward the direction of the exit to the caves. She nodded and followed after him out. Stepping out into the bright light of day still felt as strange as it did the previous time, but now Rallis knew why it felt familiar. This is the world she was from. She was meant to be here. Did she have another mom and dad somewhere, and another home? Were there a bunch of dragons that looked and acted just like her somewhere in this outside world? Where did she come from? What was she if she wasn’t one of her momma’s baby blues? So many questions came to her as she set foot in this foreign but familiar land and she wanted to find answers to them all.

Kaqemeex snapped Rallis out of her thinking with a clear of his throat. He held out his hand with an excited smile. “Ready to see the world?” Rallis hesitated for a moment. This was really it. No turning back. But she was ready now. She was ready to find her real place in the world, and even if things went south she knew she would always have a place to return to here with her family.

Rallis nodded and took Kaqemeex’s hand and the man excitedly tugged her off toward the direction of his village, excitedly chattering about all the amazing things she would see and wonderful people she would meet.

#osrs #runescape #my writes #oc tag

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efrmellifer · 4 years ago

Text

Dulcis Somnia

Etien woke with a groan, pleased to be on her side this time, but pleased with little else.

She rolled to the other side, burrowing under the covers and more firmly under Aymeric’s arm again, tips of her ears brushing his throat and the underside of his chin.

“You don’t move this much at night,” he mumbled. “Is it morning already?”

“Not that you can tell by the light,” she replied. “The weather is shi—” she cleared her throat— “certainly unpleasant. I’ve never been so glad I don’t have to go anywhere.” She hunkered down even further.

He hummed. “But I still do.”

“I know, darling. I’m sorry. Do you want me to walk with you? You won’t have to brave it alone.”

“You were just saying how glad you were that you had nowhere to be.”

She tipped her head, trying to look at him, pinned though she was. “A walk to the Congregation is nothing. Or are you starting with the House of Lords today?”

The playful disgust was audible in his voice as he told her, “Oh, please don’t remind me.”

“House of Lords it is, then,” Etien giggled.

“You can stay here,” Aymeric said finally. “Here, where it’s warm and you won’t twist your ankle on the ice.”

“If you insist.” She shrugged slightly.

Finally opening his eyes to the bedroom, not even half-filled with the weak light of an overcast morning, he kissed her forehead, then her lips. “I do.”

“All right, then. Get dressed, I’ll make you something to eat before you go.”

Aymeric sat up, rubbing at his eye with the back of his hand. “You know, you have been more concerned with that lately. I used to have to convince you to have something, even on mornings off.”

No longer held down, Etien slid from the bed, folding over the covers. “I have the time—and cause, really—to be sure I eat, and I’m extending it to you. I should never have taken such poor care of myself out there.” She came around the bed, running the backs of her knuckles over his cheek. “And neither should you now.”

He sighed, though more out of determination to leave the warmth of the bed than in frustration with Etien. “Oh, fine. Nothing too heavy, please.”

“Oh, so no cream in your coffee?”

“Who am I, Estinien?”

Etien chuckled, stepping out of the room and padding down the hall in her new slippers.

“Do you have everything?” she asked as Aymeric rose from the table not much later.

“I believe so,” he murmured. “What is there for me to forget?”

With a pleasant smile, she shrugged, getting up herself to follow him to the door. “I just know I tended to forget things here now and then. My eye mask, a pair of gloves.”

Aymeric stopped walking. “Were those not on purpose?”

“The gloves were, the eye mask was not. Gods, trying to sleep in eternal light was… a trial all its own.”

“Had I known it had been a mistake, I would have flagged down that pixie to bring it back with them.”

“Feo would have called you sentimental and doting.”

With a squeeze of her hand, he replied, “A small price to pay, if you would have slept easier.”

“You’re going to be late, Lord Speaker.”

“I suppose so. I’ll see you later, Etien.”

Her lips quirked up just before she rolled onto her toes, grasping at Aymeric’s clothing to hold herself up and give him a kiss goodbye. “Not if I see you first.”

When Aymeric got home, it was to the image of Etien surrounded by knitting, a wide square of powder blue spread over her lap, yarn trailing from the carved bowl at her feet.

The rhythm of the needles clicking together and the motion of her hands as she worked through a stitch were strangely calming, even when he’d only watched them for a moment.

“Before you ask, it doesn’t tangle if I keep it down there,” she said without lifting her eyes from the needlework.

“What… is that?” Aymeric asked. “I know you’ve been working on something rather big—two of them, unless it changes colors every so often.”

“This is a receiving blanket. This one is almost done, and its twin will stay unfinished until this one is complete. Switching back and forth was driving me up the wall.”

Aymeric picked up the yarn bowl, pulling on the yarn to keep it from tangling while he fed it to Etien’s fingers. “Was there something different about it that was giving you trouble?”

“Not exactly. It was the starting over from the same point every time, I think. I would start with a half-done blanket, get it to three-quarters, and then swap to a half-finished one again.” She was quiet for a moment. “That, and struggling with the yarn. The bowl helps, but yarn is still finicky.”

He dug his fingers into the skein, pulling on the loose end some more before winding it through the indent in the bowl again.

“When you finish that row, would you still be amenable to taking a walk with me, like you offered to earlier?”

She smiled, needles clicking all the faster as she tried to finish up the last few stitches quickly, rising from the loveseat to put on her coat and boots.

When she returned to the drawing room, all dressed for the outdoors, Aymeric chuckled before pressing himself up to go put his outerwear back on.

The Central Highlands were quiet. The stillness was what they needed, both still in their thoughts as they walked.

Their hands, woven together, kept them tethered as they crunched through the snow, the only other sounds they were taking notice of the bleating of wandering karakul.

“I love karakul,” Etien murmured out of the blue.

“Well, you certainly love eating karakul,” Aymeric responded.

She turned to look at him. “Growing up in the Twelveswood, you learn to appreciate birdsong and roast fowl in equal measure, because the forest can give you both if you’re kind. Tenuous relationship with the Elementals notwithstanding. So I like watching the karakul trot around, and I like roast karakul when it’s on the menu.”

He laughed. “That is a good point. I think Ishgard as a whole forgets what it was like when we weren’t having to fight the land for what we need from it.”

“Camp Cloudtop was having quite a bit of success with the pumpkins,” Etien offered.

“Thanks to you, your knowledge, and your onion-gathering.”

She smiled. “I do what I can.”

Aymeric squeezed Etien’s hand. “And you have been able to do much for us.”

They continued on in silence, their loose grip on each other tightening, drawing them closer together as the sun sank lower in the sky. The tracks of their footprints converged at a point or two, conveying just how close they were walking now, voices low as the light above them began to fade, stars twinkling in the darkest spots.

The sun had gone, but light still clung to the horizon, a glow like dying embers even as the pinpoints of constellations made themselves apparent.

Aymeric stopped, looking up. “Looking at the sky now, who would have thought it was so dim and dull earlier?”

Etien lifted her gaze to the sky, shielding her eyes, and nodded with a low hum. “But what an excuse to stay in bed it could have been. Skies like this make you come out and see them.”

“Seen a lot of these skies, have you?”

She was quiet for a long time, counting the stars, or maybe connecting them with her eyes. “Not these skies. Thanalan’s skies, Limsa’s skies they use to navigate the waters—same in the Ruby Sea and onward with the stars of the far east. I’ve been looking at the skies over The Black Shroud since I was old enough to tip my head back. And there were the skies of Norvrandt, striking because the deep blue was such a contrast to the light.” She sighed. “But I feel like I rarely get a good look at the skies over Coerthas. Maybe because we’re up at dawn or a little after, when the stars have already been put away for the day. But even if I’d seen this a thousand times, it’s always better with someone you love.”

Aymeric bent, kissing her briefly. “And better still reflected in your eyes.”

They kept walking. Even when snow started falling, they trod on.

“But speaking of the skies over Limsa,” Etien said finally.

“What of them?”

“I’ve been thinking, about my mother and… it’s silly.”

“Dearest, some of the thoughts you call silly are the most interesting things I’ve ever heard.”

“Oh. Thank you. I had been thinking, I’m the oldest of my parents’ children, so I had wondered what sort of mental state my mother was in, when she was having me. Her family was a bunch of seafarers, and she had even convinced my father—er, you know—to do a little traveling before they settled down in Alder Springs. Again, for him. So, did I put a stop to that? What might they have done if not for me?”

“A thought-provoking concept, but not something you could ever find an answer to, is it?”

“I suppose not.” Etien slowed to a stop. “I still think about it, though.”

“To the point of guilt?”

Etien sighed. Caught. “Not yet. I would hate to have been the thing that killed her dreams, though.”

“Why could you not be a new dream?” Aymeric asked, tipping his head to get a better look at her. “If you were, it would have happened more than once.”

Her eyebrows knit. “Oh?”

“Yes,” he replied simply, guiding her under a tree. “Because it happened to me, as well.”

Etien’s eyes just widened as she searched for words.

“For lack of a better way to explain, I wanted you to enjoy the new Ishgard you had helped create. I wanted to enjoy it with you,” he told her. “I had once been ready to die for the changes I wanted to enact, as well you know.” He absently rubbed at his wrist. “But I much prefer satisfying this new desire. It, like the stars, is better with someone I love.”

Etien leaned fully back against the tree they were sheltered under, gently tugging Aymeric to her. “Ishgard wouldn’t be home without you.”

“It would no longer be Ishgard without you,” he rebutted before closing the gap between them, lifting Etien from the snowy ground to negate the difference between her height and his.

Even with them so close now, he waited for her to make the next move. He could have simply claimed her lips, and in fact he rather wanted to. But how long had he waited for her, over and over? The space of a few breaths was nothing. If all she wanted to do was gaze down at him with love in her eyes, that would also suit him, in truth.

But she let her eyes slip closed, leaning in to press her lips to his, and utterly relaxing into his arms when he reciprocated.

For some time, the snow fell and they exchanged kisses, the longer liplocks broken up with tiny pecks across each other’s cheeks and planted on foreheads.

But as Aymeric was lowering Etien to put her feet on the ground again, he whispered, “You have naught to fear of killing dreams. I will do my best to ensure all yours come true, and as for mine, you’ve already fulfilled many of them. You still do.”

Arm in arm, they made their way home, living out dreams while still awake.

#fic #Aytien #okay yes it's a lot of dialogue #in fairness this was really more of a long exploration of ideas I had

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danganronpa-ea · 4 years ago

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DR: EA2 Chapter 3 part 3

To Read the Prologue click here;

Prologue: part 1 | part 2

Chapter 1 Daily Life: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4

Chapter 1 Deadly Life: Investigation | CT part 1 | CT part 2 | CT part 3

Chapter 2 Daily Life: part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5

Chapter 2 Deadly Life: Investigation | CT part 1 | CT part 2 | CT part 3

Chapter 3 Daily Life: part 1 | part 2

Chapter 3 Deadly Life: Investigation | CT part 1 | CT part 2

Chapter 4 Daily Life: part 1 | part 2

Chapter 4 Deadly Life: Investigation | CT part 1 | CT part 2

Chapter 5 Daily Life: part 1 | part 2 | part 3

Chapter 5 Deadly Life: Investigation | CT part 1 | CT part 2 | CT part 3

Chapter 6 Deadly Life/Epilogue: Investigation | CT | Epilogue

Anyway, all credit goes to respective owners.

Chapter 3: The Will to Survive | Daily Life part 3

The next morning I had woken up as I usually did which then, I did my usual routine and made my way out however as then I notice…

No one was near Kimura-san’s door, which then I walk downstairs and down in the living room I notice Abiko-san, Masa-san and…

Kimura-san? She was out of her room?

I walk downstairs and the trio notice me. “Oh, Fuji-chan! Good morning…” Kimura-san spoke to me which I blinked. “Um, Kimura-san… good morning? Wait, you left your room – what’s going on?” I asked which Kimura-san close her eyes. “I… thought over quite a bit and honestly, I can’t stay in my room which after speaking with Ben-kun, I… need to see what my mother felt about me so I want to hear it from her otherwise I can’t live onward for her.” She explained.

I… could see why she would want to do that but then I turn to the other 2. “She ask me if I can do this for her but sadly if I want to do this I would need some help with writing so I ask Masa-san to help with this…” He stated as I turn my attention to Kimura-san again. “I’m rather surprise your working with Masa-san after what happen…” I informed her which Masa-san tipped her hat down a bit as not looking too proud of herself.

“Actually funny thing she approach me about it and thanked me for saving her life but still…” She commented which Kimura-san shook her head and smile. “No, you killing Ohta was the wisest choice and even then she would of killed me for no reason so… I do owe you my life, Masa-chan.” She told me but then turn to me.

It seems the girl was determined. “So to see if my mother truly hated me or not, will start at noon, correct Ben-kun?” She asked which the Ghost Whisperer nodded. “Indeed, it’ll take a while to prepare and I do need assistance so let’s get started…” He told the three which the 2 girls look to each other with a nod then left.

Seems they got quite a bit plan…

As then I made my way to the dining room which I notice Norman-san, Miwa-san, Kita-san, Hayashi-san and Hana-san look to be talking. “Morning guys… I guess you got here early, huh?” I asked which Norman-san turn to me. “Actually Fuji, we’re preparing to capture Hamoponi’s creator.” He told me which I nodded. “I see so the trap is set?” I asked which Kita-san nodded.

“Indeed – we got everything prepare just so we capture that person…” He stated which Hayashi-san continue. “Plus counting that they would come at night, I think it be best to wait at evening to capture this person.” She informed us which the Figure Skater cross her arms. “I think it be wise if we figure out what they got plan for us and see if they are on our side so we prepare to question them…” She stated which Hana-san look to me with a smile.

Clearly it seems she wanted to capture this person and was curious if I wanted to come along. “Actually, Fuji-san I was curious if you want to help us capture them, we can figure out what this guy or girl plans to do and see if their intentions are good.” She spoke which as I was about to speak however it seems Kita-san shook his head.

“No, five people should be enough otherwise it would make the creator of Hamoponi’s aware of our plan – so apologies but we can only bring five.” He stated which Hana-san frown which she nodded. “I see, well sorry Fuji-san but seems like I’ll be busy around evening.” She told me, seeming disappointed which as then those five have left.

As then Katou-san, Kobayashi-san, Inoue-chan and Rai-kun walk into the dining room which Kobayashi-san look at the direction at where the group is going. “Seems we got quite a bit plan, huh?” He asked which I sighed. “It seems also Kimura-san, Abiko-san and Masa-san are going to be doing something this evening…” I commented which Katou-san had a confused look. “Really? They got something plan too?” He asked which I gave a nod which Inoue-chan had a confused look.

“I think I’m more surprise that Tomoe-chan is willing to work with Esumi, counting she killed someone right in front of her…” She stated which Rai-kun place his hands on his hips. “Well maybe she realizes that she would of gotten killed so she might view Masa-san as a hero if anything.” He commented which Kobayashi-san nodded. “Well then, I guess if Masa-san is totally forgiven then I guess I can’t hold much against her, but anyway… Are you guys busy?” He asked as changing the subject.

It seem instant as the five of us look to him surprise which I shook my head. “Not really, why do you ask?” I asked which Kobayashi-san put his hand in his pocket. “Well maybe around evening can you guys come with me to the Chruch? I found something…” He spoke which Inoue-chan tilted her head to the side. “Oh, what is it? You found an exit or something?” She asked Katou-san seems excited.

“Oh oh whatever it is, I hope maybe it can help the group!” He stated which Kobayashi-san sadly pulled his hat down. “Um, well… not really but I think I’ll need Rai-san and Fuji-san’s help a bit.” He stated which I blinked. “Huh? You need my help?” I asked which Kobayashi-san sighed annoyed. “Yes I do, plus I’m sure you’ve done public speeches before and likely have done them in other languages so maybe you can help…” He spoked annoyed which I cross my arms. “Well I do know quite a few languages so sure thing.” I agreed which he smiled. “Okay cool, and you Rai-san?” He asked.

Which the electrical engineer crosses his arms as tilting his head to the side as he was thinking. “I guess if you need the man born from thunders then I’ll accept your offer of help!” He spoke which Kobayashi-san gave a thumbs up. “Thanks! I really do need some help, so come to the Church around evening…” He told them as he sat down. “Now that you guys will help me, let’s get breakfast~!” He stated with a huge smile on his face.

Rare to see him this happy I suppose as then I sat down as then we began breakfast like we usually do which was made by Katou-san…

Free Time Event!

As then I return back to my room, I look to the clock and realize… I had some time before evening so I guess I should spend time with someone…

As then I began to wander around a bit which then I saw Kobayashi-san who look to be in the living room with Inoue-chan which he spoke. “I know we got time but we should prepare if Hamoponi’s creator does come in so I think having Doi-san with us could help…” He spoke.

I guess Kobayashi-san seems to be planning something for evening… should I help come up with plans?

>Hang out

- Maybe another time

As then Kobayashi-san look to me as getting his attention. “Oh, want to help plan something? Well I guess maybe you can come up with something…” He spoke with a slight smile. Which as then me and Kobayashi-san spoke for a quite a bit regarding the plan…

I feel that Kobayashi-san and myself grew closer together, which then I reach into my pocket and pull out what look to be a handy swiss-army that can do anything. “Whoa, your giving this me? Cool, I think this will be very useful!” He thanked me as he took it.

As then I had grown curious about Kobayashi-san’s homelife some more. “So then, you mention that you’ve done work before and even the lottery – you must be good at handling yen, huh?” I asked which Kobayashi-san tilted his head to the side. “I mean, I suppose I would have to be; we usually earn money for what we need then what we want but I do sometimes like to spend it on myself…” He spoke sheepishly.

Something tells me that the guy hates to admit it. “Well, I think it’s okay to be selfish sometimes and buy for yourself.” I told him which he frowns. “Well yeah, I get that being selfish is okay at times but the money I earn tends to go to my dad…” He stated which I was a bit surprise. “Your dad?” I asked surprise by this which then he look to the ground.

“Well yeah, my dad… seeing as I started work at a pretty young age, most of my money goes to my dad and since I don’t have a bank account and besides… I think it’s for the best.” He told me which I was confused by that statement. “Oh, what makes you say that?” I asked as then he groan.

Clearly he seems to be embarrassed. “Well there was a time when I got money, it was my first job as well which I figure I try and hide it somewhere but funny what you know, robbers came in and stole it and well… let’s say I was pretty upset about it.” He admitted as his face went red.

“Wait, you got robbed?!” I asked surprise by this which he shook his head. “Yeah I did, the street my family was on had been known for robberies and how unlucky my house got money taken which I think my dad say that it was okay but he did mention that maybe he should take the money which I agreed, and from there on the money I earn went to my dad… Like I say, he doesn’t blame me for since it was my first job but even then, I really want to owe up for that so I fix up the lock…” He spoke, clearly embarrassed by this which I was surprise.

I guess for a guy like Kobayashi-san, he seems to have quite some bad luck on things which then he sighed. “Well, even then after that a week later I discover a bill that had the same amount of money like my first job when taking out the trash…” He commented as recalling it.

Or maybe his luck is just weird…

Kobayashi Eito, Ultimate ??? FTE – 2/5

After a bit more talking, I had return to my room…

I had then look at my clock once more and seems I got more time it seems, which as then I began to wander around the ski resort once more and notice that Hana-san was near where the monitor room is along with Norman-san, Mori-san, Hayashi-san and Kita-san which they look to be preparing as she was thinking.

“I wonder what questions we should ask Hamoponi’s creator…?” She asked herself this question as she was thinking over.

Should I go and spend time with Hana-san and help her come up with questions…?

>Hang out

- Maybe another time

Which then the blue hair surfer seems pretty happy to see me. “Oh hey Fuji-san, you want to help me with questions? I mean you must be good at that stuff.” She asked as then me and Hana-san started to come up with questions…

It seems me and Hana-san grew closer it seems.

As then I reach into my pocket and pulled out a bottle of water which I hand it to Hana-san. “Oh, for me? Wow, thanks a lot!” She thanked me as she took the item as then the blue hair surfer crosses her arms.

“I’m still surprise that you don’t seem too bother being at a place that’s cold despite you coming from hot climates…” I stated which she blinked. “Well I mean snow is like water so I don’t really think much on it plus I think unlike with water, it seems more harder honestly and less likely where I’ll end up stranded…” She commented which I was left confused.

As then she continues. “Huh? Your curious? Well a while back I got out far to sea once and ended up on a near by island and well… ended up staying on there for a week before help came along.” She commented which I went pale. “Oh god, you ended up on a stranded island for a week?!” I asked as shock by this information – the fact that Hana-san got stranded on a deserted island once.

She place her arms at the back of her head. “I mean, it wasn’t that bad! I mean I recall learning to survive off the wild thanks to my Mom, got to get food and even pick up ways to get other food along with avoiding stuff to eat; I mean my dad was worried for me while my mom knew I would be okay…” She spoke as being relax as ever.

I was relieved but she was way too lax being in that situation which she continues. “Well yet again it did stop them from arguing but yet again I did go surfing that far due to the arguing…” She stated which I was concern.

“Your parents argue?” I asked as she nodded. “Well yeah, it doesn’t happen but usually it’s about money, moving or if I should attend a better school but yet again… I just hate getting myself involve in arguments, y’know.” She admitted as I frowns for a bit.

Despite the chill out nature of Hana-san, she hates arguing and tries to avoid conflict related to her which she sighed. “I think you shouldn’t avoid those things. It seems related to your future if you ask me…” I told her which she frowns for the first time. “Well maybe I don’t like thinking about my future? I’m more towards the present then anything… thinking about a future that’s uncertain, I… can’t imagine myself making that choice, y’know?” She spoke as she went quiet.

But even then… you still have to decide what your future will be, you can’t avoid it like that Hana-san…

Hamasaki Hana, Ultimate Surfer FTE: 2/5

After speaking a bit more with Hana-san, I return back to my room…

As I walk in and look at the clock, seems it was time to meet with Kobayashi-san which as then I took my leave and head to the Church as promise.

As I walk on inside, I saw the others had arrive which Kobayashi-san notice. “Well seems you all are here.” He stated as his arms are crossed. “So you discover something in the Church?” Katou-san asked which the blue hair boy nodded.

“Yep, I mean I just came across it last night and well I figure I show you.” He spoke as he headed over to a bookshelf that I notice was in the room which as he pulled out a book suddenly the shelf moved and reveal a passcode. “Whoa, a secret passage!” Inoue-chan rush over as curious of the pad.

Something tells me she wants to press all the numbers and say ‘What does this button do!’ or something like that…

As then myself, Rai-kun and Katou-san walk over to see the numbers. “So did you figure out what the password is?” Rai-kun had as checking over the pad which Kobayashi-san nodded. “Yeah, I try multiple passwords and the password that I fount was a strange one…” He spoke as then he type in the password as it then open a secret door.

“Honestly I really have no clue how I type it in, I kept typing in passwords then I got one which was 041001 which… is an odd password.” He spoke as he shrugged which Katou-san seem surprise. “Wow, you must be up all night to get lucky, huh Eito-kun~?” The Mascot question as making a joke which he laughs with a shrug.

Clearly this was some strange luck but best to not question it as then he walk in which we gesture us to follow after him. As then we follow him down the stairs which we found ourselves in an enclose room of sorts which had a filing cabinet with files, a table with a radio that is use in the military I think… I might need to ask Kita-san about that later and on the ground it was the one thing that Kobayashi-san was kneeling down as picking up what look to be a gun that was broken it seems.

“Huh? Why is there a gun here…?” I asked which as Kobayashi-san shook his head. “No, it isn’t a gun…look.” He say as showing what look to have a label of sorts. “Memory removal?” Inoue-chan asked as she tilted her head to the side as then the blue hair boy flip it over and it show. “It seems it can also return memories but seems like we can’t shoot it…” He commented which then Rai-kun spoke.

It seem that this device got him excited. “Then I can work on this device and maybe find a way to get our memories back!” He spoke up which as then he grabbed the gun but then look at the Radio. “I could also work on that as well…” He stated which Katou-san smiled. “Then we can carry it back but we should tell the others about this, right?” He pointed out which Kobayashi-san nodded. “Yep, but even then… why was the gun broken?” I asked everyone.

Which it seem to never cross there mind as Kobayashi-san nodded. “I mean the gun was broken when I got here so if I had to guess… likely Hamoponi’s creator might have broke it or maybe they have there memories wiped too.” He stated which Inoue-chan frown. “So one us is Hamoponi’s creator and have no idea we are, that’s… pretty sad honestly, maybe they could of explain the situation then.” She spoke as Rai-kun nodded.

I figure I go and look around this room some more which I made my way over to the filing cabinet as just I was about to open I notice… there was a photo which I took it down which it was our class.

So it seems we were all classmates, just… seeing 4 of them not with us made me sad as then I place the photo back up on the top as then I continue looking into the filing cabinet which had files which I came across a few things…

First I saw what look to be a file about taxes that were pay, various blueprints and even a map that show the whole resort…

However one thing that got my attention was a profile; it had no picture but it had a name…

‘Haiiro, the Ultimate Thief’

Which then others surrounded me. “Huh? So this must be that Ultimate Thief that Masa-san was talking about.” Kobayashi-san ponder which I nodded as then I read it aloud.

“A well known thief that there identity is unknown among Hope’s Peak, we have try to search for them but can’t find much luck but what we do know is that they tend to leave a symbol and often times tend to find a way to escape the cops… not much is known about this thief but they are a Hope’s Peak taking on another identity and which no one has figure out…” I spoke which as then I pulled up a newspaper clipping.

“Haiiro strikes again at Towa Robotics!

Haiiro the mysterious thief had stolen from the Towa Family – It didn’t seem they stole any money or goods but instead blueprints which they left there symbol once more! One questions why such a mysterious person would want with blue prints… no one may know honestly.”

It seems it was once again written by Esumi papers but this looks pretty recent, so seems like we gotta show this to Masa-san…

“So then… seems that this Haiiro person is the name of the Ultimate Thief but I guess they must be like Robin hood since all they took were blue prints.” Inoue-chan pointed out which was true, I wonder why they took the blueprints which as I got up to leave it seems Kobayashi-san notice something.

He tap my shoulder as I look to him as giving him complete attention. “Hey, seems the blueprints are at the bottom…” He stated as he kneel down as picking up to see what it is but then his face went pale which we all look as I step back.

The Blueprints… were Monokuma’s blueprints. So… is Monokuma and Hamoponi were made with the same blueprint does that mean they were made by the same person which Katou-san panic quickly. “Oh gosh oh gosh! So that Hamoponi has the same blueprints as Monokuma, we gotta tell the others!” He spoke as he rush out of the room. “Whoa wait for me!” Inoue-chan chases after him as did Rai-kun which I look to Kobayashi-san with a concern look.

“So if Hamoponi has the same blueprints as Monokuma then… is he our enemy?” I asked which the blue hair boy shook his head. “Likely not but if anything, maybe whoever Hamoponi’s creator is likely stole the blueprints but we should tell the others…” He stated as taking the blue prints and rush over as I follow after them and took the newspaper clipping along with other files.

As I rush outside suddenly I notices Katou-san was running right to the monitor room. “Guys, Guys! We found something we-!” “NOW!” a shout came as then Katou-san had a trap sprung on him.

“EEEEEEK!!!” He yelped as he was trap in rope as the others rush out from hiding as rush over. “Alright we got them!” Hana-san yelled as she rushes out of hiding

Hayashi-san and Kita-san set the trap as Miwa-san and Norman-san rush over. “Alright then, now answer question… Doi-kun?” The figure skater seem confused by this as was Katou-san which then Norman-san kneel down as preparing his whip. “You better answer our questions or will get physical with you…” He spoke as then Katou-san started to panic.

“No, please please don’t hit me! I’ll obey you master! I’m just a simple bear that wants honey and even live a peaceful life!” He admitted which then Norman-san whipped him. “Nice try~!” He stated as Katou-san yelped from the whipped.

Myself, Rai-kun, Kobayashi-san and Inoue-chan were watching the interrogation. “Should we… try to stop this?” I asked which with one firm nod we walk over as trying to calm down the situation.

After we got Katou-san out of the trap and Norman-san calmed down. “I see… so you five discover something?” Hayashi-san asked which Kobayashi-san nodded. “Yep – just discover it yesterday and we-.” As he was about to spoke suddenly Kimura-san rush over in a panic.

“Gu-Guys, something happen! Ben-kun, he fell off the cliff!” “WHAT?!” Everyone yelled as Kimura-san as she was panicking. “Ju-Just come with me, it’s bad!” She stated as she rush off again.

We all look to each other as then we ran after Kimura-san which when we made our way to where the cliff was I saw on person at the enterance of the cliff…

“Masa-san? Why are you standing there what happen?!” I asked as everyone rush over to the direction Kimura-san was leading them however it seems Masa-san was… quiet, but I notice that her eyes were green eyes instead of red and she look to be wearing one of Abiko-san’s charms which she spoke calming. “I guess this must of happen… well then, I guess for now we better see how… Benjiro-san’s body is.” She stated as she follows after them.

It was odd but I decided to not question as then I rush after the others which when I got into the cabin as I rush in I… stop in my track which I saw was a pretty horrifying sight…

It seems Abiko-san had fall into he cabins, cover in blisters and pine needles but one thing I notice… his arm was cut off.

Chapter 3: The Will to Survive| DEADLY LIFE

#Danganronpa Every After 2 #DR: EA2 #Dangan Fangan #Fuji Okamoto #Tomoe Kimura #Benjiro Abiko #Masa Esumi #hana hamasaki #ryoko hayashi #Norman Hanlon #miwa mori #Jobon Kita #Eito Kobayashi #Doi Katou #Rai Nakahara #Sunako Inoue

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