#eck masters

[lic-jac]

[dreamtigress]

Seriously, check @jccatstudios genius.

I just went back through Chapter 3 pages to clock exactly when Kaz swipes Van Eck's family crest pin, and I ADORE how sneaky you were with that. Well done.

Someone noticed finally!!! Kaz really saved me from drawing that thing so often. This panel was specifically dedicated to Van Eck's change in design, hand gesturing toward the tie and all haha:

[19burstraat]

Random SOC Trivia I Gathered On My Reread

I'll be using this for fics, but it's fun just to read!

Jesper does not hold alcohol well (though this is according to Kaz, who is not exactly impartial)

Wijnstraat, Nemstraat, Havenstraat, Ammberstraat are all street names if you want em

Van Eck has been involved in trying to clean up the Barrel; pious. (Allegedly pious, I doubt he really is)

1/5 Van Eck (or general Kerch trading?) vessels are lost at sea

Kaz arrested three times at ten, twice at eleven, once at fourteen. Does stints in jail but it does not say prison (ppl assume he's been to Hellgate / another prison but I don't think so. He'd never have shut the fuck up about it if he had; I assume the Stadhall Jail)

Kaz's cane is lead-lined. I wasn't sure if this was canon or fanon

Kaz runs book on prize fights, horses, and chance games. Floor boss at crow club since fifteen-ish. Youngest to run a betting shop and has doubled the profits.

Gambling halls: Treasure Chest, Golden Bend, Weddell's Riverboat, Silver Garter

West Stave brothels: The Blue Iris, The Forge, The Obscura, the Willow Switch, the House of Snow

Van Aakster is the widow mercher who sees Nina to ease his grief

Inej likes orange cakes in white paper

Black Tips tattoo is a hand with first and second fingers cut at the knuckle, Razorgulls is 5 birds in wedge formation

Nina Jesper and Kaz definitely all have the crow and cup; the others don't

Jordie seems to like books

ridderspel and spijker are arcade games

Bilge, clams, and wet stone smell in the Barrel (per Retvenko)

Kaz definitely is partial to dogs; Smeet's hounds and the grey dog the Hertzoon household had, the windup dogs, the metaphors. He loves a dog metaphor sorry ur not real babycakes you'd have loved thematic web weaving posts

Geldspin is the cotton mill in Zierfoort, Firma Allerbest is a cannery. Both in Alys' name

Wylan was 8 when Marya 'died'

the black veil tomb is carved like an ancient cargo ship

3 flying fish on a grave: government. Palm trees and snakes: spices.

Inej's mother braids her hair with orange ribbons (colour of persimmons)

University a series of buildings built around the Boekcanal and joined by Speaker's Bridge (where people debate and/or drink). Boeksplein four libraries built around a central courtyard and the Scholar's Fountain

Shipping container at third harbour is a Liddie hideout; Jam Tart House is an old hotel near the slat that the Razorgulls use

Long scar across Kaz's right knuckle

Violating contracts and interfering with the market can get you hanged in Kerch; same sentences as for murder (this is. Insane)

Haskell holds court with his mates at the Fair Weather Inn every week

Belendt is the second oldest Kerch city and sits on the Droombeld River

Jesper was 7 when Aditi died

Inej has an uncle (who seems to have some sort of ringmaster role) and cousins; Hanzi and Asha

Kaz convinced a locksmith in Klokstraat that he was the son of a wealthy merchant who highly valued his collection of priceless snuffboxes, and that's how he knows what locks the rich are using

Hubrecht Mohren, Master Thief of Pijl, who Kaz doesn't appear to think much of; one of Haskell's old cronies

Martin Van Eck, Wylan's great great grandfather, was a ship's captain, brought back a big shipment of spices from Eames Chin and started the Van Eck fortune

Kaz and Jesper (+ other Dregs boys) taught Inej to fight

Kaz and Jordie are from a town near Lij, as per the 'Johannus Rietveld' exposition, but Lij is seemingly the closest major city/county so it's easier to just say they're from Lij lol

The last time the Council of Tides appeared in public was 25 years prior to CK

Kaz found Filip running a monte game on Kelstraat; he also got the clerks who turned over fake info, the fake attorney, the man who gave them free hot chocolate

The spelling of Zentzbridge lapses to Zentsbridge, not sure which is right or if they're actually separate bridges or if there's a lot of wrong quotes floating around lol

Dryden house symbol is the golden wheat sheaf bound with a blue ribbon; Van Eck is the red laurel but we knew that

Kaz taught himself finance and gambling hall rules

Church of Barter roof is copper and long has turned green

Church of Barter built around the First Forge / The Mortar, which is a flat lump of rock that's supposedly Ghezen's altar

Ghezendaal Hospital is. Idk. a hospital. Just thought ppl might want the name

[local-meme-lord]

Favorite facts about each villain for the main because the masses need to know.

Pete - May be the main big bad but is a weirdo by every definition. Once almost ruined the economy if it wasn't for Mickey.

Blotty- It seems like evertime he worked with the other villains it turn into this image:

Sylvester - Has this low-key beef with Horace that is somehow still round even though these two don't really interact all that often.

Portis- Him playing the piano.. I know this happened in two different au but I what this in the mainline canon too, please.

Trudy- Is straight-up friends with Minnie at times and occasionally Clarabelle. Which yes make things super awkward with Mickey and Pete.

Doublejoke- In the mirror verse arc, they made this counterpart super serious and Gloomy as I for one kinda find that funny.

Eli- Isn't even from Mouseton, cams to get this goddam elephant back but just decided to stay and put up a business there. Rarely ever ends up in jail in an actual story.

Ecks, Doublex and Triplex- Had the infamous alligator pit that dealt with attempted ceneorship because of lizards..

Vulter- One the villains who gave Mickey PSD. Stop traumatizing this Mouse! Also literally called himself Zeus in his latest arc. The egoist.

Miklos- People keep forgetting this, but he can pretend to anyone, not just Micky, he has a row of disguises - where my psychological horror of Miklos pretending to be everyone that Mickey's love Topolino?

Rhymes- A one off line but I find funny that he's terrible cook supposedly, master spy can't cook for his life. Also the Alex thing.

[wylanspipebomb]

i made a master doc of all of wylan’s anxious habits and thoughts from crooked kingdom. enjoy:

“Wylan tugged at the hem of his sky-blue jacket… and tried to look at ease.”

“All he had to do was… figure out what to do with his hands. Clasp them in front? Too much like a singer at a recital. In back? Too military. He tried just dangling them at his sides, but that didn’t feel right either. Why hadn’t he paid better attention to the way waiters stood?”

“His hands were shaking as he took the bottle from the silver ice bucket…”

“So Wylan took stock of the room’s details - a trick he’d often used to steady himself whenever he arrived someplace new…”

“Wylan knew he couldn’t have prevented his father from double-crossing the crew and kidnapping her. He knew that, but he still felt responsible.”

“‘Oysters, miss?’ Wylan asked. His voice sounded too high. ‘Buttered prawns?’ Too low.”

“What am I doing here? He found himself gnawing on his thumb and forced himself to stop.”

…Kaz never yelled the way Wylan’s father did but, Wylan had learned to listen for that low note, that bit of black harmony…”

“...Wylan said, fiddling with a pen on one of the blotters.”

“Wylan tugged the strap of his satchel… Wylan tugged on the satchel strap again.

“Wylan was gnawing on his thumbnail.”

“‘Will he?’ Wylan said softly. He used his finger to draw a line across the map of Ketterdam…”

“Wylan pulled on his lip.”

“‘Don’t you think we should be more cautious?’ Wylan asked, his own face buried in the collar of his coat.”

“Wylan tried to make himself relax and unbuttoned the roughspun coat Kaz had obtained for him.”

“‘Come here.’ Warily, Wylan sidled closer.”

“Jesper released a guffaw that had Wylan looking frantically over his shoulder again, afraid of drawing attention.”

“Wylan tugged at a thread unraveling from the sleeve of his coat.”

“Jan Van Eck had done his best to care for his son, and if he’d failed, then the defect lay with Wylan… and everything he said made perfect sense. Wylan could not be trusted with a fortune because he would be too easily swindled. Wylan could not go to university because he’d be the target of mockery.”

“His father’s ire had been unpleasant, but it was his logic that haunted Wylan- that practical, irrefutable voice that spoke in Wylan’s head whenever he thought about attempting something new, or trying to learn to read again. ”

“Wylan felt ridiculously pleased - until he thought about Kaz finding out. Then he felt a little like the first time he’d tried brandy and ended up spewing his dinner all over his own shoes.”

“Wylan waited, nervous.”

“Wylan looked down at the bouquet. It seemed smaller and more straggly than he thought.”

“... on it sat a vase of the wisteria Wylan had seen outside. He inhaled deeply. The smell was comforting.”

“He set the wildflowers down on the desk. Their stems were broken. He’d been clutching them too tightly.”

“Wylan leaned over his shoulder and felt a hopeless, choking panic grip him… he fought for breath. ‘Jesper, please,’ he begged, his voice thin and reedy. ‘Read it to me.’”

“Jesper pulled him into the chair behind the desk and pressed against Wylan’s shoulder blades, urging him forward. ‘Put your head between your knees, focus on the floor. Breathe.’”

“Wylan forced himself to inhale, exhale, to gaze at those charming blue tulips in their white tile boxes.”

“Wylan took a deep, shuddering breath through his nose. He couldn’t fathom what was happening, couldn’t understand the scope of it.”

“So just do one thing at a time. It was a technique one of his tutors had taught him to try and keep him from getting overwhelmed by the page… Wylan had managed to apply it elsewhere”

“One thing at a time. Stand up. He stood up. You’re fine. ‘I’m fine.’”

“‘We’ll be fine here,’ Wylan managed in a voice that sounded too loud and too hearty to his ears.”

“Wylan studied his mother, his thoughts a jangle of misplayed chords.”

“He’d planned to play it beside her grave like some kind of idiot.”

“Wylan didn’t register the walk down the drive…”

“He hated that Jesper was seeing him cry, but there was nothing he could do, not about the tears, not about any of it. He buried his face in his arms, covering his head as if, were he to only will it strongly enough, he could vanish.”

“‘You don’t understand. It was me. I caused this.’”

“Because through all of it, he’d believed that he deserved his father’s contempt…”

“Wylan wanted to be brave, but he was cold and bruised…”

“Wylan had stayed inside for two days, terrified.”

“His second was that his father had sent someone new to kill him. He gripped his paddle.”

“All Wylan wanted to do was stand as close as he possibly could to him and know that he was safe.”

“‘Kaz,’ Wylan said, twisting the tail of his shirt.”

“Wylan nodded, anxiously. ‘I’d like that.’”

“‘I don’t know why I’m so nervous,’ said Wylan.”

“He’d clenched his hands so tightly in his lap his knuckles had become white stars.”

“‘I can’t read.’ His skin went instantly blotchy, but his voice was steady.”

“Jesper could see the anxiety in his face, what it cost him to speak those words. It made him feel like a coward.”

“Wylan fiddled nervously with the buttons on his shirt.”

“‘It felt like I’d choke on the words. I was so afraid he’d sneer at me. Or just laugh.’”

“... in the afternoons he’d spent sitting in the pantry or curled into a window seat behind a curtain, hoping that everyone would forget him…”

“Wylan drew a line on the floor with his finger.”

“Wylan’s heart stuttered. Sound it out, Wylan. A child half your age can read this without trying. He’d thought he was ready for this.”

“Wylan hesitated. ‘You can go if you need to.’”

“This was the nightmare he’d had countless times as a child - standing in public, his deficiencies exposed.”

“Wylan tried to smile, but Jesper could see he was all nerves.”

“‘I feel like an intruder. Like any minute, my father’s going to barge through that door and tell me to get out.’”

‘“I was terrified. I still am.’ He looked down at the keys and played a gentle chord.”

[l3st1b0urn3s-707]

Every time I think of Van Eck taking Inej my blood starts to boil. He saw right through Kaz and took the only thing he cared for more than money. And also, Kaz Brekker, how do you, a "master criminal mind", show such weakness in such a crucial moment. I know it's love and whatever (one might say even a bit Orpheus and Eurydice coded), but for someone who brags about always being unbothered... (I know he isn't, but this guy's insufferable about it). But really, Inej has suffered a pretty bad stab wound, climbed up a chimney that fused her feet with her shoes, and got kidnapped all in the span of a month. Give that girl some rest please.

[corruptedbunny-multimuse]

Incorrect Brothership Quotes Again

Zokket: Let's see… My first impression of you three… you're a bunch of idiots. (The Extension Corps look upset.)

(The Extension Corps come up with a plan.) Ten: What do you think Master Zokket? Zokket: Whatever your floats your Titanic. Shun: Didn't the- Ecks: Didn't the Titanic sink?! Zokket: Yeah. Just like your IQ when you all came up with that plan.

Zokket: I should've left you idiots on Slippenglide Island. Ecks: But ya DIDN'T

Zokket: Exsqueaker Corps, I need to stay awake… help me out. Ecks: Count sheep walking backwards! Zokket: Ten: Sheep walking backwards. Zokket: Shun: Moo-- Ecks: Moonwalking sheep! Zokket, looking irritated: I am never asking you Flunksqueezer Corps for help ever again.

Ecks: Height is a social constraint. Ten: You're just saying that because you're short.

Ecks: The only time I felt worse was when I ate 109 fudge stripes in under 7 minutes. Shun and Ten: Shun: You- Ten: You counted-

Zokket: I'm 80% exhaustion, 10% sarcasm, and 110% doesn't care. Ten: That's 200%. Zokket: 110% doesn't care. Ten: ...I should've seen that coming.

Ten: I'm not doing too well. Ten: I have this headache that comes and goes. (Ecks floats into the room.) Ten: Oh look there it is again.

Ecks: Guys, do you think I could fit fifteen marshmallows into my mouth? Shun: You're a-- Ten: You're a coward. Do twenty.

Mario, in indistinguishable Italian: How would you feel if I interfered with YOUR personal life? Zokket: I'd hate it. That's why I cleverly, have no personal life.

[bazkrekkerbrokemyshin]

the crows as pirates

Kaz Brekker - Captain - Dirtyhands all the way, baby. Think of that one Oomen scene. Ruthless captain, but keeps them alive. Soft spot for his crows, but shhhhh. It would be really funny if he had a pegleg, idk. - Despite captains technically only being completely in charge during battle, everyone tends to listen to him. Voted in for his excellent planning/escape skills.

Inej Ghafa - Quartermaster - Still the Wraith. She can find her way onto any ship and steal information. Pays special attention to slave ships. Kaz’s right hand man. Knows the seas well, so she helps with navigation sometimes.

Jesper Fahey - Master Gunner - Knows his way around any firearm, always has his revolvers on him, but typically mans the cannons more often. He’s got an itch to use his guns but they usually don’t get close enough for it to be more effective.

Wylan Van Eck - Former Powder Monkey, turned (Demo) Gunner - Taken by the Dregs from Van Eck’s ship. Now he makes explosives for the gunners and stuff. He's good with maps if someone points out which locations are which, so he helps with navigation sometimes.

Nina Zenik - Sailing Master - People in this role are usually bad at it but she can sense others’ heartbeats so if she knows what to look for, she can track other ships down. If they’re not tracking someone down then Wylan and Inej can help with navigation.

Matthias Helvar - Boatswain - Taken from a Druskelle ship. Forced into helping the Dregs. Extremely reluctant at first, but falls into his role as boatswain nicely at some point.

—

masterlist

[memelordotherblog]

Mickey villains play Minecraft

Pete- Chaotic as hell, too busy trolling most of the sever to focus on process, keeping trying to convince blot to help him build traps.

Blot- More of a terraria person would have sped run beating the game if Pete and others would leave him alone for one minute

Professor Triplex, Doublex, and Ecks- Expoiting the villagers and little known mechanics in the game to see how powerful they can they get , also trolling Blotty.

Trudy- The builder, builds everyone a very nice house and fame, so everyone pretty much leaves her alone

Scuttle- Lost in the mines, god lord someone help him.

Sylvester - Actually, trying to beat the game but can't help himself but help Pete with his trolling.

Vulter- Not a gamer but somehow master Redstone to make a moving submarine base that he can control and explode villages with.

Portis- the main Redstoner and Brewer, always busy doing Redstone experiments and making potions.

Doublejoke- The hacker, you'll constantly see him flying around doing pranks on everyone that isn't Trudy, the only one who got banned.

Rhymes- Apart of the trolling Blot squad, but otherwise is making creepy songs with noteblocks.

Miklos- Stealing mostly everyone else stuff and occasionally troll people by pretending to be Mickey on a alt account.

Eil- A old man that doesn't know what a Minecraft is, but does figure out how to get good villagers trades.

[inali-of-winterfell]

Balali- somehow almost noiseless despite being wrapped up in quite the complicated, layered cape- touched down upon the… Could it be called old if the timber were replaced every second generation? Upon the pier-like structure overlooking the flight range, perhaps older than Rito village itself.

    For a moment she said nothing, staring almost reverently into the chasm that centuries of warriors had trained, wings folded tightly to their side to stave off the cold he’d grown no longer used to years ago. It was almost a shame, that nowadays it seemed the flight range mostly fulfilled its secondary purpose of helping fledgelings grow to be stronger flyers- the Rito military was but nonexistent, just the odd guard, and those who cared enough to learn to knock a bow for hunting alone.

    “Forgive me for showing up uninvited, but I heard rumours- like Revali months prior- you too, Inali Summerborn, former Third Warrior, had returned to the living” Balali’s voice was quiet, with only the slightest hint of the edge that should be present with all the recent anger that simmered in his heart- and the stress of keeping her beloved, though dying, people alive despite everything that could have having gone wrong. They were never supposed to be a leader, he had been comfortable and suited to the role of a supportive left hand man, and kind uncle to the young who’d taken on the near sacred duty of learning to wield the blade against those who’d tried to wipe them off the face of the land… But now- by the Winds none of this was relevant to the Now, she was here for a reason- so they bowed deeply out of respect before continuing.

    “It is almost a shame, I must admit, that in most texts they speak not of your name with the reverence it deserves- just… A footnote thrown in to thicken the length of what could, unfortunately, only be called unrequited love of a kingdom that at the end of the day, fell to its own hubris. Well, did fall, only to return a few years to force our people back into vassal hood…” Balali paused, straightening a bit “Considering all you’d done- how CLEAR it was that without you to train our people, we too would have fallen during the Calamity… it’s… It’s more than a shame, more than angering”

    “You were alive when we bowed.” Balali sighed, looking away, his shoulders drooping “Not by choice I imagine, even if the books I read as a hatchling seem to suggest we jumped at the opportunity- beh- nobody jumps at the opportunity to bleed so another may survive, only to make oneself a target. Beyond a shame…”

    “It’s only grown worse, we are practically but glorified couriers for Hyrule, which mind you decided to reassert its control after its Princess reappeared one day despite everyone having been fine for decades- we were FEARED once, respected- eck, ‘can’t even go into the towns out east without being compared to someone’s pet bird”

    She let their theatrics slowly fade away- though let was somewhat untrue, true frustration and anger poked through his act.

   “I’ve heard what we once were, tales that I heard drove my mother to be exiled with my egg far north to freeze or starve- and wonder, what could we be again? Certainly more than servants hm?”

    “… I have associates who, with I, have been working to free our people, and the others forced to bow. I wish I could promise results, but I must be transparent, we are greatly outnumbered… But nonetheless I, and all of us, would greatly appreciate your help”

(( @yigabalali - specifically SotS Balali / Master Balali- buuut pre becoming a sage so that he can still be showing his face / not wearing a mask lol. Apologies in advance I had an idea then my brain promptly blanked when writing so I was mostly just spitballing lol ))

Inali walks out across the platform of the Flight Range, the click-click-click of talons on wood barely audible over the roar of the wind. A bit of the early summer snows swirled in the air currents to the west. She looked up at Balali with her one eye, the scar surrounding the other one barely visible behind the eyepatch. She herself said nothing for a few moments, considering her response; she had never met such a Rito before, but if what she said was true...

"I have... for a few months, at least. How I came to be like this is irrelevant, save that I was not always like this and will not always be. It is a shame that I have been mostly forgotten--has Karranis himself suffered the same fate? But the fact that everything he fought for has been for nothing... and with Karranis long dead, Revali or I would be the natural choice for First Warrior."

Inali circles around the platform, appraising Balali. There was perhaps not any sign of treachery, but some part of Inali knew that this was too good to be true. A perfect opportunity to continue what Karranis had believed in, to earn the respect she deserved, to be First Warrior herself? She knew that she would never have even considered such a thing before Marina had sent her that letter, but as Inali, some opportunities were simply too good to give up.

Inali's curiosity got the better of her. "Show me these associates," she began, "and what I have to work with. The same logic that applied when the Calamity Struck applies now, does it not? The Kingdom of Hyrule is yet weak, yet every day that passes it grows stronger. If what you say is true, if our people can be liberated as you say, then we must strike while the iron is hot. We will have to see if the Elder or Champion Revali can be persuaded; otherwise, we will have to plan out a siezure of power."

[m4y4fun]

The perfect extension of master Zokket's will, Ecks, Ten, and Shun! Together they lead...THE EXTENSION CORPS!! (But human... >;D)

[swanimagines]

SAIL TO ME | WYLAN VAN ECK

Summary: After you accidentally kiss Wylan, Jesper needs to make you believe that maybe it wasn't as embarrassing as you thought it was.

The meeting room was quiet, as the seven of you were looking over the upcoming plan - Kaz had just told your assignments, your job being fetching some stuff from the market. So now you were hunched over the corner table, writing down notes for your pre-heist shopping trip.

You put the quill away, pouring some sand over the paper and then picked it up, reading it over one last time. You turned around abruptly, not knowing Wylan was right behind you peering over your shoulder - and somehow, your lips met his as soon as you collided with him. You retreated right away of course - well, after a second or two because you were shocked - and caught a glimpse of Wylan’s face turning redder than Nina’s robe before he quickly turned away, and you swallowed, trying to play it off, clearing your throat and waving your shopping list towards Kaz.

“Okay, um… so we’ll go fetch some iron fake coins with Jesper. And a lock. Got it.”

“Fake copper coins. And not real copper, it’s too expensive, this will be a distraction and not a charity. Didn’t you pay attention?” Kaz retorted with a sigh, and you nodded, muttering a confirmation before making your way to the door before anyone else could say anything.

Jesper had to run for a few steps to catch you, and started to grin at you immediately when he fell into step with you. You endured it for a good five minutes, but when he wouldn’t stop, you groaned, stopping and facing the sharpshooter. “What?”

Jesper laughed. “You kissed the merchling,” he sang.

“No, I did not!” you exclaimed, maybe a little too loudly.

“And got flustered about it.”

“No I didn’t, stop it.”

Jesper shrugged. “Okay, why were you so close, staying still, after you turned?”

“Why does it even matter?” you retorted, then sighed. “We got spooked. Wylan was right behind me, and I didn’t notice him. I turned and Wylan didn’t have time to react, and… in the process our lips may have touched. I’m not sure though, it was over so quickly.”

Jesper snorted, looking at the grey sky for a moment before shifting his eyes at you again. “And you’re saying you didn’t enjoy it?”

“No…” you mumbled, shifting weight between your feet. “Well, a little.”

Jesper raised his eyebrows. “A little?”

You groaned. “Okay! Quite a lot. But I know he doesn’t like me back, it’s stupid to like him.”

Jesper huffed. “Not so sure about that. His behavior changes a lot whenever you’re around.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, he’s shy. Maybe I’m intimidating him,” you replied with a shrug.

Jesper chuckled, shaking his head. “No, I’m pretty sure I recognise lovey-dovey expressions when I see them. I’m the master of romance, after all.”

You rubbed your forehead in frustration, giving in. “Okay, I’ll talk to him. Later. Not now, we have shopping to do.”

“Yes! Finally. Nina owes me,” Jesper cheered and you laid a puzzled look on him, and Jesper grimaced. “Uh, we might have bet on which of us gets the ship sailing.”

You groaned, rolling your eyes. “Charming. I’m flattered, truly.”

Then, you continued walking, quicker this time, and Jesper had to take a few running steps once again. You spent the rest of the shopping trip almost completely silent, letting Jesper ramble about his own love adventures, and now a small flame of hope was igniting your insides. You were nervous to talk to Wylan, but you also were excited for it - maybe it would lead to something you had dreamed about for a while.

---

Requests are always open! FANDOM LIST | PROMPT LIST(S) | RULES (READ!!!)

[thegrandefinalestory]

Der Ofen piepste. Das Rohrgemüse war fertig und musste bald raus. Du hast dir angewöhnt, immer auch mehr Gemüse zu machen, genauso wie es deine neue Freundin mag. Anni ist mit ihren 24 zwar um ein großes Eck jünger als du, dafür sorgt sie sich aber sehr um ihre -und damit deine- Gesundheit. Sie achtet auf Ernährung, bringt mehrmals wöchentlich ihren kurvigen Körper im Gym in Form, macht nebenbei noch ihren Master. Beruflich ist sie seit einem halben Jahr in einer Eventagentur zu finden, wo sie „digital content“ produziert. Ein paar Instagramvideos für Veranstaltungen, denkst du dir, und blickst auf die Uhr. Sie ganz so aus, als hätte sie wieder länger zu tun heute. Was für eine Arbeitsbiene, denkst du.

Und zu tun hat sie auch, deine Anni. Doch nicht so, wie du vermutest. Denn während du zuhause das von ihr genauestens aufgetragene Abendessen zubereitest, bekam deine Freundin am Rücksitz des Mercedes ihres Chefs gerade einen Proteinshake verabreicht. Indem der mehr als doppelt so alte Ex-DJ deine Anni tief auf seinen pulsierenden Schwanz drückte, den sie die letzten 15 Minuten hingebungsvoll gelutscht hatte – und er sich nun tief in dem bezaubernden Hals deiner Freundin ergoss.

Während dicke Spermaschübe von deiner Freundin artig geschluckt werden, hast du zuhause keine Ahnung, dass das ein fixer, wenn auch von dir verborgener Bestandteil ihres Jobs war. Und da gab es noch so manche mehr. Denn schon der Abend, an dem sie ihren zukünftigen Chef kennen lernte, endete nach dem Club damit, dass sie mit einer Kommilitonin bei ihm die Afterhour ausklingen ließen, gemeinsam im Whirlpool. Seine Eloquenz, Anziehung und sein Legendenstatus in der Szene führten dazu, dass recht bald beide bis dahin emanzipierten jungen Frauen ihn verführerisch von unten anblickten, als sie gemeinsam Zunge an Zunge seine Eier lutschten, während er ihnen Jobs anbot in seiner Eventfirma.

Er bräuchte affine Expertinnen für Social Media, die seine Events promoten. Und auch für sein Zweitbusiness in Frage kämen. Was das Zweitbusiness war, wussten die beiden Mädchen dann 2 Stunden später, als sie beide ineinander verschlungen seine Sahne aus dem Poloch der anderen herausschlürfte, während ihr Chef mit der Kamera groß draufhielt.

Und so kam deine Anni zu diesem Job, war viel unterwegs auf Events, produzierte viele Ankündigungvideos und Live-Stories, ganz offiziell. Und irgendwann am Abend kam dann immer der Moment, wo ihr Chef auftauchte, ihr die Kamera aus der Hand nahm, sie backstage oder in irgendeine Ecke zog, und sich von ihr seinen großen Schwanz verwöhnen ließ. Und deine Freundin fand Geschmack daran, im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes. Sie fühlte sich begehrt, es hatte den Reiz des Verbotenen, wurde fürstlich entlohnt, sie erlebte Abenteuer und vor allem auch Unmengen an guten, hartem Sex. Wie an dem Abend, als der Chef deine Anni gemeinsam mit zwei Clubbesitzer in deren Büro über der Stage mit Blick auf das Publikum richtig durchnahmen, während der Headliner auf der Bühne stand. Wie er ihr danach nur einen knappen Bikini ließ, der ihre runden Brüste kaum, und die abgefüllte Pussy schon gar nicht bändigen konnte. Und sie nach dem Vierer jede Stunde einem anderen Geschäftspartner vorführte, der die junge Master-Studentin nach Belieben benutzen durfte. Kein Wunder, dass sie immer direkt unter die Dusche hüpfte, wenn sie zu dir heim kam.

An Tagen ohne Abendveranstaltungen spielte wieder „digital content“ eine Rolle, aber mit deiner Anni vor der Kamera. Ihr anonymer Onlyfans Account „deine clubslut“ erfreute sich großer Beliebtheit und Umsätze. Du bist natürlich nicht auf der Plattform unterwegs, aber würdest du über ihre Profil stolpern, so sähest du Videoclips von Anni unter DJ Pults mit fremden Schwänzen im Mund, lange ungeschnittene Produktionen mit ihrem Chef, der sie stundenlang im angrenzenden Schlafzimmer der Agentur durchnahm, und auch den best performer: Der Tag, an dem Anni ihren Chef als Gastvortragenden in ihren Master-Lehrgang mitgebracht hat, und er dann nach dem Vortrag deine Freundin und ihre Kursleiterin, die nur wenige Jahre älter war als sie und den Chef auch aus der Party-Szene kannte, mitten im Hörsaal abwechselnd in ihre gespreizten knackigen Ärsche fickte. Allein das Video brachte einen sechsstelligen Betrag ein. Warum war sie dann bei so einem Leben immer noch mit dir zusammen? Ganz einfach – ihr Chef will es so.

Genauso wie er jetzt den Snap deiner Freundin aus dem Auto heraus an seine Followerschaft teilt. Und wie er sich überlegt, ob er seine kleine Studentin hier noch durchficken soll, oder ob er sie jetzt aus dem Auto aussteigen lassen und die paar Meter zur Einfahrt eures Wohnhauses und zu dir gehen soll. Nach kurzem Zögern greift er wortlos erneut nach Annis Kopf. Du kannst warten.

[sludge-wizard]

Some innocuous details about Ecks I noticed while playing the game and watching the cutscenes that i don't think anybody would pay this much attention to:

-There's a number of times in various cutscenes where Ecks speaks and his dialogue progresses without player input, implying he speaks very quickly -There's also a few times where he'll draw out a single word for emphasis (Master Zokket will be maaaaaaaaad!) -Tends to be pretty short-term forgetful as well as occasionally taking a bit to process a thought -Can't well infer misspeaking (Having to check with Ten that 'Marco and Luisia' are indeed the mustaches) -In charge of the Extension corps, including in charge of Ten and Shun (Ten noting *Ecks* will want a report, not Zokket) -Has enough moments where he just sorta snaps and yells at people that Ten and Shun will just casually tell him to chill out -constantly shouting

[eddieisashifter]

𝔢𝔞𝔠𝔥 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢 ℑ 𝔣𝔩𝔬𝔴 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔩𝔡 ℑ'𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔢, 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔩𝔡, 𝔦𝔱 𝔣𝔩𝔬𝔴𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥 𝔪𝔢.

˚　　✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　　　 . ✦　 　˚　　 . ★⋆. ࿐࿔ ✦　　　.　　.　　　✦　˚ 　. ˚

𝔢𝔡𝔡𝔦𝔢'𝔰 𝔭𝔯𝔦𝔪𝔞𝔯𝔶 𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔦𝔢𝔰

. ✦ BETTER CR REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find eddie crowley curled up in the corner of his university's library writing up a new book idea that may never see the light of day while his agent calls him about the project he's supposed to be working on.

— intro — my books — what's in my bag? — creepy crew moodboard

. ✦ SHERLOCK & CO/SHERLOCK BBC REALITY ✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　. . . in which you'll find edmund moriarty bothering his mentor, sherlock holmes, as they pour over a new case on the sitting room floor of 221b baker street and john watson makes the two busy detectives a pot of tea

-`♡´- dorian blackwell

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　masterlist!

. ✦ PERCY JACKSON REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find azrael "eddie" crowley sparring with his best friend and partner, percy jackson, in the camp half-blood training fields as the sun begins to set over the sea while annabeth chase half-watches them, immersed in her own project.

-`♡´- percy jackson and annabeth chase

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　masterlist!

. ✦ MARAUDERS ERA HOGWARTS REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find edmund crowley with his band of slytherin friends, the royals, laughing loudly at some joke made by his best friend, barty crouch jr., and desperately trying to avoid the gaze of his long-time rival, sirius black and his boyfriend, remus lupin.

-`♡´- sirius black and remus lupin

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　 — masterlist!

. ✦ ARCANE REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find eddi sprinting across the zaun rooftops to avoid the enforcers chasing him, running jobs for his adopted father and mentor, silco, and trying to avoid being caught by his childhood friend turned enemy, ekko.

-`♡´- ekko

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　.　 — masterlist!

. ✦ LEGENDBORN REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　. . . in which you'll find edmund crowley, scion of mordred, practicing his aether magic or getting into fights with scion of arthur and rival, nick davis, if only to be broken up and noticed by merlin kingsmage, selwyn kane.

-`♡´- selwyn kane

— intro

. ✦ SIX OF CROWS REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find eddie crowley lounging in the office of dregs leader, kaz brekker, sketching crows out the window to rest after their last mission in the crime-ridden streets of ketterdam or playing in the crow club downstairs with the other members of the team.

-`♡´- the crows (kaz brekker, inej ghafa, jesper fahey, nina zenik, matthias helver, and wylan van eck)

— intro — about my partners (the crows) — 5 senses (waking up) — what's in my bag? — eyeshadow ask game answers — short and extra sweet ask game answers — hozier ask game answers — spilled ink ask game answers

𝔢𝔡𝔡𝔦𝔢'𝔰 𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔦𝔢𝔰

. ✦ THE WAY HOME REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find eddie crowley and his twin sister eden in their small scottish hometown of aberfeldy leaping into the pond on their families property to travel back in time and unravel the mystery of their town and family, while he struggles with his hopeless crush on local poet, dorian blackwell.

-`♡´- dorian blackwell

— intro

. ✦ SPIDER-VERSE REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find eamann macghoill running about the city of 2050s glasgow either late to band practice with the mary janes or donning his blue and white mask and fighting crime as the vigilante damhan-allaidh. or jumping between realities to go on a date with his boyfriend, hobie brown.

-`♡´- hobie brown

— intro

. ✦ STAR WARS REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find eddi morte training with his jedi master, plo koon, or spending time along meditating with the force and reading every holocron in the jedi archives. and, when she can, being pulled into adventures with his best friend, ahsoka tano.

-`♡´- ahsoka tano (qpr)

— intro

. ✦ WITCHY REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find eddie crowley hunched over his journal at the fair folk coffee house working on a new novel project or out prepping magical supplies for the rest of his coven with his wife, lenore davenport

-`♡´- lenore davenport

— intro

. ✦ THE MANDALORIAN REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find edmund vos, local space cowboy and captain of the evening star, traveling the galaxy with his crew and searching for the bounties that bring in the most credits, especially one abandoned by a fellow hunter, din djarin.

-`♡´- dorian blackwell

— intro... (coming soon!)

. ✦ PJO FAME REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find caspian hale dancing about the studio as he tries to come up with the lyrics to his next hit song while his boyfriend, jason grace, watches with a fond smile

-`♡´- jason grace

— intro

. ✦ IMPRESSIONIST ARTIST REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . in which you'll find edmund crowley covered in paint in his paris studio as he pours over a new project, with the occasional critique and guidance from his mentor, claude monet

-`♡´- dorian blackwell

— intro

. ✦ MACGYVER (2016) REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- ...tbd!

—

. ✦ GOOD OMENS REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- ...tbd!

—

. ✦ THE ADDAMS FAMILY REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- dorian blackwell

—

. ✦ YOUTUBER/DROPOUT REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- ...tbd!

—

. ✦ SINGER/NEPO REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- n/a

— discography

. ✦ VAMPIRE REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- dorian blackwell

—

. ✦ VICTORIAN SCIENTIST REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- viktor undergrove (arcane)

—

. ✦ MCU REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- ...tbd!

—

. ✦ AGENTS OF SHIELD REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- ...tbd!

—

. ✦ EVERMORE REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- dorian blackwell and lenore davenport

—

. ✦ SCI-FI ROYALTY REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- per'seh nah'kvae

—

. ✦ MAGNUS CHASE REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- ...tbd!

—

. ✦ 2000S TEEN FAME REALITY

✦　　　.　　. 　 ˚　 . . . coming soon!

-`♡´- ...tbd!

—

[angel-0f-verdun]

18 Between Darkness & Light

Previous Chapter

A surge of energy hit me as my perspective immediately changed. I was looking through my own eyes in my body again. I smiled as I heard Ahmanet let out a scream of despair that rang through my brain. I watched Evy’s face contort into confusion as she looked at me, she abruptly brushed off the confusion distracted by the plane in the pale blue sky. It had taken a steep dive as a sand wall took them out of the air. She then took action grabbing Imhotep’s face and pulling him to her in a harsh kiss, she turned his body around to remove his eyeline from the plane. I understood the sentiment and applauded her inwardly for distracting him, hopefully, the plane would be able to recover. I thought through my plan of action, deciding not to give away the fact that I was back in control to Imhotep. It would make things easier in the long run. I watched frozen to where I stood as the plane’s engine sputtered and the cloud of sand dissipated into nothing. The plane disappeared behind a dune, an explosion following, my heart dropped as I realized who might be on that plane. Imhotep pushed forward into the City of the Dead, my legs following without instruction. At that moment I realized I wasn’t completely in control of my actions. Ahmanet still had some sort of control, how much though, I wasn’t sure.

“I loved the whole sand wall trick, it was beautiful… ” Beni uttered trying to please Imhotep, we just continued past him, a guttural growl settling in my throat.

“Bastard.” I heard him say under his breath. We walked through another entrance that we hadn’t previously known about into Hamunaptra. I wasn’t surprised though this area was massive, so much left unexplored. 

“Keep moving,” Beni said as he pushed Evy with his pistol. My anger for him flared up instantly and Ahmanet loosened her control not caring what happened to Imhotep's slave. I seamlessly retrieved my dagger from my boot as I stalked up to him. Grabbing his shoulder to hold him in place, I pushed him against the wall with a strength that cracked the wall behind him. I drug my blade across his throat, warm blood bursting from the wound, landing on my clothes and face. Ahmanet moved my head to look at Imhotep, he shrugged, continuing down the stairs. I could feel Ahmanet reveling in the easy kill. I let go of Beni’s now lifeless body watching as it fell to the ground. Evy was stunned into silence unsure of what to do or say. I went to wipe the blood from my face, but Ahmanet stopped me, smiling at Evy instead causing her eyes to widen in fear. I could tell she was conflicted by this turn of events.

I heard a gunshot and I knew that Rick, Ardeth, and Jonathan were not too far behind us now… Alive.

“O’Connell” Evy breathed out. Imhotep cleared his throat waiting for me to stand beside him. When in position he blew a handful of sand at the hieroglyphics covering the wall. 

“Shatay wapay ku ra eck” He mumbled the spell as I watched as the priests that had been chiseled into the wall started to move and crack their way out of their places. 

“Bembridge scholars never wrote about this.” Evy interrupted my thoughts as she started to back away from the wall, the priests moving to kneel before Imhotep.

“Kill them, and wake the others,” Imhotep said to the now fully-bodied priests that stood before us. They hobbled off immediately to fulfill their master’s wish. 

“Why don’t you go with them Ahmanet? Terrorize the tourists.” Imhotep ordered, I felt my face twist into a wicked smile as she nodded and we walked away from the scene before us leaving Imhotep and Evy alone. I easily traversed the passageways, my eyes adjusting to the darkness surrounding me. Ahmanet used her skills to keep me light on my feet toward my brother and the others. I climbed up to a ledge watching the three traverse through the treasure room, crouching down waiting for the opportune moment to strike as I watched the three shoot the mummies that Imhotep had sent popping out of the sand below them. I followed them down the corridor that my family had retreated through, on the path to the Horus statue.

“Hello, Horus old boy!” Jonathan greeted the statue with reverence. I watched closely, my head cocked to the side curiously as Rick lit a match on Ardeth’s coarse facial hair. 

“Time to close the door,” Rick said as he lit the wick of the dynamite throwing it into the passageway destroying their way into the treasure room. I settled easily at the top of the statue crouching down. I felt the bloodlust creep up suddenly as Ahmanet plotted. I watched as the carnage slowed and wondered why she hadn’t made her attack just yet. 

“Patience and you will be rewarded. It’ll feel better in front of an audience.” Ahmanet spoke to me almost purring with excitement, knowing exactly what I was thinking. 

“Damn, these guys just don’t quit, do they?” Rick said to the other two as he attempted to help Jon get the Book of the Living out from the bottom of the statue.

“Keep digging,” Ardeth told them as he racked the shotgun heading toward the opposite passageway that the groaning was coming from, I watched as he ran out of ammunition after just a few shots, the click of the gun echoing through the small room. 

“The Book of Amun-Ra” Jonathan uttered out as he unwrapped the cloth from the golden book. 

“Save the girl. Kill the creature.” Ardeth ordered them as he ran forward into the passageway that was littered with Imhoteps priests. Rick lit another match on his own face and then another stick of dynamite. “What are you waiting for? Get out! Get out!” Ardeth yelled. I watched as Rick threw the dynamite into the adjacent area next to the tunnel to blast the remnants of the wall onto the mummies that plagued Ardeth’s escape. I watched with bated breath as I tried to push the thoughts of my husband being dead out of my mind. There was still work to be done. Immediately, a wave of contentment washed over me as I was pushed back from my present thoughts back to the window of watching my movements. Ahmanet took over as she heard the emotions running through me, she moved us swiftly through the cracks and hidden passageways back to Imhotep and Evy. 

“I found it Evy, I found it!” Jonathan yelled, distracting Imhotep from stabbing Evy with an ornate-looking knife. This gave me the opportunity to move towards Rick who was stealthily grabbing a sword from a statue. 

“The Book of Amun Ra” Imhotep uttered as I rapidly scaled down to the ground from the ledge where I had been watching the whole scene unfold. 

“Shut up and get me off here Jonathan,” Evy begged him as he started down the stairs toward her. "Open the book, Jonathan. It's the only way to kill him. You have to open the book and find the inscription." She continued to instruct him. "Well, l can't open it! It’s locked or something... We need the key, Evy!" Jonathan realized almost immediately. "It's inside his robes,” Evy said, answering his question as I watched Rick free one of Evy’s wrists from the shackles that bound her to the table near Anck-su-naum. Ahmanet walked me forward with a flick of her wrist, the mummies that were surrounding the table disintegrated into nothing, leaving just her and Rick. I watched as his face switched to confusion, looking towards me.

“Eris?” He asked curiously, seeing the blood that riddled my body. I advanced on him with the dagger of Set in my hand. He blocked efficiently as I made a swift jab toward him. I was proud of him for deflecting the move since swords were not his chosen weapon. 

“There are worse fates than death.” Ahmanet growled out, as my body stalked toward him, my eyes now doubled and golden. I lunge my knife low towards Rick’s abdomen, he blocked it with the hilt of his sword, pressing it against my forearm in an attempt to disarm me. I moved fast, jabbing the knife toward his face, he abruptly defended by swatting my arm out of the way. I bring my unarmed hand up to deflect his swing at my face, switching the knife to my left hand, keeping my eyes on him as I go. His instant reaction was surprise that I had switched hands that fast, I felt his hand grip my right wrist. I twirled backward away from him and stopped mid spin coming back toward him, slashing at his chest with the dagger in my non-dominant hand. He moved away fast, easily deflecting the move as I went in for another downward stab at his face, he blocked with his sword and twirled my dagger out of the way once again, moving the blades downward away from us so as not to cause any real harm. I could feel the anger seething from Ahmanet as she grabbed the hilt of his sword moving to disarm him. I took another downward jab at my brother, only to be surprised by another quick parry, stopping me with his forearm. We locked eyes, my hand moving to his chest, pushing him away from me with a supernatural force toward a wall where he fell, coughing up a bit of blood, attempting to catch his breath. I closed the difference between us easily, as I grabbed ahold of his shoulder holsters, throwing him on the ground and rapidly moving on top of him. 

I reared up holding the dagger, I knew this was the time to fight back. With a great effort, I pushed forward into the forefront of my brain. Ahmanet did not expect the sudden switch as I hastily took over, stronger this time. While I kept her at bay I watched Rick’s eyes filled with distress. It was either me or him and I knew exactly what I would rather the outcome be. Me. As I struggled against Ahmanets hold on me, I felt the jagged edge of the dagger of Set enter my stomach, a gasp leaving my mouth as Ahmanet started to realize what had happened. 

“No! You fool, you have no idea what you have now unleashed.” She spoke in my head, her power and voice fading away into nothing.

“Eris!” Rick yelled out catching my shoulders as I fell toward him. He moved me to the side, slipping out from underneath me. He held my head watching my flickering eyes, I could see the betrayal flashing through him as he debated what to do, looking at the dagger of Set and back to my face. I could tell Rick was fighting with his emotions, knowing he needed to go to Evy. I nodded urging him to go to her instead. He moved away from me slowly, laying me on the sand as he went to Evy releasing her from the table. My breathing slowed as my vision started to blacken at the edges. The darkness was pulling me away and I welcomed it, I yearned for it now, it didn’t matter that I was leaving my brother and husband behind. I knew that it would protect me.

I could sense a being with me, as my family faded from view. I knew exactly who it was this time though, Set. I watched as he materialized in front of me in his jackal form.

“This is not what I expected from you, Eris.” I could hear his voice projecting from the ether.

“Well, I’ve been known to keep the supernatural community on its toes.” I brushed off the awkward comment with an awkward reply. 

“I meant that it was a selfless act that not many people would have made especially with the burden that is Ahmanet.” Set explained. 

“Would you have preferred a different outcome?” I asked suspiciously. 

“No I wouldn’t because I know how much losing your brother would completely destroy you. But I have a proposition for you.” He started as he walked up to me in the dark room. I groaned, not really willing to hear it, but met his eyes anyway asking him to continue. 

“And that is?” I asked him giving him what he wanted, taking the bait he had laid so easily. 

“You let me be a constant in your mind, not controlling like Ahmanet. But a sort of conscience.” I listened to his words that were swirling around in my head. I couldn’t imagine another Ahmanet experience. 

“And who’s to say that you’ll keep your word?”  I asked him skeptically. 

“My brother,” he started before I saw a large falcon appear and land on Set’s shoulder. I could feel my breath leave my lungs. 

“Horus?” I immediately knew my answer as I watched the falcon twitch its head toward me in a nod. 

“It’s no surprise that we have had our troubles in the past…” Set started as the falcon screeched agreeing with him. 

“Since then we have made amends. Horus has always been the lighter side of our brotherly rivalry, if you do not trust me then he would be the one to trust.” I slowly nodded,

“And if I refuse?” I asked curiously, knowing the answer wouldn’t be what I wanted. 

“You will die, and I would hate to see that. You have so much more life to live and without your family and new husband…” He confirmed what I was thinking. It was a difficult decision to make, and I just wanted to die. Sensing that I wasn’t going to agree he let me view what was happening now in the room. "Keep him busy," Evy yelled to Rick as Imhotep threw him away toward a wall. 

"No problem," Rick uttered, his face in the sand, catching his breath. As Rick got up, Imhotep smacked him across the room again, where Rick fell with a grunt. Imhotep strode up to him, closing the distance between them, lifting Rick into the air a hand around his throat. 

“Now it’s your turn,” He says to Rick, his intentions to kill him clear. 

"Hurry, Evy! Hurry!" Jon exclaimed as he watched Rick turn blue from Imhotep choking him. "You're not helping," Evy said in a singsong voice as she flipped the heavy pages of the book of Amun Ra in Jonathan’s hands. "Oh! I’ve got it." Evy yelled out in relief and then proceeded to chant "Kadeesh mal. Kadeesh mal. Pared oos. Pared oos." A transparent blue carriage materialized out of thin air, carrying Imhotep's immortal soul back to the underworld, he released Rick from his grip running after the carriage up the steps as it disappeared. Rick stood back up picking up his sword after rolling over a stone back toward Evy and Jon. "l thought you said it was gonna kill him!" Rick said annoyed as he pointed his sword at Imhotep's stomach. Imhotep advanced on him, running himself through the blade. 

"He's mortal," Evy explained as Imhotep reached down to touch the blood, looking at it curiously. He brought his fingers up to view the crimson liquid, stumbling backward into the pool of skeletal remains holding his wound and muttering as he decomposed in front of their eyes. 

“Death is only the beginning,” Evy translated what Imhotep said for the others. 

“Better make a decision quickly,” Set said to me as if he knew what would be coming next. I huffed as I knew the outcome all too well, I was fucked either way. My brain worked fast as I continued to debate the decision. I knew one thing, I wasn’t ready to die. 

“Alright, fine. Yes, just no possession.” I uttered as I reached my hand toward him in agreement, feeling as if I’d made a deal with the devil. 

“Deal.” He said as he shook my hand, I gasped awake from my position on the ground immediately attracting the attention of Evy, Rick, and Jon. 

“Eris?!” Rick gasped out as he slid up on his knees next to me. I sat up pulling the dagger from my stomach, the ruby turned black disintegrating into dust. I clutched onto the dagger putting it in my pack before looking down at my arms to see the Sumerian-translated Book of the Dead markings that had graced my arms for so long were now gone. My original Set tattoo with the pyramid only remained.

“Yeah… It’s me.” I sighed out in relief as I looked over to Evy and Jon who were astounded that I was alive. I looked back to Rick, our eyes meeting as he watched me carefully. 

“Are you sure?” He asked as I looked at him confused. 

“Yes, why?” I asked. 

“You’re eyes… They’re different colors.” He said slowly, not wanting to alarm me. “One’s brown like normal, the other is green…” He continued. I watched him knowing exactly what that meant but didn’t want to break the news or alarm them in any way just yet. 

“How’re you feeling?” Evy asked as she sat down gingerly next to me, taking the attention off of my eyes. 

“I’m alright, surprisingly…” I said as Jonathan walked closer to me, he was still clutching the Book of the Living as Rick helped me to my feet, not pushing me further for answers for once in his life. 

“Are you okay?” I asked Rick as he looked me over for injuries. I looked at him before he pulled me into a crushing hug. 

“I thought I lost you,” Rick uttered his voice cracking with emotion, I had never seen this version of him before and it was almost unnerving to see now. 

“I’m here, you didn’t,” I reply, my own emotions breaking through. It was as if the floodgate had burst and I was finally feeling everything since the possession besides anger. Immediately my thoughts went to Ardeth.

“Is he??” I asked, before I could get it out Rick squeezed me tight.

“I’m not sure.” He replied softly, pulling away to look at me. I nodded pushing down the raw emotions that were threatening to boil over. 

“Let’s get out of here shall we?” Jon’s voice rang out trying to lighten the mood, I cleared my throat pulling away from Rick as Evy led us through the treasure room. 

“Can we just?” Jon asked softly as he eyed everything in the room glancing to Evy for permission to take a few things. She laughed a bit as she nodded not seeing the need to rush. Jon whooped, as he took some pieces of gold, stuffing them in a saddle bag he had. I threw him my bag to fill as I went to sit on the stairs next to Evy. We sat for a moment in silence as the room was filled with the sound of Jon throwing some artifacts behind him, being careful to only pocket the perfect pieces. 

Once he was satisfied we made our way up the stairs to a corridor, where there was some sort of lever sticking out of the wall. Jon put his bag weighed down with treasure on it. An ominous sound filled the room as it creaked down. 

“What’d you do?!” Rick asked, alarmed as the walls started to move and sand began to seep through the cracks of the city of Hamunaptra. “Time to go!” He yelled as he grabbed the saddlebag off the switch, hoisting it onto his shoulder as we took off in a run through the passageway. I ran behind Jon watching the struggle of him holding onto my bag around his shoulder. I watched the Book of Amun Ra fall out of his grasp and down into a crevasse. Evy stopped and looked down at where the book had gone incredulously. 

“You lost the book! Jonathan, I can’t beli–” She started to say as Rick and Jon grabbed an arm and drug her away from the area and out into the sunlight. I ran behind them as we made it out into the daylight, the pillars around the city collapsing narrowly missing us. We ran until we were out of the vicinity of the chaos. I took a second to breathe as we reached the camels that had herded themselves. My body tensed up immediately as I felt a hand on my shoulder. I reached out immediately and grabbed the person's wrist pulling it with me as I stepped to turn around, my eyes immediately locking with Ardeth’s who was now on the sand instead of on his camel. Evy and Jon jumped from the scare. I heard the familiar click of Rick’s guns being cocked. 

“Thank you, thank you very much,” Jon yelled as Ardeth reached out a hand touching my cheek gingerly. 

“You’re alright,” He breathed out relieved as he quickly closed the distance between us, his lips crashing into my own. I smiled as I kissed him back easily, my fingers finding their way into his hair. He pulled away to address my family,  “You’ve earned the respect and gratitude of my people.” He said to them glancing away from me, meeting Jon, Rick, and Evy’s eyes. 

“Oh well, it was nothing,” Jon said as he clutched his heart. 

“May Allah smile upon you always,” Ardeth said as he kissed his fingers, touching his forehead, and gesturing to them. 

“And yourself,” Jon said as he tried to reciprocate the gesture. I laughed a bit watching the awkward encounter. “Yes anytime.” He continued not knowing where to stop. 

“Let’s go home.” Rick broke the silence that had settled over us as he bent forward to capture Evy’s lips in a kiss. I smiled at the two as Ardeth mounted his camel reaching a hand out toward me to help me up onto it as well. I took his hand, and he easily lifted me onto the animal, settling me in front of him. I watched as Jon mounted his own, my bag securely on his back. Rick and Evy finally pulled away from each other and mounted their own camel, the saddlebag glinting with the treasure Jon had picked out in the sunlight. We started the long trek back toward our home, trotting off over the dunes of sand that covered this area of the world.

Between darkness and light, good or evil whatever human part of her remains she’ll search the world over for a way to break the curse, to find a cure. Yet evil never rests and it will call to her, always… Perhaps sometimes it does take a monster to fight another monster.