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ferrocyan · 2 years ago

Text

Chapters: 1/1

Word count: 2344

Pairing: Lue-Reeq/Warrior of Light

Characters: Lue-Reeq, Warrior of Light (female)

Rating: Gen

Additional tags: Pre-relationship

Summary: After failing the day's hunt for a Cardinal Virtue and an awful family meeting, the Warrior of Darkness couldn't help but want to cheer her new friend up. Nothing does the trick like a small victory, with a side of compliments.

(A loose rewrite of the level 74 DPS role quest "Freedom from Privilege")

Detour

"Keep your coin, Father! We're leaving, C'astarhte! Right now!"

Lue-Reeq stormed out of the Beehive. Tart understood why; being dismissed so utterly by his own father must have hurt, not to mention that he had been insulted in front of all the patrons of the Hive. It made sense that he wanted to get out as fast as he could. He didn't say where they would rendezvous afterwards, but Tart could probably find him at his usual seat at the Wandering Stairs. That would make sense. What didn't was how much this situation didn't sit right with her.

The man Lue-Reeq called his father didn't spare Tart another glance. Nor did the woman beside him. Only the elven servant glanced over uncomfortably, mumbling when Tart caught his gaze about how upset Master Reeq looked. Tart scowled and left them.

It wasn't fair. Lue-Reeq was being dismissed by everyone, his own family and friends chief among them, and judging from his delight at Tart simply making their appointment, more people besides. It seemed that the only people who gave him the time of day were those interested in his coin. Tart hadn't known him for long, but what she knew of Lue-Reeq was that he'd called Tart his friend, treated her to lavish meals, and despite the carefree impression he gave off, held odd affections for everything around him. It was unfair that others couldn't do the same for him.

Tart looked around the inner hall of Eulmore. no sign of a blue-haired mystel-- ah, out on the walkway. "Reeq, wait up!" She tried to call out to him to no avail. Tart huffed and ran after him, shouting his name a few times, then decided it was enough.

A long bony finger emerged out of smoke, tearing a hole in space with its claw. Tart stepped in, came out of a similar tear fifteen yalms away, and-- collided with something solid.

Lue-Reeq yelped as he fell. His momentum brought him ass over teakettle as he bumped into the suddenly-appearing Tart before him. "What the--C'astarhte? How?" he cried out. "Wait, I didn't mean to hit you! Please put the blade away!"

Tart realized that the impact made her automatically pull out her scythe. "Oh." She sheathed it on her back. "Sorry." So he'd been near exactly fifteen yalms ahead. Tart noted the necessity to practice on the distance of Hell's Ingress. "Tried calling after you, but you didn't hear me."

"You did? Ah. I thought it my imagination. My apologies." Lue-Reeq got up with her help. He rubbed his forehead with a grimace, then asked, "Do you... still have business with me?"

Tart nodded. She needed to express a sentiment contrary to the dismissals that Lue-Reeq had received today. Only... she only now realized something important. Tart had only known Lue-Reeq for a combined three days. All she knew about him was that he was a friendly person. What could she tell him that would be valuable?

Her best guess was that she could say something appreciative about his fighting prowess. That was the basis of their partnership, after all, and Lanbyrd had insulted him about it directly. But Tart hadn't yet seen Lue-Reeq in a fight. She couldn't say anything of value when she had no idea about him.

Lue-Reeq tilted his head at her silence. "If you mean to ask for your payment, rest assured that I wasn't about to flee. I merely thought we could meet up at the Crystarium like before. But, ah, I do apologize for leaving first--"

"That's not it," Tart blurted out. Shit, she needed to come up with something, fast. Rummaging into her bag, her fingers brushed against a stack of papers. She took them out and shoved them at Lue-Reeq.

He accepted the stack, mouth agape in bewilderment. "This is...?" he prompted, then read the topmost paper. Or tried, rather, because after a few seconds of scrutiny he looked at Tart. "I can't read it."

Oh wait, those were the Grand Company hunt bills. Tart shuffled through the bills until she found one with letters she didn't recognize and gave it back to Lue-Reeq.

He gasped. "Oh, you can't read this one because it's in a different script, am I right? Very well then! This is a beginner-rank bill from Clan Nutsy, requesting the slaughter of three germinants, for the reward of, uh, three sacks of nuts? Is that a currency you're familiar with?" Tart nodded. "Well, if you're sure. I personally doubt that nuts are a valid form of compensation--but I digress. Authorized by the Eulmoran society of--" Lue-Reeq paused, gulped, then continued, "why, the esteemed Clan Nutsy has given indication of the germinants' location, after all! Whale's Breach, now that would be not a malm to the southeast of Gatetown. You can't miss it! Best of luck to you, then, partner."

"Us," Tart corrected. "You're coming with."

"I'll be waiting at the Wandering Stairs with a cele-- pardon?" Lue-Reeq had been waving goodbye as he started away, but now his hand hung awkwardly in the air. He gestured at himself, unsure. Tart nodded. "Why?"

Tart crossed her arms. The first time they met, Lue-Reeq had asked Tart to show off her fighting prowess for his judgment by slaying a sin eater. So she had fought while he watched from the sidelines. The second time, they'd split up in search of a spider-like sin eater. After finishing it off, Tart had been overtaken by the Echo, and Lue-Reeq found her in its throes after he was done. Relaying as much to him, Tart concluded, "So we've never really fought together, no? When you say we're partners, I'd like it to be earned."

Lue-Reeq flinched, his ears standing on end then drooping. "That is... not the first time I've been told the same. But we're partners in slaying Andreia, so all that matters is that we fight her together. Germinants cannot possibly compare to a Cardinal Virtue!"

"Doesn't need to," Tart shrugged. "What matters is we do it together. No more objections, right? Surely not." She stuck out her tongue at Lue-Reeq, then headed to the stairs. Lue-Reeq made a distressed whine behind her.

"Wait, the lift is over there!"

"We're taking the stairs."

"Why?! Oh, fine, just don't leave me!"

Tart's gambit was working better than expected. a little ways southeast of Eulmore Lue-Reeq pointed out a pair of beasts sitting by a small creek. Massive rounded bodies, great maws sat below tiny faces, and a brown flower that had seemingly sprouted from the top of their heads. Seedkin, then--made sense why they would be called germinants. "Those would be our quarry. A little too close to settlement, aren't they? What are the guards thinking?" he wondered.

"That they could leave their culling to hunters. Like us." Tart looked around for one more. "There," she pointed south to another germinant. "You grab that one and come back here. I'll get started on the two."

Lue-Reeq frowned. "It's quite far away. Why don't I kill it by myself, and--"

"To-ge-ther."

Throwing his hands up, Lue-Reeq readied his bow and started off towards the lone seedkin. Tart pulled out her scythe and ran towards the germinants, then swung at both at once, beginning the offering of blood for her friend of the void. In short order Lue-Reeq returned, and Tart stepped into Ingress to meet him.

With three enemies grouped up, Tart switched her strikes into wide swings, scythe spinning in wide arcs that left cyan arcane trails, while Lue-Reeq kept his arrows trained on his quarry. Radiant arrows flew and converged upon each germinant. A phantom arm tore out of the reaper's shadow and enveloped the seedkin in a sea of smoke. Choked, they fought back by spraying poisonous gas towards their attackers. but it was no use. The beasts soon fell to the pair of hunters.

Lue-Reeq exclaimed in relief. "Wicked white, that was quite a thrill! I managed to escape unscathed, thank the gods for that. You are unhurt as well?" Tart nodded at him, and Lue-Reeq placed his hands on his hip with a sigh. "Great! Now if you have no further need--"

"Proof of the kills."

"Ah," Lue-Reeq said, though his face betrayed his cluelessness, "of course." Tart knelt beside one of the seedkin and plucked a petal from the flower on its head and a few seeds from its center. Lue-Reeq followed suit.

After he helped her pack the flower and seeds into her bag, Lue-Reeq stepped back. standing silently as if waiting for a dismissal, hands running over his forearms. Tart thought it was the time to execute the real purpose of her gambit. She walked towards a nearby rock, sat on it and gestured towards Lue-Reeq to sit beside her. She then took out two apples and gave him one. They ate in silence for a moment, accompanied only by the swaying grasses on rolling hills.

"You know," Tart said, "you're not bad. I don't know much about archery, but your technique is very clean. Efficient, no wasted movement, very well timed. I was amazed how fast you could nock arrows and have shots lined up perfectly. It was nice to fight with you. Good job, Reeq." She smiled at him as she finished.

Lue-Reeq stared open-mouthed at her, the apple he was about to bite into nearly falling out of his grip. "Really?" he shrieked, then covered his mouth. "I mean, ahh, I did tell you how skilled I am, surely?" His hand was still barely covering his mouth, but it didn't stop the giggles escaping its confinement. "So you see! You see!" Ears flicking in punctuation, Lue-Reeq's face split into a massive grin, accompanied by a deep blush.

Tart watched him, astonished. Her idea had worked much better than expected--the trap had sprung, and it released his spirits and cheeriness along with it. Yes, she liked him best smiling like this, after all. Entertaining the thought of reaching over to pet his ears, Tart hummed. "Mmhm, Reeq's the best."

Lue-Reeq gasped as she said it. "So I haven't been imagining it! You... you've been calling me Reeq?"

Oh. Wait. "Yes," Tart answered. She had, because that was how Lue-Reeq referred to himself before, and she thought that meant he wanted her to use it. He didn't seem offended by it now, but, "is it no good?"

"No!" Lue-Reeq blurted, then quickly added, "It's all right if you'd like to! Or, or not. You are free to call me whatever you like!"

Tart glanced at his tail, swishing back and forth eagerly, and held back her laugh. "Reeq is fine?" To his furious nodding, Tart continued, "then you can call me Tart, too."

The suggestion froze Lue-Reeq. Something about it made him quiet, looking away and mouthing silently. "Wicked white," was all Tart could catch.

He cleared his throat. "Um, Tart?"

Oh, Tart realized. Come to think of it, she had always wanted someone to call her by that nickname. She savored the sound of it, like the crisp aftertaste of a ripe apple.

Wait, Reeq was talking to her. "Yes?"

Fortunately he was rather deep in thought. He said, hesitantly, "I have something to confess."

He folded his hands in his lap, half-eaten apple cradled in the middle. He shifted to face Tart better, then spoke. "As you may have gathered from our exchange, I am a free citizen of Eulmore. Owing to my parents' considerable wealth, I have enjoyed a relatively privileged upbringing. Privileged... and unbearably boring, which is why I quit the city and resolved to become a bounty hunter."

His chin dipped onto his chest as he continued. "I'm well aware of my fortunate circumstances, which is why I've elected to conceal it from the people of the Crystarium. People are... wont to come to uncharitable conclusions when they find out." He braved a glance towards Tart and gave her a small smile. "But I feel like you and I have established a rapport, so I think I can bring you into my confidence?" he asked, hopeful. Tart nodded and patted his shoulder, which relaxed immediately. "I'd be grateful if you refrain from telling others as well."

Having discarded the burden of secrecy, Reeq exhaled loudly, jumped onto his feet, and pumped his fist in the air. "Now then! Since Lanbyrd insists on turning this hunt into a race, I say we beat him at his own game! We find Andreia and slay her before he does! Alas, I refused Father's money in a fit of frustration, and that will certainly hinder our efforts... but, I'm sure we will manage!" he exclaimed.

"Ah, but now that I think of it," said Reeq, "I don't know if I can give you more than a token sum of payment today. I... I do hope that won't deter you from joining me again?" He tried for a hopeful grin while posing the question.

"I'm not in this for the gil," Tart said. Reeq stared at her for a moment, head tilted to the side, then guffawed.

"Of course, of course you aren't. Perish the thought! Hah, haha."

Huh, Tart thought, did he think she was lying? She considered something else. "Then consider your help today as an extra payment. That settles it?"

Reeq opened his mouth, said nothing, closed it again. He scratched his chin. Stared at rocks in the middle distance as if they offended his aesthetic sensibilities. Finally, he shrugged. "If you're alright with that, then by all means. We part with no debts to each other." He offered Tart a handshake. "I look forward to our future success together. As Tart and Reeq, bounty hunters extraordinaire!"

Tart offered him a smile back, but it was only after they'd parted, Reeq walking back towards Gatetown while she rode Enbarr to Stilltide, that she really grinned ear to ear. No matter what duties the Exarch would give her, Tart decided she was going to see Reeq again as soon as she could.

(Originally posted on 16/11 aka my WOL's nameday (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*.✧ thanks for reading!)

#ffxiv #my writing #ffxiv fanfic #final fantasy xiv fanfic #lue-reeq #wolreeq #tart the wol #reeq the hunter #lighthunter #finally living up to my title

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vampykween · 1 year ago

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strangeness and charm

vampire!price x f!reader x vampire!ghost i keep coming back to vampire!price and vampire!ghost god im just so obsessed!!! my other vampire works: vampire drabble , good little pet

✴︎ battered and disoriented from when you were hastily dumped in an eerie forest, you were grateful to the strange man who saved you; that is, until he showed you who, or rather what he really was.

cw: reader is essentially kidnapped and consent is like mildly dubious so! take that as you wish ☻

Price, the strange man who had taken you from the forest, leads you through an expansive foyer decorated in ornate gothic furnishings into an equally large sitting room. There was a roaring fire blazing in the large fireplace, which warmed your icy skin. You can't remember how long you were even out roaming the dark and eerie woods, your sick bastard ex-boyfriend dumped you in.

Price’s hand on your lower back pushes you further into the room and leads you towards a plush velvet couch. The same hand trails up to the base of your neck, “Sit,” he commanded and for some reason you find yourself unable to disobey.

From the corner of your eye you see a shadow flit across the dimly lit room, and if it wasn't for your captor’s hand holding you firmly in place, you would’ve jumped out of your skin.

Another mysteriously colossal and ominous man crosses the room to where you and Price are sitting. You notice he is wearing a mask, similar to one someone would wear to a masquerade ball. You’re grateful to be out of the hands of your insane ex, but this doesn't feel much better. The man looks between you and Price as if he was awaiting permission to speak.

“I’ve brought you a gift, Ghost. Found this pretty little thing wandering outside the grounds. I think she’d make a fine pet, don't you agree?”

You feel your heart rate spike at his words, pet? What the hell was he talking about? And with the way he spoke his question made it seem like it wasn't really a question at all.

The masked man only gives a simple nod in Price’s direction as a response and their eyes must hold an unspoken conversation, because soon after Ghost is kneeling at your feet. His head is bowed as if in shame, as if he’s not worthy of looking at you just yet. The feelings of Price’s cold digits are a looming presence on your neck and you have a sinking feeling that whatever happens next, he isn't going to let up. Your heart is hammering even faster and you can hear the roaring sound of your blood pulsing in your ears. What could possibly be happening right now? Is this your fate, doomed to a death at the hands of a sinister man who supposedly loved you, or be locked away and tortured by these two freaks?

From your perspective you get a nice view at the broadness of Ghost’s shoulders and back, how a man so large could make himself seem so small you weren't even sure. All you could deduce was that Price gave commands and Ghost followed them. The hand not clasped around your neck, snakes in Ghost’s golden tresses and pulls slightly until the kneeled man is looking up at him.

“Why don't you show our little treasure what she’s in store for.” the smooth timber of his voice starts to make you feel flustered. As much as you were incredibly frightened, there was a small part of you simmering with some sort of uncertain heat. Ghost rises from the floor deftly and settles next to you on the couch. Price's hand slithers up from the base of your neck until he’s cupping your jaw and tilting your head towards him, as if presenting your neck for the other man.

Your blood freezes sharply in your veins, either you were about to get your head snapped clean off or… your thoughts are quickly interrupted by the feeling of something sharp sinking into your flesh. The sound of your piercing scream barely registers in your own ears, drowned out by the sound of your blood suddenly rushing and crashing like tidal waves. The pain is unlike anything you’ve ever felt and your body starts to feel weak and limp, but you're momentarily brought back to reality when you feel a hand graze your breasts over your tattered dress. You attempt to squeak out your dissatisfaction, but find yourself unable to speak. Your tongue feels like lead in your mouth and it’s hard to even get your lips to move the way you want them to.

The same husky voice from earlier coos into your ear, “Don't worry, darling. You’ll learn to love this, and once you do I promise we’re going to make it so fuckin’ good for you.”

#vampire!price x reader #vampire!ghost x reader #simon ghost riley x reader #captain john price x reader #vampire!au #cw: kinda dubcon ish #these boys are my blood thirsty babies #its not really a throuple more like price shares you with ghost but also tells ghost what to do because he's kinda price's little pet too #mic writes #finally living up to my user hehehe #also title is from strangeness and charm by florence + the machine

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