#just imagine that moment with Orin when she takes them down… „if you think this mortal your equal then die like one‘

[i-made-a-bg3-blog]

Look, it’s not like Astarion intended on becoming a Harper, it’s just - well, burglary and pickpocketing are a little more difficult when you can’t enter homes without an invitation or go outside during the day, and he’s grown rather accustomed to a certain elevated lifestyle. There are other places he could turn to for money: the city owes him an estate and a title at the bare minimum. But, there’s something to be said for self-sufficiency, and, though he hates to admit it, he wouldn’t make it through three weeks as a noble without being bored out of his mind.

The Harpers need warm bodies (or cold ones, as it were) to rebuild their ranks after Orin’s doppelgangers, and Jaheira’s a savvy old crone who never learned to take no for an answer. She pinpoints Astarion’s two weak spots: a heavy coinpurse and kidnapped children, street kids, the kind no one would miss.

They’re decidedly amateurish criminals, and it doesn’t take him long to track them down and dispatch them, messily and painfully. Four children sit huddled in a cage, and Astarion knows he must look every bit the monster as he picks the lock with hands covered in gore, but they don’t shy away in fear when he opens the door. One of them slips his chubby little hand into Astarion’s and refuses to let go until they reach the safehouse. It’s…odd.

“Good work, Harper,” Jaheira tells him after, and Astarion makes it explicitly clear that he’s simply an independent contractor, an expensive one. 

Jaheira just smirks like the witch she is.

So he contracts. He infiltrates the Guild (and feels insulted when Nine Fingers doesn’t recognize him; he’d like to think he’s rather unforgettable), foils an assassination plot or three, even teams up with Minsc and a turncoat Thayan to stop a gaggle of Red Wizards from doing…whatever it is they do. It’s a good business, he supposes. A hero’s reputation is a small price to pay for a hero’s coffers.

Jaheira’s wise enough to know when to hang up her blades, and it makes her more of an insufferable busybody than ever, which - somehow - becomes Astarion’s problem. First, it’s his own cell, then suddenly he’s the field contact for four others. He’s dragged to the most dreadfully tedious logistical meetings imaginable. The only reason he agrees to any of it is that Jaheira can turn an offhand comment and a raised eyebrow into the kind of challenge that itches beneath Astarion’s skin. It should be all too familiar and just as unwelcome, that burning need to prove himself, but it’s not. It’s different, perhaps, when he isn’t being set up to fail.

Jaheira passes away peacefully in her sleep at the ripe old age of one hundred and ninety-two, and Astarion’s convinced he can hear her grumbling about that all the way from the Fugue Plane. She would have rather gone out fighting, but, privately, Astarion feels like she deserved something gentler than bleeding out on a battlefield. He never did tell her how much he admired her (though he doubts she would have appreciated such open sentiment: ‘I did not realize I looked so terrible that you’ve already started my eulogy.’), but she must have known. He thinks he’s really going to miss her.

Right up until the moment Rion is handing him a pin and leading him to a library full of dossiers and documents. Then, he’s ready to cross the Astral Sea just so that he can bring her back and kill her again. Independent. Contractor. What part of that did she not understand? 

He goes home and locks the door with the full intention of ignoring every Harper that comes knocking. But Harpers are nosy little shits, and after he nearly disembowels one who surprises him by breaking into his house just to tell him the most idiotic plan to dismantle a smuggling ring he’s ever had the misfortune of hearing, he realizes hiding isn’t going to be an option. Besides, Astarion cannot be privy to such levels of incompetence and sit idly by. 

So he helps. Provisionally. Just long enough to find a decent replacement, and then he can wash his hands of the whole thing.

Unfortunately, it’s not as easy a task as he had hoped. Every potential candidate lacks something: consistency, creativity, confidence, the common sense to understand Astarion’s eminently logical filing system. It takes him three decades to accept that not only is he excellent at the job, but that he enjoys it immensely. 

When they make him take a title, he chooses Spymaster. It suits him - dashing, mysterious, questionably moral, because he’s never been a hero, and it would be foolish to pretend that he is.

They all call him High Harper anyways.

[thecampjuicebox]

I always wondered how the romanced companions would react if Orin kidnapped the player character. Any thoughts?

Be prepared for some angst because PHEEEEWWWWW

Astarion

At this point in the story, romanced Astarion and Tav are very close. He even states that Tav is the only person he's ever cared for, so I can imagine he'd be devastated if his beloved was taken by Orin. He'd take a relatively unhinged approach to saving them, running in with fangs bared. Daggers swinging. He'd make quick work of Orin, slicing and dicing to save his love. They've always done so much to save him so he'd feel it was his duty to do the same in this instance. Once he's able to hold them in his arms again, he'd allow himself to cry. Sob, even. He'd hold them close, smooth their hair back, bury his face in their neck to deeply inhale their familiar scent, but not until telling them how stupid they were for allowing themselves to be kidnapped by the shape-changer in the first place.

Karlach

Tav is Karlach's first taste of intimate touch in YEARS. Her first taste of love for as long as she can remember. When she finds out Tav is the one taken by the shape-changer, it would break her. Shatter her into a million burning pieces. Her engine would run hotter than the searing fires of Avernus. She'd yell and spit and grab the nearest bludgeoning object she could to absolutely decimate Orin where she stands. The pale eyed woman has caused enough problems and with Karlach's already crushed morale after seeing Gortash again, she'd go absolutely ape shit. She'd fall to her knees in front of Tav. Hug their legs. Cry as she rubs her nose across their thighs. Cling to them like a child. "Don't ever leave me again, Soldier. I can't bear it."

Wyll

First and foremost Wyll, I think, would be the most level headed in this situation. He'd quickly devise a plan to save his love. The Blade of Frontiers or the Blade of Avernus, either way, he'll prove his heroism and his devotion to Tav. No one lays a finger on his prince/princess. Their Devil in shining armor. He'd make an entrance similar to when Tav first encounters him in the Emerald Grove. Bold and brave, ready to dominate the fight. And once Tav is assured safe, he'd sweet them off of their feet. Shower them in love and praise of their bravery during this traumatic event.

Shadowheart

Shadowheart is very reserved and quiet about her feelings and thoughts. If her love was taken by Orin, I think she'd play calm about it while absolutely losing it inside. She's mentioned previously that she isn't one for romances, more just short lived flings. With Tav, however. It's incredibly different. She'd rally the other companions and rush into Bhaal's temple to find Orin. Slay here right there. And then take Tav into her arms and check them other, make sure the shape-changer caused them no serious harm. If she had, Shadowheart would heal them. Make them feel safe once more.

Lae'Zel

Lae'Zel's love of Tav goes from 0-100 real quick, and hearing that Tav was taken by an enemy, I think she'd LOSE it. Lae'Zel has not known love like her love for Tav. Tav showed her freedom and no one is going to take that away from her now. She's not known to show very intense emotions, but I think she would let herself cry this time. Lae'Zel is trained in combat so taking Orin down would not be a difficult feat with the help of the other companions. Once Tav is safe, she'd embrace them with all of her strength. Hold them close to her as she mumbles softly in their ear "Zhak vo'nfynh duj. Source of my joy."

Gale

Gale is such a soft lover. His prior relationship with Mystra caused a lot of trauma and I think his romance with Tav is his key to being happy again. With himself and in general. Even the threat of having to blow himself up is softened by Tav's presence. "One moment with you could sate me for a lifetime, and prise the fear from my heart." Once he learns that Tav was taken, I know for a fact he'd go into bad bitch mode. He'd storm his little wizard self right into Bhaal's temple and fireball the hells out of Orin before she could get a word in edgewise. Where'd all this courage come from? The lovely idea that after all of this is over and Tav is safe, they can return to the illusory scene of his tower in Waterdeep and reside there whenever the feeling arises. Not without a lecture on why it wasn't the smartest idea to get kidnapped, though.

[galedekarios]

Keeping this anon, but I hear you hate bloodweave. I was curious on your take to why.

You don't have to reply to this if it makes you uncomfortable thought!!

i'd like to preface this again by saying that this is my opinion. idc what you ship.

i've talked about this here, but i don't mind reiterating my points:

they have no chemistry, to the contrary, gale shuts him down right away during their first talk and ast*rion's manipulation attempts. i assume that gale sees right through him from the beginning. a lot of people love to hc gale as naive as or as completely taken with ast*rion, but it's the complete opposite. i imagine his many years in waterhavian society made him realise quite quickly what type of person he's dealing with. the relationship they have doesn't progress much from that. by act iii they - at best - begrudgingly tolerate each other.

they are diametrically opposed in the things they value as people as well as their morals. gale is kind-hearted, he approves of helping those in need, children, mothers, slaves, refugees, even the animals you meet in-game. he seeks to avoid bloodshed, approves of letting people who want to pay the party back for their help keep their money and belongings. he seeks knowledge and even power not for selfish reasons or a taste for the darker things, but because he seeks to better their odds of survival against a seemingly invincible foe. ast*rion meanwhile is selfish and cruel and vile. he delights in violence and bloodshed, he finds the struggle of people caught in the crosshairs amusing. he is greedy and short-sighted, seeking power for himself, no matter the cost to others.

they are completely incompatible in terms of what they look for in a relationship and a potential partner. gale wants and needs a deeper connection, a tangling of the souls, and he needs someone to be there for him unequivocally, to love him for who he is as he is. he is not taken in by someone's looks or image they present of themselves, nor does he do hate sex / endless bickering / enemies to fwb / etc.

the first things he cites for trusting the protag are their good actions (helping mirkon, helping arabella, seeking to ease the tension between zevlor and aradin), it's all those things that at first make him trust the protag and later - when they unselfishly offer him help, give him artefacts - makes him fall in love with them. sex and immediate gratification isn't important to him. sex is a component - one way in an array of ways to proclaim love.

for ast*rion, it's manipulation first and his entire romance hinges on that. his partner falling for his looks and his text book manipulation into sex. that's already where this breaks apart for me in terms of this ship because that doesn't work with gale.

add to that ast*rion's cruel remarks about gale's when he is need:

[after gale's background story reveal] You'd have us debate? That Netherese jack-in-the-box should be a blip on the horizon by now!

[after mystra's demands] I can't believe Mystra's demanding Gale sacrifice himself to destroy the Absolute. It's just a waste of a perfectly good cult that we could be controlling. And a waste of a perfectly good Gale, I suppose.

[at the stormshore tabernacle] Well? Go on, then - it's rude to keep a goddess waiting.

[after orin potentially kidnaps gale] So, we kill Gortash or Gale dies? It's not an easy call. On the one hand, killing Gortash would be fun. On the other, Gale can be very annoying. We should probably save the wizard, though. He does have his moments.

i think it's very clear, given the fact that these reactions range from act i to act iii, that he doesn't give a singular fuck about gale. contrast this to karlach's reactions, or even shadowheart's:

Karlach: That bloody freak won't get away with this. That's my wizard she took. And we're going to get him back.

(particularly karlach has many reactions like this.)

...unless you play either of them as an origin char and make the most ooc choices, i do not see how this pairing is supposed to work.

additionally, as i've discussed more in my previous post, the parallels people draw between them are shallow at best or can be drawn virtually between any of the other origin companions, or are non-existent at worst. ast*rion having a reading animation that he shares with gale (as halsin and shadowheart do too), or having their tents next to each other (like wyll and gale do in act i) isn't really enough for me.

as i've said previously, i have tried to engage with the pairing because it's sadly inescapable since people often don't bother tagging, but there's nothing except shallow ooc stuff.

[justporo]

Heard your call. So let's chat!

So, I've been kinda writing something about my playthrough, Orin has kidnapped Lae'zel and my Tav comes to camp in a rage looking for Lae'zel. Astarion tried to calm her down but then she lashes out at him. He feels rejected af and lashes out too, then she leaves with the rest of the party looking for Lae'zel in Baldur's Gate. Then of course they don't find her at the end of the day and back to camp both my Tav and Astarion need to have "the talk".

And I've been wondering what would be Astarion's feelings on this? Would he be mad because he was yelled at when all he tried to do was to help her out? Would he be sulking because he thinks he did something wrong and fears she is gonna leave him? Or both?

I've been analyzing this out but I'm at a loss here. What do you think?

Hello friend!! Thank you for coming over for a chat!

I've been thinking about this too some time before and I was so far too anxious to write a situation like this.

I think it really depends on different factors: I think his temper would really flare up for a while, he tends to have angry outbursts - we know that. But he also cares about Tav and when you start the dialogue to break up with him (like, who would do that but thanks for the people doing it for science) he immediately asks if he's done something wrong.

Then we also know he tends to deflect his real feelings with mean jokes or lewd comments.

Now if you came back still angry he might even not come talk to you for a while because 1) nah, not going to get yelled at again and 2) he just went through this cycle of emotions and knows you should calm down first. It might be too that he's actually scared to initiate to talk about this.

In fact, in every scenario Tav would have to be the one to address this to work it through or Astarion will just brush it off and swallow it down (obviously for worse and not better).

So I can definitely imagine that when Tav finally comes over he starts by throwing them an offhand comment and almost makes Tav snap at him again. But Tav takes a deep breath and apologises, tells him that they're sorry they snapped at him, that they didn't mean to hurt them.

Because I can imagine Tav is very vulnerable in this situation because their friend has been taken and they're desperate and exhausted. Maybe they even start crying in between because now they feel like they not only failed Lae'zel but now Astarion too.

And I would think Astarion sees that in that moment because he's really started caring for Tav and comforts them and accepts their apology and might also apologise for his own lashing out. They talk about it. Astarion might not be ready to confess his constant fear of just doing something small wrong and Tav leaving him for that but he'll work on that.

Giving them both an opportunity to learn that you make mistakes and that that's okay as long as you make it right after with reflecting on it and speaking your feelings.

So there you go - this is what I would personally imagine. Hope this helps (and also sorry lol, I can't be short with these kinds of things).

[maegalkarven]

I just thought of redeemed!Durge run AU in which Elder Brain won (Emperor or Orpheus were not strong enough/Elder Brain grew too powerful under the influence of the crown), so the Great Design was set into motion, gods freaked out (bc no one needed Ao coming to whoop their asses), grouped together and pulled the time rug back.

Which made the entire team go back to the moment right before Ketheric's death (bc it's the last point of no return, after his death Brain gets freed from one part of the command and it just spirals from that).

Gods also pull the kind of dimensional skype call like in Pillars of Eternity. Basically gods summon the team.

Which leads to the most epic yet hilarious encounter.

Imagine: the entire team (with Isobel, Aylin, Jaheira, Halsin and Minthara, let's make it a good run) standing in front of Gods in some liminal space.

I'm thinking the Dead Three, Selune and Shar (imagine how fucked up things have to be for them to be at the same place and be civil-ish), Mystra and maybe Loviathar. Oh, and Jergal is also here.

And it's all pathos and importance of stopping the Netherbrain before the world gets destroyed (and before Ao looks down and starts whooping ass.)

But at the same time most of these gods are evil, they do not know how to work together and they hold grudges.

Shar and Selune are specially seated at the further sides from each other. Myrkul is seated between Bhaal and Bane because these two reached some new levels of hatred and so he is working as a god-shield.

Bhaal blames Bane for Durge's fallout, Bane retorts he would have a better use for Durge than Bhaal, and anyway Durge ruined a perfectly good tyrant, look at him, he has feelings now! (Gortash looks offended.)

Selune stares at Ketheric without blinking and so is Shar (no one sees her eyes, but Ketheric FEELS her gaze). Myrkul tries his best not to bring the twins' attention his way. When it is brought, he argues what at least he gave Ketheric what he wanted and points at Isobel. Isobel is like "DID I ASK THO?"

Mystra says everything is Jergal's fault, if only he didn't give away his power to these three dipshits-

Which brings said dipshits fury over her head.

Loviathar just happy to see Durge who took her blessing oh so nicely. Bhaal demands Bane calls off his wife who is stealing Bhaal's child.

Someone asks "Why when some bullshit happens, it's always you three?" (meaning the dead three),to that Bhaal retorts what he wasn't there when Bane and Myrkul stole the Tablets of Fate from Ao and brought the entire Time of Troubles on their heads.

Myrkul says it's because no one invited him.

Selune says the Time of Troubles was REALLY fucked up and they lost Mystra.

Mystra is like: "I am literally here," to which she gets response "I liked the previous one better".

And the entire time the mortals (and Aylin with Durge) are like: ...so we're screwed, right?

And also NONE of the chosen can be killed bc doing that will free Netherbrain.

Karlach tells Mystra to fuck off. The entire team supports it, to Gale's bewilderment.

Jaheira stares daggers at Bhaal. Like for real tries to intimidate a god with a stare.

Orin has to be restrained bc killing her is not an option, but she will not cooperate.

Shar goes to hurt and intimidate Shadowheart in some way, to which Selune, Aylin and Isobel are like: "Literally fuck off".

Bhaal straight up tells Orin she was destined to fail bc all she was - a trial for Durge. Orin DOES NOT take it well.

Durge and Bhaal ready to kill each other because this family is MESSED UP. The team trying to hold Durge down bc "Stop, you idiot! He'll just kill you again!"

Karlach not taking it well what Gortash shouldn't be killed. Same for Jaheira and Halsin, but about Ketheric. Aylin is more reasonable about it, but deep inside she's seething.

The team snitching on Mystra to the other gods like "she told Gale to detonate netherise orb!"

Shar: I also liked the previous Mystra better.

Mystra: WTF this is so uncalled for

The gods: Did Shar and Selune just agree on something????

[marigoldbaker]

OH can I have story-specific 12 also

L O L i can't say anything legally but there are PLANS for this in the fic project SOOOOOOO

12. Is it possible for your Tav to be kidnapped and replaced by Orin?  How is Orin's deception revealed?  How do they react to the PC rescuing them in the Temple of Bhaal?

it is not possible for marigold to be kidnapped and replaced by orin because mari goes thermonuclear about everything all the time always and i think orin would really enjoy psychologically tormenting her by kidnapping someone she loves. what fun is kidnapping the fucked up girl if you don't get to see her full on breakdown????

if evie is kidnapped orin ends up traveling with them for a lot longer than expected because evie is so clinically weird that her speech patterns and orin's actually overlap a little. so when evie starts going "pretty little flesh thing" everyone's just like ok girl take a nap or smth. orin has to actually start trying to kill yenna in front of them for them to be like well actually yeah this does seem like a larger problem (astarion notices minute fucking one and you possibly get a little side quest from him like HEY something is WEIRDER THAN USUAL with evie. NOT THAT I CARE). evie's reaction to being rescued is really just "hi astarion :D" she does not acknowledge the pc AT ALL. (i think in a situation where they're both companions they end up REALLY tight friends, but they don't actually have a romance!)

if thea is kidnapped, orin's deception is revealed when thea offers to heal jaheira and pulls a knife on her instead and starts talking about how a grisly death is the ultimate cure. jaheira literally loses her mind and hits you with the ultimatum of We Go Down There Right Now or I Go Down There Right Now, No Fucking In Between, Fuck You, and you have to choose between jaheira permanently leaving the party or committing to the bhaal quest right then and there. jaheira possibly even fights with a specific condition if you have her in the party. ptsd moment -- based on thea unconscious and tied to a table with a lot of sharp objects involved -- where her attacks deal way more damage but she's fighting at severe disadvantage and runs the risk of hitting allies. the minute thea is rescued her immediate attention is on calming jaheira down and they probably have a very isobel/aylin coded reunion moment except with a lot more blood.

if roslin is kidnapped, the deception is revealed through orin-as-roslin disclosing Some Stuff About Roslin that ros had been doing a very good job of hiding up until this point. norie is fucking inconsolable and while she stays in camp she is no longer a party member until her big sister comes back (though she DOES join you as an extra ally for the bhaal fight). jaheira is also uncharacteristically unsettled for reasons that are later revealed (one ASSUMES it is because roslin is a baby harper and thea's oldest daughter, but there MIGHT be a little more to it. who knows.). roslin who is totally unflappable kinda wakes up on the blood soaked slab like oh hey lol. Worst nap of all time. Why is norie on the floor sobbing hysterically that seems like a ? Problem?

i genuinely cannot imagine a situation where norie is kidnapped. her terrifying goth girl energy is too strong and i think orin is kind of secretly dying to fight her. lovers in another life, i believe.

[bhaalswn-arch]

HERE'S THE THING WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. ( This will involve DURGE SPOILERS & BLOOD IN BALDUR'S GATE SPOILERS TOO. We're going DEEP. ) All will be under the read more, and they may be in a chronicle order in a sense that makes sense to me and hopefully you:

BIRTH: As it has been mentioned. Bhaalspawn are the sons/daughters of Bhaal. It is said that his blood runs through him, but not only that: They represent a part of his divine soul. Bhaalspawn are half-mortal. ( Because Bhaal is the God of Murder. ) And acknowledging that means that despite a half-elf lifespan. Being a Bhaalspawn can likely alter that. ( As half-elves can live up to their hundreds. Likely dying around their 200s, or lower than that. But Bhaalspawns are built differently. ) Alkas was born to a high elf, a patriar who lives in the Upper City of Baldur's Gate. Who ran a busy wine business. Amonora. That was her name, a name that Alkas will never remember once his True Story began. But he was born as a healthy boy. Born in 1359.

CHILDHOOD: Alkas had his education, and Alkas had not-so-much of an easy life. Not when you're a half-elf. Some humans look down on you. Some noblemen. Some elves. His mother wasn't the greatest, but she wasn't like the meanest either. She had the typical mother standards. How a high elf supposedly had(?) ( I do need to do a bit more research on high elves and the like. ) His magic powers eventually surged, and Amonora was not surprised. Amonora had magical abilities as well. Most used on the wine for that magical taste.

BHAALISTS: This is my personal take on Bhaalspawns, or how Alkas were introduced. It began with a calling. And his mother soon died by his hands. Bloodlust strong. In the middle of the night. ( Or you could say in the dead of the night. )

Collectively, they believed that murder was both a duty to their god and a game for their enjoyment. Each cleric of Bhaal was expected to perform at least one murder every tenday, in the darkest moment in the dead of night.

And I sometimes ( & will ) take that literally, as I have done with certain lines that Alkas speaks during the game. ( Just occasional monologue-like banter. ) Enjoyment was met. Unable to see through the glaze of hunger for something like murder. Of innocent death. He would be taken during that night by Bhaalists. For his Becoming. ( Or his innocent Undoing. )

MURDER TRIBUNAL: To think that I was technically right on there being a Blood Baptism. It is said that Bhaal's blood ran through a river.

Part of his divinity remained in the Winding Water, around Boareskyr Bridge where he was slain, his blood having flowed into the river.

So I can imagine that, even if the Bhaalists had rushed to Cyric's side. Apparently it could be possible for those to gather Bhaal's blood from that same river. That blood is now in that specific blood for The Becoming. Those truly loyal now remain in the Temple of Bhaal. Living and Dying for Bhaal. ( As those who are loyal will without even the slightest bit of complaint. ) But Alkas was taken to the Murder Tribunal. ( As this is my take on this as well. As Bhaalspawns have a choice in the matter. To suppress or embrace who they are as a person / creature. But I feel like: It was forced upon in a way too. Like, you're suppressing it now during the game? Like, there must've been a connection cut the moment Orin fucking mangled something that made your mind more clear. ) But anyway-- Alkas was brought to that pool of blood and he sank deep to be fully initiated as a Bhaalspawn and as Bhaal's Chosen. Becoming what he is. As he rose from the pool, covered in blood, and such a calling whispered louder in his head. As if greeted by his own Father.

MURDERS: Alkas grew up around the notion. ( As he'd been taken away in his mid-20s. ) Alkas had his butler, Fel. Who in theory ( As I see it ) was Alkas' Puppeteer. Who held the strings and pulled them and to make sure a Bhaalspawn was doing what Bhaal wanted him to do. To kill innocents and make it delightful and enjoy it. The murders went up numbers in 1477. ( Blood in Baldur's Gate takes place there. ) Creative as they were, Alkas killed in the dead of night. In 1499. Murders happened again in the name of the Absolute.

TEMPLE OF BHAAL: The temple was Alkas' home. He never left it during the day ( unless pursing a one-night stand. For a warm body. Or having that courage to venture out. ) As said before: This also explains his sleeping habits & schedule, including how Alfira died in the dead of night. He also can navigate through the Undercity/Sewers. Even if he was back ( in Act 3 ) he will not be bothered by the smell. Because he's used to it.

MEMORIES: Orin betrayed him then and there, and stabbed him in the skull. Personally I say where the neck and skull meets hence the scar. She's absolutely sadistic. She dug deep, didn't stop from harming him. She stabbed & dug into his neck/skull to the point where Alkas was near death until a necromancer found him. He was the first to feel the tadpole squirm in his own skull. But by then, his memories have completely scattered. All he will remember is his name, and how there are tainted urges calling out to him. He cannot remember what he had done. He does not remember the names of the people he had killed. He does not remember his mother. Nothing.

THE SLAYER: In ACT 2. Alkas is gifted the form of the Slayer. He got this after successfully killing Isobel because, I want to say, the Urges forced his hand. Unable to suppress them. But the gift was forced upon him. He could not say no due to the fear of the consequences of refusing to his Father that he did not understand back then.

Bhaal had three avatar forms: the Slayer, the Ravager, and Kazgoroth.

I also assume that in ACT 3. If you do not defy Bhaal. You were gifted/been upgraded with the form of The Ravager. But personally to me: If Alkas transforms into the Slayer. One, Alkas will strain himself because it takes a lot of strength to transform into a higher being. And two, Alkas is self-conscious but will use it as a last resort.

TATTOOS: The most important one is on his back. A skull that represents Bhaal. With blood and ink etched into his skin. Soon in ACT 3. He will stab it or slash at it over and over again as if an attempt to rid himself of Bhaal.

AND LASTLY BHAAL: It is known that there is a noose around Alkas' neck. You must know that it is confirmed that Bhaal owns him.

Echo of Illasera: Haven't you felt it, Holy Child? Bhaal has a noose around your neck. You must trust him, and leap.

Echo of Illasera: Unholy Assassin, your birth was a miracle. Bhaal conceived you from a place beyond mortality. Your birth, your creation. Father tended to you with love. He made you perfection. I am most interested to see what will become of you, Child of Murder.

I do not believe Bhaal tended to Alkas with "love". It also makes me believe that Alkas' birth was abnormal at best. ( Again, procreation will not be fully discussed. As to be fair, I do not know the specifics, but I'd rather just assume and make shit up. ) There is a lot of pressure on Alkas' shoulders. Especially now. Considering how much he's suppressing it.

He does not want to be a killer. He did not want this life. He did not want his hand to be forced. But it's not easy for a Child of Murder; a Prince of Murder; Bhaal's Chosen.

[spiderwarden]

Hey, your headcannons and musings on Minthara are really cool! How do you think a scenario between Minthara and a romanced Tav/Durge would go where her partner learns about Minthy's kid back in Menzo? (Assuming a universe where that datamined speak with dead dialogue is accurate)

I ADORE exploring ever possible aspect of Minthara and yes, that includes treating her child that she had back home as an important part of a portrayal. (In which I do I incorporate a lot of the existence of this daughter she had a lot, especially in my writings with @menzoberras and sometimes with her karlach on @infernaliscor )

(I treat every bit of canon, datamined or not as some sort of canon, for an example her early access selves I treat them as younger versions of herself because technically they ARE but I just make it in world.)

Okay so lets break this down for a second and treat this like canon for a moment. Let's assume that she has a child back home in Menzobarranzan, the exact quote that her corpse says when you use speak to dead on her in act 1 goes something like 'kill orin, then find a home to raise my daughter in.' which implies that this child is so very young still. Young enough that she is easily forgotten if she's away for too long so we can assume that this little girl is still an infant when she leaves an starts her conquering march on Menzobarranzan.

if that's the case why doesn't she mention it in game? let us take a moment to remember that when you save Minthara from the towers, she has LITERAL BRAIN DAMAGE that is not speaking of. Remember how they were blasting her tadpole and trying to make her into a thrall? There are memories of hers that are literally smashed and cut away from her because i imagine they literally create thraws by doing what - destroying the brain and who they are. Minthara , is likely aware that she has a child but cannot recall much about her outside of the motherly nature that she had that makes her think about this child often (that is, until she comes across her Drow baby daddy that is by chance Tav.)

Now with her relationship with Dark Urge and how supportive she is and how loving she turns. Her dedication is based out of love and adoration on top of a shared Oath to take on the Absolute and take vengeance agaisnt Orin. And once that is complete the bond that would be shared between them. I think - the reaction of her having a living child would depend on the choices and opinions of the DURGE themselves? Depending on which they choose when it comes to their father Bhaal, and the fact that she literally can get pregnant from them at the end of the playthrough. (Let us not forget Minthara has Bhaal's approval when it comes to what the Father of Murder thinks of the chosen partner). And whichever child is born of Dark Urge and Minthara? Will certainly get the upbringing of a warrior and every bit compensated from Minthara's lost time with her daughter back in Menzobarranzan.

(also juicy potential for that daughter to come seeking Minthara's head later)

[sorrowfultales]

18, 29, 10 and 17 for the Durge questions 🔫

You work fast my friend I'll give you that

30 Questions for your Dark Urge

10. What motivates your Dark Urge to either embrace or resist the tadpole?

For Anathema I think it initially boils down to that moment in the nautiloid when the woman inside the pod turns into a mindflayer: The thought of going through the same things is just unthinkable. Not only because it looks painful as fuck, but also because despite her amnesia, Anathema has this "feeling" that she's "perfect" and to risk tainting herself with ceramorphosis (or in this case just the tadpoles) almost makes Anathema physically ill. She has this urge (ha) to keep herself as she is: Father's perfect little brid-DAUGHTER.

17. What is your Dark Urge’s greatest regret?

This one is HARD (I'm still not sure of many details of Anathema's story) so this answer may change in the future. Right now I think her greatest regret would be Enver. Just… Him. Not in the sense of meeting/working/falling in love with him, but more the "what could have been"s of their relationship. What if she had seen Orin's attack coming? What if she had defied Bhaal sooner? I can see her torturing herself over the many what ifs; just imagining what a whole life with him would have been like. Daydreams about what might have happened if she managed to convince him to kill the brain and be a hero to the city with her… Sad hours, man.

18. How does your Dark Urge feel about love?

This one is even harder… Damn you tumblr user @/wilchur!!!!!! Well, love is complicated for Anathema. Not just romantic love, but any type that isn't whatever fucked up thing she feels for Bhaal (and even that is a mess most of the time). Anathema had a normal childhood (for the most part) and back then I think she thought love was the way her mother brushed her hair or how her brother would carry her on his shoulders, but after she was taken in by Bhaal, he started to eat away at all those good things and replace them with nothing but him. For decades "love" is the dread she feels when her Father is near, it's the status he gives her, it's the promise of heated touches in her dreams. For a long time, love is Bhaal. She would only start to truly "branch out" once she met Enver and started to venture out more by herself, away from the Temple (where her father's control over her is stronger). She realizes that love is how Sceleritas takes care of her, it is the way Gortash holds her by the waist and whispers in her ear. (In Triumvirate) it's the taste of Ianira's blood on her lips, the feel of her fingers on her skin. Later, when she has forgotten how Father's love feels like, it's the smell of Gale's cooking, the sounds of Lae'zel sharpening her daggers for her, the sensation of Shadowheart braiding her hair, how Wyll hums when she helps him apply salve around his horns, how Karlach lifts her off the ground when they hug. It's Astarion's surprisingly patience when teaching her how to disarm traps. Damn this got deep all of a sudden.

29. What advice would you give to your Dark Urge?

Advices… Damn. It depends where she is in her life I guess. When she's a child… I guess my advice would be to not visit her parents that fateful year when Bhaal made her slaughter them. I wouldn't tell her why, but just "hey maybe just writing to them is enough". When she's Chosen, my advice would be "run". Just bolt, girl. When Gortash offers you a way out mid a passionate speech full of implied feelings and sexual desire, TAKE IT. After the lobotomy, I guess my advice would be "promise Gortash you will marry him if he fixes Karlach and helps you kill the brain". It would save her a lot of time.

[edelgarfield]

@rakkikuroba don't get me wrong i love the tragedy durge + gortash too, but YEAH the fact that everyone dissects gortash + durge and totally sleeps on orin is extremely telling. in fairness I think part of that fault lies with the game itself--the narration whenever you deal with Orin is EXTREMELY angry & violent, which makes sense narratively, but like, nothing ever really balances it out? like you have to go out of your way to learn her lore, and even if you do none of the tragedy becomes apparent until you think about it. Plus she's like, definitely more "inconvenient" than gortash in that gortash will help you while orin actively taunts you & throws a giant wrench in your party comp. so like, i think just from a gameplay standpoint people are primed to dislike Orin more, like Gortash is just as bad but unless you cross him first he never does anything bad to the player (which tbh is in itself fascinating & says a lot abt their personalities)

but it's so frustrating to see her reduced to a joke abt being a poor leader or a child throwing a tantrum like. like no, she's not a good leader & yes, technically her usurping Durge's position is what led to the Absolute plot failing. but her other option was to die. she & durge have known from the moment they met than one day, one of them would kill the other, it's the inevitable fate of all bhaalspawn to kill each other until only one remains. And Durge, as the favorite, purest bhaalspawn would be the presumed winner. like can you imagine? it's unclear how old orin is, but can you imagine being raised like a lamb to the slaughter? knowing that your closest family, the only person who bhaal DOESN'T demand you kill, is going to bring you to ruin? being completely dismissed by durge's butler, the chosen of bane & myrkul, because your only purpose is to be consumed for durge's power? if orin let the Absolute plot play out unimpeded and durge gained all that power, what exactly do you think is going to happen to her? do you think durge is going to let her live while they go off and dominate the world? like yes, taking Durge out was strategically a bad move, and Orin is not a good leader, but she very clearly had a clock ticking down over her head so she did what she had to to survive for just a little longer, to make Bhaal & Sarevok proud, to prove she's more than just a pawn to be consumed.

just like so many of the companions & durge themselves, she didn't choose her bloodline, she didn't choose to be subservient to bhaal. and unlike durge, who was stated to have been raised outside the cult, orin was born in it. she literally doesn't know anything else. whatever choice she may have had has long been stripped away by years of abuse and brainwashing. she's a terrible person, yes, but she never had the choice to be anything else. all your companions have faced similar fates, slavery, indoctrination, propaganda, etc, and when they break away, they're finally given the chance to change, to carve their own path. Orin never gets away. She lives and dies beneath Bhaal's thumb, and if you tell her the truth, that Sarevok never loved her, you see exactly what happens if her loyalty to Bhaal wavers--he seizes control and brings her back under his heel.

it's heartbreaking and there's so much angst potential between them & durge. i.e. a lot of people see the prayer for forgiveness letter abt Gortash as Durge pleading to Bhaal not to hurt Gortash--i see the letter Durge writes abt Orin the same way. Durge tells her to stop focusing on who she kills and just kill as many people as possible. There's no way to know for certain, but my hc is that Durge fears if Orin is seen as unworthy in Bhaal's eyes, if people start to question why Durge keeps her around, then Bhaal will force their hands and call for them to duel. Orin is Durge's only family, Bhaal forced them to kill everyone else, and Orin is undoubtedly the person Durge has known the longest since coming to the temple, besides maybe Sceleritas.

Can you imagine how lonely it must be to ruin everything you touch? Like yes, Durge delights in killing, but to be fated to kill EVERYONE? To have nothing and no one to keep for yourself? Even if they despised each other, I have to imagine they felt some kinship with Orin just based on the fact that they've killed anyone else they may have been close to. Bhaal lets them have nothing else, look at the Prayer for Forgiveness, Durge is begging Bhaal for forgiveness for having a friend. Orin is the only exception bc of their shared blood, and even then, there's a time limit. I can't help but imagine Sceleritas making a remark about Orin's usefulness, or Bhaal being dissatisfied with her work, and Durge out of a mix of desperation and anger tells her to fall back in line, pleading for just a little more time with the only person who's been by their side through the years.

even if they fucking hated each other, Durge & Orin's relationship is so fucking tragic. Orin gives Durge a chance at freedom that she'll never see. Accidentally, yes, but it took a literal miracle for Durge to escape Bhaal's will, so it's doubtful either of them could have escaped had they wanted to. No matter what you do, no matter how much you defy Bhaal, you have to carry out his will in this instance. You have to kill Orin. If Durge deserves a chance at redemption, Orin deserves one just as much. Durge gets to be free, and be loved, and experience all the things they never could with Bhaal, but they can't grant the same chance to the one who made it possible. Of all the people you can save in the game, all the impossible things you can do to set your companions free, you can't save the person who saved you.

listen. listen. I feel So Much for Orin and I hate how ppl in fandom will write sonnets abt the tragedy of durgetash and their doomed narrative but then turn around and treat Orin like she's completely unhinged without a scrap of compassion.

she's literally the Dark Urge that never got a chance at a redemption arc, she's everything Durge used to be, except no one ever came to show her another way. she's been raised with the understanding that her fate is to kill everyone around her. Durge, the person she arguably has the most connection to, is someone she will one day be forced to consume. when you tell her that Sarevok ordered her death, she completely freaks out and Bhaal himself intervenes and forces her to transform while she screams in pain.

she's your underling, your sister, a murderer just like you, she's the only one who could ever understand what it's like, you're destined to kill each other but until that day comes she's the only person Bhaal allows you to keep, you were supposed to kill her, but she manages to drive a knife into the back of your skull, she steals everything from you including your past and in doing so gives you a second chance, she ruined you, she saved you, she's your destruction and salvation all in one, and no matter what you do she will die in chains

[tornrose24]

Since someone was asking about the design of the Beetlejuice plant, I think I’ll add more ideas to the Little Shop of Horrors AU.

–The flower shop belonged to Lydia’s mother. Its still owned under the family after her death, but it’s currently run by the Maitlands at Emily’s request in her will. Ironically, its very popular amongst funeral homes.

–The shop is still in an urban/city setting and there are still questionable individuals out and about.

-Lydia earns her money by working for the shop and she does take pictures for advertising, but she still prefers her usual favorite themes and subjects.

-The plant was found in a cemetery by Lydia during the solar eclipse this time around, instead of it being sold to her like in the source material. She named it after one of her mother’s favorite stars, but was forced to dumb down the spelling since no one could pronounce ‘Betelgeuse’ correctly.

-Much like in the original film, the Maitlands can’t conceive/have a hard time conceiving a child, so they regard Lydia as a daughter. And as much as they want to leave the city and live in the country, they don’t have enough money to do it and they worry about leaving Lydia. (And they are the only two people who are open to talking about her mother with her for a time).

–The Maitlands are the first to notice something is off with Lydia when she seems out of it and has multiple cuts on her fingers and seems more tired than usual before her father does.

-I don’t know who the Crystal, Ronnette, and Chiffon characters will be at the moment.

-Whoever the Orin character is (still haven’t figured that one out, due to not being as familiar with the Beetlejuice musical, or as much of a fan as others are, unless it were an OC), it’s someone who harasses the Maitlands and who Lydia can’t stand.

–OK, here’s how I imagine the Beetlejuice plant to look like or at least has these key themes: I imagine this green, purple, and black thing with moss growing in certain places and black and white striped vines. Maybe green leaves with purple spikes (or vice versa) and a head/mouth that’s green and black. It’s not exactly finalized, and yes maybe I should have drawn it out first, but I know that it has a specific color scheme and those particular vines. But since Beetlejuice apparently has mood changing hair colors in the musical, that would be fun to incorporate somehow.

–But here’s where it gets interesting and can be optional if you don’t like it. I love the idea of Beetlejuice occasionally appearing to Lydia as a ‘human man’ (basically his usual appearance with more of a plant motif involved) one she finds out he can talk. Is it actually happening, or is it just in her head as part of a visual trick? Or can he do this to those he chooses to appear as?

-Also, I think Lydia would be more open to feeding the plant than Seymour was. There’s all kinds of jerks around town with little to no redeeming qualities to dispose of. But she’d do that at specific times of the day/night to avoid suspicion because she doesn’t want Adam or Barbara or her dad to get roped into this.

–I don’t want Charles to die like Mushnik does. (If he has to, it would have to be through a series of unfortunate events.)

–I still haven’t figured out who Delia could be. Maybe a customer or a reporter who runs into Charles and that’s where they start to get to know each other.

–So while I admit that Audrey II sang some...uh, ‘suggestive’ things to Seymour (“Feed me all night long”) this doesn’t happen here. I didn’t get the sense that Beetlejuice was hitting on Lydia like he did with the Maitlands, from what I’ve seen of the musical so far. He’s fond of his little human friend, but there’s no need for a ‘green card wedding with an underage bride’ plot line to make things awkward.

–However, Audrey II did get flirty with Audrey when they finally met in the climax. And since the Maitlands share Audrey’s role together.... yup, time for more than just mere flirting. Go listen to the Suppertime reprise or watch the 1986 movie version the scene in question and have fun imagining how that will go down. (Also, recall when I said he probably could appear to Lydia as a human and it may or may not be in her head? That happens with these two as well.)

–I admit, it would be funny if he wanted to screw with the Maitland’s heads and speak to them a few times before hand. Make them think that they are hearing voices, but no one is there.

And... that’s all I got for now.

[dndfuckhouse]

Session 19 - your majesty, i present to you the vengaboys

> 🎵  Pianissimo Epilogue / Silent Hill 2 OST

Returning to our tale, the group have all found respite in Vorde’s temporary abode in Shorewater, resting up and recovering from the night's events. Soon morning comes, though with the curtains shut as they are, it's a bit hard to tell that it's now daylight outside as they all slowly come too.

Peering about the group dont spot Vorde about, supposing he’s still in his room. Feeling a hankering for breakfast, Keva and Psalm wander over to the small dining table in the room and the fruit still piled upon it, chowing down. Psalm continues looking at the tome they stole yesterday as he does, continuing to copy runes and scan for any more information as he does.

Keva: keva is cuttin up an apple into slices with a small knife, giving some to amos and setting some aside and occasionally eating a slice Psalm: i'm just cooling at this breakfast table

Rokka begins his morning stretches, Finn sees this and decides to join him as well, Han watches and secretly does her own stretches, trying to not seem as if she wants to join in.

Plum: WHY Han: issues ! Plum: LMFAO Rokka: did our near death experience not bring us closer

In the meantime Plum and Cimmorro prepare their spells for the day, either via quick study or short prayer. Seemingly done with her stretches, Han comes over and joins the two at the dining table to eat (she hoards some of the food after everyone's had some). As the group go about their activities Orin eventually ambles out of him and Finn’s room somewhat drowsy, he takes a seat at the table next to psalm and takes a bite of an apple.

Psalm: good morning orin Rokka: i am crushing an apple in my mouth whole Orin: "mornin'" he looks like hes about to continue but rokka eating an apple whole makes him go : 0 though he quickly sneaks one of Keva’s slices after. Keva: an apple a day keeps the Chip: cult away Psalm: CLEARLY IT DONT

Han heads over to the window to the balcony briefly and opens the curtain ever so slightly to peer outside, looking down she sees the fenced garden of the building, a few birds flitting about in the branches of trees. Craning her head to try and look at the street she doesn't see anybody around. Out of the corner of his eye Finn sees Han move the curtain slightly and quickly becomes on edge before realising all is fine.

Finn: 

Han: LKSAD;LKHFLKHAWEFDS Finn: grimaces @ han opening the curtain and moves slightly. Chip: like a cat Finn: yes! Chip: fur raised Finn: KHJSHEJEHLJ

After a time the group hear some shuffling from the door Vorde disappeared behind last night, it slowly creaks open revealing his form. He walks out and looks about the group of them idling about and rubs his eyes turning and walking to the dining table to also grab an AppleTM, he doesn't sit down though

Han: i am 100% imagining this strained awkward silence Psalm: is he gonna crush it in his bare hands, BAROK VON VORDE... Finn:😳 Han: chip what did we watch dgs FOR Chip: NO

Finn: "morning uncle" finn stares kinda wondering why hes not sitting down but thats not gonna ruin his day Vorde: "morning finnian, i hope waking during daylight hours isnt too much for you" his eyes look sleepy as he speaks Orin: orin swallows his apple and speaks up "take a seat boss!" Vorde: he shakes his head in response "need to stand for a while for the blood to return to my legs" Finn: finn cant help but smile at that and responds "mm not exactly pleasant but i can manage. did you stay up?"

As the two chat Keva takes the moment to go take a quick morning bath, bringing Amos into the bathroom with her to give him a clean as well. Orin watches her take the rat into the bathroom with a face of confusion.

Vorde: "good to know" he pauses "hmm yes, I’ve been working through the night on how to present our case to the royalty, im going to be needing you all to speak as well once were before the court, merely on the things that prove you weren't responsible for the assassinations. We've the evidence to back up our claims so im not too worried. Of course if the royalty calls upon you you're each to respond in kind as well.” Finn: source: trust me Han: han hmms

Vorde seems to stretch slightly after finishing his apple and finally takes a seat at the dining table with the others, crossing his legs as he sits. 

Vorde: “My plan is thus; gain entry to the palace and an audience with the royalty, once there reveal the truth that the Red Letterhead’s machinations are the true cause for all this strife and go from there, i intend to warn them that Theyord’s apparent plans are about to be put into motion soon as well” he glances back over at his room “i will be presenting and handing over the items we have procured this far, including the tome" he glances at you psalm "hopefully it will be proof positive enough, should the archmage be around she won't find ive anything to hide on the matter”

He takes a quick sigh and rubs one of his eyes “I'm not sure what the royals will decide after that, I imagine they will put further efforts in place regarding the protection of the city and its walls, they should in anycase. If we are free to walk after we can investigate madam Shelly Carter’s lead after, perhaps we may request aid for the task as well, though I'm sure they will be hard pressed to spare much after such a threat to the city has been revealed. They’ll want all hands on deck”

Finn: finn nods and just thinks "man my uncle is so smart and cool. what a solid plan." Cimmorro: 🤨 Plum:

Han: a lot seems to be hinging on the royals kind nature Vorde: true, they arent benevolent but i dont think they're idiots either. It would be hard to ignore the items we've gathered. As well as the presence of a time limit Han: .... not that we have a better plan, but were i in that position, i just throw us in jail, less loose ends Psalm: Here's to hoping they don't just jump to conclusions hm? ^_^ Han: "what might we think to do then" said at the group kinda Plum: dunno, never busted outta jail before

The group decide that if worse comes to worse they’d prefer to try and figure out a plan to jailbreak themselves rather than resist the guardsmen and die trying. They also bring up the fact that they still currently think the mayor and Vinny are still compromised or under Theyord’s influence, and to keep it in mind. Keva leaves the bath around soon after and rejoins the group discussion.

Vorde: he continues, blinking slowly “hmm yes i forgot to specify, we are going ahead with the prisoners plan. However it won't be good for me to parade you all through the street even if you are ‘restrained’, it would be best if we could appear right before the guardsmen at the palace so the closest place for them to lock you up if they decide too is within the palace itself. I should state if they do haul you away, I advise you not to resist, with the city on guard as it is it will be nigh impossible for you to escape anywhere. If I do my job right you will be out within half an hour I suspect and brought to the court if you are carted off, that is what I plan anyway.” he pauses "ill do my best to stick with you however" Han: HAN BREATHES A LONG BREATHE X2 Psalm: “Appreciated. Always good to have friends in higher places for this kind of thing, rather than muscle your way out of it “ @ han Han: neither of those things seem to go well for me Psalm: he just shrugs

Vorde: he unclasps his hands and continues speaking "speaking of, are any of carrying any rope on your person" Han: shibari time huh Cimmorro: bondage ti Keva: keva asks "what for" Vorde: aforementioned restraints

Cimmorro: "yall don't have rope in this house??" 🤨 Vorde: 🤨 vorde like no bro Cimmorro: damn ok sorry Chip: [cimm leaves the room] Cimmorro: KGJFLSDKJGKLSFG

Rokka hands Vorde a few lengths of rope from his pack to tie the group up with in their fake prisoners ploy, satisfied Vorde then tucks it away for later. He then brings up another concern he seems to have on his mind.

Vorde: he turns to you Finn with his brows furrowed “I am not sure...if I ought to bring you along Finnian. It is best we act swiftly which does mean leaving during daylight. You could stay here, though perhaps i ought to leave Orin with you. Best if you weren't alone after what happened a week back.” Finn: finn also furrows his brows and ponders his uncles words for a moment. "is it only because of the daylight uncle?" Vorde: he thinks for a moment "i suppose so"

Finn asks Orin to then go check and see how harsh the sunlight out today seems, he obliges, getting up to carefully sneak his way past the curtain as the group continue discussing the matter.

Han: han glances btwn vorde n finn quizzically "what happened a week ago" Finn: i exchange looks with vorde as to telepathically ask whos gonna answer her. Vorde: he looks at you finn and sighs before turning back to you han, tapping the table with one finger "when we first arrived in Shorewater and began poking around we were sent an uninvited visitor" Han: who Vorde: an assassin Han: han rolls her eyes "yes i got that but. any identifying features" Vorde: i found a letterheads token on him, though he was dressed as a guardsman. No ring so i assume he killed someone and stole their clothes to find passage to our room. Nothing else stood out about him. Han: han hmms thoughtfully Chip: geralt hmmm Han: yea, the energy im channelling today

Han: he didnt return and they didnt send anyone else to finish the job. cocky Vorde: [a nod] Psalm: or maybe with their ceremony on the horizon they decided they needed everyone focused on the same goal? Han: which is, in a word, cocky Psalm: sure if you want to put it that way

Han: "wait what did you do with the body" @ vorde Vorde: dumped in the sewers Han: han goes HHHRMMNH fwustwated

Orin returns and informs Finn and the gang that it appears to be cloudy out today, they should be good if Finn covers up with heavy cloaks. Finn thanks him and tells his uncle it should be alright for him to come with them, though he wouldn't mind staying back if that is what he preferred.

Vorde: vorde like hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm 

Psalm: “wouldn't it be safer to stick with a group in that case?” with his nephew there maybe he'll try harder to make things not go badly for us! 🙂 Plum: i also think it'd be kinda bad to be here alone, not like they didn't see us all runnin around Vorde: "i suppose it is better to stick together in this case" he looks at you finn "try not to horse around too much in the daylight" vorde worried parent mode engaged Finn: finn gives a big smile "got it!". >finn feels cared for friendship meter goes up Vorde: hmm, it would be more convincing in any case if i wasnt the only one bringing a group of fugitives to the palace. Finnian and Orin could make also have hold of the restraints.

Finn now assured that he is coming along, heads off into his room to quickly bulk up for the outside journey. Donning three three cloaks, the heaviest on top, thick black gloves and boots, a big sunhat and a scarf to protect his neck, he waddles back out into the main room where the party is situated.

Keva: keva's mouth seems to wiggle as she tries not to laugh Vorde: as you wander out and present yourself, vorde walks up to you and inspects your ensemble, after a moment he adjusts your scarf so it covers you mouth more and hmm's satisfied Orin: orin shouts a "looking good!" from across the room and snorts at keva Keva: keva shoots orin a look back like "what" and her smile breaks thru a little more before she fixes her face Plum: plum gives you a thumbs up Finn: "thanks uncle!!" finn beams @ vorde and looks at plum and orin and also shoots them a grateful smile

Vorde stretches again slightly, seemingly finally more awake then before, he informs the party to ready themselves to set off. They’ll get as close as they can to the palace before putting on the restrained charade, informing them they need to only disguise themselves well enough for a 5 minute walk through some alleys. Heading back into his room he begins preparing the evidence within his satchel and making himself presentable, the party following suit in trying to look conspicuous.

Keva: keva ties up her wet hair and pulls her hood and face mask up Han: han braids her hair and throws up cape too Psalm: (uses disguise kit) for good measure i just pull my hood up too Cimmorro: i'll just take off all the flashy jewellery and keep the hood up if that suffices Rokka: DISGUISE RING...

Rokka uses the disguise ring stolen from the letterheads to once again turn himself into a different human form, Chris Rokksworth, pop sensation. Plum asks the group if they oughta down the red potion they found earlier to change their hair colour.

Plum: can i just drink that weird potion and call it a day Han: angery ronand mcdoland Keva: 

Psalm: i don't see why not, i'm hard pressed to think of a better time to use it Han: han shrugs in a ye sure way Plum: [looking very excited] "ok yeah sure" i chug that shit

you pop open the red bulbous vial and drink the airy liquid. slowly youre hair turns red, additionally your tongue does as well. 

Rokka: cool hair plum Finn: i give a thumbs up back at plum for earlier.

Vorde walks out of the room once more, he almost seems surprised seeing Rokka as a person but doesn't comment, he also doesn't say anything about plums hair. Satisfied with the disguises he heads for the balcony window, informing them its better if theyre not all seen exiting the front. He slides open the curtains and clicks open the doors, peering out for witnesses before he motions for the group to all follow him as he hops down. Orin adjusts his cloak and follows quickly after.

Rokka: vorde am i hot, am i hot to u vorde

> 🎵  Aequilibrium. Medieval Tune. Hurdy-Gurdy With Organ / Andrey Vinogradov

The group quickly follow after the two sliding down the side of the building, though psalm seems to hitch his hooves on some stonework, nearly chipping them oww....his pedicure. The rest make it down quick enough and follow as Vorde begins leading the way through the shadowed alleys, as stealthily as they can to avoid detection from the increased patrols. Vorde keeping the lead and lookout helps the group manage to get by without sticking out too much.

Finally they all slowly come to a stop at an alley corner, as they come close they steal a glance at the palace, it looks as regal in the daylight as it did on the night the group all first stood before it, its peaks reaching high into the sky. The large light blue and white extravagant building dwarfs their forms, though it no longer has the inviting warm glow and festive aura as it did before. Guards stand alert and in a large number around the streets and on top of the walls, the main gates firmly shut with two royal guardsmen stationed in front of it at the top of the stairs leading up to it. Vorde quickly calls the group to attention.

Vorde: “follow my lead and don't put up too much of a fight, be sure to make sour enough faces to be convincing however, at least until you’re called before the court” he pulls the rope out of his satchel Keva: keva's face sours upon seeing the ropes come out no problem Han: hans been sour this whole time no worries bruv, i also keep a look out, like hans basically constantly alert and trying take in every little thing Psalm: psalm just stoic face as per usual, elevator music Rokka: im a celebrity im good at this, jk rokka is nervous af Plum: i always look kinda sour anyways Cimmorro: 😳 cimm like this Chip: cimm a freak like dat Psalm: LOOOL Cimmorro: oh no you caught mee, what ever shall i do, arrest this Plum: shut up shut up Han: cimm 😳 damn u pulling out ropes on the first date?

Vorde moves to hand some of the rope to Orin and they get to tying the six of the groups hands up, not too tightly but convincingly enough. He hands the rope holding Keva and Psalm off to Orin, and Han and Rokka to Finn, holding Plum and Cimmorro’s in his own. 

Vorde: "right then, plays about to begin, stay calm and follow my lead" he gives orin and finn both a nod Han: han nudges rokka to get his attention Rokka: tilts head at han ? Han: han points to vorde and makes a stupid face while pretending to talk seriously Rokka: rokka tries to stifle his laughs Finn: finn peeks out from under his scarf and squints Han: han stops immediately if she sees finn looking Rokka: rokka making snorting sounds from failing to not laugh Finn: I WAS GONNA WRITE THAT FINN HAS A SOMEWHAT APOLOGETIC LOOK BUT THEN YOU SENT THAT POKI Han: han is the picture of innocence Finn: finns rolls his eyes and turns his attention elsewhere

Psalm: well this works out pretty nicely doesn't it, since i've been kind of curious about you. Orin: he just raises a brow Keva: keva looks at psalm Psalm: he just smiles Ghester: [plays laughtrack.mp3 in ur head] Psalm: well i'm not the most learned person out there, but i was a bit curious how you came to start working for vorde is all Keva: you ask a lot of questions for someone who doesn't answer them Psalm: i think you're misunderstanding, i'm not asking anything. if i had an answer there'd be nothing to be curious about. Keva: keva makes a face like you're just saying words at her psalm Psalm: psalm just sighs Orin: “i dont mind telling you, its nothing special. Maybe after we get through court though" he looks back at you keva "no need to be so cagey about it really" Psalm: i highly doubt that it's nothing special. and i don't think there's been a time where she hasn't been cagey around me i think. Keva: oh don't go thinking you're special Psalm: oh i'm not? now i'm even more hurt  

Cimmorro: "so how are we feelin today" cimm attempts to nudge plum gently but ends up hitting their head with his elbow accidentally,  oh shit sorry your wig Plum: [GROANS REALLY LOUDLY] Cimmorro: well at least we're able to play the sour part of this play eh, all according to keikaku [editors note: keikaku means plan] Plum: always, not hard with this group Cimmorro: agreed. hey at least we're having the thrill of our lives eh? who knew we'd have a one way trip to life sentence. free! Plum: i honestly.... Cannot tell if you're joking Cimmorro: 

Plum: [plum laughs] Vorde: while looking for a chance to head out of the alley he listens to the two of you like : | Cimmorro: vorde not being paid enough by the hour to baby sit cimm

Rokka: dont make me laugh im trying to be nervous Han: "whats there to be nervous about, really" han has a weak smile lmao Rokka: life sentence Han: "just gotta break out then" nudges rokka again Rokka: "ur right. ur so smart han" rokka visibly relaxes as he talks to han more aha Han: han laughs quietly "wish i had someone nice like you for a sibling instead of shitheads" Rokka: no stopping that now Han: after han finally Gets it, shes trying not to look like [crying emoji] then looks away kinda shy? "...they arent. complete shitheads......... i think you would get along nicely with'em" Finn: finn eavesdropping @ han, inch resting Rokka: I'd love to meet them one day if we make it out of this Han: "we will. i have to knock the life out of one of them" han smiles Rokka: how many siblings do you have Han: han loses her smile a touch and hesitates a sec b4 answering "...two now." Rokka: now..? Vorde: out of the corner of your eye you all see vorde come to attention and speak "its as empty as it'll be, nows the time to get as far as we can. were on" he shoots you all a glance. Rokka: rokka shoots a quick concerned glance at han before facing forward again

Vorde pulls the two behind him ahead on the ropes and marches proudly into the street, walking at a speedy pace followed by Orin and Finn, the group gets as far up the stairway to the main gates as possible before the entourage is spotted by the various nearby royal guardsman.

Immediately they hear a few shouts ahead of them as the two royal guards by the door call out to Vorde to halt, looking the group also notice the guards on the walls train arrows on their forms. Behind, nearby guards quickly run up to flank the group, surrounding them.

Keva: keva tenses up as the guards approach Han: han too, also making note of fucking everything, how many people, exits, all that shit Rokka: rokka also does the tense Plum: plum stands a little closer to cimm and vorde Psalm: psalm is also just scoping the place out for good measure

Vorde: he clears his throat before speaking loudly and plainly “I, Vorde Barvotte of Antessa, have found and bring to you now, the assassins and wanted fugitives responsible for the carnage during the Elfonsent Ball but not a few nights ago” he continues a little less loudly with his brow furrowed “I bring grave news regarding their actions and future plans of attack on the city, i demand to be brought before the nobility and kings at once to relay this pertinent information immediately” the two royal guardsman in front of him pause for a moment and eyeball the group behind him bound in ropes.

Han appears to get the stink eye specifically from one of the guardsmen before the guard on the right, presumably the guard captain speaks up.

Guard Captain: “there are only 5 assassins left alive to my knowledge 'good' sire, and wasn't one of em' a lupin?” she turns her head to the other guard as if to ask for confirmation, he nods his head. Vorde: he clasps his hands together before responding “it appears you were not thorough enough in your investigation of the body then guard captain, it is of dire importance this error is rectified wouldn't you agree? as for the second question" he looks over at finn and gestures for him to bring chris rokksworth pop sensation forward Han: pop sensation chris rokksworth cant be bad! hes a star! Rokka: silly! hes just getting into his new movie role!

Finn brings Rokka forward as prompted by Vorde, reaching for Rokka’s bound hands Vorde pulls off the ring shifting his form immediately back to his lupin one.

Vorde: "These assassins are crafty wouldn't you say, hiding their faces to avoid detection." he gives you a quick look rokka that to you seems like hes saying gj bro Rokka: rokka just makes a surprised face :OOOOOOO

Satisfied, Vorde turns curtly and pushes Rokka back to where he was standing before, turning back to the guard captain. She squints at him and then quickly turns and raises her arm, ordering the nearby guardsman to examine the tied up members of the party for any weapons.

Han: han probably has all her weapons on her.... she grits her teeth over this lol, han glaring dagger into whoever has her stuff lmao Rokka: [nooo dont confiscate my swords] Keva: keva scowls as a guard approaches her and pats her down Han: eat shit copper

Orin tries to give Keva and Psalm placating looks throughout the process while not being obvious. The six members of the party have all their physical weapons removed from their persons. The guardsman on the right clears her throat seemingly satisfied with her appraisal and shouts at the guards on the walls to lift the gates, as she does Vorde gives the group a barely noticeable nod and continues speaking.

Vorde: “I must be bring them all before the nobility themselves as soon as possible, their testimony will be important for what i am to tell the royalty, i cannot explain their actions without them and the imminent threat to the city without them”  Guard Captain: she responds with a curt “you want to bring assassins before the kings for a second time?” Vorde: they are bound and weaponless, they couldn't hurt more than a fly as they stand now, beaten and docile. I'm sure you’ve a great manner of ways to check before they are brought anywhere near the nobility but i stress, i must speak to them with all of the fugitives present. It is of the greatest importance

The group watch the main gates slowly rise as Vorde speaks, hearing the grunting of guards nearby as they work it open. They’re all ushered ahead by the guardsmen behind them to walk through the gates. Stepping over the threshold they feel a wash of something pass over them as they enter the perimeter of the palace before moving along. 

Ghester: In the back of your head Psalm you hear Ghester make almost what sounds like a grunt of pain before hearing him whisper “....nasty enchantments in place now i see” Psalm: psalm's just looks at orin like eh could be worse, oh wait

Psalm: psalm just tries to mask cough asking ghester "are you alright?" in infernal Ghester: you hear a strained hmm as he speaks "nothing that will kill me but it shall be a persistent pain for a while i suppose, im being forcefully restrained is how i would put it. dont worry, i'll do my best to keep a watchful eye" Psalm: quietly "hmm, i wasn't that concerned about them taking my stuff but knowing that i guess i should be. although i can't really say i'm surprised they'd have you covered too." Ghester: he gives a dreary sigh Psalm: what do you want me to kiss it better? tough it out man! you're like a million years old aren't you? Ghester: he doesn't respond Psalm: * slightly concerned *

Keva: keva's gone from staring warily at the guards to staring at psalm talking to himself Han: 🤨 Psalm: psalm like why y'all staring at me Han: cant a man talk to himself every once in a while Psalm: thats what im saying

As the group walk through they all hear the guard captain Vorde is speaking to respond with a “we’ll see” before she pulls another guard over and motions for them to run ahead of the group with a message.

They quickly take off, the guard captain then turns and motions for Vorde and the entourage to follow close behind. The group are all ushered through a grand main garden, blooming flowers of yellow and blue and large plants bracket the main pathway. They feel plenty of eyes on then as they’re lead through the grounds.

> 🎵  Dark Medieval Blues. Hurdy-Gurdy, Organ & Drum / Andrey Vinogradov

The group is pushed towards the main palace entrance doors and a grand entrance foyer, flanked by royal guardsmen as they enter. There are a number more than there were during the Ball they notice as they’re are ushered down a tall corridor to the right, the royal guardsman marching along with them the whole way.

Eventually in one of the corridors they are brought to a stop. Soon after the messenger that was sent ahead earlier rushes back, as he heaves out of breath the guard captain mutters an impatient “and…?” he stands puffing before sidling up to whisper in her ear, she makes a sour face afterwards.

Guard Captain: “You’re to be examined before i bring you before the court” she points at a nearby door “inside” 

The group are once again hauled through by the guards. They find themselves led through a door to what appears to be an old and ornate looking library, though somewhat messy looking, before being ordered to sit upon a set of chairs lined up near a long wooden table.

The ceiling here is high and there are various potted plants strewn about the tall cases of old tomes, ladders with wheels on the bottom are affixed to the large wooden bookshelves. Orin seems to be looking about the large room with curiosity as if he cant help himself.

Psalm: psalm is same he's basically like "oh shit! books!!" Han: han keeps glaring at the guard who took all her shit n gritting her teeth Finn: finn also letting his eyes wander a little around the room Keva: keva also looks around and takes it all in warily

After a few minutes of waiting you all see the door open again as a woman wearing a large hat with aqua toned skin steps through, fins sprouting from her face.

Han: han briefly looks at her, then does a double take.  Rokka: anxiety sky rockets

Han: han wolf whistles smh she’s a chad dont be stupid Psalm: PLEASE NO Han: NO NO AS;LKHFDLKHWADS;LKF IM KIDDING IM KIDDING Cimmorro: KVLDJSKGJSDKLG\ Han: u can keep me in these cuffs baby girl (winks) Psalm: psalm throws up Plum: [retches] Han: this is why han only gets laid when she pays Psalm: OH MY LORD WHAT A THING TO SAY LMFAO Chip: she fucks but at what cost (25 gold) Han: 25 GOLD, DAMN

The woman appears as if she's a triton, the race typically live underwater they suppose shorewater is located on the sea, not strange for the people to make their way into the politics of the country on the oceans doorstep.

Carrying papers with her they note that she appears to be formally dressed, though they aren't quite sure of her station. She moves towards the table with a nod and places the notes and items she seems to be carrying down with a quick huff and turning to the guardsman

Mardella: “I’m here to examine the accused, i shall cast a general spell then probe further if i need too” as she speaks she brushes an errant hair behind one of her fins. Han: raise ur hand if u dont wanna get zone of truth-ed Plum: I DO I DO I WANNA GET ZONE OF TRUTHED MAKE THIS NIGHTMARE END I'M INNOCENT Han: AKLDSF;LKHRAWLKHHESGDLKAW;LKJ4F all my charm spell nightmares coming to life

Mardella: turning to the three not seated she continues “I am guessing you are Vorde Barotte then?” Vorde: he gives a small bow in response “yes that is correct” Mardella: she hmms and continues “I am curious as to how you apprehended them all when the guardsman had such difficulty, but you seem to express a great desire to speak before the kings themselves so i will leave the needling for the moment” she turns back to the rest of you seated in the chairs “right then this shall take me some time”

She moves to sit at the long table and picks up the papers she was holding. Just then the group also notice she also has a quill and a pot of ink near her. She quickly gets to work drawing notes of some sort before standing.

She walks back to the 6 of them and speaks casting a spell, she seems to grip something at her neck glowing a white light for a moment before relenting. She casts the Zone of Truth of spell, affecting all of them except for Psalm and Cimmorro. Should they speak now they can only respond truthfully.

Psalm: i almost wished cimm failed that just to force him to speak properly Plum: cimm says peenus weenus fr and this woman is like, i am in the presence of a complicated mind... a puzzle box Cimmorro: JKGSDGJSG now everyone's in MY world Chip: lets start with your childhood cimmorro Cimmorro: AM I AT THERAPY? Han: YES

Mardella: she clasps her hands in front of herself and speaks "i shall ask you a series of questions, i expect you to cooperate with this process" she pauses and continues "are any you of currently under the effects of a spell, intended to deceive?" Keva: no Plum: nah Psalm: as far as i am aware, no Han: no Rokka: nope Cimmorro: nope

Han: laughs over the differences n similarities in our responses Psalm: that’s rp babey! Plum: tag urself

Mardella: she hmms and continues "are any of you still carrying weapons or contraband on your person" Han: han grits her teeth "i fucking wish" Keva: no Psalm: no Cimmorro: nope Rokka: nope :( Plum: no Cimmorro: plum sitting there thinking "is this illegal? fuck if i know" (re their pink medical potion) for 30 seconds before answering

Mardella: she continues "do you harbour ill intent towards the royalty of this country" Plum: no Keva: no Han: no Rokka: never Psalm: no Cimmorro: not yet i dont :d Plum: LFAMOGOGOO Han:;KHAS;LKDF;AWEFD Cimmorro: DONT TEST ME Chip: cimmorro cringe compilation Psalm: @ cim

Cimmorro: LKBF;DBCVB,SB.,S Han: we are all testing her patience,  cimm and han 🤝 at their wits fucking end Cimmorro: they find truce. Once

Mardella: she gives you a look cimm and continues "how long ago did you arrive and shorewater, and for what purpose" Keva: 2 weeks. i’m looking for someone Plum: a few weeks ago, came here to talk to vorde Rokka: nearly a month, im just exploring Psalm: a little under two weeks. and i'm just here for a change of scenery Cimmorro: came around 2 weeks back or so. just passing by really, pilgrimaging Han: almost 5 seasons. my friend left me here to find myself

Mardella: she humms "and a final one, were you all here on the night of the Elfonsent Ball?" Han: yes Keva: yes Cimmorro: yup Psalm: yes Plum: ya Rokka: yup

Mardella: satisfied she nods and unclasps her hands "thank you for complying" 

The woman walks back to the end of the table where she placed her papers and begins to draw with the ink and quill, what look like runes of a sort, whispering under her breath, they figure shes slowly casting another spell.

They sit in silence under the watch of the guardsman, about ten minutes pass before she seems to finish, a quick glow bursts from her hands and she stands once again, coming to scrutinise them all. She then slowly examines them all one by one from a distance, making her way down the line before stopping after a time, seemingly satisfied.

Mardella: “I’ve not detected anything suspicious in the way of magic for now” she stands and dusts her dress slightly “i shall go and inform the kings, lead them to the court hall once you are ready” she turns and gives Vorde a slight bow before standing and leaving the room. 

Han: oh that was a detect magic not identify, i was like how is psalm not pinging -  warlock pact Cimmorro: psalm big dong pinging under the radar of mommy Psalm: yeah everything about that is horrible jez Chip: psalm back on pornhub Psalm: everything about what you just said is terrible, GOD, THIS IS LIKE THE THIRD TIME Plum: jez, jez i will beat you one day Cimmorro: Nicj9jjoflkeneje

The guard captain satisfied, motions for the guards to haul the group out of the room and back through the palace, the other three following close behind. Once more they are led through the tall corridors of the palace into a more minimalistically decorated area, though it seems everywhere in this place is covered in plush long carpets. Eventually they are all brought before a large set of double doors, taller than themselves, and brought to a stop. 

The guard captain stands at attention before them all, bringing Vorde, Finn and Orin in front of the group, before turning and lightly knocking on the door. A moment passes and soon after what they assume to be a secretary of sorts sticks his head out and whispers in her ear before leaning back inside and closing the door.

Plum: [fidgeting] Rokka: [fidgeting] Han: han is stoic tense n grimacing the usual Keva: keva's like, lightly scuffing the plush carpet with a shoe as she looks around Psalm: psalm sneezes Chip: ghester doesn't say bless you

Guard Captain: she turns back to you all and speaks “You have been granted an audience with the kings, the princess, the archmage and the high arcane adviser. You will speak when spoken too and keep your hands to yourself, if i notice but a hair out of place, you're out the door. As for the rest of you-” she cranes her head “try anything again and we’ll gut you where you stand, am i clear?” Plum: i heard one of the kings is really hot, IM JK Han: KKHDA;SLKHFALKHEFDS Cimmorro: JDJFKROEDLDM so ure saying hes not? 🤔

> 🎵  The Great Cross-Examination ~ Allegro 2015 / The Great Ace Attorney OST

The guard captain turns and pushes open the doors walking ahead. Vorde, Orin and Finn follow after her as the rest of the group are pushed along behind by the royal guardsman. They all enter what looks like a large chamber, a small set of stairs leading down into a large circle with an ornate design in its centre, tall pillars along either end. At the centre hanging over the centre of the large circle is a lit chandelier, clean in its design.

Across and up another set of stairs appears to be 5 seats, two more ornately decorated than the others, each sat upon by a person flanked by stone statues. The two kings Jermiah and Peruvus Argotts, sit in the two at the centre, flanked by princess Forrin Argott. Next to them sits a gnome in ornate garb, and the woman from earlier, Mardella. 

The chamber has a set of royal guardsmen lined up on either end of the wall at attention, the group is slowly led down to the centre of the room as the guard captain in front of them speaks, head bowed low.

Psalm: A GNOME? :pogchamp: WE'VE BEEN KONGED Plum: GNOME COOL Cimmorro: DAMN TGIF THANK GNOME ITS FRIDAY Han: 

Rokka: SDFCGVHBJKL Cimmorro: THANKS POKI

Guard Captain: your majesty's, i bring Vorde Barvotte of Antessa and his associates, as well as the 6 fugitives wanted for the events that occurred during the Efonsent Ball” she then steps back and aside, allowing Vorde, Finn and Orin to stand facing the court instead. “He claims to have pertinent information regarding their plans and a future plan of attack upon the city, he desired to relay this directly to the court.” The eyes of the five soon land on Vorde as he folds his arms behind his back.

Jeremiah: the king consort speaks up first “Well no need to keep us in suspense sire, speak freely. Mind we are a bit on edge at the moment so if possible it would be well for us to keep this audience brief” Turen: you hear the gnome woman speak up soon after him with a sigh “better for us to be taking no audiences at this time with the work to be done right now” Forrin: The princess responds soon after “we can't turn down any information at this time Turen, even if it ends up being a farce. Though I doubt the good sir would jeopardise himself so readily in such a precarious time, correct?” she tilts her head slightly with a glance at Vorde. Vorde: He responds with a small bow and a brief “of course your highness” Jermiah: he once again waves his hand as if prompting Vorde to begin speaking once more. Cimmorro: speak now thot Plum: plum is just listening to them say words and not absorbing any of it,  just thinking i am looking at the faces of the rulers of this country right now, i wonder what my parents would think Finn: finn looking at these people like man theyre richer than us Cimmorro: we start dancing behind him, interactive presentation Han: we start doing fortnite dances Psalm: psalm is also like hmm wonder what my parents would think, how did i end up here

Vorde: standing straight again he begins “I bring important news of dire events but more notably i must stress an important detail first. The 6 fugitives behind me stand accused of heinous crimes towards the court and the sanctity of this city and country, but I've proof they were merely innocent bystanders who were used. Their faces stolen to be equipped as masks in crimes against this country” He straightens his back slightly before continuing “On my person i have a pieces of evidence that point towards the true culprits behind the attack on your persons your majesty’s, a cult known by the moniker ‘The Red Letterheads’ who deal in disgusting acts for a purpose i do not fully understand myself yet” 

 As Vorde speaks the group see the 5 sitting in front of him watch with rapt attention, he details the evidence they’ve all found and presents his satchel, leaving it upon the ground for examination as he speaks. The guard captain takes the satchel and walks it to the gnome Turen and Mardella who begin to examine its contents. 

> 🎵  Joint Reasoning (Type A) / The Great Ace Attorney OST

Throughout his monologue he turns to each member of the party to provide testimony or speak upon the things they have seen and encountered over the past few days to prove their innocence, and the letterheads being the true culprits before leaving the closing argument to Finn.

Han: uses her outlander feat to provide testimony explaining the groups movements precisely retracing their steps and describing the letterheads place

Psalm: persuades them that the night started with the group being either hired as vinny's bodyguards or brought along as his +1's and the reason why they chose them for doppelgangers was because they were apparently easy targets

Plum: talks about the fact that they only came to shorewater to talk to vorde and then was going to fuck off back to talornia or wherever - they say "fuck off back to" and then are like ah oops

Keva: say she was talking with silversoul and was in his vicinity during the attack, so she saw him stabbed and wasn't around vinny who her doppelganger was seen stabbing bc she was across the ballroom -  [ psalm jumps in on keva's point to say that he had seen the letterhead member that stabbed vinny before she disguised herself as keva and that they later apprehended her and got information out of her ]

Rokka: mentions that he was speaking to vorde with han and plum at the ball,  BRO IM JUST A JOCK

Cimmorro: speaks precisely about the methods of necromancy the group saw, including the undead zombies and the blood clones.

Finn: for the closing statement he emphasises keva’s testimony re:gintama and cimmorro’s regarding the blood clones. Tying that in with the evidence the group  have and making it clear that the real perpetrators have pressing motives that need to be investigated with utmost urgency

> 🎵  The Old Bailey ~ Closing Argument / The Great Ace Attorney OST

Finn eventually closes out the argument, nervously taking a breath as he finishes speaking. In front of them the group watch as the court thinks of the things the party has relayed, most of them with their brows furrowed. 

Psalm: i hope this turns into a "glad we brought him!" situation Cimmorro: PLZ 🥺

Peruvus: finally he speaks up “So this is true then? I had suspicions this was part of a greater plot but it appears to have become all the truer with every word you’ve spoken.”  Jeremiah: “The inconsistencies within your testimony make sense if the culprits were in fact doppelgangers, a cult hmm” looking at you Finn he continues "you said his name was Theyord?” Han: han zones out for a sec and then goes "i believe he also went by ansam?" Finn: finn pulls down his scarf slightly. "Indeed. But my uncle has a better account of this, if you do not mind him relaying it in my place." and just. eyeballs vorde. motioning for him to take over. Cimmorro: this is finn the whole time but crying

Vorde: Yes, your majesty, i think in a previous life he may have gone by the name Ansam, i'm unsure of its relevance at the moment Jeremiah: at that he seems to think for a moment before frowning and putting a hand to his face to think, not speaking after. Turen: next to him the archmage speaks up “This tome is certifiably filled with black magic, the kind you often dont see used on the material plane by living creatures because of how complicated the runes are. If this cult's patron is Mephisto then that is most certainly where they got these litany of spells, he just gives them out to anyone who asks now? This devil gives me a headache…” she turns towards the three standing members of royalty before continuing “i can confirm the contents of this tome are indeed teemed toward necromancy and mind control, it may explain a few things. The enchantments on these items feel like the scratchings of the desperate” she looks over at you cimmorro "seems he knows what hes talking about" Cimmorro: cimm just looks back at them like <:3c

Keva and Han attempt to study the king consort’s reaction to the name Ansam but dont get much aside from the fact that he recognises it, theyre unsure how affected he is right now by its mention. Han does note that the 5 seem to be seriously considering the groups argument, seems Finn’s closing argument was quite strong. 

Psalm also thinks now and considers if he’s heard the name Ansam before, he thinks that perhaps faintly he may have heard it somewhere back home, thinking that it sounds like it could be the name of tiefling. Though he doesnt get much else. Soon after Cimmorro is praised Mardella once again speaks up 

Mardella: “i do not think they're lying about the stolen faces, we had the suspicion already. Once we removed the ring upon the corpse in the palace it changed its face completely, it's of the same make as the one I hold now” she twirls the disguise ring around in the light. “Your majesty’s, your highness, i too can confirm the authenticity of these items as Turen just did” Forrin: at this she responds, lifting her arm slightly, beckoning towards the guard captain “as a gesture of trust, i’d like you to remove their bindings as they stand before us captain” 

Quickly bowing, the guard captain walks over to the group of six, Orin, Finn and Vorde drop the ropes as she quickly cuts each member free one by one, their hands allowed to roam as they please. Other royal guards step forward to take the ropes and remove them from the hall as the king begins to speak once more.

Peruvus: “I'm going to choose to believe the events you’ve just relayed to us to be truth, in which case I apologise for the rough treatment you’ve no doubt undergone in place of our true culprits. It must not have been easy gathering all of this information.” He turns to you Finnian, and continues “earlier your group said there was an immediate dire threat facing us, can you explain? Or was this also part of the farce to gain an audience with us” he clasps his hands over his knees as he speaks, leaning forward slightly “we’ve upped the city’s defences somewhat since the assassination attempts and the return of our archmage, but there have been unusual happenings i've noticed over the past day. I’d like to know what you can tell me and if you’ve any further leads”  Psalm: If I may, what are these 'unusual happenings' you're referring to? Peruvus: he shits his attention over towards you psalm and responds "The mayor caused a great hullabaloo at the government ward gates, it appears as if he started a fist fight with all the nearby guardsmen out of the blue. None were eager to bring him down as he was already still injured from the Ball’s events" he rubs the bridge of his nose as if beleaguered "Similarly a cleric from the church of Heiron was seen pounding on the gates in the church district soon after his recovery within his own church's walls, he resisted any attempts from the guardsman to calm him and had to be restrained..." Keva: keva frowns @ news abt panaver Han: han tsks kind of to herself

Psalm: I see. Well going off what we know so far the cult has the ability to both disguise themselves, but their leader can temporarily possess the followers as well. The cleric is one of the wounded from the night of the ball, so that at least explains his breakdown. Keva: "silversoul" keva says, quieter than she usually speaks Psalm: sorry what was that Keva: keva huffs and says louder "his name was panaver silversoul. he was the one i was talking to." Han: we think who was stabbed, is who can be controlled by theyord Finn: "It was not a farce. Our investigation has proven that the Letterheads have been preparing to perform a ritual. Perhaps some sort of summoning. The language they used suggested serious danger. Tightened defenses or not, Shorewater is vulnerable." Finn sighs and closes his eyes for a second. "it might be of interest for you to know that they possess portals that lead to various different places in Shorewater, possibly outside of it." Psalm: With that being said, we don't really have the specifics of the 'dire' event the letterheads have planned. But for the most part they seem intent on 'punishing' Shorewater. Oh, and they plan to carry out this punishment within the next few days. Plum: i'd give us less than two days. Psalm: If even so much. We did however, infiltrate their base, so assuming they haven't left we know the whereabouts and have an idea of what it's like inside

Cimmorro:  is finn still wearing all of his layers during the entirety of this Finn: yes Cimmorro: perfect,  he's just waddling around while explaining things

Forrin: ...a large scale attack… we’ll need Turen to scour that tome for any sort of spell that might indicate to what exactly they’re attempting, perhaps that Accord wizard might assist us. We must further up the guard presence along the walls and call a lockdown perhaps.. Jeremiah: perhaps we ought evacuate the city entirely, though I wonder if we’d have enough time, if we were caught while people are outside their homes en masse it could worsen the situation entirely… Mardella: i think a lockdown would be a better course of action, if we set about activating the city wide enchantments quickly the people would be safer inside their homes than out Jeremiah: he nods in response “hmm this is true, we’ll need to expend all our effort into organising the guard as quickly as possible more than we already have, we ought to bulk up the church and government ward gates specifically as well. Its good to know we've a location to crack down on then as well. We ought to arrange a group of guardsman and mages to flush them out post hate as well..

> 🎵  Joint Reasoning: The Great Deduction (Type B) / The Great Ace Attorney OST

Forrin calls over the guard captain and the secretary seated at the desk close by and begins relaying orders for them to begin sending out along with Peruvus. Jeremiah however continues to address the group as they do.

Jeremiah: Travellers and esteemed Barvottes. I King Consort Jeremiah, am now asking formally for your aid in this time of crisis, we are stretched thin and with not knowing what to expect the city needs as much help and eyes as we can give her. You will be compensated greatly for helping the city of Shorewater, and the country of Dorrin itself in its coming time of crisis. As well as for the hardships you have already endured, is there a name I might refer to you all as going forward?” Vorde: he turns his head at you all expectantly afterwards as well.

Cimmorro: wow even on dnd we quarantine Chip: social distancing to save from cults Psalm: damn jeremiah if you're asking like that... 👉👈 Cimmorro: jeremiah stan club Plum: sir can i get your autograph

The group then scramble to decide on a name, quickly forming a group huddle amongst themselves.

Cimmorro: cimm does a poor attempt to huddle us all up and goes "lets just go with peenus weenus" Plum: whispering heatedly "shut up cimm shut up" Psalm: sure why not, i'm sure whatever dignity we have left doesn't matter anymore right? Han: tries not to choke

Finn: finn coughs uncomfortably at cimm's suggestion. "we could simply refer to ourselves as a strike force." Han: do we even have anything that makes us one Psalm: vinny's strike force... to honour him since he's dead. /s Cimmorro: the brokebacks Plum: SHUTGUUPPGPF

Cimmorro: while everyone is debating i just walk up to the king and goes like we're the vengaboys -  "your majesty i present to you the vengaboys" Jeremiah: he looks towards you cimmorro and tilts his head "vengaboys? i see, well then Vengaboys-" and he turns to the rest of you all "i would like to ask again for finality's sake, do you have any more possible leads at the moment?" Cimmorro: i turn back to everyone and gives a thumbs up Psalm: psalm gives a thumbs up back Vorde: [internally] tf does venga mean Psalm: TF DOES VENGA MEAN Chip: vengeance boys... Cimmorro: ^ Keva: boys for vengeance Finn: 

Psalm responds afterwards, informing the king consort that the only one they have would be the hideout as they’ve never met Theyord in person, Han emphasising only when hes possessed someone. He also brings up the notes in the back of the book, noting Shelly’s name and that she may be in possible danger.

Keva: i step a little closer to psalm and say "tell them about those people we ran into down there" Psalm: psalm just folds his arms and does what keva asks Keva: YYYEEAAAAHHH

Han: when theres a pause han also asks "what about the assassin that you caught? who are they?" Jeremiah: he looks over at you "they weren't caught per say, the guards struck them right in the ballroom before they could strike at us, dead in seconds." he thinks "we examined the body of course but as far as we could tell they weren't a Shorewater native, i dont think they were from Dorrin originally either. The most we could glean was they had a brand upon their back in the shape of a symbol once we removed the disguise”

Forrin then returns her attention to the conversation at hand, seemingly her and her brother Peruvus have finished issuing orders for the moment, having been paying attention to the ongoing conversation.

Peruvus: “We shall work on the assignment of the guardsmen across the city and deciphering all we can from the tome you’ve given us, as well as bolster the city's magic defences, and declare a lockdown. Once you return from investigating Shelly Carter’s abode I would ask you to assist us directly in these tasks. At the most i can spare some guardsmen to assist you in this endeavour, it would be best i think to send one of the captains in charge of the arcana district to help your investigation. I will send word for you to meet them at the district gates, it would be best for us to move as quickly as possible”  Turen: in response to this archmage stands “if i am no longer needed your majesty i shall consort with Mardella and the witch from the accord, my workload has suddenly increased tenfold” she rolls her shoulders as if gearing up for a fist fight.

Jeremiah nods and waves her and Mardella off, the two stand and leave the room via one of the large doors, finally him and the other two royals stand 

Jeremiah: “The royal guardsman shall escort you off the palace grounds and send word across the city that you aren't to be approached in your travel, should you require any food or rest before you head off you may use one of the rooms in the palace. The guardsmen will direct you.” Peruvus: “return as soon as you are able, we’ve not a moment to waste” Psalm: I don't speak for everyone here, but as it's still early in the day I don't think we'll be here for long before heading onto our next task Peruvus: looks towards you psalm and nods "of course, whatever suits you for the moment" He looks back towards Vorde addressing him directly "thank you again for your aid in this time from your family, sire Barvotte, it shall not be forgotten. As well as for you, Vengaboys, may we meet to discuss what comes next soon with higher hopes" 

The royal guard captain stands and rises as the royals give the group a small courteous bow which Vorde returns doubly so. The party and co. are ushered back out of the doors of the grand courthall their names now clear, their next task pressing on their minds....

--

Notes

🦇Finn succeeded the debate skill challenge very epic

🍺 Plum drank the「  Red Potion ✨ 」who knows how long they’ll have red hair for...

-「  4 Poison Daggers ✨ 」-「 a Branding Rod ✨ 」-「 a Red Tome ✨ and -「 2 Letterhead Tokens ✨ 」 were handed over to the Court as evidence

- ITS NOON - 33 HOURS UNTIL - 📜🩸 The Reckoning 🩸📜 - (supposedly)

[kamimuse]

“You may want to seek out Old Mei-Yen.  She is a witch who comes to our village for fish and sometimes seaweed and other items. Bit of a strange old bird, and she lives alone in the mountain pass between Yanxia and the Shore here. If anyone can find your brother, it’s likely her. You just follow the main road leading towards Yanxia from here. There is a old path that leads off up into the mountains heading west. You’ll likely find it when you’re halfway to Namai village. It might be grown over so keep your eye out, it’s easy to miss.” As was said by the Roegadyn who Orin had spoken to just before leaving Isari.

Odd as it was, he had traveled this road many times over the years. Perhaps many more since he’d started helping rebuild at the Doman enclave with the other Domans. Yet even as he came this way, he never once noticed a hidden path leading up to the West. His eyes had barely captured the hidden walk way weaving between rocks through the pine trees leading up the incline along the side of the bluff face.

Seeing it for the first time, the male Au ra marveled a little. Scratching the back of his head he chuckled to himself. Even in his homeland which he thought he knew so well, there were still some secrets left hidden. It was a shame Kersch wasn’t there with him. The Xaela certainly had a wanderlust and this little discovery probably would have made his day. Orin was feeling a little more optimistic himself, and it was likely that same sort of curiosity and excitement from discovering something new had likely rubbed off on him from Kersch.

The path ahead twisted and turned, running along the edge of the bluff’s cliff face until it neared the top when it tailed off into another set of pine woods leading north west. The further into the wood Orin traveled, the more the forest began to change around him. Less pines, but more bamboo. He’d been able to enjoy a rather scenic peaceful walk through the wood, admiring the flora and fauna as he followed the path which became more visible now. The number of medicinal flowers, mushrooms and shaded plants was a bit surprising but not unwelcome. At one-point mid day Orin had stopped to pick a few to store for later, perhaps they would come in handy. It reminded him much of his younger days when he used to travel across Othard in his youth.

It was nearing dusk when Orin could spot something up ahead in the distance that resembled a small house- similar to the ones in Namai village.  He came into a clearing now, several plum trees seemed to surround the property and further back behind the home was a garden and many more fruit trees of varying kinds all in full bloom. A soft breeze came through the clearing as Orin came to a stop just a few yards from the humble home.

It wasn’t like you might expect a witches’ home to look. It was not foreboding in the slightest, but rather it had a good energy to it. Humble looking, surrounded by forest and life. There were gardening tools laying about, some statues with burning incense near the front door, a few bells hanging from the door, wind chimes in the trees. It was cozy. Orin caught a familiar floral scent on the breeze and closed his eyes as he took it in. Something familiar... Yet he could not place the scent.

Opening his pale gold eyes, Orin caught sight of the witch he’d been told about. Yet she was not the shriveled old hag he was expecting to see. She was a slender and petite Raen woman in her early fifties from his guess. Beautiful, but with some worn features and wrinkles pulling at her eye lids. Long blonde hair with some well-hidden silver streaks intertwined in those heavy wavy locks. She wore a beautiful yukata of humble neutral colors. Pale blue eyes watched the younger Raen from behind long lashes and a curious, but not surprised expression.

Orin found his breath taken away from him upon seeing this woman. Not for her beauty, but for the mere fact that there was something ethereal about her. He had not studied magic long, and his aetherical presence was not strong enough to call himself a mage even in training. Yet he could recognize the woman’s energy was strong. It was everywhere around him. The trees, the flowers and gardens she maintained, even the breeze against his skin. There was something important about this, and it reached deep into the pit of his very spirit.

Who was this woman?

Clearing his head for a moment, he swallowed the lump that had grown in his throat as he found his voice and words.

“I’m sorry to intrude like this- Are you Mei-Yen?”

The woman smiled knowingly and nodded her head.

“I am.” She spoke with such a gentle and kind voice. “I sense you have come here looking for answers is that correct?”

Orin was taken back by her question but slowly nodded, not once taking his gaze off her. “…Well more like I’m looking for help. I’m trying to find someone.”

“Well you have found someone.” She smiled a bit playfully now, a mirthful twinkle in her eyes.

Sheepishly Orin chuckled. “I suppose I have. The villagers say you are a Seer of sorts?”

“Seer? Normally the locals refer to me as a Witch. How very kind of them.” She teased, motioning the other Raen to come closer towards the doorway of the little house where she stood.

Orin looked almost embarrassed for a brief moment before closing the distance as he strode over to the woman as she turned, leading him inside of the small house. Like the exterior of the woman’s home, the interior was just as cozy. A small kitchen and dining area was the first thing to see upon entering. Dried herbs hung from strings across the ceiling, with tapestries and woven blankets depicting different artworks lined the walls on either side of the windows that let in natural light. Lamps hung in the corners giving light to the dining area and kitchen. Behind a folding screen was the living area and behind there was a hall that lead back to likely the bedroom. The entire home smelled of baked breads likely from an earlier meal, giving the home a much more inviting feel.

“Some people feel the term Witch has a negative connotation. However, I’ve met some great Witches over the years. I didn’t want to offend you so I-“Orin was cut short when the older woman laughed.

“I’m not actually a Witch. You were closer to the truth by calling me a Seer. I was a priestess for many years and I was graced with the gift of sight and premonition by the gods.” She explained as she moved to sit at the wooden table in the little dining area of the kitchen, motioning for Orin to have a seat.

“I can imagine that would come with a lot of responsibility…. And stress.” He added, pulling a small stool out and taking a seat, careful not to break it. Male Au Ra were much larger than their female counterparts, and it was no surprise a lot of the furniture in this home was on the more petite size.

“At times, yes.” She smiled as she admired the younger man for a moment or two, taking in his features in the light since they were inside. “So, tell me young man, you know my name but what is yours? How can I help you?” Mei-Yen inquired.

“I am Orin Kai.” With his tail swaying from side to side, Orin extended a hand in polite greeting, which she accepted genuinely and gave a gentle grip before releasing him.

Once again, she had that mirthful and knowing smile on her gentle features as she closed her eyes briefly, tipping her face in a polite greeting bow. “Orin Kai.” She repeated. “You said you are searching for someone Orin? Family?”

How did she kn- No. He knew she was gifted with sight. She knew why he was there, she was just being polite. Nodding gently, the male Raen tipped his head as his features grew a little more serious.

“I’m looking for a brother. I’ve been looking for him for a few years now, and I’ve had clues lead me back to Othard. I figured he came home after the Garleans were run out of the region, but I always seem to keep missing him. I need help figuring out where he is, or where he is going next.”

The strain and need in Orin’s voice was perhaps carrying much more emotion than what the Raen had intended to let loose, but somehow, he found himself starting to lose whatever composure he’d been carrying for the last few years. He was desperate for help, and Mei-Yen could tell that just by looking deep into the younger man’s gaze. Orin had spent many sleepless nights battling his own guilt for not searching sooner for his teenage brother.

“He would be Seventeen now. I don’t know how strong your gift is, but…” he trailed off, feeling that welling feeling of raw emotion building in the pit of his stomach. It was hard but he took that moment to push it down internally, clearing his throat to keep from letting it get the best of him.” Do you… think you could help me locate him?”

Mei-Yen’s serene expression shifted to one of sympathy as she eyed the other Raen quietly while he explained his plight. She reached out to grasp his hand, pulling it between her own- surprised when she felt the touch of metal beneath her fingertips. It was then that she noticed Orin’s unique prosthetic. Realization came over the woman and she gave a heavy sigh, closing both her eyes.

“You’ve gone through much heartache and pain. To great lengths just to find him. You lost your arm in the process of pursuing the truth hoping it would lead you to him.” She opened her soft pale blue eyes again, looking up into Orin’s gaze now. She could see the tired weariness that the other man carried. “Such a heavy burden you have bore upon your own shoulders, my dear child.”

Orin could feel the weight of everything crushing down on him at once the moment she spoke. Her words cut like a knife, but it was nothing new to him. He waited with baited breath just to know what her answer would be. He gave her a pleading look, noting the sympathetic expression she wore. Fear was gripping at him now.

“Your brother is alive.” She explained gently. “Though he is at war with himself, fighting a battle of inner turmoil. I sense he is among ill company.” Mei said, looking directly into Orin’s gaze a little more critically now. Her words were a warning he would need to take seriously.

Orin of course furrowed his pierced brows as he gripped her hand firmly, looking at her with an intensity that he’d not felt in a long time. “Ill company? Who?”

” I am afraid if you sought him out now, you would lose him forever. The path you must take to confront and save him will not be an easy task. “Mei said releasing his hand from her grasp.

Orin released his grip and felt the weight of those words pushing him down. Another obstacle. Another road block. Nothing about this entire journey had been easy and he didn’t expect it to become so anytime soon. The idea that someone was influencing or messing with his brother set a new fire ablaze within the Raen. If any time in his life he should have a stronger resolve it was now. Lifting his gold limbal gaze to Mei, Orin’s brows knitted together in a deep furrow of concentration and determination.

“…What must I do?”

[aslaton8-blog]

I’m not a writer

Yet I’m so full of imagination. So what do I do with this? I guess I begin writing right? So here is a glimpse at what I’ve been working on for the last decade and finally started writing. WITH the help of my writer friends of course. I still have some notes in here of places I need to work on or add details but other than that this is the rough draft of the first chapter:

 “What is there left to strive for? It’s all…perfect.” Orin thought this to himself as he stared listlessly at the wall in front of him. This was becoming a habit, this sitting and staring, mind looping around the tedious perfection that encapsulated him. Perfection. A word that on its own should elicit thoughts of triumph and rightness. It was starting to mock him. He was feeling a nameless emptiness now, and the wall in front of him was failing to rectify the situation. So he decided to go for walk. He put on his shoes and stepped out into a glorious golden afternoon. The weather was perfect. Of course it was.

(here might be a chance for a little world-building. Descriptions of particular flowers or trees, anything to make the world unique and enhance the imagery)

He strolled down the street toward the community center, where the Battle Games and other events took place. The Games. Why did the citizens even bother with this archaic tradition? Sure he was privileged to be a part of the warrior team, and the yearly festival helped to keep him sharp and in great shape. That was worth something he supposed. It was a reminder of where they all came from, why they all got to live the happy, perfect lives they did. It was supposed to be a faithful reenactment of the last Great War. These days it was a popularity contest. (here I omitted the brief explanation of the war itself and the history, because this is a story that you can find a way to tell organically later on)

The community center loomed large before him, filling his field of vision with shimmering memories of hard-fought victories and the revelry that inevitably followed. All in the name of the True Victory all those years ago. Of course, the True Victory was a victory Orin himself had taken no part in. Still, the architectural juggernaut at the center of town never failed to send a shiver down his spine, and he felt his bow hand start to tingle at the sight of it. He would be ready this year, oh yes. He was always ready.

His fantasies of future glory were shouted out of the sky by a spunky, pig-tailed fledgling bounding across the street towards him.

“Orin!” she cried, waving excitedly as she barreled forward.

He rolled his eyes big enough for her to see, but behind the dramatic eye-roll there was the hint of a barely-hidden smile. This was a common reaction to her infectious energy. Abella skipped the last couple steps towards him, already reaching for his hand before coming to a stop.

“Orin Orin Orin! Was just on my way to your place, Isumthikar said you’d be there. You’ve been sitting at home a lot lately huh?? Well—Doesn’t matter. I made something I wanna show you. Come on!”

Orin’s feet were moving before he had time to blink. She dragged him around the corner, past a handful of dog walkers (don’t exist) and young couples enjoying another day of peerless beauty.

Abella never once let go of his hand as she led him down the street and through the front door of her mother’s shop, Katrin’s Kolecktibles. The store looked as it always did, dusty shelves lined with exotic artifacts of various origin and composition. Anything from brass vases to homemade jewelry, dream savers to fortune beads (I just made up crap here, good opportunity for WORLD BUILDING). Stern-faced Katrin stood behind the counter as she usually did, bent over a well-marked ledger with a fountain pen between her teeth. She eyed Orin over her glasses and smirked. Her daughter’s feelings for Orin were no mystery to anyone, Orin included, so there was an expectancy that hung in the air whenever the two of them were together. This tension clawed at Orin, and while Abella was sweet and beautiful (a common trait among most girls in the community), he just didn’t want to think about that right now. He had no desire to lead the girl on, but she was no dummy either. She knew it wouldn’t happen now, or maybe even soon. The girl was crafty, playing the long game. Orin couldn’t help but admire her perseverance.

He blushed under Katrin’s gaze as Abella rushed him to the back of the store, where she opened up a stout leather case and removed a freshly-carved, newly-strung ironwood bow. Orin forgot himself for a moment, his mouth unconsciously dropping open as he gazed upon its craftsmanship. Abella must have been pleased with this reaction, as she let out a honey-soaked giggle and handed him the homemade bow. He took it reverently, sighting it and drawing the string to test the tension. Perfect. Orin was never one for overreactions, but today he couldn’t help himself.

“You…you made this?”

“Uh-huh,” Abella replied, nodding matter-of-factly. “And even better, I got custom arrow heads.”

She reached into a small bin and pulled out a shining black arrow head, the tip whittled to a lethal sharpness.

“Me and Prong went up to the Pyrite Mountains and collected rocks. We spent days carving them. Whacha think?”

She handed him the arrow head. He caressed it, feeling the smoothness. He tested the point with the tip of his index finger, smirking when a red dot of blood appeared. “This is amazing. I think you have some talent, Abella.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.” She blushed and bit her lip. “Actually, I was also kind of hoping you’d use them in the competition this year.” She gestured to the bow in his hand. Her proposal hung heavy in the air as Orin not only considered the proposal itself, but also the implications of what it would mean, especially to Abella. The girl must have been reading his mind, because her eyebrows raised and she said:

“Just so you know, Prong will be using the arrow heads too.” The grin that spread over her face was rife with mischief. Crafty little Abella. So it was to be a challenge then. Orin was no stranger to challenges, and he was happy to accept this one. “Of course, Abella,” he said, bowing and pressing the bow to his chest, “I would be honored.” (here I omitted the explanation of Oauvyss courting traditions because it would be good to reveal this organically later on. I think for now it is enough to hint that Abella has serious feelings for Orin)

With so much light left in the day Orin departed Katrin’s Kolecktibles in search of a safe place to practice with his new bow and arrow. Nearby is a mountain range called the Kavos Mountains named to honor the hero of the last Great War on Oauvyss. This is where Orin’s parents died. He knew this would be the best place to practice because it always brings that darkness back enough for him to feel the true power of the weapon.

Orin was walking casually along the path toward the mountains when he spotted something very strange in the distance near the lake. It looked like a plant he had never seen before and looked like it didn’t belong in that area. “What was it doing there?” He thought to himself. His curiosity overcame him and pulled him toward the strange plant. As he got closer, the plant got bigger. He didn’t realize how far off in the distance he was looking at it. It started looking like some kind of plant made cocoon the size of an Oauvyn. He struggled with bad thoughts for a moment but then figured nothing bad could happen from a plant on Oauvyss yet he still had a bad feeling about it. It looked strange. It didn’t have the same vibrant colors the rest of the foliage around had to it. It looked like it was transplanted from another world. In an effort to understand this feeling it mustered inside of him, he investigated the cocoon further.

The hull glistened with tiny dark blue hairs blanketing its reddish-purple surface. Orin reached his hand out to feel the texture of the hairs but when he did he heard a loud snap in the trees behind him. His battle trained reflexes quickly shot him in the direction of the sound. He locked eyes on the trees looking for anything that could have explained that sound. His heart was pounding now.

“Why am I so afraid right now? This feeling is overwhelming!” Orin thought to himself in panic. He decided not to ignore the feeling and to take it seriously. He readied his bow and arrow he was just gifted from Abella.

“What a great time to have given this to me, Abella. I’m really feeling the power of this weapon right now and I hope I don’t have to use it.” He whispered under his breath to himself. “I just have a strong feeling about this strange plant right now.”

Suddenly and seemingly out of nowhere a shadow and powerful force or pressure pushed Orin down. Now Orin was more than battle ready. He had a bad feeling and now it was coming to life. “Shadow beings don’t exist so what the heck was that?!” He exclaimed out loud. He rushed back to town to get away from the strange events happening in that area and to hopefully inform somebody of the strange plant. He finds Prong first when he gets back into the village.

“Prong! Prong!” He screams at him from down the street. “What’s going on my friend?” he replied.

“Something strange is happening near Pyrite Lake in a field near the woods edge. Follow me, inform the other warriors!” Orin explained in a haste.

“Whoa! Slow down! What’s going on? What did you see???” Prong asked.

“No time to explain, we might be in danger. Just follow me and try not to alarm the towns people. “Prong ran to his house and gathered some things. On his way back to meet Orin and follow him, he made several stops to inform the other warriors. Lillium decided to follow as well while the others stayed behind to watch for any strange activity near the village. When they arrived the plant had bloomed but there were shadowy figures surrounding the plant from a distance in the trees. Orin pointed them out to Prong and Lillium.

“Look, right there! Those are the things I think that came with that plant. What should we do? Should we inform the villagers? I don’t want to put everyone in a panic but I also don’t want them to be unprepared.” Orin was concerned.

“We are emotionally prepared for danger, Orin. The villagers are not. I don’t think we should alarm them just yet. We need to know what we are even dealing with. You said it just bumped into you right?” Lillium asked.

“Well – Yeah but…” “But what?” “But I had a bad feeling around them.” “So? What does that even mean?” “I don’t know but I think we should listen to it.”

Lillium hesitated for a minute as she mustered up the courage to believe the words Orin was saying.

“Bad things don’t exist on Ouavyss, Orin… but we love you so I’ll entertain it.”

“If bad things don’t happen on Oauvyss then why did my parents die?”

“Everyone dies eventually, Orin.” Lillium rolled her eyes in a defensive manner. “But I guess you’re right. They didn’t die at an old age like most everyone else.” Orin was upset with Lillium’s reply but instead of keeping the anger between them he decided to switch the attention back to what he perceived as a potential threat. The shadows were just standing there...staring...from behind the trees along the treeline.

“What do you think it is Orin?” Asked Prong.

No one on Oauvyss had ever seen anything like these creatures before. Where were they coming from? Were they traveling from another part of the planet? Did they plant that strange flower there? The warriors were inspired with a flood of questions about these visitors. Orin seemed to be the only one concerned. He had a strange feeling about them and he believed his feeling even more now that he had opposition from Lillium. Anger is not common in Oauvyss. People get along mostly. He remembered the feeling of anger he had felt with Lillium about his parents. Why would Lillium be so careless about his parents death as if it was just another death. To Orin it wasn’t just another death it was a symbol. A symbol of his existence and what it means. He was gripped with purpose. He knew right then this was his mission. He needed to understand what that plant was doing there and why those creatures were just standing there and staring off in the distance.

Later that evening, Orin decided to go back once more on his own. He realized the shadow creatures weren’t attacking whiched conjured up the courage to revisit the strange plant. When he arrived it had bloomed even more. However when he got closer to the plant he saw something that blew his mind beyond anything he could ever imagine. He saw another Oauvyn fledgling curled up in the center of the flower bud. His heart sank and immediately ran to her rescue.

“What in the world was an Oauvyn doing trapped inside that plant???” Orin’s heart was in full panic and was racing toward the flower. When he got there the woman looked completely bare and sound asleep. Without hesitation he reached in and tried to pick her up. When he did, the shadows around him became restless. They began making a lot of noise and some even screamed at Orin from what felt like right next to him. This opened up the feeling of terror inside of Orin. This is not a feeling he ever felt before. He lifted the young woman out of the bloom and ran as fast as he could to the village.

“Lillium! Prong! Kragos! Somebody!! Help!!!” Orin shouted as he ran into town. Villagers started pouring out of their homes, interrupted by the screaming and shouting to see what was happening. They saw Orin carrying this woman and nobody came to help. They were all frozen like deer in the headlights. Orin looks down at the limp woman in his arms anyway and said:

“Don’t worry you’re safe with me now.” ------------------------------------ End first Chapter.  Honestly never thought I would see my imagination on paper like this. It still has a lot of hashing and fleshing out to do of course but I think I finally have kind of a first chapter to this story! Wow! I’m feeling a little accomplished :)

[cakeandpi]

~8.5k words of post-s2 somewhat angsty, mostly fluffy AU. I’m not entirely satisfied with it but also everything I add at this point is more angst than fluff so this is the end product, faults and all.

Unapologetically ignores much of s2 - Tula doesn’t die, the Cave doesn’t blow up, Wally never ceases, and Kaldur doesn’t immediately take back over the team. Kind of an expansion / 'other side’ of this fic.

They barely get there in time.

He skids to a stop, Garth a half-step behind him, as the room opens up. Before him, there’s the team, battered and hurt but alive. Behind them a creature fills most of the room, thrashing and screaming as it’s forced back by bright blue-white light.

The light comes from Tula, standing defiantly between the creature and the team, and Kaldur sucks in a breath as he takes in her state. Her tattoos are glowing, the light of her magic spilling over their boundaries and outlining her body in stark relief. The sight stills his breath and his heart, even as the shivering power in the air makes his bones itch.

There’s no time to be careful with this. Tula doesn’t have time for careful. So he forgoes his waterbearers and slams forward as much raw power as he can muster. He can feel Garth do the same beside him. With any luck, they can give her enough power that she doesn’t have to draw too deeply on her own dwindling resources. If she hasn’t already.

The very idea terrifies him to his core.

The creature Tula's fighting screams, shattering the air. The temple collapses and everything goes dark.

Something grabs his shoulder, shakes him insistently. It's annoying; he's tired and he hurts, can't he rest? Kaldur forces his eyes open so that maybe the shaking will stop.

“Garth?” Kaldur murmurs blearily. Garth’s hair is disheveled, a large bruise spreading across his face, and Kal means to reach up to touch it but something’s not right with his hand. His bones feel about as strong as kelp, and his chest feels hollow and empty after that rush of pure, unrefined power. It had felt like trying to reign in a tidal wave and succeeding.

“Hey, you back with us? Can you sit up?” A hand, gentle and soft, runs over his hair and Kaldur’s eyes slide closed again. His head hurts, and by the dull, distant throbbing from his wrist he’s pretty sure it’s at least sprained, if not broken. Licking his lips, he makes himself murmur a yes and lets Garth pull him into a sitting position, too weak and spent to help. “Okay?”

“Yeah.” The room doesn't spin, for all that it feels like it should. “Tula?”

Garth squeezes his shoulder. “Alive,” he says, and Kaldur exhales in relief, then winces at a fresh stab of pain from his ribs.

Tula’s caught under the rubble, and she doesn’t wake when the team finally frees her. She’s injured badly, and Kaldur clenches one hand uselessly, the other too stiff to move without pain. She’s breathing, albeit weakly, but her skin is deathly shade of pale. His throat is tight the entire short journey back to Atlantis. What if the healers cannot help her? What if she does not know them anymore when she wakes? What if she doesn’t wake?

The healers whisk her away. Others fuss over him and Garth. It feels like hours before they are allowed to see Tula again. He and Garth sit with her through the night, the healers’ insistence that they go home be damned. Tula should have her family around her when she wakes. They aren’t about to leave her side if there’s any other choice.

Late into the night, or early in the morning - it's hard to tell given that neither of them have slept - the king visits. There's little improvement to update him with. Concussions all around, Kaldur with a broken wrist and two cracked ribs, Garth nominally okay but sporting an impressive amount of bruises and only not swimming as if drunk through sheer stubbornness. And then there's Tula's state. None of them are going to be fit for training, let alone combat, for a while.

The king nods, then fixes his gaze on Kaldur. “I need to talk with you privately.” And this is his king, he should not refuse, except that right now he cannot even bring himself to care that he doesn’t care.

“Whatever you have to say, my king, it can either wait until Tula has recovered or it can be said right here and now.” Garth's hand on his back lends him enough strength to make his voice firm, and the king sighs tiredly.

“I apologise for not being entirely forthright with you before, about your parentage. About Black Manta.” That hollow feeling returns with a vengeance, only this time there's no yearning for a lost sense of power. Instead, he thinks that this betrayal might swallow him whole. Kaldur turns his head away as soon as he realizes what the king is talking about. “I did not want you to leave us to go chasing down your father.”

“My father is with my mother in Shayeris.” He whispers, not looking up.

“Calvin and Sha'lain’a are good citizens.” The king comments. “I do not worry about you taking after them.”

The tight ball of worry in his stomach collapses in on itself and sinks impossibly deeper. There's no way his father, the one he's always known, isn't his father. It's impossible and nonsensical and yet. And yet.

Garth tells the king to leave, and if it weren't for the fact that Kaldur was floating somewhere a foot behind and above his own body, he'd scold Garth for his less than respectful tone.

Then solid strong arms wrap tight around him, and Kaldur clutches at Garth as if he were a lifeline. “That doesn't make you his son,” Garth says, his tone firm and fervent. “None of that has to mean one damned thing, okay Kal?” Kaldur tucks his head into Garth's shoulder and tries not to think about anything.

Tula’s color slowly improves and her breathing strengthens, and at some point Kaldur lays his head down on Garth's shoulder and closes his eyes, only for a moment. But he falls asleep anyway, and wakes to Garth resting heavily against him and snoring softly.

“Morning, sleepyhead,” a voice croaks from nearby. Kaldur looks up and grins tiredly at finding Tula watching them, her eyes a bit glazed from pain but aware.

The healers give the okay some hours later and they bring her home so she can be a terrible patient in comfort. And she is a terrible patient, trying to swim rather than drift, forgetting that her arm’s immobilized and trying to do two-handed things anyway, and generally insisting that she is fine and doesn't need fussing over. Kaldur simply hums and nods and stays nearby for when her small bursts of energy fade and she finally allows herself to be helped, while Garth, as the least injured of the three, does his best to get to chores before Tula can notice there was even a need to do them.

Tula is blissfully unaware of what the king had said, and Garth doesn't bring it up, not once. He’s grateful that it is being left alone for now, as if it is not even worth even a simple acknowledgement. Surely, he can continue as he has been, as if nothing has changed? But it grates on him, even as he wishes nothing more than to never have to deal with it. Nothing has changed, not even a little, and yet it’s like one of those child’s games of two very similar pictures where only the smallest, subtlest bits have shifted. Only instead of pictures its his own life.

He waits until Tula recovers enough that she's napping only once a day, then visits his parents. As always, they are delighted to see him, even unannounced, and as always, his mother tells him he's too thin. As always, his father chuckles and tells him can take back to Garth and Tula what he doesn't manage to eat.

It's like everything is normal. He hesitates, here where he used to live, his parents trading idle gossip back and forth. It's familiar and calm and he doesn't want to disturb it. But the king's words echo in his head, and if he tries to ignore it, it'll only bother him more and more.

He cannot avoid this forever. He cannot let his fear petrify him. And yet it feels like he just stepped away from one yawning chasm, when Tula woke with her mind intact, and now he’s about to fling himself over another. Even so, he must ask.

The look his parents share before they even begin to answer his question confirms that the king is not simply mistaken. He's Black Manta's son, and no one had thought to inform him. Were they afraid he would choose a person who wanted to destroy everything he held dear?

His mother's mouth twists, and Kaldur belatedly realizes he said that thought out loud. "No more than we fear the Earth to stop going around the sun, or for the tides to not follow the moon,” his father answers. And that could have been all of it, except…

“I used to work for him.” Kaldur's jaw drops. That's impossible and ridiculous, and yet he knows he didn't mishear his father's words. “I believed in the ideas that David - don't look so shocked, of course he has a name - I believed in what he claimed to be trying to do. Over time it became clear that all he wanted was to destroy King Orin, with his promises of creating a better world simply empty words. I defected.”

“Whereas I was only ever shown a 'simple treasure hunter’,” his mother adds. “I suspected that there was more, but I never pressed for it until, well, I got pregnant with you. And I found that I didn't, after all, like him all that much.”

“Then how -” Kaldur begins before knowing what he wants to ask. “That is, how -”

“’Lain’a was in distress, and I was disillusioned, so we left together.” His father reaches out and covers his wife's hands with his own. “Love didn't come til later, not until you were about ready to join the world. We made the decision to not tell you, in the hopes that you would never need to know. That it would never be something you would have to deal with.”

Kaldur stares at them. He cannot imagine his father as one of Manta's men. He cannot imagine his mother so carefree as to not care what someone did with most of their day. He's jolted from his reverie by his father's words.

“If you… if you don't want me to call you son anymore, I understand.” It's a ridiculous suggestion and he says as much.

“Then who would be my father?” His voice wavers unexpectedly, and he's enveloped in a crushing hug that he returns wholeheartedly.

The king is wrong. Because it doesn't matter who he's related to, that won't override the family he has.

But it does matter.

If he plays it right, it could be a way to swim right into enemy territory and gather information. Information that’s desperately needed, as his team continues to be stymied at every turn by this Light that seems to always be one step ahead. Of course, it could all go south at a moment’s notice too.

He hates thinking like this.

Garth and Tula argue against the idea. Not that he expected them not to, but it makes it harder when the idea already makes his own insides churn and he’s only talking about doing it.

“Shit, Kal, how am I supposed to pretend to believe - and have people believe me - that you're betraying all of us?” Garth demands. “How’s anyone supposed to believe that of you?”

It’s distressingly easy to answer Garth’s last question. “The king already thinks it only a matter of time before I do.”

Garth's eyes go dangerously flat and Tula stiffens in unbridled fury, and for a moment Kaldur almost fears for the king's well being. It is gratifying to see them outraged and furious on his behalf.

He has no answer for Tula’s questions, though. “What are we supposed to do when it comes to a fight?” He shakes his head, and her frown deepens. “Do you really think he won’t make you ‘prove’ yourself by attacking Atlantis, let alone us? Or your team?”

He has no answer, but between the three of them they craft some possibilities. In some ways it’s frustrating, because the longer he waits to put the plan into motion the more he doesn’t want to go through with it at all. In more ways he’s glad they insisted on helping him plan, because once he does leave it’s going to be a long, long time before he feels their arms around him again. It gives him a chance to store up these small moments of Tula’s idle humming, of Garth distractedly playing with his hair - or Tula’s, or trying to with Kaldur’s - while lost in thought. Of them, together, all knees and elbows and kisses and laughter and terrible jokes and even worse puns. He breathes deep and takes it all in against the upcoming famine.

Saying goodbye takes several long, lingering hours that pass by far too quickly. After, he watches Tula and Garth doze, exhausted from the process of saying their goodbyes. Tula’s heart beats steadily under his hand, and Garth’s breath brushes softly over his shoulder. Despite their efforts to tire him, he doesn’t sleep until it’s nearly morning, wanting to be sure he has every detail of them memorized.

---

“Kaldur’ahm!” M’gann greets him, cheerful and bright and energetic as ever in the morning. “How are you doing? Aquaman told us you had been injured, are you well now? How are Garth and Tula?”

Kaldur smiles, amused even through the heavy weight of the plan he’ll be putting into action soon. “I am much improved, thank you. Garth and Tula are doing well, though Tula remains on light duty for the time being. I’m sure they’ll both return to active duty soon.”

M’gann catches him up on the gossip she deems important that he’s missed over the past month. Kaldur half-listens with one ear as they walk to the sparring room, where Conner is doing his best to catch Nightwing. From the sweat drenching Conner’s shirt, they’ve been at it for more than a few minutes. “Stand still!” Conner growls in frustration as Nightwing twists out of range.

“Nope.” Nightwing smirks as he lands on his hands and then flips neatly onto his feet. “Not happening. Unless Kal wants to swap out with me?”

Kaldur shakes his head - his ribs have only recently healed, he doesn’t want to stress them overmuch so soon - and clasps Nightwing’s offered hand. “Another time, perhaps. How have all of you been?”

Conner straightens from his last lunge and brushes off his hands. “Good. Better, now that you’re back.”

“Conner’s right.” Nightwing says. “I know I’m more than ready to go back to following commands rather than giving them.”

The comment isn’t unexpected but Kaldur suppresses a sigh all the same. “I’m sure you are doing fine.” He says, swallowing his irritation. “And the only way to improve is to keep trying.”

“Ugh, you sound like Batman.” Nightwing groans.

“Do not.” Kaldur snorts. “I haven’t asked for a multi-page report on your progress, after all.”

M’gann grins. “He’s got a point.”

“I did, however, want to talk with you about something. All three of you, actually. When you have a moment.”

They are distraught at what he intends to do. What he intends to put himself through. Well, M’gann and Conner are vocal about it. Nightwing is quieter, less insistent, though clearly unhappy. But Kaldur isn’t coming to them for permission, only to inform them because as Tula rightly pointed out, the chance that Black Manta would have him fight his teammates his very high. He doesn’t want to do that without giving them a chance to prepare.

His main regret is not getting to tell Roy. But as entrenched in the Shadows as Roy is in his search for Speedy, it's safer for both of them this way. And at least the team knows, so they can tell him once it's safer.

---

Cleaning up after the Reach’s failed last ditch invasion effort takes time. After a flurry of discussion, most of the disabled magnetic field disruptors are sent into asteroid belt for ‘safe keeping’. One they bring to the Cave for study. Sphere takes an instant disliking to it, and the afternoon Kaldur meant to spend writing up reports on his recently completed mission is instead spent comforting Sphere. And Roy.

“I cannot believe you did that to me.” Roy says, not for the first time.

Kaldur gives him a tired look. “You were searching for Speedy.” He responds mildly.

Roy absently pats Sphere when it nudges against his knee. “Yeah, but you could trust the entire team and not me with the whole ‘hey I’m going to pretend to be evil’ thing?”

“Not the entire team. Only Nightwing and M’gann and Conner.”

“Uh huh.”

Kaldur looks up from the report he’s been trying, and failing, to write. “Roy, I am sorry. Would you have wanted me to put you in more danger by seeking you out and telling you the truth? When you were busy getting elbow deep in the Shadows?”

Roy sighs heavily. “Yes. No. I don’t know. I guess it would’ve been bad, if I had gotten tortured and that slipped out or something.”

“Mm.” Kaldur goes back to his report, but not before nudging Roy’s foot with his own. “You ever wish we had lives where we didn’t have to worry about that sort of thing?”

“What, and be boring?” Roy returns the nudge, and Kaldur smiles to himself. “Though it hasn’t been exactly relaxing, being out of the game. Anyone who says raising a kid’s easy is a liar.”

“How is Lian?”

“Loud.” Roy says without hesitation. “She loves exploring the kitchen cabinets and scaring the shit out of me by hiding in them when I’m not looking. Hasn't figured out how to climb up to the counter yet, thankfully.”

Kaldur laughs. “Practice for when she takes up being a vigilante too, hm?”

“I don’t even want to think about that.” Roy sighs and shakes his head. “I know it’s probably a given, but as far as I’m concerned that can take forever to happen.”

There's a blessed moment of quiet during which Kaldur manages to finish an entire paragraph. Then -

“What about you? Do you ever wish you had a different life?”

“No. Not ever.” Kaldur says. It’s not precisely true - he’s spent plenty of hours wondering what his life might have been like if something had gone differently. There's certainly things he'd like to change, or undo, but not at the risk of the happiness he's found. So it’s true enough.

Sphere beeps at them then. “You’re as bad as Lian, I swear.” Roy mutters. “What is it?”

“You’re in her way.” Superboy leans against the doorway, waving at the two. “Wally and I are back. We’ve disabled those teleporters as best we could.”

“And not the old fashioned, violent way!” Wally calls from the hallway. “Mostly!”

Roy moves so that Sphere can follow Superboy and complain to him about the half-gutted MFD currently residing in their base. “So, you going to take back over the team now? Nightwing keeps making noises about that.”

Kaldur sets his report down and leans back. “Actually. I was going to ask a favor of you.”

“Uh, Kal, you know I love you, but we both know I am not cut out to be a leader.”

Kaldur bites his lip to suppress a grin at the distressed look Roy gives him. He suspects he fails miserably. “Not that. More of just trying to get along with the team and looking in on them now and then for me?”

“And why would you not be able to do that yourself?”

The urge to grin fades. “I… am tired, Roy. I need a break. To that end, I would like to return to Atlantis soon, to rest.” He doesn’t mention that there’s been talk of a trial. There’s nothing either of them could do about such a thing, and so far it has only been talk.

“... How long?”

“I do not know. Ideally, as long as I need. Realistically?” Kaldur shrugs. “Who knows. But I would rest easier knowing that you were keeping an eye on the team.”

“Okay. Okay, fine, I'll do it. I'll make nice and everything, cause it's you. But in return, you are going to come over and meet Lian before you go home.”

Kaldur nudges his foot again. “I’d be delighted to finally meet her.”

---

Lian is adorable, and far from shy. She toddles over to them immediately before the door even closes and demands, “Up!” Roy caves to the demand, pausing in pulling out his wallet to pay the babysitter.

“She’s eaten, and had a nap. I haven’t had a chance yet to wear out her post-nap energy, though, so good luck.” The young woman says, waving goodbye to Lian. “Next week, same time?”

“That would be great.”

Kaldur steps aside so she can leave. “Took forever to find someone that Jade didn’t terrify into quitting.” Roy comments.

“Perhaps we should recruit her to the team then.” Kaldur jokes, earning a scowl from Roy.

“Haha, very funny. You do that, you get to babysit Lian during your sabbatical.”

“That would hardly be an imposition.” He smiles at Lian, who’s looking up at him curiously even as she tries to stuff Roy’s shirt in her mouth.

Soon enough she’s making grabbing motions towards him. Roy gleefully transfers Lian to his hold, and Kaldur stares down at Lian as she stares up at him. “Hello.” He tells her, and she burbles in delight and pats at his gills. “Ah, no, lets not.”

“No!” She repeats. “No.”

“No indeed.” Kaldur agrees, glancing over at Roy, who’s trying to smother - and failing terribly - laughter. He shifts Lian so he can hold her one-handed and presents a less delicate target for her curiosity. “Here.”

It works. The webbing of his fingers fascinates her, and she keeps poking at it and giggling. Eventually, though, she gets bored with his hand and demands to be put down - “Da. Da da da.” - which Kaldur initially mistook as desire to be returned to Roy.

“Hah, no, I am daah, not da. Very different and all.”

“I see,” Kaldur says with fake graveness, kneeling down to set Lian on the floor.

She toddles away, then immediately turns around and comes back. Pats Kaldur’s leg then toddles away again. “She wants you to follow her.” Roy says, not bothering to hide his grin.

Kaldur shakes his head and does as suggested.

A little later, he looks up at the feeling of cold plastic on his neck. “Ah, thank you.” He takes the offered water bottle and drinks half of it immediately.

“Thought you might want it. You’ve been playing with her for an hour.”

“... I did not realize so much time had passed.” He looks down at where Lian has been building, and subsequently destroying, a city made of soft blocks. “She’s nowhere near as loud as you made her out to be.”

“You haven’t been trying to sleep when she decides to be wide awake though.” He sighs as he sits on the beat-up couch nearby, rather than on the floor with Kaldur and Lian. “Hey, you take as much time as you need before you come back. I promise I’ll do my best to get along. At the very least, you won’t have to worry about returning early on my account.” He twists open the cap on his own water bottle.

“On your account? Are you saying you don’t want to see me?” He asks in a light tone.

A prickle of guilt runs through him as Roy startles and spills water on himself. “Uh, no, fuck no, that's not what I-”

“I know.” Kaldur interrupts, reaching over and squeezing Roy's knee gently. He hadn't wanted to distress Roy, only tease him a little. Apparently he needs to work on not sounding so serious. “I know. I would promise to see you, but I also know myself. If I come back up here, and the Team asks me to rejoin, I would talk myself into accepting, ready or not. I will call you, I can promise you that much.”

A damp hand covers his. “I'll be fine. You just focus on taking care of yourself, okay?”

“All right.”

---

Kaldur’s not really sure what he’s going to be greeted with on his return. Some of the things he’s done, he wouldn’t blame Garth nor Tula if they did not want to welcome him back to Atlantis, let alone their home.

He’s not imprisoned on sight, which is something at least. The King must have successfully argued that Kaldur’s activities were done at royal command. It feels like an apology of sorts, one he doesn’t want. He chose to go undercover, he chose to go through with the assignments Black Manta gave him, he chose to attack the very people he was supposed to protect.

He chose, and he doesn’t deserve to be excused for it.

His thoughts are cut short by a body slamming into his. He reacts, grabbing back at his attacker, and twisting about to throw them. It’s wildly unsuccessful and limbs wrap around him. “I am not sorry for surprising you like that.” Tula says into his ear, and he exhales and immediately loosens his grip. Looking up, he finds Garth a short distance away, grinning broadly.

“I could have hurt you, love.” He grumbles, shifting so that he’s holding her instead of trying to pry her off. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, and you could try to hurt me.” Tula pulls back only to lean in to kiss him deeply. “I know what you can do, Kal, but don’t think for a second that I haven’t kept up.”

Garth kicks over to them and drapes his arms over both of them. “Meanwhile I have a healthy respect for both of your ass kicking abilities.” He pecks Kaldur on the lips. Then his cheek. His ear.

“Tease.” Kaldur murmurs, closing his eyes against the emotions stirring inside him. This is far more than he had hoped to return to, when he had left.

“You like it.” Garth chuckles before kissing Kaldur’s mouth thoroughly. “Come on, let’s get you home.”

Home. He had not let himself think about going home in nearly a year. He swallows thickly and nods, not trusting his voice to remain steady.

They don’t break apart from him on the swim home, instead crowding up against him so that they have to synchronize their movements in order to get anywhere. It takes a few tries to get started, a misplaced kick here and an overcorrection there sending them out of their intended path and into a wall a time or two. Once it wouldn’t have taken any effort to synch up, and Kaldur reminds himself that they can regain that. Just because he’s not in tune with them right now doesn’t mean he’s lost that forever. And then Tula bumps her hip into his and sends them off course again and he realizes with a start that they’re doing this on purpose.

Neptune, he's missed them.

When they finally arrive home, he feels tension drain out of him. He’d been half-expecting to turn a corner and meet a squad of soldiers, sent to detain him so he could explain his actions of the past year. Not that that still couldn’t happen. But it was pretty rare for people to be dragged out of their own homes. It would be messy, and the Atlantean military preferred to be neat about these things.

“How is everything on the surface? You don’t have to go back very soon?”

Kaldur shakes his head. “Good, and no. For the time being, I am ‘on break’ from the team. Roy has promised to look after them for me, even.”

“Oh? That’s good to hear. We will have to thank Roy for his noble sacrifice.”

“Hopefully not in the same way you ‘thanked’ me the other day.” Garth pokes Tula in the side.

She swats his hand away playfully. “Hah, hardly! Though Kal might enjoy watching. His two favorite redheads, together.” She bats her eyes at him, and Kaldur flushes. What is he supposed to do with that mental image?

“I… don’t think Roy would be up for that. Um.” He hopes not, at least. As… fascinating… as that the idea is, he can’t see the two of them actually getting along like that, not when he and Roy rarely went that far in the first place.

Tula laughs. “I’m just joking, Kal. He’s far too abrasive for my tastes. Nevermind that I have my hands full with just you two. We do have you back for a while, then?”

“I hope so. Though that may change at a moment’s notice.” Kaldur’s smile fades a little, thinking of all the ways missions have gone bad in the past.

“Hey. Kal, hey. Stop worrying for half a second, love?” Tula grabs his hand and tugs him toward their bedroom. “You look like you haven’t slept in days. Rest, relax. You need it.”

“Uh huh.” Kaldur lets himself be tugged. “And just how much resting am I supposed to get with both of you here?”

“As much as you need. No fun for anyone if you have to tap out early, you know.” Tula pulls him down to lie back against her and her fingers lazily scratch through his hair. He lets his eyes close, matches his breathing to hers, and against his every expectation finds it hard to open his eyes again.

“No that we don’t plan to wear you out later. Thoroughly.” Garth’s voice is a low rumble full of promises, his body a warm comforting weight on top of him. If he weren’t so tired, Kaldur would’ve made him make good on those words immediately. He’s still tempted.

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

They don’t make good on it immediately. They’re insistent on him actually resting, no hidden meanings implied, and the gleam in Tula’s eye makes him think that this is, perhaps, light revenge for all the bedrest he and Garth had pushed on her, back when she had been so seriously injured.

Two entire days of being shooed away from anything but the lightest chores. It’s endearing, even if he’s also bored out of his mind. There’s only so much sleeping to be done in a day, though, and the exhaustion of the past year cannot be made up so easily. He manages to talk them into going out without him, with promises of doing nothing more strenuous than some mild cooking. He meant it, truly, but he's interrupted halfway through preparing some of their favorite foods. His communicator beeps, sending his heart racing. “Aqualad.” He says into it as he hastily snatches it up, food forgotten.

“Nightwing.” Comes the response. “Hey A, how’s it hanging?”

Kaldur closes his eyes and exhales slowly. From Nightwing’s tone, there’s nothing wrong. No emergency. He rests his back against a wall and tries to draw the cool calm of the ocean into himself. Fails. “I am well.”

“Good. That’s good. We’re missing you up here.”

“So this is a social call?” He’s proud that he manages to keep his voice level and composed. There’s no need to get worked up if his team just wants to chat.

“Ummm…” The hesitance in Nightwing’s voice does nothing to help him relax. His own words to Roy, about having difficulty saying ‘no’, ring in his ears. “Actually. I was going to ask if you could help out a little? It’s just some back-end stuff, nothing strenuous.”

He really does have a problem saying no. He should work on that, one of these days.

Which is how Tula and Garth return home to find him watching a backlog of video surveillance feeds. Tula crosses her arms and fixes him with a stern look. “And just how is that ‘taking a break’?” Garth comes over and kisses his cheek, wrapping his arms around Kaldur’s shoulders.

Kaldur pauses the video and sets the tablet aside. “It is far more restful than going on missions. And might I mention, I have done essentially nothing for the past two days?”

“Hmph.”

“Nightwing asked you, didn’t he?.”

Garth knows him too well.

“He’s a bit overwhelmed.” Kaldur explains. “They’re monitoring several locations, and while the Watchtower’s algorithms are good at flagging potential sensitive data, an actual person still needs to go over the video.”

“Okay, but why you?” Garth asks. His words tickle Kaldur’s gills, and he shifts around so that Garth’s no longer speaking right into his neck. “There’s a billion other people he could have outsourced that task to.”

“The League does not have a billion members,” Kaldur retorts on automatic, and frowns at the look Tula and Garth exchange. “What is it?”

“How long will it take to finish whatever Nightwing has asked you to do?” Tula wants to know. “We had, well, plans. But if this is going to take a while…”

Kaldur blinks, glances at the tablet, then back at Tula. “Plans?”

“A surprise.” Tula smiles at him, and Kaldur’s heart thumps an extra beat, remembering their promise of a few days ago. “But not one that allows for work.”

Garth kisses his ear, which does nothing to help him keep a hold on his composure. “It will be a couple of days before the surprise is ready.”

“Just what sort of surprise is it?”

“Hardly any sort if we tell you, silly.”

---

Finishing up the video logs takes a few days. Putting together a concise report another. Once it’s done he sends it off to Nightwing immediately. He half considers Garth’s comment about a consulting fee, but ultimately dismisses it as rude.

He does silence his communicator for Nightwing.

That project done, and with whatever plans Garth and Tula are forming not ready yet, he doesn’t have an excuse anymore to put off seeing his parents.

His limbs feel like lead the entire trip there. His parents would have certainly heard of his ‘betrayal’ long before now. He’s not really looking forward to hearing their opinions on how he’s spent the past year. He makes himself go anyway.

His father envelopes him in a hug before he even crosses the threshold into their home. “My boy,” is all he gets out, all hoarse and strangled, like seaweed has choked up his throat. Kaldur returns the hold, not quite shaking but close to it.

Another set of arms close around him - mother. “Kaldur’ahm.” Her voice wavers.

“I’m home.” He whispers.

---

As usual, he leaves his parents’ place with a full stomach, a bounty of food, and a lighter heart.

---

Tula is entranced by something when he arrives home. She does not greet him or even glance at him as he puts away his parents’ cooking, and does not move as he comes up behind her. “Weather patterns? In the Pacific?”

Tula jumps and gasps and Kaldur kicks back just a little to give her space. “Kaldur! I didn’t realize you were back.”

“I have been for a few minutes.”

“Huh!” She hastily grabs the tablet that had been sent floating away when she jumped and turns the screen off. “You’re going to ruin your surprise that way, you know.”

“Hmm. Is it perhaps a trip somewhere?” He clasps his hands behind him, clearly unable to grab the tablet and gather more details.

“Maybe,” she allows. “How’re your parents?”

“Good. They say hello and sent enough food to feed a small army.”

“Excellent, we’ll be fed for, oh, an hour.” Tula grins and kicks forward to kiss him lightly. “Is that okay, if it's a trip somewhere? Or we could stay here at home. Whichever you like better.”

“As long as it is with the two of you.”

Tula grins and tosses her head. “Trying to flatter me to get more details, are you? Well, it won't work.”

He brings his head in close, to nuzzle against her cheek. “I thought, maybe if I asked really nicely.” She gasps when he gives her ear a soft nibble.

“Kal…” Her hands come up to rest on his shoulders. “I'm well trained in withstanding interrogation, you know.”

“Hmm.” He pulls back to look at her. Her eyes are sparkling, playful, like the light tone in her voice. He unclasps his hands to pull her body flush against his. “I’m told I can be very persuasive.”

“Oh my. And who told you that?”

“This redhead I know. Goes by Aquagirl sometimes. Hangs out with Tempest and Aqualad. Maybe you know her?”

Tula places a hand on her chest, faking shock. “You have another redhead? Wow, Kaldur. Maybe I should be the one getting you to talk.”

“You could try.”

---

He doesn't actually manage to get more details, which is perfectly fine. He does get the chance to show off just how rested he is.

---

“You two didn’t wait for me.” Garth whines. Kaldur doesn’t even crack open an eye, just reaches out and grabs Garth and yanks him close.

“Then next time get home sooner.” He tells him.

---

“Oh, wow.” Kaldur shields his eyes against the glare of the sun off the water. Up ahead, there’s a pristine beach, with a forest full of various flowering plants beyond the sand dunes. Off to the side a cliff rises, with deep enough water clear of dangerous rocks to make for good diving.

“The place is uninhabited, by the way. Too small for people to bother with.” Tula says. “Good surprise, huh?”

“Yes.” His feet tickle, and he looks down. A crab crawls across his toes and away, and he can see the tiny divots it leaves in the sand under the waist deep water. “How did you ever find this place?”

“Luck.” Garth steps over the crab and close to Kaldur. “Got lost on my way home from a mission, one time. Found this place. Rested here for a bit before actually going home.”

“How did you get lost?”

“Oh, that’s a good one.” Tula comments with a laugh, moving onward to the beach.

“I was… drugged. During that mission. It had not quite worn off by the end of it, but I just wanted to go home. I could walk and swim well enough again, but my sense of direction, well. That was still a bit shot.”

Kaldur snorts. “Didn’t keep up with your jellyfish toxin resistance, did you?”

“Nope!” Garth grins at him like it was some bit of childish foolishness that he’d been involved in, and then waggles his eyebrows. Kaldur can’t figure out why Garth thinks that’s enticing. Probably because every time, Kaldur winds up kissing him.

This time’s no different.

“Never built up a resistance to you either.” Garth adds as the kiss breaks, murmuring it against his lips. “You hungry or anything? We did have a long swim out here.”

“Not really.” Kaldur smiles and drapes his arms over Garth’s shoulders. “I’m feeling rather well rested, actually.”

“Ah?”

“Mhm. And the two of you have promise to keep, doesn’t you?”

“Indeed.” Garth smiles broadly and kisses him again.

---

It’s a good, long, tiring two weeks before they return to their home in Atlantis.

---

Work has piled up in their absence. Tula has to go back to it almost immediately, as a specialist for the Atlantean military, while Garth gets to ease his way back into his teaching duties at the Conservatory of Sorcery.

Kaldur, on the other hand, had made his work mainly with the team. Beyond taking over most of the daily chores, there’s little lined up for him to do. Toying with his communicator, he thinks about unsilencing it. About asking if Nightwing needs more lighter backend work done. But that would probably make Roy upset with him.

Speaking of -

“You actually called.” Roy’s sounds pleased. In the background, he can distantly hear Lian laughing.

“I did promise, Roy.”

“You also once promised me that you didn’t eat fish.”

Kaldur laughs. “All I had said was that it was not in my diet. Which was true at the time.”

“... I do not believe you. I refuse to believe that you, of all people, go on diets.”

“Not like what you mean.”

“Please explain.”

“Ah, it has to do with building drug resistances. Eating fish interacts badly with the treatments, but it’s only something to avoid for a week before and after. And the treatment only has to be updated every few years.”

“You -”

“It is not my fault you took that as a long-term literal thing. As if I’d survive on kelp alone for long.”

“You aren’t fucking with me, are you?”

“Not in the least. Most people don’t keep up with it after their stint in the military.”

“Well shit. Okay. Tell me next time you and Tula and Garth are doing that, so I don’t accidentally poison you three or whatever.”

“So long as it’s not accidental.”

“Hilarious. How’re your better halves doing? They aren’t letting you overwork yourself, are they?”

“They are doing well. And it's quite the opposite. I’ve actually discovered retirement is rather boring.”

Roy cackles. “Well, you are always welcome to babysit Lian if you get tired of being bored. And knowing you, you’ll probably find something to occupy your time soon enough.”

---

Sometimes, he wishes Roy wasn’t so good about being right in unexpected ways.

---

“So.” Tula sits sandwiched between the two of them, her fingers intertwined with his and Garth’s into one big knot. “So.”

“You know we’ve got your back, whatever you decide.”

Tula’s grip tightens painfully. “Yeah, I know that. But it’s also not the same as you wanting to go through with this. I don’t want there to be resentment, or whatever, later.”

Kaldur carefully extracts a hand from the pile and wraps an arm over her shoulders. “I want you to be happy,” and he’s expecting the way she looks at him with narrowed suspicious eyes. Yes, the final decision is hers in the end, but just reiterating that when she’s asked for their input is the easy way out. That doesn’t mean it’s not difficult to put his feelings into words. “And … I think - no, I would like this. Now, or later, whichever. But, to be honest, I’m kind of terrified.” A lot terrified. But he's been terrified and out of his depth before. He'll survive. “And I’d still be happy, here, with the two of you, if you decided you never wanted this, Tula.”

“Won’t this affect your work, though?” Garth asks.

“Mm.” She relaxes her fingers some. “A little bit? A good seventy percent of what I do is focused on either tactical use of the mystic arts, or paperwork. That wouldn’t need to change for months. I would have to put aside working with the team much sooner in comparison.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“I… think so.”

Kaldur squeezes her shoulder gently. “You don’t have to go through with it right now. We can always come back to this.”

“True. But the work we do with the team, as vigilantes, is dangerous. Very dangerous. If we wait, and then something happens to one of you… or both of you… I…” Her voice chokes up.

“Don’t think like that.” Garth leans in, resting his forehead against hers. “You don’t want us to resent anything. We don’t want you to, either. Don’t use that to talk yourself into this.”

“I’m not talking myself into anything. Just…” Tula sighs and shakes her head. “You haven’t said what you want.”

Garth makes a face and sits back. “I… don’t know? Kids have never been something I’ve strongly wanted or not wanted? Honest.”

“Well then.” Tula looks at the two of them. “I do want kids. Or a kid. I don’t know about more than one. As for now… hm. The world is relatively at peace for the moment. And all three of us here, together. So why not now?”

“You’re sure?”

“Mm. I mean, if I wasn’t already, well. Then it’d be different?”

“We’ll need a bigger place, then.”

---

Between finding a new place, getting co-opted into rescue efforts for ocean-related disasters (he remembers once complaining of boredom - he will not jinx himself that way again), consulting with Aquaman on what he’d learned of Black Manta’s operations, the months fly by. He never manages to get a hold of Roy long enough to tell him the news, because every time he tries something comes up on one of their ends. He supposes he could relay the news via the team, but this wasn’t something he wanted Roy to find out about second-hand.

He honestly, truly, did not mean to leave it for so long.

---

Small. So small. Had he ever been that small? Kaldur supposes he must have been, at one point, but he cannot even begin to imagine such a thing. And yet, here, small enough to easily fit into the crook of Tula’s arms, are his kids. Tula’s and Garth’s and his.

He traces a finger down one of their cheeks, barely daring to touch them. “Wow. Oh, wow.” Tula grins at him.

“Come on, Kal. They won’t break.” Carefully, she shifts one over into his arms. A moment later, Garth’s holding the other. “See?”

“It’s just. They’re so small.” Garth says, echoing Kaldur’s thoughts.

“Average sized for twins, actually, the healer said.” Tula says, drifting back down to rest. “They’ve got your gills, Kaldur.”

“Yes.” Kaldur smiles down at the infant - theirs, Neptune, he can’t get over that - in his arms. “Think they’ll have Garth’s eyes?” Right now their irises are as dark as the ocean deeps. It will be a few days before color settles in.

“Beautiful, no matter what.” Garth curls up between Tula and Kaldur. “Now we really need to decide on names, huh?”

“For sure. And find time to -” Kaldur begins, and then freezes with a sudden, horrifying realization.

“What is it?”

Kaldur looks from Tula to Garth back to Tula. “I forgot to tell Roy about any of this.” He’s a dead man. Roy’s going to find a way to murder him via comm.

Tula and Garth exchange a glance, then look back at him. “Well, I highly doubt he will actually murder you,” Garth says dryly. Kaldur closes his mouth with a click as he realizes he’d said those words out loud. “Would be rather hard for him to meet these two, if he did.”

“Mm. Why don’t you go ahead and call him?” She shushes him when he starts to protest, taking the infant back from him. “Bring the tablet in here so he can meet them.”

---

“You what?!” Roy yelps, and Kaldur’s glad he decided to break the news away from where Tula’s resting. “You’re shitting me. No, no, you don’t pull crap like that. You’re fucking serious? Oh my god you’re fucking serious.”

It’s kind of hilarious that Roy’s in more denial over this than he ever was.

“I’m very serious.” Kaldur replies, not bothering to hide the smile that won’t go away. “I… might be longer than I thought, returning to the team.”

“If you return one millisecond earlier than you absolutely must -”

“I have zero intention of doing so. The team, and the work they do, is important. But this is more so.” Kaldur interrupts. “Also, Tula would strangle me.”

“No she wouldn’t.” Roy snorts. “But I would help, if she did.”

“I don’t doubt it. Now, do you want to see them?”

“Fuck yes, how could you even think otherwise?”

---

For all that he’s thousands of miles away, Roy is appropriately mesmerized by the babies, leaning forward as if that’d make the picture bigger. “Wow. From being team-dad to being an actual dad. I’m impressed.”

Kaldur glances sidelong at the screen and smirks. He can almost see Roy’s dawning realization of the opening he left in slow motion. “Hi impressed, I’m Kaldur.”

“I regret ever introducing you to memes.”

---

“How have you three not decided on names yet? Fucking shit.”

“Language.”

“Garth they are too small to understand -”

“Between the three of us, we’ve got… what, four different naming traditions? It’s hard to find names that hit the important parts and sound nice.”

“I bet you guys end up with at least one water-themed name.”

“Just because we’re Atlantean -”

“And go by Aqualad and Aquagirl and Tempest.”

“Okay, Speedy.”

“… That was a low blow. See if I impart any parenting experience to you.”

“They have like, six grandparents. Lots of readily available advice.”

“You know the team will adopt them on sight. They already did with Lian.”

“I’m sure they will.”

---

La’gaan visits and scolds them for keeping this to himself and immediately calls M’gann to share the news. He can hear M’gann shriek over the call from the next room, and Kaldur winces at the volume.

“That’s … a rather long time.” Nightwing comments on it maybe taking two years before visiting the surface with kids would be an option. He can hear the unstated criticism in Nightwing's words, the 'you were never meant to be gone that long’. It's difficult to silence the sour words he wants to give voice to. Tula squeezing his shoulder helps him refocus. Roy's firm response helps him let go of the sourness.

“Who is who’s?” Raquel asks, setting off a flurry of confusion.

“They are ours?” Garth responds slowly, unsure of exactly what he’s answering.

“What does she mean?” Tula whispers as Artemis attempts to clarify. “Aren’t there surfacers with more than two parents?”

Kaldur frowns, his brow wrinkling, pitting the question against everything he’s learned of the surface over the years. “My only guess is that this is not how they are used to things working.” He offers at last. “That, or our biology differs more than I thought.”

“Huh!” Artemis leans back, clearly intrigued by the idea, when Kaldur finally answers her in English. “We’ll have to compare notes sometime.” He hopes she’s not actually serious. He has incredibly little interest in the science she’s studying.

The call ends a few minutes with several promises to do better about staying in contact, and La’gaan himself leaves soon after.

“I don’t think we’re going to have a problem with babysitters,” Garth chuckles. “Ah, such a strong grip! You’re going to be a great fighter, yes you are.” He grins down at the baby he’s holding, who just blinks up at him with light purple eyes, absently holding onto one of Garth’s fingers. “Yes, little terrors, the scourges of the seven seas.”

Kaldur looks over and smiles fondly. For all of Garth’s ambivalence from months ago, he’s rarely not holding one of the babies. Tula has the other just now, ducking away to catch a nap. He wraps an arm across his shoulders and presses a kiss to his forehead. “Hopefully not for a few years.”

[thran-duils]

Take Your Time

TITLE: Take Your Time (Rise For Your King P4) PAIRING: READER/AU KING!CASTIEL SUMMARY:  THE READER WAS BETROTHED TO THE PRINCE BUT WHEN A NEIGHBORING KING DECIDES TO DOLE OUT JUSTICE TO YOUR FUTURE FATHER IN LAW, HE DESTROYS THE ROYAL FAMILY, LEAVING YOU WITH THE TWO YOUNGEST PRINCESSES. THE MAGE KING TAKES AN IMMEDIATE LIKING TO YOU, LETTING YOU LIVE. WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THIS OPPORTUNITY? WORDS: 2,281

PART 3 || Part 5 || MASTERPOST  || Fanfic masterpost

“I am ready to go,” you had told Reyvin only an hour and a half before Castiel had woken from his dream about her.

Reyvin had answered his door, looking surprised to see you at his door, covered in a cape, hiding your face. He ushered you in quickly. He was shirtless and quickly moved to get a shirt. You had averted your eyes out of politeness and had only turned your attention to him again when he had spoken.

“My lady, do you know what rumors it would spring for someone to see you coming to my room so late at night?”

You pushed the hood off your head and informed him, “I was quiet.”

He looked unconvinced. “Still. You know there are eyes. There always are. Even beforehand. But I believe even more so under Castiel.”

“I believe it. But, I made sure I left in between shift changes. They won’t enter my chambers. I know the next shift change and I will be careful upon returning.”

Reyvin nodded before moving to his desk and pulling out the chair, offering it to you. You declined with a shake of your head. He sat down himself and inquired, “What made you come to this decision, my lady?”

You decided to not beat around the bush. “The king asked me to marry him.”

This seemed to stall Reyvin and he was slack jawed for a moment before clearing his throat. Starting off, he tried, “Perhaps… perhaps it is best you do not leave.”

What?

Cocking your head, you asked, “Why?”

“That is a… an important request.”

“Do you think its best? I am not royalty. And he claims the people love me – and I know, they do” you started in noticing Reyvin had opened his mouth to defend what Castiel had said. He closed his mouth upon your comment. “But, I am not the rightful royalty. And what happens when Gwyinth and Oriana become of age? Or old enough to know what happened to their family? And begin to resent me?”

Reyvin said nothing to this.

You continued, “I couldn’t stand that.”

“You have no want to be with him? To be queen?”

Choosing your next words carefully, you stated, “I don’t wish to be queen, no. But…” You trailed off, not being able to finish your sentence.

Reyvin reassured you, “I do not blame you, my lady. He is not hard on the eyes.” Your face flushed with embarrassment and Reyvin added, “I imagine it is hard.”

Exhaling sharply, you stated, “My feelings for the girls are more important – although, just as strong – than my feelings and… want…” again your face flushed. “For the king.”

Shifting back in the seat and leaning against the desk, Reyvin studied you for a few moments. “So, your plan is to leave with them as well?” You nodded. “What if they begin to ask questions?”

“They can be told differently. They are young. They can still… forget.” It hurt for you to say that. You didn’t want to deceive the girls but it seemed the best option at this point to keep your relationship with them intact and protect them.

“And if they ever happen to find out who they really are? Do you not think the resentment would be as bad or even worse? Considering you tore them from a life of luxury?”

You had considered this as well. “I will deal with it if it ever arises. I would rather them hate me for taking them away than for taking their place and pushing them off to the sidelines while I took what was rightfully theirs.”

Reyvin again considered this. “If it’s what you believe is the right thing to do, then I will go with you.”

Balking a bit, you stammered, “You only need to show us the way, Sir.”

“No, I will go with. To make sure you remain safe.”

“If they ever find you, you will be hanged. For treason.”

“What do you think will happen of you?”

“I can handle me dying. I can’t have someone else’s blood on my hands because of my choices.”

Reyvin gave you a small smile. “I would not have offered the thing in the first place, my lady, if I didn’t expect to be a part of it. Some of this is for me as well. I do not wish to stay here under this new leadership. I have no allegiance to them and I wish not to. I was too close to King Orin.”

“I know, sir.”

“So, we will go together.”

It was better to have someone else besides you and the twins – and you assumed Aideen, she would not let you leave alone – to go into hiding. You nodded and gave him a small smile.

Reyvin looked pleased. “I am glad to hear it, my lady.” He paused before adding. “When would you like to leave?”

“As soon as possible. The king expects an answer from me.”

“The soonest I believe I could get us out would be tomorrow night,” Reyvin admitted.

You concluded, “That is more than acceptable, Sir. Where would we be going?”

“The country side. There is a place where King Orin had set aside in case anything happened. Trust me. They will be prepared for us and will be welcoming. No matter the time or circumstance.”

You would just have to trust him on this. You were putting a lot into his hands.

<> <> <>

You had to pat yourself on the back mentally. You were acting completely calm at lunch with Castiel. You had opted out of breakfast, going to the twins instead and hanging out with them. As they played, you had nonchalantly packed essentials for them. They had not noticed amongst their play and you were thankful. You could only imagine later tonight would be more difficult to get them to move. You surmised you would have to carry one and someone else carry another in their sleep and pray that they didn’t wake up until you were far from the castle.

Castiel had been making small talk all through lunch and you had been responding properly. You couldn’t help but notice the pleased expression on his face every time you answered him. You didn’t know if it was from the conversation itself or the fact he thought you were polished ‘perfectly’ or a combination of both.

When he requested a walk through the garden after lunch, you had accepted, despite your anxiousness to get back to your chambers and finish the final touches on the things you had packed. You knew Aideen wouldn’t have time today considering she was taking extra time to set up meals for the next few days to take burden off of the other servants since she would be absent. She still cared about them and that warmed your heart. You had not been surprised she had immediately agreed to go with you and Reyvin.

The warm day was a comfort and you held your hands across your waist, walking close enough but not too close to Castiel.

“Would you be opposed to a revamp to this part of the garden?”

“Is it up to me, my king?”

You felt his eyes on you with you trying out this new title for him. You did it on purpose, trying to gauge his reaction. You felt a surge of his power come off of him for a second, as if he had lost control momentarily before it was sucked back away from you. You weren’t naïve enough to not realize that it had most likely been the ‘my’ that had worked him up so much.

Castiel regained his ground quickly. “I would like your opinion on it.”

“I would not be opposed. As long as it didn’t lose its original beauty.”

“I would never allow such a thing to happen.”

And you believed him when he said that. He kept asking you questions about the garden and what you enjoyed most about it. You were calm, letting the answers come to you freely. There was no way you were going to give yourself away with uneasiness.

That is… until you found the two of you alone. Somehow the guards behind you had drifted off, leaving the two of you alone. You felt alarmed for a moment, not having been alone for a long while without guards attending you.

Castiel, on the other hand, seemed content. “Have you thought anymore on what I proposed, Y/N?”

He had planned this. Being alone.

Pushing your tense feelings away, you forced yourself to answer, “Yes.”

“And?”

“I haven’t come to a decision.”

There was a fleeting look of disappointment across his face before he took your hand in his. “It is a lot to ask of you as of late, my lady. I know. But, I know you are also concerned with the kingdom. And what I stated was true. Peace would be easier with a union between the two of us.” He paused before adding, “Plus, I admit I would rest easier with someone by my side.”

The way he said rest made you believe he didn’t just mean recreationally or emotionally.

“I understand,” you told him, letting his hand caress yours. You wouldn’t pull away from it. “I have just… I haven’t come to terms and gathered my feelings completely. Just a couple of weeks ago I was engaged to someone else.”

His free hand moved up to touch your cheek and you inhaled sharply as his skin brushed yours. His hands were so soft and smelled calming…

“It is hard,” he agreed. “But thus is the life of someone bound to royalty by one means or another.” His eyes ran over you and you watched the care and concern behind his own. “I think you would make a fine queen, Y/N. You have the makings of a great queen, starting with your diplomatic approach. And there’s too much to be said about the beauty you would bring to a royal painting added to the Grand Hall.”

You shivered, uneasy to be in such close proximity to him. Especially with him confiding this personal information to you. He, on the other hand still, did not seem uncomfortable in the slightest.

“Do you feel it?”

Being so close to him, hearing him praise you like he was… of course you did. How could you not? Even if for some reason it wasn’t true, he made you believe it was.

“Yes,” you breathed. “I feel it.”

His lips fell on yours and you did nothing to stop it. At least for a few seconds.

You pulled away abruptly and couldn’t miss the look of annoyance that flashed across his features before he masked it with concern.

“I… I need to leave.”

“Y/N.” His voice was firm and stopped you from doing so. “You do not have to be ashamed.”

Swallowing sharply, you responded, “I am not. I just think there are – is a way to do things. And this is not the right order.”

Castiel smirked at you and commented, “Do you believe everything happens in a linear order, my lady?”

He was teasing you.

“No, your majesty. But, I will try my hardest to stick to it.” He pondered on that for a moment and you added, “I would appreciate it if you would keep this… between us.”

Castiel’s expression softened and he cooed, “Of course, sweetheart.” The pet name sent flutters through you and you tried your hardest to hide your reaction. He reached out and you refused to flinch under his touch. He brushed a stray hair and tucked it behind your ear. “Your – our – secret is safe with me.”

Nodding, you stated quietly, “Thank you, your majesty. I just… I need another day. At most.”

Something flinched in Castiel’s features but it was gone in a second. He was all smiles. “You take your time, my lady.”

“Thank you,” you commented before adding, “And thank you for breakfast. It was delightful.”

Turning, you walked away from him and couldn’t push away the nagging feeling of wanting to stay. He was quite irresistible to you but… you still felt you needed to leave. For the girls’ sake.

<> <> <>

“She is not in the castle.”

Castiel had sent for Y/N the next morning at breakfast when she had not arrived. He wouldn’t be denied her presence at this meal two days in a row, no matter the excuse. Instead of getting her back to him for the meal, he had been presented with this rotten piece of information, which instantly made him furious and lose his appetite.

“You’ve searched the entire castle?”

“No, sir,” Samuel reported, shifting. “But, we noticed the twins are gone as well. And… Sir Reyvin.” Something crossed Castiel’s face and Sam added quickly, “We didn’t think it necessary to search the whole castle with that many missing. It seems… well… they’re gone.”

Anger immediately coursed through Castiel’s veins, his power threatening to explode outside of him in an outburst to relieve some energy and anger. How dare she. He shook slightly, trying to control himself. He had been generous… understanding. Given gifts. And to lead him on as if she had meant to stay with him…

(gif)

A small growl almost escaped Castiel’s throat but he held it back. Swallowing his anger, he adjusted his collar, the slightest twitch crossing his face.

His eyes landed on Samuel and he snapped, “Fetch me my horse. And get a small brigade together. With your brother. He is a good tracker.”

“Yes, sir.”

Castiel refused to believe the kiss – and the look in her eyes – meant nothing.

~~~

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