#missing and her daughter acting very strangely‚ claiming their father took him... something he denies. it's (like all of these episodes) a

[mariocki]

Shadows of Fear: Sugar and Spice (1.2, Thames, 1971)

"You might have known that children can't keep promises."

"Promises, what promises?"

"You shouldn't have told her if you didn't want me to know."

"Know what?"

"She said that you'd taken him to -"

"Where?"

[jokertrap-ran]

(未定事件簿) 莫弈 SSR [—咫尺遠近] [Tears of Themis] Mo Yi SSR [Far and Close] Card Story Translations (Part 1)

*Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut *In which Ran attempts awakening her Chinese brain after 5 years of disuse... * (y/n) is your name when in direct referral; otherwise referred to as MC.

Part 1 / Part 2 / Video Call

Location: Woods

The stark and harsh sunlight filtered down. I could feel the warmth it brought, despite closing my eyes to its brightness.

MC: How do you feel now, Zhu Man?

Zhu Man: ...I’ve not had such freedom in such a long time. Thank you for bringing me out for a walk, Miss Lawyer.

She stretched before turning around to apologise to me.

Zhu Man: The other me...must have had scared you earlier on today, right? I’m sorry…

She hung her head, hands moving to grip the hem of her hospital robes, not daring to meet my eyes.

MC: Don’t worry. I know that wasn’t you back there.

The girl in front of me was quiet and meek, almost as if the crazed countenance I saw back in the Trial Recording was of a completely different person.

Maybe they were two different people…?

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

MC: I’ve finished reading the novel documenting the crimes committed by people who suffer from Multiple Personality Disorder.

MC: Who would’ve thought that mental damage was capable of shattering a person’s mentality, once whole, into countless individual fragments…

Mo Yi: These individual fragments of the soul, or personalities, so to speak, are all trapped within the same material body.

MC: So that’s how such horrible incidents came to be.

Mo Yi: If one of the personalities were to commit a crime; does that mean that the rest of the personalities will also have to pay penance despite being innocent?

MC: In the novel’s ending, this question…

Mo Yi shook his head, cutting me off before I could finish my sentence.

Mo Yi: You don’t have to answer me. You’ll come to see the answer with your own eyes one day and ascertain for yourself.

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Zhu Man: Miss Lawyer? Will you chat with me?

MC: Of course; anything.

I watched Zhu Man in front of me. She, who should have been leading a happy life, had gone crazy during the Military Ball and stabbed the man who had proposed to her with a knife.

There was evidence against her in the case which declared her guilty, but she was exempted from prosecution due to Lawyer Zuo’s defence. What made the defence pass was because of what she had been diagnosed with. Zhu Man was diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. The violent personality of hers that had shown up during the day of the attack had claimed to be “her father”.

She may have escaped prosecution, but there might not be a future out there waiting for her anymore. Zhu Man may have to stay in this Mental Health Hospital for her entire life, never being able to leave the place.

Zhu Man: I...I have an older sister, but she left home together with my mother back when I was still small.

She appeared to be lost within her memories, for a vacant expression appeared on her face.

Zhu Man: My sister’s different from me. She doesn’t get beaten or yelled at by dad. She’s free, independent and also very warm.

Zhu Man: We’d always meet each other in secret and she’d take the time to patiently read to me, depicting sceneries that I’ve never seen before in my life.

Zhu Man: You resemble my sister a lot right now, Miss Lawyer.

MC: Me?

Zhu Man: You’re just like my sister. You’re both warm and independent. And you’re both willing to accompany me on walks like this…

Zhu Man: Could I call you Sister Sheng, if you don’t mind, Miss Lawyer?

MC: Uh…

Zhu Man: Oh...Sorry. This must be such a sudden thing to spring on you; please pretend that I didn’t say anything.

Zhu Man looked up at the sky, a lonely expression crossing her features once more.

Zhu Man: My sister loved roses...And that guy...he also had a big bouquet of roses when he proposed to me.

MC: And then?

Zhu Man: Red roses…

Zhu Man didn’t seem to catch my query, only ducking her head and muttering on and on by her lonesome.

MC: ...Zhu Man?

Zhu Man: Roses…

MC: Are you alright? Zhu Man??

I could only edge closer to Zhu Man, but she still didn’t respond. She finally raised her head after a long silence.

Zhu Man: Stay away from my Zhu Man!

Zhu Man whipped out a knife, having hidden it somewhere within her sleeves; its gleaming blade reflecting that of my panicked expression. The other party wielded a knife, whilst I only had my bare hands to my name.

Any reckless action was not going to be a good course for me.

I tried to reign in my panic, trying to appear calmer than I was inside. I didn’t want to tick off the Zhu Man in front of me right now.

MC: Who are you?

Zhu Man: Haven’t you already met me before?

MC: No, you’re not that personality. “He” will never be able to talk to me this calmly. Who exactly are you!?

Zhu Man: You don’t seem the least bit frightened at all...How interesting.

Zhu Man: Don’t you think it odd that THAT Mo Yi would allow you to go out for a walk with me without any supervision whatsoever?

MC: ……

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Two hours ago.

Location: Hospital Corridor 

Mo Yi: Won’t making such an impromptu visit here put a hitch in your schedule?

MC: Not at all. I can’t miss this chance to meet the person who’s involved in this famous case. I’m grateful enough that you brought me here.

Mo Yi: You want to meet Zhu Man, but is it really Zuo Ran’s case you’re interested in? Or is it Zhu Man, herself?

MC: Both.

MC: That novel cannot fully represent the actual reality. Perhaps Zhu Man herself might have the answer to the question you asked me before.

Mo Yi: You’re really optimistic, and bold, might I add.

MC: Optimistic? Bold? Why do you say so?

Mo Yi: Because even if you take her other personalities out of the equation; Zhu Man is also a very dangerous individual herself.

Mo Yi narrowed his eyes, as if he saw through me and grasped my intentions.

MC: But...

I was just about to voice a retort when the alarm in the corridor flared to life.

MC: What’s happening?

Mo Yi: Come with me.

The emergency light of the ward right next to us lit up as I followed closely behind Mo Yi.

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Location: Hospital Room

Zhu Man: Why have you come?

Unlike the meek, quiet appearance she had in the photos, she was speaking to Mo Yi in a masculine tone of voice.

Mo Yi: She’s a lawyer; a colleague of Zuo Ran, who was your defendant back then. She’s here today for a review visit.

Zhu Man: A review visit? I know what you’re doing here! You’re the person my daughter, that swindling bitch, hired! Right!?

MC: Isn’t it a little too much to be referring to your daughter as a “Swindling bitch”...?

Zhu Man: I painstakingly raised her up and what did she do when it was time to return the favour? She upped and eloped away with a stinking bastard! So tell me, what is she, if not a swindling bitch!?

Mo Yi: That’s why you took things into your own hands and attacked Zhu Man’s boyfriend?

Mo Yi’s tone was level, almost as if he was talking about any ordinary topic out there.

Zhu Man: Like hell I did! Did you see me doing it?

Shu Man: Do you think I’d let myself be caged up here in this farce of a hospital after I killed her boyfriend? This is all because that stinking bastard went around telling everyone that I’d gone stark, raving mad!

MC: ……!?

MC: Didn’t you plead guilty? If so, then why are you denying it…?

He suddenly turned to me with a vehement glare.

Zhu Man: Who said I pleaded guilty? That’s all false accusations that the bastard called Zuo Ran cooked up! You’re his colleague, aren’t you? Get over here; I dare you!

Zhu Man suddenly rushed towards me.

Mo Yi: Watch out!

Mo Yi had suddenly raised his voice, an unusual act for someone like him. He rushed towards Zhu Man, deftly catching her wrist in his hand. There was no hint of the usual smile on his face, but the warmth he had in his soft golden eyes had significantly cooled as he faced Zhu Man.

Mo Yi: It’s very dangerous to be hiding a Fruit Knife in a place like this.

A thin, slender knife slid out of Zhu Man’s sleeve like a poisonous snake, clattering uselessly to the floor.

MC: A Fruit Knife…? How can this be!?

Zhu Man: Damnnit, this bastard has sharp eyes!

We probably held her up long enough, for the medical staff soon rushed in to subdue Zhu Man by injecting her with sedatives.

Mo Yi brought me out of the Hospital Room before Zhu Man had the chance to regain consciousness.

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Location: Hospital Corridor 

MC: ……

“Zhu Man” wasn’t willing to admit that she was the killer, and it didn’t seem like she was acting either…

Mo Yi: Are you suspecting that that out-of-control personality of hers isn’t the real culprit?

MC: !?

Mo Yi angled his body sideways as he stood by me, seemingly interested in my answer.

⊳ Choice: Admit it.

MC: I just think that it’s a little strange. Why would “He” deny the crime? All evidence had pointed to him; he was clearly the culprit.

MC: Based on the verdict that had been made that year, Zhu Man herself was innocent...But “He” had caused irreparable damage to the victims.

MC: But that rage “He” had shown earlier didn’t seem to be anything resembling an act...Is there something else that’s being hidden from us?

Mo Yi: Your heart is one that’s pure and innocent. You see the best in people and paint the best pictures of them, especially so for people who are in a vulnerable position or state.

MC: ...Sorry. Lawyer Zuo also says that I often act impulsively on emotion.

Which may, perhaps be considered a shortcoming, for someone who’s a Lawyer. Haa…

Mo Yi: Naive, yet so very sharp.

MC: Sharp? You mean…!?

Mo Yi only nodded, having caught on to my train of thoughts.

Mo Yi: Indeed.

⊳ Choice: …… (Hide it)

If the personality that had snapped earlier wasn’t the true culprit, that means that there was an error in Zuo Ran and Mo Yi’s judgement.

MC: ……

No, that’s not possible. Even if Zhu Man was able to talk Zuo Ran over, that doesn’t mean that she’ll also be able to pull the wool over Mo Yi’s eyes.

MC: I just thought that the attitude of Zhu Man’s other personality was strange. Maybe I’m just overthinking things…

MC: Doctor Mo, did you come to this conclusion because Zhu Man’s showing signs of having other personalities present within her?

Mo Yi: There are doubts surrounding Zhu Man’s person.

Mo Yi: My diagnosis of Zhu Man was that she has Split Personality Disorder; but that’s not quite accurate. I cannot deny the possibility that there might be a 3rd, or even more personalities within her.

Mo Yi: In the face of hard evidence, Zuo Ran could only conclude that the culprit was none other than the other personality residing within Zhu Man.

MC: Will Zhu Man return her normal self after she awakens?

Mo Yi: Yes.

MC: Then...Will you allow me to meet with her again afterwards for a little chat?

Mo Yi: And you’re not afraid that Zhu Man might lose control and assault you again?

MC: Of course I am. Not to mention that “He” seems to have something against women...

MC: However, she was injected with a sedative so she wouldn’t be able to hurt me for the time being, right? It’s a good opportunity.

Mo Yi: Seems like I won’t be able to convince you otherwise.

Mo Yi: You can see Zhu Man alone, but you have to make sure to keep a safe distance away.

Mo Yi hesitated for a moment before he pointed a finger in the opposing direction.

Mo Yi: I’m going to head over there and check out all of Zhu Man’s recent Medical Reports. Make sure to call for me, if you feel like you’re in any danger at all.

MC: Yes! I will.

I managed to meet Zhu Man again, just as I wished. And the real Zhu Man had then asked for me to bring her out on a walk in a small, timid voice. I shot a message to Mo Yi, asking him for his opinion about it before taking her out to the small woods behind the hospital. Everything was fine;

Until――

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Location: Woods

Zhu Man: Don’t you think it odd that THAT Mo Yi would allow you to go out for a walk with me without any supervision whatsoever?

MC: ……

MC: I was the one who brought up the idea of being alone together with you. Are you trying to mess with my feelings; trying to make me afraid of you!?

Zhu Man: Heh, you’re not too stupid. But whatever of it? There’ll be no one coming to save you.

Zhu Man: (y/n), you’re not even worthy of the title, yet you dare make Xiao Man call you sister…?

“Zhu Man” spoke with a light tone, so subtle that it was almost akin to the hiss of a venemous snake. Grasping the knife, she advanced closer to me; step-by-step.

MC: What do you intend to do!?

Zhu Man: What do I intend to do? Haha...Warm, independent...those are terms used only to describe me. What right do you have to steal them away from me?

Zhu Man: How about you stay a little quieter, now that we’ve come to an understanding? I’ll wrap it up much better than the last one…

MC: ...Last time?

MC: ...You’re the real killer who killed Zhu Man’s boyfriend!

Zhu Man: Silence! What’s so great about that man!? He’s only going to hurt my Xiao Man in the end. I only wish for her happiness.

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Location: Woods

Zhu Man: I helped rid her of that drunkard! The drunkard she called father! She finally got a new beginning that she went through thick and thin for…

Zhu Man: That man...He was in contact with other women when he was with Xiao Man. Even when he proposed...He’s not worthy to be together with her!

Zhu Man: Xiao Man had originally forgotten all of these; she could spend a life of peace here, where there wouldn’t be anyone around to hurt her…

Zhu Man: Why did you make her remember? Even more so, you wish to steal my position of being her sister!?

MC: I’ve never thought of stealing your position.

Zhu Man: Shut up!

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

A gleaming blade speeded towards me as Zhu Man gave a frenzied cry. All I could see before my eyes was the gleaming silver of the blade as it made contact and the crimson red that appeared out of the blue. I watched as thin thread and droplets of blood fell.

The alarming panic I felt made the moment feel like an infinity, and I could feel my blood freeze at the scene before me.

MC: Mo Yi!!

Mo Yi’s sudden appearance was like a single ray of warmth cutting through the ice; and I could feel life return back to my frozen self.

I had relaxed a little at his presence, only until his injured arm came into my field of vision.

MC: Your arm…!

There was a terrible gash the arm he had raised in defence against Zhu Man’s attack. Bright crimson blood gushed from the wound and fell to the ground.

Mo Yi: Don’t worry.

He stood in front of me, separating me from the now crazed Zhu Man.

Mo Yi: Rather than this…

Mo Yi’s gaze landed on Zhu Man.

Zhu Man: I’m the only one in this world who best understands Xiao Man. Why do all of you wish to separate us so!?

Zhu Man: Everyone out there wishes to harm her...I’m the only one who’ll protect her! I want to be together with Xiao Man, forever; for eternity!!

MC: She’s the real culprit...She’s Zhu Man’s third personality!

Mo Yi: Let’s talk about this later. Just make sure to protect yourself now.

☆⋅⋆…⋅─────────── ⋆⋅✾⋅⋆ ───────────⋅…⋆⋅☆

Mo Yi caught onto Zhu Man’s knife-wielding hand, his actions far more agile than I’d imagined him capable of.

The moment he had managed to seize the knife from her, he aimed for the back of her neck, jabbing her with the thin needle he had concealed in his right hand. Zhu Man struggled to open her eyelids twice as the transparent reagent was being injected into her body, before eventually falling limply to the ground.

MC: …………

Mo Yi: Zhu Man thought you resembled her older sister, which in turn, severely triggered the third personality within her.

Mo Yi: Zhu Man’s third personality is monopolizing; She was not willing to let anyone else be the apple of Zhu Man’s eye. Hence, she turned against you with killing intent.

Mo Yi: There would have been a repeat of the incident three years ago, had she managed to succeed.

Mo Yi: The third personality will return to slumber,  making the second personality, in other words, the violent personality, bear all charges.

Mo Yi: No matter what the outcome may be, neither her nor Zhu Man will be able to be convicted by law.

Mo Yi calmly explained it all to me, seemingly having concluded the truth behind this entire incident in a short amount of time.

MC: Does Zhu Man know anything about what her other personalities have done?

Mo Yi: The personality change itself is similar to a switch; the main person and their sub-personalities do not share the same memories.

MC: So that’s how it is…

MC: Oh, yes. What are you doing here, Doctor Mo?

Mo Yi: I was a little uneasy so I rushed here as soon as I finished going through Zhu Man’s Medical Reports.

MC: ……

MC: Wait a minute! The wound on your hand’s still bleeding; we should treat it immediately!

Mo Yi: Wound?

He lifted his hand and blinked at his open wound.

Mo Yi: No matter; it only looks bad.

Mo Yi: I know quite a bit about surgery too since I’ve learnt about it. You don’t have to worry; she didn’t get me in any vital areas.

Mo Yi: This works out just fine. We have to wait for a while before the nurse comes to fetch Zhu Man back inside so there’s enough time for the bleeding to stop itself.

MC: ...You should hurry and tend to that wound of yours. One person’s enough to stand watch around here.

Mo Yi: You’ve faced danger precisely because I wasn’t with you. Therefore, I won’t let you be anywhere near Zhu Man alone again.

MC: I…

It was my decision that had caused all of this. All of this, just because I wanted to talk to Zhu Man…

I couldn’t help but to feel uncomfortable, the more I looked at Mo Yi’s blood-stained sleeve.

MC: Doctor Mo, will you let me help bandage it at least?

───⋅𝕿𝖎𝖑𝖑 𝖓𝖊𝖝𝖙 𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖊…⋆⋅☆

[violetwolfraven]

Cherry Blossoms

(Hanahaki AU for Reilin. Warning of blood.)

Rollan could only think words that no one would approve of as he stared at his hand.

Well, not his hand so much as the blood-soaked flower petal he’d just coughed up.

Everyone sort of thought Hanahaki disease was a legend. A story to scare children out of falling for people they couldn’t have. Supposedly, if you fell in love with someone, like, deeply in love and either they didn’t love you back or you didn’t think they could, flowers would grow in your lungs. Those flowers would not disappear until either that person returned your love, or you slowly suffocated. The first case had been documented in Zhong. That was where the name came from. It was rare enough that most people didn’t really believe it existed.

Clearly, it did. Rollan had gotten a cough weeks ago. He’d just thought it was a cold that wouldn’t go away, until he’d been standing on the side of the ship, just thinking, and gotten into a coughing fit that ended in him coughing up a blood-soaked flower petal.

Rollan didn’t know what kind it was. He didn’t really care. All he knew was that he needed to make sure his teammates didn’t find out about it. They’d just worry, and Rollan really didn’t need to deal with that.

It wasn’t like he didn’t know who he loved, anyway. And she’d never love him back.

Without a word, Rollan turned his hand and let the flower petal soaked in his blood fall into the water.

...

Rollan was acting strange. Meilin knew that much; it was obvious. He was acting strange enough that even Conor was taking notice, and wolf-boy usually liked to stay out of other people’s business.

Meilin had noticed weeks ago, when the Amayan boy’s voice started getting hoarse with a cough wouldn’t go away. He’d insisted it was nothing, even when it very clearly was not nothing.

Then he’d started acting even stranger. A few days ago, he’d started behaving even more recklessly than usual, not seeming to have any care for his own safety. He’d started taking more time to himself, standing alone by the back of the ship more often than any normal person would. He’d started teasing Conor less, actually acting like an ordinary friend would.

And... lately, it kind of seemed like he was avoiding her. Which stung more than it should.

That didn’t mean that she appreciated Tarik noticing that she was hurting and confronting her about it.

“I’m fine,” Meilin insisted, “It’s nothing.”

Tarik huffed in frustration, “Meilin, it’s not nothing! I’ve already got Rollan acting strange, and I don’t need you denying something’s wrong with you, too!”

“Maybe that’s just the problem!” Meilin shouted.

It was simultaneously comforting and annoying how Tarik acted as the ‘team dad,’ but right now, it was more annoying than anything else. It was a reminder that Meilin’s father was gone. It was just painful.

Still, ranting felt good.

“Rollan is the problem!” She shouted, “Because there is clearly something wrong with him, and he won’t tell anyone what it is! And what’s worse, no one seems interested in confronting him about it but me, and last time I tried, he dodged like there was no tomorrow until I had to back off. Something’s hurting him. And he won’t even admit it!”

Tarik seemed surprised, as if he had expected her to say something else. Meilin wasn’t sure why. Everyone knew how good of friends her and Rollan were, even if they argued a lot.

Tarik sighed, “Do you want me to talk to him, or do you want me to make him talk to you?”

Meilin was caught off guard by the question, “I... I don’t know what... I think... You should talk to him.”

Tarik nodded, “Alright. I have a hunch of what might be wrong with him. I need to confirm it before I worry you with my suspicions.”

Meilin had no idea what he meant by that, to be honest.

She just hoped her friend would be okay.

...

Rollan held in his coughing as Tarik approached his spot by the back of the ship. He couldn’t let his mentor know what was wrong with him.

The tall Greencloak was silent for an instant before speaking in a sad, almost broken voice.

“I had a cousin once, named Aban He was only a little older than you when a rare disease claimed his life.”

Oh, no. Rollan prayed this wasn’t going where he thought it was.

“He knew he had the disease long before anyone else did. He didn’t want anyone to know because he didn’t want the people he loved to worry, so he isolated himself. He pulled away from his family and friends, being nicer to them than he normally would on the rare occasions when he actually let himself be around them.”

This conversation was going where he thought it was.

“Aban didn’t even know what caused his disease. Or rather, who caused it.”

Tarik turned to Rollan, sadness clouding his eyes.

“I get the feeling you do know who caused yours.”

Rollan couldn’t respond. All he could do was cough up a full flower into his hand, the white petals in full bloom, spotted with blood.

Tarik took it from him, studying it with a sad curiousity, “A white cherry blossom. Known mostly for being in gardens in Zhong.”

Rollan didn’t say anything. He’d only heard of those gardens in stories, but he already knew.

“It’s Meilin, isn’t it? You love her.”

Rollan sighed, “Is it that obvious?”

Tarik shrugged, “To me, Abeke, and Conor? Yes. To Meilin? Not so much.”

“Well, let’s hope it stays that way,” Rollan muttered.

“What?”

Rollan had assumed that it was obvious.

“She doesn’t need to feel guilty because I’m dying.”

Tarik made a frustrated noise, “What makes you so sure she doesn’t love you?”

Rollan laughed harshly, “Why would she? I’m a street kid from Amaya and she’s a rich, beautiful, warrior daughter of a Zhongese general. Why the hell would she ever love me?”

Tarik shrugged, “I don’t know. Maybe the fact that Meilin is more worried about you than anyone.”

“She’s worried about me?”

“She’s the one who told me to come talk to you.”

Rollan took a second to process that. There was no way. There was just no way a girl like that would love a boy like him. Meilin was worried about him as his friend. That was it. He hadn’t exactly missed Abeke and Conor’s concerned glances lately. It was like that. He hadn’t seen Meilin’s concern because he’d been avoiding her on purpose the last few weeks. Because every time he saw her, he felt the urge to cough.

“You’ll never know for sure unless you tell her,” Tarik pointed out.

“I can’t,” Rollan said harshly, coughing suddenly. The coughing fit made him drop to his knees on the deck, flower petals coming up so fast he couldn’t breathe. He’d never coughed up that much before.

Rollan was dimly aware of Tarik’s voice shouting his name over and over again, a hand hitting his back to force the petals up faster, and more panicked voices joining the fray, asking what was wrong.

The last thing Rollan saw before passing out was Meilin’s face as she ran towards him.

...

He was so still.

Meilin hadn’t seen Rollan as still as he was now since he had the Sunset Sickness.

His breathing was still labored, from the flowers growing in his lungs. Meilin kept expecting that breathing to stop. He was getting worse. He was so bad that even Jhi looked worried.

Meilin had wanted him to wake up, but the pain in his eyes as he did made her wish he hadn’t.

“You have Hanahaki disease,” she said pointedly. She sensed that Rollan would probably want her to keep things seeming normal.

“Yeah,” he agreed, his voice hoarse.

He coughed pitifully, and a single flower petal came up, which he wiped away before she could get a good look at it.

“What kind of flower is it?”

Rollan shot her a look, “Does it matter? It’s killing me no matter what.”

“It matters because I’m trying to figure out who it is,” Meilin shot back, “So we can make them love you and save your life, you idiot.”

She didn’t say how much it stung that that person wasn’t her. If Rollan loved her, he wouldn’t be coughing up flowers in the first place because...

Because Meilin loved him. She hadn’t always known that, but she knew it now. She loved him enough that she didn’t even care he didn’t feel the same way. She just wanted him to be okay.

“I already know who it is,” Rollan mumbled.

“What?”

“I said I—“

“I heard you!” Meilin snapped, “So who is it?”

Rollan laughed harshly, “It doesn’t matter. She’ll never love me back.”

“How do you know?” Meilin pressed, “How are you so sure that—“

“Because I’m a nobody who grew up in the streets of Concorba!” Rollan snapped, “And you’re a strong, beautiful warrior who’s basically royalty!”

Meilin froze.

“I know,” Rollan said, “You’re my friend, Meilin. I know you care about me, but not that way, and that’s okay. I’d be an idiot if I thought a girl like you could possibly love a—“

He was cut off by Meilin’s lips.

She pulled back after barely a second, red in the face, but the look on Rollan’s face made the embarrassment worth it.

He was looking at her the way every girl wanted to be looked at. Like she meant everything to him.

Meilin wanted to kiss him again, but she restrained herself for a second.

“I love you, too,” she whispered, “Never doubt that.”

Rollan’s next breath before he leaned in for another kiss came easier than before.

[simplysoriya]

The Eternal Serpent

{Prologue, pt1}

Chapter 2: Unrest in Uldum

Weeks had passed since Soriya had enlisted her father's help in her tomb delving exploits. Initially skeptical of allowing another to muscle in on her claim, a concession was made as the stubborn rogue refused to drop the topic. She couldn’t deny that the pace had slowed considerably over the year long obsession as the doors continually closed on her leads. The dismal feeling of having every effort only fail and falter was beginning to wear down even the most stalwart of believers.

But Kirollis, for his part, had helped to reinvigorate the search. He asked about it constantly, whether it was morning, noon, evening or night. Probing little details and picking her brain when it came to the more obscure parts of the story. Investigative skills that she lacked were evened out with his interest, and with her faltering motivation? It provided just the right boost for Soriya to press on unfretted.

While his intent was deeply rooted in helping his daughter, and less so in unearthing ancient Pandarian legends? It was genuine effort nonetheless.

The proposed option of Uldum was chief among their discussions. Offering Soriya a completely untapped location to throw herself into. It was the missing suggestion she needed to delve deeper into the mysterious desert, a previously unconsidered option.

It wasn’t the longest journey to the Golden Sands of Uldum. While the demand for portals to the oasis among the wasteland was scarce, leading them to be discontinued in the capitol. It didn’t stop the duo from securing a ride from a cargo ship out of Zandalar. With its market now a melting pot of cultures, it made finding routes to remote locations just a little easier if one had enough coin and knew who to ask. Another task that Kirollis excelled at.

The central city off the eastern riverbank, Ramhaken, was a sight to behold. A city built next to one of the only habitable places in the whole area. Ancient sandstone structures punctuated with their own unique architecture afforded to a culture that spent its time in seclusion, hidden away from the rest of the world. A bastion of civilization in an otherwise untenable area that stood out like a jewel upon approach. Like a reprieve from the harsh sun and sand that made up most of the locale. It was an oasis, and one with running water to boot.

There was no attempts to hide her wonder as Soriya stepped through the archways into the city. Excitement in her eye as her mouth hung open while taking it all in. One of the rare locations she had never visited, when she finally saw it? The glimmer in her features was unmistakable as her seafoam colored eyes bounced from structure to person with no discernable pattern.

Eventually, however, her eyes did stop to admire the main structure situated in the center. Soon after darting over in Kirollis’ direction, “So pop…. What exactly was your plan here? You know there’s a lot of desert and mountains, right?” Soriya quipped to her fathers act first think later policy that had propelled them to the bottom of Kalimdor.

“Ye of little faith.” The rogue replied with a smirk. “You know half of investigating is like… going places and asking questions right? It’s part of the process. Heck, if we’re right about it maybe being here? I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ramhaken had a similar story that got passed down.”

“Really?” Soriya asked as that same wonderment filled her voice. “I’ve only ever met a few of them. They have such a beautiful city though, I can’t believe I never thought to visit.” The young monk added a smile along with her thoughts.

Kirollis, however, paused to give his daughter an incredulous look, “You mean to tell me that -you-, miss world traveler galore, has never been to Ramhaken?”

“Nope! Not even Uldum if we’re being honest. I mean I like sand but… not… like… sandpaper sand. I went to this beach party in Tanaris once and went wandering. I have no idea how it happened but sand even got in my canteen. I didn’t like it.”

Kirollis tipped his head to the side, finding that a valid point. “Yeah sand sucks. Especially in leather armor.” Accentuating that point by looping his fingers into his leather codpiece as if to reference it. Taking a deep breath he would add on exhale, “I can feel the rashes already.”

“Sucks for you.” Soriya replied. No stranger to shifting climates and far more malleable than her father. The young monk had chosen far more weather appropriate attire.

“Yeah, well, I don’t exactly pull off short shorts and flip flops as well as you do.” Kirollis bemoaned.

“You rocked the hell out of that bedazzled shirt.”

“You’re damn skippy, I did.” Kirollis confirmed proudly. “Anyways, I know a couple of people from back in my uh… less savory days. I’ll check in with them and see if I can kick up any dust.” Looking over to Soriya, who was still enamored by the sights, he offered, “You want to poke around the market?”

“Sure.” Soriya agreed. “Maybe I can even find you a pair of shorts.” Though one look at the native Ramhaken and their unique lower halves and that youthful face of hers soured. “I’ll have to get back to you on that one, though…”

The rogue snickered and shook his head, “I’ll be fine. Don’t get into too much trouble, okay?”

“That’s really funny coming from you.” Soriya said in a tired tone, one that distinctly held no laughter with it.

With their objectives doled out the father daughter duo split up to their respective tasks. While Kirollis had sunk into the shadows, as he often did, Soriya had a markedly different approach. Walking right up to the first market stall in the bustling city center she saw. Flashing a bright curl of her lips directed at its owner.

Breezy silk shawls and finery lined the small stall that the Ramhaken stood in. Looking every bit proud of his colorful and light wares. “Hello there. Something catch your eye, young one?” He said with a smile to match Soriyas own.

Soriya took a moment to look over the goods. Even pinching her index finger and thumb on an orange scarf to feel the material. “They’re all really pretty…” She spoke her mind. Though a brighter purple piece with golden trim did end up ceasing her attention. “Oh I like this one!” She proclaimed before pulling the garment from the rack.

“A fine choice.” The vendor replied with a confident nod. “Although… For one such as yourself? I would recommend brighter, more vibrant colors.”

“Oh it’s not for me.” Soriya stated in a chipper tone.

“Ah, I am sure they will love it, then.” Reaching a hand up to rub against his chin for a moment of consideration, the catlike Ramhaken finally said, “I will give it to you for two gold and some silver. It is very rare material, spun from the silks of a foreign spider cave.”

“Pandaria?” Soriya gasped out as her objective came to the forefront.

The Ramhaken snickered, “No, no child. There is a cave to the west.”

The young monk frowned at the revelation. Of course it wouldn’t be that easy. “Oh, I was just sort of hoping. Me and my dad are looking for this Pandarian thing we think is around here.” Soriya explained as she dug into her pocket for some coins before handing them over. Taking a moment to look at her new purchase soon after.

“That is strange. You’re the second to speak of Pandaria recently. I believe the other man who asked me is staying in the inn, maybe you can ask him about your lost ‘thing’.” The Ramhaken offered.

Soriyas eyes went wide at the revelation before they peeked over the fabric, “Wait, the inn?” Her head swivelling as if to try and spot it. “Where’s the inn?”

The vendor merely chuckled once more before pointing it out, “Good luck on your journey!” He called out to the mistweaver as she scampered off.

There was a skip in her step as she swiftly made her way toward the lodge, brustling right passed the rest of the market with a fluttering sense of interest. Even marking a few of the other stalls down as places to check out later. But she didn’t make it passed the last stall before a hand grasped onto her arm and tugged her into a back alley.

While she resisted at first, the mysterious Ramhaken merely said, “You search for the temple.” Before continuing to usher her along into a more secluded alleyway.

“Wait, what? Th- yes! Yes I’m looking for a temple. How did you know?”

The armored Ramhaken scoffed before shaking his head, “I overheard you speaking to the silk merchant.” He confessed in a deep, yet low, tone. “You are far too trusting…. That merchant would feed you to the wolves at his first convenience….”

Soriya’s brows knit together at the offered information. Though it wasn’t the first time her trusting nature had been called into question, hearing it from a stranger always stung just a little bit more. “I just figured maybe he would know where to look?”

“Mmm, and he would sooner kill you then let you in on his claim.”

“Wha--?” Soriya managed out, genuinely confused, as the telltale click of a hammer being pulled back on a revolver sounded.

“Sori, didn’t I tell you to stay out of trouble?” Kirollis appeared behind the Ramhaken with the barrel of his gun pointed toward the natives head. “Because I was pretty sure back alley deals were my thing.”

“No! Dad wai--...” Soriya tried to explain the situation, though once again she was too late to stop the litany of moving parts. Swiftly the trio was flanked by two local guards, both with sharp spears pointed at the visiting elves.

“You dare come to our city and threaten our officials? You Azerothians are all the same.” The guard grunted out before prodding Kirollis with his spear, prompting the rogue to lower his weapon.

“You’re from Azeroth too man…” Kirollis quipped in a low tone. Only to recieve a swift elbow to his side from Soriya.

“Dad you aren’t helping.”

“Take them away.” The politician stated as he flashed a sympathetic look to Soriya. Seemingly unable to stymie the situation, or perhaps jilted by Kirollis sudden threat. Whatever his reasoning, he did not seem to be a friend anymore.

“....father of the year right here. We could have gone to jail somewhere more local.” Soriya stated in an exasperated tone.

“Listen! Some weird guy pulls yo-”

THWAK the guards now pushing them away from the market whacked Kirollis over the head. “Enough talking from you.”

[artlessictoan]

Do you have any more detailed headcanons on the life before the orphanage of the sand sibs 2.0?

yes I absolutely do! potential spoiler warning for breakingthe cycle?? I’m honestly not sure how much of this is actually gonna come up inthe fic, since I haven’t really got any set plan for it, I deliberately wantedto keep Shinki’s past in particular kinda vague bc I wanted to depict a characterwho doesn’t have to disclose alltheir trauma, even to those closest to them, and have that decision respectedby their loved ones, so I guess if you’re really curious about him then thiscould be the background that helps you understand the parts of his characterthat will only be hinted at within btc? Yodo and Araya’s bits are the mostlikely to actually be explored in the fic, so yeah maybe kinda sorta spoilers ifyou’re willing to wait 500 years for me to get my act together kjdfhg

(tw for child neglect, homelessness and physical abuse)

---

Araya

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Araya had the most normal and healthy childhood of thethree, he had loving, low-ranking ninja parents and was a sweet – if very shy –boy, money was always a bit tight and he had some anxiety to deal with, but atthat age neither really affected him much.

That changed a few months after his he turned six, when afire started in his home; his parents managed to get him out, but not before hereceived severe burns, in the process they both inhaled significant amounts ofsmoke and both died later in hospital, Araya himself survived, though he had extremescarring across much of the right-hand side of his body – and particularly onhis face – and was left partially blind in his right eye (can just see coloursand unfocused shapes). No one in his extended family was either willing or ableto take him in, especially with the medical care he still needed, so, after he’drecovered as much as he could, he was sent to Suna’s orphanageand we know what happened from there

---

Yodo

---

She had a much more.. complicated childhood. She wasabandoned at birth, left in an alley in an area where Suna’s homeless tended tocongregate, she was discovered and taken in by a kind man before she starved,though she was already weak and quite sick. He cared for her for a short time,but died before her first birthday, she drifted around between various carers andhad a few short stints in the orphanage though she quickly learned how to lookafter herself and never stayed in one place very long before she was eitherabandoned or ran away herself (to pre-empt the inevitable abandonment she’dcome to expect), the times she was sent to live with foster parents endeddisastrously, as she’d become accustomed to living on the streets, stealing toget by and fighting for herself, so she spent most of her early years homeless,living in harsh, poverty-stricken places.

Of the people who helped raise and teach her, the one who affectedher the most was an older boy who let her hang around when she was about five,he was in his mid-teens and the youngest of her street friends and he wassimilarly cynical and distrustful of adults and the world at large, so sheautomatically felt a bit of kinship with him. They didn’t ever intend to becomeclose, they just happened to be squatting in the same building and wouldoccasionally do each other a solid without being asked, sometimes one or theother would disappear for a while, but they’d eventually come back to a (relatively)warm welcome, playing card games, teaming up for big thefts, etc.

After a few months of getting to know each other, they’d startedto open up about all the people who’d hurt or left them and Yodo started tothink of him as her big brother, but when he was caught by a local thug who they’dstolen from, he ran away, leaving her to take the beating meant for him, afterthat, she found a new place to sleep and decided that absolutely no one was everworth trusting. She saw him a few times afterwards, always flying into a rageat him, but she didn’t really blame him at the time, it’s just the law of thestreets to always look out for number one after all.

She soon found herself back at the orphanage though.

---

Shinki

---

Ok so I’ve mentioned before that my version of Shinki isactually related to Gaara? First cousin once removed to be exact, not thatGaara knows that (Shinki is vaguely aware but prefers not to think about it).

The kage line is a lot more lineage-tied in Suna than othernations, and the council tends to be rather conservative, so when the third Kazekagehad a child with a mistress, they ‘encouraged’ him to disown the boy, not evenallowing him to support him or his mother; the son in question was always incrediblybitter about that and, when the third eventually went missing and was officiallydeclared dead, he vied with the legitimate son (Rasa) for the kage title, butlost, partly because of his birth but also because he didn’t inherit the magnetrelease, something he had tried and failed to activate since he was a child.

When Rasa came into power, he pushed his half-brother’s familyfurther and further into destitution, until they were completely powerless. Unableto reach the position of Kazekage, the son eventually married and had a childof his own, but remained an unpleasant, cold man to everyone around him.

When Rasa died, he once again tried to claim the title, thenwhen that failed pushed his daughter to compete against Gaara for it, she hadat least a modicum of self-preservation and didn’t bother – though she was alwaysone of Gaara’s most persistent detractors, not agreeing with his pushes forpeace and internalising a fair bit of her father’s old grudge against the kage family.Some time after the last great ninja war, she had a son, Shinki.

His parents were always quite cold with him, broken peoplefrom broken families themselves, neither one was really interested in having achild, so outside of basic care, they just left him to himself. When he turned three,his father died while out on a mission, unable to cope with the loss, hismother tracked down his killers to get revenge, but ultimately only got herselfkilled; with no other family to take care of him, Shinki was sent to live withhis maternal grandfather, Rasa’s half-brother.

At first there was very little difference between livingwith his parents and his granddad, they were all distant and had little interestin him, but when Shinki one day stopped a metal pan falling off the countermid-air, his grandfather lost it, inhis youth he’d been denied the position of kage in part because he hadn’t inheritedthe third’s abilities, but this strange, silent boy who could hardly even walkup and down stairs was exhibiting the magnet release? All his deep-seated rageand inadequacy came out and he hit Shinki. Then it happened again a few dayslater. And then it kept happening,every time he showed any sign of moving metallic objects, then any time he wasa bit too loud, or got in the way, or was just in his line of sight on a badday.

It continued through the ages three to seven, when hisgrandfather finally grew ill and died (natural causes, he was getting very old).He hadn’t bothered to inform the hospital staff that he had a child in hiscare, so eventually when the food left at home ran out, Shinki went out to buysome more, attracted the concern of a shopkeeper who, after being unable to geta word out of him, took him to the authorities. When it became clear that noone was looking for a missing child and Shinki didn’t seem at all concernedabout finding his parents, he was sent to the orphanage, to eventually meet Araya,Yodo and Gaara and discover what family reallyis.

---

[littledreamybeth]

Dear Mummy

I’m honest with you guys; I cannot deny that I have not cried a bit while writing this! Some of you will probably hate me but just know I do it already myself! :D In this story Harry and Beau are a family! I really hope you like it! And leave some feedback behind!!! And let me know if you cried :D (Picture is not mine!!!)

Harry was climbing up the stairs to his daughter’s bedroom to check up on her and to kiss her goodnight. She had suspiciously gone to bed earlier than she normally would’ve done. She had also been acting very strangely the entire day. Harry had noticed that Beau had acted quite still after he had gotten her from school, considering the fact how talkative she usually was. When he had asked her about it, she had shrugged her shoulders, claiming she was absolutely fine but just exhausted. Harry hadn’t brought up the topic again because he didn’t want to pressure her; if she wanted to talk, she would let him know. But he was clearly sure that something must have made her upset.

He slowly opened the door to his daughter’s room and was surprised when he saw that the lights on the ceiling were still on. His eyes searched for the little girl and he found her lying in her bed, her back turned towards him.  

“Bub, are you still awake?” he asked quietly. However, he got no answer from her. It was eerily quiet in the room- so quiet that you probably could have heard a pin falling onto the ground. Frowning, he moved closer to her bed and when he was close enough, he discovered that her shoulders were slightly shaking, followed by a heavy sob escaping from her mouth. Beau could not hide her façade forever- not from her dad who always could tell that something was wrong with her- and finally broke down in front of him. Everything she had gone through a few hours ago was crushing onto her like a big wall.

Harry instantly tore her from her lying state and cradled her on his lap, pressing her firmly against his chest while he gave her countless kisses on the forehead. The young girl held onto him like he was her only living source, and many tears were falling from her eyes while crying. Harry had never seen his daughter so upset before.

“It’s okay, bub…” He tried to soothe her, running his hand through her long curly hair that she inherited from her daddy. “Wanna tell me why you’re crying?” He took her young face between his warm hands and caught every falling tear with his thumbs. Seeing his little girl in like this made him want to cry himself. Harry could never stand seeing people he loved suffering, especially his princess. He would tear down the entire planet if it meant that he could see her gorgeous smile again. By now he noticed the fluffy teddy bear under her left arm, and he could only assume what her sorrow was about. Beau only cuddled against her toy when she was missing a certain person. A person she loved with her whole heart as much as Harry did. Because it was a gift from her. Her mother... Y/N....

They were sitting in this position, father and daughter holding each other, until Beau’s crying died down slightly and her breathing became normal again. Her eyes met her father’s gentle green ones, and she somewhat lowered her gaze in shame. She hated crying, crying made her weak and vulnerable, but it was a human thing, wasn’t it? No one could suppress their feelings forever. Beau just wanted to be Harry’s strong little girl, not a weeping little thing.

“I’m sorry, daddy…” she sniffled.

“There is no reason to be sorry, princess. You know it’s normal to cry sometimes. Now, what happened? What made you so upset, hmm?” 

The thought of the event that had taken place earlier caused new tears appearing in her eyes. She did not want to think about it anymore, but the wound that had been inflicted on her was too fresh for her to ignore. She was just a little girl. How could she deal with pain properly?

“Aww beautiful, just speak to me. I’m here for you, you know that.” He kissed her forehead again to encourage her. Beau took a deep breath, but her voice still sounded very shaky.

“T-today in s-school Mrs. Riley suggested preparing a little gift for Mother’s Day. She said this time we should send it to our mummy’s instead of giving it to them personally. Then, o-one of the mean girls just said how I wanted to send my gift to mummy since there's no mailman for heaven. A-and they made fun of me the entire d-day. Even though our teacher warned them and told them how disrespectful their words are, they still didn’t stop. Macy told me that mummy did not love me, that’s why she left, and she is probably happy where she is without me.”  She began to sob again. “Is that true, daddy? Is that why she left us? Is that why I have no mummy anymore?”

Anger boiled in Harry’s veins, and he wanted nothing more than to scream at the children who bullied his little girl and planted nonsense into her innocent mind. He wanted to yell at their parents for raising bad-mannered children who just had no idea what he and Beau had gone through the past year. How could they make fun of a little girl who just involuntarily lost her mother? This is not only disrespectful towards Beau but also his wife. Harry clenched his teeth in rage but tried to keep his composure. It was not the perfect time to freak out.

“Never, munchkin,” Harry said hoarsely, “Your classmates were being very mean to you. They just have no idea. Mummy loved you from the bottom of her heart, and she would have never left you voluntarily. You were the most important person in her life, and she loved being a mother to you.”

“Then why did she die, daddy? Why did she leave us?”

“Because heaven needed her, you know? Heaven always needs the most beautiful humans in the entire world.”

Beau buried her face in the crook of his neck. “But I need her too, daddy. I want mummy back. I miss her so much.”

He sighed. “I know, little one. I miss her too but one day, I promise, we’ll see her again and we’ll never leave each other. Never. We’ll be happy forever and ever. Just you and mummy and I. But I want you to know something and keep this forever in your mind. You will always have a mother, no matter if she’s here or not, mummy will always be your mummy, okay? Because if it wasn’t for mummy, you wouldn’t be here. There is no way you can’t have a mummy.”

He took her tiny hand into his and led it between her chest. “As long as you keep her here, mummy will always be there. She’ll never leave us, bub. She’s watching over us and protecting us from bad things.” He bent forward to place another soft kiss onto her forehead. “Now, no more crying love, alright? I bet mummy wouldn’t want us to be sad.”

Beau responded by only nodding her head. Harry laid her back onto her bed carefully and stayed beside her as long as she needed him to. She asked him if he could tell her stories about the past, which Harry gladly complied to, and the more he told her about him and his wife, the more he fell in love with her. And actually, this was the most painful thing. Loving somebody unconditionally, but not being able to show it. When Beau finally fell asleep with a smile on her lips and cuddling her teddy bear, Harry gave her a one last kiss on her cheek and covered her up tightly so she wouldn’t catch a cold.

The weather was a bit windy and rainy recently, and he wanted to prevent her of getting sick.

He closed the door carefully behind him and made his way back downstairs. He was still beyond mad, and if something like this should happen again, he would not hesitate to make the responsible person’s life a living hell. What the fuck was just wrong with the world nowadays? Harry could not understand.

Taking a bottle of wine and a matching glass from the kitchen, Harry sat down on the couch in his living room. He felt the pain that he tried to suppress for almost one year now creeping its way onto the surface. How many nights had he just spent crying himself to sleep, just wishing it was all a dream? How many times had he just insulted and cursed at the drunken man who just took the love of his life away from him? How many times had he just wished that it was the man who painfully met death’s eye instead of his love? It took him so much strength, so many therapy sessions and so much compassion to reach the point where he was now. Acceptance. Even though it was too hard, Harry had to accept that she was gone. Gone physically, but never emotionally. Sometimes, Harry thought he felt her presence nearby, hearing her voice or smelling her perfume, and it made him question his sanity.

Pouring a bit of wine into his glass and taking a gulp out of it, Harry decided to rummage through some family albums that he had not touched since the incident one year ago. The pain was still fresh back then, and he didn’t dare to look into them with fear that he might experience another meltdown.

He randomly opened a page, and the picture he saw instantly took his breath away. There she was, his beautiful wife, smiling happily at him. Harry still remembered taking the picture like it was yesterday. They had been at a family wedding, and she had been 8 months pregnant with Beau. Harry remembered how stunning she had looked and that he couldn’t tear his eyes away from her the entire day. She had his attention all for herself. She wore a slight pink evening dress that Harry had chosen for her. Pink was the new black for him, and he was proud of having found a dress that she also liked.

She smiled happily at the camera, her one hand being placed protectively over her belly- as if she was afraid that something could happen to their unborn baby-while she steadied the other hand on her waist. She wore a floral wreath on her perfectly made hair and her beauty shone brighter than the sun. She was so excited to become a mother that she was marked with happiness. Harry wished he could turn back to that moment, just to see her happy again.

A tear dropped on his hand as he traced the outline of her flawless face. “I miss you, darling,” he sniffled, wiping away the tears that followed after the first one. “I love you so much, my perfect wife.”

How much he wished she was there with him. Holding her tight was what he wanted, kissing her soft lips was what he desired and loving her was what he longed for.

He had asked himself countless times what he had done that fate had to punish and traumatize him this much. Harry had always been kind, respectful and supportive of other people, however life had rewarded him with the worst. Life had been so unfair to him, Harry had no clue why.

When Harry got the call from the hospital, being told that his wife had been involved in a car accident, his whole had crushed down. He had wasted no time and rushed to the hospital with a racing heart, but unfortunately it had been too late.  All he had found was a soulless corpse of his wife and doctors who had wished him their deepest condolences. He had dropped on his knees, cried and screamed until he had no voice anymore. Harry couldn’t even remember how he had made it out of that hospital on that fateful night, or how he could make it through the funeral. His insides had been numb the entire time. He never wanted to feel any emotion again.

Another problem Harry faced was telling his little girl about her mother’s passing. It was definitely the biggest challenge in his entire life. Seeing his little Beau mourning over the loss of her mother tore his heart apart even though he was convinced that there was no heart between his ribs anymore. His wife had taken his it with her to afterlife. He never wanted to see Beau in that state ever again. He had to be strong for the sake of his own health, and for Beau. They got all the support they needed so far, and life was getting a bit easier from time to time. But it would never be the same.

Turning the pages over, he looked at the next photos, often smiled or even cried at some point. All these moments that were pictured on them crushed his insides, but Harry gladly accepted it. He was proud of having spent all these beautiful moments with his wife and daughter. He felt privileged to be surrounded by people like them.

The last picture and the more recent one was taken last year a few months before the accident. Harry had taken his family on a vacation to the Maldives, and they had spent some wonderful family time over there. Their last one as a complete family. The three of them were smiling into the camera, with Harry laying his arms lovingly and protectively over his wife’s shoulder while she had Beau pressed against her chest. They looked like a perfect family which they truly were. Harry had never been in love with somebody that much before.

When his wife had come into his life, he had learned another side of love. A love that he would have died for.  From the first moment he had laid his eyes on her, he had already known that she was the one he wanted to spend a lifetime with. And when he was told about her death, he wished it was him who had died that night. He would have sacrificed himself if it promised her safety.

“I really hope you’re fine wherever you are, angel,” he whispered into nothingness. “We miss you so much, but I know that you are patiently waiting for us and I cannot wait to have you in my arms again. I swear I will never let you go, love. I love you. More than you’ll ever know.” Speaking these words, Harry snapped the album shut and put it back into its place.

That night, Harry felt more at ease when he fell asleep- as if his wife was lying right beside him and covering him with her warmth.

A few weeks later, when Mother’s Day finally arrived, Harry and Beau found themselves in the cemetery. Beau had made something special for her mother and was very excited to lay it onto her grave. Harry had bought the prettiest roses that he could find, and it was a large bouquet that he carried along with him. He only wanted the best for his wife.

When they were standing in front of her grave, Beau let go of his hand and slowly walked towards the space where her mother was resting. She carefully laid her gift onto the grave.

“I love you mummy,” she said quietly. “I hope you like my present for you. I worked really hard on it.”

“Happy Mother’s Day, my darling,” Harry said, placing the bouquet carefully next to his daughter’s present. His fingers traced over the cold gravestone where his wife’s name was written on. “We love you dearly and we miss you.”

Beau also placed a little note next to her present. Written by a little girl’s hand, it says:

  To the loveliest angel from all angels, my dear mummy.

[jedicreed-fr]

( @cityofinoue a Green Bean!)

Fysher is extremely proud of her heritage. Being the daughter of the former leaders of Inoue, she takes great pride in both of her parents, and where she came from, even if her parents are no longer the ones in power. Being scrappy ever since hatching out of the egg, Fysher took after her father, and grew up learning how to handle herself in a fight. She loved playing rough, and even though scrapes and cuts occurred, she'd keep on playing, grinning and laughing through it all. When it came time to set out on her own, Fysher was both happy and sad. She'd miss her parents dearly, but she was looking forward to the adventures she'd encounter along the way. Kissing each of them goodbye, she set out into the unknown, eager to start her own story.

Along the way, she took odd jobs that required her muscles and fighting prowess to do. Ranging from catching criminals, to getting familiars out of high trees, to even helping older dragons across roads, Fysher did it all. But the ones she liked best were the ones where she had to fight. And either way, she loved receiving the money she got in return. Getting money and feeling good about helping others...what could've been better? She soon stumbled upon the Windcurrent Clan during her travels, running into a Mirror called Malachias. Soon, she witness a rather large Guardian that gave off quite a different aura than what she was used to, chase after him. Watching them argue for a moment, she thought Malachias had done something criminal and confronted him. Get a rather rude and snappish reply in return, Fysher did was she did best--she called forth some Light magic to her fist, and punched the Mirror right in the jaw. Even the Guardian, Anput, was rather impressed. Malachias...was not. And so, she found her way into the clan, after hitting the bounty hunter Mirror with the 'Golden Fist of Inoue'--Fysher's nickname for her Light-magic infused punch.

After meeting with the clan leader Khan, and explaining the mishap regarding Malachias (though Malachias would always torment her after that), she was welcomed into the Windcurrent Clan fold. Despite being the daughter of two former clan leaders, Fysher didn't want any special treatment from the clan. She wanted to just live with them normally, as the clan's mercenary. It was surprising to see a Tundra take up the role of a mercenary, but Fysher blew away everyone's stereotypes, after participating in a few of Maxima's gladiator matches. While quick with her fists, she was also good with a sword. Despite that, she preferred hand-to-hand combat, and wasn't above biting others to get an upper hand in the match. Tundra fangs can do some damage when used correctly. Claws, too.

Fysher is as scrappy as they come. She loves play-fighting and sparring with any dragon willing to face her. Most often to face her is Malachias, with whom she argues with constantly. He claims mercenaries are the lowest of the low, and that bounty hunters reign supreme. Fysher counters that bounty hunters are vultures, and that mercenaries actually do good for others. They fight verbally quite often, and their physical fights get rather violent, at times. She's not above biting his fan-like horns, and he's not above ripping her fur out. Despite the violent fights, there's no murderous intent involved. If stopped suddenly in the middle of their fights, they'll act like nothing happened, and continue on with their lives. Some say a strange friendship is developing between the two. The two vehemently deny it.

One day, Malachias found Fysher a job...that involved fishing. A play on her name. Turned out a Pearlcatcher needed some sort of 'monster' fished out of his area's fishing ring, so that he could continue to bring in fish to eat and sell. Fysher grumpily accepted the job, not liking that Malachias offered it to her, because of her name. However, a few hours after casting her line, something bit...and it was much larger than a fish. Turns out there was a monster in the sea, and she was huge. Leviathan-size. When she beached, after pulling Fysher through the sea, the Pearlcatcher was going to kill the Leviathan. Fysher couldn't let that happen--after all, why not relocate her or actually talk to her? She wasn't a monster, in Fysher's eyes. Seemingly touched by that, the Leviathan spoke to Fysher, having her move out of the way...before devouring the Pearlcatcher in question. The Leviathan had transformation powers and soon transformed into a large Ridgeback. Stunned by her beauty and deep voice, Fysher brought her back to the clan, and gave her a name--Diondra.

After getting her treated at the clan (Diondra ended up getting a stomachache thanks to the Pearlcatcher's pearl), Fysher started showing her around. It was only after she had treated her, that she introduced her to Khan, and she too was allowed to live with them. Despite being a Leviathan, Diondra was okay with being out on land, though needed to dunk in water occasionally to prevent her from drying out too much. Fysher became fascinated with her, and when she can, she spends every waking moment with her. The two have gotten much closer, since their first encounter. Some even hear the word 'mate' discussed between them. The two certainly act very affectionate with one another...

Fysher is a rather easy-going Tundra, despite her scrappy nature. She loves to have fun and joke around, and knows when to flip on the serious switch. She became elated when her sister, Samirel joined the clan, as well. Being the big sister, Fysher is very protective of Samirel, who's much more meek. But Fysher doesn't need Samirel's magic abilities nor Diondra's hightened senses to sense that something is going on with the clan. The air is becoming more tense, and certain dragons are looking suspicious. She doesn't know what's going on yet...but she knows she can count on her 'Golden Fist of Inoue' to help protect her, and those she loves.