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mathcat7 · 1 year ago

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The Great Games I Played* this Year

*to completion or near completion. Sorry TWEWY, Signalis, etc.

2023 was a very divisive year for gaming, full of really incredible titles while also showing some of the industry and culture's lowest lows in overhyped deliveries, mass layoffs, and an award show doing its damnedest to spite the developers who made the show what it was in the first place.

For me personally, I did enjoy the games that released this year that I had the chance to play, but the majority of my time gaming this year was spent catching up on backlogged titles, or diving into recommendations my friends had for me. I'm just not a hype person, generally speaking. However, I've been wanting to discuss what I've played at length—so many incredible experiences and unique mechanics. Even putting together this list I'm in awe of how many new games I've gotten to play. So, let's get started, in order of when I first played them.

Path of the Midnight Sun Studio Daimon

Now, this game sits in a very interesting place in my mental landscape. Just 6 months before it's early January release, Path of the Midnight Sun was only a romhack of a GBA Fire Emblem title in my head. Sure, one of the greats of the early FE romhacking scenes, but nothing more. It was quite the surprise to me to hear in late fall 2022 that it was a standalone title, with full voice acting and an RPG battle system without the prefixed S- it had originally started with.

I was a bit wary about playing it, especially after being burned by a similar SRPG with romhacking roots, but once I got into the thick of things it was quite the charming little game. Biggest props goes to game's artistry, with a masterful use of Live2D. The designs of Studio Daimon's Nene Kantoku combined with Iron Vertex's animators are an incredible duo, making Ornieres and crew all the more pleasant to watch interact with one another.

For gameplay, PotMS seems pretty standard-fare for RPGs when you start out. Probably the best comparison I could give are the older SMTs, the ones with front-line/back-line parties. But then you unlock access to Ornieres' Manastone, and the game just opens the hell up. Battles become a management of mana and time, as the more mana you can accrue, the more you can grow your party's skillset, but you can't stall battles to farm because turns spent in battle burn the clock for chapters, and time wasted will bite you for objectives. It's also worth noting that every other character starts battle with no MP and will instead generate it over time. The ways this game experiments with such a normally taken for granted staple of the genre is really cool, and something I'd want to see happen elsewhere.

For writing, the game's biggest strength is in its characters. Between Ornieres' struggles with his sudden amnesia and visions of atrocities committed, and Faratras being alienated from her homeland and branded the second-coming of the Demon King, the game is really good at exploring their psyches: fears, wishes, hopes, even romantic inclinations. These are all characters I would enjoy sitting with for a dinner (or a bar brawl, in Cristoph's case).

Though speaking of supports, the game ditching the Fire Emblem pretense of "Character who will only be relevant for one chapter/section and becomes army fodder afterward" by turning said characters into passive bonuses with the occasional attack is somewhat a double-edged sword in my opinion. While this does mean that Ornieres, Faratras and their closest allies get the maximum attention they deserve, I find myself struggling to even remember the faces of anyone else that joined them, with like exceptions to the pervert grandpa/son combo and the male pegasus knight who did actually have a bit more plot relevance than most of the fodder if memory serves. Bit of a shame.

Beyond that, this game was a really strong start to my year. I'm a bit sad that the game's following seems to mostly be from its romhack days, because I do really think it stands well on its own merits now. A recommendation for anyone looking for a visual novel with a little extra going on.

Fire Emblem Engage Intelligent Systems

From one of the strangest pre-release cycles where the main character's design was leaked months in advance, to splitting a fandom now inflated with people who have only played the two prior releases, Fire Emblem Engage is nothing if not an iconic anniversary game. I was certainly excited in the prerelease cycle, tuning in regularly on the official Fire Emblem socials dripfeeding info on the . But did it live up to my expectations? Yes. Oh my gods.

Mechanically speaking, the game is sick. The twist on the standard FE gameplay this time around are the emblem rings, which when equipped give the wielder bonuses that are callback to previous titles' own gimmicks (well, when they're not forced to make stuff up in the case of Lyn for example.) And like, the sway of power this gives makes the strategy element of Engage just so, so fun. Chapters become this multi-level analysis of when it's good to utilize the power boosts of engages, who should get which ring/bracelet for which chapter... In my first time playing an FE's maddening mode (or series' equivalents), the juggling of these ideas and theorycrafting for builds really made me get into the game's guts.

Writing wise, it's probably the most emotionally resonant Fire Emblem I've ever played. Alear's character arc as she grows into the divine dragon they wanted and meant to be was so incredibly sweet, and combined with a lot of the chosen family elements woven into Alear's interactions with their allies, and those allies with each other, makes for probably the most thematically queer FE since the Tellius duology. It's a big reason they've risen to be one of my favorites if not the favorite lord in the series.

These two elements, among other goods, made Engage my Game of the Year for this year, and honestly really revitalized my love for the series. I started writing fanworks for FE Fates again. It made me want to shift my video focus away from FGC funnies to covering the series, and if not for the shackles of working full-time, I'd probably be doing some longform, Chuggaconroy-esque in-depth walkthrough of The Sacred Stones right now. That's how much it means to me. Alear Fireemblem you will always be famous.

(There should not be any more mentions of Fire Emblem from this point, I promise.)

Needy Streamer Overload xemono - WSS Playground

This management sim, if I can call it that, was quite the surprise to me. Playing it was just out of curiosity from one of my friends posting art of the main character Ame-chan. Her design is not particularly unique in of itself, but its a fun fashion fit that I'd maybe try someday, and the brooding red and blacks bear a striking contrast to the bright and pastel colors that make up her internet persona, OMGkawaiiAngel-chan (or Kangel, for short).

Your role as "P-chan" is to be Ame's manager as she becomes a professional content creator in the next month with (hopefully) a million subscribers, but the nature of your relationship with her is dangerously blurred from the start. You are also her confidant, her closest friend (with benefits), her one and only stream moderator, any many other "her"s. She's dependent on you to help her to an extreme, and there's little you can do to improve upon that.

I don't know what to say about the game itself, a lot of what I got from it feels too personal to share in these writings. What I can promise, however, is there's a lot Needy Streamer Overload has to say on the nature of being an online influencer, how the job warps relationships with other people, the way the job goads forgoing mental health and ignoring moral and ethical boundaries. Ame is an extremely driven and passionate creator, but also vulnerable, isolated, under-medicated. Doing consistent back-to-back streams grows her audience faster, but eventually Ame will either end up unloved, overstressed, or just plain out of unique content if you only dedicate her to the grind. Medication can help bridge the gaps sometimes, but often doing so gets in the way of her performing her best on streams, or even at all due to their soporific side effects. And seeking new ideas for streams can take you to some places: Jonesian conspiracism, chan boards, beach ball camgirl sponsorships. The road to a million followers is one of grays.

And while I am aware I haven't seen the game's true ending yet, I thought it was fascinating that the endings I did see always ended in disasters or tragedy, even in mundane circumstances. I won't get into detail here on account of the graphic nature of some of them, but I got the message from it that trying to center yourself in her woes is mortal folly. Try to be a good friend, don't try to be a savior.

You should probably be in the right headspace mentally to play this, but barring that this is a recommendation for anyone whose been terminally online, or just collectively likes mentally ill women.

Cassette Beasts Studio Bytten

Now this here would be my second pick for Game of the Year, and the top spot for Indie Game of the Year. A really well put together monster collector that does a lot more to distinguish itself from it's most popular contemporary in Pokémon.

I don't want to compare it too much to that series, this game stands very well without that, but I grew up with Pokémon and I think there's a Cassette Beasts does differently from it that I love. Take the game's typing chart for example: rather than a simple multiplicative power boost/drop interaction, this one is a lot more focused on the long-game, as striking different types generates chemical reactions that induce status buffs/debuffs/effects based on the reaction. Key battles can't just be simply brute forced or brick walled, you'll end up losing the ability to use AoEs or give the enemy a free substitute-like wall or just get plain frozen. Some interactions even change your type temporarily. I could also point to this game's takes on shinies, called bootlegs. Bootlegs are not simply palette changes, but also change the monser's typing and movepool. And a bootleg can be of any type in the game, even the same type as what is native to that monster. Granted, tying gameplay changes to what would normally just be a cosmetic nicety can be precarious, but for me it just adds to the fun of hunting bootlegs across New Wirral, seeing how a monster performs differently in battle when taken out of their natural state.

I'd also be remiss not to mention one big departure from most monster collectors: you don't collect the monsters themselves, but rather record copies of them with a peculiar cassette tape set, which also serves as the vectors for you and your party to take the form of those monsters. It's just a very conceptually cool idea, and I love that the game even toys around with the implications of it sometimes, like how party member Kayleigh will weigh about the sugar rush that becoming a Candevil gave her. The game's larger story is relatively small scale, but I like the push and pull the monsters and archangels of New Wirral have in relation to man-made concepts and humanity. (Much like another game on this list, more on that later.)

The game's music is also incredible. From the homely feelings of Wherever We are Now to the upbeat yet tense Like Chimeras, the game's soundtrack and score, done by Joel Baylis, is certainly punching above its weight. Dynamic music isn't particularly novel, but I love the impact Shelby Harvey's vocals give to the battle themes are whenever you and your active partner fuse (Yes, there's fusion! Every monster is capable of it!) Even if you're not out to play the game itself (and I wholeheartedly recommend you should), the soundtrack itself is worth it alone!

(Addendum: while the game has only had a couch co-op option at the time of writing, Studio Bytten has a true multiplayer function currently in the works, and planned for early next year, so another potential bonus insofar as a recommendation.)

Crosscode Radical Fish Games

I've never been able to get into MMOs. The grind and dedication to playing one over a long amount of time has never been for me, and even with MMO-lites, I would quickly grow tired/bored before the good stuff and move on. But it did intrigue me when one of my pals described this game as a single player MMO.

Crosscode is more akin to an action RPG that uses the MMO genre as its backdrop; it's a game about playing a video game in many aspects. We follow Lea, an amnesiac nonverbal player avatar, whose time in the MMO Crossworlds is supposed to serve as some form of therapy while she regains her memories. Note that I did say nonverbal rather than silent; Lea's ability to speak is greatly impaired, only able to say simple words that were hacked in for her by Sergey, the man watching over her therapy. The game goes to great lengths to show this limiting in communication; NPCs don't care but Lea often has to play charades or do careful usage of her few words to get her points across, and sometimes there are misunderstandings. This was really something neat to see for me, someone with poor communication skills at times. Lea's amnesia also plays an interesting role in this. Sergey explains to her at first that Lea's real life counterpart is in a coma, so her experiences and memories made from that point onward are just of CrossWorlds. Everyone she interacts with has another life to return to, even the people whose job is only to develop and manage the software, so her life is oftentimes dictated on whoever is online at that very moment, or otherwise in pure solitude. It's a very interesting lens to view the world in, one where you're online presence truly is the only thing other people can see you from. And once the game reveals the "truth" behind Lea's coma, I think it also has some very interesting philosophical openers as to meaning of such an existence.

Also the gameplay elements are really neat in this. At first, combat is pretty run-of-the-mill melee and ranged combat in a top-down perspective. But then you reach the first temple and gain access to using fire, and the games complexities start to open up! Then you have this mix of resource and threat management. And that feeling just amplifies as your get the other three damage types in the following dungeons. Element matching with your enemies are the best way to mitigate damage, but attacking opposite is oftentimes the best way to maximize damage. Or it can even be a puzzle at times!

Speaking of, I think one of the game's best elements is the puzzle design in the temples and related dungeons. They serve as a great primer for understanding the different types, and how they interact with parts of the world, and with enemies. They are as much tools as they are weaponry. I would complain a little bit that the time sensitive puzzles get a bit too complicated at times for me to perfectly follow, but the inclusion of speed sliders for those puzzles is a nice addition that I don't often see utilized elsewhere.

Some short props should also being given for the atmosphere, CrossWorlds feels particularly well lived-in by its players, especially in its quest design. A newbie player who managed to keep failing upwards by getting bailed out by endgame tier veterans? A glitch hunter leading you to cut content and a boss that flunked out of playtesting? Apollo, the sworn rival and nemesis to Lea who keeps reading her every action as a challenge? These feel analogous to people and personalities I've seen abroad during my many years gaming (and even I've ended up the former in one scenario or another), and I think speaks well to the writing team's own social experiences.

Really solid game all in-all. If you're not into anything turn based, or are just an enthusiast of MMOs, this should be up your alley.

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga Atlus

"Big fan of x excited to play the game for the first time"

For the past few years, the DDS duology was something I admired from afar. From the really cool, sharp designs of the demonic Atma Avatars, to being the only press turn SMT with a traditional RPG party, to Jim Reaper's still unfinished low level run of the second game: there was a lot I was interested in about the game but was something I was weirdly reluctant to find out about playing for myself.

That was, until I found out that this game isn't one of the "beloved so much that physical copies are impossible to find." There are just resellers who have the duology still factory sealed, so I went and ordered one, and played them on my PS2 slim.

The games captivated me with the way they wrestle with the ideas of what it means to be human and the nature of that struggle. In DDS1, the Embryon going from cold and unfeeling individual to a group of passionate, thoughtful, eccentric, and even selfish personalities, the essence of humanity, juxtaposed with their very demonic forms in the atma avatars and their being driven to devour the other inhabitants of the junkyard, is incredibly compelling. And DDS2 drives this further when the Embryon's struggle for survival in the real world is placed at odds at humans who would devour each other for leisure and power. I gasped the first time I heard Hunting - Betrayal play in-game, having seen the full context surrounding the theme. Just on the story alone, these games quickly rose to one of my favorite games of all time. And this isn't even getting into the music, the designs, or the atmosphere either, I could keep going on!

If you want a retro suggestion, I cannot recommend this duology enough!

(As an aside, Cielo has got to be one of the characters of all time as well. Being the grandchild of Jamaican immigrants, I've really got to wonder what Atlus was cooking with this stereotypical Patois accent and dreadlocks on this pasty motherfucker. Made me laugh whenever he spoke in scenes, at least.)

Can't Live Without Electricity MELOVITY

I hate puzzle games. (affectionate)

I first found out about Can't Live Without Electricity through one of the YouTube channels I watch, Aliensrock. Puzzle gaming is his wheelhouse, and while it's not normally my genre of choice, the aesthetics of CLwoE combined with its concept were enough to win me over to try for myself.

This game centers around connecting homes to power plants with a steadily increasing limit of wires and other utility structures, and the goal is to connect enough homes as long as possible through the level, to the point the level doesn't have empty plots to use. Reorganizing and optimization are the name of the game here, as you're not always going to have plentiful wires, or run out of hammers to teraform the rougher terrain tiles scattered about. The game penalizes you on score for finishing a level using its two "cheat" tools in generators and jumpers, but there's no penalty for using them intermittently. So then the management also becomes strategic; setting a generator on a house while you try and fish for more resources to eventually connect it to the network naturally. Having to rework the entire grid because a house got placed in a very inopportune location can be quite frustrating, only for that feeling to be replaced with catharsis the moment everything comes together.

The game's square grid levels were a fun challenge, but I can't really say the same for the hex grids. The first level was an absolute filter to me; despite the big difference in the functionality of wiring ranges, the game leaves you with about the same strict economy of resources as the last square grid levels.

So yeah, my singular puzzle recommendation! And hey, while you're at it, did you know the game has Steam Workshop support, and that you can play a custom level I designed?

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore Atlus - Intelligent Systems

HA I LIED! FE NUMERO UNO!

Jokes aside, the revitalization effect Engage had on me combined with some recommendations by friends eventually led me to playing TMS#FE, the unholy marriage of Atlus's Shin Megami Tensei's battle design with Fire Emblem's characters from Mystery of the Emblem and Awakening. It was time I finally learned something about this title that wasn't the infamous "vagina bones" tweet.

My thoughts on the game's writing can really be boiled down to "Tsubasa should've been the Point of View main character instead of Itsuki". TMS's story is a great coming-of-age story for her and the rest of Fortuna Entertainment's stars. The Mirage incidents serve more as a backdrop for the group to learn and grow as performers, individuals, and as a team. It's really good, a lot better than most people give it credit for.

So, why is Itsuki the one we have to follow throughout?

Despite him not being the bog standard blank-of-slate mute-of-voice "Atlus Protagonist™" on account of having actual voiced dialogue, Itsuki Aoi ends up reading just as blandly as the worst of them. The main deal about him is that he doesn't have any strong aspirations, unlike his friends. He's just a guy. This isn't a bad thing in of itself, but it becomes a problem when, as a character, Itsuki doesn't really meaningfully grow; he's the same character you started with at the beginning the game except he's made a few new friends and somehow managed to do the not-a-harem troupe in the meanwhile. Meanwhile Tsubasa over here manages to find and rescue her sister, surpass her legacy, stand on equal ground with her biggest inspiration and role model in Kiria Kurono, and by the end of the game become a multi-talented star idol. There's so much to her and the rest of Fortuna, so Itsuki ends up by comparison being quite the sore spot for me.

Moving over to the gameplay, TMS is a bit more of a standout to me compared to other Atlus rpgs I've played. Whereas modern SMT and Persona tend to have their weakness-exploit battle systems result in huge snowballs by granting extra actions, TMS instead opts for sessions, where allies will automatically follow-up with additional attacks when a weakness is struck. This in turn results in a much more standard action economy while also still granting decent rewards for playing well and optimizing who chains what attack. Heck, even if you're not in for the mechanically deep stuff, sometimes its just fun to see everyone wail on a guy upwards of 30 times. Much as I love stuff like press turns, I think TMS was a good sign that Atlus could be trying more things with their games' battle systems. The one thing I'd say SMT/Persona's turn systems are significantly better about is momentum when it comes to character deaths in battle. Since turn order in TMS is determined when the turn starts, if someone's dead when that turn starts, they'll be skipped even when revived, and given all fights only have 3 active party members at a time, it is incredibly easy for a fight to spiral out of control because of a critical hit or session. But that's just my one nitpick; everything else about the system is pretty solid.

Oh, and the music! The music in TMS is really good. Reincarnation is great, but everyone loves that—I even remember catching bits and pieces of it as openers to some YouTube videos. My personal favorite is Dream☆Catcher, the song is much more my vibe, and the accompanying animation and outfits for Tsubasa and Eleanora are probably my favorites of the bunch. But also who can forget getting full vocals for the Fire Emblem Theme?

Tokyo Mirage Sessions is pretty neat. Give it a go if you're looking for the more esoteric Fire Emblem stuff. But don't say I didn't warn you about Aoi.

Kirby Star Allies HAL Laboratory

I've been really slow to play the Kirby games released for the switch, and I really could not tell you why despite my love for the series. That being said, I had a chance to play this alongside my lovely (currently) long-distance partner during one of our visits together.

It was a very pleasant co-op experience, doubly so given that I'd not been able to play Kirby with someone since the days of SSU. Solving puzzles and tacking fights together in something low-stakes; it's simple pleasant fun. Plus, seeing as I was playing this in the aftermath of all the update content, playing with the dream friends was also quite nice, if just for that nostalgia factor of seeing old enemies and allies with their movesets and attacks adapted to a new title. Another carryover I was quite happy to see was imbuing abilities with elements from other abilities. This was a favorite of mine in Squeak Squad's ability scrolls, so it was really quite nice to not only have that return in some form, but it also be a key part of puzzle segments as well as some fights.

My one major gripe is that the game's main story is saddeningly short. In the collective 6 or so hours we played together we were already well into the final world. Granted, Kirby's modern story modes are typically a breeze, but one segment of the game only being dedicated to Popstar itself was just... weird. Also, the control scheme being centered around the friend systems really messed with my muscle memory. Among other things, I would've preferred something like the x button handling most friend mechanics instead, similar to how it would summon/delete the helper in SSU.

But hey, that's not too big a deal in my opinion. Like I said, I really enjoyed getting to play this with my partner, and I still think it's a solid co-op choice for the time. Really hoping to get to the rest of the switch Kirbys in time.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Rescue Team DX Spike Chunsoft

One last case of me being a big fan of a game/series without exploring a key piece of the media at first. Explorers of Time is the game I can thank for being one of the catalysts to me becoming a writer, and I've played every title in the Mystery Dungeon Series... except for Red and Blue Rescue Team. So in the midst of collecting the Xenoblade trilogy to play in the eventual future, I also went and picked this up to see how it would fare with past experiences.

While I don't have a lot to say for this game in general (writing wise, its certainly a lot more straightforward than the explorers' trio, and the world doesn't feel nearly as lived-in by comparison), the game mechanically was quite neat, if only to see the newer mechanics of the 3DS era mystery dungeons brought to an older title. This goes especially for the inclusion of auto-mode, taking out most of the mundanity of basic dungeon navigation. I am a little sad that 3-member parties seems to be what has stuck for the series going forward, but I guess its a small price to pay in comparison to revamping the recruit mechanics to be less brutal and unintuitive. I'd also argue that it was a step backwards to take away the usage of basic attack from the A button in favor of automatically choosing a best move to use, but its another small potatoes issue given how quickly the basic attack gets obsoleted in other titles.

It was also just nice to return to the general concepts of the mystery dungeon. I was a child when I was first introduced to this series, and while a lot has changed since then—the scale and nature of my writing, my gender, my furry tendencies—there's still a lot that's remained the same. Just like in 4th grade, this series has been a lovely testing grounds for creating and developing original characters. The environments of the dungeons, and the simple interactions between the party and the world allow me to make interpretations and conversions that I can carry with me into my own works.

I would still recommend people play the Explorer games first if they're new to this side of Pokémon if we're talking on the story side of things, but this isn't a bad way to start either.

Backpack Hero Jaspel

I'm not sure how to introduce this game. If I speak on pure genre, the closest thing it is, is a deckbuilding roguelike. But there is no deck, just a backpack that holds your weaponry, armor, potions, and managing your inventory is as much a game as the much more typical turn-based, 3-energy-for-actions combat the subgenre is built upon.

I don't think Backpack Hero would've hooked me as much as it did if not for the inventory management. For one, it's a lot harder to fall into the pitfall of bloating your build; your backpack space is limited, and while leveling up lets you expand the size, there's only so much armor and shivs you can carry. You will very often be reorganizing just to optimize your build, or to add a key piece of gear you just received. In a way it's as much of a puzzle game as it is rougelike, and that aspect fascinates me.

I also like how differently 4 of the 5 characters in this game play. Purse the mouse is your standard character, whose main strength is in the flexibility she can expand her backpack in, allowing for versatile builds with very unusually shaped weapons. Satchel the robin has much of his inventory separated into individual pockets, which limits the power of adjacency in exchange for specializing in builds that are distance or line based. He also has a special charm effect with his instruments that allows a more pacifist route of playing. Pochette the porcupine is beast summoner, and her pets even get sub-backpacks of their own! Incredibly cute. And Crate, the robo-mouse, pushes the mechanics to 11 with his unique gimmick of routing the energy into his backpack rather than directly using it, making item positioning especially important. Much as I enjoy the other four characters, I have no praise for the 5th character in the ensemble, Tote the frog. She handles a lot more like a traditional deckbuilder character, using a "deck" of carvings that she places into her backpack over the course of combat. This in my opinion is to her detriment, as it reintroduces draw luck and deck bloating and other less than stellar aspects of the genre (and her having a unique 80 HP compared to the cast's 40 feels particularly illuminating). I hope she sees a rework at some point.

Lastly, I think the game's usage of a story mode is very clever, if only for the fact that most of the quests given to you in the mode are more akin to runs with a pre-established build, or a primer on the more game-changing relics. This is a great way to get players invested in deeper mechanics of the game, or to let them try items they would otherwise have to luck into, and something I hadn't seen done in other deckbuilders I've played. Great addition.

This game is my recommendation for anyone feeling burned out on the deckbuilders and wanting something fresh from the subgenre.

Lethal Company Zeekerss

Last but not least, a game that has taken the multiplayer YouTube scene by storm, this little indie darling in Lethal Company. I'm realizing by typing that now that I haven't added any multiplayer games to this list. With good reason; my friends are usually satisfied playing not-so-new titles with me, your DRGs, your RoRs, even TF2 on a blue moon.

I haven't had enough time with this game, and I tend to get squeamish around playing horror games, but I will say it's been a blast with friends. I've seen uses of proximity chat enhance games before, but its implementation here as a core part of the game's multiplayer and interaction with the various creatures in the game is quite genius. You could be screaming your head off cause you saw a bracken and no one could be even the wiser just from being several rooms away.

Or, for a personal anecdote, one of my friends who is a lot more experienced with the game had rushed into the building immediately. I catch up to find a corpse in the beginning room and I freak out. What the hell happened? I spent the rest of the in-game day awash in paranoia while my other friend investigated. Only to find out in the aftermath that what had killed him was an incredibly unfortunate landmine at the entrance. Honestly, no notes, this game is as ridiculous as it is scary for me.

I hope going into the next year I can have a lot more fun with friends with this title in particular.

Wrap-Up

Gaming's shaped a large part of my life; I've made most of my friends through playing and talking about playing games. I wouldn't be who I am without many of the games I've played. But many of the discussions I have about games up to this point have been behind the closed gardens of Discord servers and DMs. In fact, a large part of most of my ideas and thoughts don't get to leave small places like those. And that discretion has its uses, sure, but it leaves a lot to be desired on the aspect of where I'm coming from as a person.

As I look to the new year, I'm still as determined as ever to make Royals of the Tempest something more than just a few scenes I gush about frequently. But writing a novel takes time, and practice, and reflection on why I write, why I do... anything really. When I play a game recommended to me from a friend, I play it to understand their world better. Likewise, when I'm writing something, I want people to have a look into my world. A fanwork to convey why I like these characters. A review to show you what I look for in a game, and what I took home from experiencing it. A novel as synthesis to everything in my world, and the fractions of worlds I've been able to visit.

I looked back to my 2022 retrospective, one not as focused on gaming, and saw that some my plans for this year had to fall to the wayside, even my writing to a degree. But plans need not be dedicated to one year and one year alone. I'm not finished, but I'm still on the trail. Happy 2024.

#2023

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dhwty-writes · 2 years ago

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whatever a sun will always sing - chapter 2

Written for the @witcher-bows-and-arrows event.

Read on AO3

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Jaskier, travelling minstrel of the Continent, bard of the White Wolf, troubadour extraordinaire and the greatest poet of all time, disliked second chances on principle.

No, that wasn’t quite right.

Jaskier, travelling minstrel of the Continent, bard of the White Wolf, troubadour extraordinaire and the greatest poet of all time, had no problem with second chances at all. It was third chances he disliked on principle and the kind of people that came begging for a fourth, a fifth, a sixth – the sort of people that just couldn’t take a hint.

Like Valdo fucking Marx.

He couldn’t deny that there was a certain something between the both of them, he had come back more than once, after all, but in the end, their separation was inevitable. Usually, Jaskier liked to try and make a quiet exit — ’like a thief in the night’, Valdo liked to hiss disdainfully — no use in making more of a fuss than it was going to be anyways.

This time, he was afforded no such courtesy. No, this time, his exit was nothing short of a spectacle, for Valdo Marx accosted him in the middle of the Academy courtyard while he was bidding some old friends farewell.

“Leaving again, Pankratz?” a voice that raised the hairs on Jaskier’s neck taunted far too loudly and Jaskier gripped Priscilla’s hand tighter on instinct, his smile growing cold and insincere.

“Just ignore him,” his friend said with a smile no less frozen than his.

He should. He knew he really should.

Jaskier turned around. “Yes,” he answered as pleasantly as he could, “as I already told you yesterday. Alas, adventure is calling and true heroics are among the few things that cannot be found within the ancient and venerable walls of this honoured establishment.” In his head he added, ‘As you are indubitably about to demonstrate.’

“Ah, yes. The prodigious prodigal progeny of this school has to satisfy his wanderlust again, hm?” The troubadour sauntered closer and Jaskier knew they were beginning to draw stares of nearby students.

He smiled. Who was he to deny a willing audience? “How kind of you to recognise my talent, which we all know to be far superior to yours.”

Marx snorted, apparently ignorant to the small crowd gathering around them. “What we all know, is that you are a talentless wastrel who panders to the tastes of the massed.”

A couple of the spectators oohed and ahhed at that and Jaskier glared at them. Such a paltry comment was hardly deserving of any praise.

“Wastrel or no, I can hardly be talentless. At least people are singing my songs when I perform, instead of booing me off the stage,” Jaskier retorted. “Say Valdo, how did your performance in the Three Little Bells go?”

That elicited some quiet sniggers. The Three Little Bells had been packed three nights ago and he did not doubt that at least a couple of the onlookers had been present to witness Valdo’s pretentious performance at the end of which Jaskier had been asked to provide the audience with some real music.

He sneered at his companion with derision while Valdo was gasping for breath indignantly. “This has all been very droll, but I’m afraid, I really have to go. Thank you for your attention. The day is not getting any younger and I would like to cross the Pontar and be well on my way towards Cidaris before sunset.” He bowed with a flourish and turned back to his friends.

Priscilla hugged him tightly and wished him well, while their other friends pat him on the shoulder and told him to write a new masterpiece before he returned. Distantly, Jaskier heard Valdo grumbling, but did his best to pay him no mind as he extricated himself from his fellow bards and started towards the gate, where his new horse Pegasus was waiting.

Of course, he didn’t manage to get quite so far without Valdo offering unsolicited advice one last time: “You know, you had a good thing here,” he called after him and Jaskier couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ‘One would think even someone as thick as him could learn a lesson.’ But still, the bard went prattling on: “One day you’ll regret this, Julek. One day you’ll leave someone and they won’t welcome you back.”

“Has that day yet arrived for you? I know I’ll rejoice the rejection that rids me of you and you know what I’ll say to that? Good riddance. Stay within these walls if you please, I am not like to return. I think I’d rather grow beyond their scope. Hard for you to imagine, I know, since you can’t seem to see beyond the tip of your own nose. I’d recommend investing in a pair of spectacles, I hear they’re quite helpful.”

—

The farewell Valdo had given him irked Jaskier until he reached Gors Velen. Yes, he was leaving, yes, it had happened more than once. But he had never been anything but upfront about it. If anything, it was Valdo’s fault for continuing to allow him to return to his bed while erroneously assuming time and again that would entitle him to Jaskier’s heart. He had made it more than clear on multiple occasions that he had no interest in romantic entanglements whatsoever.

It was something that kept happening, not just with Valdo. A lot of people just assumed that a few kisses, a ballad about their lovely looks, and a roll in the hay meant that Jaskier would profess his undying love on the morrow and they all were bitterly disappointed when he sooner bid them farewell. He tried to laugh it up as perpetuating the image of bards, but he couldn’t deny that it stung sometimes, especially when it came from someone with whom he shared a deeper connection than just an acquaintance of a night or two.

It wasn’t that Jaskier was disloyal — though most people in his life, including his parents and a vast array of lovers would beg to differ — as much as that he liked to roam. ‘You’re a songbird,’ Priscilla had told him once, laughing, ‘piping and preening to follow a pretty mate to their nest, but sooner or later you have to spread your wings and fly away.’ She wasn’t so wrong about that. And their friendship should be proof enough that Jaskier wasn’t disloyal at heart.

He had reached the Adalette when he realised, he didn’t really know where he was flying towards. There was a bardic festival in Cintra that he had thought about attending, but Valdo had threatened entering as well, so the taste of that idea soured in his mouth. Instead, he turned his horsed north on a whim.

—

He was performing in a tavern in Zavada and had just finished his third reprise of Toss a Coin to your Witcher to sit down at the bar and enjoy an ale and meal on the house. It was a good meal, a hearty stew, dark and thick, with carrots, leeks and onion, chunks of beef swimming within that melted as soon as he touched his tongue to them. The innkeep served it with two slices of black bread with butter almost as thick as the slices themselves. Jaskier was just sucking the last of the grease from his fingers and washed it down with a swig of brown ale when a grizzled looking blacksmith with a beard as black and coarse as wires sat down beside him.

“Good evening,” Jaskier greeted amiably and hurried to swallow the mouthful of ale.

“Evening,” the man replied and looked him over sceptically. Just as Jaskier was about to ask what this was about, the man asked: “You really know the witcher? The White Wolf, I mean?”

“I do,” he replied enthusiastically and gifted him a dazzling smile. “As a matter of fact, I am the very bard to bestow that name upon him. Why do you ask, my good sir?”

“Don’t know,” the man seemed amused. “You just seem a wee bit young, I s’ppose.”

“Young I may be, though let me assure you that that in no way lessens my talents and qualifications. You may count yourself as living proof for my proficiency, seeing as even you have heard of the moniker I crafted. And let it be known that ordinarily I aspire to at least know the names of my critics before subjecting myself to their judgement.”

The blacksmith snorted a laugh. In a way, he reminded him very much of Geralt. “Stevo,” he replied and shook his hand. “You know my sister’s been to Maribor not two days past. Claims to have seen the White Wolf with her own eyes.”

Jaskier’s eyes lit up. “Does she now?”

Jaskier played another set that night and then followed Stevo back to his smithy, where he made sure to thank him thoroughly for his information. The next morning saw him leading Pegasus on the road northwards to Maribor before the sun was up.

It had been close to three years since he and the witcher had last parted ways in Kovir. That time, it had been Jaskier who had abandoned his friend instead of the other way around, in favour of a lucrative position at a duke’s court, that kept him well-fed, well-clothed, and well-paid for close to ten months. He would have stayed longer still, had he not been kicked out for sleeping with the duke’s younger sister.

Afterwards, he had travelled Cintra for a while. He had hoped to maybe cross paths with his witcher there but had not been so lucky. On the other hand, he hadn’t been actively looking for him either.

Oxenfurt had seduced him with the promise of a relatively stable position at the Academy. Nothing too extravagant, he just taught one course about 9th century elven poetry to mostly disinterested students. In such close proximity to each other, it had been only a matter of time before Valdo and him fell into bed with each other again. He sighed. With the kind of farewell, he had received it might be best to shun the city of a year or two. At least.

Not that Jaskier was in such a hurry to return. He had missed travelling the Continent and performing in a different venue each night, although much had changed since he had last done so. For one, he was better equipped now, with Pegasus and boots that were both sturdy as well as stylish. For another, people recognised him from time to time. He was far from the only bard who had taken up Toss a Coin and sometimes even his lesser songs were familiar to the audience that would hum along. He no longer contended with bread in his pants; instead innkeeps more often than not offered him bed and board for his performances now. Sometimes, they even paid to hear him sing.

Briefly, Jaskier wondered how Geralt would react to him returning. ‘Maybe he won’t even recognise me,’ he mused. He had grown another inch since they had last seen each other and he had begun to keep the fashion of a delicate goatee, as was popular in Oxenfurt.

For his part, he was excited to see his witcher again. For all his grunting and pointed glares, he suspected Geralt did enjoy his company. Else he surely would have left him in Posada and not indulged his presence up until Hagge. And he definitely wouldn’t have allowed to travel with him through Kovir. It would be nice to travel with a friend and perhaps the witcher would even take up an interesting contract or two that inspired him to a new ballad.

The ride from Zavada to Maribor wasn’t far and Jaskier had left early, he reached the city gates right as the sun was about to set. He dismounted and led his horse through the dwindling bustle of the masses in the search of an inn and stable. Stevo had told him his sister had seen Geralt right when he was about to set out on some dangerous contract, so it was more than possible that he hadn’t yet returned.

If it truly was an important contract, it was very possible that the duke himself had employed the witcher, but the hour was late and he was but a bard, so Jaskier did not have any hopes to be admitted to the castle before the morrow. Despite his lucrative performances during the past months, the fares in the inns close to the castle were too rich even for his tastes, so he turned towards a more modest part of town instead. He had stayed in the Ugly Goose before and knew it to be frequented by travelling merchants and traders that always enjoyed some entertainment with their supper.

He would begin the search for his witcher once the sun was up.

Jaskier entrusted Pegasus to a young stableboy, after he had convinced himself of the quality of his horse’s accommodations, and gave the boy two apples for his troubles, one for the gelding and one for himself. On his way to the door, he was startled by a snort closer to his ear than he expected.

With a yelp he leapt away and stared quizzically at the horse that had snorted right into his face and it took him a moment to recognize— “Roach!” Jaskier exclaimed excitedly. “Oh, what a sight for sore eyes you are, my good girl. Say, you wouldn’t know where your master is, would you?” Carefully, he extended a hand to her, to pet her head.

“Still wouldn’t do that,” a voice behind him growled.

Jaskier was very proud to say of himself that this time, he didn’t startle. Instead, he spun around with a wide smile and even wider arms to hug his witcher with. “Geralt! I was just looking for you, this is a fortunate day, indeed. I hope you didn’t think you’d seen the last of me, my friend.”

Awkwardly, Geralt pat him on his back. Jaskier saw that as an improvement to the last hug, which the witcher had endured silently and stiff as a board. When Jaskier pulled back to look at him, he was satisfied with the sight before him: Geralt wasn’t quite as bony as before, his hair seemed clean and well-cared for, as far as he could see, and no new scars adorned his face. The scowl was the same, but Jaskier took the improvements he got; he couldn’t expect miracles, could he?

“What are you doing here?” Geralt asked gruffly.

“Why, I crossed the Continent in hopes of seeing your handsome face again.” The scowl deepened. “I was in Zavada when I heard you were in Maribor and came as fast as I could, for I hoped my muse might bless me with a new, exciting tale about his adventures.”

“Hmm,” he replied, verbose as always. ‘One of these days I’ll figure out what he means by that,’ Jaskier vowed. “The beard is new.”

“It is indeed! You are astute as always, my dear, I am glad your eyes are not waning with your age.” The corner of Geralt’s mouth twitched upward at that, which in Geralt-speak was as good as uproarious laughter. “Do you like it?”

“Hmm,” he replied again.

Jaskier chose to ignore that: “Well, anyways, do you have a room already or might I ply you with the promise of a bed and a drink for some tales of your exploits?”

“I do. My treat this time.” Well, Jaskier wasn’t about to say no to a free meal and room in an inn.

Together, they found a secluded table at the Ugly Goose and shared a meal while Jaskier shared his account of what had happened to him since they had last seen each other. He left out his last conversation with Valdo; there was no need to bring that up quite now. After the bard had bought a round of ale, he even pried the story of Geralt’s latest contract out of him. As the hour grew late, Jaskier grew too drunk to get his own room key, much less to object to sharing a bed with. The bed was big enough, after all, and he might be drunk but not blind and not fool enough to turn down a night in those well-muscled arms.

The last of his hopes was ultimately disappointed, but it made no matter to him; Geralt’s company was pleasant enough as it was. After they ate breakfast — well, Geralt ate breakfast, Jaskier was miserably nursing a cup of tea — they stood awkwardly in front of the stables, reins of their respective horses in hand.

“So,” Jaskier drawled, right as Geralt blurted: “Where are you going next?”

He laughed at that, in part because he was relieved, in part because he was still feeling nervous. “Actually, I was about to ask the very same thing. If you would not mind a travelling companion, that is.”

“Hmm,” Geralt said. He interpreted it as I don’t.

“In that case, where are you headed to?”

The witcher shrugged and looked away, down the road that led southwards out of the city. “Where do you- Hm. Any preferences?”

Jaskier followed his gaze. The summer had barely begun, there was still enough time to reach most any place on the continent. He would not say no to following that road, however. Perhaps he could even winter in the south and evade the cold entirely. Smiling, he turned back to his witcher. “How about Toussaint? I hear it’s lovely this time of year.”

Geralt hummed and tugged Roach’s reins down that road and Jaskier thought, ‘Perhaps third chances aren’t so bad after all.’

#geralt of rivia #jaskier #geraskier #the witcher #the witcher fanfiction #geraskier fanfiction #witcher bows and arrows #whatever a sun will always sing #my writing #geralt/jaskier #waswas #valdo marx #priscilla

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robotic-bakery · 1 year ago

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i am going so crazyinsane right now so you know what fuck it.

thoughts on kira hayama? what do you like about him? what kind of stuff do you wish shogun steel did more with him? i wanna hear what other people think about him !

HI HIIII HELLOHELLO HAIIIIII

k so first & foremost, I wanna say sorry it took me a while to answer, I had things going on then I needed a place/way to articulate my thoughts beforehand. I wanted to format & order my thoughts in a particular way, so I'm going in order by:

design

character + as a blader

anything else

first of all, I'm a big fan of his design, specifically one of my favorite parts is how his pastels are primarily at the top of his design contrasting the darker colors of his clothes. with the exception of the area where his top shows his stomach, I find it to be a good way to utilize contrast to direct your eyes to his face/his upper body.

second, I know you've mentioned it talking about kirazyro, but I love how he's so similar to zyro yet those same characteristics make them different. For example, he’s passionate about being the strongest, he was chosen by a bey corporation to represent the future of the beyblade world, and he won’t let anything or anyone stand in the way of standing at the top of the beyblade world. However, unlike zyro, all of this is to assert his dominance over the beyblade world rather than a more genuine passion for the sport. Even then in the last episode, the way you can see his motivations morph into an intrinsic desire to establish himself as the strongest and defying the person who contributed a great amount materialistically (doji/merci giving him bahamoote) to assist in his prior want for dominance is cool!!

Another thing I’m a fan of in regards to Kira as a blader is how out of everyone else in the show, he’s the only one to my recollection that actually utilizes synchrome with two other people (golem behemoth & pegasus bahamoote). Granted it’s with two different beys, berserker behemoth and gladiator bahamoote, but the second closest aside mere suggestion is yoshio using behemoth’s warrior to make behemoth golem so I’m taking it. In fact, this point actually plays into how interesting his interactions are with those around him; how even with the people he’s closest to like yoshio, there’s still this air of distance that separates him which is pretty predominantly seen in his interactions with the other members of DNA/BTF.

Honestly, the more I think of what else they could’ve done with his character the more I’m honestly unsure about it. I guess the closest thing that comes to mind is getting the chance to incorporate his backstory into the anime so it didn’t just feel like a manga exclusive iykyim. Hopefully I managed to articulate everything to the best of my abilities in a way that’s understandable! I’m mostly worried about my point about his interactions with others, but I hope at least everything else makes some sense :D

#kira hayama I gibe you a littbe kiss on the forehead #little sqimble with some weird interpersonal relationships with others if you look at him hard enough love him for that <3 #I'm very normal about him as I am with everyone else on this show (not even remotely normal)#also in the two ppl synchrome part I have seen the series a couple of times but my memory isn't the best so I have no problem being #corrected there if I got it wrong!!#mfb #kira hayama #metal fight beyblade #beyblade shogun steel #beyblade zero g

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canon-fcdder · 6 days ago

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Not even a second passed that Theo has left Paris's lips before he was pulling him away from the crowd of campers heading toward the dining pavillions. Instead, the Son of Aphrodite dragged the object of his affections behind the Pegasus Stables, pushing him up against the wall there as he started kissing and licking his neck. Adrenaline from the hard-fought game before still pumped through his veins, and it was telling him to lay claim to his desires before they could be taken from him. "I want you, Theo," he murmured as he continued kissing every inch of skin available to him. "I want you. I want you so badly. Please... please say I can have you. I'll do anything you want me to. You can do anything to me. Just please let me have you. I want you." As he spoke, he was quickly realizing that he was running out of room to kiss. But he still wanted more of Theo. Dropping to his knees, he stuck his head up under their skirt and instantly laid eyes on the bulge in their lacy undergarments. Forgoing any previous goal, he made quick work of pulling the other's dick from it's confines, pleading as he does, "I don't know why, but I wanna put this in my mouth. Please can I put your dick in my mouth?" ( These two's first time together and Paris is gonna learn how much he loves sucking Theo's cock. ) - ✧ ˖ ˙ 「 @ncughty-uwu 」 ˙ ˖ ✧

「 ☆ 」 When Theo had challenged Paris to win their affections the best way the spawn of Ares knew how— in the midst of combat, victory not necessary… but the taste of it never hurt either —they weren’t sure what to expect. There was a determination within the others gaze that alluded to a worthy champion; Theo had seen it firsthand when pinned against the cabin wall. Son of Aphrodite declaring his intentions, gazing upon Theo with an impassioned fire that stoked something unknown within them. Before that moment, Theo had viewed Paris as an intriguing soul… but not a strong one.

Amazing, how quickly things can change. How efficiently one can prove another wrong when properly motivated.

As soon as victory was assured, Theo had grabbed onto Paris’s shirt and yanked him into a kiss. Spurred on by the thrill of witnessing someone fight so ferociously in their name. For their heart. Paris had cast aside threats as though lives were genuinely on the line. Perhaps for him, it felt as though they were. This was his chance, after all. A seriousness in Theo’s gaze when they voiced the conditions of their surrender— ❝ Alright then… Capture the flag is coming up soon. You ❛ want me ❜ ? Then prove it during the game. ❞ —that could be believed. If Paris wished to win the others love ( and loyalty ) , he needed to deserve it.

After that performance? Paris deserves everything.

Panting heavily as their back hits the stables, adrenaline still courses through their veins. A RUSH found in the lingering pride of defeating an opponent, intoxicating to the descendant of war. It makes their heart race, their blood burn with a desire to be taken… and in allowing themself to be, lay claim to the one desperately covering their skin in fervent kisses. Breathless pleads sound like a song to them, claws nails digging into Paris’s back— an attempt to mark him through his clothes —as their champion traverses across their neck. Leaving not a single inch without worship before dropping to his knees.

It’s no wonder there’s already a spot of dampness upon their lace before Paris’s curiosity has even taken him there.

Hands buried in Paris’s hair, grip tightens as air hits their twitching dick. A bead of pre glistens on its tip, beckoning the other toward a well-earned prize. Yet Theo doesn’t rush the moment. Precarious as it may be, considering the risk of being discovered. A novice to all things sexual— confident Paris must be the same —yet Theo has no reservations about what they want. There are no nerves to be found. No hesitation in the way they smirk down at their newfound lover. Nothing but a sense of power. Of control. Of… being wanted. Not only wanted, but needed. Above anything and anyone else.

❝ … No one has ever had me before. No one has been worthy of it. ❞ They begin, lightly toying with a strand of their partner’s hair. ❝ You shall be the first… and the last, should you stay loyal. Is that what you want, Paris? To be the only person I have belonged to- heart, soul, and body. ❞ They purposely draw out the moment, tugging at self-control like a string pulled taut. Relishing in the other awaiting permission like a starving dog still obeying its master. ❝ From now on, I am yours… and you are all mine. ❞ With that final growled statement, a light push is given to the back of Paris’s head. Urging him closer in permission to taste what he has been given.

To begin showing Theo what pleasure truly is. 「 ☆ 」

#canon-fcdder #⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴅᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ ❞ ¦ 「 Theo IC 」#⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʜᴇ ꜱʜᴏᴡꜱ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴀ ᴛʀᴀᴄᴇ; ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜʀᴏᴡ ɪɴ ʜɪꜱ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ ❞ ◌ ᴍᴀɪɴ ¦ 「 Theo 」#ncughty-uwu #⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ᴄʜᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜱɪᴅᴇ ❞ ¦ 「 Paris 」#♡ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ꜱᴜʀʀᴇɴᴅᴇʀꜱ; ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʜᴏʟᴅ ❞ ¦ 「 Theo and Paris 」#⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ʟᴇᴍᴍᴇ ꜱᴍᴀꜱʜ ❞ ¦ 「 NSFW-Lemon 」#⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ᴇxᴏᴛɪᴄ ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀꜱ ❞ ¦ 「 Answer 」#⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ɪ’ᴍ ɴᴏᴛ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ; ɪ ᴀᴍ ʟʏɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ❞ ¦ 「 Queue 」

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wild-ditto-appeared · 3 years ago

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Sylvia was buried in a pile of cards. Pip and Fluffy popped out before she did. Actually, it was more like she never popped out from beneath the pile at all. She was still curled up in a ball, frozen in place.

It wasn't that she was scared. Well, this time, at least. But if she moved, she didn't want to bend or damage any of the pretty-looking cards. So she just stayed in that position, paralyzed until the cards were removed.

As for Professor Oak, he was forced to close his computer and stand up because sweet Mew there were way too many.

He didn't even look overly shocked; just mildly annoyed at the inconvenience, yet half-amused at the ridiculousness of the situation as a whole.

With a sigh, Professor Oak turned to the center of the room, seemingly to address everyone. However, he clapped his hands and spoke oddly. "Alright, you can come out now. I'm sure watching us is very entertaining."

In a flash of light, Jirachi appeared in the center of the room and giggled--laughed--guffawed at the looks on everyone's faces, thoroughly amused. "You shoulda seen your faces!" Jirachi exclaimed telepathically, tears welling up in the corners of its eyes. "Aw, my belly's hurting! That was so funny! You otherworlders are really silly, y'know!"

Too curious about Jirachi's appearance to worry about the cards, Sylvia carefully sat up and examined with wide eyes, absolutely entranced. "So he was telling the truth... I-I mean, I sorta... believed it, but... seeing it is another thing..."

It didn't occur to her how confused Tahirah must've been about the whole thing, given that she didn't know anything about the other world.

Jirachi floated down to Ditto, who had clung to Pegasus' chest in the chaos, and beamed. "So, whaddaya think? Pretty good, huh? I fulfilled your wish again!"

"A-again...?"

Ditto looked at it, confused. It never wished for anything like that. It didn't wish for all these cards.

"Hehe! Silly Ditto! Obviously you wanted to share the Pokemon world with your otherworld friends, right? And you wanted to know more about Otherworld, too! So I brought cards to play with! You all like playing cards, right? Go, Toon Magician! Attack with Dark Blast! Hehe! It's a very cool game!"

Professor Oak laughed. Not in that way he laughed when it was from the belly, but the kind of chuckle you might hear from an adult listening to a child boast about their achievements on the playground. He shook his head and crossed his arms, eyeing Jirachi with a fond, inquisitive look. "It certainly sounds like it," he told the Mythical Pokemon casually floating in the center of his rented room. "But Jirachi, this is far too many cards. And--"

A sudden idea caught Professor Oak mid-sentence, his eyes widening and mouth pulling into a serious expression.

"...Say, Jirachi. How did you bring Mr. Pegasus here to this world, anyway? Is there a way for him to get back?"

Jirachi frowned. "Wha? Already? But he just got here!"

"Jirachi... Mr. Pegasus has a home in... Otherworld," Sylvia added, trying to keep her voice gentle, as if talking to a child. "He has friends and a history there, I'm certain. He can't just up and leave out of nowhere."

Jirachi fiddled with its fingers, turning away from the two researchers' judging eyes as it turned to look at Pegasus. "Is... that a wish? Do I have to?"

"It is, of course, ultimately up to Mr. Pegasus himself," Professor Oak remedied. "But teleporting across dimensions or worlds without any prior warning is..." He tried to find the right word to describe it--almost in disbelief that he was lecturing a mischievous Mythical Pokemon on its misconduct--and realized there was a perfect, unlikely word to use to describe this whole debacle. "...well, it's rather rude."

"But he wished it!" Jirachi protested, pointing an accusing finger at the otherworldly visitor. "It's not my fault! I was just doing my job!"

"I understand, but--"

Sylvia stood up and held her hand up, interrupting Professor Oak's train of thought. "If I may... Jirachi, I wish for these cards to be re-organized and returned to where they belong."

Jirachi's first blue tag lit up and in a flash of light, the room was clean again. The only sign of cards that remained was a deck on Pegasus' spot at the table. When Sylvia glanced at it in confusion, Jirachi elaborated.

"It's his cards. In his world, you can never leave the house without them; they're that important."

"I... see," Sylvia conceded, moving on. "Well, now that we can finally stand and breathe... Secondly, Jirachi, how did you get to an entirely different world, anyway? And how did you obtain the power to transport others between worlds? I feel like we haven't touched up on this--even Palkia himself shouldn't have this kind of ability."

At that, Jirachi was sheepish. "I dunno. I guess someone wished too hard and gave me that power? Although... I do remember seeing a meteor shower a couple weeks ago..." It adjusted its position, pointing a finger to its chin thoughtfully. "Now that I think about it, I sensed some pretty strong power and got curious. But... when I went to see what it was, my memory goes blank there. I just... dunno what happened. Next thing I knew, I was flying through space. Then I landed in the water and met Ditto, and then I remembered I hadn't brought it back home yet, so I thought I'd do that while I was there. And since then, it's just... kinda been easy?"

A meteor shower? That certainly explained something, but Sylvia really didn't know what. Was there other Legendary shenanigans going on further out in the world?

"Wait, but... you sent Ditto to the other world before then?" Professor Oak asked. "I had thought you would've done so after gaining this power."

Jirachi's eyes widened. "Oh, you're right! Oops. Maybe it wasn't two weeks ago... Or... maybe it was? I dunno. I can't remember. If I think too hard, I'll get sleepy, and this is the longest I've been awake for a while!" Jirachi glanced around at the crew, feeling restless and hyperactive and like it didn't want to sit still.

Sylvia had a feeling Jirachi was about to suddenly leave them.

"Anyone have any wishes before I go? I wanna go see more things!"

wild-ditto-appeared:

Cards? Oh! Of course! How could friends play together without cards?!

Suddenly, a deck of cards appeared on the table beside Pegasus in a poof of light. Sylvia, startled, yelped and fell backwards on the bed, nearly kicking the table in fright.

Then another deck appeared, by Leon. Then another, and another. One by one, each Trainer got a deck of cards. Duel Monsters cards.

And then each Pokemon got a deck. And… then there were more and more decks, more and more cards, and–oh god that pile of cards is too high!

Unable to handle its own weight, the tower of cards that had appeared out of nowhere tipped over the side of the table, sending cards flying everywhere. Pip, Fluffy, Ditto, and Pidgey all flapped and flailed in surprise.

“W-where did all of these cards come from?!” Sylvia whimpered, still curled up on the bed with a spooked expression.

Hehehe… Now they can all play! Friends, friends, friends~

Friends from far, far away~

“AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!”

Leon, Pegasus and Tahirah’s screams all echoed slightly from the room as the cards came flooding in, especially when the tower of cards fell and sent cards flying everywhere.

“OHMYARCEUS, OPEN THE DOOR!” Tahirah was heard screaming halfway through. “We’re gonna die if we don’t let the cards flood out! Or a window!”

Leon opened the door, and a pool of cards came flooding out, making the room at least a little more spacious. “…I-Is that it!?”

“I think so.” Pegasus was absolutely floored by the cards that suddenly appeared. He picked up a few to verify the mess created, only to realize that they were ACTUAL Duel Monsters cards.

“These..are all cards I’ve designed!”

“What!?” Leon did his best to clean up the mess of cards made outside the room due to him opening the door, bringing them back into the room before closing the door. “Really?”

“Yes!” Pegasus’ good eye widened as he looked up at Leon, nodding. “And, er…is everyone okay!?”

Pidgey chriped a bit and landed on Pegasus’ left shoulder for reassurance. It was shooketh, but otherwise fine. Tahirah nodded sheepishly, along with her own Pokemon. “W-we’re okay…”

“But seriously, where did they come from!?” Leon looked around. “You said these cards were made in your own world, right? So how did they get over here to ours?”

Pegasus swallowed, thinking of how Jirachi brought him and Ditto here. “Jirachi…?”

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subpar-ghoulfriend · 3 years ago

Text

A Family Affair

Slasher AU CannibalFamily!EraserMicxReader

We’re going with the “strange family that lives outside of a small town” trope. After a few deliveries to the Aizawa household you get pulled in to an affair you never wanted to be a part of.

Spooky season is upon us and I’ve already begun watching too many horror movies. This fic will definitely be a two parter

Super Dark Content Warning!!! Literally do not read if you have any reservation and definitely no minors!

TW: cannibal themes, mentions of murder, mentions of corpse mutilation, kidnapping, unhealthy relationships

Part 2 is gonna include more of this and the smut

Growing up you were grateful for living in a small town. You didn't really relate to the coming-of-age stories told in the movies where the small town girl runs off to the big city for a whirlwind romance and a chance at some "big break." To you, small town life was more picturesque than any overcrowded city. You knew your neighbors, and watched a lot of their families grow and change throughout the years. A small town allows you to become a regular at several businesses, including the coffee shop and your favorite diner downtown. Going away to college was tough even though you didn't go far. The nearest city - a little over 40 miles away - had a great college with a program you were really interested in pursuing.

You went home every break and picked up delivery jobs at one of the local restaurants. It was winter break of your last year in college when you first delivered to the Aizawa residence. In all your years at the restaurant they never ordered delivery, one of the two men would always place an order for pick up. The thing about small town stereotypes is that small towns tend to self-impose said stereotypes. The Aizawa's were that family. The one that everyone whispered when they came to town and children would tell horror stories about during Halloween. They were the weird family that lived just past the outskirts of town.

You weren't entirely sure what either of the two men did. Everyone speculated that Mr. Aizawa was some sort of mountain-man-feral type and maybe did some mechanic work for the folks that tend to live in between towns. His husband, Mr. Yamada seemed like the stay at home trophy husband but you heard he did some sort of conspiracy podcast. They had children - reportedly, but no one has really met them - and other family members that live similarly further out into the middle of nowhere. The drive was absurdly long but they were loyal customers and the owners didn't want to turn their request down. Your boss handed you a chunk of bills to fill up your tank before heading out. That's no place you'd want to get stranded, he told you.

The paved road got worse the further you got from town. Forty-five minutes later you were pulling down the dirt road that led to the illuminated Aizawa home. A wall of cold air slammed in to you when you opened your car door and you grumbled about leaving your gloves at home. There was no doorbell, so knocked and did that awkward please-don't-let-me-freeze dance while you waited. Two unfamiliar faces opened the door, an apathetic looking teen and an adorable little girl. Must be their children. The older one called out for his dad before taking one of the bags you held and disappearing into the home. You looked down awkwardly and wave at the girl. She smiled shyly and reached out for the other bag.

"Are you sure?" You asked her, "It's a little heavy."

She nodded.

"Okay, but use two hands," You passed her the bag. "Oh jeez, you're strong. Don't tell your brother, but I think this is the heavier bag."

You smiled when she giggled and ran off.

Mr. Aizawa appeared in the door, "How much do we owe?"

He was just as terrifying up close and for a split second your mind went blank while your basic instincts were begging you go back to the car. He raised an eyebrow at you, looking irritated at your falter.

"Uh - forty-two."

He pulled counted out a chunk of bills and then you were off. You didn't even count the amount until you parked. Forty-two with a forty-dollar tip. They may be odd but apparently they're loaded. You didn't think much of it until the following week when you were heading back to their house with another delivery. You wished that they would order earlier but at least you could hope for another generous tip. You were taken aback when the little girl answered the door by herself, jumping up and down with excitement.

Was she old enough to answer the door by herself?

"Papa," She yelled. "The lady is here!"

She turned her attention back to you with a huge grin, "Shinsou got sore that you told me I'm the stronger one."

Before you could respond to her the other man, Mr. Yamada, bounced around the corner, "Eri, what have we told you about the door? Oh no, you must be freezing come stand inside while I go get your payment. Forty-two right?"

You wanted to protest, feeling uneasy in their entryway but the little girl tugged you by the delivery bags. So you stood there quietly while she ran back in forth so she could unload the delivery for you. Shinsou peered around the corner so you gave a small wave. Then it was just you and Eri once again. In the background you could hear Yamada asking his husband where the wallet went.

"I like your shirt," You smiled, trying to fill the silence.

"I wanted a Pegasus shirt but this was the only one my daddy could find."

"Well I think unicorns are pretty cool too."

You use to babysit for some of the families in town, no part of you could imagine doing that all the way out here.

The blonde rejoined you, giving you another lush payment. You heard the little girl whine about you leaving so quickly until her father appeased her by saying you'd be back.

Something about that rubbed you the wrong way; but you were back like clockwork the next week with their usual delivery. Once again you were brought inside while they went to get your payment. But on your fourth and what should have been your final delivery of the winter break you noticed something was off when you parked. Their truck was missing from its usual spot. Strange but they probably just moved it somewhere else on the property. You had become accustom Eri running to answer the door and telling you wait for her parents in the entrance of the house. You became suspicious after she had run back and forth to take the food to the kitchen.

"Eri, where are your parents? Or Shinsou?"

The little girl's response was nonchalant, "They had to go out, one of our cattle got out. But they gave me the money."

You stuffed the money into your jacket; payment was the issue here. In the back of your mind you though about how you never saw any cattle on your deliveries. A child her age shouldn’t be left alone.

"Oh, well, can I hang out with you while we wait for them to come back?"

The little girl lit up as she pulled you to the living room. There was a kid's movie playing on the TV and she had a coloring book out. Eri divide up her crayons and tore out a page for you to join her. You kept looking to the window, waiting for the truck to pull up.

Suddenly there was banging at the door, which elicited a cry from Eri. You reached into your pocket only finding the crumpled bills. Shit, your stomach dropped. You left your phone in your car. After all, this was just supposed to be a quick delivery. The noise stopped, only for a moment, before resuming.

"Eri, sweetie," You whispered to the stunned little girl. "Do your parents have a phone here?"

She shook her head.

A man’s voice tore through the door, "Let me in dammit, you have to let me in before they come back."

You held your finger to your lip, and Eri nodded, repeating the gesture. The living room light was on and you realized that if he came to the side of the house you'd be seen through the window, but turning out the light would draw attention. Maybe he was bluffing, maybe he didn't know if anyone was inside and turning off the light would signal your presence. You pointed to the kitchen, where the lights were off and the two of you tip toed to the safety of darkness.

"Eri, honey, can you go sit in the pantry for me and be really, really quiet? I'll be right out here and don't come out until I come to get you okay?"

She looked hesitant and tearful but you were surprised at her level of composure for a kid. Finally she complied. Once the pantry door was closed you began rummaging through the drawers, looking for something that could inflict the most damage. A meat tenderizer could work. The banging continued and you swore you hear wood beginning to splinter. Your grip tightened with every bang. Finally the door gave way and a man stumbled through the splintered wood. He stopped when he saw you holding the cleaver.

He was dirty, without shoes or a shirt and his skin was red from the cold.

You hoped your voice wouldn’t crack, "You need to leave-"

"Monsters, monsters," he blabbed. "They're gonna come back and we gotta go."

You decided to bluff, "Get out of here, I already called the cops."

"Good, good, good," He mumbled, “but we still gotta go. NOW."

There was one step forward from him, one step back from you.

"If you come near me, I'll make sure you don't get up," You warned. At the very least you had to keep him away from Eri. Even if that was all you could do.

There was a desperate look in his eyes; they darted from you to the keys hooked to your jeans, then back to the keys. Finally he smiled, "You have a car, man that's perfect. Listen I won't hurt you but we need to get in your damn car, now."

Sounds like something someone who wants to hurt me would say, you thought. Apparently you took too long to respond, the man lunged toward you and you tried to swing the meat tenderizer. The tool connected with his shoulder and he howled out in pain but still managed to wrestle you to the ground. The two of you struggled with each other and the man was yelling that you'd die if you didn't listen to him. You landed a weak hit to his jaw, splitting his lip. You even tried biting at him but he was persistent and struggling to get your keys. You were telling him he could have them that he just needed to let you go but he wasn't listening to you. Managing to grab his ear you had a flashback to the self-defense seminar you had to take in college, it should be easy to rip a human ear. So you pulled. Blood began to flow from the wound down his face and on to you. He got you off him before you got the whole ear by delivering a blow to your stomach. The air rushed from your body, is this what it means to get the wind knocked out of you?

There was a loud noise and fog lights flooded through the broken door. Then saw Shinsou and Aizawa pulling the man off you. You pushed yourself and back, clutching at your stomach. Your cheeks were wet. Were you crying or was that blood on your face? Probably both.

The trio wrangled the man outside where you heard more struggling, fighting, and groaning.

Eri. You managed your way to the kitchen but realized you were covered in blood. Not wanting to traumatize the little girl any further you spoke through the door.

"Eri, can you stay there a little bit longer?"

"Can't I come out? I heard my daddies," She cried, tugging at your heartstrings.

"Not yet, okay? They're here and everything's okay, I'm gonna have them come get you okay?"

Thankfully, the door didn't open. As you shuffled toward the front door Mr. Yamada entered, wiping specks of blood off him.

You were shocked when he pulled you into a hug, "You're okay. Sho and Shinsou got everything under control. Where is Eri?"

You told him about her hiding spot and he sighed in relief and rushed to her.

The other two returned with bloodied knuckles that made your stomach churn.

"Yamada," The mountain man called, with his eyes scanning the home.

"Don't worry, Sho, I got Eri. She's fine. Our delivery girl is okay, she's got some bumps and bruises but she made the other guy look worse."

Aizawa ushered you to the couch, expecting your legs to give out at any moment.

"We need to call the police," You finally spoke.

Aizawa assured you he did. They were 45 minutes out but they'd work on getting here faster. Yamada brewed you a cup of tea, “for while we wait.” They finally calmed Eri down and Shinsou took her upstairs to get ready for bed. It felt weird for them to return to mundane evening routines so quickly after all that chaos, but maybe you were just the odd one out. Close to an hour later you were still waiting for the police to show up. Your tea was finished long ago and your nerves had calmed. You were even having trouble keeping your eyes open.

"You think they're almost here, babe" The blonde wondered, draping a throw blanket around your shoulders. "I'm sure she wants to this day to be over with."

---

It was still dark when you woke up. The blonde was fast asleep on the recliner next to you. The police must have come by now but there was no way you slept through the visit. Anxiety from earlier made it’s way back in to your chest. The clock read 4am; had they even called the police. All of the childhood rumors you heard came flooding back and you exited the house as quietly as you could, not realizing your keys were no longer with you.

When you made it outside you noticed dried blood on the ground, trailing toward what you assumed was their barn or storage shed. You were entranced. Looking back to the house, no one was awake; there was no movement, no light, just quiet. You shouldn’t follow the bloody trail, you shouldn't go near the shed; but your body moved on it's own accord and before you realized it you were at the doors. You gave a tug, expecting it to be locked, but the door swung open and inside you noticed the lock lay on the ground.

You should have turned around, got in your car, and drove away. Instead you stepped inside and found the bloody, broken body of the man who attacked you. There was a slight sway to the corpse that was hanging from a reinforced pillar. Nearly screaming your hand shot to cover your mouth.

You should've left.

Aizawa was watching you from the kitchen, cursing Hizashi for leaving the shed unlocked. His hand hovered over the secured cabinet drawer that stored a pistol. He wouldn't shoot you only scare you a bit. But you weren't running out in a panic. He didn't even hear you scream. Interesting. He went to join you, moving like any predator concealing it presence and leaving the gun safe untouched.

You should've left.

You finally came to your sense and whirled around only to run into your late night admirer. A terrified squeak escaped you as you jumped further into the confined space.

"Mr Aizawa! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have - I'm sorry."

He didn't look angry, although you wished he did. It would be better than the unsettling smile on his face.

"That's alright, I was heading out here anyway," He closed the door behind him and flicked on a dim light that lit up the room with shadows. "Can't leave it hanging for too long."

Your throat tightened, he stood between you and the only exit. If he noticed your terror there was no indication that he cared. He turned his back to you momentarily, rummaging through the clutter on the workbench. Now was the best chance you may get and you made a dash for the door. It was a futile attempt and part of you knew it but your nerves were ablaze with adrenaline and you were running on instinct not reason. There was a foreign tightness around your throat that kept you fighting to inhale. Struggling to breathe you didn’t even register the sharp pinch of a needle piercing your deltoid.

Aizawa pressed his nose to your hair, "Behave. Even if you get out of here, your tire has a flat, pesky nails tend to find their way on to the roads out here. A real shame."

He dragged you over to a chair across from the lifeless body cuffing both your wrists to the armrests. Stupid, stupid, he was grabbing out cuffs and I ran straight into him, you scolded yourself. You went to open your mouth and beg to be let go, but you were silenced.

"Keep it down or I'll have to find a way to keep you quiet."

Your heart was beating so hard it hurt. Once a friend said it was possible to die by fright, if that was true you wouldn't last much longer. Now that you were safely out of the way, Aizawa could make quick work dismembering the carcass. He donned his usual rubber apron and pulled back his hair. With his experience he could finish the job in less than two hours. Now was as good a time as ever for you to learn.

With a sigh he began his explanation and craft:

"Cannibalism has been around as long as we've existed: sacrificially, ceremonially, culturally, especially during times of plague, war, and famine. You can find documented accounts from pretty much every part of the world. And there's no one reason. Our family keeps it simple. We eat meat, animals are meat, and humans are animals. In times of famine and other hardships, this was a reliable food source. Of course now, there's not much of a risk for severe famine to effect people like us but it's tradition. This is how it's been for our family for years. And not just those of us around these parts but our relatives everywhere. It's important to keep old trades alive."

He paused, now splattered with blood, to take note of your dry heaving.

"Please," You gasped. "I just want to go -"

With narrowed eyes he continued:

"It's important for you to listen to our family history. Typically we don't reap a harvest until three weeks after the winter solstice and 3 weeks before the summer solstice. Twice a year is enough to get us by. Zashi and I are impressed that you managed to wrangle him in. Poetic in a way, don’t ’cha think? Consuming the flesh of someone who tried to overpower you. First reap of the harvest. Nice that it's a family affair."

The room was spinning and you were fighting the sedative as hard as you could. There was no way any of this was real, maybe you were dreaming? Maybe you'd been knocked unconscious when that man rushed you. Or better yet, maybe you were asleep at home still. It was possible that this whole delivery fiasco was just a nightmare. Your stomach churned at the speech. There was sun peaking through the cracks in the wall by the time he finished separating the ... different sections. There was no more body, just pieces. You nodded off for a few minutes before being jolted awake by the door opening and letting in the bright morning light .

"Good morning, you two night owls," Hizashi beamed. Walking to his husband handing over a tall mug of coffee. He was completely unfazed by the scene he walked in on. In fact the only frown he made was when Aizawa said he put too much sweetener in the coffee. "Anyways, grumpy pants, I called your sister. She's on her way to pick up Eri and Shinsou for a few days. To give us some time to focus on our little muse. Speaking of, I should go get her some water. Oh, plus we need to fix our door."

---

After you refused to drink anything they tried to give you they left you alone in the shed. The handcuffs were too tight for you to slip through and in your struggle you managed to topple the chair over, hitting the floor with painful slap. It was hard to ignore the buzzing of the flies swarming the space where the body once hung. You closed your eyes, your mind wandering to your family and what they would think when they realized you were missing.

Outside you heard a car pull up and were tempted to scream for someone to help you. Maybe it was the police; maybe someone realized you didn't go home last night and found out where your last delivery was. Your captors came out to greet whoever it was and you were glad you didn't yell, they sounded friendly. They were coming toward the shed but you were too defeated to react.

"Sho," Hizashi gasped, "She fell."

The response was sharp and sarcastic, "I hadn't noticed." He yanked you up with ease and the world was no longer side ways but the jolt paired with the exhaustion and drugs left the world spinning.

The woman must've been the sister they mentioned earlier. She squealed with delight, "Oh isn't she the cutest, lemme get a good look."

She resembled neither of the men and gave off cool-soccer-mom vibes. With a gentle grip on your chin she bore into your eyes.

"Please,” You begged, “I just want go home."

The sister didn't waiver, "Don't worry sweet thing, these two are gonna take such good care of you. Just relax and let them help you."

Help? You don't need help from them. You needed to get out of this hell.

"Okay," She bounced toward the exit, "Bring out my niece and nephew, we're gonna have a fun weekend. And take care of your girl, she looks like a keeper."

Finally you screamed in frustration. Brief, loud, and full of anger but it deflated just as quickly when the two men shot you a menacing look. How could all three of them show no display of empathy? You were again convinced this was an alternate reality when both children peaked their heads in to wave goodbye before they peeled away from the home, leaving you alone with Hizashi and Aizawa.

---

There was a hatch toward the back of the room where the two disappeared until they came back with a third body. They were dragging a woman up like a ragdoll and acidic bile burned your throat. If you had to guess you would say she was late middle age. It felt like they were setting a stage, Hizashi pulled you closer to where they stood while Aizawa managed to tie the woman down to the stained table.

"Why are you doing this," you cried. But they ignored you.

"Did you know there are people who pay for certain oddities and they’re willing to spend big bucks to get what they want? We keep whatever makes sense to eat and sell the rest. Ideally nothing goes to waste.”

The next hour and forty-seven minutes were excruciating. There were several “items” – as they referred to her body parts – that they removed while she was still alive; but finally Aizawa made the perfect incision along her thigh and a pomegranate wave gushed out. There was no way she would suffer much longer with this amount of blood loss.

"Please just let her die," You begged the universe. "Please let it end."

For the first time since starting they stepped back from the body, leaving it on the table to come over to you. Aizawa knelt before you and his bloody hand brushed hair from your face; his thumb rested on your lip and you couldn't even physically respond. Hizashi was behind him, rubbing his partner's shoulders.

"You're going to kill me?”

Both men finally softened, coming down their endorphin high. There was something so satisfying about your question. Arousing, even. They made it clear that your life was up to them, which meant they had you where they needed you.

"Am I having a blonde moment? I don't recall saying we'd kill her."

Aizawa threw an incredulous look his way before addressing you, "We aren't going to kill you. We wouldn't've saved you from that terrible animal if that were the plan. We don't kill just anyone. We wanted to introduce you to our lifestyle and now’s the best chance. Eri’s wanted to keep you since day one, but if you can't behave that'll be an issue. Can you prove to us that you’re going to behave or do we have to get you down into the cellar?”

There was no other choice than to nod. Picking up a piece of the dissected woman Hizashi muttered something about starting dinner before telling his husband that you really need to get more rest. Aizawa agreed, and since it seemed like you were having trouble getting rest he decided to give you another little dose of medicine.

#slasher au #mha x reader #bnha yandere #mha yandere #yandere erasermic #yandere erasermic x reader #yandere x reader

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iturbide · 3 years ago

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In the nicest way possible, how do I explain how weird it is that Chrom gets the standing ovation for offering Walhart a chance to surrender before killing him (wow, what a compelling character arc), but Claude is now a foolish fool for doing the exact same thing with Shahid what literally every FE protagonist does over and over and over again. Like, again, nicest way possible, but this shit sounds fishy to me.

I mean, it's mostly because Claude vs Shahid and Chrom vs Walhart are two completely different situations, and therefore aren't being graded on the same rubric.

In Chrom's situation, he's very clearly someone who is used to taking violence as the first resort: he's the captain of the militia when we meet him, tasked with forcibly quelling threats in Ylisse (first bandits, later Risen). When his sister's death foists the mantle of leadership onto him he's ill-prepared, but he clearly tries to keep Emmeryn's goals in mind -- as well as her means of achieving them, even though they run counter to his own reflexes. He engages Gangrel without offering any kind of parley, but he's clear-headed about it rather than enraged, and takes Gangrel on with his sister's goals in mind, rather than a desire for revenge:

"My sister wished for our people to know peace, Gangrel. But as long as you draw breath, it can never come."

In the situation with Walhart, they are at the beginning of their confrontation when Chrom offers parley, rather than at the end of it with one defeated and disarmed. Chrom makes his appeal to Walhart with both of them armed and fit to fight, again with his sister in mind, but this time trying to embrace her means to the best of his ability:

Chrom: Will you surrender? Walhart: Don't waste my time with questions you know the answers to, boy. Chrom: It did not have to be this way...you believed in mankind's strength...so did my sister. You believe that we are masters of our destinies...so do I. You could have joined with us. Walhart: ME, JOIN YOU?! Does a pegasus join with the flea on its back? A dragon, with a cow it eats?! You forget your place, BOY. I am the Conqueror! I will unite the world! Chrom: No! ...I will. And not by forcing all the people to choose the sword or the knee. Peace will only come by stoking people's hearts...not their fear. Walhart: You think that's what you've done? What your sister did before you? No, she shouted some nonsense and leapt off a rock! Such weakness! Chrom: Wrong. Not weakness—strength. That one act lives on, and WILL live on, longer than all your conquests... Walhart: And longer than you will...come then, flea, and die for your peace! Chrom: Emm, I tried...

So Chrom is fighting against his reflex to attack first in order to try and uphold his sister's ideals, despite the fact that Walhart is the one who attacked Archanea with the goal of conquest in mind. Even though the attempt failed, the fact that he made it is admirable to me, especially since it's not the first course of action he was trained for.

In Claude's case, I'm pretty sure I've already said how much I respect and admire the fact that he tries to reach out to people before engaging in Three Houses. So already the idea that there's a double standard is pretty well moot, because the same thing Chrom gets a "standing ovation" for is what made me latch onto Claude as my favorite of the three Lords in the first place. I love a character that is willing to talk first and fight second, rather than the other way around as is so common in Fire Emblem games.

The situation with Shahid as I understand it -- and again, I haven't played the game, so I'm not able to say with full certainty that this is right -- is not at the beginning of their conflict, but at the end of it. Shahid has been defeated already, and disarms himself by throwing his sword at Claude in a rage. At that point, to the best of my understanding, he doesn't have a weapon on him, isn't able to attack again or defend himself -- and that is when he's killed. If my understanding is correct, that sounds like an execution.

Also, if you dislike my attempts at analyzing the situation so much, you know you can block me, right? You don't have to come into my inbox to argue, you can just block me and not see any of my opinions anymore. For the sake of your own mental health, I'd really encourage you to curate your experience by blocking tags or blogs that upset you, including mine -- trust me, I won't be offended.

#answered #anonymous #fire emblem: awakening #fire emblem warriors: three hopes #fewth spoilers #it's kind of funny how people accuse me of double standards #and then ignore that i praised claude a week ago #for literally the exact same thing that chrom does with walhart #there's a reason claude is my favorite okay #there's a reason i picked him over dimitri #no offense to dimitri he is absolutely delightful and i love him #but claude is my favorite hands down #at least in three houses #i can't speak for three hopes yet #maybe someday

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silverdragon-imagines-blog · 3 years ago

Text

Run Leg Run

[Another fic from a write-off, this one was from a tournament back in March. This is a one-shot that was written on March 17th 2021. Once again, this isn’t edited and most likely won’t be posted anywhere else. I hope you enjoy this ^u^]

Prompt: Legend is still a wanted criminal in some areas of Hyrule due to the brainwashed knights from his first journey. Of course, that's exactly where Hylia dropped them

It was raining, the leaves of the trees surrounding them waving erratically in the downpour. The woods were familiar to Legend, unfortunately. To make matters worse, he could only see two of their group of nine, Wind and Four looking slightly concerned by the tense look on his face. He sighed, then turned to look ahead towards their destination.

“Stay on your guard and do what I say,” he hissed.

Confused nods were the only answer he received from them as he led the way through the forest, stopping them every so often to watch the woods surrounding them all. He could hear heavy footsteps, and they were decidedly not from the Old Man. A flash of metallic blue had him forcing both the Sailor and Smithy behind him as a royal guard passed by, thankfully missing the trio completely. Legend sighed in relief.

“Okay, explain why we’re avoiding the guards?” Four asked.

“Let’s just say, I’m not as well-liked by the royal guard as I wish I was after my first quest.”

“Are you going to explain any more than that?”

“What do you think?” Legend smirked, grabbing ahold of both their arms as he sprinted ahead.

The rain made everything more difficult it seemed, each time they stopped to avoid a guard patrol had at least one of them skidding forward a few steps. They hadn’t been seen yet, but Legend knew it was only a matter of time before they were caught, or rather until he was caught. Their luck had to run out eventually.

“Legend,” he glanced back at Wind to see him pointing behind them, panicked, “We’re being followed.”

He looked up to see just what he didn’t want to see, a knight dressed in red armor stalking through the trees, trident aimed to throw straight at them.

“Fuck this.”

He grabbed both of the small heroes, lifting them up as he started running, gaining speed with the aid of his pegasus boots. The guard was close, and with the noise each step made in the wet underbrush, the rest of the patrolling guards decided to join in chasing them down, too. Just his luck.

“We can’t avoid them forever, what if we just fight them?!”

“Are you crazy?! Do you think I haven’t tried that?! They’re relentless! More just show up when you defeat one of them!”

“Why do they keep coming after you then?!” Four shouted, managing to reach into his bag for his bow and arrow.

“Brainwashed royal guards! My first quest made them believe I had kidnapped Zelda, and now they want to capture me or kill me, haven’t really stopped to figure out which!”

Wind huffed in amusement, tossing a boomerang behind them at the approaching mob and landing a good few hits. Four managed to knock a few off their feet as well, starting a domino effect. They couldn’t run forever, already Legend could feel his arms beginning to tire from carrying the two heroes and his legs beginning to burn from the strain of running. He was exhausted.

“I hope you two are ready, I don’t think I can keep this up for much longer!”

The two nodded and that was all the okay that Legend needed, skidding to a halt and dropping the two heroes next to him as he gasped for breath. He could see them ready for a fight as so many knights surrounded them, boxing them in. There was no way they would be able to win by themselves and with the rest of the group separated from them, there was no way they’d even get help. At least, that’s what Legend assumed.

“Hey, Wild! Any day now would be nice!”

“Just wait a second! Holy shit!”

Wild’s voice cut through the air, followed by several hollow thunks of arrows on metal. Legend turned just in time to see a mass of green and white fur attack the red armored knight, the pitiful shrieks music to his ears. He fell back, sitting heavily on the damp ground as the fight ended around him.

“You okay over there?”

“Just let me catch my breath,” he waved the Champion off, breathing deeply now that the threat had passed.

“What was that about, by the way. There was a ridiculous amount of royal guards after you,” Wild spoke, Wolfie already nearing him with a questioning look on his face, “How the hell did you piss them off so bad?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just means that I need to talk with Zelda about fixing her damn army.”

“Do you know where the others are by any chance?” Four asked.

“Uh, yeah, they managed to find the entrance to the forest and then headed for the nearest village. I was with them up until I heard Legend talking through Wind’s charm.”

“You know, that explains a few things.” Legend chuckled, standing up with a groan.

“We heading that way now?”

“Yes, I want out of this damn forest as soon as possible.”

With a laugh, the three heroes and the wolf followed the Veteran hero as he led the way to Kakariko, silently fuming at the still brainwashed guards that patrolled the woods. One of these days he was going to complain to Zelda about still not fixing this mess after so many years.

#linkeduniverse #linked universe #linkeduniverse fic #linked universe fic #linkeduniverse fics #silver writes #lu legend #lu four #lu wind #lu wild #lu twilight #write-off tournament #write-off fic

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missbrunettebarbie · 3 years ago

Text

All the Barbie protagonists I know -from best to worst

I feel like starting with a disclaimer that this is just my opinion, which should be implied. Anyway, this list took forever because I kept switching them. Look I am bad at picking favourites. The top 3 is actually pretty interchangable.

1. Eden Starling (Barbie in a Christmas Carol) - I love her with all my heart and then some. I love her design, her backstory, her personality, how unique she is from every other Barbie on the list. (Whoever came up with Barbie as Scrroge is a genius that deserves an Oscar) The fact that I relate to her in some aspects makes her even more loveable in my eyes. Also I think she deserves #1 spot because out of all the characters on this list she's the one I sorted before even rewatching her movie -and the rewatch confirmed the sorting. She's that memorable!

2. Princess Annika (Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus) - I love her too: her determination,her cleverness, her bravery, her justified anger. The "Destroy Wenlock!" speech alone guaranteed her a place in top 3. The fact that she doesn't back down even in the face of impossible odds - or maybe especially because the odds are impossible, her relationship with Aiden and with Brietta and her passion for ice-skating make her a very interesting character. Annika is a powerhouse and her entire journey is *chef's kiss*.

3. Merliah Summers (Barbie in a Mermaid Tale 1&2) - I think what I love about Merliah is that she put herself first, in both movies. Her first priority was her career as a surfer and only later did she come to accept her role as a mermaid princess. Her relationship with her mother is also great, I love them when they get along and I also love them when they don't - probably my favourite mother-daughter relationship from all the Barbie movies. Merliah's initial skepticism, her putside the box thinking and her competitive streak are delightful. Also her and Kylie might my favourite ship in the Barbieverse.

4. Blair Willows (Barbie Princess Charm School) - A Barbie with actual money problems?! Of course I was soft for Blair from the very begining. Her dedication and love to her adoptive family made her an instant fave. I loved that once Dean Privet helped her with her lessons she did her damn best to graduate from the school. She had her clothes torn, was accused of theft and looked in a safe, yet nothing stopped her.

5. Mariposa (Barbie: Mariposa) - I always had a soft spot for her as a kid. Her desire for adventure -for escape- the way she felt like she didn't quite fit in, her love for books, the somehow-anti-social attitude made her a perfectly relatable character in little!me's eyes. The way she refused to believe the rumors and the stereotypes in the second movie makes her even better. I loved her friendship with Catania and her romance with Carlos was cute too. Also her design might be my second favourite after Eden's.

6. Ro/Princess Rosella (Barbie as The Island Princess) - This movie is a goddamn masterpiece and Ro is a huge part of why. First I cannot help but be impressed by how adaptable she is: not only did she survive on a deserted island for ten years, she thrived. And then she had the courage to leave the only home she knew to go with Antonio and find answers about who she is. My heart ')). Then there is the fact that she risled her own freedom to help save the animals or how she was ready to step back and let Antonio do his duty and marry Luciana despite the fact that she loved him. And the ending wjere she finds her mother and starts singing the lullaby? It is what had cemented my love for this film and this character.

7. Corrine (Barbie in the three Musketeers) - In a lot of ways I find her and Merliah very similar -they both have goals they want to achieve and are somehow selfish because of it in the begining- but I think Corrine is a much kinder person: remember when she got that violin bow for one of the girls as a way to apologize? It felt like such a character establishing moment. I love that she took no shit for anyone, even the prince, and never faltered for one second in her desire to be a musketeer.

8. Princess Genevieve (Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses) - In a lot of ways she reminds me of Blair as she's a quieter personality but forceful in her own way. The way she always stood up for her younger sisters, her love for dancing, her relationship with her father and the fact that she was so heart-eyes when it came to Derek -seriously I don't think any other Babrie was so smitten with her LI from the very first moment- made sure she'll have a place in top 10. The only reason why she's not higher is because I love the others more.

9. Princess Annelisse (Barbie as Princess and the Pauper) - I think my favourite thing about Annelisse is that she completely understood her duties as a princess and was ready to sacrifice her personal happiness for her people. I also really like how she never shied from using her royal status- even if it didn't really work- or how she still tried to help the other taylor with the work when she was thought to be Erica, pity she had zero skill. Her relationship with her mom is my second favourite after Merliah-Calissa. Also collecting rocks is such an unique hobby AND she's a cat girl. Of course I love her.

10. Erika (Barbie as Princess and the Pauper) - Another cat girl! And so snippy and unafraid to be herself. Her dynamic with Annelisse is gold: Erika had all the reasons to despise Annelisse but instead clearly ~bonded with her from the very first moment and went along with an insane plan just to help her. Not to mention, she's the first Barbie who explicitly said "I am gonna fulfill my dreams and have the guy I love; what's this nonsense about choosing only one?" and I have to appreciate her for it.

11. Rapunzel (Barbie as Rapunzel) - The fact alone that she is best friends with a dragon gives her major points in my books. Her love of painting and the way she used it as a literal way of escape? Go, girl! The fact that she refused to let Stefan tell her his name just to make sure Gothel won't find out? Impressive and so spiteful! And the disgust in her voice when she realized Gothel had kept her prisoner for years because her father hadn't married her? Perfect.

12. Kristyn Farraday (Barbie in the Pink Shoes) - I really liked her enthusiasm for getting to actually be the characters she didn't even get to dance in the real world, the way her mind immediately internalized the rules of the fairytale-esque world despite how insane it was and how she refused to conform to the rules. I see the movie as an exploration of Kristyn's creepling fear of failure and the pressure she felt as a proffesional ballet dancer and seeing her come out triumphant on her own terms felt really good.

13. Actress!Barbie (Fashion Fairytale and Fairy Secret) - Probably the most three-dimensional of the "real" Barbies. I think what I like most at her is her determination to save Ken in the second movie. What can I say, I love a Barbie-in-shining-armour. I also like that she knew when to step back and let others do their jobs - in fact she doesn't so much in the first movie, just motivates people. If I had to pick a Barbie to have as a friend, I think she'll be my first choice. She seems like a good listener and someone who knows how to solve problems.

14. Elina (Barbie: Fairytopia 1&2&3) - She is an interesting character and one whose stories I do like, but something never clicked for me when it comes to Elina. Buut, this doesn't mean I don't appreciate her desire to save everyone or how she never drowned in self-pity when she was the only fairy without wings.

15. Clara (Barbie in the Nutcracker)- Clara doesn't get the chance to do much, but I love the glimpses of her intelligence we see (how she figured out the Nutcracker is Eric) or how she longs for adventure and excitment.

16. Thumbelina (Barbie present Thumbelina) - I like that she's an inventor and that she is ready to use Mackena to save her home, but overall I found her unimpressive.

17. Liana (Barbie and the Diamond Castle) - I always had a grudge on her as a child on Alexa's behalf. I always felt like Liana dragged her down. This being said, Liana is still a super smart cookie and very devoted to her friends so she avoids being even lower on the list.

18. Princess Lumina (Barbie: Pearl Princess) - The most memorable things about her are how she loooved having a job and how she refused to condemn the woman that may have raised her but had also kidnapped her from her family. Now both these traits should make her an intriguing character, unfortunately the movie is pretty boring and it never taps into Lumina's potential.

19. Princess Alexa (Barbie and the Secret Door) - Look I relate to her: Lover of books? Check. Desire to escape your life full of rules? Check. Not good with people? Check. But Alexa's development was so weird, the movie was very boring and felt like it had no trajectory and it affected the protagonist a lot.

20. Odette (Barbie in Swan Lake) - She just...doesn't do much. I wish we have seen her more involved in her own story. Not to mention I really didn't understand why she was so afraid of being in the spotlight or how being turned into a swan helped her get over it.

21. Starlight!Barbie (Barbie: Star Light Adventures) - I think my opinion of her -and the whole movie- can be summed up in the world "meh". There is simply no spark of life here.

22. Teen!Barbie (Barbie Diaries) - I have such an overwhelming repulsion towards "unpopular" girls wanting the be popular. Especially since I cannot see what exactly is holding Babrie back from being happy? She seems to have everything (great friends, nice life, good grades and music talent!), but doesn't care about any of it. Not to mention, she's the only Barbie who has to settle for a guy that was pining for her while she only saw him as a friend and I resent that.

#barbieverse #my thoughts #god this was waay to hard #but also fun!

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riorsonxaden · 4 years ago

Note

For the Elucien week drabbleathon, can I have Lucien finding out about his bio father and talking through his feelings with Elain?

ELUCIEN WEEK

DAY 7: FREE CHOICE

Okay so this is kinda funny to get this. I actually have this in my docs that's a multi chapter fic. The feelings bit with Elain is spoilery for the story itself so I can't share that...yet. But what I can do is show this part. Basically in this story, Elain finds out of Lucien's parentage through a vision and this scene below is what happens after that. It's set to be a few parts. Where Lucien deals with this information and then Lucien and Elain playing matemakers lmao. The chapter after this is where we deal with Lucien and talking to Elain I can tag you in it whenever I post this story to tumblr.

TRIGGER WARNING: very, very slight mention of child abuse

The three of them settled in the sun-lit room. For an office it was worlds different than Rhys' in the river estate back in Velaris. That room was a standard four walls. This one, Helion's office in the Day Court was a rounded room. Tall ivory columns wrap around the circular area. There were no windows, it was simply an open space allowing the sunlight and the warm kiss of its rays inside to dance along the tiled floor. Elain adored the sun peering in at every angle and the soft breeze that followed. She only wished they were here for better circumstances.

Glancing between the High Lord of Day and her mate, the resemblance was uncanny. From their posture, sitting regal yet with an air of recklessness to the silken strands of hair, matching grins, and the shape of their eyes. Mother above even their nose was the same. There was no denying her vision wasn’t false. They scarcely were.

When she told Lucien of seeing Helion and his mother, he refused to believe it. He was Beron's son unfortunately. His mother would never hide this from him. Elain pointed out to him that he did in fact cleave an unbreakable spell to come to her aide that day in Hyberns. No Autumn court member, high fae or otherwise had done that. Lucien attempted to pin it on the bond. Elain dismissed it bringing up his tendency to glow when in the throes of passion. The seer had once asked her sister if this common for faes to glow while being intimate. Feyre told her it was power from the High Lord of Day. Elain never could make sense of it. Why her mate glowed like a fire bug in the summer seasons until her vision. Lucien claimed it could be from a crossed lineage years ago.

“Lucien...you said you never felt like you were a Vanserra. That there was something wrong with you.”

“Maybe this is why. Because you’re not a Vanserra. We go to the Day Court and ask Helion says no then fine.”

There was panic and fear in his russet eyes when he looked at her. “What if he says yes?”

Elain crossed the threshold to her love taking his face in her hands, resting their foreheads together, her fingers lacing with his. “Then I will be there with you and together we will hear him out.”

With reluctance he agreed and now they were here, an awkward tension like a dense fog slowly filling the silent room.

Lucien leaned backed in the golden chair, hand flexing at fae speed on the arm of it, his equally golden eye whirring as it zeroed in on Helion. The High Lord's brows quirked up in amusement, a roguish smirk pulled at the corner of his lips.

"I've always wondered what that eye of yours could do. What it could see." Elain's cheeks flushed a vibrant pink, Helion's gaze fell on her offering a wink, "Petal." He purred, "Is it alright if I call you petal?"

The smile he gave her could turn someone's insides into liquid heat. No wonder he had as many lovers as there were clouds in the sky. She chuckled before answering, shifting in her seat, "Elain is fine."

"Ah, I see. We don't want to upset your mate and have him feel left out."

Helion turned to Lucien who remained silent and watching. A steely gaze on his father, Not father and his boots tapping with the same ferocity as his hand. Elain reached through the bond feeling wave after wave of anxiousness roiling through him. It was enough to make her feel nauseous like they were in a sea of turbulent waters instead of seated, far away from any ocean. His heart, she could tell, was battering so quickly Elain was surprised it didn’t fling directly out of chest. There was something else she noticed in the bond. Realization. He knew. And Lucien was not handling it well in his mind. Elain poured her affections down the bond then overlapping her hand with his. Sweeping a thumb over his knuckles. A silent statement to say, I'm here.

Elain smiled tenderly, noting the appreciation in his russet eye as Lucien glanced at her fingers. Sliding in between his own, squeezing them in reassurance. He repeated the action to her, holding tightly as if she were the only thing keeping him tethered to reality. Then his eyes met hers. The nervousness etched on his beautiful face softened. Her heart fluttered as it always did when he looked at Elain this way. Like she was his home. His comfort. His everything. Just as he was hers.

Helion coughed a bit too loudly to be real, breaking their moment, "I hate to break up this lovely storybook moment petal. If this is about the Pegasus who ate Rhys' shirt. One Rhys should come and two he left it in the stables. If you’ll excuse me, I do have a party to prepare for and guests will be arriving shortly.” Helion made to stand.

"Sit.” Lucien snarled. Helion’s eyes widened at the pitch and the bite of the one word. “We don't know anything about a Pegasus. We're here on our own accord." Lucien curtly stated.

The two high fae stared each down as Helion slid back into his chair. The fog thick tension is now so deep a knife could only strike it. Helion lifted a hand over his heart " Unfortunately, I don't take mated mates as lovers. I'm honored you thought of me to share your bed." He teased with a lovers grin. The fire in Lucien��s eye was a roaring flame. He was several seconds from exploding. Elain has seen him angry, furious, but nothing like this. If he wasn’t her mate, she’d be frightened at the burning rage beneath him.

"I find that odd. Being if Feyre or Nesta were here you'd take the chance." Elain challenged feeding off the energy her mate emitted.

"I-" His eye shuttered briefly before meeting Elain's again, "Sweet petal," he crooned before he could speak again Elain cut him off feeling Lucien's waring feelings churning through the bond.

"There's a reason you'd deny me. Us. I think it deals with a vision I had and Lucien." She gripped her mate tighter feeling his hand grow clammy yet white hot beneath her own.

Helion grew quiet, brows pressed together, his tanned chest rising and falling in rapid succession. Holding a stern gaze with Lucien. "Of?"

"The past."

Helion blanched, the color of his skin fully drained. All hints of the easy going High Lord faded into nothing. A mask of steel replaced it.

"What did you see?" His voice faltered, shaking and strained. He cleared his throat, aiming for a deeper tone in his voice. One that caused anyone to listen and obey. If an ominous storm with roaring thunder that streaked the sky in lighting had a voice it would’ve sounded like this. It came through gritted teeth in a low predatory growl. "What did you see?"

"You will not speak to her like that." Lucien snapped. Slamming his fists on the desks sparks of embers shot from his hands. Elain jumped back into the chair. Helion had the good sense to look startled for a moment, "Unlike you or my mother, she doesn't keep things from me." then Lucien added that and the steeled features returned.

It was Helion’s turn to stand and move for move copy his son’s actions. “Listen boy. I will rip your throat out if you insult your mother like that in my presence again are we clear?”

Lucien scoffed. Not the usual playful scoff Elain had grown accustomed to. This was laced with malice. “You don’t think I’ve heard threats like this before? My entire life? "I've been beaten for saying less.”

Elucien watched as the emotionless expression Helion wore quickly faded. Now his face crumbled. Pained with grief, the glow in his eyes gone as he stepped away from Lucien. Her eyes darted between the two. This wasn’t just protecting a secret she realized. There was love here. For the lady of the autumn court, and for his son. Her mate.

"I'm sorry." Helion let out in a defeated sigh. "Forgive me. forgive us."

For as fast as that heated anger ripped through Lucien, it seemed to to die down. Like the loud sigh for Helion somehow cooled her mate down.

"I-" Lucien turned to Elain unsure of what to do. Elain did not respond the whites of her eyes rolled up, her body falling back into the chair.

Mate.

The word seared in her head, when thrust back into the past, seeing Helion and the Lady of the Autumn Court together. As if her inner eye was speaking to her, revealing a part neither Lucien nor herself were ready for. Now she felt it. The golden spark tethering two souls. Pure, protective, unbreakable love. Seconds later she came back to reality.

Lucien no longer standing at the desk but kneeling in front of her. Calloused palms on hers while he searched her features.

“Elain?”

She didn’t look at him. Her gaze landed on Helion who took a step back.

“You’re mates."

“There are things bigger than telling you the truth. Stakes are high dealing with him and a situation like ours. This conversation cannot happen here.” Helion drew a finger to follow as he stood. “Ears are everywhere in Prythian. You should know this.” He fixed a sorrowful look on Lucien. “We will talk in my inner office.”

elucienweek taglist: @ladyvanserra @helion-ism @bookologist @firestarsandseneschals @thecrownlands @rarephloxes @elucienweek @nestaisgod

#elucienweek #elain archeron #lucien vanserra #elain x lucien #day 7: free choice #elucien fic #elucien drabble #helion spell cleaver #lady of the autumn court #helion x lady of autumn #acotar fic #acotar #acomaf #acosf #acowar #acofas #userbecs #ilya-botagon

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peaktotheocean · 3 years ago

Text

post-production

Pairing: Jaskier/Geralt ao3 link here Notes: If you ever watched the Lord of the Rings behind-the-scene discs and thought “I wish there was a 12K Witcher AU where Jaskier is the famous actor who buys a horse for Geralt the horse trainer” then you’re in luck

Jaskier knew that he would miss the stable the most. After weeks of filming on location, surrounded by crew and actors that Valdo had already poisoned against him, the stable had become a respite of sorts.

No matter the smells (the many, many smells), Jaskier would always remember the sun beams shining through the high windows and illuminating the dust and dirt to shine on the horses. Jaskier had tried and failed many times to capture the moment on his phone— to the point where he was convinced that it was impossible. He would just have to burn the sight into his memory.

Jaskier had just one more day in this stable and on set and then he could sort of what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.

Certainly not acting.

Five blockbusters in four years and Jaskier's exhaustion knew no bounds. Not to mention people he thought were his friends just clinging to him for a ride.

He had meant for his career to be music and yet here he was on what he considered the wrong marquees.

Taking a small acting job offered by a friend in order to help pay rent had escalated into a full career and never worrying about rent again.

But then there was Valdo.

Jaskier had only started hearing about the rumors during the second week of the shoot. And by, then it had been too late. Valdo's charisma and charm took hold and Jaskier wasn't to be trusted. Was he a thief? A gossip? A drunk? A backstabber? It depended on which rumor went around that morning.

"Last day, darling."

"What?" The horsemaster's gruff tone was shorter than usual today.

"Sorry. I was--" Jaskier broke off. He didn't want to say it aloud. Which was silly because he had seen Geralt speaking to his own horse, Roach many mornings. Not to mention afternoons and evenings and any other time they were shooting scenes and Geralt was brought on set to stay with the horses. "I was just telling Pegasus that it's our last day with the horses. Or my last day, I suppose."

"Hmm."

Jaskier already missed the grunts. It was unclear if Geralt disliked him because of Valdo's rumors. But truthfully, the horsemaster hadn't seemed to have taken a shine to anyone over the course of shooting.

Well, not any humans, at least.

He doted on all the horses. Roach in particular, and Jaskier couldn't blame him. She was a sweet mare and if Jaskier hadn't been assigned his darling Pegasus, he would have liked a chance to ride Roach as well.

But of course not. She was Geralt's favorite and Valdo's mount.

Not that the actor cared. The animals were more like props than living beings to him. Jaskier didn't like thinking about the amount of times he had seen Valdo curl his lip at Roach.

Just Jaskier's luck.

He had beaten out Valdo for a role which he hadn’t even known the man had wanted. And in return, Jaskier’s last few months had been lonely and uncomfortable and—

He set his forehead against Pegasus’s neck and took a breath to steady himself.

He could still feel Geralt’s presence. Lifting his head back up, he smiled at the man who showed no emotion in return. At least Jaskier knew that Geralt didn't like anyone else on the set either. In a strange way, it helped. Geralt was a part of his respite in the stables just by being impartial to the rest of the gossip of the set.

"Not the last day overall, of course. But I checked and I know we're moving on to another area for the next month or so. Granted, I guess you'll still be here if they want to do re-shoots, right? Can't go through the trouble of training so many horses over again."

Geralt had apparently decided that Jaskier wasn't even worth of his grunts anymore. As if Jaskier was the one who came out early to the stables to interrupt him and not vice-versa. Still, the actor had to admit that the quiet of the stable comforted him regardless. No one gossiping. No Valdo. Just him and Pegasus.

And Geralt, he supposed.

And Roach.

And the other horses.

Well, Jaskier supposed no moment was truly perfect.

----------------

Jaskier let his fingers run over the intricate chainmail of one of the many costumes from the film. Percival and his artistic team had done such excellent work. It was a shame that most of it would be auctioned off but with any luck, some would go into a production vault or even a perhaps a museum exhibit for film costumes. While Jaskier enjoyed the way his costume felt on him, purchasing it wasn't a priority for him.

“Percival!" He called when he saw the crewman in question. "This is for the auction, right? Do you know when it's actually happening?”

Jaskier hated how nervous he felt. He knew the horses were up on the auction block and he had a plan. Pegasus was the only good part of this filming and Jaskier didn't want to leave him behind. “For the horses,” Jaskier clarified.

“You interested?”

“Very.” Feeling much like the office was his primary school classroom, Jaskier stood up straight and put on his best serious face. “I’ve got the space and a neighbor who already shared the name of the veterinarian he uses for his farm.”

“Better prepared than most actors who make a snap decision at those auctions. Plenty of times I’ve heard of some bigshot selling off a horse after less than a month."

Jaskier couldn't tamp down the pride he felt at getting Percival's approval. Gods, he needed to leave this set. Just spend some time with Priscilla and not think about acting for a while. With any luck, he'd be spending time with Pegasus as well.

“How awful.”

“Can’t be helped. You’ll want Pegasus, of course?” Percival asked knowingly, poking fun at Jaskier's wide smile.

“Please. Send me the info and if I can’t be there and I’ll send someone else in my stead.” Jaskier couldn't help himself. “Truthfully, I’d take Roach too but I suspect the horsemaster has his eye on her.”

“Geralt?" Percival asked. He shook his head. "He can’t afford her.”

“You’re kidding.” What a shame. Jaskier had never met a horse and a rider so in tune with one another. He had just taken it as fact that Geralt would be taking Roach home with him. For the first few weeks, until gruffly corrected by Geralt, Jaskier had assumed that Geralt owned Roach and had brought her to set in the first place.

Though, looking back, it was a foolish thing to think. Roach and Valdo had been paired together for the duration of the filming and Geralt's stony glare anytime the actor mounted the mare...well, Jaskier would assume that if Roach had belonged to Geralt, he would have banned Valdo from riding her.

“Already asked him. I went to give him the info because I thought the same as you. Figured he’d be first in line but he didn’t even consider it. Poor fella. I didn’t want to push, you know?”

“Good man.” Jaskier stroked Pegasus and his eyes drifted over to Roach.

----------------

Zoltan's head poked through the door of office had housed the horse crew for the past few months. It hadn't become home, certainly, but the production team had put together a good group. Geralt would be keeping the contact information of more than a few riders and trainers in hopes of working with them again on future projects.

"You headed out, Rivia?"

"Almost packed. Just wanted to stop by the stables." The production auction had already happened but Geralt hadn't heard of any of the horses being moved out just yet. That kind of transport, especially if they weren't being kept local, took time to arrange. He had double-checked too. There was plenty of time for him to say goodbye to Roach. Give her a few extra treats, a good brushing down. The best sendoff a girl could ask for, really.

And she deserved a proper goodbye. Geralt had second-guessed himself, knowing how much it would hurt to say farewell but he couldn't help himself. Between the actors and the long shoots, all the horses deserved some post-production pampering. Geralt hoped the rest of them would get it once they were with their new owners and families.

"Surely you're doing more than stopping by."

"What?"

Zoltan gave him a perplexed look. "Roach, I mean. You're taking her with you, aren't you?"

"Can't afford her," Geralt said, trying not to grit his teeth. He had only said it aloud once before. When Percival had asked for his future plans. All of the horses were auctioned off at the end of the production, along with various bits and bobs that the studio didn't want to keep or store.

Roach was a prize mare, along with many of the other impressively bred horses in that stable.

Geralt would have loved to take her back to the ranch and shared stables that he ran with his family but it just wasn't in the cards. It was kind of the manager to even come to him and inquire. It spoke volumes about what Geralt had accomplished over the course of the shoot. At least with that gesture, Geralt knew he'd have a reference for future jobs. Perhaps not just for him but for the ranch too.

"But she's in your name. Isn’t she?"

"What are you talking about?"

Zoltan came into the room now, still looking at Geralt as though the man needed his head examined. He spoke slowly. "Geralt, I saw the finalized auction list. She's been paid for already and your name is on the front of her paddock."

Geralt froze. Surely Zoltan misread or even misunderstood. Geralt's name's was occasionally listed on paperwork as a handler if a buyer wanted to know more about a horse's temperament. But not as the owner or buyer.

He slowly backed away from Zolton and calmly headed towards the stables, and Roach's stall. He did not want to sprint eagerly or get his hopes up so instead, Geralt inhaled and exhaled every other measured step.

Roach's ownership papers were slipped in a plastic sleeve with a little metal hook attached so it remained securely on the nails of the stall door. Little dried stains and dirt covered the plastic and Geralt imagined Roach trying to get at her own papers.

Geralt von Rivia.

Undeniably, there in black and white. Geralt blinked, not believing his own eyes.

But still, there it was: Geralt von Rivia.

"Ah, Geralt!" The stablemaster came up to him, clapping him on the shoulder. "I had heard that you weren't able to bid. What a lovely surprise when I saw the name." Roach stretched as far out of her stall as she could manage, just reaching Geralt to nudge him. "And it looks like she agrees as well."

"But I didn't bid," Geralt said, confused. He stared at the paperwork for an extended period of time. He just couldn't believe it. Even encased in plastic that had corners peeling away at the top, it looked as officially legal as the other ones hangin off of the rest of the stalls in the stable.

"What?"

"I didn't bid. I told them that I couldn't. I didn't— I don't..." Geralt tilted his head and looked at the placard attached to the paddock. Geralt von Rivia and Roach.

How?

"I don't think anyone would be so cruel to play on a joke on you like this, mate."

"How can I check?"

The stablemaster pulled out his phone and held up a finger. Geralt didn't argue but watched the man dial a number and take a few steps away.

Roach stretched her neck again so her entire head came through the opening above the stall.

"Hello, girl." Geralt used both hands to rub at her face. He couldn't help it. Even if his name on the paperwork ended up being a cruel joke, he could imagine her at his family's ranch. She wouldn't take shit from the bigger stallion his brother kept and she'd teach their other mares to do the same.

"I talked to the production office. Said she's yours. The bid was placed anonymously."

"What? Anonymously?" Geralt looked at Roach as though she had the answers but the stablemaster continued to talk.

"They also included shipping costs as well as extra for feed, care, special needs, etc. A retainer essentially."

"Anonymous? How could they manage that?” Geralt leaned against the stall door, brain going into overdrive. He wasn't even sure where to start.

The stablemaster clearly could tell, and his voice softened, speaking as he would to any of the horses in the building. Geralt couldn't find it in himself to angry. It was a strange version of kindness that, in his overwhelmed state, he had no option except to accept. "It's all in the paperwork."

"Can I get a copy?"

"She's yours, Geralt, of course. Her and the paperwork."

Geralt looked at the paperwork attached to the stall and began to slide it out of its protective slip. He balanced his phone in one hand and the papers in the other as he slowly began taking photographs of each one. "I want to send the information to my friend before I— before I take her home."

"A lawyer, you mean."

Geralt nodded. "Just to double check."

“Smart man. Let me know if I can be of anymore help.”

Mercifully, the stablemaster left and Geralt let himself slide down the stall door. He knew he'd have to change pants before leaving now but he couldn't bring himself to care. He leaned his head back against the door.

He squinted at the sun through the windows as he struggled to hear the phone ringing amidst the breakdown of the rest of the set.

“Geralt.”

“Yenn.” Geralt couldn’t manage more than that. He took a deep breath to try again but Yennefer stopped him.

“Geralt? Are you all right? I thought you were still on location for that god awful film.”

“I am. I’m still there. I just. Something’s happened. I’m fine,” he added quickly. “It’s just strange.”

“Explain.”

"If someone bought you something anonymously, is there a way to tell who it was?"

"A gift? What kind of gift has you this shaken up? I am going to need so much more context, Geralt. Not to mention lunch and permission to laugh at you for whatever this is once you're back in the area.” Yennefer stopped talking and Geralt heard a few voices, none of them hers. “That is, I assume you're not back in the area yet. I just saw Eskel at the market last week. He would have mentioned it."

"No we— the film just wrapped. Everything was being broken down and there was an auction but." Geralt took a breath and gathered his words. "The horse I talked to you about."

"The smart one, yes." Yennefer's voice grew quiet and sympathetic in a way that would have surprised Geralt when they first met. But she knew what horses meant to him and respected it. They had both come a long way with one another. "I'm sorry. I know you wanted to buy her."

"That’s the thing, Yenn, someone bought her for me. I just received the paperwork. They paid for her, the board, and transportation back to the ranch. Not to mention a little more if needed. What could be needed?"

"Maybe they thought since you couldn't afford the price of the horse, you couldn't afford food, medical care, things like that."

"Oh." Geralt couldn't decide if that was insulting or thoughtful. Most people on set only saw him in his barn clothing so perhaps they couldn't be blamed for the assumption. He certainly didn't attend any social gatherings after the work day. The cost of Roach had held him back, not the care.

"You don't know who it could have been? Not a clue?"

"I'm...not exactly friendly to people on set," Geralt growled. “I certainly didn’t endear myself to that Marx asshole who rode her during filming.” He hated being on set but he was there to do a job and at least if he was there, he knew someone was protecting the animals.

"You do want her, right?"

"Of course I do," Geralt gripped the phone tightly. "I just want to make sure it wasn't some kind of mistake. Or strings attached. That she can't just be taken away at all in the future."

"All right. I'll look into it. Send me everything and give me a few hours."

"Thank you."

----------------

Geralt von Rivia.

Jaskier shifted all of Pegasus’ equipment to one arm so he could reach out and touch the paper. It felt good to see.

He looked around the stable to check he was alone before giving Roach one last pat. He kissed her on the nose and whispered, “Goodbye.”

----------------

Geralt’s entire afternoon had to shift. No longer could he throw his duffel bag in his truck and endure the long drive home. Instead he spent the day asking for another night in one of the spare rooms near the set. He went to ask after borrowing a trailer, only to find that it was one of the included costs with the purchase of Roach and far too nice for his truck.

Most importantly, he spent time with Roach. She was the last horse left at the end of the day. He had avoided people by hopping into her stall at some point, the stables full of agencies and buyers coming to collect.

A few people stopped to read the paperwork outside Roach and Geralt couldn’t stop his pride from rising. She was a star, great stock but even better temperament. And she was all his now.

Thankfully, by the time Yennefer called, no one was in the stables to hear a mobile phone start ringing inside one of the stalls.

“That was fast.”

“I’m very good at my job, Geralt.” Geralt wisely held his tongue. “Right so. Roach was bought and paid for by a Julian Alfred Pankratz."

Geralt blinked. He looked to Roach as though she could answer his questions. “I...I don't know a Julian-- whatever. Whatever name you just said to me."

Yennefer gently, "I think he's more commonly called Jaskier."

"Jaskier?"

"Yes, Jaskier. You know, one of the stars of the film series you've been working on the past few months."

Geralt bit back a growl. Yennefer was doing him a favor. He didn't need to be a twat. "I know who he is. I don't know why he bought Roach though."

He had certainly never been kind to Jaskier. If anything he had been a downright grump. Which wasn't much different from how Geralt treated most of the actors. Even the ones who had been nothing but kind to him.

He just couldn't risk it. The cast were a load of gossips and each week, Geralt heard something different about Jaskier and his coworkers. Geralt hadn't wanted to get involved.

It wasn't worth his time to be a notch in the bedpost for an actor who apparently had paramours throughout the cast and country, if the rumors were to be believed.

Clearly it hadn't mattered to Jaskier anyway.

"Bought and gave to you," Yennefer corrected. "Roach is in your name. I had to jump through some hoops to find this information. It wasn't easy. I don't think he intended on you ever knowing. He never mentioned it at all, correct?"

Most of the conversations Geralt had with the man were one-sided, or just corrections for his horse handling.

"Most of the actors left the day after the film wrapped. I haven't seen any of them save for a few who needed re-shoots with some of the sets we still had." His fist tightened around his phone. “I only told one person that I couldn’t afford Roach. He's not the type to pass around gossip.”

"I don't think Jaskier meant anything bad by it, Geralt."

"I just don't...understand."

"Me neither but unless you'd also like me to follow up, perhaps get in touch with his management?" She left the question hanging in the air and Geralt's face reddened at even the mention of talking to Jaskier again. It wasn't the man who had him worried but the whole process. Going through his team and agent just to ask why? What if he took back the gift?

Yennefer read his mind, as per usual. “He can't take Roach back, Geralt. I made sure of it but honestly, it looks like he is the one who made sure of it. No strings."

"No strings."

"Do you want me to try and find out why? Have you looked at her teeth? Perhaps you might want to look a gift horse in the--"

"Yennefer," Geralt growled.

"Take Roach back to the ranch, Geralt. I'm sure your family will be excited to meet her."

----------------

"Is this my welcome?" Geralt hadn't even gotten out of his truck yet but he was tempted to make a u-turn and leave the ranch the same way he came in. He wasn't sure where he and Roach would go but anywhere would be better than his little brother giving him a suspicious expression the moment he pulled into the driveway. Eskel pushed Lambert to try and snap him out of his daze. "Well, are you just going to look at me like that or are you going to say hello?"

"Did we know you were bringing home a horse?" Eskel asked delicately while Lambert just continued to stare.

"I didn't even know I was bringing home a horse." Geralt slammed the driver's side door shut and caught Eskel in a hug. He snagged Lambert too even though the little shit tried to wriggle away after two seconds.

Lambert went through his fingers on a very short checklist. "Aiden was hoping you'd break your rule of no autographs for this one. But you didn't do that. And you brought home a horse."

"We've got a free stall, right?" Geralt looked towards the stables. They rarely had a full house unless they were hosting some kind of trail camp. Still, he hadn't even thought of calling home to check.

"She's staying?"

"She's mine." Geralt handed Eskel the paperwork and Lambert immediately hung over his shoulder to read through it.

Eskel's eyes widened at the sight of her lineage. "How did you afford--"

"I didn't. It's…a long story."

"You didn't steal a horse, did you? Someone is going to be looking for this girl."

"She's not stolen. Her name is Roach." Geralt ran his finger through his hair, pulling at the tangles from having the window open on the long ride back home. "Melitele, can we not do this now? Let me get her settled and then I'll tell you about it."

Eskel and Lambert exchanged a look and Eskel shoved Lambert off his shoulder. "Lambert, go tell Dad that Geralt's home. When does the trailer have to go back?"

"They bought that too."

"The trailer came with the horse?" Eskel waved his hand after seeing the pained look on Geralt's face. "All right, don't tell me. I know you don't want to explain it more than once."

He left Geralt to blessed silence. Silent as a farm could get, at any rate. He patted Roach's flank and coaxed her out of the trailer, leaving it unlocked and opened behind him. The ranch was isolated enough as it was and he'd be back for it soon enough.

"This is Scorpion. That's Kelpie," Geralt introduced Roach to each horse as he walked her by their stalls, finally coming to an empty one. He eyed up Scorpion, already thinking ahead. Eskel's stallion was of good lineage. It wouldn't be a bad match to think of for the future.

He hung around the stable as long as he thought he was able to. Just because one of his brothers hadn't been sent out to fetch him yet didn't mean that Vesemir hadn't already planned it. Geralt patted Roach one last time and headed out.

The farmhouse smelled just as he left it, like horse and his father's cooking. The first an unfortunate by-product of their lives but the second, a welcome back.

They didn't all still live in the house. Eskel had a cabin on the furthest edge of the land with a herd of goats that they rented out and kept for milk. Lambert and Aiden had just moved to another patch of acreage on the opposite side before Geralt had left for the film shoot. From what Geralt could gather from Eskel's texts, they swapped out more nights than one making sure someone was there to help Vesemir with the morning chores.

"Hey Dad." Geralt leaned in and let his Vesemir clap him on the back.

"Good to have you home." Vesemir's gruff voice washed over Geralt and he felt something in his shoulders settle. He took the offered bowl of stew and purposefully brushed against both Eskel and Lambert on his way to sit at the table.

"Good to be home."

Lambert, mouth full of beef stew, used his dripping spoon to gesture to the TV.

“You worked with him, right?”

"Who?" Geralt looked up from his bowl. There was an entertainment show on the television but it had gone commercial. Lambert rolled his eyes at him.

“Jackass. Jaskier. They had a whole segment on him."

Geralt swallowed and before he could overthink it, told them, "That’s the one who bought Roach. Bought her in my name, I mean."

Eskel near choked on a beef chunk, "What?"

"Him?" Lambert's eyes widened. He shot a look at Vesemir. "Did you, uhh--" but he didn't get a chance to finish because Geralt threw a chunk of bread at his head.

"I didn't sleep with him, you ass. I don't know why he did it. I wasn't even supposed to know, according to Yennefer."

Geralt wished he knew why. It was an itch he couldn't scratch, though having Roach home and in her stall was a significant balm. He accepted another slice of bread from Eskel.

"She checked it out?" Vesemir asked knowingly. "Everything is all right?"

"The paperwork all checks out. No strings," Geralt echoed Yennefer's earlier words.

"Good lineage," Eskel added slowly. "There’s no issues with her health?”

Geralt nodded. "None that I know of. I'm going to call in Coën tomorrow to give her a full check-up and we'll go from there. I don't think there will be a problem though."

Lambert shrugged at Eskel who still looked suspicious. He eyed the door that led out closest to the barn as if he wanted to go interrogate Roach to find out more. “Oh. Well, I guess a person who buys a horse anonymously as a gift can’t be that big of an ass then like the papers say, right? Was he?”

“Was he what?”

“An ass. Was Jaskier an ass?” Lambert asked again.

Geralt pondered the question. He hadn't expected to think this much about anyone from the cast after production had set down. Definitely not Jaskier.

Truthfully, Jaskier had been the furthest thing from an ass. Sure, he had gotten to the stables earlier than the other actors but it was a strange thing for Geralt to complain about considering how late the rest of the cast were for their training sessions. He cared about the horses too. It had been sweet.

"What are you on about?" Vesemir grumbled.

Lambert, mouth full of stew, looked at Eskel imploringly, fighting to swallow. Eskel tilted his head towards the television. "The lad who bought Geralt his horse apparently got on the bad side of some folks. The gossip shows say they've been spreading rumors about him for months."

"Did he say that? Jaskier." Geralt's attention suddenly back on the television. The b-roll footage of a posh gentleman on the red carpet was not the same man covered in a dirt -covered costume after a ride or a long shoot, that was for sure. It still was Jaskier though.

"No one's heard from him. It's all come out now after the production's ended."

Eskel plucked a newspaper off of the counter and passed it over to Geralt who took it but kept it closed. Jaskier's face was on the cover or it would have been if his hand hadn't blocked the photograph from the view. "Wouldn't be surprised if he sued them for libel though. Judging by what they're saying in here, he's certainly got a case."

FALSEHOODS AND PRODUCTION WOES the newspaper headline shouted. Geralt ran through the first few lines of the article and felt the pit in his stomach begin to grow.

“I heard some of these.” He had been on more toxic sets in the past. With more difficult actors trying to make passes at him, sometimes aggressively. Thinking that crew should be lucky to get their attention. Television shows, soap operas had been worse. But this still hadn't been good. And Jaskier had been nothing but kind to him. Annoying, perhaps early in the morning but, certainly nothing like the rumors had suggested. Still Geralt had done his best to ignore him.

“No kidding? Maybe they’ll call you in to testify.”

Geralt leaned against the counter and stared the newspaper, hoping no one else heard the roaring in his ears.

Perhaps there had been another reason Jaskier was hiding in the stables each morning instead of by the breakfast tables in the craft tent.

Certainly Geralt had taken his solace in the company of animals before. Jaskier had clearly just been doing the same.

----------------

“You have more security out in the country. That’s the whole point of the privacy fence,” Priscilla argued. Jaskier had been sneaking peeks through the blinds for the better part of the morning. His face had gotten paler with each glance.

“I know you’re right.”

“I am. London will still be here when this all blows over. Or when a judge makes it blow over.” Jaskier sighed. Priscilla hated seeing him like this, curled up on the couch, phone turned off. Country life would be pleasant in more than one way.

“You can bond some more with that horse you’ve got. I’m sure he missed you.”

“I’ll just have to come back to the premiere,” Jaskier warned. “You won’t have the flat to yourself for too long.”

----------------

"Zoltan."

"You're going."

"Going where?"

"To the premiere."

"We're a little busy here." Geralt gazed around the quiet stables and winced at the phone in his hand. What Zoltan didn't know wouldn't hurt him. The last thing Geralt wanted to do was take the journey into London and be around people that he didn't even socialize with when he was paid to.

"All the crew is invited and the production team is insisting the crew come so they don't look like asshats. Please come keep me company," Zoltan near begged.

"Too late for that isn't it?" Geralt thought back to the television stories and the articles about Jaskier.

Sure, maybe Geralt had given into his curiosity and googled Jaskier's name a few times after his first night home but the man really had vanished. No photographer had been able to capture any images of him and his team weren't responding to any questions.

Geralt wasn't sure if it was Jaskier's team at work or someone in his corner but certainly he had read a few articles about instances of Jaskier's kindness. He had experienced that first hand and judging by the rest of the stories, he felt they had to be true. Most of Jaskier's generosity came anonymously but he hadn't always been as good at covering his tracks as he had been with Roach.

"Well, perhaps. Valdo made sure of that."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I just meant. All those rumors he spread about Jaskier. Turns out this wasn't the first person who he had done this too. I heard tell that Valdo is going to be blacklisted in the industry and then sued for gossip. Defamation or something. I'm not too sure. It'll be out in the papers soon enough."

"Libel," Geralt murmured, thinking back to the articles he had read. "Even I heard gossip around the set."

"I didn't believe any of it, personally. Jaskier was always a polite fellow and some of it was nasty. Well, I'm sure you didn't either. Otherwise Jaskier wouldn't have done you that solid."

"What solid?"

Zoltan was quiet for a beat too long.

Geralt sighed. One more piece of the puzzle. "You mean Roach. I know he bought Roach for me. But how did you know?"

"Ah well..."

"I had to go through a lawyer to find out," Geralt added.

"I did the paperwork," Zoltan admitted. "He did want it to be anonymous but I thought that was just so production couldn't give him a hard time about buying two horses."

"He bought another horse?"

Zoltan paused again. "He really never mentioned this to you? He was in the stables near every morning."

"For training."

"Not just for training. Though I guess we know now that he was just trying to stay away from Valdo and his cronies." Geralt wasn't sure what to say to that. He had never been anyone's idea of a respite and his guilt at knowing he hadn’t made the time easier for Jaskier still weighed on his mind. Though perhaps Jaskier had just been after the horses. "He bought the one he rode. Pegasus."

"Oh."

Geralt hadn't expected that. He knew Jaskier had gotten along with the horse, of course. That had been easy enough to see, sweet even. But it was still a surprise. A pleasant one.

There was something about Jaskier buying a horse for himself and for Geralt. As if the man understood the responsibility and the importance. He wasn't just buying Roach as a gift for whatever reason, he knew everything the job would entail.

"The premiere is in London. Should be a good time so long as no one leaks the news about any legal cases beforehand."

Geralt rubbed his hand over Roach's nose and made a snap decision. "I'll meet you there."

"Really?"

"You owe me a drink."

"Should be an open bar, mate."

"Well, that makes it easy for you then."

----------------

Geralt wasn't exactly keeping up with Jaskier's story but Aiden and Lambert watched enough entertainment news for the rest of them. Gossip papers would be left out around the barn by visitors without issue. If Geralt just happened to see that Jaskier hadn't been heard from in a few weeks since production shut down then, well, that was just a fact that lived in Geralt's brain.

One that he definitely didn't overthink. Not with the premiere already on his mind.

"It really was Valdo," Lambert had told him one morning. "Apparently he wanted that role of Jaskier's so badly that he decided that he'd try to make sure the guy would never have any other roles again."

Geralt didn't let on that he had known. Still, he hadn't thought about the creep since Zoltan had brought him up.

Valdo. Like Zoltan had said, it was no wonder Jaskier had always signed up to be the first person at the stables with Geralt. Valdo Marx would never deign to get to the stables early in the morning, even when it was a necessity that he do so.

"Loads of other actors apparently apologized for listening to Valdo. They'd been giving Jaskier the cold shoulder for weeks now. But still, no one has seen him."

"I can't blame him for wanting to take a break from acting. Even now with the rumors out, I think I'd find another industry to work in all together." Aiden shook his head. He looked up at Geralt hopefully, nudging Lambert conspicuously. "You haven't heard from anyone from set talking about it?"

Geralt gave Lambert an exasperated look. "I know you had overheard that conversation. I'm not taking either of you to the premiere. I'm staying for one drink and then getting on the train again."

"Told you so," Lambert muttered. "Fine. Be that way."

“Poor guy,” Eskel murmured. “I’d hide too if I just had to spend months contractually obligated with people all poisoned against me.”

Geralt kept his eyes down, wishing the conversation would change. Wishing he hadn’t been such a fool. At least he knew why Jaskier had always signed up to be the first person at the stables. Not that the information helped Geralt’s newly-acquired nausea.

----------------

It would be fine.

That's what Geralt kept repeating to himself on the tube ride into London.

Geralt would go in, have a drink with Zoltan, find Jaskier, thank him, and then never have to think of the man again. A strange sense of closure for someone he never had a relationship with, platonic or otherwise, but it was the right thing to do.

Everytime he looked at Roach or rode her around the ranch, he thought of Jaskier. It wasn't guilt or anything owed to the man. Geralt believed in the actor's earnestness and no-strings gift.

He managed to find Zoltan right away, the two of them hiding in a corner of the hotel bar through the actual film and more when crowds finally came back.

"I had wondered if Jaskier was even going to come," Zoltan confided in Geralt, leaning closer to the bar and looking over their shoulders as their lobby filled up.

"Because of Marx?"

Zoltan nodded. "I suspect there will be a healthy number of people keeping them away from one another."

"For good reason." Geralt tried not to be too obvious in his glances behind them but Zoltan knew enough of the cause. "Why come at all, I wonder?"

"Contract," Zoltan told him, pressing his lips thin. He shook his head at the thought. "It's written in the contracts that they've got to do press and this counts as press."

"The red carpet beforehand, surely. But I can't imagine a party is." Geralt shifted uncomfortably. The bar was filling up and he and Zoltan were getting squashed to one side already. The gracious and well-tipped bartender had thought ahead and topped the two of them off before the rush began.

"You've been in this business for a few years now. Surely you're not that naive."

Geralt finally caught sight of Jaskier. In a plain blue suit, unlike such patterned clothing he had worn even after Geralt had told him he’d only get the fineries dirty.

Without turning to look at the crowd or see if anyone was watching him, Jaskier hurried up the side stairs to where Geralt knew there was another reserved space, a small but grand library room that hadn’t been alrered since the 30s. He and Zoltan had stumbled upon it earlier in the afternoon while hiding from cameras.

"I'm more naive than I think sometimes." Geralt nodded to Zoltan and held out his hand. Zoltan took it to shake instantly. “It was good to see you. Call if you’re ever by the ranch. We’d be happy to have you.”

Following Jaskier’s path and manners, Geralt also didn’t look behind him as he slipped up the same stairs, closing the paneled door after him.

Geralt allowed himself a moment to look at Jaskier. The man had his coat in hand and was staring out of the rather large window flanked by two bookshelves.

“I just wanted to—“ Jaskier spun around, hand to his chest. Geralt took a step backwards. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Geralt,” Jaskier finally said, even though his heavy breaths were still evident. He stood up straight and blinked a few times too quickly. Geralt softened his voice, hoping to ease his nerves.

“Jaskier. I just wanted to catch you to say thank you.”

Jaskier flinched, just slightly. He tilted his head and looked at Geralt as though he was the picture of innocence, furrowing his brow slightly to sell the confused image.

"For what?"

"Jaskier," Geralt chastised. He was in no mood. He had been around far too many people this night. Jaskier thought so too judging by the fact that he had left the main party room for this quieter one. Still, Geralt knew that wasn’t the only reason. "Thank you for Roach."

Jaskier's mouth opened a bit and then closed again. He seemed to be eyeing how Geralt was blocking the only exit out of the room. "How do you know?"

"Was I not supposed to find out?"

"Well, it was— anonymous. I thought." Jaskier's confused expression tightened as though he was trying to remember the legal jargon he had gone through when setting up Roach's purchase and fund.

"I--" Geralt felt his face go a bit red with embarrassment at that. "I wanted to make sure she really was mine. No strings or anything. I had a lawyer friend look into it just to double check."

"Right.” Jaskier shook his head, a few locks of hair coming loose from their coiffed position. “Yes, of course."

Geralt hated that Jaskier was agreeing with him. As if it was perfectly all right for Geralt to be suspicious of a gift and also of Jaskier himself. What a pair they were.

"Look," Jaskier held up his hands in front of him, "I know you don’t like me and I didn’t to it so you’d be— beholden to me or forced to pretend to like me or whatever. You weren’t supposed to find out. But that awful man from production was going to buy her and I couldn’t let that happen and I had heard that you were had turned down the opportunity which just seemed wrong. I mean, she’s clearly your horse and—"

"Thank you." Geralt said firmly. “Just...thank you."

"Oh. You’re welcome." Jaskier swallowed and chanced a look out the window again. Geralt watched him, very aware that he had done what he came to do. Still he couldn’t make himself leave.

"Are you planning on hiding here all right?"

Jaskier shrugged. "I haven’t decided yet.”

Geralt wasn't sure what to do with that one.

"Would you like to come visit Roach?" He tried next.

Jaskier still looked uncomfortable.

“Right now?”

Geralt remembered the early training calls, how quiet Jaskier was when other people began to come around the barn, the rumors he heard even his first week on set. How he had let them affect the way he handled being around Jaskier more than anyone else. Fuck.

"Where do you live?" Geralt asked suddenly, not realizing the strangeness of the question.

"What?" Jaskier seemed taken aback which was more than fair.

"I only meant— Here in London or LA or New Yo--"

"Here. England, I mean. I’ve got a little place a little ways outside of London."

That could be anywhere, Geralt didn’t say. Jaskier still looked uncomfortable. His shoulders were hunched and he was holding himself tightly with his arms straight down at his side so his hands could be shoved into his pockets.

It had been weeks since they had seen each other last and Geralt just. He had so many things to say now but couldn't make the right words come out of his mouth.

He thought about Jaskier every time he rode Roach around the farm. He wished that it was just the two of them at 6am on the training set again. Jaskier on Pegasus and Geralt on Roach, going through the obstacle courses.

He wanted a second chance to ignore rumors and laugh at Jaskier's jokes and flirt back at him. Geralt had that open Jaskier still in his mind, who was so pleased to see both Geralt and the horses even though it was barely past dawn and he had had a late shoot the previous night.

"Did you really buy Pegasus too?" Geralt asked, even though he already knew the answer.

Jaskier blushed. "I did. He's with me. Well, a stable near me. I know I'm not the greatest at care as you saw it but I visit him and ride as often as I can." His smile was soft just thinking about the horse and Geralt again ached, thinking about the morning dew, riding with Jaskier around the ring. The soft voice that he used for the horses regardless of who could hear him.

"You’re welcome to come see Roach anytime. Especially if you want to bring Pegasus. My father’s ranch is remote and private. Sometimes we get writers or other people stay for retreats in some of the smaller cabins."

Jaskier still looked uncomfortable. Upset, even. He had taken his hands out of his pockets and he was leaning backwards, clutching the window frame. Geralt wondered how much acting he did on a daily basis.

He really hadn’t meant for Geralt to find out about Roach.

"He's really fine. I promise," Jaskier said quietly.

Geralt swallowed his nausea at just how still Jaskier was holding himself. At how Jaskier thought Geralt only inquired after Pegasus because he assumed Jaskier couldn’t take proper care of him.

And that was Geralt’s fault. For listening to rumors. For being colder to Jaskier as the shoot weeks had gone on. The man had sometimes beaten Geralt to the stables in the morning and in return, Geralt had barely spoken to him.

"I have no doubt that he is enjoying your care. As well as you sneaking him too many treats," Geralt joked, trying to lighten the mood. He hadn't mean to imply that Jaskier wasn't taking proper care of Pegasus. That hadn't been it at all. He was just. He wanted to be near Jaskier. He didn’t want to leave him just yet.

He took his eyes off of Jaskier's and they fell to his long fingers. Even though he was facing Geralt, Jaskier’s fingers were clutching the window lip.

He hadn’t been looking out the window or catching his breath in an empty room.

Jaskier had been trying to get out onto the fire escape.

Of course.

Geralt sighed, he could feel a dull ache behind one of his eyeballs. Perfect. He had already caused Jaskier enough panic for one night and now a headache. He slowly reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet.

"Here is a card for my friend. She’s a fantastic lawyer and if you mention my name, she’ll take you on. She might laugh but she’ll do it. The laughing will mostly be at me,” he added. "You might not need her, of course. But she's the one who helped figure out it was you who got Roach for me."

Jaskier took the card from Geralt's outstretched hand and near cradled it in his hands. "Thanks."

"Do you want help opening the window that you were trying to escape out of?"

There was a spark in his eye that Geralt hadn't seen in months and he was willing to bet he wasn't the only one who missed it.

"Please."

Geralt used one hand to gesture for Jaskier to move out of the way and he did, with almost too much glee. There was a bounce in his step that Geralt was relieved to see. None of the tabloids or entertainment shows could see that when they talked about him.

He carefully examined the large window. The expansive sash was sturdy enough but Geralt was more than a match for its age. He reached up and unlocked the top before heaving under the lip.

It opened without issue.

“Thank you so much,” Jaskier gushed. He didn’t even wait for Geralt to move out of the way before climbing into the fire escape. He turned to look back at Geralt. “I really appreciate it.”

Geralt gestured again, this time for Jaskier to step back, further out the window.

"What are you doing?" Jaskier asked as Geralt had one foot out the window.

Geralt raised an eyebrow. “I opened the window. Am I not also allowed to climb out of it?"

"I guess." Jaskier looked bewildered. “There’s still a party downstairs.”

"I think you know me well enough to know that it’s not my kind of party.” Geralt enjoyed seeing the flush on Jaskier’s face at the possibility that the two of them might know one another at all. “I'm not letting you fall down the fire escape."

"Just because my upper body strength is lacking doesn't mean I've never climbed down a fire escape before," Jaskier argued even as he made for the ladder.

God, did Geralt want to know that story. He could do nothing but follow Jaskier.

Out of the window, down the fire escape, and to the ground, where Jaskier landed safely with a soft "Oomph."

"Thank you,” he told Geralt again. Then, before he could lose his courage, he added, “It was good to see you again.” He took off down the street, collar popped up around the lower half of his face.

Geralt wanted to call after him, invite him to get a drink, spirit him away before the cameras out front could find him. He imagined them getting the tube together and riding away all while Jaskier huddled closer to him, whether for warmth or so no one recognized him. Geralt fantasized the worst case scenario, with himself stepping in as the hero for Jaskier, blocking him from the cameras.

In the end, he watched Jaskier, hunched over himself in a foreboding navy coat, make his way around the corner. And then he went home to the ranch and told Roach all about it.

----------------

“Just like that?” Priscilla asked, graciously not mentioning the fact that Jaskier had put on her favorite sweatpants or that he had heart eyes whilst talking about this mysterious horse guy.

Jaskier shrugged, swirling a wine glass with one hand. “Just like that. I’ve gotten a new agent. A new lawyer seems like a good place to start.”

“And you trust him?” Priscilla held up the card. “He couldn’t afford a horse and yet has a friend who works here?”

“She’s how he found out I bought the horse for him.”

“Your funeral.”

----------------

"Geralt von Rivia," Yennefer's voice came through his phone. Geralt winced and so did Eskel even though he was near three meters away. Yennefer only used their full names when they were in trouble. "Did you give some twink my number?"

"Can you help him?"

"Yes, I believe I can. i just wanted to check his story."

"He bought Roach for me."

"Yes, the mystery-horse buyer. I remember." Yennefer's quiet voice used to grate on Geralt. He never knew what it meant. He used to think he was a fool but as their relationship developed, he realized that Yennefer's version of caring contained a lot of frighteningly quiet determination.

"I wasn't supposed to find out, apparently."

Geralt wasn't grumpy about the situation.

He wasn't.

He just wished that everything was different. That was all.

"Well, he didn't anticipate you having me for a lawyer." Yennefer paused and Geralt heard some paper rustling in the background. "Did you know about all this? His situation, I mean.”

“I’ve heard rumors.” Geralt didn't mention that he had been reading Lambert's discarded tabloids and doing some googling of his own.

“Rumors of the situation or the rumors being spread about him on set?”

“The latter,” Geralt mumbled, embarrassed. "Both, I suppose. Lambert reads the tabloids. So does Aiden."

“No wonder he talked himself in circles about you. His friend had to stop him twice from rambling on.”

Geralt wanted to ask about that but he knew Yennefer wouldn't answer. Or couldn't, with a confidentiality clause.

“Can you fix it?”

She scoffed. “Of course I can. It’ll be a bit messy but luckily, this isn’t the only lawsuit against this guy. Tons of evidence and witnesses too. He managed to get a new agent who hasn't been doing half bad of a job. Don't worry, Geralt. I'll protect him.”

"Marx?"

"Yes. It's not the first time he's done this either." Then, softer. "I'll help him, Geralt. I promise."

"Thank you."

----------------

“Jaskier!” One of the farmer’s son sprinted up to him, coming to a stop once he reached the stables. Jaskier had just gotten himself onto Pegasus for the day. “We had a man come round asking about you yesterday. Dad wanted you to know.”

“Here?” Jaskier dismounted quickly and looked around the farm to the tree line, expecting the press to come racing at him after the teen. "Take a breath, Matthew."

Matthew and the rest of his family had been nothing but kind to Jaskier since he had started boarding Pegasus at their farm. He hated to think they were being harassed by some reporters.

“One of those newspaper people. Had a camera and everything.”

Jaskier's heart sank but Matthew shook his head.

“Posh twat!” One of the farmhands yelled from the loft. “We ran him out!”

Jaskier didn’t bothering covering his mouth as he laughed along with Matthew. “He didn’t cause any trouble?” He asked earnestly.

“We said that we’d never heard of you," Matthew said proudly.

“Thank you so much.” Jaskier heaved a sigh of relief and leaned against Pegasus. He gave the horse a kiss and nodded to Matthew again. The boy, realizing just how close he and Jaskier were standing, blushed a bit before racing off.

----------------

It had taken Geralt a long time in his life to learn never to doubt Yennefer but it was a lesson that had stuck.

In keeping up with the news about Jaskier, Geralt had learned a lot about him. To the point where, when Jaskier’s best friend, Priscilla, was interviewed on the red carpet of her latest premiere and asked about the missing man, Geralt knew exactly who she was. It also meant that Geralt could properly appreciate her viciously telling the interviewer to fuck off.

Jaskier still hadn't worked on a film in weeks but Yennefer assured him it was for the best and that Jaskier was doing fine. Laying low was a part of the plan.

The successful plan as it so happened.

Lambert slapped the newspaper down on the breakfast table. Geralt and Eskel both jumped back.

"The guy who saved Roach has been saved!" He crowed triumphantly, dodging a spoon thrown by Geralt.

"Jaskier?” Eskel asked. “The trial went off all right?”

Lambert nodded towards the paper. “It says Marx was found guilty. So Jaskier and the other people he talked about are in the clear with any luck. Have you talked to him?"

"What?" Geralt looked up from the front page. Jaskier looked good in most outfits, of course, but the official black suit for court did nothing but match him to Yennefer, who was barely in the photograph, as the newspaper had tried so hard to cut her out.

"I know it says he won the case but he looks here miserable, mate.”

"Tabloid photos aren't real indicators of a person's well-being," Geralt said stiffly. Even though Lambert was right. Geralt kept picturing the animated Jaskier that he had been privileged to see for a whole thirty seconds at the premiere party.

"You texted him though, right?"

Geralt hummed. "Yennefer's helping him out."

Eskel and Lambert responded at the same time.

"That's not an answer to his question."

"That's not an answer to my question."

Sometimes Geralt really hated his brothers.

"You gave him Yennefer's name?" Eskel urged on.

“Must have,” Lambert commented, tapping on the partial shot of Yennefer buried under headline text.

"Her card." Geralt also remembered Jaskier's uncomfortable body language at the party. Curled in on himself, not meeting anyone's eyes and when he did, he looked right past them. Sometimes when Geralt closed his eyes he saw Jaskier's white knuckles against the windowpane, desperate to make an escape. Geralt provided that. He gave that to him. And Yennefer's information. "He seemed like he just needed someone in his corner."

"And now?"

"He's Yennefer's client right now. They're not friends. Yet,” he added. “Knowing Yennefer, it will depend on if she likes him or not."

Lambert turned back towards his breakfast but Eskel still had a knowing eye on his brother.

“Looks like it’s all wrapped up. He’s not her client anymore.”

"I don't have his number." Geralt admitted, just barely audible. “I never did.”

Eskel reached over and tapped on the screen of Geralt’s phone. "I bet Yennefer does."

----------------

Geralt: Do you have Jaskier's number? Yennefer: Finally. Yennefer: I can't give it to you. Yennefer: But I can give your information to him. Geralt: Thank you. Yennefer: He's sweet but skittish. Be gentle.

----------------

Yennefer: 033 0058 0058 Jaskier: What's that? Yennefer: Geralt's number.

Jaskier sighed and touched his thumb to Yennefer's name.

"You're calling the wrong number," she told him in lieu of a greeting.

"I don't know him," Jaskier argued. "We were never supposed to see each other again."

"I expect a gift basket after the wedding then."

"Shall I expect one for you and Priscilla?" Jaskier asked coolly. Thankfully, Yennefer laughed and he managed to keep going. "He didn't want to talk to me when we had to spend near every day together. I don't think I can manage a phone conversation if it's just me." He wasn't worried about being too honest. Not with Yennefer, not after the trial.

He'd woken up plenty of times in Priscilla's flat after an emotional night to Yennefer at the door with breakfast for all three of them.

Yennefer hummed and in a way, she sounded almost like Geralt. "You're right. Can I make another suggestion?"

----------------

Yennefer: Are you home today? Geralt: Yes Yennefer: All day? Geralt: Yes Yennefer: Good. Stay there. Yennefer: Or outside. By the driveway. Geralt: Why? Yennefer: Trust me, Geralt. It's a lovely day. Yennefer: Just enjoy yourself.

----------------

Geralt stuffed his phone back in his pocket and asked Roach, “What do you think?”

Roach just looked at him which was fair but Geralt’s heart started to race with the anticipation.

He couldn’t be sure of what was coming but he hoped. He left the stables and headed for the house. Sitting on the porch did nothing for Geralt’s nerves so instead he found himself standing in front of it.

Barely twenty minutes had gone by but still Geralt found himself picking the paint off of the porch railing.

An unfamiliar engine caught Geralt’s ear and he turned towards the front drive.

Then, there he was.

Jaskier.

In a shoddy little truck with faded red paint that was nearing pink. It looked as though perhaps Vesemir was only one old enough to have purchased it as new. He was towing a trailer behind him and Geralt would be willing to bet that he knew who was in there.

He also clearly didn’t know where to park. No doubt Yennefer had given him an address only. Geralt didn’t bother to hold back his enthusiasm, waving Jaskier towards the neat line of vehicles by the stables.

Geralt wondered if it would be too much to open the door for him but he remembered Yennefer’s words.

He's sweet but skittish. Be gentle.

Geralt could do gentle. He’d soothed plenty a horse in his time. So he hung back, just giving Jaskier what he hoped was an encouraging smile as he opened the car door himself.

"Um. Hello," Jaskier said shyly, a little nod of his head. With his priorities in place, he was already headed around to the trailer door. Geralt knew he was going to let Pegasus out but he couldn't help but feel as though Jaskier was trying to avoid contact with him at the same time.

He remembered how Jaskier needed to do something with his hands even on a good day, whether that was the infuriating clicking of the pen he used to make notes on his script or the constant twisting of Pegasus' leather reins around his fingers.

Geralt liked to think that this would be a good day but he knew how much courage it took for Jaskier to drive here with his horse.

Jaskier gave Pegasus a happy smile and guided him out of the trailer. It wasn't until the horse was solidly on the grass that Jaskier met Geralt's eyes again. Geralt could see that it wasn't just shyness. It was nerves.

Jaskier was biting at his lip and playing with the leather of the reins just like he had those mornings on set. "I wasn’t sure if the offer to visit was still there. Yennefer said—

"Yennefer was right," Geralt said quickly, beating Jaskier to the trailer door. He latched it shut, staring unblinkingly at Jaskier.

"Did Yennefer tell you to say that?"

“In my experience, it’s usually true,” Geralt joked. He took a step forward. "I'm...glad you're here."

"Oh. Oh, good," Jaskier sounded so relieved that Geralt wanted to convince him to stay forever. To gain confidence as Geralt did around his brothers, to be fed delicious meals by his father, and most importantly, to find peace with Geralt.

"I'm not...I'm not great over the phone anyway,” Geralt offered.

"I thought that might be the case,” Jaskier admitted honestly. “I wasn’t sure if I could stand to carry a whole conversation. Yennefer thought it would be easier for us just to..."

"Be together in person?"

"Well, I was going to say be with the horses. So we both have something to focus on if we need it." Jaskier lovingly stroked Pegasus and the horse nuzzled at him. Geralt had seen the same scene dozens of times over but that had been on set. Seeing it again here, on his family’s ranch was almost too good to be true.

"That works too." Geralt paused a moment and then urged Jaskier to follow him. “Come out to the barn. She’ll be excited to see you.”

Jaskier walked Pegasus through the stables. He let out the sweetest sigh upon seeing Roach again and Geralt never wanted Jaskier to leave the ranch again.

"Oh, hello, darling," Jaskier said quietly. Geralt took Pegasus' reins and Jaskier used his free hands to rub at Roach's nose. She leaned into the petting and Geralt wished he could take a photograph.

“I was a twat,” Geralt told him while Jaskier was distracted by a beautiful horse. “I’m sorry.”

Jaskier looked down and shrugged. “I’m sure you see all sorts on film sets. I can’t even imagine.”

“I bet you can.” Geralt stroked Pegasus. He unlatched Roach’s stall and gestured for Jaskier to lead her out. “You weren’t any trouble, you know.”

“I don’t know if you remember but you…you yelled at Marx one day. He was crowding me in the stable and Roach picked up on my mood and became irritated with him. You told him off.” Jaskier told all this to Roach and Geralt did him the courtesy of not commenting on it.

Geralt didn’t remember though. He had chased away dozens of actors from horses over the years. It didn’t surprise him that Marx had been one of them.

“I’m glad she was there to protect you. And I’m sorry I wasn’t more help.”

“I won’t say that it’s all right,” Jaskier said, with more strength than he looked. He swallowed and finally turned to Geralt. “It’s been…a long few weeks. Months, really. But we’re here now and—“

Roach nudged him again and he let out a little laugh. Some of the tension leaving him.

Roach nuzzled closer and Jaskier could tell she was eager to get out of her stall. “Yes, darling. I brought your old friend to come see you. I thought perhaps--" He looked at Geralt. "I thought perhaps we could go for a ride together? If you'd like."

"I'd love that," Geralt croaked, wondering how Jaskier could still be so brave after all this. That he was here and talking and asking Geralt to spend time with him. "Let me tack him up for you?" He asked, hand on Pegasus' flank.

Jaskier's brow furrowed. "I can do it."

"I know that you can. I want to do to it,” Geralt stressed. "Please," he added.

"Let's swap," Jaskier said, still lovingly petting Roach. "I haven't seen this girl in a while. It'll be nice."

"All right," Geralt agreed. He could see what Jaskier was doing.

It wasn't about a penance. Jaskier wanted them on some kind of equal footing. That was fair, Geralt supposed. Even though as of that specific moment, Geralt wanted to give Jaskier the world.

"Are you all right now?" Geralt asked, hesitating in a way that he hoped made an answer not necessary if Jaskier didn’t want to respond.

"Well, I don't know about 'all right,'" Jaskier huffed. His eyes were looking straight ahead. "Yennefer certainly settled some things. I'm not sure I'll be acting anytime soon. Or um, answering my phone calls. I've actually changed my number again. Remind me to give it to you."

"I'd like that." Geralt didn't mention that he never had Jaskier's number in the first place.

"It's not the press," he assured Geralt. "Just a lot of people trying to apologize or offering to support me. I'm talking to the same few who always believed me before everything, you know? Mostly just Priscilla and Yennefer right now."

Geralt didn't know. He was one of the people who...well, he's not sure that he believed the rumors. He wasn't someone to go around sets making friends regardless. But he had certainly heard the gossip, listened to it even.

He liked to think he made up for some of that but in actuality, Geralt knew it didn't matter. He'll always wish he had behaved differently when he first met Jaskier. He could have maybe had Jaskier in his life for so much longer. Could have supported him better during this shit time instead of just handing over Yennefer's card and begging her to take the case.

Geralt's mind was full of questions that he wasn't sure if he was allowed to ask. He wasn't even sure he wanted the answers either. What was Jaskier going to do now? Geralt knew that one was selfish because he so wanted the answer to include him.

They worked in silence to get the horses ready but it wasn’t a silence that Geralt minded. Especially not when it was broken every moments by Jaskier giggling whenever Roach tried to interrupt his actions. He watched Jaskier get up onto Pegasus before following on Roach.

“You could always keep Pegasus—“

"I was thinking maybe I could board Pegasus here? If you've got the room—"

"Yes!" Geralt said immediately, cutting off what he had started saying as well as Jaskier's nervous rant. He didn't want Jaskier to be unsure of himself ever again. Not where Geralt was concerned. "You could come by whenever you'd like. Hopefully...often," he let himself say, voice growing stronger as the sentence went on.

"Yeah?" Jaskier asked. Geralt couldn't look away from how his teeth trapped his bottom lip between them. He was grateful that they were both on horses, otherwise Geralt wasn't sure he could have stopped himself from taking his thumb and slipping the abused lip to safety. "I don't live too far away. I hadn’t realized.”

Geralt swallowed. He met Jaskier’s big blue eyes and knew his own were rounded in vulnerability. “Please."

Jaskier finally, finally, smiled at him in such a way that Geralt felt his chest loosen. Jaskier nodded and Geralt felt his heart beating in his chest again. He grinned back at Jaskier and felt something swirl around them.

“Stay for dinner? My brothers would love to meet you. My father too.” Geralt was horrified at himself. He hadn’t rambled on like this in years. He couldn’t stop himself. He didn’t want to stop himself, not when Jaskier was giggling and trying to hide it with a hand over his mouth. “My brother Eskel’s horse is the one I’m planning to pair Roach with but I’m making him grovel for it if you’d like to help.”

“That sounds nice,” Jaskier laughed openly at him. Geralt didn’t mind one bit. “I’d love to stay, thank you.”

“Thank you.”

Geralt couldn’t help but sneak peeks at Jaskier as they mounted. It seemed Jaskier didn’t mind, snorting each time he caught his former horse master. And then he did the same, with Geralt trying not to preen too much in response.

Jaskier told him about Priscilla and Yennefer meeting and how he couldn’t go to dinner with the two of them alone again, Geralt, please.

Geralt explained how the farm worked and how much he disliked being on set away from his brothers, even when the money was good. How mercilessly they had teased him about Jaskier when he had returned.

They rode through the ranch, to Eskel’s farm, and Geralt found that both of them were becoming freer with their laughs by each trot.

The two of them had a strange beginning and a tumultuous middle but perhaps, if Geralt and Jaskier worked for it, they could have a lovely end.

----------------

ao3 link here

#the witcher #geraskier #geralt x jaskier #jaskier x geralt #the witcher fic

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a-edgar-allan-hoe · 4 years ago

Text

The Last Chthonian

Bucky x Reader, Sam x Reader, Zemo x Reader

Part 9

A/N: Part 9 is here y’all! Enjoy! And let me know if you’d like to be added to the tag list! 💕💕💕

Summary: Imagine being Hekate, the Greek goddess of magic and witchcraft, the night and the moon, doorways and crossroads, creatures of the night, and ghosts and necromancy. You stumbled upon Earth many centuries ago and since then have resided on the foreign planet. During the recent years you created an alias for yourself to hide your true identity, and after the war against Thanos you chose to live out your days in the Scottish countryside, until a certain trio appear at your doorstep one day.

Warnings: language, slight mention of past trauma and wounds.

You had already boarded Zemo’s private jet, sitting on the seat across from him while Sam had sat beside you with Bucky across from him. Oeznik had approached you all, asking if you wanted something to eat or drink and sharing a few words with Zemo. You shook your head, politely refusing with a kind smile before staring out the window of the jet and watching the clouds. Even though you had just left your home, you missed everyone there dearly, almost wishing you had the chance to bring Kólasi along. But you knew the local people would not take kindly to a dragon walking their streets. And wherever you were now heading, you had a feeling you were going somewhere you wouldn’t find agreeable.

“So do you have a private jet?” You heard Sam ask you.

“Nah.”

“How come?”

“She has a dragon and a pegasus Sam. I’m pretty sure they are her mode of transportation.” Zemo added.

“Wait. But what if it’s raining or there’s a storm?” Sam turned in his seat to face you, leaning in as he was curious to know how you managed to ride openly through the clouds in a storm.

“Well my father was Zeus, the god of the skies and thunder Sam. A little lightning won’t hurt me.”

“Wouldn’t you be soaked though? That doesn’t sound very comfortable.”

“Yes, well if that’s the case than I can just teleport.”

“Oh. Right.”

“Are you able to teleport others?” Bucky wanted to know, if so, it would be helpful to use that, right?

“I can. But the very first time can be unpleasant.”

“How so?”

“Well try to imagine your molecules separating and joining back together.” You tried to make an example with a motion of your hands. “So that in itself is an unpleasant feeling. You’ll also most likely puke your insides out after your first time. And there are even some rare cases where you might come back......disarranged.”

“What do you mean by disarranged?” Zemo raised his brow, not sure if you meant what he thought you meant. Would you reappear, swapped in each other’s bodies or.......

“Oh you know. Your leg might end up where your arm is supposed to be. Or your head might be sticking out your ass, something like that.” You smirked as you toyed with them, seeing the terrified expressions on everyone’s faces. They were most likely praying you wouldn’t use that ability on them. “I’m kidding, geez. Tough crowd.”

“Kidding about what part?” Bucky remarked.

“The disarrangement part. But in all realness, the only side affects are nausea and vomiting and your body feeling like jello. But you’ll get used to it.”

“Sounds like a blast.” Sam noted. “Please don’t teleport us unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

“Only if absolutely necessary.” You promised.

“Also, what’s up with all the weapons? Were you some kind of mercenary?” Sam asked you another question as he thought about all the weapons and armor you had in your armory.

“Well I wouldn’t call it that. Mercenaries were for profit and personal interest. I on the other hand went after tyrants and criminals. But I also hunted down monsters that posed a threat to the human population. I guess you could say I dealt with more of the.....supernatural.” You tried to elaborate.

“Monsters?” Sam raised his brow. “Like what?”

“You know, vampires, werewolves, minotaurs, hydras, chimeras, echidnas, sea monsters-“ you started to list off before Sam cut you off.

“Woah woah hang on. Vampires and werewolves? As in like twilight?”

“Hell no. I’m talking vicious flesh eating monsters here that absolutely do not sparkle. I mean, there are still some vampires left that play by the rules and don’t feed on your fellow mortals. But sometimes you’ll have the few that think they can break the rules like a bunch of idiots. Werewolves on the other hand are trickier, don’t get me started on them. But don’t worry, I got a guy, a half-mortal or daywalker, in charge of the supernatural business.”

“Hold up. So you were what? Like a Van Helsing?”

“Welll, Van Helsing was a real person.”

“Are you serious?” Bucky sat up in his seat. “What about Dracula?”

“Oh he was a real pain in the ass I tell you. That slimy bastard tried to seduce me so that he could take all the creatures under my control to do his bidding. Well, as you can see, that obviously didn’t work.”

Before the men could ask any more questions your phone buzzed in your pocket, making you pick it up to see Maze’s name on the front. Your heart skipped a beat for a moment as you stared at the screen, all the negative possibilities running through your head.

“Who is it?” Sam asked you once he noticed your expression.

“It’s Maze.”

“Did something happen?” Bucky inquired, his brows were raised and his voice was filled with concern.

“I hope not.” You accepted the call, lifting your phone to your ear. “Maze?”

“Hekate! It’s Athena!” Maze spoke in a somewhat panicked voice which only added to your nervousness and suspicions.

You shot up from your seat at the tone of her voice and her mentioning your daughter’s name. “What?! What do you mean? Did something happen to her?”

The men watched you with concern, leaning forward in the edge of their seats once they heard your daughter being mentioned. They were ready to rush over to your place right now if need be.

“Well she fell from the tree.”

“She what?!” Your blood ran cold and your heart was pounding in your chest, it felt as if it would burst right through your rib cage. “Maze speak!”

“Okay! Hang on a second. What happened was, she was playing around in her treehouse and tried to climb to the top of the tree. I tried to stop her when I saw what she was doing but she fell straight down.”

You shrieked in panic at what you had just heard. Your knees felt weak and you thought you might pass out but Bucky stood up to give you support, holding you as you gripped on to his metal arm, nearly crushing it in the process. “Is she hurt? Maze you need to tell me!”

Oeznik came in upon hearing your trembling voice, asking if anything was the matter, but Zemo had explained to him that they had it under control and should alert him if anything was needed.

“Well that’s why I’m calling you. She’s totally fine.” Maze replied.

“Wait............wait what?” You shook your head in confusion, not getting what she was talking about.

“I know right? I’m pretty sure there’s supposed to be broken bones and like lots of blood after a fall like that, but she doesn’t even have a scratch on her. She even laughed the whole thing off like some kind of miniature maniac. She nearly gave me a heart attack, and demons don’t get heart attacks. Now is that normal and should I be worried?”

“Uhhh.” You were unable to form words as you tried to figure it out. Was it the protection spell you put over her or was it just her in general? You had kept such a close eye on Athena, making sure she never got hurt, that now that she has been in a situation where she could’ve gotten injured, you didn’t know how to react or what to think. But Maze did say she didn’t have a single scratch or broken bone or any kind of injury. So that must be a good thing.....right?

“Hekate?” You heard Maze on the other line again. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah everything is fine. I was just.....thrown off for a bit. How is she?”

“Oh she’s great! We painted each other’s nails today. She’s taking a nap right now though. Hey, where’s that good shit that you have?”

“Good shit?”

“You know. Your really expensive wine from Olympus that your sibling, the wine god, what’s their name made?”

“Dionysus?”

“Yeah.”

“Umm it’s in the very top cupboard above the sink.”

“Okay thanks. I need a glass after what happened, or a bottle. Bye Hekate!” Maze hung up while you stood there, still surprised to hear Athena was unharmed and feeling almost drained after the whole ordeal.

“Everything okay?” Bucky whispered, his eyes searching your face for any further signs.

You noticed how close he was as he supported you, and you couldn’t help the blush that appeared on your cheeks, averting your gaze from his steel blue eyes. “Yeah, uh thanks.” You let go of his metal arm while he let go of you, allowing you to sit back in your seat.

“So is everything okay with Athena?” You heard Sam ask while you stared at the ground.

“Athena uh fell from the tree.”

“Is she okay?” Zemo asked you, his brows furrowed together.

“Yeah she’s fine, surprisingly. There wasn’t a single scratch on her. Must be the genes.”

Bucky pulled up the sleeve of his metal arm, a surprised chuckle leaving his lips as he saw the dented hand print you left behind. “Geez y/n. What’s with the Hercules grip?”

“Huh?” You looked up at him, glancing down at his arm to see your handprint dented into the vibranium. “Oh shit! I am so sorry! Let me fix that.” With a wave of your hand and a swirl of violet around your fingers, you fixed the dent in Bucky’s arm as if nothing ever happened to it.

Once Sam saw that you were completely fine, he turned to Zemo. “So, why don’t you tell us about where we’re going?”

“I’m sorry. I was just fascinated by this. I don’t know what to call it, but this part seems to be important. Who is Nakajima?” Zemo pulled out a small leather book which looked like the exact same one Steve had.

You jolted back in your chair as Bucky charged at Zemo, grabbing him by the neck and snatching the book back.

Your eyes widened at the commotion in front of you. “Yo! Can you guys chill out?”

“If you touch that again, I’ll kill you.” Bucky threatened him before going back to his seat.

“I’m sorry. I understand that list of names. People you’ve wronged as the Winter Soldier.”

“Don’t push it.”

“I’ve seen that book.” Sam commented. “It was Steve’s when he came out of the ice. I told him about Trouble Man. He wrote it in that book. Did you hear it? What’d you think?”

“I like 40s music, so....”

“You didn’t like it?” Sam gave him an offended look.

“I liked it.”

“It is a masterpiece, James. Complete. Comprehensive. It captures the African-American experience.” Zemo elaborated to the conversation.

“He’s out of line, but he’s right. It’s great. Everybody loves Marvin Gaye.”

“I like Marvin Gaye.” James responded.

“Steve adored Marvin Gaye. And y/n likes him too, don’t you y/n?” Sam now turned to you.

“Hm? Oh yeah, he’s great! Hendrix was pretty awesome too. Saw him in Woodstock, super chill dude to jam out on the guitar with by the way. I may or may not have dropped acid there.” You added the last part to yourself, though Sam overheard it and gave you a judgmental look, to which you looked at him, mouthing how it was only one time.

“You must have really looked up to Steve.” Zemo voiced. “But I realized something when I met him. The danger with people like him, America’s Super Soldiers, is that we put them on pedestals.”

“Watch your step, Zemo.”

“They become symbols.” Zemo continued to make his point. “Icons. And then we start to forget about their flaws. From there, cities fly, innocent people die. Movements are formed, wars are fought. You remember that, right? As a young soldier sent to Germany to stop a mad icon. Do we want to live in a world full of people like the Red Skull?”

As Zemo spoke, you thought about how many of your people looked up to your father and brother, and even Hera. How many of them saw them as their beloved gods and saviors, these righteous and glorious beings. But you were there and witnessed what happened behind closed doors, you were a product of that, a product of their faults and imperfections. And as those memories came rushing back to you, so did the pain of the scars it left behind. You could still feel the tenderness of the long scar on your face left by Ares, and the number of ones that were scattered on your back like a pile of jagged twigs, leaving behind a grisly form of artwork.

“That is why we’re going to Madripoor.” Zemo finished.

You lifted your head up at the mention of the place, jerking your head towards Zemo. Well you were right about how you weren’t going to like the new destination.

Tag List: @girl-obsessed-with-things @aerynchromie @sunshinepower17 @viviace @kakimakiloh @thebivirgin @gambitsqueen @spookycereal-s @lulu-yuming @mochminnie @gabitanaka47 @s00nhi @vanteguccir @tomhollandsslilslut @dracoxxyoflam @suchababie @uhhhcrypticbastard @on-my-way-to-erebor @thewinterrbucky

#bucky imagine #bucky fanfic #bucky x female reader #bucky x reader #bucky x y/n #sam wilson fanfiction #sam wilson imagine #sam wilson x reader #sam wilson x y/n #zemo fanfic #bucky fluff #bucky fic #bucky x you #zemo fluff #zemo imagine #zemo x you #zemo x reader #zemo x y/n

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empressofthesunwriter · 2 years ago

Text

The Queens Gambit: The Story

The most powerful piece in chess is the queen.

When this piece joins the game of Duel Monsters anything will change.

With two dragon sisters, a magician and her descendant, the queen will take her rightful place.

As it should have been.

8th Millenniums Items

Reborn!Kisara

Reborn!Mana

Queen!OC

QueenReborn!Oc

RedEyesBlackDragon!OC

Pairings:

Atem/Yami YuugiXOC

Yuugi MutoXOC

Seto KaibaXReborn!Kisara

Anzu MazakiXReborn!Mana

I’m on a roll these days! Here I give you the first part of the two parts of Episode 3 Journey to the Duelist Kingdom. I made I cover for it.

Here is the base I used: https://www.deviantart.com/yummehcrayons/art/FPD-Bags-n-babes-base-259082967

And here is my finished piece: https://www.deviantart.com/empressofthesun/art/Off-to-Duelist-Kingdom-932075230

You can go to my Tumblr or DeviantArt Account to see them if you can’t. :D

Now happy reading and if I get a lot of comments, I will get the second part out as fast as possible. Comments fill me with the energy to write for this dear story of my so, so the more you comment, the more motivated I become and the faster I produce a new chapter.

So don’t be shy, even just a thumbs-up emoji will fill me with joy.

Chapter 4: Off to Duelist Kingdom! Part I

Redone 29/08/24

Heartbroken Sehrazat looked at her sleeping mother on the hospital bed, holding with both hands one of hers tight.

It was three days after Pegasus had taken the soul of her mama and been out of options, they brought the soulless body to the hospital, where it was treated like she was in a coma.

Only, she, Kihana's family, and Maja know that Amira wouldn’t and couldn’t wake up without her soul.

“I will go to Pegasus Island and get you back, Mama.”, Sehrazat promised, kissing her cheek. “Please just hold on.”

With one last squeeze, Sehrazat leaves the hospital room.

Outside Aunty Rahila with Kihana, Sadiye and Maja are waiting for her. Kihana has their luggage for their trip beside her.

Aunty Rahila opens her arms and Sehrazat lets herself be hugged.

“I wish there was another way to save your mother, but this is a journey you and Kihana, have to make alone, I’m afraid.”, says Rahila, stroking her blue hair.

Sadiye, who stands beside Maja, puts her hands on her little waist and huffs: “Why can’t we all go, mommy?! That’s so unfair. Anybody of us is a good duellist; we would have a higher chance at getting Aunty Amira back!”

“Sadie.”, responds her sister, petting her head. “Without an invitation, it is pointless. Me, Sehrazat, and Afya will manage, believe in us.”

It is clear that the youngest wants to say more, but Maja puts a hand on her shoulder, shaking her head.

“No, Sadie-Chan, Hana-Chan is right. We can’t do anything.”

The little black-haired girl wants to protest when she sees how secretly Maja winks at her. She blinks, till she gets what the older meant.

It’s then that Sehrazat lets go of Rahila and takes her luggage from Kihana.

“Let’s go. We are wasting time.”

“Are you really all right with bringing Sadiye home and waiting for my return from driving Kihana and Sehrazat to the port, Maja?”, asks Rahila.

Besides Sadiye, no one seems to see the mischief glint in Maja’s eyes. She has to control herself not to laugh.

“Don’t worry Schariq-San, Sadie-Chan is in good hands with me.”, promises Maja.

“All right.”

“I don’t wish you good luck, Sehra-Chan and Hana-Chan, just kick Pegasus butt!”

“Big time!”, adds Sadiye.

Kihana and Sehrazat give them a big thumbs-up.

With that, the three, who are going to the port, leave.

Maja and Sadiye wait for a few seconds.

“Are we now going to run to the bus station before boarding the ship illegally, Maja-Nee?”

“Let us wait for a few seconds more, then we run like the wind.”

“Okay!”

*/*

Pegasus really had a lot of money to spend if he could book an entire luxury cruiser to bring all these duellists to the Duelist Kingdom. Or it was his.

Sehrazat admitted she was a bit overwhelmed.

All this because he wanted her Millennium Fragment? And nobody had a clue.

“I’m sorry.”, she heard the voice of her dear partner.

Afya, the spirit of the Millennium Fragment, materialized by her side.

The once queen of all Egypt looked sorrowful with the same orange eyes as Sehrazat and…her mother at her.

Sehrazat was still surprised how both could be twins, only Afya was taller, had longer hair and her face looked more mature and beautiful.

“If only I had beaten Pegasus in his twisted game, then you didn’t need to make this journey to save Amira’s soul.”, said the spirit sadly and ashamed of herself.

“Afya, I don’t give you the fault her.”, Sehrazat reminded her darker half. “Only Pegasus and his freaky eye! We will get Mama back! If we have to beat Pegasus at a children’s card game, then so be it. He won’t use the same trick on us again twice!”

Afya nodded determinedly at her partner and descendant.

“True words you speak child of mine. And if this didn’t work we can always beat Pegasus up. I would prefer this more.”

Now Sehrazat had to laugh, which earned her strange looks from the other duellists in the line for the boarding and a raised eyebrow from Kihana beside her.

She pointed at the air beside her mouthing the name she had given her ancestor. Kihana understood and let them be.

“I love how you are always ready to beat people up, Gran-Gran.”, she told full of affection Afya.

Her “Gran-Gran” puffed her cheeks up.

“I’m a warrior, no damsel in distress. I may not remember my life as queen, but I know I was born to fight not to play children’s card games!”

“And yet you are so good at it Gran-Gran!”

Sehrazat didn’t get a response, because it was now her turn to show Pegasus Lackey her dueling clove to prove she could board the ship.

Afya took this chance retiring back into the Millenium Item.

Probably to go into her soul room and train with her outstanding collection of swords. Yes, Sehrazat knew that it was all mental, but still, holy Ra Afya had a lot of weapons in her soul room and could use anyone masterly.

It does make her feel humble.

After Kihana got the okay to board, the two best friends gripped each other hands and decide to look around the ship.

One of the attendants informed them that as former Europa Champion and second in the rankings, they would have a double bedroom to themselves.

They left their luggage there so that they could move around freely.

They wanted to check on their competitors.

They needed to.

Knowing whom they were going against would help them greatly to win the tournament and get Amira’s soul back from Pegasus.

That’s how the stubble upon an interesting scene.

There was Mai Kujaku, an old acquaintance of the girls, in a conversation with two unknown boys.

One was a tall blond with a green jacket and the other was a short boy with the wildest hair they ever had seen. Tri-coloured and starfish-shaped.

Suddenly Sehrazat heard Afya hiss.

“What’s wrong, Gran-Gran?!”, she asked worried her Yami.

“Look at what the little one is wearing!”

Sehrazat did it and had to control the gasp that left her mouth.

She nudged Kihana to get her attention.

The taller girl let out a silent curse: “What in the name of freaking Isis?!”

Right in front of them was another Millennium Item.

And not any ordinary, not that any of them were ordinary, it was the Millenium Puzzle!

The one who belonged once to the Nameless Pharaoh and Afya’s husband, as Sehrazat’s grandmother, told them in her stories.

No wonder, Afya was freacking out.

Both best friends had turned into statues.

What should they do now?

Afya was no help since she had to calm herself down.

Kihana and Sehrazat looked at each other.

“We need to talk to the boy.”, suggests Kihana. “We need to know if the pharaoh is with him.”

“How are we going to do that?! Just straight up walking over to him and asking him if he has a spirit in his puzzle who possesses him sometimes? We would sound crazy, Hana!”, argued Sehrazat back.

“Do you have a better idea, Sehra?”

“…Not really.”

However, they didn’t need to walk up to the boys, since Mai turned around to walk away from them and saw them.

The older girl blinked for a second, not believing whom she saw before she smirked.

“Well, well, if this isn’t a surprise.”, she said so loud that everybody, including Yugi and Jounouchi, looked in her direction. “If this is not Sehrazat, the Amazon Princess of the Nile, and Kihana, the Lady of the Dragons. What are you girls doing here? I thought your titles as number one and number two in Europa were made invalid since you live now in Japan.”

Under all the looks of the people, Sehrazat got shy and hid a bit behind Kihana, gripping her hand tight, while her best friend deadpanned at Mai.

“Hello to you too Mai, Mistress of the Harpies. Long time no see. How are you?”

Mai couldn’t answer since abruptly a lot of Duelists talked out loud.

“Oh my god, that’s really Sehrazat Faizan, the Amazon Princess of the Nile!”

“The Ex-Europa Champion?”

“The one whom anybody bet that at the world championships would beat Seto Kaiba?”

“Her or Kihana Schariq, the Lady of the Dragons. These girls are already legends!”

“Are they that good at Duel Monsters?”

“They are both incredible! You should have seen their Duel at the Europa Championships! It was brutal!”

Sehrazat got even shyer and looked at the ground, while Kihana rubbed bashful with her free hand her neck.

Of course, after Jounouchi stared at the two pretty girls to see if he was familiar with them, if they were such big names in the Dueling world, he turned to his best pal.

“Are these pretty girls, really such huge numbers, Yug?”, he asked.

Yugi nodded.

“Yes, Sehrazat Faizan and Kihana Schariq were incredible at the Europa Championship. Their duel against each other was even transmitted in Japan. Sehrazat with her all-female monster-themed deck and her amazons only won by a hair against Kihana’s dragons. It was from start to finish nervewracking.”

Jounouchi let out a whistle, damn that sounded badass, while Yuugi looked at the girls.

He remembered how he had watched their duel.

As he had first seen Sehrazat on the TV something deep in him had reacted to her.

The boy still couldn’t figure out what.

She was a beautiful girl, no question, and even a bit shorter than him, but something in him felt like he had known her, which was impossible of course.

Yet, seeing her in blood and flesh now, made the feeling tenfold.

It was then that Sehrazat looked up from the ground and their eyes met.

Violette met Orange.

And both felt like lightning struck them.

Unknown to them even their Yami’s felt it.

Yugi felt a blush forming on his cheeks.

Sehrazat was so beautiful.

And these eyes of hers…so brilliant and unique…he had never seen orange eyes…like topas...nonetheless he felt he had looked into these eyes a thousand times…like he was coming home.

Meanwhile, Sehrazat had similar thoughts crossing her mind.

Yugi was a short guy, but taller than her…and his eyes reminded her of beautiful Amethyst. Eyes that she knew…even if it was impossible…it was like she had found a missing piece of herself.

He was a handsome young man!

Mai’s voice broke the two out of their staring contest.

“What’s up with you Sehrazat, you aren’t normally this shy?”, said the older girl to her and raised an elegant eyebrow. “Not even a hello to an old opponent?”

She could practically feel how Kihana gave her a look too.

Damn it, this was embarrassing!

She licked her lips and smiled a bit wobbly at Mai.

“It’s nice to see you again, Mai. So you are in this tournament too, heh?”

Yugi felt a shiver down his back as he heard her voice in person. She had a pretty melodious voice.

It was like he knew that she would have such a voice.

But how?

He didn’t know that his darker half was freacking out at seeing the young girl too. It was so weird, the spirit knew he didn’t remember things, but he had a feeling he knew this girl and he could sense a familiar presence off her.

How could be this possible?

“You both may have defeated me the last time we saw each other.”, told Mai Kihana and Sehrazat. “But this time I will be victorious. See you at the island, ladies.”

With that Mai walked away and left behind a Kihana, who shook her head at her, and a Sehrazat, who mumbled: “Can’t we be just friends?”

Now, a lot of people didn’t think that Jounouchi was an observant person and it was mostly true, however, he had seen how his best pal Yuugi stared at this Sehrazat girl like she was some kind of goddess, not that he could fault him.

The tiny girl was pretty, he just found her white-haired and taller friend hotter.

Anyway like a good best friend, he needed to help Yuugi.

His pal would never talk to that girl alone, never mind asking her out or something, so he would play wingman for him.

With a grin, he gripped Yugi by his shoulder and nearly pushed him to the girls. Yugi looked wide-eyed at him and mouthed what-are-you-doing.

Jounouchi ignored him.

It was for Yugi’s own sake…and also he really wanted to speak with the white-haired girl.

She was a bomb!

Kihana raised an eyebrow at them and Sehrazat hid behind her again.

She caressed the hand of her best friend to calm her down.

Whatever happened, her Sehra seemed already crushing on the tri-coloured-haired teen, if she acted this way.

Was this some kind of love at first sight?

How adorable!

“Hey, ladies.”, greeted them Jounouchi. “I’m Katsuya Jounouchi, you can call me Joey and that’s my pal Yugi Muto. I heard from him you both are number one and two in duelling from Europe! That’s really cool.”

Not only Kihana and Sehrazat were shocked, even Afya looked at this tiny boy and couldn’t believe it.

“You are the one who bet Seto Kaiba, wow, it’s an honour!”, said Kihana to them.

Sehrazat nodded rapidly.

Afya facepalmed at her descendant.

“O-Oh, thank you.”, mumbled Yugi shyly.

The blue-haired girl took all her courage and stopped hiding behind Kihana.

She wanted and needed to talk to Yugi.

Afya even gave her an encouraging nod.

“You were incredible.”, complimented Sehrazat Yugi, who blushed more at her words. “You were the first one even to summon Exodia! It was a spectacular duel. I don’t think I could have handled Kaiba as you did.”

“I reset that.”, hissed Afya in their minds. “The boy with the Blue Eyes White Dragon fetish would have gone down hard and fast if we duel him!”

Sehrazat ignored her Yami/Ancestor.

“N-No, I saw how you duel at the European Championship. You truly earned your first place. I bet you can defeat Kaiba too, Faizan-San.”, complimented Yugi back to her.

He was burning like a house on fire, yet he needed to say this.

Shy Sehrazat batted her long eyelashes and Yuugi thought he would die. If he did it would be a great death, with one last look at the prettiest girl he had ever seen.

“Please you can call me Sehrazat or Sehra.”

“Then please call me Y-Yugi!”

“Yeah, and Jounouchi or Joey to me.”, said Joey with a huge grin.

Damn, these two were adorable.

Kihana seemed to agree with him since she grinned at him and pointed her head at the two smaller teens.

“And I’m Kihana or just Hana. So Yuugi, you are wearing interesting jewellery. It looks like the one Sehrazat is wearing.”, directed Kihana their conversation to the question they needed the answers to.

However cute Sehrazat and Yugi were with each other, needed to wait for this.

That’s when both Joey and Yugi noticed the teardrop-formed golden amulet with an eye that hung from Sehrazat’s neck.

“It looks really like yours, Yug!”, shouted Joey.

“Another Millennium Item!”, gasped Yugi surprised.

“What? You sure, men?”

It was Sehrazat who answered him: “Yes, my amulet is a Millennium Item. The legends say there are eight of them.”

“Is yours one too, Yuugi?”, asked Kihana.

He nodded, still floored. Never would he have thought to meet after Pegasus eye another Millenium Item.

“Yeah, it’s the Millennium Puzzle.”

Of that answer, Afya had the strongest reaction.

Sehrazat had to keep her face under control, which was hard since her Yami literally screamed in their shared mind.

“I can’t believe it! It is the puzzle! Is there my supposed husband’s soul bond, as your grandmother told us, Sehrazat? I mean I kinda feel something of another presence with little Yugi, but whatever that is doesn’t want to talk and show themselves. How rude!”

Thankful the ship horn sounded, which meant that it was time to retire to their cabin. Sehrazat was thankful. One part of her didn’t want to leave Yugi, no it wanted to talk more to him, but she, Kihana, and Afya needed to talk.

Thank the gods, that Kihana was with her.

She gripped her hand and gave the two boys her best brilliant smile. Joey and Yuugi turned both red under Kihana’s beauty.

“Look at the time. We need to go, but we should totally meet up later guys.”

With a wave, she dragged Sehrazat in the direction of their shared cabin.

*/*

Meanwhile, in a super hidey spot at the ship, three teenagers and one child were discussing with each other what they had seen.

“What's up with that? We're here because we were worried but they were both flirting!”, said Anzu with her nose turned up.

“Shhhh! You're too loud!”, reminded her Honda.

“This is why men suck.”

"Preach it!", agreed their new friends.

Honda sweatdropped at Maja and Sadiye.

Better change the subject before the three girls start to rumble on why men suck.

“Are Sehrazat and Kihana really number 1 and 2 in Dueling from Europa?”, mumbled Honda and sweatdropped under Anzu's fiery look.

Little Sadiye nodded rapidly.

“Sehrazat and my Nee-San are the best. Yugi and Joey should be careful around them.”, she told them proudly.

“Sehrazat is merciless and Kihana is cunning. Dueling against them is quite the challenge.”, added Maja.

Honda nodded and Anzu crossed her arms.

“Well, you haven’t seen Yuugi duel, he beat Kaiba and he was the World Champion.”, she huffed.

The brunette boy gave her a look.

“You seem angry.”

“I bet because she is jealous of Sehrazat.”, answered Maja with a cheeky grin. “Yugi and her seem to like-like each other already!”

At Anzu’s outraged gasp, Honda had to stifle a laugh. Anyone besides Yugi and Anzu themselves knew that both had a crush on each other, yet it seemed Yuugi had totally forgotten it after meeting the Egyptian beauty.

Not that Honda could blame him, Sehrazat was short, but hot and had a really big breast size for someone so small.

And also Kihana was beautiful like an ancient goddess.

He wouldn’t mind getting to know the white-haired beauty.

“I’m not jealous, why should I?!”, hissed Anzu angrily.

“Well you should.”, came it deadpanned from Sadiye. “Sehra is way prettier than you and has bigger breasts, also she is an A-Rank Duelist. What have you to offer?”

Okay, Honda was officially dead!

He and Maja tried really hard to stifle their laughs at Anzu’s flabbergasted face and Sadiye’s winning smirk with twinkling red eyes.

The little ten-year-old was a firecracker, all right!

The boy admitted that when Maja and Sadiye dragged themselves with them into the container to get board on the ship he didn’t know what to think of them.

A teenager with a child trying to get to the Duelist Kingdom illegally?

It seemed fishy, but after knowing why they did this, to help Sehrazat and Kihana, like Anzu and him, Joey and Yugi, and hearing this sick burn, he liked them all right.

He should be on Anzu’s side since they were friends, but if neither of her and Yugi made soon a move on each other no one should wonder when someone else would do it.

*/*

It was good that Sehrazat and Kihana had a double bedroom for themselves, so they could discuss in peace what they should do next, what was even better they had also Room Service!

So they didn’t need to leave the room to find something to eat and interrupt their discussion.

Since both were petty on behalf of Amira and Pegasus would come up for all the food and drink expenses they would have they just order the whole card.

It was the most magnified and delicious sight the girls had ever seen. Also, it tasted even better knowing that Pegasus would pay for all this.

“This carbonara is heavenly!”, mumbled Sehrazat, while eating the pasta dish.

“Try this steak, Sehra!”, said Kihana and put some of it on her plate. “It’s so juicy!”

Afya, who was out of her Millenium Item, just stared at two of her “kids” in disbelief. How they managed to eat nearly all food dishes and still could go on was beyond her.

“Do you have perhaps, black holes as stomaches?”, she wonders.

That would explain a lot.

Sehrazat gulped down the piece of Steak and turned to Afya, while Kihana attacked next a fish dish. Was it lobster?

“Don’t be like that Gran-Gran. The food is gratis and will make a huge hole in Pegasus expanses. You should try some of it too.”

Not even a second later Sehrazat switched with Afya places and the once queen of all Egypt stared confused down at the food dishes around her.

“Your Majesty?”, called Kihana, now eating some Sushi. “Is there something or why did you and Sehra switch places?”

“My Descendants think I should try some of this food.”, she explained to her.

“Oh, all right. You should really try then this Sushi it’s so good.”, informed her Kihana, eating the next roll.

“Isn’t it just uncooked fish?”, asked Afya, frowning a bit.

Uncooked fish didn’t sound tasty to her.

“Yes it is, but trust me, Your Majesty, this is some first-class Sushi!”

Oh well, what did she have to lose?

So Afya used the chopsticks to put a Sushi Roll in her mouth.

Let’s just say Sehrazat had to formally beg her Gran-Gran to give her control again over her body.

She still wanted to eat too!

3 notes · View notes