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trashyslashers · 5 years ago

Note

Can I get some stuff for Poly Billy and Stu, Myers, and Bubba or any others for them catching feelings and not knowing what to do so it all bubbles up and explodes? Like a massive rant/confession or rash actions?

I wasn’t sure if you wanted the reader to catch feelings or the slashers to catch feelings, so I went with the slashers!! This came out much longer than intended.

I feel like Bubba’s is a small bit OOC and I apologize!! I did something a little different for his.

The endings are open! I left them up to the reader to determine how the confession turns out, so let your imaginations go wild.

This is as gender neutral as I could keep it!———————————————————————————————————–

Billy & Stu:

Stu was the first of the duo to catch feelings for you - the fresh, new senior from some out of town high school that moved to Woodsboro before the year started. Casey, his ex, seemed to take a liking to you, which of course in turn caught Stu’s attention, and he found himself wanting to know more about you.

Of course, though, anything Stu was interested in, he’d tell Billy about - and that included romantic interests. The more Stu spoke about you, the more Billy paid attention to you. The particular way you spoke, the way you dressed, your type of humor, even small things like what kind of drink you brought with you to class every day all became of interest to the both of them as time went on.

The two of them are much more ridiculous together, now that they have a mutual interest in someone. Who’s spent the most time with you? Who knows more about you? Who do you talk to more? It’s almost, almost, like they’re in a competition with each other over you, but you’d never know it. The degree that they manage to keep their feelings a secret to is utterly astounding. They keep their cool around you whenever you spend time with them.

…Which they make sure happens, a lot. What’re you doing over the weekend? Wanna hang out at Stu’s house? - his parents won’t be home, and there’s a scary movie marathon on Saturday. Billy will be there, too! What about after school on Thursday? You’re almost overwhelmed by how much they want to spend time with you.

The two’ve them have actually never had a genuine, shared interest in someone before, if we’re being honest. Were you more into goofy, fun-loving guys like Stu? Or more laid back, confident guys like Billy? They’ll probably argue about it. A lot. The topic of who’d be a better boyfriend is a hot one between them.

Though they argue about it, they honestly have no issue when it comes to sharing with each other. All they had to do was get your attention, right? EZ PZ.

…Or so they thought. Their minds went absolutely blank every time they tried to think of what to do, how to approach you, or how to even talk to you about this sort of thing. Being with two guys at once? What if you were only into one of them, or neither at all? How the hell do you even approach someone about this sort of thing? Neither’ve had any real issues with approaching people for relationships before, but a poly relationship was… very, very different.

Day in and day out they kept trying to figure out when the right time to make a move would be - should they wait until the holidays? Should they approach you individually, or together? Billy felt that one on one would be better, though Stu thought that they’d do better together - if they each approached you on their own, the other would miss out!

Any sort of plan or idea they had completely goes out the window one dreary, Friday afternoon. School had just let out - most students were piling into cars or onto the bus to hurry home. You, though, unfortunately, had been left without a ride. Planning to just walk home in the icy rain, a classmate of your approached you - a guy from your Economics class you knew as Chris. He was kind and pretty dorky, but he was charming in his own way; you’d heard rumors that he had a thing for you.

He approached you as you were leaning up against the wall of the school’s exterior, shivering as you fiddled with your walkman as you prepped it for your trudge home. In his typical, faux-confident manner, he came up to you - a sideways smile on his face as he asked if you’d like for him to give you a ride - he didn’t want you to get too cold out there, and surely he could help keep you warm.

“Nah,” - another voice suddenly chimed in before you could answer. “They’re good with us!” Stu, in his usual fashion, interjected as he hopped to your side, slinging his arm over your shoulder lazily. Before you or Chris could speak, Stu pulled you away from the conversation, over to where he was previously standing by Billy.

Both took delight as you laughed out a “thank you”. As nice as Chris was, you weren’t particularly interested in spending much one on one time with him, you explained. You’d heard that he liked you, but he wasn’t “on the list” of the guys you were interested in and you hated rejected people.

This absolutely delighted them to no end; both the mention that you had no interest in that other guy, and that there were apparently multiple guys that had your attention.

Now - now was their chance. Most classmates had left, there were no prying eyes to watch if they got rejected - they couldn’t wait, they needed to ask and they needed to ask now.

Stu, with his arm still draped over your shoulders, tugged you closer as Billy’s arm joined his.

“Any chance the two of us are on that list?”

Michael Myers:

You’d really have to find some way to draw Michael’s attention and keep it, especially his non-hostile attention.

Michael’s no stranger to having an obsession, or a strong idée fixe on one single person, and you’re absolutely no exception to this. Once he’s caught feelings for you, they aren’t going away.

It’s different; it’s kind of scary for Michael, and considering the fact that he isn’t used to feeling anything even remotely nice towards another person, he… really has no idea what to do.

What he does know, though, is how to stalk. He knows how to watch, he knows how to observe and keep his presence hidden, revealing it as he pleases. He figures that since that’s what he knows best, that makes it the best way to get your attention.

Quite unintentionally on his end, he scares you for awhile. Giving you brief glimpses of himself as he lingers in the treeline across the street, or as he saunters through your neighbors yard, his eyes looking up to your window as you peered out, your heart pounding away in your chest as you were unsure of what to do.

You would never feel alone, now that Michael had his eyes on you. Walking to work, to school, or to the store? You can feel another presence out there, distant but close, somewhere in the sleepy streets of Haddonfield. Even if no other person was visible, you could feel the hair on the back of your neck stand on end, the eerie feeling of knowing that you weren’t quite alone out there even though it appeared as such unnerving you to no end.

But Michael didn’t want to hurt you, no - he wanted to keep an eye on you. He still wasn’t sure how he felt about you; was this love? Just curiosity? Budding antagonistic feelings, yet to come? Michael couldn’t name it. He didn’t care to, either - he just knew he wanted you in some way.

What did people like? Michael’s vague memories of Judith and her various boyfriends came to mind. She seemed to like the notes they left her - but Michael couldn’t write, nor was he interested in doing anything physical - another thing he knew she liked.

Gifts. Gifts are the way to a person’s heart, Michael recalled, something he remembered hearing in an old television commercial. Michael had no money, but that was no issue; he had his ways of getting what he wanted. The way his chest felt tight with agitation and restlessness whenever he thought about you became too much for him to deal with, and Michael began to make a move.

You begin coming home to the strangest items left on your doorstep. One day it was an overripe baby pumpkin, a few days later, an old hairbrush. The most alarming of the “gifts” was the wristband that had gone missing from your room a week prior. “Should I call the police?” was the first question that came to mind.

As the days drew on, Michael grew impatient. You seemed more scared of his gifts than you seemed happy or pleased - was it really that bad? Usually, he felt entertained when he knew that he was scaring someone; playing tricks on their minds and letting them know they’re being watched and followed against their will was a forte of his, but he didn’t feel this way when it came to you. He didn’t want you to run from him, he wanted you to run to him.

Michael’s desire to have you grows too strong to resist one day in the middle of October. Halloween was approaching, the itch to maim was growing too strong too, and Michael knew that sooner or later he wouldn’t be able to have you like he wanted if he didn’t act soon. His idea? Chill in the coat closet of your hallway until you came home, of course.

The way his hands gripped your shoulders as you opened the door to hang your jacket up was enough to shock you into silence.

What the fuck? Should I call the police? What the fuck! Your head felt as if it were about to burst from fear - until the gentle shake of his head caught your attention - no.

You flinched awfully hard as his hand reached into the front pocket of his coveralls. You recognized him from somewhere - the mask, the height - the news? It didn’t matter now, though - he was probably going to kill you.

Slowly, he pulled out a small object him his pocket, his fist opening to reveal that it was a small hair bow - blue tartan. It wasn’t yours, of course, but it was in surprisingly good condition, for something that he’d been keeping in the pocket of his filthy suit. He shook his head no once again, signaling that he - apparently - wasn’t going to harm you. He slowly, timidly, if you dared call it that, held the bow out to you - the tilt of his head asking something he wouldn’t speak.

Bubba Sawyer:

Bubba caught feelings for you the second he first laid eyes on you - and when Bubba falls for someone, he falls hard.

You were the adult child of a family that lived some bit away from the Sawyer’s house, and while you weren’t particularly close with them or anything or the sort, your lot got on fine with theirs and there were never any issues during your brief interactions with them.

Drayton gets on him much more frequently now about being so careless and absentminded, but Bubba couldn’t help it. His mind was constantly preoccupied with thoughts of you - the nice-looking, kind neighbor that had his heart caught in a trap.

Unfortunately for him, Bubba’s never felt this sort of thing before. Sure, in the past he’s… had to deal with a few victims that he couldn’t help but fine particularly attractive, but he’s never felt such warm feelings towards someone before. That, combined with the fact that he never really learned about this sort of thing, left Bubba absolutely clueless about what to do.

When would he see you again? How would he act? Should he even find a way to tell you how he feels? How does he even feel? He doesn’t know how he should even begin to approach you about his feelings, in the instance that he actually gets the chance to.

Any time in the past that he’s interacted with you, he was always either completely silent, or a stuttering, blubbering mess as his shyness left him unable to calm down. This led to him almost dreading interacting with you - he always made such a fool of himself!

Seeing you was inevitable though, as Bubba soon learned. Despite his family’s usual desire to keep to themselves, Drayton had apparently, for whatever reason, invited your family over to the Sawyer residence. While your little lot wasn’t allowed inside - Grandpa’s a bit under the weather, as Drayon put it - the weather outside was pleasant enough for conversation on the porch.

Bubba couldn’t keep his eyes off of you. He hadn’t actually had the chance to be this close to you, before - were you wearing perfume/cologne? You smelled so good, so sweet - and you looked sweet, too. Bubba could tell you were intimidated by him, but who wouldn’t be? But despite your obvious unease, you were still kind to him, to his brothers - that was the straw that broke him. You two barely knew each other yet you had his heart in the palm of your hand - he wanted to be with you.

When no one was paying attention, Bubba approached you. His hand reached out to tug on your sleeve gingerly, and he gestured for you to come. He wanted to show you something.

After the initial awkwardness of him trying to convey that he wanted you to follow him, the both of you made your way to the back of the house for more privacy. Rounding the corner, your eyes fell upon a small, almost-dead patch of wildflowers that was spread out amongst the tall grass and weeds.

Bubba, noticing your interest, quickly reached down and plucked one of the flowers, a wilted, pale buttercup, and before you could question him, he quickly stuck his arm out, offering the flower to you as his empty hand scratched at the back of his head awkwardly.

If Bubba could, he’d ask if you liked flowers. What if you were allergic? What if you didn’t like flowers? What if you thought he was weird, or ugly, or strange or something? What if you laughed at him, or even worse - screamed? His head was full of emotions - excitement, love, uncertainty, fear - but they were all shut down when he felt the gentle brush of your hand against his larger, rough one as you took the flower, a gentle smile on your face as you softly thanked him.

Bubba felt his heart skip with glee, and before he could stop himself, he found himself reaching his arms out and pulling you into the tightest hug he could muster without harming you. He’d made sure he wore his nicest outfit - no bloody apron, no stained undershirt - a nice button up, and his favorite tie instead. He wanted to impress you!

Bubba became deathly aware that you were stiff in his embrace though, and with a blubbering mess of nervous whimpers he pulled back from you, his hand finding its way to your face so he could brush his fingers against your cheek, making sure you were okay - that he didn’t hurt you. He was trying his hardest to be gentle with you.

He didn’t know how else to convey his crush. He knows of kissing - he’d seen it on the old TV they used to have, but Drayton said that kissing was something you only did when you were in a relationship with someone - but you two weren’t. Surely it would be inappropriate for him to kiss you now!

The look on your face was unreadable to Bubba. A slight curve on your lips, warm eyes - but no smile. How did you feel?

He was about to let go of you completely and flee into the house out of shame, but you stopped him by opening your mouth and speaking your true feelings.

#slashers x reader #slasher headcanons #bubba sawyer x reader #michael myers x reader #billy loomis x reader #stu macher x reader #leatherface #bubba sawyer #Michael Myers #request #billy loomis #stu macher

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bean-cookies · 1 year ago

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It had to be done. This pose is just... so THEM.

[Here is the inspiration]

#stu and ez #studious arriastis #ezmerelda d'avenir #drawing #art #art meme #art challenge #dnd #dnd art #dnd character #wizard #tiefling #character art #oc art #oc x canon

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evolutioned · 2 years ago

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INTRO

this used to be a study blog, but now its just a productivity blog. doesnt matter is its stidy related or not i put everything here.

main is @loveution. writing is @talkinglove. i'm just going to post abt my progress so that i don't. fucking. get. sidetracked.

my name is ez. please tell to me stfu & do my work. i will take no offence

aim: 200 days of productivity in 2024. will i achieve it? probably not. but i will try.

since my school year technically starts on 8th jan, but since i have some work to do, ill start posting from the 5th.

#study #studying #stu(dying)#secondary school #i am Trying to study #idk what else to tag bro??#ez tries to study #introductory post #to-do list #math oh my fucking god.

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kuno-chan · 4 years ago

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Sides of the Moon - Ch. 25, The Loyalties of Old Friends

Summary: Runaan and his team of assassins discovers that Rayla has defied him. Again. But when they find her, she’s bleeding out in the woods with precious cargo under her arm and face to face with the princes of Katolis running away from their own castle. They find that, upon this meeting, the die has already been cast.

Rating: T

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Please consider reviewing on AO3

–

The caldera was strange, but the illusions were stranger still. Claudia wasn't deterred.

Once they'd realized the illusions were just that, nothing stopped her march to the summit. The trek took a day, maybe more, but getting to the top was more than worth it. An elven settlement. Here, in the human kingdoms, no less.

No elves, apparently. She gestured for Soren to follow. If the princes were here, they had to locate and dispose of the elves, quietly.

-:-:-:-

Hugging Callum was the highlight of her night; even if things weren't entirely fixed between them it put Rayla a little at ease. That trust would need to be rebuilt. Or maybe she was overthinking.

Callum held her hand and squeezed it. "You should go to bed."

Rayla rolled her eyes. "Oh? Since when were you in charge of my sleep schedule?"

"Since you were out here all day. Don't you think you should sleep?"

"No, actually," she said. "I'm going to patrol the perimeter for a while. Then, maybe I can go to sleep. You, on the other hand, should get some rest. You humans seem to love it so much, you sleep in every morning."

Callum laughed. She smiled. He said, "Not everybody can get out of bed at five in the morning. Are you saying all elves are up that early?

She thought about it. "... not all of us, I suppose."

"See?" he said, pleased with himself.

Too pleased with himself. She pushed him along. "Yeah, yeah, off to bed with you." Her voice softened. "I'll see you in the morning."

He paused. She almost asked him what was wrong, but he gave her a hug before leaving. Callum didn't say another goodnight to her, but he held her for a second longer than usual.

She didn't even hug him back before he left her standing there.

Strange, this human. Even if she considered him her favorite human. Tied with Ez, maybe.

The half-moon was high in the sky and she ventured that not all of the team were asleep. She hoped Runaan, at least, was resting because he needed to. Meditation was... fine, but he needed actual sleep. If she found him awake, she might have to enlist Andromeda's help to persuade him. Even Callisto.

Maybe Callum had a point about needing some rest if she got any of her habits from Runaan.

She was willing to bet on it. Hoped, anyway.

Walking the stone path, Rayla kept her ears and eyes open for any disturbances. She walked along, letting the moonlight ease her nervous heart. She was no fool to think Callum was entirely over the assassin issue. Not that she blamed him.

Sometimes, she questioned it as well.

Focus, she ordered herself.

She righted her mind onto the task at hand. A patrol was hardly useful if she wasn't listening for intruders who could slip by her.

The Nexus, she had to admit, made her miss home. It had all the hallmarks of Moonshadow architecture and the nuances the human towns and kingdoms simply didn't. They were different and they weren't home.

Sounds of home hummed in her mind.

Sweet music of The Silvergrove.

Rayla grew sleepy.

And sleepier still.

Her body drooped and her mind lit up just long enough to grab a rose and prick the thorn on her thumb before she collapsed to the ground.

Then, the voices. Two of them. The voices and the thorn embedded in her thumb stirred her. She roused from her sleep, but kept her eyes closed.

"... if we kill her and somebody finds her, they'll know we're here."

"Then, we hide the body. Soren, c'mon. Kill her. She's a Moonshadow elf. Are you honestly having second thoughts, now?"

"Claudia, I've never fought someone who's asleep like this. It feels like-- like I'm cheating, okay?"

Claudia hissed. "Cheating? We have to rescue the princes. This was even your idea--"

"To rescue the princes. Not kill the elves as soon as we got here."

"I saw an opportunity. How else are we supposed to search the grounds if--"

Rayla heard enough. She swept Soren off of his feet, then pointed her swords at Claudia.

Right. The Dark Mage's daughter.

She approached Claudia, ignoring the fear in her eyes and paying more attention to whether she would fight or fly. Rayla didn't forget the soldier. Soren picked himself up off the ground and unsheathed his sword. Cornered by two enemies, Rayla pointed a sword at each of them.

She thought of the bigger threat. On another day, in another time, she would leap for Soren and go toe to toe with him. She would let Claudia be. Claudia's fear would be enough to stay her.

Rayla leapt for Claudia.

Warrior or no, the girl used dark magic and more dark magic was the last thing any of them needed. A sword only did so many things, but Xadia only knew what the girl had in her bag of tricks.

Immediately, the boy tackled Rayla. She threw him off. He rolled.

The girl was rifling through her bag. Rayla charged her, throwing her sword in her direction. Soren interceded and jumped between her and Claudia. He smacked Rayla's sword away. Rayla caught it.

Alright, then. The boy first. Rayla and Soren circled each other, both of them with an eye on Claudia.

If Rayla couldn't stop her from performing dark magic, she could at least dodge. The thought of whatever macabre thing being cooked up made Rayla's stomach churn.

Soren jumped first. He leapt, Rayla dodged and came back with her own attack. He parried her and she moved out of the way. Leaping around him, she went straight for Claudia.

Rayla tackled Claudia to the ground. Whatever it was -- a paw, Rayla realized -- Claudia dropped it on the ground as the girls tousled, Rayla raised her sword--

Claudia screamed--

--and cut the bag from Claudia's body.

Soren roared and charged Rayla. He lifted Rayla off of Claudia. Rayla elbowed him and he let her go. She put distance between them, panting.

Rayla braced herself for another round. Her only saving grace was that Claudia was not apparently a warrior. She wouldn't fight like one. That was an advantage and a disadvantage.

Soren, closed in on her with his sword. Claudia picked up something from her bag and--

"Wait!"

Rayla's eyes widened. She twirled around. Callum ran at breakneck speed to come between them. His back to Rayla, he said to them all. " Stop fighting. Soren, Claudia, what are you doing here? Not that I'm not glad you're here, but--"

"It's okay, Callum," Claudia said, raising her -- it was a severed paw. Rayla was going to be sick. "We're here to rescue you."

"Wait, you guys don't understand. I don't even understand--"

Soren flexed his grip on his sword. "It'll all make sense once we're done here. Just get out of the way, okay, step-prince? And then we can take you home."

Something in Rayla spiked, but Callum extended his arms out and backed up into Rayla. "What? No."

"Don't worry. I know a good spell that will have her off our backs for good."

Rayla leaped at them, but Callum caught her around the waist with everything he had, whirling her in a circle and holding her against him with both his arms. "Everybody, wait a minute."

As if on cue, the trees rustled.

Andromeda dropped first. Then, Callisto. Then, Ram and Skor.

Finally, Runaan stalked from the shadows, into the moonlight.

They all had their weapons out. Ram and Skor were behind Claudia and Soren.

"You again?" Andromeda sneered.

"They're my friends," Callum answered. "I grew up with them-- please, can we all just wait a minute and figure out what's going on."

"Make it quick," Callisto said, his knives ready.

Callum looked at Soren and Claudia with a meaningful face.

"We're here for you," Claudia said finally. Gently. "You and Ezran."

"Claudia, I ran away. Remember? Why would I go back?" He demanded. "Your dad wanted to kill me."

"My dad's only doing what's best for us. All of us. I'm sure we can convince him that you and Ezran are okay. He's just... confused. It's a misunderstanding."

Callum held Rayla tighter. She said what he wanted to. "He killed Callum's stepdad. How is that a misunderstanding?"

"That's not true," Claudia retorted, glaring. "He would never do that. Callum, we need to talk about this."

Andromeda said to Runaan, "We should kill them. Silence them. If they leave, they run back to the human kingdoms with our whereabouts. No doubt there's a force waiting to ambush us."

Skor agreed. Callum immediately shook his head. "No, no! Wait, listen-- Everyone, this is crazy. You guys can't just kill each other at the drop of a hat. Claudia, Soren, you attacked Rayla without even seeing if I wanted to go. You knew I'd gone on my own and still did it, anyway." He looked to Runaan. "That doesn't mean I want them to get hurt. Runaan, please, give me a chance to sort this out and figure out what's going on."

Runaan bristled. "You expect me to trust them?"

"No, I'm asking you to trust me on this. You don't have to trust them... you don't really have a reason to, but please."

Runaan paused, blue eyes piercing the three of them. He glanced at Rayla.

Rayla sighed. "Runaan... they're his friends. We should..." She hated to say it. "We should honor it."

His face did that thing. The slightest twitch which meant he would relent. "Very well. But they will be watched. If they act on their ill intentions or I think they have become a danger to us all, they will be killed. I will not hesitate. None of us will hesitate. Is that clear?"

Callum nodded. "Thank you."

He glared at Soren and Claudia. After a moment, Soren sheathed his sword. Smart.

Claudia picked up her ruined bag as Callum let Rayla go.

Rayla looked at Callum. He put his hands up. "Sorry, I didn't mean to--"

"Don't worry about it," she smiled at him.

He smiled back, albeit apologetically. He went to walk with Claudia and Soren as the elves escorted them away.

To Claudia, Rayla said. "Don't do anything stupid."

Claudia's glare was frigid. The feeling was mutual.

Rayla only regretted the worry in Callum's eyes when he glanced at them.

-:-:-:-

The next morning, Callum brought Claudia and Soren breakfast to their room. Runnan kept them under lock and key until he decided when they could walk the grounds. Callum needed to talk with him about it, but otherwise things were fine...

He guessed.

As Callum looked in the mirror and rubbed his face he sighed. No, things were not fine on that front.

Claudia and Soren had sided with their father, who killed his father-- he would not back down from the fact -- and were now trying to convince him to take Ezran home. To the same father who wanted to kill them.

Whether or not Claudia and Soren could convince their father to let them live wasn't a risk Callum wanted to take. Not with his life. Not with Ezran's life.

Frankly, he was safer here.

That didn't mean he didn't want to hear them out. It didn't mean he didn't miss them and some semblance of his old life.

"Listen." Rayla shut the door behind her. "We can't trust them."

Callum was already tired. He nodded. "Right..."

"Why are they here? They want to rescue you? They knew you left with us. That doesn't sound right."

"Rayla, I get it. I agree, but I also can't just ignore what they have to say. What if they really are here to help?"

Rayla blinked at him. "Callum, they told you what they wanted: to bring you home. Do you really think they just came here, on their own, defying their father's wishes to bring you home so they can help you? And their father didn’t send them to capture you? You don't believe that, do you?"

Callum turned away.He rubbed his eyes and went back to the mirror. Worry lined his face.

"I don't trust anybody right now." He didn't look at Rayla through the mirror. "Trust isn't the easiest thing for me right now, okay?"

When he finally looked at Rayla’s reflection, her face told him enough about how his words made her feel.

Her ears drooped and she opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately closed it. When she turned to leave, he wanted to turn around and stop her. He didn't.

Callum plopped back on the bed. Why was his life getting so complicated?

-:-:-:-

"I don't understand," Claudia was biting her thumb and pacing. She'd had her hot brown morning potion and was ready to work. But hanging out with all these elves made her nervous. What's more, they were assassins. "Callum and Ezran would never act like this."

"I mean, we don't need to worry about Ezran. We're talking about Callum here," Soren said. "If Callum comes, Ezran will follow."

"But it’s Ezran too... he's so attached to that other elf. What if he's just as comfortable? What are we supposed to do?"

"Clauds, you're thinking way too hard about this."

Claudia stopped pacing and crossed her arms. "And how do you figure that? We have a tall order to convince Callum we're the ones actually on his side. He's been... brainwashed by these elves. He's spent time with them. You noticed how he was with that one elf from last night."

"We really ought to learn their names," Soren mused. "This is getting confusing."

"Soren, focus!"

"I am focusing. Look, Clauds." He stood up and put his hands on Claudia's shoulders. "We've known the Step-Prince and the Crown Runt--"

"Soren."

"-- for years. I'm sure we can figure something out. Normally, I'd say let's just pick them up and carry them home, but even I might have a hard time beating off a team of Moonshadow elf assassins. Though I'm good. Pretty good."

Claudia snapped her fingers and walked away from Soren. Sometimes... sometimes, Soren was brilliant.

"Clauds? Yoo-hoo, I'm over here. Mind telling me what's going on in Claudialand?"

"You are absolutely right."

"I am?" He blinked, then straightened up. "I mean, of course I am."

The'd been friends their whole lives. And Callum had, well, a special connection with her. Surely, that hadn't just evaporated, had it? Elf or no elf.

"Listen, let's just talk to Callum. No crazy stunts. No tricks. Like you said, he knows us way better than them, right?"

"Okay, I said that, but... you also made a good point. What about her?"

Right. Her.

What was her name again?

What did Callum call her when he brought them their breakfast?

Rayla.

Rayla was her name. "We talk to Callum without Rayla. You see the way she is with him."

"The way he is with her, you mean."

"The point is that we need him to remember we're his friends. Not them."

They could manage that. She was sure of it.

-:-:-:-

When Runaan gave the leave, Callum was admittedly relieved to be able to spend time with Soren and Claudia. Even if they did misunderstand the situation he and Ezran were in. Still, talking to them was nice. Surely, they'd come around and understand. Wouldn't they?

Nobody escorted them. Considering there were six assassins plus Lujanne around to monitor them, Callum was marginally able to convince Runaan to let them be.

Rayla hadn't bothered objecting. She hadn't even looked at him.

He squirmed when she didn't.

"... and this is the temple of the Moon Nexus. I've only been in here once, but it's pretty nice, huh?"

"It's amazing, Callum."

Claudia marveled at the inscriptions on the temple walls and what they might mean. Callum let her explore. He had forgotten so much about what home was like. Or around something that felt like home. Watching Claudia in all her beauty and curiosity… he missed this.

"It's alright."

He even missed Soren's interjections, maybe.

Part of him wished Ezran came along with them, but Ezran was more comfortable with Andromeda and Ram right now, looking after the egg. Lujanne was still trying to save the egg after all.

Watching Claudia, his face fell slightly.

He wondered when they might ask about the egg.

They hadn't thus far.

Since when was he so distrusting? Perhaps Rayla called it cautious. He never questioned Soren or Claudia once upon a time. Today, he did. The one blow that always came to mind was their refusal to listen to him about how Lord Viren had killed his father.

He'd seen the killing blow.

Nobody would tell him otherwise.

Whatever his face did, Claudia frowned at it.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said. "I'm alright."

"... how have you been, lately?"

Callum wasn't even sure how to answer that. He sighed and looked at the ceiling for a second before turning back to Claudia, his lips tight. "Okay? Not okay? Not as okay as I could be? I'm not sure if I'm happy. Some things make me happy--"

He thought of Rayla.

"--some things... make me sick. And angry. A lot's going on right now."

"I'm sorry... about everything. You... I understand you don't trust us because of what happened with your dad, but don't you think it's at least a little possible that the elves might have tricked you?”

"No."

There was that feeling again. Tight and miserable.

He knew what turned his and Ezran’s life upside down.

"Callum--"

"You weren't there. Neither of you were." Callum turned away from Claudia. His eyes stung. "I- I saw the flash of light. It was purple like all of your spells, and I saw King Harrow -- my stepdad -- fall. I heard it."

The twin sickening thud of Lady Eveline’s body echoed in his mind.

His stepdad's dying collapse also came back, fresh and ready to haunt him for a time, too.

"... can we talk about it?"

Callum clenched his fists. "What's there to talk about? You don't believe me."

A hand laid on one of his fists and he blinked his tears away. Claudia said, "No... I do."

Even Soren seemed... sorry. Apologetic, even. "I do, too. Callum, we're sorry."

"We're sorry about what happened. And... we're sorry about what our dad did. This... this doesn't make it right.But maybe there was a reason. They had a long friendship. Why would they just... why would our dad just do that to yours without a reason? I'm not saying you ever have to forgive him, but you can imagine, can't you?"

Claudia squeezed his hand.

Callum wasn't sure if he should be angry or sad. Relenting or resisting.

"I don't really have to imagine."

"What if he was sorry? What if it was an accident?"

Callum froze.

He'd never considered the idea that any of it had been an accident. From what Claudia had told him, dark magic went wrong sometimes. Still, he swore they were shouting. He swore they'd been arguing about the egg. His stepdad blamed Lord Viren.

"I don't know."

"Callum, you don't have to forgive my dad. And we can even deal with that later, but it's not safe for you here. What will happen when you get to Xadia? They’ll fix everything? You're still safer with us. Humans. Humans who care about you. Even if they lock my dad away forever for what he did to yours--"

Callum looked at her sharply.

"-- you still have Opeli. And all the other counselors. You have your Aunt Amaya."

If she forgave him, anyway. He ventured that she would want an explanation about what happened at the Banther Lodge. But Aunt Amaya was always reasonable.

Moreover... Claudia had a point.

"You'll have us, too," she added.

Callum squeezed Claudia's hand. He appreciated her.

That didn't completely set aside the unease in his belly.

"I missed you guys," he admitted. "But I... I can't just go back now. Things aren't that simple. So much has happened since then. They've protected me."

Claudia's face was crestfallen, maybe even a bit upset when he kept walking.

"Even if they're assassins?"

Claudia and Callum twisted to look at Soren. He said little during their walk, but he'd been listening.

"Yes, even if they're assassins."

Soren frowned. "Callum... we heard about Meraxia."

Callum froze. He must have been like an animal on the road.

The sick thud played in his head again and again and again--

"We were on the road when we found out," Soren said. "But what... What happened with you? How did you even get mixed up in that?"

How did he even answer?

With the truth, he supposed.

What else was there but the truth?

So, he told them. He told them everything and explained what happened, leaving out little detail. For the first time, he had someone to tell. Rayla had lived it with him. And nobody would ever sit above her in that regard.

But to finally have it off his chest with someone who wasn't there.

It gave him some relief. Some.

Even if Soren looked uncomfortable and Claudia a little horrified. It was their turn to be speechless and their turn to feel a bit of what he felt on a daily basis.

When Soren gathered himself, he said, "None of that needed to happen."

"It was my idea--"

"But you wouldn't have been in that situation if it weren't for them. They're assassins, Callum. All of them."

Callum sighed. "Yes. I've already had to deal with that."

"... she's an assassin, Callum."

Callum paused. A common fact, at this point. He wanted to tell Soren as much. Make him back off.

There was also a part of him who wanted someone to listen to what it was like adapting to a bunch of assassins and, well, caring about them. Not that Callum didn't care about a lot of people, but this situation was different.

On top of it all, it wasn't like he was entirely past the thing about Rayla and the guard from Meraxia.

"I know, okay," Callum said. "It hasn't been easy."

This time, Claudia put her hand on his shoulder. "You can tell us what happened."

Callum pursed his lips.

He told them.

He told them all about his fight with Rayla, how she killed the guard and why she did it. It was like he kept trying to convince himself or debate with himself about how he was coping with that bit of knowledge. There was a part of him still horrified by what she did. There was another part of him that remembered what Lujanne said and why Rayla had done it in the first place.

All of it made him hear Lady Eveline's death again.

Was that going to haunt him for the rest of his life?

He reckoned so.

"Callum... that's horrible."

"You see, it sounds horrible, and then I remember, hey, she did it to protect us--"

Soren shook his head. "That's not really an excuse."

"Yeah, but--"

"But nothing. You keep making excuses for her, but she murdered him. In cold blood. She's a murderer, Callum. That's her job."

Claudia stood with Soren on this one. "That's... all she'll ever be, Callum. Do you really want to be around people like that? Just like-- like everybody has always said. Listen, we're only trying to protect you, okay?"

Callum stopped walking. "Wait a minute, she's not a murderer. And it's not like that. Not even close. You weren't there. We were being hunted. We're still being hunted. Rayla did what she felt like she had to do to keep us safe. I don't like it, but I won’t judge her like that. You shouldn't either."

"Why are you protecting her?" Soren demanded. "You said it yourself. She killed a guard, then lied to you about it. Sounds like murder to me."

"Because it isn't like that. She had a good reason. I mean, she shouldn't have lied about it, but..."

"But what? Why are you defending them so much? Why are you defendingher so much?" Soren crossed his arms. "They're Moonshadow elves. She's a Moonshadow elf."

"Callum, I know everything seems confusing, but I promise if you just come home with us then everything will work itself out. It's like Soren said, she's a Moonshadow elf." Claudia said. "She's not worth your time."

"What? No, Rayla means the world to me." Callum shook his head. "I won't leave her."

Claudia and Soren looked at him, then they looked at each other.

He didn't know what they were thinking and, frankly, he didn't want to know.

-:-:-:-

When Callum found her, Rayla was sharpening her knives. Naturally, she was somewhere doing something sword related.

She was in her room and she didn't say anything when he came in. Okay, maybe he deserved that. He was supposed to be getting better at dealing with this thing that was still between them. Despite her lack of acknowledgement, he sat next to her and sidled up as far as he dared.

"Hey."

"... Hey."

Rayla kept sharpening her blades very pointedly, but he continued. "I'm sorry about what I said earlier."

She hunched her shoulders. "It's fine."

He reached out to her, then stopped. Maybe not while she was handling those things. "It's not. I didn't mean to make it sound like I didn't trust you. I'm still not... okay with everything. But what I said wasn't meant to be toward you. Never toward you."

She paused and looked at him out of the corner of her eyes. Pouted slightly.

But she let her shoulders down and grumbled at him. "You're so... ridiculous."

He grinned. "You're right, but at least I'm ridiculous with you, right?"

Rayla smiled, she looked down at her swords, then back at him. "I suppose. So, how did it go?"

That immediately made Callum tired. "Okay, I guess. Claudia's always easier than Soren. But I also have a better connection with her. Magic and all. Speaking of which--"

Knock, knock

They looked up. Claudia stood at the doorway, smiling, her knuckles raised to rap at the door. "Hey, want to go for another walk? I could use another tour of the place," she said. Her voice was a bit easier this time. "Just the two of us?"

This was the Claudia he knew and could be around. Callum nudged Rayla, who was already frowning. "I'll be back, okay?"

Rayla grumbled, but otherwise nudged him back. "I'll be around."

For you .

She didn't need to say it.

One day, he'd tell her he appreciated her waiting for him.

-:-:-:-

"I'm sorry about earlier, Callum. Can we put it behind us?"

Callum couldn't be more tired of fighting with the people around him. "Yeah... I guess. Of course. I... I kind of want to give it a rest, too."

Maybe, things were okay.

Maybe, it wasn't all bad.

Claudia smiled. That bright, beautiful smile that made his stomach lurch and his heart leap. His face was warmer, too.

"So... the Moon Nexus temple was beautiful, but you never took us to the Nexus itself."

Callum stammered. "O-oh, yeah. Guess I got a little sidetracked about it, honestly. You seemed to love the ruins though."

"They were beautiful. So magical and full of history. I'd love to go there again, sometime."

Callum swallowed hard. Maybe...

Maybe this was his chance. Maybe things were kind of back to normal.

Back in Katolis, he never mustered up the courage to ask Claudia out on a real date. It was always a coincidence of Soren being around or just finding her when she was out. But asking her out on a date. An actual, hopefully romantic date.

He could do this.

Callum rubbed the back of his neck.

He could do this.

"How... how about tonight? I can take you there. And the Moon Nexus. Only if you want to, of course. If not, I totally understand and I can show you sometime in the day when it's not just the two of us. You know, I understand how that might--"

"Callum."

"--not be entirely comfortable and I totally respect that and--"

"Callum."

Callum froze. He dared to look at her directly.

"I'd love to go on a date with you. Let's say, tonight? Moonrise?"

He blinked. "U-uh, yes! That'd be great. If it's great--good, sounds good-- with you?"

Nervous should just be his middle name right about now.

Claudia laughed. He could have melted right there. "Of course it's good with me. Besides, I'd like to make it up to you. Everything, I mean. I just want to have a good time with you again."

Callum cracked a smile. "I'd really like that, too, Claudia."

She began to walk away, but not before brushing her hair behind her ear and smiling back at him. "It's a date then."

He was practically breathless. "A-a date."

When she was out of view, he almost collapsed right there.

A date. With Claudia.

He had to talk to somebody. Had to tell somebody. If Ezran was here, he'd tell him, but he was probably busy.

Callum was going to burst. With nerves or joy, he wasn't entirely certain.

-:-:-:-

When he came back to see Rayla, she had migrated to the tree outside and was just about done with her swords, putting them away as he approached her. Her face was already in question when he strolled toward her, his heart and face on fire.

He took Rayla by the elbows and sat her down again.

"What's the matter with you?" she asked.

"Date."

"... what?"

"Date. With Claudia."

Rayla froze. "With Claudia."

"I have a date with Claudia," he grinned. Her reaction was the exact opposite of his. He could do anything. Wanted to do everything right now. Rayla sat next to him, eyes wide and her mouth frozen.

"T-that's... yeah."

"We talked about things and, you know, we've been friends for so long. I guess good things can happen in crazy times, right?"

"... right. I'm, uh... good for you. "

Her face was still unreadable. He held her arms when they stood back up, but Callum was grinning from ear to ear. "Thanks for being so easy about this. I know you don't trust them, but everything will be fine. You trust me, right?"

Out of instinct, he held her hand to his chest.

Her expression was still weird, but he couldn't read it with so many things going on in his head.

"...of course, I trust you," she said finally. Her smile was small.

"Okay, I still have to tell you something, but I have to get ready first. We’ll talk tonight? When I get back?"

She only nodded.

Callum squeezed her hand as he let her go. Then, he left.

-:-:-:-

Skor watched from his place, a safe distance away. He saw Rayla.

Beside him, Ram did, too.

"You see that?" Skor asked.

"I tried not to, but yes."

"You realize that'll be a problem, right?"

"Yes, I do," Ram sounded tired.

Skor grumbled. Damned teenagers.

We're back! After a couple months, I know it was a while, but I did win Nanowrimo with 50k words of TDP fic. About 25k for both Sides of the Moon and Gales of Yesterday. I really appreciate the wait you guys and things are going to start picking up in terms of the thick of the plot for the first part of Sides of the Moon.

Other than that, I think I'll let you guys sit on what that means for future chapters (the next 4 will be coming on regular intervals).

I also just want to give a heads up that I am planning an original novel right now (in earnest) and would love your support on that. Follow me on twitter for any future updates! I'm kuno_12 on Twitter.

As always, I love it when you guys leave those reviews. They keep me motivated and keep me writing. Thank you for reading! Tune in for next chapter!

Please consider reviewing on AO3

#the dragon prince #rayllum #tdp #rayla #callum #my fics

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buszbam · 5 years ago

Text

Games of Associates

Gyere és játsz velünk! Hány számot, dallamot, grúvot, bármi ilyesmit ismersz fel az elkövetkezendő egy órában? Kösd fel a füled, hiszen majdnem száz szám hangzik el, kevesebb mint egy óra alatt!

Spoilerek és számcímek következnek:

0:00 Scorpions - Wind Of Change 0:28 Nino Rota - The Godfather Theme 0:33 Tomayasu Hotei - Battle Without Honor Or Humanity 0:58 Abba - Dancing Queen (Dj Deckstream Version) 1:39 Bobby Hebb - Sunny 2:51 ATB - 9 Pm (Till I Come) 3:24 Kenny Dope Pres. The Mad Racket - Supa (Deep In Brooklyn Mix) 3:41 Kaláka - Magyar Népmesék 4:04 Lou Reed - Walk In the Wilde Side 4:18 Paul Mc Douglas - Theme From Dallas 4:43 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Danni California 4:51 Suzane Vega - Tom's Dinner 5:10 Joan Osborne - One Of Us 5:28 The Bangles - Manic Monday 5:37 Elton John - Imagine 6:10 Hot Chocolate - You Sexy Thing 6:54 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can’t Stop 7:17 Wax Tailor - Positively Inclined 7:52 Hans Hammerschmid - Die Schwarzwaldklinik 8:15 Rolling Stones - You Can't Always Get What You Want 9:02 Run D.M.C. - Sucker MC’s 9:20 Elton John - Sacrifice 9:23 G.L.O.B.E. & Whiz Kid - Play that Beat Mr. D.J 9:59 Janet Jackson - Nasty 10:58 A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It? 11:25 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication 11:37 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Scar Tissue 12:21 George Benson - Breezin’ 13:07 Blackstreet - No Diggity (Smov & Dedy Dread’s No Diggin’) 13:35 John Barry - James Bond Theme 14:16 Henry Manchini - Peter Gunn Theme 15:35 Genesis - I Can’t Dance 15:39 Daft Punk - Lose Yourself To Dance 18:00 Rigo Tovar - Mi Testemanto 19:01 Daft Punk - Da Funk 19:10 Deep Purple - Smoke On The Water 19:27 Usher - Yeah! 20:24 Nirvana - Smeels Like Teen Spirit 20:46 Jackson 5 - I Want You Back 21:21 Beastie Boys - Hey Ladies 21:56 Skrillex - Bangarang 22:10 Deep Purple - Burn 22:45 Gorillaz - 19-2000 24:00 The Champs - Tequila 24:23 Queen - Another Bites Of Dust 24:36 Queen - We Will Rock You 25:13 INXS - Need You Tonight 25:38 The Braids - Bohemian Rhapsody 26:03 Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody 29:11 Queen - I Want To Break Free 29:45 Kool & The Gang - Hollywood Swinging 29:54 The Queen Kings - Another Bites Of Dust 30:20 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Snow (Hey Oh) 30:36 Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight 31:03 Chemical Brothers - Galvanize 31:12 Blue Boy - Remember Me 32:00 John Williams - Imperial March Theme 32:27 Pink Floyd - Another Brick On The Wall 32:31 Bee Gees - Stayin Alive 33:33 Röyksopp - Eple 34:10 Eric B & Rakim - Don’t Sweat The Technique 35:14 Röyksopp - Eple (Fat Boy Slim Remix) 35:29 Ten Yeas After - Love Like A Man 36:02 Aretha Franklin - Rock Steady (Fdel’s Rocksteady) 37:08 Stevie Wonder - Superstition 37:33 Stu Phillips - Knight Rider Theme (Dave Allison Edit) 38:25 Vaya Con Dios - Nah Neh Nah 39:18 Tom Dissevelt & Kid Baltan - Song Of The Second Moon 39:46 Mark Snow - The X Files Theme 40:17 Paul McDoughas - Theme From Dallas (Disco Version) 40:58 Lips Inc - Funkytown 41:16 Tom Jones - Kiss 42:06 AC/DC - Thunderstuck 43:09 Black Machine - How Gee 44:36 Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar 45:03 Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters 46:14 Mike Post & Pete Carpenter - Theme From Magnum P.I 46:20 Run Dmc Vs Jason Nevins - It’s Like That 46:21 Tag Team - Whoomp, There It Is 46:27 Kraftwerk - The Robots 46:54 Elvis - Little Less Conservation 47:31 Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love 48:04 Lilly Wood & The Prick - Prayer in C (Robin Schulz Remix) 48:26 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside 48:55 Guns ’n’ Roses - Sweet Child Of Mine 50:07 David Stewart & Candy Dulfer - Lily Was Here 51:16 Ennio Morricone - La Resa Dei Conti 51:39 Eagles - One Of These Nights 54:04 Madonna - Like A Prayer 54:24 Beethowen - Moonlight Sonata (Ringmad125’s Remix) 54:50 Eagles - Hotel California 56:08 Maria Callas - L'altra Notte In Fondo Al Mare 56:35 The Piano Guys - Moonlight 58:32 Francis Lai - Theme From Love Story 59:01 Pécsi József - Dörmögő Dömötör, Istók Gazda Udvarán

A felvétel a jeles Babka Budapest felső szintjén készült, valamikor idén februárban, Tarr Dávid gitáros kellemes társaságában. A felvételről azt kell tudni hogy élő, és ami él, az a maga módján mindig tökéletes, de főleg a hibáival együtt. A dj béna, a gitár hangolódik, a zenész fárad, az este telik. Teljesen véletlenül ezt az estét sikerült viszonylag elfogadható minőségben felvenni, és ebben az órában még technikai problémák se voltak; ó a technika is él, pláne ha élők nyomkodják; ebbe más is belehalt már. Dávidról pedig azt kell tudni, hogy amikor egy francia túrista részegen elkezdi ordibálni hogy BABÚÚÚÚÚÚZÉÉ ÓÓ, akkor ő egyből bólint, hogy oké, Gipsy King, és már játsza is a Bambó Leót. Bármilyen hangnemben, bármilyen tempóban, bármire. Ja és gitározott a Boney-M-be, igen, abba a Boney-M-be, Daddy Cool, meg minden; ezt még mindig nem akarom elhinni neki, pedig a telefonjában is benne van, azt meg lehet tudni, hogy az ember telefonja sose hazudik. Imádok vele játszani, pedig valójában iszonyú fárasztó; annyi ötlete van, hogy néha már azt érzem, nem is neki támadnak ötletei, hanem az ötetletek támadnak neki, ő meg hagyja magát. Nem áltatom magam azzal, hogy akár a töredékét is felfognám annak az elképesztő zenei tudásnak, amit vigyorogva belenyom a gitárjába; a legjobb esetben is csak minden ötödik grúvot ismerem meg, de már arról is annyi minden eszembe jut, és azok általában annyira vad ötletek, hogy muszáj kipróbálni. Az ötlet nem más, mint farkaséhség. Elfojtott vágy. Az ötletes embernél nincs veszélyesebb a világon, mert hajlandó kockáztatni. Járt utat az ötleteidért fiam, el ne hagyd! Az az ötletem támadt, hogy játszunk kellemes jazzes hiphopot, és kevesebb mint egy óra után azon kapom magam, hogy Beethovent játszok dubsteppel.

A borító egy művészetpedagógiai foglalkozáson készült, de művészet és pedagógia nélkül is mindig jó móka szavak nélkül beszélgetni. Mint a legtöbb asszociációs játék, ehhez is legalább ketten jó ha vagytok; egyikőtök elkezd rajzolni valamit, ami eszébe jut, törekedve arra, hogy ne emelje fel a kezét, és az ő vonalát folytatja a másik, ugyanígy. És olyan nincs hogy nem tudsz rajzolni; én például tényleg nem tudok. De a rajz is a meditáció egy formája, vagy szelep a meg nem született gondolatok számára, ezeket a szelepeket meg jó ha nyitogatod, legalább szellőzik ami odabent marad.

Egyszer, réges régen, amikor még a kétfarkú is a Kertembe járt, nem hogy a Panda, meg amikor még volt egyáltalán Kertem, szóval nem mostanában, odajött hozzám egy szép leány. Pont Emmanuel Top török bazárját kevertem Z’zi Labor és a Veresegyházi Asszonykórus válallhatatlan Rolling Stones feldolgozásával, és a Prodigy pofozkodásával, amire ráhúztam a kacsamesék zseniális basszusfunkját. Még szerencse hogy csak négy deck van, ugye. Csillogtak a fények, koccantak a sörök, szép este volt, úgy éreztem elememben vagyok. Gyere csak, te szép leány, megmutatom a felhőimet, számot is kérhetsz ha elkérhetem a számod, és hasonló huncutságok. Minden dj ugyanolyan, fekete-fehér, ezt jobb ha tőlem tudjátok. Pedig elhinni, hogy egy szórakozóhelyen rátalálhatsz az igazira, az kábé olyan, mintha Tényleg te vagy a Dj Panda? Aha, ragyotam boldogan. ‘Ó pedig reménykedtem hogy csak valami félreértés lesz, azért akartam ellenőrizni. Tudod egy időben sokat hallgattam az egyik mixedet, és nem akartam elhinni hogy ez a kommersz szar is te vagy.’ Pedig szép szája volt, erre határozottan emlékszem. ‘Hát, na mindegy, én biztosan bánnám a helyedben hogy ide jutottam’, mondta az a bizonyos szép száj, és elment a tulajdonsával együtt. Mindig is jó kapcsolatot ápoltam a rajongóimmal. Már vége lett a Smack My Bitch Upnak, és lett némi csönd, mire megtaláltam a bosszúmat; gyere Edit, Piaf! Olyan bús zavart voltam, hogy nem kevertem semmivel, magában ment le, csak úgy egyszerűen, semmi gombnyomogatás. Közhely, közhely, röhej. Ma már egyébként hiphop boyzt játszanék egy ilyen helyzetben, de ma már nincsenek ilyen helyzetek, ma már csak a kommersz szar van, a művészet kilovagolt Budapestről, mögötte vágtattak lobogó hajjal a szép leányok. Most például már az első szám Abba! Ó bárcsak előbb hagytam volna abba, nem jutottam volna el eddig a rémes rímek és a kínos slágerekig. Ushert játszok basszus! És még Beatles sincs, hogy mentse a menthetőt. Szerencse, hogy a telefonomon rajta van már a MEGBÁNÁS alkalmazás. Megkérdezhetem tőle, hogy megbánjam-e, hogy ide jutottam. HOVA, kérdezi az app. Oda, hogy egy tök hangulatos vendéglátói intézményben egy zseniálisan perverz gitárossal azon röhögünk, hogy a Magyar Népmeséknek ugyanaz a köre mint a Dallasnak, és emiatt elfelejtek Beatlest játszani. NE AGGÓDJ, HELYESEN DÖNTÖTTÉL, így az app. Egyébként mindig ezt mondja. A MEGBÁNÁSnak az a célja, hogy boldogabbá tegye a világot. A boldogtalanságot egyfelől a megbánás, másfelől a jövőtől való rettegés táplálja. Ahogy szaporodnak a lehetőségek, annál bonyolutabbá vált az élet. Az emberek az egyik világban élnek, de mellette létezik egymillió másik világ, amelyben élhetnének. Az emberek számtalan kihagyott életút miatt érezhetnek megbánást. Minden egyes kihagyott lehetőség a jelent terheli. És itt még nincs vége. A jövőben új választások milliói adódnak majd, és minden millióból újabb millió következik. Amikor végül megszületik egy döntés, valami rendkívüli dolog történik. Minden nem választott opció megbánássá alakul. Következésképpen az emberek folyamatosan a jövő súlya és a múlt nyomása közé szorulva sínylődnek, és ez soha nem fordul jobbra. A választások sokasodnak, a megbánás ezzel egyenes arányban növekedik, míg végül az emberek mozdulni sem tudnak, annyira belegabalyodnak a láthatatlan hálóba. Ekkor jön a felmentő MEGBÁNÁS, (már elérhető minden rendszeren, keresd az online áruházakban!) és rendbe rakja a múltat. A MEGBÁNÁS szerint az ember minden egyes döntése az egyetlen helyes döntés. Minden egyes ember élete veszélyben forog, és épphogy megmenekült az EGYETLEN HELYES döntést meghozva. Így kötelességünk örülni. Hiszen mindennek dacára, még mindig életben vagyunk.

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dndeviants · 6 years ago

Text

Van Richten’s tower

Strahd looked to the Vistani woman. The outcast... It was odd for him, not many of her people, not even the outcasts would threaten him so brazenly. He turned to her, keeping his calm, despite her threat and despite her accusation.

She had seen combat. Her leg prosthesis was designed so that she could keep seeing combat... Interesting.

He held his hand on his sword but didn’t unsheathe it. The accusation of taking someone hostage was ironic to him- because he himself felt prisoner in this tower that drained his magic.

He asked truthfully, "Who the hell is Richard?"

At this point, Rictavio stepped forth, "Hey, Ez! Long time, no see! It's alright. We are traveling together. I'm not anyone's hostage."

So... Richard was the doppelganger’s actual name. The Vistana, Ezmerelda seemed a bit more calm. But her unsheathed rapier was indicative of her distrust.

Ruki stepped forth, speaking to her fellow Vistana in Patterna, “You are with this monster?” She indicated Richard.

Ezmerelda looked to Ruki and blinked at her. She glanced to Strahd and back to her, her eyes narrowing, as she returned her Patterna, "I could ask the same of you, cousin."

Ruki glared at the outcast.

Ezmerelda turned to everyone else in confusion, "Traveling? Why? And why with... him?” She gestured to Strahd with her rapier, “Richard... have you hit your head?"

Rictavio- or rather, Richard- waved her off, shifting from the form of a half-elf to that of a human male, with brown hair, brown eyes... very young and very plain. "Long story, Ez,” his voice shifted to a light tenor, “I need to find Uncle. Have any idea where he is?"

Ezmerelda blinked and looked at Richard disbelievingly.

A voice called down from above... It was that of an older gentleman, but his accent differed from both the Vistani and the Barovians. “Ezme?” The voice echoed, “Do I need to come down there? What was that thunder all about?”

Both Strahd and Richard blinked in recognition of the voice. As Strahd’s face betrayed dread and anger... Richard practically vibrated with excitement.

Strahd forced himself to calm, but his hand gripped the pommel of his sword. He forced a thin smile on his face, "Well, I am sorry for the intrusion. But I will have to excuse myself..."

Strahd turned and slowly walked to the door-

Richard cupped his hands around his mouth, calling out, "UNCLE RICHTEN! I FOUND YOU!"

Linda connected the dots, turning to Richard, “Wait... Is your Uncle... The Van Richten?”

Ezme rolled her eyes at Linda.

Ruki's eyes widened as she realized the gravity of the situation.

Van Richten’s voice rang out, "RICHARD?! Richard my boy! We have much to discuss! Let me come down at once!"

Strahd took one step back, calculating frantically. He needed an escape. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have reacted in this way, but the door had a magical trigger that he had long forgotten, and an antimagic field was draining his magic- removing one tool from his arsenal. And Richten was old in a profession where men die young. A force to be reckoned with.

When did Khazan put a spell drain...? He muttered and swore under his breath, trying desperately to cast a spell... and failing. "Damn that Khazan!” He fumed, “Putting a spell drain in his damn tower..."

Ezmerelda glared at Strahd, "What do you think you are doing?"

Strahd kept up his forced smile, baring his fangs, "Trying to not interrupt this...” he almost snarled, “beautiful... touching family reunion.” He glared at the Vistana, “Let me leave, at once."

The golems in the center of the room began to move, rattling chains, and lowering a platform from above. Ruki moved closer to Strahd, looking up to the platform as it descended.

Ruki felt a burning in her heart as she looked at the old man... Her tribe was slaughtered because of Richten’s actions... Breaking a protection circle, allowing ghouls to slaughter the men, women, and children...

Linda saw the old man. Unassuming, balding... but he had compiled the most useful psychological information on monsters, physiological traits... behaviors... everything that could help keep a hunter alive in the field.

Aric looked up to the frumpy old man... He didn’t understand why everyone was on edge. The man didn’t even look like he knew what a hair brush was...

Before Van Richten could lay eyes on him, Strahd backed fully into the shadows, transforming into a tiny bat, and fluttering into the corner, looking for a crevice to crawl into and escape. He may not have had access to his spells here, but his shapeshifting into animals was an innate ability... He didn’t want to risk misting...

Linda looked to Richard, "Rictavio... you didn't tell me your uncle was the Doctor Rudolph van Richten."

Richard looked to Linda, confused, "And how many Richtens do you know, Linda?"

Linda blinked and folded her arms, “Point taken.”

It’s no use... Strahd could not find any crevices to squeeze through, so he landed on Ruki’s shoulder, waiting for the inevitable, but trying not to start trouble when he had a severe disadvantage.

Ruki felt Strahd land on her shoulder, and turned to face him away from their mutual enemy. Ruki had noticed that Strahd had no access to magic here. That wouldn’t effect her. It was a magic drain, not a psionic drain...

The ragged old man arrived on their level, looking as if he had not slept for some time. Very much the eccentric scholar. He grinned at Richard as he adjusted his spectacles, "Richard! How are you? I thought you were still in Mordent! Your mother and aunt must be worried sick. And who are these people? I am sorry if you had trouble with the door. It is tricky the first time, but I hope that it wasn't too shocking an experience."

Richard gestured over to Linda, “Oh, this is Linda... and Ruki... and I have no idea where Aric went, but I think he's in the room somewhere. Oh, and his friend Jeeves. And...”

Richard looked around in confusion, “Where did... you-know-who go?"

Aric sighed and stood up, " I suppose it would be rude to remain hidden."

Linda sensed the tension from Ruki and Strahd and stepped in front of them, protectively.

Van Richten made a small gesture of greeting, then looked at everyone else’s reaction. Ezmerelda whispered something to him...

He muttered something under his breath, and a small hint of golden light flickered...

Strahd’s bat ears twitched... A Spell for Detecting Evil and Good... How had Van Richten overcome the spell drain? He thought back to the rebellion, and realized, He’s had the time to figure it out... a little under a year... damn! Forget disadvantageous... if things did not go well, it could very well be lethal for him.

Van Richten tilted his head with a friendly smile, "Ah, hello. Good to meet all of you... Frau Linda, Frau Ruki, Herr Aric, Herr Jeeves...” He looked past Linda, his expression stern, “Hello, Strahd... Wherever you may be."

The doctor leaned on his cane, tapping his finger on the hilt.

Strahd fluttered off of Ruki’s shoulder, and returned to his human shape. He stood next to Ruki, and leveled his gaze with the doctor. It would do no good to hide. He steepled his fingers, and spoke in a low voice, trying not to betray his dread...

"Good afternoon, Doctor," Strahd glared at Van Richten.

"Ah, there you are...” the doctor also seemed a little tense at Strahd’s arrival, but was congenial in his speech, “Honestly I am surprised you found me. Scrying spells can't penetrate the spell drain. And it takes a while for a caster to overcome the spell drain effect that this tower has. It's been a useful hiding place...” he chuckled, “My own little Castle Ravenloft."

Linda stood protectively in front of Strahd. She thought of everything she knew about Van Richten from “Vasili...” It was clear that they had a history-

Then it clicked. Van Richten was the one who attacked Strahd and destroyed his journal...

This was bad... she was hoping to get both of their cooperation. Despite Van Richten’s candid tone, she could see that he was very much on edge, leaning in a way to guard himself and attack at any provocation...

She looked to Strahd, and saw that his claws had extended themselves...

I need to stop this now! She looked to Richard and whispered, worriedly, “What do we do? This is bad, but I made the call. Will he listen to that? Technically he made the code. Will he take my word?"

Richard stepped forth, "Ah, um... Uncle? A moment please?”

The doctor reluctantly broke his gaze from Strahd to his nephew.

Richard continued, “Linda actually has something to say, and I have news for you. So... let's be civilized? He's not gonna do anything here, as long as you don't do anything...” he explained, “I can read everyone's thoughts in here, and I can assure you no one is looking for a fight."

Richard blinked, adding, "Also, Uncle, did you wake up like...an hour ago? You may need to take a moment to freshen up or something."

Van Richten looked at Richard and eased his grip on his cane, "Alright.”

The doctor turned to the party, “Everyone, let's go upstairs. Make yourselves at home. We all have things to discuss. Let me go up first, and I will freshen up a bit. Ezmerelda dear, will you work the lift for everyone?"

Van Richten turned from the group and walked on to the platform, tapping his cane to let Ezmerelda know that he was ready. Ezmerelda spoke a command word to the golems, and they lifted the old doctor up, and out of sight.

Everyone sat in silence, waiting for the platform to come back down. Rictavio, Aric, and Jeeves were the first group to step on the platform and go up to the top, with Ruki, Linda, and Strahd lingering back to go up second. Ezmerelda waited for everyone to go to the top before riding up behind, alone.

This time, Van Richten’s clothing was more socially acceptable. He looked like a field scholar with his long leather overcoat, pack of scrolls and stationary, his balding, gray hair neatly combed back, and his face freshly shaven. He sat down at a desk, and leaned back in his chair, resting his chin on a hand.

Linda peered around the room, fascinated. The doctor had set up this tower as a place of scholarly study. Old boards were decorated with several notes and sketches linked by pins and colored thread. She walked over to them... examining anatomical sketches of werewolves- but the ones with vampire-like fangs and gnarled limbs and faces-

The ones from Daggerford... He’s been studying them too... She looked over his other notes and sketches... and saw an entire section dedicated to her vampire ally, Strahd von Zarovich.

She couldn’t help but to examine them, curious about what else set him apart from others of his kind... she looked over his various forms and saw the typical mist, bat, wolf, his human guise, his true undead form... and an extra form that reminded her of a werebat...

Interesting...

Strahd walked slowly through the room and saw what the good doctor had dedicated himself to within the last year... Bold of the man to flaunt what he knows about me... he thought, sourly.

But something about his behavior is... off, he noted. Van Richten, the humble herbalist from Mordent had been his guest too, at one point. And the man had been amiable to him- at least to his face- for a time... but of course that changed when he discovered his journals in his secret room.

They fought. Nearly killed each other. Destroyed the one thing that Strahd had that kept him sane and lucid... That kept his memory intact, and out of the tampering influence of the Mists...

And then the doctor disappeared. Left from Barovia. Madame Eva warned that he would return. And so, Strahd waited. Ten years later, he returned... and swayed a new guest of his- the mage, Mordenkainen to stir up rebellion against him...

Anger once more rose in his chest. Strahd was the Land... but somehow this... little scholar had managed to evade him once more... Van Richten aimed to kill him, so-

Why hasn’t he struck, yet? He wondered, He must know that even I cannot access my magic here, that I am trapped... Or perhaps he doesn’t... He walked over to a window on the far side of the room. Here, I cannot take any chances... the time he spends not attacking me is time I can spend figuring out Khazan’s drain. Don’t waste anymore time, Strahd. He folded his arms and concentrated, silently.

Ruki sensed her adoptive father’s frustration, and stood in front of him.

Van Richten looked at the motley assembly, "I am... surprised to see you all here. Much less in each other's company...” He made a welcoming gesture, “Let's not be so tense at the moment. We can be candid, can't we, Lord Strahd?"

Strahd nodded silently. He was still focused on figuring out the magic drain.

Ruki folded her arms, “I almost got electrocuted from your defenses.”

Van Richten nodded sympathetically, "To be fair, I did get electrocuted when trying to figure this place out, so it doesn't surprise me. This place is a little tricky to figure out. But if you have the time, you can find workarounds."

Ezmerelda sighed and tapped on her prosthesis, "I had to get a new leg because the electricity burned my wooden one clean off."

Richard seemed surprised, "Oh geez!" he paused, "I almost died from it."

Van Richten looked across the room, "Well... How did you find me? You seemed surprised."

Strahd debated dignifying the answer with�� a response. He shook his head, "Sheer... dumb... luck. And I'm leaning toward calling it bad luck."

Van Richten laughed a bit, "Good to see you are still the optimist."

Linda blinked and looked at the two men. Strahd was still on edge, and the famous hunter was too calm. She stepped forward and addressed Van Richten, "Since I'm new to this place, could I be filled in on things? Like... what is your goal here Van Richten, and who this other person is? I have met Richard, obviously and only know what he has told me."

Ricthen looked over to Ezmerelda, "Ah, you must mean my assistant, Ezmerelda D'avenir. She has been with me, helping me travel and research since she was a little girl."

Ezmerelda nodded fondly, "I had heard of Van Richten and ran away from my parents when I was very young. I felt that it was wrong for our people to serve monsters, and wanted to make a difference as only a Vistana can.”

She made a gesture of disgust, “I don't like that our people overwhelmingly support a man- a monster- who is keeping our people in servitude. I tracked him down and asked for him to teach me his ways, and have helped with hunting and research ever since."

Ruki felt something... off... What Ezmerelda said was fundamentally wrong in many ways... Vistani children, firstly, were raised more communally than solely by parents... And the Vistani did not “serve” Strahd in the way Ezmerelda said. The Vistani have been, and always will be, a free people...

Strahd was seen more as a doting patron, business partner, and protector, rather than a master. Ruki herself may have referred to him as her lord, and thought of him as her father, but it was out of respect for him that she did so... and the fact that Barovians expected that kind of behavior around a lord. But she wanted to help him, truly.

Another thing that caught her attention was that after what Van Richten allowed to happen to the Radanovich tribe, and much of the Corvara clan, no Vistana- not even an outcast- would associate with him. Blood crimes were a taboo, and allowing the already persecuted Vistani to be slaughtered... was as bad as being a perpetrator of genocide to her.

She must have been brainwashed somehow, Ruki realized. She looked over to Ezmerelda and reached out to her:

Lord Strahd is not the one enslaving you...

Ezmerelda’s eyes flickered at the intrusion. She glanced to Ruki, speaking Patterna, "I think I would like to speak to you later, Cousin. It has been some time since my people were willing to talk to me."

Strahd was genuinely surprised at Ezme’s story. He didn’t think that the Vistani would have any such reasons against him. They- unlike him and the Barovians- were allowed to leave any time they wished. He had kept his word to Eva, and had not drank of their blood, provided them with protection from outsiders and his own people at times... and in return they brought him knowledge of the outside world, things from other realms...

Things to make this prison bearable.

He could only grunt in confusion, "Odd. I haven't heard that one before."

Ruki swore to herself, “Worry not, I will free you from him.”

Richten drew his attention back to the party, "You are foreigners, save for Strahd, and his fiendish Vistana-” he indicated the two of them, then looked back to Linda, “Obviously, you knew what he was, who he was... Why are you allying yourself with him?”

He raised his chin from his hand and tilted his head up at Linda, “You want to know my goals here? I can tell you that I seek to keep him where he belongs... Trapped here. Away from the rest of humanity and the mortal races."

So that is why he hadn’t struck at me, Strahd thought. He found himself chuckling, "It appears we have a conflict of interest. As usual."

Linda glanced over to Strahd. His mood and manner were too volatile... she had something she wanted to reveal to Van Richten, get some support on her mission here... But Strahd’s reaction could be...

Disastrous.

"Let's just say things are complicated and that I cannot talk freely at the moment. I have some things that I wanted to discuss, but...” Linda turned fully to Strahd, “I would have to ask Strahd if he would step out of the room."

Strahd narrowed his eyes at Linda. What was her game? Separating him from the rest of the group, leaving all of the hunters alone together... He wasn’t certain that Ruki would be able to handle herself alone should they turn on him. He leaned forward.

"I will leave, but not alone..." he looked over and made eye contact with everyone else, "I'm not going anywhere without some kind of insurance."

Linda sighed, looking over to the boys, "Jeeves, would you mind going with Strahd?"

Jeeves looked to Aric. Aric nodded in acknowledgement.

Jeeves bowed, "If it pleases you," he whispered to Aric in his native tongue, "If he speaks of anything, I'll fill you in."

Jeeves and Strahd walked over to the platform, clearly unhappy about the situation. Only when the platform returned empty, did Linda speak again.

"Alright. I have been keeping a huge secret and not just from Strahd," she looked to Ruki, "I don't care if you tell him, I just don't need his reaction to what I am about to say to get in the way. You will understand."

Ruki raised a brow as Linda pulled out a silver pendant of the Morninglord. It had ornate filigree around it, marking it as no ordinary holy symbol.

Linda presented it to Van Richten, "This is a pendant signifying my authority in the monster hunting world. I am the leader of the Order of the Silver Dawn."

Linda set her crossbow on the table. Her voice was hard, "This was the previous leader's weapon. He died at the hands of those creatures you have illustrations of. The not-so-normal werewolves....”

She looked to Van Richten with determination, “I came here to investigate and track them down.”

She paused, “I know that you are here to kill or imprison Strahd and... I get it,” She sighed, “He isn't a saint, but I know there is a bigger picture here.”

“Like it or not, I am going to make the call. And that is to take no action against Strahd,” She clenched her hands tight, “Right now he is helping me achieve my mission here, and I want to keep it that way.”

“Only after I figure out what is going on here with those werewolves and whatever these Dark Powers are.... I am not changing that call."

Richard and Ezme looked to Linda in shock. Van Richten looked tired and resigned. He lifted his hand to rub his temples.

Aric glanced at the hand of the man- Velsharoon’s Bindings... another of the Qysari Rings... He recalled a bit of the prophecy:

"A man of learning, a man of a haunted past... he hides in his tower, plotting, planning to use what you seek in order to gain control over the dark influences in his life... Persuade him to part with his unhealthy obsession, and the treasure will be yours."

So... keeping Strahd imprisoned is the unhealthy obsession... Aric realized. It seemed counter-intuitive. Strahd was already trapped here, and the old man honestly didn’t seem like he had that long left. Maybe ten years at the most.

He turned his thoughts to Linda’s statement, The leader of the Order of the Silver Dawn... no wonder she is so well-versed in monster lore... He was certain that he had heard of the Order, but the exact histories of it eluded him. He knew they were a society of some renown. That was about it.

Ruki blinked. She realized the gravity of Linda’s statement. The Order of the Silver Dawn was one of the most well-known orders of monster hunters in Linda’s home world. They operated mostly in secrecy, and were alleged to have archives on the art of hunting monsters well back to the first era... documentation on where and when monsters first appeared, and how to deal with them.

No wonder she had Lord Strahd leave... she held on to her staff. She doubted Strahd knew of this order in particular, but a leader of any monster hunting society he would perceive as a threat.

Linda waited in silence.

Finally Van Richten looked up to her. His expression stern and chastising, "While I respect your order and your position, I have to agree to disagree.”

He rose, “No action taken? He is going to use you to escape! And your order will have a lot more to deal with if he does.”

He shook his head, “No action should be taken to help him, if no action is going to be taken to destroy him. And while we both know he cannot be destroyed by any known means, that removes that option entirely.”

He adjusted his spectacles, “He may be your ally at this point, but you will learn the hard way, as everyone does, that he is not your friend. And any alliance he makes is temporary at best. You may follow your call, and I will follow mine."

Richard frowned, "Actually, Uncle, there is something I needed to tell you,” he waited for the old man’s attention, “You gotta get out of the Shadowfell. Everyone that can, should get out of the Shadowfell. That is why I came to get you.”

Richard folded his arms, “Members of our order found that there are... things... using the Shadowfell to get into the Prime Material. But it's also causing the Shadowfell to collapse... meaning that any living thing that is left in the Shadowfell is going to die. Or worse. And any unliving thing?”

He paused, “Probably won't survive either."

Linda’s stomach lurched, she was right about something being off. She turned to Richten, "You see my point of wanting to find out what is really going on here? Strahd is not the biggest problem."

Van Richten stood and fidgeted with his ring, "It must be the Dark Powers..."

He looked to everyone, "Perhaps there is very little we can do. The Prime Material cannot withstand another attack by the different planes...But if Strahd were to be released...”

He resumed his point, “Could you imagine what he would be capable of? This world is a prison, designed specifically for him. He won't allow anyone to escape it,” he looked to his nephew, frowning, “Richard, you may have doomed yourself in coming here."

"Have you even asked him?!” Linda fumed, “You know Strahd has no idea what is happening!”

She grabbed her crossbow off the table, “You have this convoluted idea that he is unapproachable, and some irredeemable monster that has no regard for the people he rules.”

She thought back to Mina, and Lucien’s conversation, “Do you know he rescues children and turns them over to a priest so that they aren't eventually killed by their parents’ actions? Orphans?"

Ruki nodded, and stepped forth, “Take it from someone who has been inside Lord Strahd's mind. He only desires to be freed from this prison and his curse.”

Linda found her voice raising in frustration... she didn’t even get this loud when Strahd was frustrating her.

"The man is just a man! He doesn't just go on rampages like every other vampire I have seen. He is just a terrible ruler- and as monster hunters, we have no place in killing him over that!”

She pulled out Strahd’s journal, waving it in his face, “You read the journal, but did you actually read it? Or did you read what you wanted to? You were supposed to be the researcher! Do the fucking research! "

The tension in the room was too much for Aric. He quickly muttered, "I'm going to step out and see how Jeeves is doing..." He rushed from the room and rode down the platform.

Linda slammed the journal down on the table and pointed to it, ignoring Aric’s retreat, "Is this a journal of a mad vampire? Or a man spiraling into darkness? Do you even know how he felt about doing the things he did?! NO!”

She fumed, “Because he won't tell anyone else!” She thought of Strahd’s confessions to her and Aric in the study of that manor.

“You stupid old man...” She grumbled, “You have no place in the field..." She stuffed the book away and huffed, dizzy with anger, "If you won't listen to reason, then I am not helping you. I will find my own way out of here, and conduct my own research."

Ruki walked a bit closer to Richten, satisfied and smug, “Well then, it looks like you have none of us on your side.”

Linda was focused in her anger, hardly hearing Ruki, "You have got to get a clue. You are jeopardizing my mission right now..."

"I watched John die...!” She trembled at the memory of her loved one, the former leader of the order, “I took this mission to find those werewolves and stop whatever is going on here- and if you get between me and that goal...”

She put her hands on her hips, “Well, we will have a problem. And not just between you and me, but the whole Order is counting on this mission being a success. I have been on it for eight years and I am this close!” She gestured, nearly pinching her index finger and thumb together.

She spat, “Don't take this from me."

Van Richten was stoic and calm. But sympathy peered from behind his spectacles. "I'm not going to take any action against him.” He replied, softly, “But once you realize your mistake, I will be ready."

Linda forced herself to calm down, "Don't worry,” she breathed, “As a hunter, I know I have to live with my mistakes...” She put a hand on her revolver, “...and I will be the first one to correct them."

Van Richten waved to Ezmerelda, "Give her the fragment. The more information she has, the better."

Ezmerelda opened the desk and pulled out a stack of fine parchment and writing, held together by red thread. The handwriting was telling: This was yet another part of Strahd’s journal.

Linda accepted it from Ezmerelda and walked over to a chair, sitting. She pulled out the other pieces and carefully put it in its place, “Thanks...” she nearly whispered, her voice hoarse and her head dizzy from yelling, “I will conduct more research on this later."

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

Jeeves and Strahd had been sitting on the crates on the first floor. Strahd was silently working to figure out the secret to the drain. They heard the chains rattle, and looked up to see Aric lowering himself on the platform...

And heard echoes of Linda’s yelling bounce off of the walls.

Seeing Aric alone made Strahd a little bit more relaxed, but then he curiously tilted his head up, trying to decipher what the yelling was about.

Jeeves stood, confused, “My lord?”

"Just getting a little tense in there,” Aric hopped off the platform before it fully reached the ground, “I figured I would let Linda try to reason with Van Richten.”

Aric looked to the vampire, “He doesn't seem to like you much, Strahd,” he returned his glance to Jeeves, “And to top it all off, Van Richten has a Qysari Ring."

Jeeves unfolded his arms, surprised, "He does?"Jeeves paused and thought of Van Richten’s manner, and spoke sarcastically, "Oh let me take a wild guess which one it is..."

Jeeves looked to Aric for confirmation, "Is it?"

Aric nodded, "Velsharoon's Bindings,” He nodded to Strahd for clarification, “Protection from the undead."

Strahd made a flippant motion, "Ah, I figured. Fate isn't too kind to me anyway, why should this be any different,” he paused, “You... need those rings, don't you?" A dangerous edge crept into the vampire’s voice.

Aric simply replied, "I do,” Aric explained, “A Vistani woman gave me a prophecy saying 'persuade him to part with his unhealthy obsession, and the treasure will be yours'."

"Good luck,” Strahd sarcastically replied, “I have been unable to persuade him. He holds me responsible for his son's death, and would not listen to reason.”

He held up his hands in a gesture of innocence, “I did not kill his son... the one who did... Baron Metus... was raised- no, created by my hand... on accident.”

Strahd shook his head in frustration, “The Baron...Criminal filth...He escaped from me, and raised Richten's son as a spawn of his own. Richten led an army of my archenemy's ghouls to the Radanavich tribe of Vistani, who had taken his son as their own, for Richten's failure to save the son of their raunie... and broke their protection circle. Ruki...” he looked to Aric, “...is the last of that clan."

“He tracked down the Baron... found his son turned... and was forced to destroy him. He eventually killed the Baron as well- but, as it turns out, that wasn’t enough for him. When he discovered my nature as the First Vampire, and my hand in this... he held me responsible, even though, as I mentioned before... it was an accidental turning.“

Strahd crossed his legs and steepled his fingers, "There are several different manners of persuasion. You can try speaking yourself... or putting him under the sword. Either way, he will part with his unhealthy obsession... whether willingly or by force will be up to you. That is what I learned of Vistani fortunes."

Aric contemplated Strahd’s words as the vampire resumed trying to summon magic past the threads of the barrier. Aric looked to Jeeves, "Please stay with him Jeeves, I will go back and see how things are going upstairs..."

Jeeves nodded, "Yes, my lord."

Aric arrived back upstairs... and found that Richard was pacing and fidgeting. Ezmerelda was stoically by Richten’s side. Van Richten was examining notes, and Linda was reading a book.

Ruki approached the doctor, shaking her head. She had the time to peer into his mind and found that he already had plans to keep Strahd imprisoned forever... Ideas about destroying three druidic standing stones that he believed accentuated Strahd’s bond to the land... finding an imprisonment spell... to further Strahd’s imprisonment within his own domain, and binding him to his coffin for all time... Such things... were madness. Especially since Strahd was already as trapped as he could be.

She shook her head at him, “You are a mentally sickened mess...” Even Ruki didn’t have this much hatred in her heart for Van Richten, and the Vistani held him responsible for the murder of her clan.

“If you do not forego this obsession of yours, you will have died in vain for your son. For the sake of his soul, save yours and leave this dread land,” Ruki’s voice was calm and sympathetic.

Her words seemed to strike a chord with Van Richten. He shakily stopped writing his notes, and removed the spectacles from his face, rubbing on his eyes.

"She has a point, Richten,” Aric spoke bravely and walked to the doctor, “Enough blood has been shed over this. End this here and now, and hand over that ring."

Van Richten looked to the ring on his hand, “"Why do you want this? Ah, never mind...”

He half chuckled as he twisted it off of his finger, “Who wouldn't want this ring, in this land?” He paused, “I suppose you are travelling with him and are more in danger than I am. Whatever your reason may be, keep it."

Van Richten handed Aric the ring, turning back to Ruki, "I suppose that you are right, little Vistana. No amount of fighting is going to bring my son back. I just wanted there to be less tragedies. I dealt with the Baron. But I still felt hollow. Perhaps I felt that ridding the world of Strahd would solve something..."

Ruki shook her head, thinking about the Vistani and their plight. Her people were in danger, and Strahd was the only protector they had outside of themselves, “It will not solve anything for anyone. It will only create more problems.”

Van Richten silently gathered his notes. Ezmerelda began to organize papers for him.

Linda listened to the exchange and read the most recent piece of the journal she obtained... Marina... Tatayana reborn. She was the first...

She read as Strahd discovered her again, as Vasili... trying to make her remember her past life... trying to turn her into a bride... Protecting her from her adoptive father who wanted to marry her, and the corrupt priest who was taking bribes to allow it-

Linda shuddered. Poor girl.

Unhappy fate... Just before she and Strahd could share the final vampiric kiss... her adoptive father, Burgomaster Lazlo Ulrich... murdered her. Strahd had his vengeance...

And this happens... to all of them?

Troubled, Linda put the book away and walked over to the platform, and let herself be lowered to the first floor.

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

Strahd and Jeeves once more looked up to the platform lowering and saw Linda, tired and rigid, being lowered to their level. Jeeves and Strahd exchanged glances, wondering what she had to say to them.

Strahd stood, claws slightly extended.

Linda sighed and raised her hand to show she meant no harm, "Sorry I had you leave the room."

Strahd slowly retracted his claws and folded his arms, waiting for her to speak to him herself.

Linda saw his distrusting reaction and sighed, sitting on a crate. She admitted, "I should tell you the truth now that everyone else knows and now that it is...” She paused, feeling apprehensive, “It’s okay if your reaction is... less than pleasant."

Strahd quirked his brow and unfolded his arms, speaking slowly, and cautiously, "What is it?"

Linda looked to him, making a face of guilt and apprehension before she took out her crossbow- doing her best to make it seem non-threatening- and revealed her holy symbol in the same manner.

"I lied about my profession..." she squeaked, hoping that he wouldn’t be mad-

"You mean to tell me... you aren’t a tinkerer?!” Strahd playfully feigned with her in mock shock. He put a hand on his chest, “Linda... how could you?”

She stood, agape- He had the audacity to joke around when she was so clearly distraught- "I am a tinkerer!” she flipped her hands up, still holding on to her gear, “The other profession!"

"The 'bounty hunter who just so happens to specialize in monsters'?" He steepled his fingers and grinned, “That one?“

She saw his smug grin and debated shooting him with the crossbow... Not enough to kill him, but enough to wipe that grin off his face for toying with her...

Well... I guess it is better than him being mad...

She pouted, "Well it's not technically a lie, more a half-truth. It's what I do, but...”

She saw Strahd looking at her disbelievingly, and sighed. There was no going back, he already knew he had her caught, “Basically I am the leader of the Order of the Silver Dawn. A renowned monster hunting order in my world."

Strahd nodded and wrapped himself in his cloak, "I figured that was the case,” he raised a brow at her, “You need to come up with a better lie."

She sighed in frustration, "It didn't matter. I was going to have to tell you at some point."

Strahd paused, calculating, "So... if that is what was discussed, what was the yelling for?"

Linda packed her gear away, "I got mad at his initial refusal to listen to reason. He came around... At least to the point where he isn't going to interfere."

"Great,” he replied, looking much relieved, “When will he allow us to leave? Did you figure that part out yet?"

Linda shrugged, "Ruki was talking to him when I came down. I think she is trying to talk some sense into him."

Strahd paused and walked around, muttering in a strange tongue and making gestures... energy crackled through the air... and Strahd held out his hands, sparks flying between his fingertips.

He grinned and bared his fangs, holding his hands triumphantly. Linda rose, looking on with interest. It seemed that Strahd had figured out a way around that spell drain.

Strahd looked to her, smugly, "Khazan will not get the best of me, even in death... It only took me less than an hour to figure out his spell...” he let a few of the sparks fly out, and spoke in satisfaction, “Rot in hell, pompous bastard."

Linda shook her head at him and smiled to herself. For someone who is supposed to be this big, scary, devilish vampire... he just seems so silly.

She sat down on a crate and watched his little firework show.

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

When Ezmerelda had finished packing up the doctor’s papers, she walked over to Ruki. Ruki looked up from her position in the room, and watched the outcast Vistana.

“You wanted a word?” Ruki spoke the tongue of their people to her.

Ezmerelda nodded, “Who are you? Why do you serve Strahd? What do you know?”

Ruki simply smiled and held out her staff in front of both of them, “Grab hold. All will be clear.”

Ezmerelda hesitated before grabbing hold of the staff...

Ruki’s eyes flashed white as she channeled her psionic energy through the staff, and through Ezmerelda... She was searching for the truth of her past... What Ezme had told them did not match the known history.

Van Richten was there in the camp. He was old even then. He rode into their camp on his horse... and with a raised Vistani male zombie... around him were ghouls... hungry, ravenous...

He shouted at the old raunie... She didn’t quite understand what he was saying... too young...

Blood... the magic circle was gone, and the ghouls were upon her... She was going to die-

No... grabbed by a pregnant Vistana with curly brown hair, light eyes... they took their chances in the mists.

“Run, little Ezme, run and do not look back...“

Separated... strange land...

Van Richten... she held onto the name... hatred in her heart. Held on to it... grew... taught herself the Sight...taught herself to control mists... learned to fight... Revenge.

She was ready now, she knew she could kill an old man. Avenge her family, avenge her clan...

Failed. Despair, outrage...

“Then kill me! Kill me like you killed everyone else!“

The old man... looked sad, tired. Full of regret... This was not the face of a killer.

“I’m tired of death,“ the old man told her, “I’m not killing a child. No more children will die because of me.”

He raised his hand to her head... a flash of light... nothing.

Memories... changing... who was he? Friend or foe?

Friend... no, more like a father...

It was decided then. Decided by magic.

Ruki blinked... So, I am not the sole survivor of my clan after all... She woke Ezme.

“Did you see it?“ She asked softly.

Ezmerelda blinked awake, first looking shocked... then confused, angered... finally she settled on an apologetic look. She took Ruki’s hand...

"Sister, forgive me. By my words, I've wronged our people..." her Patterna wavered.

Ruki nodded her understanding, and grabbed her hand back, “The Vistani have always been a free people. At least you know now what connection we have with Lord Strahd.”

Ezme looked to Van Richten with mixed feeling, “I still feel that the world has too many monsters...“ she looked back to Ruki, "You should leave, and find whatever you need. I have to talk to the old man. I... need to ask him some things. I want... to know why."

Ruki nodded her understanding, she returned to speaking the common tongue of Balok, “One last order of business. Are you wanting to leave this dread land now, or will you still linger?”

"I will linger,” Ezme replied, “I will help you."

Ruki glanced to the good doctor, “I want his answer too.”

Van Richten paused in his packing, and looked over to the tiefling, "I will linger a bit. I have unfinished business here."

Ruki raised a brow, “And what business would that be?”

Van Richten looked over his notes, "Whatever strange creatures are coming through here. I have to help Richard keep them from overrunning the Material Plane..."

Ruki looked over to Richard.

Richard shrugged, "I told Linda I'd help her out. And I intend to do that. Besides, I also promised Urwin I'd keep tabs on you guys."

“Very well...Do not cross Lord Strahd or the Vistani people. Have I made myself clear?” She looked to those gathered.

Richard waved, dismissively, "Wouldn't dream of it."

Ruki gripped onto her staff, “I will take my leave, then.”

She walked to the platform, Aric and Ezme following after her.

Ezme nudged her, “I will open the exit for you.”

Ezme rode down on the platform with them all, and spoke a command word, releasing everyone. No one disguised their eagerness to leave.

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

After everyone had gone, Ezme sat on the bottom, contemplating. It was hard for her to see that her memories were false... why did he do it? Selfishness? Pity?

She scratched right above her prosthesis. She had been in the monster hunting business ever since she had found Van Richten... Despite what Ruki had shown her, she still believed that something had to be done to bring those that preyed on innocent people to justice.

Van Richten, despite what he had done, despite his flaws was still like a father to her... But...

He is obsessed. Just like the Devil is obsessed...

Two men, alike and dissimilar...

Something flickered in the peripherals of her vision. She looked to it... Nothing.

As much as she personally didn’t like it... she had a feeling that something out there was worse than the Devil himself...

#story update #ruki von holtz #aric rein #linda tacklemeyer #curse of strahd #van richten #strahd #writing #d&d

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