#the relief of the reunion + the promise of 'i'll try not to hide things from you anymore' seems to have like. opened doors

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

"she didnt take much notice of you last time" theyre so fucking cute

[pleiadeshalo]

PARAGON. Ciela tries to hide the relief in her face when she hears that familiar voice, but it doesn't quite work. She holds up one finger to Mari, a cue to give her a second, then throws herself full force at her older brother, burying her face in his shoulder for a moment.

"...Okay, normal now," she mutters, before pulling back and standing up as if she hadn't just nearly tackled a 6 foot something Hunter to the ground. "Hi, Reffy. I've just been briefed on the situation-- sounds like I ain't the only one missin' a monstie 'round here." She sighs softly. "I'm gonna have a li'l chat with Lilia about what in Redan's name she's thinkin', yeah?"

As if on cue, the door to the Scrivener's Guild stops creaking closed long enough for a young woman in their uniform to escape. Commander Lilia looks at the reunion going on and lights up-- before her eyes fall on Mari. Confusion and then dawning horror passes over her face. She has a feeling she's about to get an earful.

"Don't flinch, Lils. I heard you've been keepin' a monstie hostage?"

It takes a moment for Lilia to find the words she wants to say. "N-not even a hello, Cici?"

"Right, sorry. It's good to see you again," Ciela says as she raises the shield braced at her arm. It's made of Rathalos material, probably very carefully harvested. "Now talk."

Lilia nods, swallowing harshly. "This Rider," she gestures towards Mari as she trots down the stairs to their base, "has a Rathalos that exhibits abnormal traits. She has also been shown to be unable to rein it in at its worst, even with the Kinship Stone she's got."

"Abnormal traits?" This seems to elicit genuine concern from Ciela. "Like what?"

"Black and purple feathered wings that can't open all the way. If they do, energy resembling the Blight emits from them."

There's a moment of hesitation from Ciela. She's seen exactly how horrible the Blight can get, exactly what the wrong hands can do to a monster suffering from any frenzy-like affliction. She looks at Mari for a long moment, that piercing red gaze cutting into her very soul.

"Well, the first mistake ya made was letting those Hunter bastards herd ya 'round," she says suddenly, turning back to Lilia.

"I dunno what the fuck they're up to, but I ain't only here to search for my Ratha. There's been reports of unsanctioned Guild activity this side of the sea. You know better than to just accept what they tell ya, Lils. Don't be a fuckin' Wiggler. Getcher head out of the sand!"

"I-I know, but if my position was stripped from me--"

"Then we'd figure out what to do on even ground with the kid." She glances at Mari again, and there's a warmth and recognition in her eyes that wasn't there before. "As fer now, though, I wanna see the monster m'self. What's done is done, but if there's any chance we can get these two back together, I'm takin' it."

Lilia takes a deep breath, stands up to attention, and nods. "You're right. I've been ceding too much. I... I'll see what I can do, okay, Mari? And if things go wrong, I'll organize help. I just can't promise anything." She's trying so hard to stay collected, but now it's clear she's not as secure in her abilities as she let on.

PARAGON. "Yeah, six months ago..." Ciela responds, a thoughtful frown crossing her features. Clearly this kid knows more about the situation than she does... might be best to lend her a hand where she's able. She's no Rider without her monstie, but she can kick enough ass on her own--

At those last words, her face shifts. A deepseated anger, one that never really goes away, begins to creep up to the surface. Her teeth grit, and it's much more obvious her canines are fangs in this light. She turns to look at Mari, realizes she probably looks incredibly scary, and tries to soften her expression. It only sort of works.

"Yeah, I know Lilia. She's one of my best friends, actually." Her voice is the same as her face, trying to be gentle while obscuring her shock and anger. "I know her well enough t' know it probably isn't her makin' that call, but the fact that she's lettin' it happen is..." Breathe. In and out. Reffy wouldn't wanna see you like this.

"Mari, d'you wanna come with me? I might be able t' talk some sense inta her."

[hopper-wheeler]

Hey there fellow Mileven, how are we feeling after the finale? 😊

hey there!! basically i'm a wreck, but in the best way possible. tbh i haven't even begun to process vol. 2 and i can't think too hard about a lot of what happened or i'll cry. i'm very good at denial and compartmentalization though so that's helping a lot lmao. in my head they're all together and just fine :)

fr though i'm just happy to have gotten a solid season!

NOW VOL. 2 MILEVEN!! s4 mileven as a whole, actually. oh my god. i love how mature they are this season, how well written and acted their scenes were, how both mike and el showed so much growth and how their relationship was taken to another level. s4 mileven is just everything i wanted and more. i lost my mind with vol. 2.

nothing could have prepared me for mike's monologue (and i did try to prepare. i did). it was just-- everything. MIKE SAID EVERYTHING AND MORE AND HE SAID IT WITH HIS WHOLE CHEST!! every single line of that monologue is a threat to my life. it was set up so well and so well executed. and absolutely everything he said checks out and adds so much. the way his monologue ties in with their ep. 3 argument, the way mike makes sure to tell el he loves her on her good and bad days, with or without her powers. it was just everything el needed to hear. he touched on every single one of her insecurities and made sure she knew he loved all of her. for exactly who she is. and he said it nine times! insane! and we all knew s1 mike was already so gone for el but to have verbal confirmation of that?! i can't watch any s1 mileven scene without going "this mike loves her. and he knows that."

that pineapple pizza scene? it lives in my head rent-free. i can't think about it without giggling. it's just so sweet and says so much about who they are as a couple. it reminded me so much of 'blank makes you crazy' which is one of my favorite scenes. i just love that we got a quiet, happy moment between them in the middle of everything. i wasn't expecting that and it was the best surprise. goofy mike is my favorite mike and he just lives to make el laugh and just!!!! god. i can't move past how sweet this scene is. i love that he made her pizza box glasses. i love that he made a fool of himself to make her giggle. i love el's reaction to this. she just loves him so much, it's sick. the way she says his name, the way she asks for his hand. i love that el is the one to take the first step and say she missed him. mike's reaction to that kills me. he's really just so surprised and pleased. like he really was afraid she didn't. you can see the relief in his face. AND THAT HAND TOUCH! they're just so soft. and i love argyle for showing up with that pizza because el shoving food in mike's face while he yells he's not a baby? best thing i've ever seen.

and their reunion! truly a worthy follow up to their s2 reunion and that says a lot. i love how real it is. it's less cinematic than their s2 reunion but in a way that makes sense. you're right there with el. there's so much focus on the explosion and then suddenly mike's just-- there. it's amazing. seeing el go from shock to confusion to disbelief to joy at seeing mike in seconds is a goddamn experience. the way they hold each other, THE FOREHEAD TOUCH!!! the way mike is so happy and relieved to see her he doesn't even notice her hair or the collar. the way el herself seems to forget about it. mike's whimper when he hides his face on her shoulder. the way el asks "it's really you?" like she's afraid she's imagining him. like maybe she did think about something like this happening while trying to get her powers back. THE WAY THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER!! how brenner said el would never be able to find her way out of the desert by herself but she didn't have to because mike was right there. he kept his promise to get her out. i can't describe the amount of love i have for this scene or how it makes me feel.

and last but not least that mike scene in the back of the van. wow. i've always seen mike as a very insecure character, with no self esteem, because that's been canon since s1. it's there if you look for it. but i never thought i'd see them explore this side of him. i was so pleasantly surprised. i love that they went there. i love that they let him talk about his insecurities and his struggles for once. it adds so much weight to so many scenes. it explains so much of what we've seen. the fact that all along he's been afraid not only that he'd lose el because of something out of their control happening but that he'd lose her because she'd see him for who he is and choose to leave hurts me. deeply. and i love that.

all in all, vol. 2 mileven gave us so much. there's so much to talk about. about mileven going forward. about old mileven scenes that feel NEW in light of everything we just watched. i have a lot of thoughts, basically. which is why this reply is so long lmao.

seriously, though, if anyone made it all the way to the end, feel free to yell about mileven (or anything st) in my askbox. i'm more than happy to yell back 💙

[allegra-writes]

"Lights Up" part I

Peter Parker x SHIELD Agent!Reader

NSFW

Warnings: And there was only one bed!!

Peter must deal with the aftermath of what Mysterio did, but he's not alone: Nick Fury and Pepper Stark have a plan, one that includes you, Peter and the tropical desert island of Eroda.

Series Masterlist

His lungs were on fire, his legs burning with the strain, he didn't know how much longer he was going to be able to go on. The sharp pain piercing his side was disconcerting, he used to be familiar with it, he remembered as much, but he hadn't felt it in years, not since the spider bite. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he had gotten so much as winded just from running, but he had been at it for hours now, ever since he had ditched MJ and his suit in that dingy alley in hopes of Peter Parker being a little more inconspicuous than Spider-Man. 

But by then, everyone in the city knew his face, and in the age of the internet and smartphones all it took was one single snap, one tweet, one livestream, to find himself surrounded by an angry mob, screaming for his blood, like something out of an old horror movie. All they were missing were the pitchforks and torches. There was nowhere to hide. 

So he ran. 

And he kept on running, but even he couldn't run forever. At least not without eating anything, the calorie deficiency starting to take a toll on his super-metabolism, causing him to become dizzy, his reflexes slower. 

That was probably why he didn't realize his mistake until it was too late, until he reached the intersection and found himself surrounded: He had been ambushed, led like a lamb to the slaughter. He came to a halt, turning around, looking in vain for a way out, but the circle they had arranged around him was a tight formation, he was either going to have to fight his way out or shoot a web and swing away and he could kiss goodbye any chance left at keeping his identity secret after that…

"Looks like we caught ourselves a spider, guys!"

"Not so brave now, eh boy?"

Peter cursed internally. There was no other way, falling into stance, he braced himself for the fight. But before he could make a move, he saw it. A car, a rather distinctive one, heading straight their way, and it wasn't slowing down. If anything, it seemed to speed up the closer it got to the crowd, forcing people -including Peter- to jump out of the way to avoid being run over. 

"Get in!" 

He didn't need to be told twice, jumping into the passenger seat, the car speeding away before he even got to close the door completely. You stole a glance at him. He looked tired, maybe a little pale, but uninjured. You sighed in relief. He was there, you had gotten to him on time. He was safe.

Safe and openly gawking at you.

"Y- y/n?" 

You flinched,

"Yeah, not my real name" You took your eyes off the road to give him an apologetic look, "Sorry 'bout that"

"Then who are you?" His voice was steel. So much for being grateful for saving his ass, then…

"I'm agent 16 of S.H.I.E.L.D's Special Service. I was assigned to protect you" You threw him a side-glance, "and a little 'thank you' would be nice"

Well, that explained the uniform and you driving Item 20-25. God, he was so stupid! Of course you were a spy, why else would a girl like you even give him the time of day? The pretty girls at his school weren't nice, not to him at least. But now it all made sense, down to the very first time he saw you, beaming at him as Mr. Warren pointed at the empty seat beside him. All the times your hands brushed in class, fingers lingering on test tubes and books a couple of seconds longer than necessary. All those little touches, all the secret looks when you thought he wasn't watching, it was probably all part of your mission. Probably just to get close to him, to gain his trust. After all, you had demonstrated you weren't truly interested in him when you turned down his invitation to prom. 

He had cried afterwards. Not much, not like at Ben's funeral, or when Mister Stark… No, definitely not like that, but he had shed a couple of tears that night. 

He had lost sleep and appetite over you. Lost hours daydreaming about you, about the fruity smell of your hair, wondering what your strawberry lipstick would taste like. But the truth was, after all this time, after all that staring, all that pinning he didn't know anything about you, did he? Not even...

"Can you tell me your real name?"

"You don't have the clearance for that"

You replied, turning to face him. And maybe he ought to fasten that seat belt after all, or shut up and stop distracting you from the road, cause you were still going too damn fast and breaking all traffic laws known to mankind. Mr Dell's shocked, appalled face after your driving test flashed through his mind.

"Spider-Man has a level 6 clearance" he protested.

"You need a level 9. At least." 

"I thought 9 was the highest level" Gods, his frown was adorable.

You just smirked and made another turn, driving through an entrance and a ramp that hadn't been there a second ago. 

"We're here" You announced, killing the engine. Peter didn't move.

"Where exactly is 'here'?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D's Manhattan headquarters"

You got out of the car, rounding to his side and pulling his door open, then closing it once he had gotten out. The gentleman in him protested it should be the other way around, he should be the one opening doors for you and helping you out of cars. It was absurd, of course. There, with you in that black catsuit, thigh holsters on both your legs, walking like you owned the place there was no mistaking it: You weren't y/n, his school crush; you were a highly trained special agent, escorting him through the premises.

… Pretty familiar premises, actually. 

"Avengers Tower? S.H.I.E.L.D bought Avengers Tower?"

"It was a donation, actually" you explained as the elevator's doors opened to the Stark Memorial Garden, an open garden as majestic as it was massive, located right in the heart of the building.

"A donation? But wh-"

"Peter! Oh thank god!" A relieved voice and the clicking of hills on the stone path interrupted him.

"Mrs. Stark?" Peter let himself be crushed into Pepper's chest, closing his eyes, the tears he hadn't known he was holding back starting to fall as soon as he felt safe in her embrace.  

If Tony Stark had been like a father to him, Pepper Potts-Stark was a mother trough and trough. She had tried to step into her husband's role of a mentor for Peter, knowing fully well she couldn't ever replace him or occupy his place; but she would be damned if she allowed that giant Tony shaped hole on that boy's life to go unattended, to bleed out or fester. The kid had already lost so much, almost every parent figure he had ever had. And she knew what that kind of loss could do to precocious boys with too big hearts, had seen it first hand with Tony. 

"Mrs. Stark I'm so- I'm so sorry"

"Shhh" She said soothingly, "It's not your fault. You're going to be ok, I promise. We'll figure it out" Pepper sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as him. 

"Pete! Six!" 

Peter broke the hug just in time to see a little dark haired meteor jump into your arms. He watched, stunned, as Morgan clung to you. He knew once upon a time she had been an outgoing, confident child but ever since her father's death she had grown timid. She didn't open up easily to strangers, Peter being a rare exception, and even that had been solely because of the stories Tony used to tell her about her 'super big brother' adventures. She had developed a sort of hero worship for Peter that only rivaled the one she felt for her father. For her to be so friendly towards you had to mean you had spent a considerable amount of time together, and Peter remembered the tales you used to tell in class about the adorable little girl you babysat sometimes. 

"You did it! You found him!"

You smiled at her.

"Told you I would, Morgs. And I always keep my word" He watched you squeeze her again in your arms, he could tell you cared about the kid, probably even missed her while you and him were in Europe. But the sweet reunion was short lived, as soon another voice, more stern, resonated through the garden.

"In our line of work, I'm not sure that can be considered a good thing"

You gasped in mock trepidation, making Morgan giggle and Peter smile despite himself.

"Uh-oh! We've been caught!" You passed the still laughing kid to Peter and stood straighter, trying to sober up. Peter could see the corners of your mouth twitch as you greeted, "Director" 

He gave you a nod,

"Agent. Parker, Mrs. Stark. Good, now that everybody's here, we can get a move on"

Without waiting for a reply, Nicholas Fury started walking again, leaving everyone to scramble to follow.

"I know this seems like the end of the world, Mr. Parker, and I'll admit the situation isn't ideal," the intimidating man punched a code into a hidden panel and another elevator opened. "but our main priority right now is your safety. We'll treat this like any other blown cover, following the same protocols we follow when any of our agent's identity is compromised: Immediate extraction and relocation of the agent into a safe house, with an armed escort for protection, of course" He explained as everybody climbed in.

"You're sending me away with a bodyguard?" Peter sounded less than pleased and you couldn't help the pang of sympathy. You didn't like to be pulled off the field either.

"I understand how that could be uncomfortable for you," it didn't sound like he particularly cared, though, "so perhaps it would be less unpleasant with an element you're already familiar with. Agent 16 here is going to be your companion"

"What does that means, Six?" Morgan turned to you, still perched onto Peter's torso, like a baby koala.

"It means I'm going to babysit your brother instead of you, for a while…" You threw the brunet boy a wink and his protests about not needing babysitting died on his lips. It didn't sound so bad, actually. Being cooped up with you in some secret location for an indeterminate amount of time.

"How long would we be gone?" 

"As long as it takes for the director and me to fix this" Pepper spoke with the authority only her seemed to possess, the one that could reing in crazy geniuses dash heroes and master spies alike. Fury could only nod in compliance.  

"What about May?"

"She's with Happy, already on her way to the lake house" 

Peter still looked unsure, but Pepper smiled, eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint surprisingly similar to the one her husband used to have.

"Don't worry, Peter. You'll love the safe house. I know Tony and I did…"

…

Leaving Morgan at the launch bay had been the hardest part. Her tears soaking Peter's t-shirt as Pepper tried to pry the fabric out of her little hands, were enough to break his heart. She didn't want to let her big brother go, probably terrified he wouldn't come back, just like her father. Far too perceptive for a six year old kid, she understood Peter was in trouble, in danger, and she was scared.

Peter was scared too. 

How could he not? He might be naive but he wasn't stupid, he knew that no matter the outcome of whatever plan Mrs. Stark and Fury came out with, his life as he knew it was over. 

"For what it's worth, I'm sorry" Your earnest voice pulled him out of his dark thoughts, "For lying to you, for what Beck did, for everything."

Peter stared at your profile, something he seemed to be doing a lot that day. Who was he trying to kid, he did a lot of that everyday. It actually seemed to be the only normal thing that remained, the one thing that seemed to stay constant as the world shifted and changed around him. He should be mad at you, he knew that. He should feel betrayed, hurt, and he did, a little but it was hard to stay angry at you. Even when you were partnered at school and you failed to do your part in the projects, he used to have trouble not forgiving you the second you flashed those doe eyes at him. 

He sighed,

"It's not your fault, any of it. About the lying, you were only doing your job" It wasn't your fault that he had been dumb enough to fall in love with a girl that didn't even exist. "And as for Quentin… that definitely wasn't your fault"

"My job was to protect you. If I had done it right, none of this would have happened" there was a slight catch in your voice "I should have realized he was a fraud, I should have told Nick as soon as I started having doubts about the guy, I should have stopped him before he stole E.D.I.T.H; I should have-" You turned away, pretending to get engrossed in the navigation controls of the Quinjet.

"I should have found that video and stopped it from reaching the news" You finished, voice finally under control, but still not meeting Peter's eyes.

"I was the one that literally handed E.D.I.T.H to him" You felt his hand cover yours over a lever, and looked at him in surprise. He found your eyes, a soft look in his that made your insides fill with butterflies, "He tricked me too. Do you blame me for that?"

"What? No, of course not!" 

Your indignation on his behalf warmed his chest.

"Then why blame yourself for the same thing?" 

He had a point. Luckily, you were saved from having to answer him by a blip in your instruments.

"Looks like we're here" You commented instead, initiating landing maneuvers. 

"Where is here, exactly?" He peered out of the windscreen, into the darkness of the night, trying to get a look. And who knew, with his super senses maybe he could. 

"Somewhere in the middle of the Pacific. An island, apparently, a very isolated one..."

"So you've never been here before either?"

"No, this isn't one of S.H.I.E.L.D's safe houses. This one is Mrs. Stark's" 

"Oh" Peter smiled for the first time since leaving NYC, "It must be really cool then"

"Yeah, I imagine it is" You smiled back

The house was not how you imagined Tony Stark's safe house would be like. For starters, the wooden construction wasn't even a house, a bungalow would have been a more appropriate title. The one-room little shack stood semi hidden by palm trees on the beach, and you knew the island was probably beautiful, but you couldn't see much in the moonless night.

Inside there wasn't much to see either, just a queen sized bed, a cupboard with a chest of drawers and a recliner by one of the windows. Ever the gentleman, Peter had offered to take the recliner, but you had rolled your eyes and pointed out the bed was big enough for the both of you. 

"I don't know why we're so surprised" Peter's voice reached you through the bathroom door, where he was changing into his pjs, "I mean, we've seen the Lake House and, sure, it's very luxurious for a cabin but that's what it is: a cabin"

"Maybe" You replied, flopping on the bed. At least it was comfy "but they have FRIDAY over there. Here we barely even have electricity"

Peter stopped in his tracks as soon as he walked into the room, and you pretended not to notice the way his eyes lingered on your exposed legs, your tiny cotton sleeping shorts not covering much at all.

"It's just, I can't possibly believe Tony Stark didn't installed any defense system on his safe house. I mean, you knew the man better than I did, but doesn't it strike you as a little… odd?"

"Huh? Ye-yeah, I mean, I…" You could see his cheeks turn red. God, he was adorable.

"Peter?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you coming to bed?"

He choked on his own spit, and you had to suppress a giggle. Maybe, just maybe, he truly did forgive you for lying to him. Maybe you still had a chance.

…

Peter couldn't sleep. He could feel the heat coming off your skin through the small distance separating your bodies, your perfume invading his nostrils with every breath. Being so close to you in the dark was torture and yet he couldn't bring himself to get up and go to the chair on the other side of the room. He was pinned to the bed, mesmerized by your sleeping profile, enthralled by the way your chest rose and fell with every deep, steady breath. Irrevocably and inescapably drawn to you like a moth to a flame, too scared to move, too afraid to disturb your dream.

Because it appeared to be a very good dream. He could see the blush spreading from your face to your neck, all the way down to where the neckline of your tank top obscured his view. He could hear your breathing starting to quicken, feel the temperature of your skin rise. He could smell you, sweet and enticing. Beckoning. 

Your lips parted, letting out the most captivating little sigh in the history of mankind, and his eyes zeroed in the movement, his tongue darting out to wet his own. 

Peter felt his blood rushing south and was disgusted by himself, he felt like a creep. What kind of psycho got off of watching a girl sleep? Yet he couldn't bring his eyes to avert their gaze. 

He needed to get out of there, give you some semblance of privacy, as your hips started to twitch minutely, seeking a friction they wouldn't find. You let out a soft whine and he screwed his eyes shut. 'Come on Parker, get a grip on yourself' he thought, trying to gather enough strength to pry himself from the bed, to pry himself from your side. He was about to, he truly was, when it happened. 

You rolled over, half trapping him under your body. And it wouldn't have been hard for him to escape if he wanted to. But he really really didn't want to. The voice inside his head telling him it was wrong was growing weaker and weaker with every pretty noise leaving your mouth. Your hot breath was searing against the skin of his chest and he both cursed and blessed the instant he decided to forego wearing a t-shirt to bed in the sultry island heat. 

"Peter" You murmured in your sleep and his heart stopped. You were dreaming about him. You were panting and burning up for him, and he knew it didn't necessarily mean anything and dreams were not real life, but your legs fell open, one knee on either side of one of his, and he could actually feel your warm wetness through the thin fabric of your sleeping shorts and his threadbare plaid pajama pants and fuck!

Whatever last trace of logic might remained in his brain flew out the window as you started rubbing yourself on his thigh, finally finding the friction you so desperately needed. His hand went to your waist to stop you, but it ended up aiding you instead, sliding to your lower back, pressing down and releasing rhythmically, rocking you against his leg harder. 

He glared at the traitorous appendage, but how could he reproach it it's betrayal, when you were moaning so sweetly? He wanted to commit those sounds to his memory, to tattoo them on his brain to play over every night when he'd found himself alone on his cold bed, one hand around his length and the other over his mouth to stop himself from yelling your name at the ceiling, as he had so many times before. 

You breathed out his name again, and his free hand went to his pelvis, of its own volition. He palmed himself over his pants, but that's as far as he would let himself go. He refused to be the guy who jerked himself off next to an unconscious girl. 

A new wave of moisture left your core, soaking his skin through the fabrics. 

"Fuck!" He cursed softly, head hitting the tall headboard as he threw it back.

"Peter?" 

He froze. No. Oh god, please no...

To be continued...

[xeo-kunsatan]

Beast Choices Chapter 4. Shine of 2

The story of this young couple continue in a normal way, the love between eachother was getting stronger.

In a Friday Day.

Betrayus have arrived in a jewelry

Cashier: Welcome to Bright shop, something special you're looking for?

Betrayus: Well... I was looking for a ring my girlfriend, an special one for her

Cashier: So you're looking for a wedding ring for your girl? Anyone in specific?.

Betrayus: Do you have sapphire rings?

Cashier: Ohohoh, Interesting asking, may I ask why did you choosed that jewel?

Betrayus: Well, I choosed a sapphire for her because,.. our relationship at evolving through the time, we always were honest and have confidence between eachother, all my improvement as person is thanks to her as I helped her as well to make her get up, for it and even more things impossible to tell all of them.. My Girl is special for me.

Cashier: So poetic~ *Shows him some sapphire rings* Heh..*Jokes* some people considers sapphire rings as "Princesses rings".

Betrayus: Believe me..She.. is better than a silly and boring princess, she is wild, rude, seductive and sometimes funny, my favorite type of partner in general.

Cashier: Any team is valid, you know so well bro.

Betrayus: yeah, and for it.. I choose this one.

Betrayus have choosed a sapphire ring with a unique design, it was perfect for Muriel

Cashier: Excellent election.

Betrayus after pay for the ring, have left the jewelry to his job with the box of the ring for his girlfriend, keeping it hide to later surprise her in their Movies Friday night.

Pacopolis 9:38 pm

Betrayus and Muriel have arrived home after finished their usual works

Betrayus: Ughhh.. I'm tired..*Falls in the coach*

Muriel:*arrives with her phone* You were, you know what day is?

Betrayus: Oh yeah!

B&M: Bitch it's Friday!

Muriel: Prepare the Movie!

Betrayus: Order a Pizza!

B&M: Yeah!!

Muriel have ordered the pizza while Betrayus was looking for the Cd of the Friday 13th movies.

Some minutes later the Pizza have arrived and Betrayus received the pizza while Muriel taked the beer to the table

Betrayus; It's Here!

Muriel: Oh Yeah!!

They started they typical Friday night to watch scary movies with Pizza, Betrayus was about to propose himself but the moment was interrupted by a call from Betrayus's phone.

Betrayus: Aghh it's my brother

Muriel:*pauses the movie* what did he want Sunlight?

Betrayus: I dunno..*attends the call* what do you want stinky lemon?

Stratos: *in the call* Don't call me like that!.. uhum I mean.. Santana invited us to visit The Vegas, I was wondering... If you and Muriel would like to come with us?

Betrayus: Do you seriously think i want to go there, with you and mother!?... Yes

Stratos: So, you will come?

Betrayus: Hell yeah!! Let me tell my girlfriend about this *Ends the call*.

Muriel: What happened?

Betrayus: *sighs* Fluffyplum, my brother told me that my sister invited me to go with basically all the Spheros family to travel to the Vegas, I was wondering if would you like to come with me?..

Muriel: Go with you and your family to the city of lights, having to bear with your awful brother and Mother? Are you kidding me?

Betrayus: Uhhh...

Muriel: Hell yeah, I'm fucking ready!

Betrayus: Yeah girl!, But first, It's movie time! *Plays the movie*

They continued their movie night cuddling eachother while they were eating their pizza.

The next day, both where packing up their stuff getting ready for the travel, Betrayus had hided the box, his plans to propose marriage to Muriel instead of get ruined they had taked a plot twist.

Muriel: Wait... Who would take care of Yuū while we are out?

Yuū: Hmmm?

Betrayus: Sir Cumference

Muriel: A.

Betrayus: Just Kidding, we will take her with us, there's a place for pets in the hotel we will be.

Muriel: What a relief~..

After packing up they left to the airport where they meet up with Rotunda, Santana and Stratos.

Betrayus: Hello Family, we are here

Muriel: Sup

Santana: Betrayus! Little Brother how are you? *Notices Muriel* Oh! You most be my brother's girlfriend?

Betrayus: Yes, Mury, This is my older sister Santana, Santana this is my partner Muriel.

Santana: It's nice to meet you Muriel.

Muriel: it's nice to meet you too

Stratos: H-Hi Betrayus..Muriel

Rotunda: *Sighs* you really had to bring your bitch and her mutt here?..

Yuū: Grrrrrr...

Muriel: No Yuū..

Spheros Siblings: Mother!!!

Betrayus: It doesn't have anything wrong at bringing my girlfriend to the travel, I don't wanted leave her alone in the department.

Santana: C'mon Mom is not a bad Idea having my sister in law with us.

Rotunda: Aghh whatever...

Muriel:*sighs*

The Spheros Family & Muriel Taked a plane to the Vegas, Where Santana had some nice conversations with Muriel and Betrayus.

The PacVegas city

2:27 pm

At arriving in the city, they taked a Taxi to the hotel where they would stay.

Muriel and Betrayus where impressed about the city.

Muriel; I can't wait to take a ride around this Wholesome city!..

Betrayus; Me too! Hey Santy, would you like to come with us?

Muriel: Yeah girl come with us

Santana: Of course!

Stratos: Are you sure Santy?

Santana: Yeah, i have long time without getting along with my Tray Tray, and more now with my new sister in law.

Stratos:*sighs* Alright you can go while i take My mom to her reunion.

Rotunda:*Arrives* Let's go Stratos

Stratos: I'll go Mom.

Betrayus, Santana and Muriel had a long ride exploring and shopping in the city.

The PacVegas City

7:14 pm

The Spheros Family was resting in the hotel yard, Santana came in.

Santana: i was wondering to go to Cube Casino to you know have fun, would you like to come?

B&M: Yeah girl!

Stratos: Sounds Great

Rotunda: do whatever you want, I will be in the spa, I'm really tired

Rotunda leaves to the Hotel Spa.

Santana: Alright, *Grabs Muriel* we will see you in the door.

Muriel: Heheh see ya

Santana grabbed Muriel away taking her to her room. She was changing in elegant clothing as well Muriel which was also holding a tiny box with a nervous expression in her face.

Santana: Is there something wrong?

Muriel: it's something personal.. and a surprise.

Santana: what kind of surprise?

Muriel: *Jokes* I don't know if should tell you, you can get mad~

Santana: Aww c'mon, I am your sister in law, how could I be mad with you?

Muriel: okay you convinced me, *Shows her a Ruby ring from the box*

Santana: *Gasp* Oh my gosh.. you really?

Muriel: Yes

Santana: YEEEE!! *Hugs her* you will marry my brother!?

Muriel: we have 5 years together, I think it's time to go to the next step in our relationship.

Santana: This is so Exciting!.... Seriously Muriel, I want to thank you.

Muriel: For what?

Santana: For what you did for my younger brother... As you maybe know my mother and Stratos were always unfair with him for something is not his fault something i never liked it but... i didn't had enough time to give him the attention he deserved because i's always being focused *sob* in my own studies and work to help up my family but i honestly wasn't enjoyed it... I wanted to travel around the world and maybe try out my luck working in other country.. *In tears* but i can't left Betrayus behind because I was so worried of him.. and I'm still worrying for him.. it's a relief for me that my brother finally found out someone who cares a lot of him as I didn't do it.. specially someone like you.

Muriel: *dries up her tears* it's okay Santana, I understand and feel your pain.. *Hugs Her*

Santana: *Sniff* If you will Marry my brother Muriel,..will you promise me to take care of Betrayus?

Muriel: Always, I promise.

Santana: Thank you very much Muriel, all I want is see my brother smile.

Muriel: Me too Santana, you know girl I don't have a wedding godmother not even a friend for it, will you be our Wedding godmother?

Santana: Really!? That's a big honor...Count with me!.. and tell me why did you choosed a Ruby for my brother

Muriel: Because it represents the pasion he finally released, the pure love i felt for him, and also Rubies are considered as sun jewels and Betrayus Is a Sunlight.

Santana: that's so deep~

After the conversation the 4 had meet up in the Hotel Door

Betrayus: Wow girls you both look so good, and *blushed* you Muriel.

Santana: Aww thank you

Muriel: You too Betrayus *Blushed*

Stratos: Don't think your dress is somewhat provocative?

Betrayus: Don't think that you most shut the fuck up Stratos? She can dress as she wants and likes.

Santana: Yeah Stratos, what the hell?

Stratos: O-oh.. Sorry.

Santana: Well guys forget this and let's fucking go!

B&M: Oh Yeah!!

Santana taked them to a Casino where they had fun Gambling, with Betrayus defeating his enemies with a psycho attitude.

Stratos: I Thought you fixed him!

Muriel: Let him be Stratos, Let him Be.

Santana: The Karaoke just opened who wants to rock out?

Betrayus:*have heard after winning a Gamble* I do!,.. Muriel will you make a Duo with me

Muriel: Of Course, I was about to ask you the same~

Both had walked to the scenery.

Betrayus: Uhum..Hello.. We are going to sing "Not Gonna get us" I hope you liked it

Betrayus and Muriel sang together in the Karaoke expressing how much their relationship had evolved, at finishing their song Betrayus was ready to confess his surprise.

Betrayus: Thank you everyone, this means a lot for me.. because this woman next to me have teached me how to appreciate myself, this woman was the first In hear me when I was fucked,.. this wild woman was the one who opened her arms for me, a real friend I never had, She is the woman I want to spend all my life..

Betrayus gets in his knees in front Muriel opening the Box revealing the sapphire ring he choosed for her.

Betrayus: Muriel Plizetxki... Will you marry me?

Muriel: Betrayus... I..I Literally wanted to ask you the same *Shows him the Ruby ring from her box*

Betrayus: That means Is a yes for eachother?

Muriel: Yeah!

Both Kissed while the crowd in the Casino next to Santana and Stratos clapped.

Their put eachother in their rings and continued the gambling party where both ended in not saint things.. coff coff alcohol... Coff coff shots coff coff.

Muriel: *Wakes up* Hmm~ my head

Betrayus:*wakes next to her* Morning Mury~ ... Ouch.. fuck my head hurts..

Muriel:Eh?...how the heck a horse entered in the room!!??

Horse: Hi

B&M: Holy Shit!!

Haha to be continued

What would happen in the next chapter?

Haha sorry for taking so long In post this but I can get blocked hehe sorry XD, I hope you loved this chapter!

[omori-aus-archive]

Chapter 5: A Family Reunion

Mari had no idea where she was. Nor how much time had passed.

She knew that she was alive...and thankfully away from her lookalike, but that was it. There wasn't a shred of evidence to suggest where she was.

....

....

It felt like she was going insane...even when she was in a coma....

Whether she liked it or not, though, she had to continue walking. After all, if she went back, she'd have to deal with her lookalike harassing and tormenting her....

Soon, she would find herself in an area filled with color and some semblance of a proper location; most evidently a forest.

The girl sighed with relief, mumbling something about her sanity finally taking a turn for the better....

As Mari looked through the surprisingly colorful landscape, she spotted a tall suited masculine figure with longish hair.

"Excuse me!" She called out, walking up to the tall figure. "Sorry, but I'm...kinda lost. Do you...know what this place is...?"

Her confused expression immediately turned into shock and worry as the figure turned to face her, showing that he looked startling similar to Sunny....

Just...older....

The man raised his hands gently, "Relax. I'm not gonna hurt you." "To answer your question, you're in a complex where collective consciousness come to rest." He explained.

"In simpler words, it's just a dream world." He added.

The man tilted his head, "Given that you said you were lost, I assume you're not here by choice?"

Reluctantly, Mari shook her head and lowered it, "I'm...in a coma.... And I'm...not safe in my own head."

The man gave a small nod, before asking, "Pardon me for asking, but...you look similar to someone I'm helping cares about. Are you...Mari, by any chance?"

The girl gave a nod, raising an eyebrow, "How do you know my name...?"

Did this guy know her family or friends?

In place of a response, the man convinced her to follow him, elaborating, "I think...you will be in for a pleasant surprise. It's been well over a year since you've seen him."

As reluctant as she was to follow this stranger, she didn't have any better ideas.

Mari soon found herself in another white void, looking at the man in confusion, who merely pointed at a small figure sitting, seemingly in deep thought.

She covered her lips in shock, tears of joy running down her face as she slowly walked over to the figure.

It may have been over a year since she last saw him....

But she would ALWAYS remember her baby brother.

She gently shook the boy's shoulder, quietly calling out, "Sunny...?" The girl could feel her brother tense up, before he hesitantly turned to face her.

He looked at his sister for a good amount of time, before he started tearing up, "Mari...."

Mari sighed shakily, holding her brother in a tight hug as he cried into her shoulder, "I'm here. I promise you, I'm really here."

....

....

It took a few minutes to get Sunny stable enough to speak, most of which was spent convincing him that Mari was indeed real. That she was still alive and talking to him.

Once he was calm, the boy asked in a raw tone of voice, "How are you here...?"

Mari was startled by the sudden question, though honestly, she felt like she should've expected it.

Much like she should've expected various other things....

She lowered her head, biting her lip in worry.

She obviously didn't want to make her brother anxious.... But lying...or hiding the truth was out of the question....

"That's...a long story, but I'm...not really comfortable with talking it right now...." She explained.

As much as she hated herself for not telling Sunny right away, the last thing she wanted was to make him feel worse than he already was feeling.

Spending time with her brother...and helping him feel better...was priority number one.

Sunny gave a small nod, feeling his sister pulling him in for another hug, whispering, "How about you tell me what you've been up to instead?"

The boy gave a small nod, "It's...a lot, so...I'll try to shorten it."

Mari gave a nod, listening quietly as Sunny began to go through the past year's events.

Omori: Recovery Route (A Coma-Mari AU by pyroanime2k16)

A/N: Sorry. No special cover this time. Also, this will primarily focus on Mari and Sunny's interactions, as that's what I write best.

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

Chapter 1: Case Of Awareness

Mari would've had to be a fool in order to NOT notice what her brother was going through.

Even now, as they were practicing for the recital one more time, the girl could tell how stressed Sunny seemed.

She could tell that he was growing tired and frustrated with the constant practice of the recital. Her perfectionism and their father's expectations certainly weren't helping and she knew it....

The older of the two siblings wanted to apologize in some way. A way that could actually be felt.

Mari was also worried about straining or ruining her sibling relationship with Sunny.

Eventually, the practice ended and Sunny quietly left the room. Mari felt a sickening feeling in her abdomen.

....

And then there was the sound of something shattering on the floor, cuing Mari to immediately stand up and rush to the foyer, spotting a broken violin at the bottom of the stairs.

The teenage girl paled. She screwed up. She was certain that she had fucked up now....

Especially when she turned to face Sunny, who was struggling to calm down. He was heaving, his arms shaking as he tried...and failed to take in deep breaths.

Mari went up the stairs. She had to fix this. She let this happen for too long. She had to do something to make up for it.

"Sunny...?" The teenager called out, cuing the boy to instinctively turn away. "Sunny, please look at me."

The boy didn't say anything for a few moments, before mumbling, “Please leave me alone….” His sister shook her head, “Brother, please talk to me…!”

“Mari, please stop….” The boy mumbled at a volume that was to quiet to hear. He was struggling to keep himself calm.

He wanted to run. He wanted to leave.

"Please just...talk to me, Sunny...!" The teenager pleaded. "Please let me try to help...!"

The boy shook his head, trying to block the words out. He needed to leave. To be alone to calm down.

Eventually, after a few more moments of back and forth, Sunny just...couldn't take it anymore and chose to push Mari away to give him some distance....

...Except both parties forgot that they were on top of the stairs. Upon being pushed, Mari's bad knee ultimately buckled painfully, causing her to fall towards the stairs....

Almost on pure instinct and in a state of shock, Sunny lurched forward and grabbed Mari's hand with his left, holding the railing with his right.

Almost immediately, the boy's weak grip began slipping, cuing him to tighten his hold as much as he could. The two siblings looked at each other, still in shock by what just happened.

The older of the two siblings, much to Sunny's surprise, just gave a weak and sad smile as the boy's grip ultimately failed.

The boy could only watch in horror as his sister collapsed on the stairs and tumbled to the floor.

The boy stood in fright and silence, before eventually working up the courage to walk down towards Mari. Of course, he understandably assumed that she was dead....

That he accidentally killed his own sister....

Then he heard the very faint sound of breathing. After kneeling down and putting his ear near his sister's face, he was able confirm it.

The breathing was obviously strained...as a result of severe pain and a near-fatal incident....

But Mari was miraculously alive. Unconscious, but alive....

Though, before he could react to that, Sunny realized that there was another person in the house...right in the front doorway as he glanced up.

"Basil...?" The boy whispered, noticing the equally shocked and frightened blonde.

Basil then asked in a shaky voice, "I-Is she...?" "She's...alive.... Needs help. NOW...." Sunny responded as attempted to control his breathing.

"Get Kel and Hero's mom or dad...." The boy pleaded, which resulted in the blonde rushing next door in a panic....

...Leaving Sunny alone to hold Mari in his arms and whisper apology after apology....

[babineni]

The Path Not Traveled (part 2 of 2)

Sooo... ages ago I started writing my own take on Edér’s personal quest in Deadfire and I finally managed to kick my own butt to finish it. Here’s roughly 3800 words of... whatever this is.

Part 1 here:

Gaura took a deep breath as she left the Temple of Gaun, trying to clear the oppressive smell of mold and incense filling the sanctum. Just as she was about to take another, her nostrils were struck by a sweet and earthy scent she knew well.  Edér exhaled a puff of smoke when he felt her gaze on him and winked at her, trying convey some semblence of confidence. But Gaura still saw that he bit on the stem of his pipe slightly harder than he usually did.

'So... To the Gullet, then?' The Watcher let out a tired sigh. 'Wonderful.'

'At least this time we won't have to scour the place for decades old clues,' Edér tried to cheer themselves up. 'Though, at this point... wouldn't even be surprised, if we did.'

'This does feel a bit familiar,' Gaura added. If she had to be honest with herself, this was an understatement. The longer the search went on the stronger she felt it: that Edér once again gambled his peace and happiness on something that he would ultimately fail to reach. 'I just hope... Can you promise me something, Edér?'

'What?'

'If this reunion doesn't go the way you'd like... Can you promise me that you'd still come away with some measure of peace?' The Watcher gave the farmer an apoligetic look for her request.

He let smoke escape his mouth slowly, frowning, carefully processing his friend's words.

'Dunno. I'd just prefer if we left with what we came here for.'

'And what would that be?' Gaura crossed her arms.

'I told you...'

'I know what you told me. But you've gotta be more specific than that.'

Edér glared at the Watcher for a moment. Then he emptied his half-smoked pipe, cursing under his breath, and put it away.

'Y'know how I been rebuilding Dyrford for these few years? Was trying to make it a normal village. I wanted it to be the kinda place that really felt like the home we had before the war. In a way, I was... turning it into something like Gilded Vale used to be,' he rubbed a sore spot on the back of his neck. 'But it didn't feel the same.'

'I can think of a few reasons why you might've felt that way.'

'Yeah,' Edér chuckled somewhat bitterly, 'I do make it sound like I was turning Dyrford into something it wasn't but... that's not what really happened. And that's not what kept gnawing at me,' he averted his gaze from the Watcher almost as if he was ashamed. She waited for him to continue but the words did not come.

'It was you,' she guessed. 'You realized that... even if you managed to bring your old life back somehow,' Gaura cossed her arms and sighed sympathetically, 'you no longer would've had a place in it.'

'Dunno 'bout that,' he replied, 'haven't really felt I had a place anywhere for 15 years or so. I got used to it.' The veteran stayed quiet for a few moments. Gaura couldn't tell if he was pondering her words to find some new revelation about himself or if he was wondering if she spoke out of experience. 'But... I dunno maybe you're right.'

'And how does Elafa come into the picture?'

'She's...' Edér stopped himself to choose the words that followed cautiosly. 'She's pretty much the only person from Gilded Vale who knew me before the war and didn't see me anything other than who I was when I came back. If... If I'm gonna have a family one day... If I'm to give them a life free from the hate and violence that drove her away in the first place... Then I need her,' he let his head hang for a moment before he looked Gaura in the eye, his eyes full of clarity and sincerity. 'Because I can barely remember what that life was like.'

The Watcher's heart sunk and yet those words still left her with discomfort. 'So you want to move forward by going backwards and you just hope Elafa would remember your past for you?!'

'It's hardly fair, I know...'

'And it's really unhealthy.'

'I know, but I can't help it,' he stepped closer to her as he pleaded, 'and I'll try my hardest to make her happy in turn, I swe-'

Gaura raised a hand to silence him. 'It's not me you need to convince. I promised I would help.'

Edér let out a sigh of relief.

'But you gotta fill me in on what exactly went down between the two of you.'

'Yeah... Sure,' the farmer nodded somewhat awkwardly. Gaura gestured towards the stairway running beside the Temple of Gaun and leading to the bridge to the Gullet.

When the Defiant arrived at Neketaka, Edér asked the Watcher to go with him alone. Elafa was a suspicious sort, he said, and as strange as it felt to travel without her companions, Gaura was now grateful to be left alone to process Edér's recollections. He told her of all the times he asked Elafa to be more than just friends sharing a bed on occasion, and of all the times she said no. He told her of the day his parents left the Dyrwood and how he found himself back with his old Eothasian flock - or better to say what was left of it. He told her of the days leading up to the Purges in Gilded Vale. He told her of the Reaping, his reunion with Elafa, her Hollowborn son. He told her of the offer he made once again, and how Elafa said no. He told her of Elafa's escape. He told her of the offer he made for the last time and how, for the last time, she said no.

'I'm really sorry, Edér, for both of you,' Gaura knew how great an effort it was for her friend to open up to her like this, and she knew such a flimsy show of sympathy was probably an inadequate response.

Edér didn't seem to think the same. 'Don't be,' he said with a rueful smile. 'Should've told you about this a long time ago, I reckon. I just... Never been good at this sorta thing.'

'It's fine, I get it,' the Watcher swallowed thinking of all things she kept from Edér. All the fears she couldn't afford to show, the wear and tear she had to hide, the uncertainty that once defined her every waking moment but for the first time she wasn't sure how to adapt to it. She didn't know how long she stayed quiet as they walked beside one another, crossing the bridge that seemed endless.

'Promise me something, Edér,' Gaura broke the silence eventually. 'Promise me... that you stop looking to others to grant you peace. There are... things to which the world doesn't have an answer, but you still might find it within you. Promise me you'll start looking for those answers within.'

The Watcher looked to her friend, whose poorly concealed and uncharacteristic anxiety was now replaced with open worry.

'You don't think you can convince her, do you?'

'Even if I can, do you think things with her will turn out the way you want them to? That you can go back to the days before the war?'

Edér didn't respond. He looked at the bridge ahead and Gaura glimpsed a look on his face that she only ever saw once: five years before on the fields of ClÎaban Rilag, when she failed to give him the answers he desperately needed.

'I'm really sorry,' she apologized once more. She wasn't sure if she did it for the past or the present.

'Yeah, so am I,' he took out his pipe but this time his movements reflected resignation rather than just nerves. 'I know you mean well, and twenty years ago I would've been real grateful for the advice... Hel, I'm kinda grateful for it now... It's just that...'

'I know. It hurts like Hel. But with Eothas out there, doing who knows what... It's probably not the best idea to make anyone an anchor,' the Watcher scratched her chest right above her chimes.

Edér chuckled. 'Yeah, I definitely needed to hear that twenty years ago.'

'Ugh, twenty years ago... I didn't even have my horns yet,' the Watcher remembered. 'I was just a squishy ball of flame.'

'You still are.'

Gaura elbowed him in the side, prompting him to laugh. She couldn't help but laugh with him. None of them said anything for a moment but they both knew they needed that laugh. Then the moment passed.

'Can't promise anything,' Edér said. 'I was told I shouldn't make anchors.'

'Wow. I guess, I should be glad you listened.'

The sun was already setting by the time they reached the Gullet. Gaura wasn't surprised to see all the Dawnstars walking around aimlessly. The Rauataians either stayed at Hasongo or left for the Brass Citadel. The Children of the Dawnstars, however, only had the Temple of Gaun to themselves, and when that filled up, there was only one option left.

'Let's start with The Hole,' the Watcher suggested, 'if she isn't there, we'll check the Sanctuary. If she isn't there, we'll start asking around.'

Edér, however, wasn't listening. His gaze was fixed on a lanky boy with brown hair and freckles so prominent that Gaura could see them even from a distance. The farmer swallowed hard, then approached him. The Watcher had to skip to keep up with his long and determined strides.

'Hey, kid,' he called out. When the boy met Edér's gaze, he stopped in his tracks and whatever confidence he had disappeared in a second.

'Fine day to you,' the boy spoke cautiously. He took a double take at the flames framing Gaura's head then forced his gaze back to Edér. ' Is... there something I can help you with?'

'I'm looking for someone. Uh... She's my age, about this tall, always wears her hair in braids, she's got freckles just like yours...' Edér's words replaced the look of caution with a look suspicion on the boy's face, but he didn't seem to notice. 'Her name is Elafa. Elafa Maesy.'

'What do you want with her?'

'Nothing bad, I'm an old friend of hers,' Edér slightly lifted his empty palms.

'I know all of mother's friends and you don't look like any of them,' the boy crossed his arms.

'Oh...' the veteran froze for a fraction of a moment. 'You really are her son... Just as I thought,' the boy raised an eyebrow at Edér, prompting him to continue. 'I've known her before you were born. Has she never mentioned me? Edér? Teylegc? From Gilded Vale?'

The boy's eyes widened slightly and stepped forward, interested. 'She mentioned Gilded Vale before, but only like it was a slip of the tongue. I could never get her to talk about it.'

'Yeah... she didn't exactly leave under pleasant circumstances.'

The boy frowned. 'And how do I know she wasn't running from you?'

'Well, you don't,' Edér scratched the back of his head. 'Huh, you've got her spirit.'

The boy's frown deepened.

'You just need to trust us,' Gaura said. 'And we're a trustworthy bunch, just ask anyone here.'

The boy cocked his head at the Watcher and watched her silently for a short while. Then he gasped as if a realization dawned on him.

'You're the Captain of that Dyrwoodan ship! The Defiant, was it? Everyone is talking about you here.'

'We might've helped out a bit,' Gaura gave him a knowing smile.

'I... suppose... you're not here to start trouble then, the boy turned back to Edér. 'We're renting a room in The Hole. Mother is probably there, she doesn't like being out in such a crowd.'

'But the Gullet is always crowded,' the Watcher added.

'Exactly,' the boy smiled at her, satisfied with his display of wit.

'Just one more thing: what's your name, kid?' Edér asked.

'Bearn.'

'How old are you, Bearn?'

'I'm turning 17 soon, why?'

Edér's expression darkened as he made his calculations.

'Then... you're too young... Never mind, thanks for your help,' he rushed past the boy, leaving him dumbfounded.

'Uh, I gotta catch up to him,' Gaura gestured towards her companion. 'We'll be docked at Queen's Berth for the next couple of days, if you wanna chat. Bye.' She quickly said her goodbyes and gently pushed her way through the crowd slowly forming around her.

Edér was already talking to the innkeeper by the time the Watcher reached him. He took a deep breath and reached for his pipe, but just as he was about to light it, he stopped. He stared at nothing in particular, then he put away the pipe and looked at Gaura.

'You might get yelled at, so... Sorry about that in advance.'

'I'm used to it, but thanks,' the Watcher replied with a reassuring smile. Edér made his best effort at returning it then he stood up to guide her to Elafa's room. 'Ready?' Gaura asked as they stood facing the plain wooden door.

'Not really,' he said as he knocked.

There was no reply.

'Elafa?' Edér called out. 'It's me, Edér. Remember me?'

Still, there was no reply, but Gaura glimpsed a shadow moving under the door. She turned to Edér who gave her a nod - he noticed it too.

'I know, it's been a while but uh... Got some business here in the Deadfire and I thought I'd come and see you. Been to Hasongo too. I uh... I'm really sorry for what happened there.'

The door still didn't open but Elafa was standing right behind it, Gaura was sure of it.

'Maybe she can see us, too,' she whispered to Edér.

'Oh, right,' he aswered before he turned his attention back to the door. 'I'm here with a friend. Best one I made in years. No need to worry about her, she can be trusted.'

For a moment there was silence and then...

'You still believe in friendship? After everything that's happened?'

Edér was left speechless for a moment. The Watcher saw about a dozen different emotions flashing across his face, finally setting on a mixture of relief and tenderness.

'I missed your voice.'

Elafa hesitated with her answer.

'You didn't answer my question.'

'Sorry, I got a bit... Yeah, I learned to believe in it again.'

The door finally opened. However as soon as Elafa's gaze fell on the Watcher's face, she pulled out a pistol and pointed it right at her head.

'Charmed, I’m sure,' Gaura let out an exasperated sigh.

'Elafa, there's no need-'

'You're "making friends" with Magranites now?!' Elafa's voice rang with fury and old heartbreak.

'I'm not a-'

'What's that supposed to mean?' Edér asked before Gaura could protest.

'You know godsdamned well! But I never thought you would bed someone who would hunt us,' Elafa's gun wavered in front of Gaura's face. She shot a confused look at Edér who replied with an equally confused shrug.

'I think you got the wrong idea about us,' the Watcher said. 'And especially about me.'

'Is that so?' Elafa laughed bitterly. 'Then just who are you supposed to be?'

'Gaura, Captain of the Defiant, the Watcher of Caed Nua, the Herald of Berath and a friend of Edér's.'

Elafa's expression slowly softened. She turned to Edér for a moment who nodded in agreement with the Watcher. She lowered the pistol as she turned her gaze back to Gaura.

'Then... You're the one who ended the Legacy.'

'That's me. Edér helped too. A lot.'

'I was target practice for her enemies,' he joked. But Elafa didn't laugh.

'If you'd done it sooner, I'd have two sons now instead of one.'

Gaura looked away for a moment, trying to hide her guilt. This was not the first time she had to face the sorrow of a mother whose child has been taken by the Legacy, only to see their neighbors' restored. It hasn't gotten easier.

'I'm sorry I couldn't help your child. But I can help you and your other son now.'

'We're hunting Eothas now,' Edér explained. 'Whatever he's up to, we'll make sure he doesn't get to hurt you or Bearn. You have my word.'

'As well as mine.'

Elafa looked to Edér and scoffed. 'Again you're fighting our god. You really haven't changed.'

'You got tougher, though. Looks good on you,' the comment has earned him a faint smile.

'And you still make clumsy moves, I see.'

Gaura watched silently as the tension between her friend and his old flame started to relieve. She was just about to offer to leave them alone when Elafa invited them both into her room. There was barely enough space in there for two beds and a table with some stools.

'So what brings you to the sunniest spot in Neketaka?' Elafa made a poor effort at humor as they got seated.

'You, pretty much,' the Watcher answered.

Elafa blinked at her in disbelief. 'You really came down here, just to meet up? How did you even know I was here?'

'That's... a long story,' Edér added. 'But it's true. Just wanted to catch up, is all.'

Elafa stared at the farmer's hand for a few moments. Edér rubbed an old scar there when he felt her gaze on the back of his hand.

'I remember the last time we just had some catching up to do,' she said.

'Yeah, me too.'

'Didn't even matter, in the end. The babe died on the way to New Heomar. He was... too frail to handle the journey.'

Edér shifted his weight uncomfortably, and Gaura caught a glimpse of sorrow in his eyes.

'Really sorry to hear that,' he said.

Silence spread in the room, and grew more and more suffocating with each second passed. The relief the Watcher sensed earlier was gone and she again found herself wanting to leave.

'Did you ever regret it?' Edér eventually asked the question that hung heavily in the air. 'That you didn't let me come along?'

Elafa just watched him for a while, trying to figure out how to respond.

'There was one night. When the mobs took my husband. I thought back how you fought those guards to help me and my son escape. I thought... maybe you could've saved him too.'

Edér quietly acknowledged the answer and reached for his pipe. 'You mind?' he asked. Elafa shook her head. The veteran lit the pipe and took a long draw from it. The way he exhaled the smoke almost seemed like a sigh.

'So you got married.'

'Had a son, was widowed, sailed out to start over,' Elafa chuckled ruefully. 'I'm getting real good at that last bit.'

Edér kept nodding to himself. Gaura elbowed him in the side and gave him a pointed look. When he didn't seem to catch her meaning she spoke up.

'We could help you with that actually. Well... Edér could. I currently live on a sloop.'

Elafa raised an eyebrow at the Watcher. 'How so?'

'I left Gilded Vale too,' Edér finally found his voice. 'Settled down in Dyrford instead and became the mayor. We... still got a few empty plots of land. Free for anyone willing to take care of them.'

'And you think I'd want to take on that offer, huh?' Elafa said bitterly. 'Y'know when we left New Heomar, we could've gone anywhere in the world. We could've stayed in the Dyrwood, we could've stayed in the Eastern Reach. But we came here instead.'

'Guess, that's a no.'

'That, it is.'

Gaura sighed and leaned forward on her stool. 'Elafa, you left before Eothas came to Hasongo, so you probably don't know the state the outpost is in. It's... not good. Even if it was possible to rebuild everything as it was, would it not be wiser to consider your options?'

'I have considered them: I get to choose between uncertainty in a safe community or comfort surrounded by people ready to backstab me at any moment...'

'I would never let that happen, Elafa,' Edér's tone was tense but sincere.

'I know,' she smiled at him, 'but I can neither ignore nor forget what happened in the last twenty years. I'd rather face hardship here than what I've left behind.'

'So you're just gonna run?'

'And you're just gonna hold on to something that is long gone. Why do you think I refused to let you come along?' Elafa looked Edér in the eye and sighed, bracing herself. 'Edér, no matter how sweet you were... Nothing could've worked between us. Not after the war. I was willing to adapt but you... you tried so hard not to let the war change you. It was endearing but... That was it. I couldn't be like you and I couldn't take this away from you.'

'Why, that is good to know,' Edér said with gritted teeth after a few moments that felt like an eternity. 'And it would've been good to know twenty years ago too,' he stood up. 'Y'know there was a lot I was willing to do for you... There still is... '

'I can tell,' Elafa seemed strangely heartbroken as she spoke, 'which is why I think you should go.'

'Agreed.'

'But I...' Gaura wanted to protest but neither Edér nor Elafa seemed interested in what she had to say. She sighed as she stood up as well. 'You see, Caed Nua may be gone, but know that you have a place by my hearth wherever that may be. Edér's friends are my friends.'

'I can see why he likes you,' Elafa glanced at Edér leaving the room. 'Take care of him, will you.'

'Yeah and you take care too,' the Watcher flashed a quick and apologetic smile at her before she left as well.

Gaura hurried after the farmer down the hallway. She caught up to him at the base level of The Hole. He didn't seem particularly angry or sad. Just tired. 'Sorry about how things went down back there,' she approached him. 'I should've done more...'

'Hey, cut it out,' he gave her a faint half-smile. 'You've done more than enough. Guess, you were right about... Well... Everything.'

Gaura wasn't sure what else she could've said. So she embraced him without another word. Edér hugged her back, hesitantly at first, then so tightly it nearly hurt.

'Edér, you're squeezing the soul outta me.'

'Sorry about that. Lemme buy you a pint as a proper apology,' he inclined his head towards the bar.

'A pint of the swill from here? You're trying to kill me?'

The veteran managed to laugh at that. It was a half-hearted laugh at best, but it was something. Gaura could work with that. Whatever small measure of peace she could help him achieve was worth the effort.