#w&w yawning grave

[write-and-wander]

Yawning Grave | Four: Decompose

Astarion x Ayzora (F!OC)

Description: Demands are still being made, and difficult decisions are beginning to surface. The pressure begins to wear away at the walls built and masks worn until vulnerability finally begins to show its face, and bold-faced lies shift to careful half-truths shift to unwilling confessions; as if the predicaments they face could wait.

Warnings: Panic attack scene | Word count: 5.3k

| One | Two | Three | Four | ...

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Time passes by.

Seconds turn to minutes as neither move.  Neither say a word.

Her skin feels softer than he first imagined.  Most bodies he touches are warm, reminding him of just how cold his own flesh can be in its undeath; but her hand is just as cool, and suddenly his condition isn’t so strange.  There is a callous on her palm, where Messorem has worn its mark over decades of use.  Her hand stills as nervousness subsides.

His hold is gentle, lacking every ounce of confidence he paraded; but it's firm.  Refusing to let go.

Honest.  The word lingers in her mind while the churning in her stomach rolls with the waves of scars on her skin.  In all of her life, Ayzora has never been so entrenched in a sense of fragility.  One misstep, one careless word, and this moment snuffs out like the trembling flame of a dying candle.

Astarion had hoped his usual tricks- the flirting, the performance, the sex- would work.  He had planned to make the necromancer fall in love, pledge loyalty to him, and promise him safety from Cazador- but he hadn’t expected it to happen like this, in which his prey pursues him in equal measure with reckless abandon.

The lie starts to feel less like a mask and more like a mirror by the minute.

He gives her a sidelong glance, before his eyes snap back to the crackling fire; yet his stare is distant.  Words swell and fade in his closed mouth, mulling over the cacophony of feelings that seize him- feelings he decides to swallow.

She settles into the moment.  Gently, slowly, her thumb begins to move back and forth, caressing the back of the vampire’s hand.

Strangely, he doesn’t flinch.  His stomach doesn’t turn in disgust.

Honest , she reminds herself.  But where would I even start?   Her lips part as her mouth barely opens, ready for words she is still trying to find.  “Star…” she whispers, turning to look at him.  

The blaze dances in his ruby eyes for a couple of hesitant seconds before he at last meets her gaze.  “Yes?”

Sand and grass crunch as the footsteps of other companions approach.

Ayzora turns and stands, quickly pulling her hand from Astarion’s grasp.

He almost wishes she hadn’t let go.

Karlach is the first to reach the center of camp.  “Hey, soldier!  You won’t believe what happened when-”  She freezes.

Ayzora gives Karlach an uncertain look, when she feels eyes on the back of her head.  She turns her chin towards her shoulder as a new figure comes into view: a man, appearing to be around middle-aged, with brown shoulder-length hair and a fine set of clothes.

“My, my,” his voice bellows with a confident air.

D’Urge and Shadowheart jog up to the rest of the group, wearily stopping in their tracks as they see the visitor.

“What manner of place is this?”  The man takes a look around at the camp, pausing briefly on each individual.  “A path to redemption, or a road to damnation?”

Astarion instinctually steps closer to Ayzora when the stranger’s eyes land on her, an eyebrow cocking up in amusement.  

“Hard to say,” the stranger continues, leaning towards the necromancer,  “for your journey is just beginning.”  He straightens, addressing the rest of the group.  “What would suit the occasion?  Hm…  The words to a lullaby, perhaps?”

D’Urge takes slow, careful steps forward, before firmly positioning himself between the man and the rest of the group.  Wyll stands close at his side, scowling.

“The mouse smiled brightly: it outfoxed the cat!  Then down came the claw, and that, love, was that.”  The stranger chuckles, looking to D’Urge.  “They do know how to write them in Cormyr, don’t they?”  His hands stretch to either side of him, bowing at the waist.  “Well met.  I am Raphael.”  He straightens.  “Very much at your service.”

“If you want to threaten me, don’t disguise it with pretty words,” D’Urge bites back.  Lae’zel’s arm rests on her blade, while Karlach's battle-ready blaze fires up.

“Why, I never!”  Raphael’s hand rests on his chest in shock, until a smirk grows on his face.  “You’re paranoid, aren’t you?  Must be the surroundings,” he reasons, taking another glance around.  “Rather bleak and lonesome.  One feels so… exposed.”  He pauses, as if thinking for a moment.  “This quaint little scene is decidedly too middle-of-nowhere for my tastes.”  He leans forward and purrs, “come.”

In a bright flash of light, the comfort of camp is gone, and Ayzora- along with everyone else- is transported yet again to an unfamiliar domain.

Swaying trees and colorful tents are suddenly replaced by elegant marble and immaculate gold trim.  Turning around, there is a giant table completely filled with all sorts of food, from fine wine, to fresh fruits, to warm bread, to roasted meats.  The opulent feast is the centerpiece of the grand hall they now find themselves in.  Facing Raphael again, a grand painting of a devilish figure, with crimson horns and outstretched red wings, is proudly displayed above a roaring fireplace, before which he stands.  Multiple chandeliers of gold hang overhead, with red and gold fabrics draped between.  Heat rises in the room, leaving everyone to begin to sweat- save for Karlach, who at last feels comfortable.  Raphael seems to be unfazed by the grueling temperature.

“There,” he proudly declares with a gesture, “middle-of-somewhere.”

“Could you be more specific?”  Wyll pipes up.

“The House of Hope.  Where the tired come to rest, and the famished come to feed- lavishly.”  He gestures to the table.  “Go on.  Partake .  Enjoy your supper.  After all… it might just be your last.”

While a few glance at the piles of food, none dare to take anything.  Everyone’s eyes remain carefully trained on Raphael, with a few who are still prepared to fight at the first sign of trouble.

Ayzora’s eyes almost seem to glow in the dusk-like light, the golden rings around her pupils catching the light in an eerie contrast to her emerald irises.  No one has taken me to their domain with good intentions… I will not be made a pawn again.

“Easy, darling,” Astarion coos in her mind.

Ayzora flinches, glancing at the pale elf.  “Astarion,” She warns, displeased by his uninvited mental intrusion, “I have half a mind to starve you for a tenday.”

“You’re tense; and as much as I enjoy being a little knife-happy, I would advise caution at the moment.”

She glances down at her flexed hands, humming with the magic of a prepared spell.  Suppressing an eye roll, she forces them down to her sides.  “Fine.”  

“Are these theatrics leading somewhere?” D’Urge asks, seeing that no one has chosen to take Raphael up on his offer for food.

The man lets out a half-hearted laugh.  “Are you not entertained?  Well- far be it from me to disappoint.”  With a cocky grin, a blaze engulfs him.

The group jumps, taking a step back from the fire.

As the swirl of ash and flame fades, a devil stands tall before them.  Suddenly, the visage in the portrait is made flesh, with the same jagged horns and outstretched wings.  His scleras turn black as fiery orange irises regard the group.

“What’s better than a devil you don’t know?” Raphael asks, feigning thought as he raises a hand to his chin.  His hand lowers with a rumbling chuckle, “a devil you do.  Am I a friend?  Potentially.  An adversary?  Conceivably.  But a savior?  That’s for certain.”

“What makes you think we need saving?”  Ayzora retorts.

D’Urge holds his hand outward, silently asking her to stand down.

“Come now,” Raphael condescends.  “Why play hard to get when you’re in deep over your tadpoled head?”  He turns back to D’Urge, showing more interest in the informal leader of the group.  “One skull, two tenants, and no solution in sight.  I could fix it all,” he snaps, and a flame sparks from his fingertips for a moment, “like that.”

“You think I’ll make a deal with a devil?  Are you mad?”  D’Urge responds, his tone sharp and firm.  The rest of the group seems to ease for a moment.

“And what is madness but a denial of reality?”  Raphael tilts his head.  “Still,” he lifts a finger, as if warning the group, “I’ve a feeling you’ll change your mind.”  He leans forward.  “Before it’s changed for you…  Try to cure yourself,” he continues, waving a dismissive hand, “shop around- beg, borrow, and steal.”  His expression hardens with earnestness.  “Exhaust every possibility until none are left.  And when hope has been whittled down to the very marrow of despair- that’s when you’ll come knocking at my door.”  He straightens, looking off to some other point, “Hope,” he mutters to himself with a hardy laugh.  “Such a tease,” he adds, shaking his head.

“Take us back,” Wyll demands, “now.”

“And after that,” D’Urge continues, “I never want to see you again.”

“By all means,” Raphael says, raising his hands, “bite the hand that feeds you… while you still have teeth.”  He crosses his arms, with one hand gesturing, “all those pretty little symptoms- sundering skin, dissolving guts- they haven’t manifested yet, have they?  One might say you’re a paragon of luck.  I’ll be there when it runs out.”

In a flash, the room is gone just as fast as it appeared.

Ayzora crosses her arms over her stomach, holding herself silently while the group breaks out in frustrated conversation.  Glancing around, she locks eyes with Astarion, whose expression is one of incredulity.  Before he can speak, she turns on her heels, promptly heading for her tent.

“Now there’s a bloody devil after us?”  Astarion asks aloud with an incredulous laugh.  “This gets better and better,” he mumbles, following after Ayzora. 

Astarion stops in his tracks as she ducks into her tent, letting the flap close in his face.  Sympathizing with her apparent upset, he continues.  “‘Shop around,’ he said,” Astarion mocks with a grand gesture.  “He seems sure we won’t find anything.”

Upon hearing no response, he opens the tent flap.

Ayzora sits on the ground, her back facing him.  She hardly moves to acknowledge the vampire as he enters and sits beside her.

“And he might be right,” Astarion adds, his tone sobering.  “We’ve had no luck so far.”

Ayzora shakes her head while she stares at the base of the tent wall in front of her, “He’s playing with us, Astarion.”

“I’m aware,” he says through gritted teeth.  “Cazador liked to toy with people, too.  Let them think there was hope right until the end; until he snatched it all away.”  He leans back on his hands, crossing his legs at the ankle.  “Creatures like them don’t play games unless they know they can win.”

“Exactly.”  She rubs her temples, hiding her face in her palm.  “I can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what?”

“This!   Being toyed with!  Being dragged from one realm to another by cocky assholes with a promise veiled in threats-”

“We keep hunting for answers,” Astarion interjects.

She gives him a look; a silent “really?”

“What other choice do we have?”  He exclaims, lifting his hands in defense.  “This is no ordinary mind flayer parasite.  Who tampered with it, and why?  What do they have planned for us?  And why are we important enough that a devil comes knocking on our door?  If we find those answers, we might have a chance.”

Ayzora concedes with a nod, wrapping her shaking hands around herself and falling silent.

Actually, her whole frame trembles, Astarion notices.

A beat of silence passes.  And another.  Concern- oddly enough- begins to settle in for him as he watches her, silent and curled up and shaking.

“Darling?”  He asks softly.

She won’t even take a breath- much less speak.  She shakes her head.

“Darling?” He tries again, probing into her mind.

It races with thoughts: fears about the three powerful figures who prod at her vulnerabilities, anger at Orcus for his ask, uncertainty of their ability to find a cure, hopelessness for her redemption, anxiousness about finding answers in time- it all swirls into a whirlwind that overwhelms the both of them.

Astarion abruptly disconnects from her mind, taking a moment to center himself.  And as he looks back up at Ayzora, again, he sees himself.  Alone, trembling, consoling himself in whatever corner he could find.

Alone was the key word.  Suddenly, he finds himself in the face of uncomfortable vulnerability and intimacy that can’t be masked with theatrics; and it feels like he shouldn’t be here.  He wouldn’t want to be seen in a state like this, it’s only fair that he gives her some space to breathe and collect herself.

He shifts, preparing to stand- but a hand raises in the air, silently asking him to stop, and he heeds.

“Please,” she chokes out, divulging the amount of energy needed just to take a breath in this state.

He settles back into place, far enough for a gap between them, but close enough to reach out.  His eyes dart around the tent as he fidgets with the fabric of one of her blankets, and feeling awkward in the heavy silence.  

Her body shakes in waves as her lungs still yet again and her hands clutch her sides.  Terror tells her that the horror she endured all that time ago is on the brink of flooding her again; and this time, Orcus won’t be the only culprit.  Two new figures, capable of gods-know-what, are suddenly vying for pieces of her she’d thought she reclaimed at last, and begging for total control over a glorified puppet.

But she isn’t alone anymore.  The silence, loud and cold and horrific, is still somewhat comforting when it's held in company; company that believes they might have a chance, despite the odds that continue to rise against them.

Gradually, Ayzora’s mind begins to slow and her body begins to still as she clings to the breath of a chance.

After all, a chance got her this far; perhaps it’s all she needs.

When she at last calms, Astarion seems to perk up.

“Better now, darling?” He asks.

She nods with a half-hearted smile, keeping her eyes on the floor.

“Good.  I’d hate to have Orcus set his sights on one of us as a replacement.”

She huffs- softly, as her lungs are still near-empty- and then it hits her.

She had been holding her breath this whole time; and as oblivious as Astarion can be, he’s not that stupid.  Wide-eyed, she turns to him.

He cocks an eyebrow at her sudden shift.  “Yes?”

Half-words tumble from her agape mouth as she trips over her clashing thoughts, before finally less-than-gracefully landing on a response:  “Shit.”

His brows furrow.  “What?”

Wiping a hand down her slacked face, she continues.  “You know.”

“Know what?”

“About… me.”

“About…?  Oh, the undead thing?”  He asks flippantly.

Ayzora rolls her eyes, which settle into a glare.  

An obnoxious ‘yes,’ on all accounts .  Astarion can’t help the grin that pulls his lips upward.  He shifts, leaning back on one hand while he pretends to inspect his nails on the other.  “Darling, that was old news.”

Her expression is unmoving, and brutally cold.

But he’s unbothered- in fact, he’s almost amused.  “Oh, come on.”  He rolls his head to his slouched shoulder.  “You didn’t really think you could hide it from the vampire, of all people?  Please.”

“Get out.”

There’s a moment of shock on his face that quickly shifts to exasperation.  “It’s nothing to be ashamed of- you’re clearly in good company,” he adds, gesturing to himself.

She stands, holding open her tent’s door.  “Out.”

He rises to his feet.  “Alright, have it your way.”  He ducks out of the tent, returning to his own.

The second he steps out, she closes the flap and collapses into her bed roll.

Tears slowly roll down her face as her fears and failures weigh heavy on her head and heart.  She would hide away for the rest of the evening if she could, but…

There’s still that party tonight… Gods, I need to pull myself together.

It’s a battle, gathering her confidence and collected appearance again, but she manages.  The party hardly seems special- nothing more than a gathering of tieflings and “heroes” and shared liquor, likely with some songs and stories tossed in between.  It ought to be much easier to navigate than the sorts of parties she grew up attending, with countless nobles and an endless list of etiquette rules woven between practiced dances and long toasts.

Or, perhaps the lack of closely-followed-scripts and protocols will make it worse.

Only time will tell.

She stands in front of her mirror, adjusting her at-ease clothes.  Her hair is in the same pristine braid she creates every night, and her light grey blouse is neatly tucked into her leather shorts.  She tugs at the tops of her looser-fitting boots, adjusting them to the same height on her thighs.  Stepping back, she takes another long look at herself.

It’ll have to do.  Nothing seems to look quite right, but she’d rather not draw attention to herself as the last one to show- if at all.  That is, if anyone notices she’s gone in the first place…

“Ayzora?  Are you joining us this evening?”  Gale's gentle voice calls through her tent.

She sighs.  Of course he would.   She pulls open her tent, securing the flap to the side to keep it drawn open.

Gale stands at her door with a pleased look and an easy smile.  He's in his usual evening wear, but his hair is drawn back in a tousled half-bun.

“Trying new hairstyles?”  Ayzora asks, giving him a once-over.

“What do we think?”  He opens his arms out in presentation and turns, showing off the minor transformation.

She gives him a smile, and a slight nod.  “Not bad.”

“I think that's the kindest thing you've said to me yet,” he beams, winking at the necromancer over his shoulder before turning back around to face her.

“I strive not to further inflate the ego of a mage,” she responds almost dryly- but there’s a twinkle of fondness in her eyes, giving way to levity.

“I see.”  He glances around behind him.

There are some other conversations carrying on around camp as the night sinks in.  D’Urge sits around the campfire with Karlach and Wyll, and Shadowheart seems to be in thoughtful discussion with Halsin, who had arrived a few minutes earlier and announced the rest were on their way.  Lae’zel sits in front of her tent, carefully polishing her weapons to put on display for the evening, while Astarion stands on the rugs set out before his tent with a book in hand.  The vampire rogue steals a glance over at the chatting wizards, briefly reaching up to ensure his curls are perfectly in place before resuming his reading, turning the page.

Upon confirming their companions are occupied, Gale turns back to his friend.  “Are you alright?”

Ayzora, whose gaze had been subconsciously drifting to the nonchalant rogue, snaps to attention.  “What do you mean?”

“You’ve been rather uncharacteristically absent since our encounter with the devil.”

“I have a characteristic absence?”

“Most tend to,” he answers matter-of-factly.

Her head cocks to the side with a smirk.  “Fair.”

“So, might I lend an ear to whatever it is that troubles you?”

She turns her head in the beginning of a shake, before changing her mind as it dawns on her: she isn't the only one with a god looming over her.

Gale had told her about his love affair with the goddess of magic, Mystra.  A tryst that began to drive him to a desperation to impress her, and ended with a magical bomb in his chest, something he called a Netherese Orb.  A precarious condition he has to maintain through the absorption of magic in order to stay alive- and, well, keep the impending explosion at bay.

That's when she told him about Orcus.  About the triad.  About the power and security it promised her, and the brutal downfall that followed.

If he knew that she, too, oft absorbed a precious and immaterial force to stay alive, would he understand?

She gives a long look to the wizard.

His eyes dart between hers as he works to get a read on her.

“I know that look.”

She catches herself in a moment, forcing her expression to remain the same; forcing herself to remain in control.  “What do you mean?”

“There's something you're not saying; because for one reason or another, you're afraid to talk about it.  I’m here if you-”

“No.”

His eyes go wide.

No, She thinks to herself, of course not.  He wouldn't understand.

Her mind searches for words she cannot seem to find- something to ease the tension rising in the air and in her stomach.

Gale’s expression shifts from shock to resolve as his eyebrows furrow.  His voice is softer, but much more firm.  “People who speak in excess often conceal a lack of knowledge.”  He leans in, gesturing with a nod of his head towards Astarion, “our friend seems to have mastered the craft.”  

Ayzora glances at the elf, taking a deep breath as she locks eyes once again with the wizard.

Gale holds up a finger; as both advice and a warning, “It’s the ones who stay silent you need to keep an eye on.  They know much more than they would ever let on, often to a concerning degree.”

The necromancer cautiously scans the camp for listening ears.  Everyone appears to be occupied.

She doesn’t notice that Astarion only turns the page when he feels eyes on him.  Besides, with his tent next to hers, who can blame him for accidentally hearing bits and pieces of her conversations?

Her focus returns to Gale.

His eyes soften.  “But remaining silent and alone is a grim sentence.  Whatever it is, Ayzora, I will listen.”

There’s a long pause.  Thinking.  Debating.  And finally, acquiescing to her friend’s persuasion.

“Orcus returned last night.”

“After a long stretch of silence?”

She nods, shifting her weight.  “He wanted to make one last deal.”

“Which is?”

“I don’t know yet.”

He nods thoughtfully.  “Is it the unknown nature of this final bargain that troubles you?”

She pauses.  The answer is… complicated.  Half-yes, half-no.  She’s long grown used to the less-than-explicit approach Orcus took to his orders and offers.  This time feels different…

Her eyes drift again to pale white curls.

“Yes,” Ayzora answers slowly, as if cautious of every syllable.  She looks at Gale, taking pause to find her words.  “But I worry about the implications it may carry for others.”

His head tilts to the side.  “How do you mean?”

She tilts her chin downward.  The gold ring around her irises catches the light, glowing in contrast to her cold emerald eyes staring at him through white eyelashes.  “Traveling in numbers means any bargain struck by one is made for all;” her voice, though still resonant in her chest, is broken by breath as it quivers, “and I fear I remain a bad omen.”

Gale casts his gaze downward for a moment, gathering himself.  “Ace…” he whispers under his breath.  No other sound emanates from agape mouth, his eyes pleading for his mind to catch up to his heart and say something. 

And yet, the wizard with a knack for always having something to say is rendered speechless.

She watches him with baited breath, awaiting any sort of comforting response; but the longer she looks at him, the deeper the pit in her stomach sinks as she begins to feel less like a friend pleading for encouragement and more like a looming shadow over a gentle soul undeserving of further torment.

Before it can cut any deeper, she steels herself, giving a curt nod to Gale and stepping past him: The conversation is over now.

As much as he would like it to continue.

“Ayzora?”  He asks, trying to deny- or at least appeal- her decision to leave and dissuade her from putting her walls back up so quickly.

“Thanks, Gale,” she adds over her shoulder as she walks away from her tent and over to the incoming group of Tieflings.

The wizard stands before his friend's tent for a while.  In a way, he almost stubbornly hopes it tells him something she won't. 

It doesn't.

Astarion stares at Ayzora from afar.  He swirls a bottle of wine in one hand, lifting it to his lips and swallowing the bitter liquid until he feels sufficiently distracted by the horrid taste of the mediocre drink.

As soon as the guests arrived, she had been comfortably near them and agonizingly far from him.  Listening to their songs and stories, softly smiling at their jokes, and even waltzing with Wyll for a while.  Yet her eyes continually found his, as if anchoring herself to him in these uncertain waters.  There’s hardly a moment for his concern to find voice in his mind; she continually makes wordless promises to return to the home he has become, and he cautiously dances over the line between honesty and manipulation as he tries to draw her in further.

Mulling over his disappointing beverage, he watches on as a tiefling shows off a few of his spells to a small crowd, Ayzora among them.  A minor illusion ignites from his fingertips, rising up into the air before bursting in brilliant blues, whites, and purples as bright fireworks.  Ayzora offers reserved applause along with the rest, stealing yet another glance at the rogue.

The bright light of the fireworks fade into the blue hue of the moonlight and reflect in his silvery curls, highlighting the tops of his strong cheekbones and pink pouting lips.  The contrast of the cool tones in his ruby red irises makes his eyes twinkle as he meets her gaze.  Ayzora saunters over to Astarion, her alcohol-induced buzz relaxing her gait, in turn bringing a gentle sway to her hips that he can’t help but notice.  As she nears, he puffs his chest and wears a charming smirk, donning the seductive act yet again.

“Here’s my little treat with her cheeks all flushed,” he announces- mostly just to her.  Like no matter how loud or grandiose his speech, she will always be his audience.

She catches herself in an involuntary grin, glancing down to regain her composure before looking back up at him.  A soft smile still remains, despite her efforts.

He continues, “you will come to my bed tonight, won’t you?”

She raises an eyebrow.  “Will I?”

“Darling, I can hardly keep my mind clear to fight; I’ve been thinking about our last night together ceaselessly.”  He drops his head, fidgeting with his hands, shifting from declaration to confession, “I’ll be in quite the spot of mortal peril if you let me keep distracting myself dreaming instead of doing.”  He leans back, resuming his arrogant flirtation, “we can’t have that, can we?  It would be very dangerous.”

“Well, now I’m tempted to leave you dreaming a while longer,” she teases.

“Ah, so you need a bit of enticing?”

She shifts her weight to one side, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow, silently challenging the vampire.

“Let me see…”

She watches as he thinks for a few seconds, before pulling one of his lines out of his mental catalogue.

“How about this one,” he begins, “All these accolades from the Tieflings are nothing compared to the sound of my name, cried from your lips.”

She thinks for a moment, before shaking her head.  “I’ve heard better.”

“Hmm, let me give it another go.”  He re-positions himself, standing back like an artist taking in their sculpture work.  “Every part of your perfect body whispers temptation -” he emphasizes, leaning towards her as if the beauty he speaks of is a confessed secret.  Straightening, he offers an explanation:  “It’s as if the gods made you just to ruin me.”

Perfect body?  The gods?  Please.   Despite his best efforts, she can’t get past the fact that these lines were meant for someone- anyone- else.  Her arms unfold as she begins to examine her fingernails, noting how chipped the polish has become.

Before she can say a word, Astarion sees her negative shift in expression and jumps in with a final attempt:  “How about if I said these little words…”

Ayzora looks up, intrigued.

“Everyone’s favorite,” he adds, stepping closer to her.

Her stomach stirs, but she does not move.

Astarion begins to speak, but as the words fall from his mouth, his expression shifts from feigned gentleness to suppressed fear as they seem to ring truer than he had intended:  “I love you,” he says low.

Her eyes widen as her heart drops into her stomach and a pang echoes in her hollow chest.  Everything tells her that this moment is fabricated; the rehearsed confession of a professional seducer, and a man desperate for the safety of a companion- but softly, whispering in the back of her mind, is a voice telling her that somehow, he might mean it.  But he doesn’t.  And… there’s part of her that wishes he did.  But she can’t even bear to think about it.

A long silence- only a couple of grueling seconds long- passes.

“Y-you… don’t mean that,” she finally responds, voluntarily adding salt to wounds she wasn’t ready to admit existed.

His jaw clenches for a moment.  I didn’t mean it.  Of course I didn’t mean it.  I’ve said it countless times to faces I hardly remember now.  Her pained expression burns into his memory as guilt grows heavy on his consciousness.  “Well,” he reasons, “I could.  If only for tonight.”  The tension within him eases.

It’s stupid.  She knows that.  But gods damn it, she’s come to care about the rogue- and despite the grief that will inevitably follow yet again, she can convince herself to believe another lie for one more night.

He recovers the theatrics, carrying on before she has the chance to dwell too much longer on just how much he can mean it if he allows himself the evening.  “Now, as much as I relish standing around and saying all my favorite lines at you, I’d much rather we got to experience each other’s, uh… full portfolio of talents once again.”

She takes a deep breath.  “Perhaps once everyone has turned in?”

He smirks.  “I’ll be waiting,” he says with a wink before turning on his heels and dipping into his tent.

Ayzora stands outside of his tent, swallowing down a lump rising in her throat.  She can tend to her wounds later- for now, they don’t have to exist.  Heartbreak will have to wait.  She slowly turns to look over the rest of the party before deciding to pass the time by joining the group around the fire listening to one of the bard’s stories.

Meanwhile, Astarion lies in his tent and stares at the ceiling.  Just tonight, he reminds himself.  Just tonight, he repeats.  Just tonight.  The mantra turns from a promise to a prayer to a plea.  Just tonight.

But when the fire dies down, and the tieflings leave, and their companions doze in their tents, and the suddenly beautiful necromancer appears at his tent door, and his hands find their gentle way to her hips, he pulls her close.  His confidence wavers, grazing lips over skin in hesitation before pressing soft kisses into her neck.  He reaches for the ties holding her blouse to her body when a hand stops him.

The gold ring around her pupils glows in the low light, making her emerald gaze all the more intense.  “Tell me,” she commands- no, begs.  If he will mean it for now, she wants to hear it, and memorize the sound of the words from his mouth.

With a slow, chaste kiss to her lips, he whispers: “I love you.”

And he means it.

This is cross-posted to my Ao3, @ write-and-wander, so be sure to subscribe to the fic there if you want to see it first and be notified when it updates!

[annecoulmanross]

So it's been a while. But I couldn't let James Fitzjames Finding Day pass without some celebration—thank you Doug Stenton, Stephen Fratpietro, and Robert W. Park for giving us this wonderful and terrible knowledge. I've made an emotional playlist of all of us currently experiencing whatever emotion this is:

Selected lyrics for each song included below the cut!

Strange Ships | PHILDEL

Strange ships won’t let me sail out Passed by the ice and stone now

2. I, Carrion (Icarian) | Hozier

If the wind turns, if I hit a squall Allow the ground to find its brutal way to me

3. Howling | Wild Rivers

Howling out here for the morning light I can’t sing no more

4. The Yawning Grave | Lord Huron

I tried to warn you when you were a child I told you not to get lost in the wild I sent omens and all kinds of signs I taught you melodies, poems, and rhymes

5. Sax Rohmer #1 | The Mountain Goats

Ships loose from their grins, capsize and then they’re gone Sailors with no captains watch a while and then move on

6. Long Wave | Dessa

Starve the guard dog And see what hunger does It’s easy when we’re well fed To talk of love

7. Achilles Come Down | Gang of Youths

Throw yourself into the unknown, With pace and a fury defiant Clothe yourself in beauty untold, And see life as a means to a triumph

8. Eat You Alive | The Oh Hellos

I’ve seen the true face of the things you call life The song of the siren that holds your desire Death, she is cunning and clever as hell And she’ll eat you alive

9. My Ego Dies At The End | Jensen McRae

Leave my body and my ego early Kill it kind with a surgeon’s mercy Claim I put it out of its misery

10. Who We Are | Hozier

Darling, we sacrificed We gave our time to something undefined This phantom life sharpens like an image But it sharpens like a knife

11. Devourer | Aidoneus

Beams of light, show me how to feel Light the gloam, find my Achilles heel I will welcome my mortality—let me go

12. Sound the Bells | Dessa

Go lift your sails up For one last swell Go lift yourselves up To sound the bells

13. Your Bones | Of Monsters and Men

Said goodbye to you my friend As the fire spread All that’s left are your bones That will soon sink like stones

14. Wildflower and Barley | Hozier, Allison Russell

This year, I swear it will be buried in actions This year, I swear it will be buried in words Some close to the surface, some close to the casket I feel as useful as dirt, put my body to work

15. These Bones | Azrai, Momo O’brien

It’s a savage sea we’re made to roam Every tide can turn to haunt us But the ocean reaches past these ghosts And I will always sail for more

16. By Way Of Sorrow | Cry Cry Cry

You have come by way of sorrow You have come by way of tears You’ll reach your destiny Meant to find you all these years

17. Gracestone | PHILDEL

When I open my final door I’m gonna sail much wilder seas than your ships were built for I’m turning into dust across that cove You know, I have known enough to not feel owed

18. Glowing | The Oh Hellos

You’ll rise, like land, pulled up at the sound of some strange commandment A moon alight, reflecting fully And I guess it would feel like rebirth, out of some kind of dying To see yourself so glowing

[myswans0ng]

As Grief Consumes | Chapter One

synopsis: An overconfident prodigy, a chain-smoking-alcohol-chugging brunette, a self-righteous hypocrite, a stoic unimpressed blonde, an overly enthusiastic boy and then there's you...A suicidal maniac.

ch. summary: First impressions are just the chocolate coating before you get to the gooey sweet center...

contents/warning: MDNI, graphic depictions of violence/mature themes, ANGST, mutual pining, eventual smut/smut, slow burn, multiple love interests, character death/s, no use of y/n, hurt/comfort, humor, established age of characters is 18yo, jjk x oc, curse user!/jujutsu sorcerer!reader, fem!reader

w/c: 3.2k

index: [masterlist] prologue, chapter 1, chapter 2

⋅───⊱ i. ode to friends ⊰───⋅

A loud thud roused you from your sleep. You turn slightly to your side, your eyes blinking, adjusting to the morning light peeking through the curtains. 

Then you hear another knock, this time they did it thrice in a row.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

“... Give me a moment,” You said groggily as you practically had to push yourself out of bed, your body sliding off the sheets.

KNOCK!

You huffed, softly groaning as the relentless knocking was beginning to irritate you. You took long, lazy strides towards the door and turned the knob.

“Oh.” You said breathily as you saw your fellow… classmate. Her short brown hair, her wide bored doe eyes and the beauty mark just slightly above her right cheekbone. She was pretty, to say the least. Nothing has changed from your initial impression of her.

You watched as she eyes you from head to toe, a contrast from her tidy appearance in her fitted uniform, you were a mess.

Bedhead and morning breath. An atrocious combo.

“Good morning.” She said plainly. Her voice was smooth and almost sultry. Her bored eyes continued to be unphased as she greeted you.

It was early. Too early. 

And both of you were severely aware of that.

“Mm’mornin’” You replied, your mind still half-asleep. You yawned and stretched your arms, easing your tense shoulders. “Huhh’Shokoo right?” You said, midway through your yawn. You remembered Yaga mentioning another healer in your batch and seeing her in class.

She nodded. You only now noticed that she was holding a large, dark rectangular box. It looked like a gift with the way it was wrapped. It had ornate details on the edges and the bow wasn’t puffy, but more delicate and flat. You suddenly spot a familiar symbol engraved on the box. Its silvery colors stood out.

The Kisaragi crest.

“Yaga sensei told me to give this to you,” Shoko spoke. She brings the box forward, handing it to you.

“I see… thanks,” you replied. You take it from her hands, the weight of it was lighter than you thought. 

You had expected that was the end of the conversation as you were about to return to your room but Shoko still stood there, as if she was waiting for the right time to say something or if the air settled somehow as the awkward tension rose.

“Yaga sensei told me you’re my new partner,” she finally said. “Said I should show you the works ‘round the Infirmary…” She continued on, her face still impassive, her lips parted slightly.

It has only been four days since you arrived in Tokyo. Yaga sensei himself had personally welcomed you, shown you around the school and oriented you on this year’s events and curriculum. He also mentioned an arrangement between your mother and the higher-ups, they had made a deal with the school, where you had to work for them.

Of course this wasn't without compensation. The school was paying both you and your family to be on beck and call for any medical emergency that needed your immediate set of skills. In other words, they’ve allowed sorcerers and staff to come running to you for any injury— grave or not.

Yaga sensei thought this was a good idea, so much so that they decided to let go of the previous non sorcerer nurse and doctor that worked for the school, to make way for you.

Although, you can’t deny that you didn’t see this coming.

“Hmm, sure…” You cleared your throat as if to swallow the uneasiness. “Uhh… you wanna come in?” You asked, inviting her inside your new home.

Before she could answer, you pushed the door open, revealing the temporary space that the school admins had set up for you, upon request by your family while you continue your studies. Yaga had allocated a private living area for you, just two stories below the rooftop of the main building. That space was half the entire floor since your mother refused to let you room in a small dorm like a normal student like you had initially intended. 

The other reason was that you were closer to the Infirmary.

As per agreement.

Shoko walks inside, slipping off her shoes by the entryway, her eyes scanning the large spacious room. From the open kitchen to the bed by the window.

“Jeez, I didn’t even know our school had these rooms,” Shoko comments. “It’s practically an apartment, you even have a little terrace.” She points at the sliding door leading to the small outdoor space with furniture made out of cheap wicker, just right by the kitchen.

“Make yourself at home,” you said as you gently dropped the box on the coffee table. Your back turned, your eyes scanning the box. “You can help yourself with anything in the fridge, they told me it’s fully stocked, haven’t bothered to check.” You said casually.

Shoko hummed in response, already moving towards the kitchen refrigerator.

You loosened the strings of the box lazily. You hear the fridge door open behind you, and Shoko’s awe as she rummages through the contents inside. The sound of glass bottles against each other and the crinkling of plastic hinted that it was indeed packed with food.

You flip the top of the box off, revealing pieces of clothes and a pair of shoes tucked beside it. You sighed, already knowing what it was.

You hear the sound of a soda can popping open. The faint smell of citrus entering your nostrils.

“Eh? Is that what nurses wear?” Shoko asked, walking over to you. Her expression riddling with curiosity.

You glanced at the neatly folded outfit, and clicked your tongue. “Of course it is,” you muttered, your tone mildly annoyed at the pieces of fabric and that ugly family insignia sewn on its collar.

You lift the outfit up from its short sleeves, revealing its entirety. Shoko narrows her eyes on the attire, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Wow… that’s something alright,”

“Is that supposed to be your uniform?” She can’t help but snort out a laugh, unable to hold herself back. “Sorry for laughing, but that’s ridiculous!” 

“My thoughts exactly!” You tilt your head to the side, letting out an exasperated breath. You glared at the outfit. If you could tear it to shreds, you would but you’re wondering if that was worth getting lectured by your mother. 

You examined your uniform. The fabric itself was high quality, the measurements tailored to fit you perfectly, though you wished the skirt was a little longer. The design wasn’t made without thought, its inspiration was from your grandmother’s military nurse uniform, during her time in the war. 

Your mother had insisted on this homage, pushing the school admins to approve a custom uniform just for you. The only difference from your grandmother’s actual nurse uniform were the colors. Yours matched the school’s dark navy blue palette, but the overall aesthetic was unmistakable— especially with the crest. 

It should fit you just fine but just the mere thought of wearing it, already felt suffocating. 

And there were those heels.

Those awful, awful, platform heels. Your mother’s words echoing in your head like a needle poking through a balloon. You swear your brain is about to burst.

"The women of this family must always stand taller. Carry yourself with grace."

You hated those shoes, they were impractical— uncomfortable and any normal nurse would see it as a hindrance, given the physical demands of their job. But if you have learned anything since you were born, pain is just secondary. It wasn’t like you weren’t already used to your aching soles by now.

You tossed the uniform back in its box. Its sleeves lay haphazardly.

“They really make you play the part, huh?” Shoko says, noticing the twitch in your face as you looked at your uniform once more. Almost like she had read your mind. “Though a nurse outfit for a sorcerer with healing abilities, might be a little too on the nose.” She added.

You let out a dry chuckle. Your family was anything but subtle when it came to letting people know exactly who they were and where they came from. “You tell me,” you shrugged. “I’m gonna take a quick shower and get changed then we can start the day, I guess.”

“Sure, mind if I smoke?” The bob cut brunette asked, with a small, albeit, a friendly smile.

“Go ahead,” You smiled back. “If you happen to drop your cigarette on my uniform and it suddenly catches on fire, I’ll owe you one!” You trailed off winking at her, as you turned towards the bathroom.

You hear Shoko’s small laugh and the flick of a lighter. Then she spoke again.

“You can call me Ieiri.”

⋅───⊱༺ ♰ ༻⊰───⋅

The smell of antiseptic greeted you as you and Shoko walked in the rather enormous infirmary. It even had a number of cold cabinets at one side. The blinding white lights on the ceiling were keeping the room well lit but somehow being in here felt dim.

“This place sure does suck the life outta ya,” you joked, your shoes clicking against the polished floor as you walked over the small table. “How often do you get patients here?” 

Shoko walks over next to you, watching as you examine the medical tools laid out on the silver tray. “That depends…” She replied vaguely. Though you already understood what she meant.

“Not a lot of live ones, huh?”

“Our line of work isn’t the most… forgiving,” Shoko leaves your side and sits on the small single bed tucked against a wall. “But I think you already knew that, Yaga sensei said that’ll change, now that you’re here.”

“Did he really say that?” you asked, laughing in disbelief.

“Well not in those exact words, but he said something about you being well-mannered and as long as you stay out of trouble, maybe we’ll have fewer casualties,” You had half-expected Shoko to smirk or to brush it off with sarcasm. To your surprise, she didn’t. Instead, her lips quirked up in a small smile.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to put that pressure on ya.” She added.

You snorted, shaking your head. “Don’t worry ‘bout it! Not really sure what to say on that well mannered part but I hope I’m not giving off that same impression on you.”

Shoko chuckled, leaning back on her hands. “With how you woke up this morning, I think you’re already there,” You chuckled at her remark.

“Also, another thing,” She continued, leaning forward, her elbows resting on her knees. “Gojo and Geto told me about how you guys met.” She confessed.

You blinked, feeling an odd mix of surprise and worry, almost like you were eager to know what she had thought of that encounter.

Shoko raised an eyebrow, laughing slightly at your reaction. “Relax…” She draws out. “I’m not here to judge, I’m actually looking forward to knowing what’s going on inside that head of yours, you’re already more interesting than the weirdos I hang out with.” 

You gave her a faint smile, though you weren’t sure if you entirely believed her.

Shoko stood up, stretching lazily. “Well, since Yaga’s so confident in you, let’s see if you live up to the hype. Grab those gloves and start organizing the supplies in that cabinet.” She pointed toward a slightly ajar door on the far side of the infirmary.

You laughed at her teasing but you obliged. “Are you sure you wanna give someone like me access to drugs?” You jest.

“What makes you think I haven’t already gotten to them?” Shoko smirked as she leaned against the counter. 

You let out a short laugh. “Of course you did.”

⋅───⊱༺ ♰ ༻⊰───⋅

“Yaga sensei said we’re doing physical training today,” Shoko reminds you. “So prepare yourself, those idiots can get competitive— especially you know who.”

Baby powder.

“Mhm typical,” you scoffed. “I’d say I’m surprised but that would be a lie, though I wouldn't mind seeing him getting kicked down a peg or two.”

Shoko chuckled. “We can only hope.”

You and Shoko made your way to the open field where you spotted Yaga sensei and the rest of your classmates. The sun was out, the cool breeze was swaying the trees that were surrounding the acres and acres of land, you could even hear the birds chirping in the distance. It was undeniably a beautiful day.

This was the first time you were all present, the past few days that you were here, one or three of them would be out on a mission so the classes were usually quiet— unless Gojo was there.

The classes were long and dull, you didn't really have much of an opportunity to mingle. Moreover, Yaga would always pull you aside after class to continue your school orientation. Today, you had a chance to befriend Shoko and that was plenty. 

Being homeschooled all your life, you’ve only ever spoken to soldiers during your stationed assignments, they were a lot older. You didn’t exactly have a lot of peers to surround yourself with. You were surprised you even had the capacity to at least make one friend your age.

There was a new face, one you don’t recognize or have seen in your previous classes. He stood tall, his striking blonde hair flowing slightly as the wind brushed past him. Though he could use a haircut, seeing as how his side bangs was longer than the hair on the back of his head.

“Oy! Nanami!” You see Shoko call out to him, waving at him and the rest of the group. You hear them greet her back, mostly Gojo and you even hear your name. You simply waved back at him and Geto.

You feel your chest rise slightly as you follow Shoko walking closer to the blonde, with Haibara next to him.

Were you nervous?

Your mind raced for whatever reason. Something tells you that this guy— Nanami, wasn’t like those other two, given that he wasn’t engaging in any conversation with them except Haibara.

He seemed more reserved than Geto, and significantly more so than Baby Powder.

“Hey Shoko! Kisaragi!” Haibara greets you. His grin, ever so bright and wide. He was the first to welcome you when Yaga had first introduced you to the class.

You gave him a warm smile, well as warm as it could be. “Hey Yu!”

“So you came back in one piece after all,” Shoko said, giving the mopey looking blonde a friendly pat on his shoulder.

“Mhm.” Was his only response, it almost sounded more like a low sound  than of an answer.

So he’s not the talkative type. You assumed.

“This is the newbie— Kisaragi, don’t think you two know each other yet,” Shoko introduces you.

“I see,” He acknowledges. “Nanami, Kento.” He said, chaste and firm.

You don’t know whether to shake his hand or say something. So you politely bowed your head at him in response. His presence was somehow urging you to be more formal.

This didn’t help the already growing social tension.

What is wrong with you? You scolded yourself. He’s your classmate, not your senior.

Before the awkwardness grew heavy, Yaga called everyone’s attention. Instructing all of you to gather close.

Thank god.

Yaga stood at the forefront as all of you gathered in a circle. His arms were crossed, his presence commanding and his gaze stern. His bulky physique made him even more intimidating than he already was.

He had shared that he wanted his students to spar and work on their reflexes, as well their cursed techniques. Yaga sensei had already made you aware of these particular lessons, though you had expected that it would be in a more closed quarters like the multiple dojos the school had rather than being outside under this fine Spring day. 

“Nanami,” Yaga sensei called.

Nanami straightened his back, his attention suddenly on his teacher. Almost like a soldier saluting the head officer.

“You’ll be sparring with Miss Kisaragi for today.”

“Ehhh?!” You hear Gojo react, surprised at Yaga’s revelation, so were the rest of the group. 

Even Nanami himself didn’t seem pleased with this sudden arrangement, though you weren’t sure why.

Nanami took a step forward, in protest, “Tch, Sensei, I already have a sparring partner—”

“Haibara will be sparring with somebody else for now.” Yaga sensei said, cutting him off. Already knowing what the blonde was going to say.

“But sensei,” He takes a few more steps towards the teacher. “I don’t wanna fight a woman!” He explained.

Oh?

Your ears perked up, your eyes gleaming with amusement. You bit the inside of your cheek, keeping yourself restrained from laughing at his gracious yet— narrow statement.

“I also don’t think she can keep up,” Nanami pointed out, just to further his argument for whatever reason. “No offense Kisaragi.” He turns to you, though it didn’t sound quite sincere. It sounded more like he was stating a fact that you will certainly, wholeheartedly, hold him back.

A pretty presumptuous opinion. You thought. Though no offense was taken, I mean he hasn’t gotten to know you yet.

You didn’t expect such brashness to come from someone who looked like him. Well that certainly crossed out your initial impression of him.

Now you have the opportunity to prove him wrong, and Yaga seemed willing to give that to you, and you didn’t even have to ask.

How lucky.

Your teacher then turns to you. His expression remained unyielding.

“Miss Kisaragi, do you have combat experience?” Yaga sensei asked. But he already knew this. But he was doing this for Nanami’s sake.

“Yes,”

“Have you fought men his size before?”

“Yes,” Bigger and meaner even.

“Are you fine with sparring with Mister Nanami here?” 

And another “Yes.” came out of your mouth as you eyed Nanami in your peripheral vision, who was vividly displeased.

You can hear Shoko snickering in the back, almost like she was sharing your same thoughts, and seeing the stoic blonde cornered, Yaga leaving him with not much of a choice was entertaining to say the least.

“We can spar tomorrow Nanami!” Haibara reassured his friend, though that didn’t help his current dilemma.

You hear Gojo’s distinct, obnoxious laughter, along with the rest of them, amused at Haibara’s obliviousness to Nanami’s predicament.

You were trained since you were barely the age of eight. Hand-to-hand combat became second nature, ingrained into your everyday routine way before you got here. Your family deemed it was necessary, given your ‘God-given talents’. You’ve had several teachers who taught you how to fight, one from the Zenin clan. Though the training wasn’t super extensive since your family’s priority is more on your healing abilities, rather than your offensive skills. 

But the environment you were thrusted into, those skills escalated rather quickly. Warzones and curse-infested battlefields didn’t exactly give you the luxury of learning at your own pace. You had to fight, whether you knew how or not.

Your mother called it ‘preparation’.

But to you that was, survival.

“So it’s settled. You and Nanami will be sparring today,” Yaga sensei said dismissively.

Nanami let out a low grumble, followed by a resigned sigh.

He’s stuck with you, at least just for today. Catching his reaction, you couldn’t help but grin as you approached him, with a playful air.

“I promise I’ll try to keep up!” You added a cheeky wink at him for good measure, your initial formalities from earlier, already forgotten.

This was going to be fun!

[ comment if you want to be added in the taglist for future updates ]

a/n: i might post the next chapter soon (but don't get your hopes cuz I have work huhu)

also on ao3: here

[euphoricbi]

reader wanting to sleep on the couch cuz they feel bad for using the safeword w geto, gojo and choso :( (separately)

-🍪 anon

kay. ♡

smut//comfort.//satoru's being kinda toxic, eee.

C h o s o

I think we can all agree that Choso has a lot of stress, so he takes it out when he fucks you. Your head is pushed into the pillow in front of you, staining it with your spit and tears as you try to hold up your body. He's been fucking you for hours, honestly, you forgot how long.

Choso drills his cock into your hole, his hands gripping your hips as if trying to break them. Your eyes roll back as he holds your ass up, your legs shaking as you practically scream into the pillow. His hand pushing your head down as his own eyes flutter shut, the way your body gave out was almost like a trophy for him.

"Red— Red!—" All his movements come to a halt, "Did, did I hurt you?—" he asks, slowly flipping you over so you could face him, his lower lip jutting out in the tiniest of pouts as he kisses your tears. "Sorry—" he says as you try to catch your breath, you feel bad for saying it. Choso stands up, removing his cock from inside of you, walking away to bring you water, and wipe your sweat. After that, you both sit on the bed for a moment before you spoke.

"Can you give me a blanket? And pillow?—" You ask as you look at him, seeing him look a bit puzzled. "For what?" You get a bit nervous hearing him say that, "So I can sleep on the couch.". He looks at you for a few seconds, hands grabbing at your wrists so you can face him. "Aren't you angry at me for saying that?—" The more you speak, the more confused he gets, "Why would I be angry? Sometimes I get that you can't take things. I'm not upset with you." he scoots a bit closer, arms wrapping around your waist to pull you closer to him.

"I'm not letting you leave."

Even if you tried to sneak away in the night, you'd either wake him with him on the couch with you, or he carried you back to bed.

S u g u r u

Suguru loves fucking you rough because he knows you can't handle it. Your legs are pressed against your chest, as he pummels his cock into your hole, his face with a smug smirk. He loves the way your eyes can barely focus, your body shaking as it just welcomes his onslaught. Tears slowly streamed down the sides of your face, drying in your hair as he pressed a soft kiss to your open mouth.

He leans forward to make sure his dick stretches you open a bit more, his forehead pressed against yours as he breathes slowly, focusing on making you cum for the umpteenth time, loose strands of hair tickling your face. Your head is becoming hazy as you try to grab onto anything, confident he was fucking you into your grave.

"Red, Sugu— Suguruu— Red!" You cry out as he slows down, getting a few more greedy thrusts in before inevitably pulling out, placing his hands on your face before pressing kisses on your cheeks. "I got a bit carried away— I'm sorry, beloved." you breathe slowly, hands now grabbing at his back, your body continuously shivering as he pulls away.

He lays next to you, pulling you on top of his body, arms being wrapped around you. He looks confused when you pull away, "Sorry, I'll go sleep on the couch." you say, sitting up with a small yawn.

You hear him chuckle a bit in disbelief, "No, you're sleeping here. Don't be silly." he pulls your arm which makes you fall back onto him, his arms now firmly around you. "You're not going anywhere."

S a t o r u

Satoru loves hearing you sob from pleasure. His arm is wrapped around your stomach, his other pulling your head back by your hair as he licks at your cheek, breathing heavily against you. He loves seeing your mouth open is a cute 'o', tears streaming down your face as he splits you open with his dick, "Love fucking you like this." he groans as he shuts his eyes.

He continues to fuck his cock into you, making your body almost feel on fire, your body feeling limp— which allows Satoru to hold you up, whispering things in your ear to possibly make you feel bad for being weak. " 'Toruu, s'too much, stop—" he slows his hips, not completely coming to a halt.

"Too much? Want me to stop?" He asks, pressing a kiss to your ear.

"Yes— yes, red, red. Need a break." You shut your eyes as he finally stops moving his hips, muttering a soft 'okay, baby', and he lays you down on your back. He circles his thumbs on your stomach in a circular motion as he smiles, "Look so cute with your body all fucked out.", he notices the way you groan and turn away, embarrassed. Satoru stands up, grabbing a tissue from his side of the bed— "Why do you have tho—".

"Ah ah ahhh, fucked out people can't speak, they're fucked out." he snickers, wiping at your lower body a bit- cleaning up his own cum. After that, he lays next to you not bothering to put any clothes on as he smiles, pulling your body against his.

"I'm gonna sleep on the couch—" You say as you try to pull away, and he doesn't let you. "Wha— Why?" he asks, snuggling against you— "Aren't you mad that I said red?—". That stuns him, he pulls away to look at you, his face portraying shock.

"I'm gonna pretend you didn't just say that." he lays his head on your shoulder, pressing soft kisses there.

[theholmwoodfoundation]

Now the Pilot has been out for a few days we figured it was worth sharing our inspiration playlist again!

We think maybe the songs might hit a little differently this time! 👀

Full Playlist:

Superstitious Foundation // CG5 Somebody's Watching Me // Rockwell Eyes On You // Oh Geeez Not Again creature - w/ Orchestra // half-alive Tokyo (Vampires & Wolves) // The Wombats There's a Ghost in Our House // Merry Hell Like Real People Do // Hozier Monster Town // Go! Child Liar // The Arcadian Wild Colder Heavens // Blanco White Something To Die For // The Sounds Supernatural // World's First Cinema Dracula // Artio Take The Journey // Molly Tuttle The Horror and the Wild // The Amazing Devil Sincerely Yours, Jonathan Harker // Schoolyard Heroes Meet Me In The Woods // Lord Huron Little Lion Man // Mumford & Sons Monster // The Automatic Work Song // Hozier A Sadness Runs Through Him // The Hoosiers Ghosts // Ladytron You are Jonathan Harker // David Arnold, Michael Price Mina Harker's Secret // Trevor Jones Whitby //  Stephan Moccio Mina's Theme // David Arnold, Michael Price I Will Follow You into the Dark // Death Cab for Cutie The Yawning Grave // Lord Huron

Don't forget to donate to our Kickstarter!

[icarusredwings]

Eggs in the morning, hand on my heart.

Thinking about early mornings in the Wilson-Howlett household.

When Wade gets up early from the sun just slowly rising until it hits his eyes, the warmth of the sun on his husband being enough though the growlish snores are a reward for not waking him.

Boys workin' on empty. Is that the kinda way to face the burning heat?

Logan, almost immediately waking up from his lover sneaking away, can hear him trying his best to stay silent while rummaging through the kitchen pans to start breakfast.

I just think about my baby. I'm so full of love I could barely eat.

Letting out a large yawn, he groans as the streach and pops of his bones are drowned out by the soft morning playlist that's quietly ringing in through the small house.

There's nothing sweeter than my baby. I'd never want once from the cherry tree.

It was one of the things he moved so much about him, adoring how caring he was and mundane that he had a playlist for everything. He would never lie about that.

Cause my baby's sweet as can be. She'd give me toothaches just from kissin' me.

From sweeping, to dishes, to sex so sweet it felt like no one else in the world mattered. Kisses so delectable that as he dragged himself to the bathroom, he brushed his teeth twice and then once more for reassurance.

When my time comes around

Lay me gently in the cold dark earth.

No grave can hold my body down

I'll crawl home to her.

Closing his eyes, he litsened to the song, hearing small footsteps leaving their rooms as he washed his mouth out, squishing around a shot worth before watching it exit the home, swimming down the drain.

Boys, when my baby found me. I was three days on a drunken sin.

See, Many people that met him or who previously knew Logan assumed one or two things. One was right. The other they were far from the truth, as wrong as one could be throwing a dart in the dark. One. That he had drinking problems. And two? That he could do better then Wade. He heavily disagreed. Infact, he'd argue that Wade could do better then him.

I woke with her walls around me. Nothin' in her room but an empty crib.

Slowly, he comes to each room, giving a small tap with a finger, opening the room with a large sign that read 'No boys allowed'. "Breakfast soon." He whispers to a kit who was just recently pulled from sleep, eyes as drowsy as the day Wade brought him home. With a smile he came to the neighboring door, Giving a knock but when he opened it, the bed was empty. He rolls his eyes... kids... always so eager to grow up.

And I was burnin' up a fever. I didn't care much how long I lived.

He was an idiot for following him here. Agreeing to stay a week. And then 2 weeks. And then a month. And then 2 months and so on. And now? He'll never leave. Not if it can be helped.

But I swear I thought I dreamed her. She never asked me once about the wrong I did.

He remembered during his stay wondering what he would tell Wade if he ever interogate him of his past life. About who he knew and what evil things he's did wrong to make everyone hate him so badly.. but he never asked.

When my time comes around

Lay me gently in the cold dark earth

No grave can hold my body down

I'll crawl home to her

This always came oddly to Logan, seeing as.. how much of a moron do you have to be to let someone who was officially the worst person out of all themselves into their bed?

My babe would never fret none, about what my hands and my body done.

How many brain cells did you have to loose to let someone who you've no idea what terrible atrocities they've commited with their bare hands, stay in your home?

If the Lord don't forgive me, I'd still have my baby and my babe would have me.

After evert mess up, every accident, evert mistake that he's ever made, Wade was never mad or upset with him. He never told him to leave. Infact he begged him to stay. Begged him to give himself more chances. He loved him. The way many others refused to.

When I was kissin' on my baby, she put her love down soft and sweet.

Beelining for the kitchen, Logan was careful not to trip on the ugly dog that came right between his legs, excited to greet him. Picking her up, he gives her a pat only to hand her to his darling girl at the table, giving her a small peck on the head as well, despite her being on her phone and grumbling a soft "ugh..Dad.." In protest.

In the low lamp light I was free, Heaven and hell were words to me.

Finally, he makes it to the one by the stove, who's carefully cracking ivory eggs into the sizzling pan, careful not to bust the yolks, a side of toast pre popped from the toaster to his left. His pink frilled cotton apron reading 'Kiss the cook', and so he did. Snaking his arms around him, he hummed deeply as he laid his chin on his shoulder. Taking in a large whiff of him, he moves one of his hands to his chest, feeling each beat of his heart, a hand on his waist, feeling each small sway.

"When.. my ..time comes around, Lay me gently in the cold, dark earth..No grave can hold my body down...

I'll crawl home to him."

Logan places a kiss to his neck. The sweet giggles from him were enough to not feel shame, but pride as he pushes his cheek into his shoulder, the dark crimson reaping onto his flushed cheeks like a roses bloom.

To Logan? The thorns were worth it.

[elliespassagerprincess]

The air is getting crisp fall is coming so a bôa song is definitely needed can you do twilight by them

Twilight - (ellie williams x reader)

hi anon! Your wish is my command! Ugh I wish it was fall where I live, it's literally so fucking hot lmao... I hope you enjoy it <3

this story is based off the song Twilight by Bôa, if you can please listen to the song as you're reading:)

Pairing: ellie x fem!reader

requests are always open, feel free to leave one!

HUGE Warnings: descriptions of violence, murder, death, gore, sadness, small mention of depression and graves (don't read this if you aren't in the right mental state)

Summary: In which you couldn't win Ellie's heart

Authors note: ladies and ladies, the violence is back! Idk man it's been a while since I've written something like this. Remember you are loved <3

Your word and my word and her word is

Yesterday, today and tomorrow

And twilight gives me, an inner sanctity

And you're feeling, and you're hungry for her

And you don't understand it

But you know you haven't planned it

Your feelings and mine are all lonely

And dawn comes you're there lying with me

And you reach out to touch me, but I am in the twilight

You heard Ellie let out a sigh as she continued venting to you about Dina.

Stupid Dina.

Seems like all Ellie could talk about was her.

Why her? Out of all the people on the fucking planet why did it have to be Dina?

"She said "hey Ellie" and she didn't even smile with me! like what the fuck???" Ellie practically yelled with frustration.

You rolled your eyes at Ellie.

"Ellie calm down maybe she had a bad day"

Ellie stopped pacing around the room to look at you.

"Yeah.... you're right! She doesn't hate me she's just tired" Ellie said with a small smile.

You watched as Ellie lowered herself onto your bed and she looked up at you with a shy smile. She reached out her arms in your direction "cuddle?" she asked softly.

You let out a sigh as got into the bed spooning Ellie. She let out a hum of satisfaction.

"Ellie you need to stop doing this"

"doing what?"

you only shook your head and thought: "making me fall in love with you"

"friends don't cuddle" you brought up.

"Friends do" Ellie argued.

"Dina wouldn't like this" you added.

"well Dina isn't here right now" Ellie spoke matter of factly as she snuggled closer to you.

All you did was sigh as you brought your hand up to scratch Ellie's head. She let out a moan and she closed her eyes.

"You are a great friend, you know that?" Ellie spoke through a yawn.

Yeah, you were a great friend.

Your feelings and mine are all holy but,

You know and I know it's untrue because

When day dawns you're there lying with me

And the dawn can fly away

And you know I love you but you know that

There's nothing you can do about it

Because you love her, and you still want me

If I could be her... but I'm not her and she's not me

And you're somewhere different, on a different planet

You loved Ellie. You loved her a little more than a friend should.

Every time you saw her, your heart raced. She made you feel hot by just giving you a smile. Ellie made you feel things. Things you've never felt before.

You loved her.

But you knew she didn't feel the same.

You lay many nights next to Ellie, listening to her complain about Dina who's oblivious to Ellie's feelings.

It hurt you.

Seeing how Ellie always smiled when Dina walked into a room. Seeing how excited Ellie got, every time Dina said something. Every time Dina complimented Ellie, she almost exploded with joy.

It made you sick.

You tried being Dina.

Maybe Ellie would love you if you were someone else.

Maybe it was the way you did your hair? Was it the way you dressed? Was it the way you looked? What made Dina so special?

You tried cutting your hair the same length as Dina. You started dressing like her. You even copied her stupid music taste.

You tried. You tried so fucking hard.

But you could never be her and Ellie would never see you like that.

You knew Ellie loved you. She wanted you, but not in the same way you wanted her.

You were her best friend.

The girl she could go to with her problems, the girl who would help her with her hair and outfits.

You were nothing more than a friend.

You wanted to be Dina and you prayed to the gods that you could become her. But you didn't. You were nothing more than a friend in Ellie's eyes.

You saw how much Ellie's crush on Dina affected her.

How much it hurt her knowing that Dina most probably doesn't feel the same. And you being the amazing friend that you were, you decided to help Ellie.

You made it your mission to get them together.

Even though it hurt you knowing Ellie would never love you, as long as she was happy, you'd be happy too.

That's how you got yourself in your current position. Sitting across Dina in her apartment.

"So" you stared as you took a sip from the orange juice Dina gave you.

"we need to talk"

"about?"

"Ellie" "What about Ellie? Dina asked confused.

"do you have feelings for her?" you asked.

You watched as Dina burst out laughing, you watched as she threw her head back from laughing.

Anger sparked in you.

Why the fuck was she laughing? What's so fucking funny about liking Ellie?

After a while of Dina laughing, she slowed down breathing heavily before she let out a "Why would I like her? She's weird".

You felt your eye twitch before all hell broke loose.

How dare she say that about Ellie?

Your Ellie?

Ellie loved her so much and this is what Dina had to say?

This was the girl Ellie loved. She didn't deserve Ellie. If only she knew the amount of tears Ellie cried for her.

fucking bitch

You leaped from where you were sitting onto Dina, you straddled her as you punch her over and over again.

"How-"

*punch*

"dare-"

*punch*

"you"

*punch*

You don't even know how long you sat on her, and listened to her beg.

"Please" she whimpered as she tried getting you off her.

You eventually got off her breathing heavily as you looked down at your hands.

Your knuckles were bruised, and your hands covered in blood.

Dina's blood.

You looked over at her, seeing her slowly breathing. She didn't move, she didn't even make a sound.

Maybe she was unconscious.

You couldn't even recognize her with all the blood and bruises.

If Dina woke up, she would call the police. She would tell Ellie. Ellie would hate you.

You couldn't let that happen.

You slowly walked back from Dina, as you heard glass shatter. Your head snapped in the direction of the sound.

You saw pieces of glass scattered everywhere. And your orange juice was all over the floor.

Fuck you wanted to drink that.

You slowly bent down to pick up a shard of glass, and you held in your palm.

You walked towards Dina and you slowly pushed the glass into her trachea. You watched as the blood seeped from the wound.

You took a step back, leaving the glass shard in place. The blood dripped all over her throat and clothes, blood came out of her mouth.

Soon after Dina stopped breathing.

You killed her. You fucking killed someone.

You knew you made the right decision by killing Dina, because now you finally had Ellie to yourself.

And you still want it

The inner sanctity

And it's an evil

But the evil is necessary

And you're still hungry for her

And you still want her loving

But she doesn't love you

You watched as Ellie sat next to Dina's grave. She was sobbing.

Why the fuck was she crying over someone who didn't feel anything for her?

After Dina's death Ellie really struggled. She struggled to accept that the girl she loved wasn't here anymore. And what hurt Ellie the most was that Dina never knew.

Dina never knew the love Ellie had for her.

You watched Ellie spiral. You watched how she suffered.

Your plan was get rid of Dina, not the hurt the girl you loved.

Late at night when Ellie would lay in your arms you would sometimes feel regret for what you did. You didn't know it would affect Ellie the way it did, and you never wanted to hurt her. The guilt you felt soon get's replaced with pride when you realize that you got rid of the girl that was only going to hurt Ellie.

You saved Ellie. You saved her from rejection and embarrassment.

You knew she would get over it eventually.

Ellie's life wouldn't stop because her crush died. At some point she'll just have to accept it and you'll be here waiting for her with open arms.

You quietly walked towards Ellie as she sobbed next to Dina's grave, you raised your right hand putting it on her shoulder.

Ellie looked up at you, and in her eyes you could see how broken she was.

"It's ok Ellie" was all you said before she continued to sob into her hands.

You let out a sigh at the sight.

Months after Dina's death you realized that Ellie wasn't going to forget so easily.

You watched as she printed out pictures of her and Dina, and she placed it all over her apartment. You watched as she went to Dina's grave every week.

You listened to Ellie cry almost every night.

Even though you knew Dina didn't feel anything for her, Ellie still wanted her. Ellie still craved Dina.

Yes, she got affection from you, but you were never going to be enough.

All she wanted was Dina.

And you knew in the years to come Ellie wouldn't be able to move on and forget.

Even though you were there for her through everything. Even though you showed her nothing but love, the only person Ellie ever wanted was Dina.

She wanted Dina's love. Dina's care.

You were nothing but a friend. The realization made you sick.

You did everything for her.

You even killed for her.

But you'll never be Dina.

All you could was comfort her and hope, she'll one day feel the same.

[silentium-symphony]

Book Buddies II (Link x Reader)

(a/n) hello! here is the second chapter of Book Buddies! if you haven't read the first chapter, please click here. i hope you enjoy!

cw: afab!reader, researcher!reader, a nice day out w link :), crowded places, escaping to nature, gentle looks and touches exchanged under the moon, first kiss vibes <3, quickly followed by a steamy makeout session heh

wc: 3.8k

♤♢ ~~ ♡♧

Since that eventful night, Link at the library had grown to become an increasingly common sight. It was like clockwork, really. Sometime after lunch, you can expect to see a mat of blonde poke through the door followed by a pair of bright eyes that would smile when it met yours.

He'd often come by to return a book he had loaned and ask for more recommendations (which you happily supplied). Within a matter of months, the bookish Captain had worked through most of your list and had even shown you some goodies to read. It warmed your heart having a lil' book buddy; you couldn't remember the last time someone was able to keep up with your... fiery discussions of things that have occurred in your books.

Three knocks rapt your door. Your eyes slit open, wincing immediately at the stream of light conveniently placed right on your face. What time was it...?

"Y... Yes? Who is it?" You yawned through your fingers, clawing uselessly at that one itch just out of reach on your back.

"It's Link."

Your senses snapped awake and your head swiveled to your mirror, which proudly displayed the ornate bird's nest growing on the side of your head. You fumbled out of bed, hissed at the cold the wooden floor shot through your feet, and drowsily waddled to your dresser.

"J-Just a second!" You croaked, wincing at your dry throat. One swig of water later, you were combing your hair and slipping on a shirt that was at least better than what you went to bed with. One last look in the mirror and you clicked the thick door open, careful of not slamming it right in your visitor's face.

"Link? What are you doing this early in the morning? I'm trying to sleep..." You whined. All drowsy discomforts took a backseat when you saw the grave expression painted on his face.

"Her Highness told me that I am to be deployed soon..." He trailed off, brows furrowing deeper. "I'm afraid I can't give more details past that."

This wasn't a total surprise, given his occupation and everything, but it was still... numbing to hear. His words bounced around your head as you began to process what that would mean for the two of you. Your world wasn't crashing and burning, sure, but it wouldn't be inaccurate to say that some of the vibrant colors Link injected into your life have begun to drain out. In the end, all you could muster was a quiet,

"... Oh."

"So... Since we may not see each other for a while, would you like to..." He swallowed thickly. "GotoCastleTownwithme?"

"Would I... huh?" You blinked, rubbing your eyes as if that would help you hear better. "I'm sorry, can you say that again?"

He froze, silently recalculating what the odds were of you saying yes, but knowing you wouldn't settle for silence he tried again.

"Would you... Like to go to Castle Town with me?"

Being asked out on a date first thing in the morning was not what you expected when you tumbled out of bed.

By the Captain no less.

You had dreamt of this moment for months and it took every fiber of your being to channel your inner fangirling into a calm, graceful smile. But the moment he left, you knew you were due for a good ol' cathartic scream into your pillow.

"I would love to."

♤♢ ~~ ♡♧

The moment training had wrapped up for the day, he bolted to the gates, giddy to finally have this time with you. He wouldn't admit it aloud, but he had been aching to take you out for a pleasant stroll through town, going through the market's different stalls and showing you his favorite spots to relax. He's not blind to the effects work has on your body and psyche, and he hoped that your stresses could be washed away with these safe spaces the same way it cleansed him.

A flash of (H/C) in a crowd of similarly-dressed scholars bagged his attention and his eyes flitted this way and that. His heart soared seeing your demure figure moving down the steps of Hyrule Castle and one look at him almost got you running.

You waved goodbye to your coworkers and with a hop, skip, and a step, graced your man companion with your presence.

"Hey! Thanks for meeting up with me. Have you been waiting long?"

He shook his head.

"Perfect! Well, ready to go?"

He patted his rupee pouch and gave you a thumbs up. You giggled and waited for the iron gates to be heaved open.

Before long, you were traipsing down the streets of Castle Town, positively glowing. He was just happy to be present with you. He would listen to your latest findings with great interest, listen to whatever book you happened to get your hands on, listen to all your ramblings and random intrusive thoughts you had, and just... Listen. He wasn't much of a talker and you've made it exceptionally clear to him that he could stop you at any point, but he preferred to just listen.

"--and after that, she intentionally rammed her wagon into a tree! Y'know, that was the first time I ever read a book like that. I highly recommend it."

He hummed, his eyes shining like they had just captured heaven's highest stars.

"I've heard," he began slowly, his voice still not used to all the talking he's had to do recently, "from the mill ladies that your friend's favorite author is set to complete her next book in a month or two."

His wriggling eyebrows were immediately met with a jab to the ribs.

"Woah, really?!" A spark of excitement in your eyes lightly contrasted the playful grimace splaying on the Captain's features. "That's--! Um, ahem. I'm sure she'd be very pleased to hear that. I'll let her know... later."

He rolled his eyes and huffed; you laughed, reaching up and messing with his hair. You didn't notice the way he froze or the way he all but stopped breathing, and you definitely didn't notice the heat blooming all throughout his body while your attention was nabbed elsewhere.

"Oh! Can we look at that stall real quick?"

A faint nod and you were already bounding towards an ornately decorated sign that read "Jeweler."

"Hello, hello! Welcome to my humble little shop!" You eyed the... eclectic decor curiously and made a polite smile to the merchant. "Has anything caught your fancy? Everything you see here was painstakingly, artfully crafted by the finest jewelers in all of Hyrule! Some of my own personal works have made their way into this collection, heh..."

You half-listened to the merchant as he droned on and on about how he incurred every item you see before you, and you nodded every now and then to feign acknowledgment. Glimmers of bronze, silver, and gold dazzled you until your head spun. Jewels and stones encrusted in delicate veins of metal swelled your heart with want, but you stayed your hand once your eyes drifted to the tiny numbers set before each piece.

You were a mere researcher of Hyrule, not the king himself.

Realizing this whole shop was way out of your tax bracket, you awkwardly scooted closer toward the exit, making sure to eye everything you saw on your way out for politeness' sake. As you neared freedom and your friend, the most delicate piece of metalwork you had ever laid eyes on locked your gaze in a vice grip.

The dainty necklace's simple, elegant features starkly contrasted with the cacophony of gaudy golds and polished bronze--a mere sliver of the moon in a sea of gold and copper stars that vied for your attention. Your fingers grazed the crescent moon that dangled at the apex of the thin chain while a small, fond smile played at your lips. The three small stars by the celestial body fleshed the necklace into a gorgeous piece that didn't need to have metal bits sticking this way and that to make a statement.

"Ah, you have quite the eye for design! That piece right there was carefully crafted by yours truly! It can be yours today if you so desire!"

Your thoughtful hums turned to disappointment as your eyes once again rested on the price. It was by far one of the most expensive items here and dejection weighed your shoulders.

"Thank you, these truly are gorgeous pieces, but I must be on my way."

You drifted out of the stall and into the streets teeming with life around you. The crowd had gotten noticeably thicker as bodies rammed into you; there was hardly any room to breathe.

"Man, that stall sure was expensive, huh Li-- Link?" Your head whipped this way and that. "Link?!"

Your eyes scanned the conglomerate of bodies crowding about you. The sights, scents, and sensations of Castle Town were increased tenfold and you fought the crowd for respite off to the side. Lightly panting, you immediately went back to scanning the crowd for your lost companion.

"Link! Link!"

How long has it been since you lost him? Where was the last time you even saw him?

That would have been over there...

You threw a weak glance to an arbitrary point on your left, mentally reprimanding yourself for your carelessness. You thought he was right behind you! Did he not follow you to the stall? Did the crowd start picking up when you left? Did he get swept away? He can be anywhere at this point! Gods, now you've abandoned Link on your day out and left him to fend for himself against Castle Town's inhabitants!

A simple tap on your shoulder pulled you from your thoughts and you spun around, almost knocking the both of you off your feet from the way your bodies clashed against the other.

"Link!"

A warm smile adorned his features and he nodded at you. You clasped your hands together and held them up to your chest, shaking slightly.

"I'm so sorry for leaving you like that! I thought you were right behind me, so I just bounded right over to the stall... I'll be more careful next time, I promise!"

He shook his head, that gentle smile not leaving his lips for a second. He offered his hand to you and eyed the crowd. He must be wanting to leave too. You gladly took hold of him and he turned off to the side, lacing between colorful tents and wooden stalls and slipping in and out of the crowd. Your eyes were trained on his figure as he skillfully bobbed and weaved through different bodies, effortlessly leading you through Castle Town.

You eventually rested on his hand, dutifully meshed with your own. You felt your cheeks grow hot and for once, you were relieved to have dozens of hot, sweaty bodies rubbing up against you lest he turn around and wonder why your face was a sweltering red.

You assumed he was making his way back to the castle, but a sudden left down a back alley and a veer off to the right opened into a clearing untouched by the encroaches of civilization. The vast openness of Hyrule Field spread across the horizon, wrapping its infinite plains and forests around your overstimulated self. You filled your lungs with the deepest, crispest breath you ever drew and let out a hefty sigh. The Captain did the same.

"This is so much better than that cramped market. Thanks for getting us outta there."

Turns out he wasn't done escorting you as he led you further into the wilds; the sweet melodies of songbirds and the wind making passage through trees cleansed the jolting bustle of Castle Town from your ears. You saw a clearing up ahead that opened to a grassy, flowery meadow with a crystal lake at its center.

A few steps later, you were washed in the gentle glow of the setting sun; crickets have joined in on nature's nightly symphony in conjunction with the scurry of small mammals rushing through thicket and brush.

After aestheticizing for a moment, he turned to you and his grip on your fingers loosened. You both pulled away, your fingers wrought with the absence of warmth you had been growing accustomed to. Eyes cautiously avoiding each other's gaze found shelter in the gentle swaying of sunlit trees and the long shadows they cast on the grass.

"It's so peaceful here... Do you come here often?"

He 'hmph'ed in confirmation and threw his arms above his head, scraping the sky with his fingertips in a futile effort to rake the stars.

You inched closer to the clear pool and sat down, rolling individual blades of grass and wildflowers between your fingers; your loyal knight followed suit. A comfortable silence fell over the both of you and you gazed dreamily at your semi-quavering surroundings reflected in the lake.

"Thank you for today, Link... It was fun."

The gentlest breeze cooed through your hair, pulling a few strands with it in a lighthearted dance. The sun caught in your quivering lashes and the dimpled smile on your plump lips could only be described as simply divine. Link's throat bobbed up and down and whatever passive thought was drifting through his mind dissipated immediately.

Oh Hylia, you were breathtaking.

He didn't dare look away from your glory, hoping to bask in your soft gaze for as long as you allowed him. His fingers fumbled with his tunic, with the grass, with the hem of his pants, with anything he could get his hands on and you giggled at his restlessness.

"You okay, Cap?"

"... Mm."

A surge of boldness shot through your chest as you found yourself scooting closer to the man. He positioned himself to make way for you until you slotted yourself just inches away from him. His heat radiated onto your skin and you felt your muscles lax out the tension it had been holding.

"I will be leaving soon." He whispered, streaking the serenity with hints of melancholy. "It will be a long and arduous mission far away from here... I do not know when I'll be back."

"... I know." Neither of your gazes met. "I know."

The sun, exhausted from its long journey across the sky, began its customary plummet past the horizon, calling its nightly sister to take its place as the provider of lesser light. The moon’s ascension to the celestial throne was slow and deliberate; the transition of powers brushed the sky with a rich indigo and vibrant marigold, marrying the two hues into perfect harmony. Wispy cirrus and scarlet stratus stood as witnesses to this otherworldly unification of colors, and both of you acted as passive guests to this ritual of dusk and twilight.

"But I'll wait for you." You say at last, turning to him. "No matter how long it takes, I'll always be waiting for you."

Surprised at the resolve in your own voice, your gaze faltered back onto his hands. His warm, calloused, steady hands. Your fingers itched to feel them again, but your still body betrayed your desires to hold and be held. What in the world were you saying? You weren't even his to begin with.

It was Link's turn to look at you now, heart seizing and throat drying. Forlornity tugged the corner of his lip into a somber smile and he moved his face closer to yours. He was close enough to feel your breath hitch (his did as well), and the proximity forced you to look up.

"I'll come back to you. I promise."

Your mind blanked as your arms found the back of his neck, pulling him into a gentle embrace. You kept your contact light--fleeting even, in case he wanted to pull away. But he did no such thing, instead sinking deeper into you and wrapping you up in a pair of muscled arms. Suddenly all the cold, touch-starved nights of longing didn't feel as empty anymore. Suddenly all the pining, all the directionless love you fostered for the other had some place to go. Although you didn't hear those three magical words, his tightening limbs were all the confirmation you needed.

"I have a surprise for you." He murmured into your hair, pulling away slightly. His hands fiddled in his pants pocket and a streak of joy gleamed across his face. "Close your eyes."

You did as you were told, steep in disbelief and excitement that he had actually gotten you something. The image of that necklace from earlier shot across your mind, but you internally scoffed as the price followed shortly after.

Stop kidding yourself, there's no way he would have gotten--

"Open your eyes."

Dangling in front of your face was a thin chain pulled down by a crescent moon and its three starry companions.

"Wait... That's..."

"I saw you looking at it earlier," he rubbed his neck sheepishly, "so I bought it."

"Link, that was hundreds of ru--"

"Don't worry about it." His lips were pulled ear to ear. "Do you like it?"

"I love it!" Happy tears shamelessly leaked from your eyes. "Oh gods Link, I love it!"

You sniveled and trained your eyes on the pretty little thing and Link gently grasped your shoulders to turn you. A pleasant shiver shimmied down your spine as his fingers traced the back of your neck, gingerly pushing your locks out of the way. You pinned it up to aid him further.

Link took his time clasping the accessory around your neck, drinking in the way your bare skin looked in the moonlight. Dedicating the scene in front of him to memory, he hummed and you turned to face him. He never knew how effective a simple piece of metal could be at enhancing your already ethereal qualities; his heart melted and pooled at his feet.

"Beautiful..."

You shrunk under his lovestruck gaze and, in a flurry of millions of racing thoughts all melding together, pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek.

If the man wasn't already reeling, he certainly was now. Every single gear in his head ceased execution; he was wholly at the mercy of your little chortles, your bashful smiles, and batting lashes. Hylia only knows how quickly he would cast himself into the sea should you say the word, or how happily he would steal heaven's brightest luminaries should you desire a matching ring made of the North Star. He stooped closer, practically face-to-face with you.

"May I," he said at last, "have the honor of kissing you?"

His hot breath tickled your cheeks and you found yourself giggling at his endearing politeness.

"Of course."

His face closed in on yours, his breath fanning a deep fire from the skin it touched. Hooded eyes flitted to hot, parted lips and they sank lower as he drew closer; you followed suit, your eyes fluttering closed on your knight's beautiful face. A heated softness pressed tenderly against your lips, melting any and all tension into nothingness. Your lips engaged in a clumsy, heartfelt dance as his lips moved awkwardly, cautiously, lovingly, against your own. Your heart was practically palpitating when you felt a pair of hands sneak onto your face.

He drew back for the briefest of seconds before his lips found yours again and again, each kiss more ravenous than the last. The whine that escaped your wet, parted lips incited something deep within him and his lips connected with yours in a merciless onslaught, leaving your head spinning and your heart wanting more, more, more. A hand fell to the small of your lower back and he drew you closer, your bodies flushed tightly against the other as deeper passions bloomed.

You felt yourself sink lower, lower, lower until the grass tickled the curve of your ear and skilled, battle-worn arms wrapped around you in a way that made you feel like porcelain. His lips moved on from yours and traced the outline of your jawbone with the lightest of movements, leaving a fiery trail in his wake. Your senses were wracked with newfound pleasures, his hands tightening in your own as he found solace in the crook of your neck. He peppered the soft, unmarked skin with butterfly pecks and kisses that thinly veiled his growing desires, suckling the skin just enough to send electricity through your whole body but just short of leaving a beautiful, bluish-purple welt (for he did not know if you wanted to be marked by him just yet). Your moans and sharp breaths intertwined heatedly, scattering your thoughts into a frenzy and numbing, blissful oblivion all at once.

His lips found yours once again, starved and craving for your warmth. One final, deep press into your lips before he pulled away with a pop, pressing his forehead against yours. A deep laugh rumbled in his chest.

"My apologies... It seems I have gotten carried away there..." He closed his eyes, stilling his rapidly beating heart lest it explode in his chest. Gods, he wanted more. More. One look at your pleading eyes almost made him come undone. Lilting lashes and blown-out pupils conveyed all the pent-up desire you've harbored for the man before you. He sucked in a breath and smoothed the mess he made of your hair, smiling tenderly.

"If you would like to continue, perhaps we should head somewhere more... comfortable."

Truthfully, the fact that you were in the literal wilderness may have slipped your mind just now. Your eyes went to scan for any body-shaped outlines hiding among the tree line, suddenly feeling very exposed. He saw the cautious look you shot at the trees and he couldn't help the laugh that spilled out of him.

"Are you shy, love?"

"W-Well it's just...!" Your eyes flew shut, unable to stand Link's teasing gaze any longer.

"Just... what?" His voice and face lowered into your neck. A deep moan thundered against your skin, sending butterflies knocking into your ribcage.

"Don't tease me like that..." Please keep teasing me like that--

A full belly laugh escaped the man. He pressed a quick kiss right at the junction of your shoulder and neck (his new safe space aw) and he pulled away to drink in your embarrassed, pleasured, wrecked expression.

"I've wanted this for so long..." An imperceptible smile bloomed. "Ever since I saw you grimacing at that scroll."

"You saw that?!" You shot back mortified, ears aflame. His hands shot up, waving them back and forth in protest.

"I-It was cute, I promise! I thought... You were so cute when you made that face..."

His slurred mumble made you want to ruffle his hair and hold him close whilst squealing into his chest.

"In fact," he hummed lowly, "it made me wonder what other kinds of faces you can make..."

"LINK!"

[write-and-wander]

Yawning Grave | One: Decay

Astarion x Ayzora (F!OC)

Description: It's the day that everything changed for our beloved heroes- the nautiloid. However, for Ayzora, it's a pit she thoughtlessly walked right into. She needs to consider all of her options to escape ceremorphosis- but it's a lot more complicated when the heart and its undying hope are on the line. If it were only her in this mess, everything would be so much more straightforward. Maybe people really do change things...

Warnings: N/A | Word count: 6.8k

| One | Two | Three | Four | ...

Read on Ao3

The cool late evening has shifted firmly into a dark early morning when Ayzora takes her place at the top floor of her tower.  The full moon’s light trickles in through blue stained glass, casting her own likeness onto the white carpet.  Neverwinter is at its quietest at this time; optimal for the concentration her nightly ritual requires.

She rests her cloak on the back of her plush throne-like chair and sinks into it.  With a careful incantation and a well-rehearsed dance of the hand, the silver beacon of her tower thrums to life with the magic of a complex scrying spell.  Ayzora centers the spell at the Baldurian temple of the Raven Queen- a habit she has come into recently to make up for the prayers that have gone unheard since the goddesses’ demise at her hands and her friends’ blades.

The prayers of those who come to the house of the goddess of life and death no longer surprise Ayzora.  They’re most often requests for healing; for warding off death for themselves or a loved one for just a while longer.  Sometimes there is an odd request for a magical boon, or for death to visit a particularly formidable enemy; and while these are not requests she can always grant (moderation is key), she will still answer on occasion.

As she lets out a quiet sigh, the scrying eye’s view comes into focus before her.  Hushed prayers begin to fill the cool air of her otherwise empty room.

Tonight, a tired elderly man asks for healing for his spouse- Ayzora ensures they are well by the next morning.  A blonde dwarf begs for protection against her long-time enemy- Ayzora places a temporary protection spell on her home.  A navy-skinned Tiefling asks for the restoration of her paralyzed arm- Ayzora conjures a cure for her ailment that will take effect by the end of the next tenday.  An elf asks for freedom-

She sits up, suddenly made attentive by the unique request.  Why come to the Raven Queen with such an ask?  Ilmater, god of sufferers, or even Tyr, god of justice, were clearly better suited for granting freedom- and their temples weren’t far. 

The pale figure stands in a dark corner of the cathedral, whispering his prayer:  freedom, at any cost.

The necromancer immediately recognizes the familiar glow of undeath- one she, too, bears- in its own hue.  Her confusion only grows.  Surely he knows the Raven Queen despises undeath?  She listens, searching for answers.

His prayer is whispered so softly it’s nearly incoherent, even with magical amplification.  His words are disjointed bits of pleas, self-curses, and scoffs over his situation.  Nonetheless, his request eventually comes across:  freedom from his master, whether by divine intervention or blessing.  Anything to escape.

In response to his desperation, something from deep within her begins to bubble to the surface- hope.  For years, Ayzora has sat in her lonely tower, answering the same sort of prayer time and time again.  It started as a sort of responsibility she felt she carried, but shifted into the inches she sought to traverse as she climbed her way towards redemption.  Though committed to her own sort of recompense, there remains a hopeful heart within- no matter how still in its undeath- that believes she could yet be the savior she once imagined herself to become.  She just needs a chance.

This vampire spawn could be that chance, Ayzora wonders, but who is his master?

The scrying spell shimmers and fixates on the elf.  

He spends a moment in silence, as if waiting for an audible response from the queen of death.  He doesn’t recognize that there is no longer a raven queen.

No one does.  At least, not yet, it seems.  Ayzora is the self-made queen over the domain of the self-made goddess; a slayer turned saint, justifying her history of slaughter with countless acts of selflessness in the name of a murdered deity.  

The silence lingers a while longer.  The elf’s gaze turns downward with a huff, and he leaves, making his way to a nearby tavern.

She rolls her eyes at the outing, but maintains the invisible scrying eye, determined to find his master.  She makes herself a cup of tea and retrieves a well-loved book- The Adventures of Half-Orc Guy- before sitting back in her chair, mindlessly summoning the blue skeletal specter of a mage hand.  The translucent bones open a cage and pick up a small black rat, carrying it to the center of the carpet.  The hand returns to the cage to close the gate and vanishes.

A half-rotted cat emerges.  Only its face and paws are covered by fur and flesh while the rest of its skeletal body is spotted with patches of decayed fur, frozen in time by undeath.  A faint blue glow emanates from the cat’s chest, matching the dark blue of his clouded eyes- Ayzora’s magical signature.

“Eat up, Droop,” she coos.

The cat lowers to the carpet, eyes trained on the rat.  With a wiggle, he pounces on his prey, sinking his yellow-grey teeth into the animal.  A ghastly exhale resonates in the room as the life is drained from the rat and consumed by Droop.  When he lifts his head with a chirp, only a pile of ash remains in front of his paws.  He walks around his owner’s chair, brushing himself from head to tail against her legs, before curling up on the carpet.

Ayzora clears away the ash with a quick prestidigitation and a soft, “good kitty,” before turning her eyes back to the silvery scrying screen shimmering against the dark stone wall.

Silently sipping her tea, Ayzora watches the vampire spawn tempt a young half-orc into going home with him.  She hardly pays attention, her eyes only glancing up from her book on occasion to see if the spawn’s master has come into play.

“Astarion,” the spawn says.

Ayzora’s head snaps up.  A name. 

“Astarion,” the half-orc repeats, the slurred speech indicating slight inebriation.

She can’t help but parrot the two, the pale elf’s name softly falling from her lips.  For a moment, her gold-green eyes are glued to his ruby red ones.  Astarion, she repeats to herself.  As if entranced, she begins to study him.  Starting at the silvery white curls framing his angular face, her eyes move to trace the sharp angles of his jaw, then drift up to the soft creases cascading from the sides of his nose to the ends of his pale lips-

Lips that now gently trail along the jaw of the half-orc.

Ayzora abruptly stands and moves to an adjacent room, her book in hand.

She cannot fully drown out the sounds of pleasure that soon follow- she needs to know when it ends if she is to find this spawn’s- Astarion’s- vampire master.  However, she can ignore it for a while, and lose herself in a story she knows by heart.

Eventually- sooner than she had expected- the noise dies down in return for quiet conversation.  She closes her book, setting it on a table, and returns to her seat, watching with a yawn. 

Astarion and the half-orc leave the bedchamber to be met by a raven-haired elf, clothed in a regal black and red ensemble.  Cazador Szarr, his self-introduction names him.  He invites them to dine, and Ayzora’s eyes widen as the suddenly dazed half-orc is separated from Astarion by the red-eyed Cazador.  

That must be his master… and this was all a ruse.

A squealing rat lands at Astarion’s feet.

“Eat.”

Azyora’s eyes dart to the once-ashen now-empty spot on her carpet.  Droop sleeps contentedly beside it.

She looks back up.  

Astarion’s empty eyes meet the twin-crimson glow of Cazador’s.  The order is given.  Astarion is sent back out into the streets to find another, with the promise of another feeding in return.

The spawn exits the grand palace and begins to make his way through the city via back-alleys and shortcuts, carefully searching for his next victim.

But the sky is no longer the velvet navy blue of the night.

The sun is rising.

With hardly a thought- other than a silent curse to the Dawnfather- Ayzora dons her cloak and rushes to her towers’ teleportation circle.  In the connected room, she haphazardly gathers some of her travel gear- just the essentials- and returns to the main area.  She throws open a drawer in the adjacent desk and pulls out a fresh piece of chalk.  Carefully, she dips it in the shimmering green inkpot atop the desk and inscribes new runes around the perimeter of the circle.  Stepping inside, she instantly sends herself to Baldur’s Gate.

She appears in a brief glimmer of magic atop a corresponding circle in the temple of the Raven Queen- the only one she knows by heart- and runs outside.  

The violet and amber sky paints Baldur’s Gate in a wash of gold while shadows slowly stretch like creeping limbs from the sides of buildings onto rough stone pathways.  

She weaves through the morning crowds and dashes through thin alleyways, making her way as fast as she can towards the last place she had seen the pale elf.  Rounding a tight corner, she whips past houses coming to life with the dawn of the morning, eyes scanning wildly for a mess of white curls.

The bell tower of the city rings, echoing against the walls that feel like they’re closing in on the panicked wizard.

After crossing another busy street- nearly bowling over a merchant carting his goods to the town square- she sees him.

Astarion is pressed against a stone wall, carefully tucked into the shadow offered by the tall building.  He leans around the corner, mentally plotting his next move.

Lively chatter turns to desperate screams echoing across the city; but Ayzora can’t tear her eyes from the figure at the opposite end of the alley, no longer separated by the miles between Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter.

He looks back in a quick sweep of his surroundings when his eyes suddenly lock on hers.

She freezes.  The weight of all the possible consequences of this mad chase suddenly come crashing down on her consciousness with a force that rivals the bell tower collapsing in the center of town.

Clouds of dust fill the streets of Baldur’s Gate, masking the source of the audible panic.

Astarion pauses for a moment, considering saying something to the frozen, cloaked moon elf; but quickly decides against it and peels around the corner.  He heads straight towards the commotion, aiming for an easy grab by playing the ever-convenient “helping hand.”

Screams ring out over the rushing thunder of a crowd-turned-stampede forcing its way through the labyrinthine city, falling on Ayzora’s deaf ears.  

She cannot command her feet to move, despite the panic rising in her chest.  She cannot command her mouth to scream, despite the desperation to reach Astarion.  She cannot think, despite the racing thoughts storming her mind.  However, she cannot stay.  She must move. 

Move.

With strained effort, Ayzora forces her body to lurch towards the opposite end of the alley as she begins to speak the vocal component to a locate creature spell under her ragged breath.

Looking down the street Astarion had disappeared in, a cloud of dust billows through the open morning air as a great unnatural shadow crawls along the cobblestone.

Ayzora’s words catch in her throat when she looks up a moment too late and the realization hits:  a nautiloid.

A slimy reddish-purple appendage wreathes through the air, reaching towards Ayzora.  She flinches, falling backward as fear's icy claws grip her wholly; and everything fades to black.

Time passes Ayzora by in barely-coherent flashes.

Everything feels like it’s spinning; like she can’t quite steady herself.

Her body is pressed against something distinctly flesh-like.  It’s warm.  Humid.  The air is musty and thick.

Screams still reverberate from farther away, sounding more like whispers that crawl along pulsating walls.

Light.  A rush of fresh air is accompanied by a narrow purple face with soulless glowing eyes.  A mind flayer inches closer to her, tadpole in hand.  She writhes to no avail.  Black.

Uncomfortable warmth rises to intense heat.

A silver-armored figure passes by.

There’s a flash of something bright and a loud sound.

Wind rushes past.

A click and a hiss.

Ayzora’s eyes wearily open.  She takes an unsteady step out of the pod that nearly became her coffin.  Her shaking legs fail, and as her feet hit the ground she collapses to her knees.  She looks up to at last takes in her surroundings: the inside of a nautiloid, clearly in bad shape, hurtling through the hells.

Adrenaline kicks in and forces her up.

Her hands jolt up to her shoulders.  She breathes a sigh of relief.  Messorem, her cloak, is still there.  Her hands trail to her chest and rest on her amulet; still here.  She takes stock of what she has on her.  Not much… shouldn’t have left in such a rush.  Her spell book is still tethered to the bag of holding’s straps which cross over her torso as a belted harness.  The spell book and bag rest against her back, hidden beneath her cloak.  Though a little worn, her gear and clothes generally seem to be intact; and outside of the ocular-cranial intruder, she seems to be free of injury.

Straightening herself out, she breathes deep and utters the incantation for a gate spell with the intent to return home.

Her shaking hands begin to trace invisible runes and-

Nothing.  No light, no shiver of magic along her fingertips, no interdimensional gate opening to her tower.

Her brows furrow.  Maybe I just need to relax.  She physically resets, giving her posture a moment to settle, and tries again.

Nothing.

She unbuckles her spellbook from her back and throws it open.

Nothing.  The pages, save for the first two, are completely blank.  Towards the spine of the book are perforated remnants of paper. 

Fuck.

Of the hundreds of consequences Ayzora was concerned would arise as a result of chasing after the pale elf, turning into a mind flayer while stranded in the hells without her full spellbook was certainly not one of them.

Survival mode fully sets in as the weight of the situation settles in a pit at the bottom of her stomach.  She takes a deep breath, physically shakes off some of her nerves, and encourages herself out loud with a, “time to move, Ace.”

A dragon’s roar kickstarts her dash forward.  Leaving the other pods behind, she makes her way to a higher level of the ship when a whispery cry echoes in her mind.  Following the voice’s direction, she finds a body butchered beyond recovery.  Its skull and scalp have been carefully cut, exposing the sentient brain which now calls to her.  It, too, asks to be free.

For a moment, she’s reminded of the first time she met Droop- the tortured and terrified goblin she saved and adopted all those years ago in Phandalin.  The one she named her cat after; her only company in that lonely tower.  

I could use a companion, she reasons, even if… unconventional.  

Holding her breath, she carefully sinks her slender fingers in the wet, gory space between the open skull and pulsating brain.  As gingerly as she can, she removes the creature from the bloody skull and sets it on the ground.

Us, they call themselves.  To the helm, they beckon.

“Then to the helm we go.”

The bloodied duo staggers through the destruction and decay quickly overtaking the nautiloid, Ayzora following the scuttling intellect devourer to what is supposed to be the helm.  They manage to return to what must be the main level and trek through an open passageway showing off the full view of Avernus, the first layer of the hells. 

Waves of heat threaten to choke Ayzora as the air singes her throat with each inhale.  She pauses, holding her breath.  

Imps, cambions, and devils fly through the air in a cacophonous swarm while a battle between planes ensues before Ayzora’s eyes. 

The ship rumbles. 

Ayzora dives for an enclosed part of the ship, terrified of being thrown off the side and left to be consumed by the hells.

She makes it into a large room, Us following at her heel, to see unconscious bodies lying on slabs arranged in a circle.  Another pod sits empty on the left.  Straight ahead is a center console with three nodes, a plaque above each.  

She approaches and examines them, trying to decipher the plaques.  Her hand hovers over one, power emanating from the button into her palm.

A muffled yell pierces through the walls, echoing into the room.  

Her head snaps to the right, hand retreating to her side in an instant.

She cautiously follows the noise, approaching the door to her right.

The ship lists hard.

Her feet slip on the suddenly steep ground, forcing her body downward with a thud as the ship enters a free fall.

The heat dissipates, replaced by a rush of cool nighttime air.

With a panicked cry and flailing arms, Ayzora tumbles through the nautiloid until her back slams into a hard surface.

Everything is spinning, faster than ever.  She can hardly think. Think!

The door that holds her in squelches open as everything retreats in the living ship’s desperate attempt to preserve itself.

Cool air hits her still-sweaty back.  A night sky overtakes her view, the burning nautiloid rapidly growing smaller.

She’s falling.  Fast.

Brace yourself, Ace, she thinks.  You’ll wake up soon.

Once again, Ayzora feels her consciousness slip away, and she is swallowed into black nothingness.

Warm.

Everything is warm.  Radiating on her face.  Bright.  Cradling her back.  Soft.  A breeze passes by, sweeping cool kisses on her cheeks and carrying salty air into her nostrils.

Her eyes flutter open.

She stands on unsteady feet as she carefully checks herself over for injuries.  Aside from a few burns sustained in the ship’s fall from hell, she’s… just fine?  Odd.  

Ayzora pulls a small healing potion out of her bag and removes the cork in a pop.  She pours a few viscous drops on her burns, soothing the pain, before drinking the rest with a grimace and replacing the cork.  Never really get used to the taste.

She looks around, trying to get an idea of where in Toril she could be.  She’s lucky to have made it to the shore- she’s nearly completely surrounded by a bright blue ocean that stretches past the horizon.  Hopefully this is at least the Sword Coast…  Just past the looming ship- on which some fires still burn- is a forest.  Directly ahead of her, a few intellect devourers scuttle about the wreckage.

Us!  She runs forward, calling out for her new companion.

The brains-on-legs turn to face the necromancer, silent.  There is no whispery voice calling her “friend.”  They all begin to run at her.

Oh, shit.

A creature arrives on the left and swipes at Ayzora.  She manages to twist out of the way just in time, but it only gives the one that snuck in front of her the chance to draw four streaks of blood from her shin.

Ayzora’s hands lift instinctively to her shoulders, unclasping her cloak.  She extends her right hand out in line with her shoulder and brings her left hand around the back of her head, both hands shifting in perfect unison while the cloak disappears in a blue shimmer.  Her hands align, and the obsidian handle of Messorem materializes.  With the momentum strengthening her swing, she sweeps her scythe across her front, slicing through the two enemy creatures in front of her.  The silver blade reaches her left side and she opens her hands for a moment to twist the handle, reversing the blade’s direction for another swing.

“Ignis!” A stranger’s voice echoes in the hollowed space.

Ayzora looks up.

A white dragonborn runs to an intellect devourer that had not yet reached Ayzora.  A raven-haired half-elf follows at his tail, stopping just behind him.

With the vocal command, a mote of fire flies from the half-elf’s hand to the creature on Ayzora’s left, killing it instantly.  

The dragonborn brings his quarterstaff down on the brain before him, forcing out squeals of pain.  

It swipes at the hulking white figure, but slips on the puddle of blood beneath it, only catching air in its claws.

“We’re here to help!”  The cleric calls.

Ayzora nods.  She opens her mouth to thank the stranger, but is cut short by the sting of claws digging into her thigh.

The intellect devourer in front of the dragonborn falls dead under the sorcerer’s quarterstaff while Ayzora cuts the last one in twain with Messorem’s bloodied silver blade.

“Thank you,” she finally manages.  She holds Messorem in front of her and pulls her hands back towards her in a perfect reverse, turning her scythe back into a dark blue cloak and clipping it onto her shoulders.

“Would you happen to be a survivor of the crash as well?”  The dragonborn asks, approaching Ayzora.  He speaks with his whole chest, his resonant voice filling the space.

“Yeah, do you know how we’re still alive?”

“I was hoping you might have an idea,” the cleric replies, stepping forward.  “Shadowheart,” she introduces herself, extending a hand towards the elf.

“Ayzora.”  She shakes Shadowheart’s hand and turns to the sorcerer.

He looks down at her pale hand for a moment, processing a wave of thoughts in silence.  He tenses, eyes widening, like he's fearfully forcing his own body to still.  Hesitantly, he raises his hand, scaly palm pressing against hers.  With a firm shake and a quick retreat, he finally responds: “Dark Urge.”  Hand safe at his side, he broadens the distance between himself and his new companion with another precautionary step.

Ayzora nods, taking a mental note of his unique name and odd behavior, but chooses not to comment.  “Do you have any idea where we are?”

The three of them return to the point of her awakening.  The sand is still indented where her body once lay.

“Not in the slightest,” Dark Urge answers.

“Doesn’t matter,” Shadowheart interjects, “As long as we find a healer to take care of our worm problem.”

“Right,” Ayzora answers.  Nearly forgot about the tadpole.

Just as soon as she is made aware of it, it writhes in her brain as if it just woke up, and a sudden throbbing pain pulsates in her head.  She grabs her forehead with both hands, eyebrows knitting together.

As if recalling memories, she sees flashes of lives that are not her own through the eyes of another.

First, nothing.  Like an expansive void threatening to swallow everything whole.

Then, two perspectives intertwined.

Waking up on the nautiloid.  Meeting a githyanki.  Burning imps with acid.

Trapped in a pod.  Begging Dark Urge for help.  Continuing onward, artifact in hand.

Fighting a cambion.  A Mindflayer.  More demonic creatures.  Reaching the transponder.  Falling.  Darkness.  Sunlight.

Suddenly, Ayzora’s mind is her own again.  She stumbles backward.  “What… in the hells?”

“The illithid tadpoles,” Dark Urge explains, his calm tone settling Ayzora’s panic, “they seem to connect us to one another, somehow.”

“We don’t quite understand ourselves,” Shadowheart adds.

Ayzora nods, lifting her palms from her forehead and brushing her hair back with her fingers before her hands rest at her sides.

The cleric dives into a little more of an explanation, along with a proposal: to travel together.  It would increase everyone’s odds of survival through the protection that comes with a group, while solving their shared illithid problem.  Ayzora nods along and looks around while Shadowheart verbalizes a to-do list: gather some supplies, find a place to set up a camp, get directions…

Ayzora’s mind wanders.  Gods, what a mess…  I don’t know if I want to risk waiting for a healer.  Might just be better to sneak off tonight, and-

“Hey, you there,” a voice calls, cutting her train of thought short.

Ayzora looks up toward its source.

Everything goes numb.

A pale elf with white curls is looking right at her.  “Come here!  I need help!”

Without another word, she walks towards him.

“Though I think we should- wait, where are you going?”  Shadowheart shifts abruptly and follows Ayzora up the hillside, Dark Urge close behind.

“Hurry,” the rogue urges as the necromancer approaches, “I’ve got one of those brain things cornered.”  He steps back and points.  “There, do you see it?”

Ayzora follows his line of sight, her eyes landing on a rustling bush.  Shadowheart and Dark Urge reach the two and watch a few paces behind.

“You can kill it, can’t you?”  He keeps his eyes trained on Ayzora, ignoring the others for the time being.  “Like you killed the others?”

She looks at him, thoughts trapped in the gelatinous mess of a suddenly silent mind.  Her panic is hidden- as always- behind a stoic expression.

There’s a moment of silence.

His expression shifts in confusion.

She clears her throat.  Pull it together, godsdamnit.  “Of course.”  Slowly, she takes a step towards the bushes and finally tears her eyes away from him.

He nods, taking a cautious step to the side to stand behind her.

One moment, she’s watching a boar make a mad dash away from the group.

The next, she’s on her back, a cool body pressed against hers while a dagger hovers over her neck.

“Shhh, not a sound,” he coos.  His voice, just above a whisper, tickles his captive’s neck with hot breath, “not if you want to keep that darling neck of yours.”

Ayzora’s chest stills as she holds her breath, frozen.  What-

“And you two- keep your distance,” he threatens in a sudden yell that makes Ayzora jump.  “No need for this to get messy.”

“I need her alive,” Shadowheart bites back.  “Stow that blade, or-”

Dark Urge raises his clawed hand in front of her, silencing her.  He takes a fighting stance: a silent, ‘no need to talk, just be ready to act.’

Shadowheart nods and follows suit, assuming her own prepared stance.

“I have other business, I’m afraid,” he tells the cleric in a condescending tone.  “Now,” he begins, his voice dropping once again as he turns his focus back to Ayzora, “I saw you on the ship, didn’t I?  Nod.”

Ayzora nods, swallowing.

“Splendid.  And now you’re going to tell me exactly what you and those tentacled freaks,” he spits, “did to me.”

“Same thing they did to me,” she answers, matching his low tone.  She keeps her head still, but looks sideways at him.  “I was taken.  Just like you.”

“Don’t lie to me!  I- AGH!”

Ayzora cries out at the same time, her tadpole writhing yet again as it connects to the one lodged in her attacker’s brain.  Her vision is once again flooded with someone else’s memories- with his memories.

The streets of Baldur’s Gate, dressed in the rich darkness of the evening.  Orange light spilling out of taverns brimming with life.  Stalking in the shadows.  Seducing.  Capturing.  Following yet another order.  Foul blood filling hungry maw.  Something sharp digging into bare flesh.  Carving.  Searing pain-

Pain that, at last, subsides.  Her mind clears.

The elf presses his dagger to Ayzora’s throat, blood threatening to trickle down her cold neck.  “What was that?” he demands, his voice dripping with fear.  “What’s going on?!”

Shit.  What did he see?  “It’s the tadpoles.  I can explain,” she pleads quickly, raising her open hands in surrender, “just let me up.”

He watches her for a moment, weighing his options, before slowly lifting his dagger and opening his arms.  The blade still points at her like a viper waiting to strike.

She slowly shifts away from him, out of his arms, and stands to her feet.

He pushes himself off the ground and stands, watching her with an expression noticeably softer than before.  “You… really aren’t one of them…”  

“No,” she concurs, shaking her head.  Her hands remain up, palms facing him.  She’s only just returned to her feet, and yet her posture is once again poised, as if slipping back into a comfortable mold.

“And to think, I was ready to decorate the ground with your innards,” he relaxes with a laugh.  

Ayzora’s eyes flicker to his lips, catching a flash of his fangs nearly hidden in his wide smile. 

“Apologies.”

“Accepted.”

Shadowheart and Dark Urge take a few steps closer as the rogue’s daggers are finally sheathed.

“My name’s Astarion.  I was in Baldur’s Gate when those beasts snatched me.”

Relief washes over Ayzora, settling the rolling waves in her stomach.  He must not remember.  Or, at the very least, he doesn’t recognize me.  Good.  “Ayzora,” she introduces.  “I was there, too.  Visiting.”

Dark Urge and Shadowheart follow suit, making their introductions.

Astarion nods.  “So, do you know anything about these worms?”

“I know they’ll turn us into mind flayers if we don’t get moving and find a healer,” Shadowheart answers.

Astarion looks between the three in front of him.

Dark Urge gives him a solemn nod.

Ayzora stares at him- at her chance to finally do something that feels like it matters.  Her chance to actually save someone.  I… can’t just leave.  What would be the point of any of this if he became that.

“They’ll turn us into…”  His words are lost in a fit near-hysterical laughter.  “Of course it’ll turn me into a monster.  What else did I expect?”

“We’ll find a healer,” Ayzora tries to reassure him, her resolve unexpectedly strengthened.  Okay.  Save Astarion:  Find us a healer; Get to Baldur’s Gate; Kill Cazador.  I’ve managed worse.

“Or an expert.  Someone that would know how to control these things.  There might still be time,” he reasons, looking at each of them.

Control…  and with control, power.  Whispers creep along the shadowed corners of Ayzora’s decayed mind.  Her eyebrows threaten to pull together as bottled rage chips away at her perfect shell.  You were robbed of your godhood last time…  It may at last be in your grasp…  

She thinks of everything she went through “last time.”  My friends, Remus and Ryon.  My family.  My parents, who got away with it all.  Reidoth, left behind.  Zedd and Laz, slaughtered.  I gained more power than most people could even fathom, and what fucking difference did it make?  It still came with a price.  I still lost everyone.

She balls her fists in the fabric of her dress, forcing the rest of her body to slip back into elegant grace with an ever-grounding deep breath.  When there was nothing else, there was her breath.  Always.  No, Ace, we’re not doing that again.  No.  We can be different.  This has to be different.

“Come with us,” Ayzora blurts.

Astarion’s eyes settle on her.  There’s a sort of glimmer in his gaze, the sides of his mouth pulling an almost-smirk that sinks into something of nonchalant smile. An easy grab, he thinks.

“We’ll better our chances as a group,” she adds, as if clarifying her intent.

His expression doesn’t change, locked on her.  “You know, I was ready to go this alone… but maybe sticking with the herd isn’t such a bad idea.”  He shifts towards her, tilting his chin slightly downward with a confident air, as if she was the audience to his soliloquy. 

As if she was the only one who needed to hear him- the only one he wanted to hear him.

“And you,” he continues, giving her a less-than-subtle look over, “seem like a useful person to know.”

She wonders if she can still blush.  The lack of warmth on her cheeks is, for the first time, reassuring. Deep breath.  She turns to Dark Urge, silently offering to give him the lead with a soft nod.

With hardly a moments’ hesitation, he accepts her offer with grace.  “I believe it is best for us to continue onward,” he begins, shifting the conversation back towards something more productive.  "If there are any other survivors, they can meet us at camp; but night will fall soon.”

Shadowheart nods, “We should probably split up, then; it’ll save us time.”

“I will make camp,” Dark Urge says, “Give me your supplies.  Everything will be prepared when you meet us.”

Astarion turns to Dark Urge.  “I think I’ll accompany you,” he announces.  “I prefer smaller groups, anyway.”

Shadowheart removes her bag and hands it to Dark Urge with a quiet, “thank you.  We’ll see you there.”

Astarion turns to Ayzora, hand held out towards her in patient offering.  She hesitates for a moment, unsure of her level of trust with him.

“I’ll be careful,” he reassures.

She wants to believe this is what he sounds like when he’s genuine.

She slips her hands under her cloak and unbuckles her bag of holding before placing it in his open palm.

He takes the bag and slings it over his shoulder before nodding to Dark Urge.

With that, the two walk off to scout for a place to camp, leaving Ayzora and Shadowheart behind.

Ayzora watches them leave, staring at the mess of white curls she so desperately sought out before, and now seemed to seek after her.  It was a strange feeling.  Like something had taken root in her chest…

Ah, right.  Hope.

“Let’s be on our way,” Shadowheart declares, heading back into the wreckage.  

Ayzora nods and jogs a few paces to catch up to Shadowheart, walking beside her.

Their mouths remain still for almost the entirety of their search, digging for supplies and items to sell while occasionally calling out for survivors.

All the while, Ayzora thinks of Astarion.  She mulls over moments in her mind on repeat, her thoughts falling prey to an endless loop in chasing its own tail.  He stopped in that alleyway.  Yet, he left me there.  He held his dagger to my neck.  He took my things to camp.  He stopped.  He left.  He held.  He took.  He stopped.  He stopped.  He stopped.

“I think I hear someone,” Shadowheart says low, eyes fixed on a rocky area just outside the still-burning nautiloid.

Ayzora’s eyes snap to the cleric’s.

Shadowheart doesn’t meet her gaze, instead walking forward.

The necromancer finally turns her head to look and sees the thing that captured Shadowheart’s attention: a portal grounded in a giant rune, clearly unstable.

When the two arrive, Ayzora attempts to close it in fear of what might come through, but her hand is wrenched back to her side in searing pain as the magic bites back.

A human hand flies out, and a voice echoes from the flickering purple opening: “A hand?  Anyone?”  

Shadowheart grabs the hand while Ayzora attunes to the raging magic of the portal, calming it like an arcane grease that allows the trapped man to slip out.

With a tug, he comes tumbling out, sending Shadowheart to the ground with him.  When they make it to their feet, they’re greeted by a cheery wizard.

“I’m Gale, of Waterdeep,” he introduces with a firm shake to his rescuers.  “Apologies, I’m usually better at this.”

“At teleportation circles?” Ayzora asks, giving the wizard a look-over.  She’s heard of the magical prodigy before- but she had never had the pleasure of putting a face to the infamous name.

“And, well, at magic.”

I wonder if his spellbook was ruined too…  Ayzora opens her mouth to ask, but Gale speaks first.

“Say, but I know you two, don’t I?  In a manner of speaking.  You were on the nautiloid as well.”

“We were,” Shadowheart says with a questioning tone.

“Then I can only assume you two were also on the receiving end of a rather unwelcome insertion in the ocular region?”

“Unfortunately,” Ayzora confirms.  “There are others, too.  We’re traveling together until we find a healer.  You’re welcome to join.”

“Most excellent!”

Ayzora starts to turn on her heel, but feels a gentle hand on her arm that stops her.

“Oh,” Gale interjects, releasing Ayzora’s arm and looking between her and Shadowheart.  “Before you think you’re about to embark on a journey with most ill-mannered a man: thank you,” he says with a slight bow, “for pulling me out of that stone.  It was an act of foresighted kindness I assure you, for I have a feeling ample opportunities will present themselves for me to return the favor.”

“Of course,” Ayzora responds, her tone gentle.  While she would normally find herself rolling her eyes at the verbose elegance most classically-trained mages display, she finds it oddly comforting for the time being.  The company of another wizard- especially a non-Baldurian- was a welcome solidarity.

“I suppose you haven’t seen any other survivors, then?”  Shadowheart asks, giving the area one last general look-over.

“Unfortunately, I can’t say I have,” Gale answers.

“We’ve searched everything twice over.  I think we can safely assume any others would have made themselves known by now,” Ayzora assures.  “Besides, we still need to figure out where the others made camp.”

“You’re right,” Shadowheart concedes.  “Shall we?”

Ayzora and Gale give a nod before he gestures to Shadowheart, inviting her to lead the way.

The three find a nearby trail and walk down it slowly, searching for their other companions and calling out their names on occasion.  After a while, with no sign of them or their camp, they return to the wreckage to orient themselves and take an alternative path following the coastline.  As the amber skies warn of the impending night, they at last see the smoke of a campfire.

Arriving to camp, a large fire pit sits in the center of a clearing, roughly surrounded by tents.  Dark Urge’s tent sits between Shadowheart’s and that of a githyanki he and Astarion found earlier named Lae’zel (who makes a blunt introduction).  Gale begins putting up his tent, and Ayzora finds hers between him and Astarion’s tent.

After the sun sets, Gale manages to put together a halfway decent meal while Dark Urge shares some encouraging news: there’s a druid grove nearby.  While sitting around the fire and eating, the group- save for Astarion, who was in his tent- agrees to head there first thing in the morning.  But for now: they need rest.

Ayzora sits by the fire for a long while, staring at the dancing flames.  Her hair is neatly braided and resting on her shoulder, trailing down to the hem of the blouse of her at-ease clothes.  With a straight back, her legs are crossed and her hands are folded in her lap; perfectly postured, even when alone.  

Someone is softly snoring, nearby.  Crickets chirp in a consistent drone, rising and falling like a heartbeat.  An owl hoots.  The fire crackles.  A tent door flaps closed.

Ayzora turns around with a start.

Astarion stands in front of his tent in a loose white blouse and fine trousers, watching her.

She stands, taking a few paces towards him.

“Well, hello,” he greets as she approaches.  “You’re up rather late.”

“I wasn’t sure if I’d see you tonight.  I just wanted to thank you for setting up my tent.”

“Consider it repayment for the… incident.”

Ayzora nods with a smile, “then we’re even.”

Astarion sighs.  “So, we’re resting here?  Turning in for the night?”

“I suppose…  Have you slept in the woods before?”

“It’s all a little new to me, I admit.  The night normally means bustling streets, bursting taverns…” he trails off with a smirk.

Ayzora cocks an eyebrow at him.

He takes the hint, returning to the topic at hand.  “Curling up in the dirt and resting is, um… a little novel,” he says with a more optimistic tone.

“Once you get used to the quiet, it can be nice.  Besides, we don't know how long it’ll be until we settle again.  I fear tomorrow might be a long day…”

“You’ve done this before?”

“Well, yes, but it’s been quite a while.”  Ayzora looks around, scanning for wildlife.  She’d forgotten how comforting the walls of her tower are- now, even with her tent, she feels exposed.  Vulnerable.  It’s unsettling.  She takes a deep breath.  “Anyway… we should get some rest.”

Astarion scoffs.  “I’m in no place to rest yet.  Today has been a lot.  I need some time to think things through.  To process this.”  He lets out a sigh.  “You sleep,” he offers with a small smile, “I’ll keep watch.”

Ayzora studies him, trying to get a read.  As far as she can tell, he seems genuine.  Genuine enough, I suppose, given… well, everything.  With another deep sigh, she nods.  “Thank you… I think I might actually sleep, then.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Ayzora,” he purrs with a smile.  “Sweet dreams.”

“Goodnight, Astarion.”

Ayzora settles in her tent.

While she’s thankful she brought her own things, giving her some sense of the comfort of home, she struggles to settle without the weight that normally sits on her right side: Droop.  She’s exposed in these woods, yes; and yet, she feels isolated.  Lonely.

But Astarion is keeping watch.  She can still save him.  Starting with the druid grove.

Find a healer.  Get to Baldur’s Gate.  Kill Cazador.

And maybe save herself in the process.

She drifts into trance.

In the quiet of the night, Astarion stalks into the woods.

Author's Note: I'm really excited to write this fic, even though I have no idea how many people are actually going to read it. Ayzora is one of my beloved D&D characters from a campaign I played in once a week for 3-years, and after playing Baldur's Gate 3, not only was it incredibly reminiscent of the campaign we played (the parallels were so wild, it was a blast), but Astarion also reminded me a lot of Ayzora. I love both of them dearly; and while I can always give Astarion a happy ending full of love, joy, growth, and hope, Ayzora unfortunately did not find the same end for herself. This story takes place after the campaign I played (altered quite a bit to remain consistent with BG3 canon) as a means of giving Ayzora the chance to be Radiant Hopeful herself, one day. I think love changes people.

Other notes:

- The Dark Urge *is* essentially Tav, in this case. The Tav playthrough is the D'Urge playthrough in this story. This allows the Dark Urge to exist as a fleshed out character, but it also gives me the freedom to write Ayzora as a fully Original Character, more akin to one of the Origin characters.

- Dungeons & Dragons lore/canon is incorporated into this story, as it was integral to Ayzora's story. Think of this more like a BG3 AU where it leans just a *little* closer to D&D. Regardless, one of my beta readers isn't familiar with D&D or BG3, so while my target audience is BG3 players and those familiar with D&D, I'm writing it to ensure you don't need any of that knowledge to read. Surface-level should be just fine!

- Ayzora is a High Moon Elf Necromancy Wizard, for those of you that may have been wondering. We'll get into the rest of her character as we go.

This is cross-posted to my Ao3, @ write-and-wander, so be sure to subscribe to the fic there if you want to see it first and be notified when it updates!

Chapter Two: Decline

[lolathestoryteller]

This is a fun one I thought up. A jily lives Christmas AU, where young Harry thinks his mom cheating on dad with Santa(but plot twist, it’s James dressed as Santa😄)

*I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus

Underneath the mistletoe last night

She didn't see me creep

Down the stairs to have a peep

She thought that I was tucked up

In my bedroom, fast asleep*

Prompt:

“*yawn* what is those sounds? A burglar?? I should warn daddy!*

*goes quietly downstairs and peeks*

‘W what? Mummy is kissing Santa?? Daddy will be so sad! Better tell him tomorrow morning’

Hiya there Anon! Sorry for my late reply, had a busy week! Anyways, this one made me smile haha — I hope it makes you smile too! :)

Potter Manor; the following morning…

« Hey! There’s my little man! » James calls out as he sees Harry walking into the kitchen.

He pulls back the chair next to his, inviting the six year old to sit down. « Sleep well, Snitch? » he asks, gently ruffling Harry’s messy curls.

Harry looks down onto his still empty plate, not meeting James’s eyes as he says very seriously: « Daddy…I got to tell you something bad. »

James raises a suspicious brow at his son, leaning closer to him. « Something bad, huh? » he asks, not entirely sure whether it’d be actually bad or rather just cheeky.

You really never know with Harry — he is the son of a Marauder after all.

« Yeah, » Harry replies, his voice barely above a whisper, before he finally looks up to meet James’s eyes. « But I don’t want you to be sad… »

Alright, this sounds like the bad bad type then.

James scoots his chair closer to Harry’s, bending low to be on eye level with his son. « What happened, Harry? » he asks, getting genuinely worried.

Harry bites at his lower lip, in the exact same way James has seen another person do whenever she’s nervous — it makes him smile a bit despite his worry.

Seems he’s just as much his Mother’s son.

« I saw Mummy last night…I— I thought I heard a noise, so I went downstairs because what if it was a burglar…? » Harry explains with all the typical childlike imagination.

James shakes his head at his son’s cheek. « You went downstairs past bedtime? » he asks with a falsely stern tone. « Better not tell Mummy that. »

« No, but Dad, I saw Mummy kissing Santa last night! » Harry suddenly blurts, his green eyes wide and his little hands now grasping onto James’s forearm.

Oh, that.

Seems they haven’t been as quiet as he’d thought.

James tries his very best not to start laughing, but when in that exact moment, Lily enters the kitchen, his resolve completely melts away. « Did you? » he asks, chuckling at Harry’s incredulous expression. « Did Mummy kiss Santa? »

He meets Lily’s confused eyes, which suddenly glimmer with embarrassment. « What? » she asks, looking from James to Harry and back. « James! Why would you—»

« Seems our son saw you and Santa beneath the Mistletoe last night, Lil. » James cuts her off amusedly. « Care to explain? »

Lily’s eyes narrow in a way that tells him he’d just dug his own grave, though James thinks it might have been worth the laugh.

« Harry, Mummy did not kiss Santa. » she explains with all the patience she can muster as she crouches down in front of the six year old.

Harry crosses his arms doubtfully. « But I saw you. » he replies matter of factly, causing Lily to sigh and James to bite back another laugh. « You said you loved his beard and then you kissed him! On the lips! »

James thinks despite her serious facade, Lily’s just as amused by this as he is. He decides to finally help her out of this, rather hilarious, situation. « That wasn’t Santa, » he explains, causing Harry to look up at him confusedly. « That was just Daddy dressed up as Santa. »

James thinks he’s never seen Harry look so flabbergasted before. « Why did you dress up as Santa? » he asks as though that was the most ridiculous thing ever. « Santa’s like, way older too. » he grimaces, turning back to look at Lily, utterly confused.

She chuckles discreetly into her palm, but James only smirks — he’s definitely going to sleep on the sofa for this one. « Well, Snitch, what can I say…your Mum just has a thing for older men. »

« James Potter! »

[quillheel]

CHARACTER AESTHETIC — BOLD /ITALICS WHAT APPLIES & REPOST

tagged by: @rebellionhearted , thank you sm!!!!!! <3 <3

tagging: @tenebriism / @tendercoded / @leuvspell / @gloryseized / @finalfronticr / @dreamjumps / @abyssembraced / @somnium-led / @stellaxincubo / @cicxdas / @adventuroushero / @playedbetter and anyone wearing glasses or a hair accessory today! multi's, do as thy wilt! do w/e muses u want!

SOUNDS.

tinkling of piano keys / the click of a lock / an engine starting, stalling / sinful whispers / stifled sobbing / the rattle of death / alarm blaring / a siren call / spanish guitar strumming / loud laughter at midnight / banshee screeching / drunk hiccuping / the giggle of a child / rolling thunder / disdainful chuckling / bones creaking / carefree whistling / singing off key / flesh hitting concrete / white noise / a mirror cracking / laboured breathing / a groan of pain / waves lapping at the shore / the roar of a lion / pages turning / swords clashing / deep humming / birds chirping / dial tone / tongue popping / fingers tapping a surface / crystals breaking / music turned up to the limit / raindrops on a roof / angry yelling / yawning at noon / horns going off / ravens talking / bubblegum bursting / splashing water / teakettle squeal / militia drums / wolves howling / slow, sarcastic clapping / soprano notes / whispering pleas / gregorian chants / mournful cries

VISUALS.

filled notebooks / dogeared books / clean shaves / empty stares / sleeping at a desk / the witching hour / driving all night / restless tides / broken windows / coffee any time / freshly baked goods / bonfires / lounging felines / circles under your eyes / bedhead / tangling in the sheets / leather jackets / paint stains / music sheets / too many tabs to find the music / weary brows / card games / messy ponytails / strained smiles / unsent texts / heart on your sleeve / slow dancing in the rain / star gazing / torn jeans / piles of clothes / filled bookshelves / hurricanes / chapped lips / cliff diving / the lights in venice / stolen kisses / poet shirts / half melted candles / empty coffee mugs / hot tea / unlaced boots / shameless flirting / too young to be so old / laced fingers / eyes in the trees / bloody knuckles / french letters / neon lights / ivy covered balconies

SCENTS.

burnt leaves / turkish coffee / spiced rum / moss / vanilla beans / freshly cut grass / decay / sea salt / strawberries and cream / cinnamon / honey / copper / pineapple / wet dog / pine needles / wood shavings / rainsoaked bark / something sharp, indefinable / Russian tea / dandelions / squeezed limes / Italian wine / freshly laundered clothes / coming rain / hardtack and gruel / roasting flesh / something cloying in the chest / ichor / lillies in spring / pollen / damp clothes / meatpies / greasy coins / curdled milk / leather / bone marrow / wet cement / ricecakes / open paint cans / cocoa leaves / tar / apples / sandlewood cologne / orchids / molded onions / cheap perfume / mistletoe / rubber on fire / grave dirt / old books / new books / melting plastic / roses / poison oak / seacucumbers / peppermint handcream

SOUNDS.

tinkling of piano keys / the click of a lock / an engine starting, stalling / sinful whispers / stifled sobbing / the rattle of death / alarm blaring / a siren call / spanish guitar strumming / loud laughter at midnight / banshee screeching / drunk hiccuping / the giggle of a child / rolling thunder / disdainful chuckling / bones creaking / carefree whistling / singing off key / flesh hitting concrete / white noise / a mirror cracking / laboured breathing / a groan of pain / waves lapping at the shore / the roar of a lion / pages turning / swords clashing / deep humming / birds chirping / dial tone / tongue popping / fingers tapping a surface / crystals breaking / music turned up to the limit / raindrops on a roof / angry yelling / yawning at noon / horns going off / ravens talking / bubblegum bursting / splashing water / teakettle squeal / militia drums / wolves howling / slow, sarcastic clapping / soprano notes / whispering pleas / gregorian chants / mournful cries

VISUALS.

filled notebooks / dogeared books / clean shaves / empty stares / sleeping at a desk / the witching hour / driving all night / restless tides / broken windows / coffee any time / freshly baked goods / bonfires / lounging felines / circles under your eyes / bedhead / tangling in the sheets / leather jackets / paint stains / music sheets / too many tabs to find the music / weary brows / card games / messy ponytails / strained smiles / unsent texts / heart on your sleeve / slow dancing in the rain / star gazing / torn jeans / piles of clothes / filled bookshelves / hurricanes / chapped lips / cliff diving / the lights in venice / stolen kisses / poet shirts / half melted candles / empty coffee mugs / hot tea / unlaced boots / shameless flirting / too young to be so old / laced fingers / eyes in the trees / bloody knuckles / french letters / neon lights / ivy covered balconies

SCENTS.

burnt leaves / turkish coffee / spiced rum / moss / vanilla beans / freshly cut grass / decay / sea salt / strawberries and cream / cinnamon / honey / copper / pineapple / wet dog / pine needles / wood shavings / rainsoaked bark / something sharp, indefinable / Russian tea / dandelions / squeezed limes / Italian wine / freshly laundered clothes / coming rain / hardtack and gruel / roasting flesh / something cloying in the chest / ichor / lillies in spring / pollen / damp clothes / meatpies / greasy coins / curdled milk / leather / bone marrow / wet cement / ricecakes / open paint cans / cocoa leaves / tar / apples / sandlewood cologne / orchids / molded onions / cheap perfume / mistletoe / rubber on fire / grave dirt / old books / new books / melting plastic / roses / poison oak / seacucumbers / peppermint handcream

[speakeasy8]

[004] Fujii, K. (through the eyes of Zuzzu, his manager)

Kaze’s Autumn Fest  

(TL: This is a 4-part entry covering the LASA Concert @ Panasonic Stadium Suita of which I’m only doing the second one, because it’s the most interesting.) 

- Staff journal entry dating 28 October 2022, by Zuzzu 

The first time I saw Kaze perform live was at a show with an audience of about a hundred. Advance tickets were sold out. Setlist was comprised of well-known covers and the original songs he was already performing live back then were NaN-NaNw and Choshinochatte.  The immensity of his skills needs no introduction, and whether it be witnessed within videos on YouTube or live in front of an audience, his desire to entertain and deliver high quality enjoyment to the audience is an overpowering one. 

.

From that point at the very beginning to the LOVE ALL SERVE ALL Stadium Live four years later, it’s been a long journey of carefully finding ways to introduce the existence known as Fujii Kaze to the world. It’s a process that involved many long discussions, sharing of ideas and working around issues which were all done as a team (Kaze himself included, of course), and it still continues to this day.  I could tell from the get-go through the very first performance I experienced that Kaze already had it all: singing ability, piano skill, audience engagement, you name it. But the more I learn about him as a person, the more apparent it became that he isn’t somebody who can or should be simply thrust to the world, as the chances of it leading to grave misunderstanding is pretty high.  As such, I figured it‘d be wiser to first show people what he is able to offer as a musician, instead of simply suddenly unveiling to the world who he essentially is as a person. It was just a gut feeling I had. 

.

Another aspect I had to consider was the fact that he’s been uploading videos of himself performing piano covers on YouTube since little, so anyone who knew him from those would only know him as a cover artist there, as he hadn’t shared any of his own original works. As someone who got to hear his original songs pretty early on, I had to tackle the issue of how and when best to present them, as I felt the initial performances that would introduce him to the world should be centered on them and not the covers that he does.  If a number of people got to hear his music first, then perhaps the time for us to introduce him to a wider audience would come. But would people really understand simply from listening to his music? 

.

See, even for me, it took a while before his nature finally sunk in. In the earliest stages, I didn’t know anything apart from what I was able to see on the surface. Even now, I cannot confidently claim that I know everything there is to know about him.   The way he thinks and lives and the fact the he is a vegetarian, I couldn’t help but to stop and ask myself how old this kid really is. Based on physical appearance alone, he doesn’t look particularly out of the norm age-wise, but the moment I got a better glimpse of his mentality, the number my mental calculation came up with was 109. And the more I got to know him, the more certain of it I became. What’s scary is, this was the impression that I got right from the time I first met him and, even until now, it hasn’t changed. I know I sound absurd but even as the depth of his soul seems bottomless, there are also very simple things that he’s somehow managed to remain completely ignorant about. This yawning gap that he has, it‘s pretty astounding.   This is veering off topic a little but here’s a recent example:  Kaze: Would ye mind stoppin by a convenience store? Ah wanna withdraw me some monies.  --At the parking area of a convenience store-- Me: Aite, imma wait here for ya.  --5 minutes later-- Me: (What’s taking him so long? He said he was only gonna make a withdrawal.)     --A wild Kaze then hesitantly appears at the entrance. Looking lost, he shuffles his way back.-- Kaze: Ah couldnae wit’draw nothin. None o’ these cards seem ta work. :((   Me: Wha? Why? It clearly says ATM there on the entrance.  --And so I ended up going in with him-- Kaze: So ah wuz tryna insert mah card in ‘ere... Me: ...this is a Loppi. It’s a ticket machine, not an ATM.  Kaze: Ooooh! No wonder it wuz spittin out tix instead~~!  And this isn’t the only example. Things like this happen a few times on an almost daily basis. Anything that doesn’t bear a significant interest to him, he is completely ignorant about.  

.

HELP EVER HURT NEVER was released in 2020.  And in 2022, it was followed by LOVE ALL SERVE ALL.  Both albums carry his core message. It is delivered musically-- embedded within the words, melodies and music videos. According to him, everything he feels he wants to sing about up to this point, has already been sung.   The LOVE ALL SERVE ALL Stadium Live in October is where we wanted to showcase everything Kaze had to offer musically. But just as we were thinking that, in came the docomo future project “KAZE FILMS,” through which the song “grace” was born. What’s even more amazing is that the director, after listening to the song, proposed that the music video be shot in India, a place that bears significant meaning to Kaze, being a big part of his roots. (I’ll be talking more about the music video itself in another entry.)  The origin of Kaze’s mindset, I feel, lies in India, where his family visited while he was still just a foetus sleeping within his mother, and where they went again to give thanks not too long after he finally came into the world.  

When the idea to hold this stadium concert was greenlit, Kaze and I first spoke about making it something that introduces both albums, with an emphasis on LOVE ALL SERVE ALL, and we’d base the infrastructural setup on Kaze’s mindset, turning it into a visual representation of sorts.  All the things that make Kaze who he is: his vegetarianism, his love for animals, and his Indian-based mindset, how do we apply these concepts to this stadium concert?  All other aspects other than the musical one were still only WIP right up until the beginning of September, and while whatever we could move forward with we did, the design aspect was still cloudy so it was absolutely serendipitous that we somehow ended up actually being able to visit the country mid-September.  

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I intend to journalize this trip here someday but for now, I’ll just say that the people who went with us were the film crew who shot NaN-NaNw in NYC, Universal’s Higashi-san, the graphic designer behind all of Kaze’s professional releases and merch so far, Motty Marui-san, the cameraman Ono-san, and the hairstylist-cum-makeup artist Matsuno-san, who was joining a Team Kaze project for the first time. With the creative team in tow, and through the sights that we all took in together with Kaze in India, we were finally able to determine the direction of the overall thematical design to take for the show.  The LASA flag, the staircase leading up, the décor in the SERVE ALL Area, the fresco decorating the stadium itself, the décor in the LOVE ALL Area, the smaller flags and banners, the sounds and the smells.   

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With this, the time where we can finally show to the world Kaze's inherent nature in the most visual form possible is finally upon us.  

Photos by: Yosuke UEYAMA 

[frvckles]

CHARACTER AESTHETIC — Oliver Charlton. BOLD / ITALICIZE what applies.

SOUNDS

tinkling of piano keys / the click of a lock / an engine starting, stalling / sinful whispers / stifled sobbing / the rattle of death / alarm blaring / a siren call / spanish guitar strumming / loud laughter at midnight / banshee screeching / drunk hiccuping / the giggle of a child / rolling thunder / disdainful chuckling / bones creaking / carefree whistling / singing off key / flesh hitting concrete / white noise / a mirror cracking / laboured breathing / a groan of pain / waves lapping at the shore / the roar of a lion / pages turning / swords clashing / deep humming / birds chirping / dial tone / tongue popping / fingers tapping a surface / crystals breaking / music turned up to the limit / raindrops on a roof / angry yelling / yawning at noon / horns going off / ravens talking / bubblegum bursting / splashing water / teakettle squeal / militia drums / wolves howling / slow, sarcastic clapping / soprano notes / whispering pleas / gregorian chants / mournful cries.

VISUALS

filled notebooks / dogeared books / clean shaves / empty stares / sleeping at a desk / the witching hour / driving all night / restless tides / broken windows / coffee any time / freshly baked goods / bonfires / lounging felines / circles under your eyes / bedhead / tangling in the sheets / leather jackets / paint stains / music sheets / too many tabs to find the music / weary brows / card games / messy ponytails / strained smiles / unsent texts / heart on your sleeve / slow dancing in the rain / star gazing / torn jeans / piles of clothes / filled bookshelves / hurricanes / chapped lips / cliff diving / the lights in venice / stolen kisses / poet shirts / half melted candles / empty coffee mugs / hot tea / unlaced boots / shameless flirting / too young to be so old / laced fingers / eyes in the trees / bloody knuckles / french letters / neon lights / ivy covered balconies

SCENTS

burnt leaves / turkish coffee / spiced rum / moss / vanilla beans / freshly cut grass / decay / sea salt / strawberries and cream / cinnamon / honey / copper / pineapple / wet dog / pine needles / wood shavings / rainsoaked bark / something sharp, indefinable / Russian tea / dandelions / squeezed limes / Italian wine / freshly laundered clothes / coming rain / hardtack and gruel / roasting flesh / something cloying in the chest / ichor / lillies in spring / pollen / damp clothes / meatpies / greasy coins / curdled milk / leather / bone marrow / wet cement / ricecakes / open paint cans / cocoa leaves / tar / apples / sandlewood cologne / orchids / molded onions / cheap perfume / mistletoe / rubber on fire / grave dirt / old books / new books / melting plastic / roses / poison oak / seacucumbers / peppermint.

tagged by : @joshosis ♥w♥ tagging : @spiriitum ( peter or trevor ! ), @fiftccnth , @biosurvive , @alllonsy , @b4didea ( amy or yaz ! )

[echantedtoon]

A Champion Time For The Heart Ch15 Battle Gym Leader Allister

( Edit: If anyone's wondering if I'm doing anything to make this different from Love Doesn't Do Encores, and yes. MC's interest is switched more into baking/cookery hobbies than music in this story, as well as Victor is also competing in the Challenge. Other chapters down the line will also be changed/redone/not be included or replaced entirely. Hope this clears things up.)

To say your exit out of Stow-on-Side was quick and abrupt to say the least was an understatement. Gloria literally dragged you out of town and the two of you two ran through the heat like the time the onix chased you two in the Wild Area until exhausted and too hot from the heat to handle and collasped under a shady ledge of one of the cliffsides that were still surrounding the path you took out of Stow-on-Side. Panting, sitting on the ground as your Drizzilie face planted the shaded ground next to you just as tired.

.....You weakly raised an arm from your sweating tired self pointing up. "W-W-We...a-are *wheeze* NEVER r-running- *gasp* in the h-heat again! Hhhaaaaa-'' Your arm flopped back to your side as your laid there heaving your lungs out and Gloria weakly nodded agreeing to that proposal.

After a few tired moments of just laying there in the shade catching your breaths and regular temperatures back thanks to the shade provided Gloria eventually spoke. "W-Well...W-What now?"

You shrugged. "I dunno man. The past two days have been absolutely CRAZY!" During the silence as you were catching your breaths, the silence let it sink in for you two exactly what had transpired the last day and a half for the two of you. "It all happened so fast I can barely believe it happened."

Gloria nodded again patting her pockets. "If I didn't have these wee ones on me person I would nah believe it either but 'ere we are. UGH! What was that boy thinkin'!?"

You shrugged forcing yourself back up into a standing position despite your tired body's protest. "I-I dunno but I think it might be best for us to just leave Stow-on-Side all together before we get caught in anymore trouble's crossfires."

She nodded immediately and used the ledge she laid again to help pull herself up. Before pausing for a moment..and pointing at your hand. "What's that ya got there?"

You hummed before lifting your hand up and coming face to face with the lightly dirty mask that Sonia's yamper had found. And you lit up in realization. "OH! It's the mask Sonia found." You held it out to her as she made a reach for it. "I must've forgotten I had it when we suddenly split town. But I think she said it might've belonged to whoever runs the ghost type gym around here."

"Allister," Gloria corrected you turning the small mask over in her hands...before smiling. "Well if it is we outta return it ta him! I was plannin' on seeing 'em anyways! Now might be a good time as any if we need a reason ta leave."

You nodded. Good enough reason to you too. "I...think Sonia said his gym was a day out of here by some grave yard."

"Oh yeah it is! In fact when I checked the map for his location, I noticed there's also an Inn and a taxi station right next to it as well! We'll have somewhere to rest up then!" You nodded, nudging your pokemon who made an annoyed noise but reluctantly got up from his spot on the ground. "I just hope he's not too scared to accept battling with me. Especially since I already go the same badge he give out from Bea."

You paused..looking up from your yawning water type to raise a brow at her examining the mask more. "..What are you talking about?"

She still looked at the mask almost sadly for a moment before looking at you. "Oh right. Of course you wouldn't really know about him. Even tho it's easily known." She sighed looking back down to the mask. "Allister accordin' ta Lee is one of the newest Gym Leaders in Galar, in fact this is gonna be his first Gym Challenge too."

You blinked wide eyed at her. "Oh really?"

She nodded slowly. "In fact he's only been an official gym leader for 'round two years, but he is a bit eccentric from what I've heard. He claims ta be able ta see ghosts after an accident when he was four that claimed the lives o' his folks." She looked at you and you stared back STUNNED at the words that came and still stumbled from her mouth. "Then he was taken in by the old Gym Leader of the stadium he runs now before he passed away too. From there Allister took over and I think the Chairman or Lee's the one who's taken on the responsibility for him about keeping the stadium up n' running since he's so young." She held the mask with a slightly bigger frown. "In fact accordin' to his league card he's supposed ta have at least a hundred of these things cuz he's so shy."

You still stared.....WHAT!? HOW COULD ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND PUT THAT KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY ON A CHILD THAT YOUNG!?...Well you couldn't remember exactly HOW young he was since you remembered the only time you had ever really seen most of the Gym Leaders was during the Entrance Ceremony months ago and only for a short time. And in the game Allister's backstory, as much as it pained you too say, didn't have much impact because in fact JUST A GAME then. But now with it being your reality this was down right almost cruel! THAT CHILD NEEDS HELP!!

"Who in their right mind would just put all that responsibility on a kid like that?," you asked scowling.

Gloria shrugged. "From what I've heard through the grapevine Allister insisted on takin' over and wouldn't budge til they agreed. He must've really wanted ta stay at the stadium if he did that."

You didn't at first and just sighed shaking your head. "Well...In any case if we're heading to see him we better start walking while there's still daylight to see by. I don't feel like camping surrounded by cliffs where more boulders could fall on us."

That got her motivated enough to slip the mask into her back pack as the two of you shoved back off in the summer heat, and began walking down the trail still surrounded by the Stow-on-Side's cliffs. By the time it was night time you two were still surrounded by cliffs, so the best thing either of you could do was pitch the tent as fair from the center of the pathway you could as to not block the entrance way in case some traveler passed by. The next morning waking bright and early at Gloria's insistance to start traveling again. As in her words it would take at least a day to get there but since you two had a head start if you started walking early in the morning now, you should be able to reach the inn before night fall. You grumbled but the promise of a proper bed and home cooked food that wasn't just trail mix or the like was enough motivation for you to get up and after packing everything away, started off once again. The sun was as hot as ever as the two of you walked with Drizzilie whining but keeping up at your feet, you were glad he took what you said seriously and began walking but you also regretted not having any water for him or Gloria who looked absolutely miserable in the heat. The sooner you got to that inn the better! As the three of you walked and walked, the sun slowly got to the middle of the sky and then started slowly going down towards the time of sunset. Also within the hours you walked, the cliffs around you started to become scarcer and scarcer until they started to break off from the path around you until you both would just walk by the occiasional one spread out away from the last one and more trees and vegitation started to replace them around you. Thank goodness. The trees offered some shade from the scorching heat luckily, but it still was a pain to walk through. Ahead of you along the dirt path it started to open up to open fields like most of the scenery of Galar you've traveled past and you groaned dreading the lack of shade once you got past the treeline.

"LOOK!," Gloria suddenly pointed making you blink at where she was pointing. And you had to squint your eyes past the sun's glare to see what she was pointing to in the distance. And to your shock, a lil fair aways from you in the open area was a giant silvery stadium, and across from it was a few buildings. THERE IT WAS!! THE INN!! "There it is!" She started forward again waving to you. "C'mon. Let's get outta this bloody sun already! I'm more cooked than a burnt curry."

You could agree with that. Picking up your pace, the two of you quickly made down the pathway, sun be darned to the inn and the closer and closer you two got, the more you noticed this stadium was JUST as BIG as the others even tho it was smack dab in the middle of no where outside of a town. But that's not what got the two of you staring. It was the grave yard on the other side of the giant stadium that caught your attention. It was MASSIVE!! At least two hundred looking headstones surrounded by a very tall and sturdy looking black metal fence with the gates leading into there wide open. You two must've have noticed it at first because it was blocked from view by the stadium. Gloria was first to noticed as she just so happened to glance over her shoulder as you two went down the path that broke off from the main dirt road and towards the inn that in all honestly wasn't an inn. It was in fact just a regular two story house you'd find in Postwick,but very very BIG with what looked like lots of rooms. The only way you could've figured it was an actual inn was the sign in front of the home stating it was in fact a hotel. Just not a very big one. Beside the home was just a plain looking barn with LOTS and LOTS of hay scattered about the front of in like the kind of bard you'd keep cows and pigs in. You nearly made it to the porch when your Drizzilie squeaked and tugged on your leg, when you looked to him he pointed at Gloria, and you looked too confused, until you saw the massive graveyard she was silently staring at for a moment and you settled your gaze on it too for a moment.

".....Gloria. Are you ok?," you eventually asked her once you got over your initial shock of seeing such a thing by a pokemon stadium of all things.

She....eventually nodded and looked back to you. "Y-Yeah. I'm fine. I just thought I saw someone." She shivered before shaking it off and bounding up to you and you made a point of turning around to walk up onto the shady house's porch. "It was just my imagination tho. I guess I'm just a wee spooked about it all."

You nodded in understanding. The two of you walked up to the door and hesitated just a moment before you slowly opened the door which opened with a creak. What it opened too was a cozy looking regular living room and a few doorways leading to different areas, one of which was a kitchen from the looks of it and the other was a stairway leading up towards the second floor of the home. The two of you stared for a moment, relieved it looked normal, before looking at each other. This was an inn?? After a moment the two of you looked back inside and around, not too sure if you should step in from the shaded porch, even if the ac from the cool house was inviting.

"Uh....HELLO!?," you called into the home eventually raising a brow and looking around, "Is anyone here?! We heard this was an inn with rooms!"

"Maybe the place is run by ghosts too," Gloria suggested half teasing half mumbled.

"OH CUSTOMERS!!" Both of you looked up as a young woman's voice shouted from the kitchen area and some noises that sounded like pots and pans and shuffling footsteps. "Please, come in and close the door! I'll be right out in a giffy!" You two looked at each other again before Gloria shrugged and walked in and you followed, closing the door behind you with a creak. As you two walked into the living room area the source of the noise finally made herself present. A woman who looked about a few years older than you with black hair in a short ponytail and black sweats and t-shirt came speed walking from the kitchen. A bright white apron draped over her otherwise dark wardrode. Some flour spread all over her face and front like snow. "Hello there! Good evening!" She greeted with a wave and bright smile. Huh. You didn't remember this in game. Must've been because this was an actual world too. "Sorry I couldn't answer the door. I was a little busy baking some soul cakes." She briefly gestured to the kitchen. "But welcome to the Stow-on-Side Inn and Corviknight flight service! How can I help you two today?"

You two briefly looked at one another again before you cleared your throat. "Well, I don't suppose we could get a room just for the night. ...And where's everyone else?" You rose a brow around you. "This place is pretty big just for one person to manage."

"Oh I'm not alone," the woman explained, "My family works as the caretakers for the Stow-on-Side Cemetery or employed at the stadium across the street. Except for my uncle. He's out right now but him and his corviknight are in charge of the taxi from here if that's what you need." You shook your head no. "It's just me and my grandmother here for the moment, but I'd be happy to ring you up and show you to the guests rooms." You both agreed to that and watched as the woman just walked on over to the closet, opened it, and pulled out an old timey looking cash register. It took a moment for the two of you to practically go through your entire bags to scramble just enough for how much the room would cost for the night and after putting away said register with the money, the woman gestured for you two to follow her up the stairs and onto the second floor. As you two followed, you were honestly surprised at the place being homey and not so scary despite working for the ghost type gym leader and caretaking the cemetery next to it. You followed her to a nice looking but big room with double beds on the opposite side of the house. "The bathroom is through there." She pointed at a closed door within the room. "Feel free to use our laundry room if you need too. It's just down the hall through the green door. Dinner will be served in about two hours. I hope you don't mind soup."

"Uh..No, no. That's fine," you assured her, "Thanks."

She nodded. "You can just leave your dishes outside your door and I'll collect them before sun down. I hope you two enjoy your stay here."

"Thanks again....By the way," you gave her another look, "Where's the gym leader now? I didn't see him when we came in."

"Oh Allister? Probably off somewhere in the gym. He prefers to be left alone unless some one's delivering him food or checking up on him as the Champion ordered. But I'm sure he's fine if you're looking to go battle him right now."

"Uh. No. I was just curious."

She nodded before leaving. "Well if there's anything else you need don't hesitate to come down stairs and ask us."

She seemed pretty nice, and you were surprised but relieved to hear that Leon had recruited someone at least to keep an eye on the boy. You wasted no time in using the provided shower and laundry room for your clothes, relief flooding away from getting to finally cool down from the scorching heat you've endured for quite a few days. Your Drizzilie sure seemed to like when you filled the bathtub just a little bit and let the poor pokemon jump in only to curl up for a nap within the water. He must've been more tired out than you. Gloria made herself busy as she went through her things before pulling out that camera and a lense thing that went over it. When you asked she explained it wasn't just a night vision lense, but one that would also allow her to take pictures clear as day without the bright flash. Sounded handy. Then the next thing you knew she was pulling out that mask you had let her take and headed towards the sink and when you looked over noticed she was scrubbing the thing front and back with soap in the washroom sink furiously. As if it never had been cleaned before in it's life.

"Hey. What are you cleaning that thing off for?"

"Well I can't just give it back ta him all dirty now can I? It'd look like we didn't take care o' it at all 'n come off as rude don't cha think?"

Hmm. She had a point. It'd be rude of you to just give the poor boy his mask back in poor condition, it was better to clean it up before giving it back to him. By the time Gloria was done it was mostly ok looking. It still looked to have a few scratches and markings here and there from being obviously left out in the elements for who knows how long before being found, but it should still function ok. You didn't know how much time had exactly passed since you crashed on one of the twin beds provided for you but when you did eventually look up from your laid position was when there was a knock at the door and Gloria had found herself busy sticking more of the pictures she had apparently taken with her camera into the pages of one of her dex challenge books but looked up as you got up and answered the door. And on the other side was the same woman although without flour on herself or the apron this time, holding a tray which judging by the smell that hit you as soon as you opened the door was tomato or some kind of veggie soup.

She smiled. "Hello! Hope I'm not disturbing you folks too much." She held up the food. "But since you didn't come down for dinner I figured I would bring it to you as promised. Again, I hope you don't mind soup."

After a moment, you blinked and smiled. "That'll be fine thank you!" You carefully took it from her. It would be a nice change from curry, wild berries, and camping food at least.

She nodded before you closed the door. "Just leave them outside your door and I'll collect them from you later."

You nodded back to her before closing the door and turning with the tray in your hands. Gloria perking up at the promised food you had collected and gestured for you to come on over and look at the pictures she had taken so far. My my. There was a lot already and the book of different pokemon was practically full. Most of them were really well done and showed off the pokemon really well. Victor must've really put a lot of time and effort into the hobby he was so passionate about. However the newer ones were more plain looking and there was a bit of a snap-and-go kind of vibe to them that was obviously Gloria's and some were a bit blurry but not to the point you couldn't tell what pokemon they were. That's not saying Gloria's was worse just more different. One picture she pointed out to you was one of you asleep on the table back at the Stow-on-Side's pokemon center with your Drizzilie asleep next to you for her photo under the Drizzilie section....You had given her a look half way through your soup with a raised brow, but she only giggled in response teasing how he must've been your long lost twin to be stuck to your side most of the time. You decided to let it go for now since you were more focused on eating your food to fill the empty space in your stomach. Speaking of said water type pokemon, Drizzilie had given a bored but curious look over the still slightly filled tub once he heard the mention of food. Afraid he might've yelled and gotten you in trouble with who ever the owners of this place was, you had rummaged around in your backpack and had found a mini bag of what looked like granola bars and tossed it to him to keep his stomach in check. You also found the small bag of candy you had been 'tipped' back in Hulbury for your 'job' still sealed tight with the little ribbon. Deciding you didn't want for it you offered it to Gloria who, after giving a thoughtful expression, gladly took it and set it aside for the moment. For the next while you had finished the food offered, leaving it outside the door as requested, and you picked up helping her find the right pictures to put into place within the book until you were done. There was quite a number of them that you didn't remember her taking on her way to Hammerlocke or Stow-on-Side concluding she must've just not had the time to glue them all in yet. By the time you were finished and Gloria put the book and other things back into her bag the sun had set and darkness was settling in for a long night ahead.

You stretched and yawned with a sigh turning to the bed provided for you with a smile. Happy you didn't have to worry about pitching a tent for the night again. "Ok! Time for bed-"

"UH! Don't ya mean adventure, Y/n?" You paused...turning Gloria with a bewildered expression plastered on your face as it what she meant by that. She meant adventure as in like a good dream right? She held up her camera and shook it a bit. "The best time ta capture ghost pokemon would be at night! And what better place than around a ghost type stadium n' grave yard!? I don't even have the flash on so it won't scare 'em off!"

"Oh HECK to the no with that idea!" You frowned immediately shutting her idea down and pointed to the floor. "Gloria we've been walking all day in the hot sun and I'd like to get a little sleep tonight. Plus we CAN'T just go trespassing in a graveyard of all places! That's like high key illegal and very disrespectful might I add."

She gave you a look as if you had just insulted her mother. "WHAT!? Who said anythin' about goin' into that spooky place? I was talkin' 'bout just takin' pictures of 'em as they floated around. I wouldn't really just walk into a grave yard in the middle of the night are ya looney?"

Oh.....That actually made a lot more sense. Since ghost type pokemon wouldn't be too common during the day if any came out at all, and Gloria would probably need to get a few pictures of them if she wanted to finish up that challenge book. Being next to a ghost type stadium and the grave yard did seem like a good place as any to catch a couple of them floating about. But you two couldn't just be skulking about at night light this!! They'd think you were...were....I don't know! Grave robbers or something!

You shook your head. "Glory. Don't you think this is ...I don't know. Strange looking? What if someone catches us and think we're up to no good? These people practically own this land after all."

She gave you that same pleading face she gave to you when she wanted to meet Raihan back in Hammerlocke. "Please! I know I said I wouldn't ask for any more favors but this could be a good chance to get some pictures I probably couldn't get anywhere else! And we wouldn't be actually goin' inside the cemetery for pictures anyways so there wouldn't be any reason for us to get in trouble even if we were found! Plus think of the scientific reasons!" You rose a brow. "Seein' ghost type pokemon first hand in their natural habitat! Documenting' 'em for the world ta see! It'd be a good first hand experience in case one ever crosses our paths!"

You groaned, reaching a hand up to rub at your face. "You're really settled on this thing aren't you??....*sigh* Fine!" You pointed to her. "But you can't expect us to spend all night out there! We'll spend an hour outside but then we need to come back and get some sleep for tomorrow."

"....An hour n' a half!"

You sighed again. "Fine. An hour and a half but don't push it anymore than that!"

She beamed brightly nodding and jumping to her feet with her pack still slung over her shoulders. "You got it! We'll be in 'n out so fast they'll think we're ghosts too!"

You dry chuckled before shaking your head and turning. The things you got yourself into on this journey. "Drizzilie!" Said water pokemon peeked it's head over from the tub as it was called and you pointed to your own bag. "We'll be right back. Watch my bag for me until we come back. Ok?" The pokemon made some kind of sound before sinking back down from view which you took as an ok and turned back to follow Gloria once she walked over to the door. "Hey." She paused. "We'll need to be quiet about this. Remember. In and out. We're not going to be doing anything crazy like in Stow-on-Side. Ok?"

She nodded and with a groan, you reluctantly followed her flipping the lights of your room off as you did. The dishes weren't in the doorway when Gloria stepped out so the lady must've collected them as she promised. The whole house was...quiet. And dark. You had snuck downstairs to the kitchen a couple times to grab a midnight snack without your parents knowing when you were back home a couple times, but this felt different. Everything was quiet and dark besides the odd night noises you'd usually hear and the moonlight leaking in through the windows being your only source of light around. You stood there for a moment taking it in, it almost felt like you two were sneaking away like thieves or something, even if neither of you had bad intentions it still felt strange sneaking out like this. You jumped as the door made a soft creaking noise as Gloria slowly closed it behind the two of you. The brunette turned to you before putting a hand to her mouth in the universal 'be quiet' motion that you guessed even in this universe was known. You nodded and together the two of you slowly walked towards the stairs. It was strange at night sounds seemed to be much louder especially when the two of you were TRYING to be quiet. Even though your footsteps were pretty light and soft considering to your slightly worried selves they might as well have been compared to an elephant's! You tried to not bump or trip over anything in the limited light the moon provided and did your best to try and let your eyes get used to the dark as fast as possible to help out. Eventually Gloria found the stairs and took the first few steps down with you right behind her of course praying you neither of you would accidentally trip down these. Someone must've heard your prayers because you both made it and headed towards the front door. Gloria made the first move as you looked around and were surprised no one from the family woke up. They must've all still been asleep. Gloria slowly reached over and grabbed onto the doorknob, slowly turning it counter clockwise until there was a small click noise alerting it had been all the way turned, and pulled back the door with a small squeak noise. You two cringed at it and in a panicked stopped half way from the noise looking back towards the stairs of the dark and still home......But no sounds of anyone waking up came. With a sigh Gloria finished opening the creaking door enough for you both to slip through and out you two went into the night before she as slowly as before closed it back with a creak and small click. You both stayed still for a moment a little on edge...before sighing on the dark porch. Whelp you made it outside at least. Turning around, you looked out onto the dark world around you and it didn't look so much different than usual. The stadium giant and silent blocking out some of the moonlight and casting the road in front of it and parts of the cemetery in a pitch black shadow. The moon full rising high above your heads as stars twinkled around it like diamonds and dark grey clouds lazily passed along the sky. Would've made a perfect scene for a Halloween cartoon. As you glanced towards the cemetery, devoid of any life or light besides the moon, you couldn't help but let a shiver run down your spine. But you didn't see any pokemon. Not even ghost pokemon.

"Hey Gloria," you nearly said in a whisper turning. But jumped realizing she wasn't next to you anymore. It only took one look over your shoulder to locate her tho. She turned back to you and made another shush motion before waving you over from her kneeled spot on the ground facing down the road from the stadium. How did she move so fast? Blinking, you did end up walking over to her as she resumed holding the camera to her eye, leaning over to be eye level. "What's up?"

"Shh." She looked to you, held her finger to her now smiling mouth for a third time, before pointing in front of her. "Loud noises will scare 'em away." She whispered.

Raising a brow you looked forward....And your eyes widened. Down the road from the stadium (the side that didn't have the cemetery on it) was littered in taller grass and a few trees. And they were AB-SO-LUTELY FILLED with ghosts pokemon! And some lights which you quickly realized were chandelier and candle looking pokemon flying or shuffling around. THERE MUST'VE BEEN AT LEAST ONE OR TWO HUNDRED OF THEM!! Peeking through grass. Randomly flying around. Interacting with one another. Climbing over the barn building. A few you remembered the names of like that small group of driftloons. A few shuppets here and there. That there climbing on the barn's roof was a sableeye. You THINK those candle like pokemon walking down the pathway were litwick. There was this really pretty white pokemon who looked to be dancing in the moonlight and you were pretty sure it was a Frostlass. IT WAS INCREDIBL- You gave a yelped and fell to your knees next to Gloria ducking as a loudly wailing Mismagius flew over head....And the teen giggled at you as you threw a frown at her.

"Oh haha. Very funny Ms. Get-Us-Chased-By-An-Onix."

"Hey! I said it was an accident. Besides unlike with that big rock for brains I know we'll be safe doin' this." She went back to holding up the camera towards the variety of pokemon around you. And while it was dark, and you were both a decent ways a way from the cemetery so you couldn't really have seen unless you could see in the dark....Neither of you saw the small figure peeking out from between the tombstones at you. Having heard the yelp you made thanks to the mischievous pokemon that whizzed by.

"Oh yeah? How are you so sure?"

"Ghost type pokemon are just different from rock types," she continued with a smile, "Rock pokemon would usually just mindlessly chase after ya far away if you even bother 'em in the slightest. And while ghost type pokemon can be pretty territorial if they have a territory of their own, usually they're just like this." She pressed the button again aiming at a ghost pokemon with a skull over it's face you couldn't remember the name off. Despite being so close to it and Gloria pointing the camera directly at it, it never even looked at her as it left. "They like to just mind they're own business most of the time as it is. As long as ye don't bother 'em or make 'em feel like you're gonna do something bad nine times outta ten they'll just leave ya alone. A lot of people think they're creepy or just plain ol' dangerous cuz of the bad rep some spread....But we're just sittin' here. Mindin' our own business while they do theirs. What reason would they have to just suddenly come at us?"

You stared at her completely in surprise. ".....Did you learn this from Hop too?"

"Yep!," she said snapping a picture at one of those chandelier like pokemon as it flew directly over the two of you. "He'd make a pretty smart scientist or pokemon researcher if he ever decided to become one."

You nodded. Not aware of just how smart Hop if he could know such astounding information. "...Well. How would you describe it then if a lot of people are too scared of them?"

....she paused...before looking and not even missing a beat said, "Beautiful. Wouldn't you?" The figure watching you's eyes widened.

You blinked a moment before looking forward as another driftloon lazily floated past close enough that if you wanted too you could touch one of it's yellow hand-thingies...before smiling. "You know I would. Because I can't really argue with how you described it either."

She hummed before turning and spotting a small mimikyu walking past towards the shadowed area of the path you two couldn't see into and pointed her camera towards it's disappearing figur- She froze. Eyes widening as through the night proof lense she caught a humanoid white face staring back before it swiftly ducked behind a tombstone- "GAH!!" You yelped as Gloria fell backwards onto her bum with a loud yelp. Startling some of the ghost pokemon into scattering away while others turned at the noise that disturbed the night. She pointed. "There's a bloody ghost in there!"

"SHHH!!" You quickly looked back towards the house relieved it didn't look like anyone was disturbed..before turning to her scared look with a scowl. "Gloria! You'll wake everyone up!"

her hand grabbed your arm as she scowled herself and pointed still. "I. Saw. A. Bloody. GHOST!! G. H. O. S. T. GHOST!!"

"Of course you're gonna see a ghost! We're surrounded by them-"

"No! Not a ghost type pokemon! I mean a real-..." She suddenly let go of your arm. "Hang on." With a fumble she managed to pull her camera's strap from around her head and forced the camera over to you. You nearly dropped to as she grabbed your shoulder and pointed towards a specific part of the cemetery across the road you couldn't see into because of the stadium blocking the moonlight. "Look. There! Right 'round that area there!" You looked to the camera, where she pointed, and then her unsure. But judging by the frown she wore, she wasn't going to take no for an answer. With a sigh you complied and held the camera up to your eye. Now you weren't sure whatever lense she used, but she was right that this thing made everything look like it really was in day time. Only with a yellow-ish hue to it. You could see the grave yard(making you shiver again-) clearly with this again, and could make out a bunch more ghost type pokemon doing their own thing among the graves there. Nothing really out of place as you could tell- until a humanoid black blur ran past a few of them. Startled you gave a small gasped and dropped the camera from your face. Gloria wearing an 'I told you so' look before snatching the camera back. "Now do you believe me?"

You opened your mouth before closing it like a goldfish a couple times looking between her and the pitch black darkness a few times. Not sure what to say...before settling on. "W-Well....Maybe it's one of the caretakers. They could be doing night rounds or...or something?" Or maybe it was a ghost type pokemon you couldn't remember.

She hummed. "Sure. Could be. But when did a graves keeper wear some kind of ghost ma-" Gloria froze...her hands lowering the camera back around her neck before dropping to her lap. her eyed wide and staring off into the darkness for a moment. ".....Wait a bloody second." You watched confused as she slid her bag off her shoulders(not sure why she brought it along in the first place) and opened it. Her hand shooting inside one specific area before pulling out the same white mask she had been cleaning earlier that day. It's white color shining in the moonlight as she held it up. Her brown eyes looked at it then at the dark cemetery then back to it again before she slowly stood up. Still looking at the mask as she slung her backpack back over her shoulders before looking back at the cemetary....and began to walk across the dirt road towards it.

"HEY! Gloria!" You were quick to jump to your feet and run after her, reaching a hand out to grab her backpack again as she let out a 'Hey!' in protest to you stopping her. "Whoa whoa whoa! And where do you think you're going!? I thought we agreed no grave yard adventures!"

"But he's in there!,'' she insisted pointing forward.

"Him? Him who?"

"Allister." she held up the small mask tugging free from your grip. "We said we'd give it back ta him."

......You rose a brow. "You think that Allister is in the grave yard?.....I'm pretty sure he's not an actual ghost."

"I didn't mean like that! He's runnin' around in there."

"Gloria. He's younger than you and most kids even adults would be asleep by now. What makes you think a little kid is going to be running around in a dark cemetery filled with pokemon who'd rather not be bothered at ten at night by himself??"

...She sighed. "Look. I know it sounds crazy but-.."She looked back to it. "I can't explain it..But there's somethin' I really need ta check out there. SO...Please? It's not like we'd be causing trouble by just lookin'."

You understandably were WAY too ready to just say no, call it a night there, and then drag Gloria back to bed to see Allister IN THE MORNING especially not in a grave yard but-...You looked back up too. ....There was a strange feeling about this. Not a bad feeling like you'd get with Mr. Rose or an uncomfortable feeling like when Raihan tried flirting with you or a familiar feeling like when you remembered something. Just...a neutral one as you stared back towards the darkness. And you found yourself slowly walking towards it yourself. Gloria blinked but didn't questioning anything as she followed you into the darkness. It didn't take long for either of you to find the open gates wide open for the two of you and in you went with Gloria right after you. Right into the dark grave yard. And you instantly felt a scary feeling overcome you. OH BOY!! This was like NOTHING in a game!! As you two looked around, Gloria turned down one way for a moment before beginning to walk that way, you blinking before slowly following behind not wanting to be left alone in this place. And like you had seen through the lense there was plenty of ghost types running around here. Many you didn't pay attention too as the two of you walked and looked around. Besides being in a literally cemetery in the middle of the night, everything seemed pretty normal. Before you bumped into Gloria who had stopped suddenly right in front of you.

"Hey!" Her sudden shout made you jump and blink. She walked forward a few steps and you watched...and noticed there was something cowering behind a particular tombstone that didn't look like a pokemon. "I can see ya hidin' away there." Whatever the thing was shifted even more behind the tombstone as Gloria stepped forward- Until a sudden barricaded wall of purple and sound quickly materialized from out of the earth before you two and sent her yelping and stumbling back as a trio of ghastly, haunter, and a gengar made up it. They didn't too happy. Acting quickly, you held your arms out just in time to catch her back before pushing her back upright into a standing position from the scare. She stumbled, righted herself up, and threw you a smile over her shoulder. "Quick thinkin' Y/n!"

"Those three don't seem to be too happy to see us," you commented gesturing to the obvious trio blocking your way as they made more sounds of contentment and frowns your way. Huh. Strange. Usually when you saw these three in any pokemon media they were always smiling so why were these trio angry? Were you invading their domain?

The thing moved from one tombstone to behind another and you two got a glimpse of a person. A rather small person which made Gloria raise a hand and call out again. "WAIT! You're Allister right?!" She pointed behind her. "You're the gym leader here aren't ya?"

There was a moment of silence as the trio of ghosts still stood there .....before the TINIEST and softest voice you had ever come from a kid speak out. "......'M A-Allister." You two could barely make out what was said by the voice...before slowly ....a small hand grabbed onto the side of the tomb stone the figure was hiding behind and a white masked face with dark hair peeked an eye from behind it. You both stared at him and he stared right back at the two of you. First at Gloria, then you, then back to Gloria before he shrunk a bit back behind the grave stone. "...Gym c-c-challenger??" He whispered out.

You weren't sure if it was a question or statement but Gloria nodded. "Yeah. That's right." Before lowering herself to sit cross legged on the ground as you blinked in surprise at her actions. "I am one but I didn't come 'ere to challenge ye or anythin'," she assured in a soft voice Wait...She DIDNT?! Then why was see so insistent on coming here? "So you don't have ta worry yourself over that."

There was a long pause and the figure didn't even budge from his spot, in fact he inched back even more behind the stone if you were seeing things in the dark corrected. "T-T-Then w-w-why ...W-What do y-y-you-" Gloria calmly held up the lightly scratched up mask to him, and it seemed to be he realized what it was because his visible eye that was reflected within the moonlight blinked at it. "....T-T-That's m-m-my mask."

She slowly nodded again. "I figured it was." Without getting up she slowly extended her arm holding the mask out to him. "We found it all the way in Stow-on-Side. I just...well I wanted to return it to ya. Since you're always wearin' 'em in all I figured you'd might want it back is all."

......The hand on the stone pointed behind her at you. "W-W-W-Who's t-that?"

"Oh this?" She looked back to you before gesturing to come sit on the ground next to her and after a second of hesitation you complied and sat yourself on the ground next to her. "This is my pal Y/n. She was the one who found your mask by the mural in Stow-on-Side." There was another silence as he still stood there before Gloria slowly held it out to the purple pokemon trio in front of her instead. "Here. You can give it to him if it's make it more comfortable to him."

The pokemon all blinked before looking at one another before the gengar reached out and took the mask from her. Examining it as it turned around and walked over to where the boy was still hiding behind the stone. Allister's head disappeared for a moment back behind the stone and you both watched as a hand poked right out real quick to grab the mask from the pokemon who held it out to him.

"I'm really sorry about all the scratches n' dents in it," Gloria apologized, "But I cleaned it up good. I hope that's alright."

Again another pause and while he didn't look out again his voice came back. "T-That c-camera a-around your neck."The masked face peeked out again." ...W-Were you going to t-t-take m-my picture w-w-w-with it?"

"Absolutely not unless you wanted too." The boy furiously shook his head no and Gloria held up her hands before reaching up and taking the camera off your shoulder and held it over to you. You understood and without a word, silently took it from her and placed it inside her bag as she looked back to him. "Ta tell ya the truth I came out 'ere to collect some pictures of ghost type pokemon for somethin' I've been working on."

The boy nodded but in a way that almost seemed guilty. "I-I know I-I heard you speaking....I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. We don't mind at all. And we were being a bit loud, especially when I got spooked by a mismagius," you finally spoke giving him a smile and the same tone Gloria used. Holding a hand to your chest. You're little tease bringing a small but single chuckle from the boy to your delight. "My name's Y/n and this is Gloria. It's very nice to meet you Allister."

"......Gloria?," he asked tilting his head to Gloria who nodded, ".....Like Leon said?"

"If it was Lee who told ya 'bout me then it was def me." She tilted her head at him. "Did he tell ya bout me?"

......"He s-s-said you were a v-very nice and k-kind p-person."

She chuckled. "I try to be. Which is why I wanted to return your mask to ya. Although I have no idea how it ended up all the way in Stow-on-Side."

There was another pause....before the boy disappeared behind the stone again only to shuffle out to meet his full body to face you, as if in case he'd have to duck back behind it again, and you widened your eyes in surprise. When you had originally seen him back in the Entrance Ceremony on the giant screen you estimated him to be only one or two years younger than Gloria herself, but judging by his height and tone he couldn't possibly be older than eight or nine years. As he clutched the lightly scratched mask to his chest he stared at the two of you for a moment. "I-I....l-lost it by accident..w-when I was visiting a yam-mask in the ruins."

"Well then it sounds like you have a bunch of friends from everywhere," you smiled and Gloria nodded. He seemed to brighten at the fact you didn't state what someone would probably usually say and that having a yamask for a friend and traveling to see him was strange. .....You hesitated but couldn't help but ask. "Hey. Sweetie, what are you doing out here so late at night? And by yourself?"

"Oh. I-I'm n-not alone," he said a slightly brighter tone to his voice before he looked at the now smiling trio behind him. "I'm here with my friends."

.....You nodded. "I can see that, and it's obvious to me that they must help take very good care of you." The three pokemon made proud noises and smiles at the praise. "But I guess what I mean is did you let anyone from the stadium know you would be playing outside this late? They might be worried if you didn't let them know."

"Oh no it's ok. They already know I like to come out here a lot so it's not a b-big deal." He said this like it was normal....You slowly nodded but didn't make any move to make him feel bad. Allister then cocked his head curiously at the both of you. ".....D-Did you really m-mean it? I mean. W-When you said you f-found ghost types...b-b-beautiful?"

"Of course we did!," Gloria stated proudly and loudly. Well a little too loud because it made Allister flinch from the loud voice. "Oh. Sorry 'bout that." She immediately apologized before nodding and talking in that soft tone again. "Yeah. We did. But genuinely if I'm honest I really like all pokemon despite what kind they are. Ghost, physic, grass....They're all really unique in their own way. Just like Gym Leaders even if they're similar."

He seemed confused as he stared at her. "What do you mean?"

She hummed in thought. "Well...For example Kabu and Bea exercise a lot to keep fit n' ta help with their motivation, and so does Nessa now that I think about it. All three exercise for their careers in one way or another, but for different reasons. Like how Bea uses that to compete in the Galarian Martial Arts tournaments while Kabu couldn't careless 'bout fightin' in those things." A brighter smile lit up her features. "Oh! Or how Raihan and Gordie like postin' lots for their fan base. But each o' 'em post different things and even if it's the same thing there's differences in each one. It's fun getting to meet all the different gym leaders as people and seeing what makes them so passionate about their lives and how they do things!"

".....A-A-And me?" His grip on the mask increased slightly as he hugged it to himself. "W-What would you w-w-want to meet me for?"

"Well, besides to return that mask like I was tellin' ye about," she explained with a smile, "I think I wanted to meet you to see that special connection ya got that no one else has."

"Huh?," he blinked at her confused.

She gestured to him. "I've been around for a bit n' I've seen some really good connections between some people and their pokemon. But not even Leon can communicate the same level those lovlies behind ya can with you." Allister looked to the trio around him before looking back to her. "I'm not sayin' people and pokemon can't be friend, cuz that wouldn't be right at all since pokemon can be your friends no matter what. But there's somethin' extra special about the way you talk and interact with 'em compared to the other trainers and their pokemon that just seems more......closely bonded in a way I don't know but I can kinda understand in a way. ....That what makes it so beautiful about ya." Allister....didn't move....or talk.....Just stared silently. To the point even his ghost pokemon pals turned to look at him in question. And more long silence the two of you exchanged a worry look before Gloria looked at him. "H-hey mate. I'm sorry if I said something to upset ya."

"Hm?" He blinked..before waving his hands. "Oh n-no nono. I-I'm sorry. I-It's just....n-no body's ever s-said that to me b-before e-except for L-Leon a-and P-Piers."

"Well he's not wrong." He turned to look at you as you genuinely smiled at the boy. "Allister, I honestly don't know you or much about you ..but by kindly you've been and how ready your friends are to help you speaks that you're a really kind hearted person. And I think you're a great gym leader too. It wouldn't even matter if Leon told you you were special because I think you always were. We just all happen to be special in our unique ways."

He seemed to be taken aback at what you just said because he looked away and kicked at the ground with his foot. "You don't.....think any of this is scary?"

"Hm. Maybe some people would but that's alright too. We're all scared on something. I'm scared of heights."

"....Oooh. So that's why you never wanted to ride a flying taxi."

You nodded. "But that doesn't mean it's a bad thing at all Allister. I think you're a good kid. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Besides. We've talked to ghosts too!"

A silence fell over the lot of you again as you blinked and everyone turned to Gloria who smiled. "........What?"

"Yeah. You remember her! Paula! She's the one who wanted us to deliver a letter-"....She blinked. "Oh wait!" You all watched as she slung her bag off her shoulders and once again went to dig through it. Allister tilted his head curiously at her rummaging until jumping back when Gloria pulled out the same letter she had received from Paula back in Hammerlocke. "Here it is!"

"Gloria. We can't just say that little girl was a ghost. She could've just been a regular person."

She rose her brow at you. "A lil girl who could run as fast as a rapidash and disappear as silent as a ghost type pokemon?"

".....Ok. You have a fair point but we can't just jump to conclusions like that-"

"M-May.." You both turned back to Allister as he slowly reached a free hand out the other one still clutching the returned mask to him. "M-May I see it?"

"Of course ya can."

She gently handed over the letter and you two watched him take it as his ghost pokemon crowded around him to also look at it. He stared silently the entire time he looked at it, turning the thing front and back with his hands. ".........T-This has a strange aura about it." He finally looked at Gloria. "Y-You said she wanted you to d-deliver it?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Said it was for someone called Frank in Bellonlea. Also said I looked like someone she could trust."

He hummed for a moment before slowly handing it back to her and she took it back from him. "W-Well.....I think the b-best thing to do if she e-entrusted you with it is to make sure it gets delivered as soon as possible."

Gloria nodded putting the letter back into her bag. "Then it sounds like ta me the next stop we should make is the Bellonlea gym. I can go return the letter n' then battle the gym leader there....*yyyyaaaawwwnnn*"

"Yeah. Speaking of tomorrow, I think we've all had enough adventure for one night and should head back." You slowly stood up as to not spook Allister and Gloria slowly nodded and followed your example with another yawn. "We've all been out here for a while."

......Allister nodded. "U-Um...Yeah. I t-t-think I'll go back inside now too."

"Do you want us to walk you home?" He looked up to you surprised for a moment before shaking his head. "Are you sure? I wouldn't want you to get lost on your way back by yourself."

"Oh don't worry Miss. I'm not alone. I-I have my friends to help me.....b-but if you want y-y-you can come with me to the stadium doors. I-I don't mind."

You smiled and offered your hand out to him making him jump a bit in surprise....before silently looking between you and your hand....before slowly extending his free hand...and putting it in yours. You smiled as you turned around at a slow pace the young boy could walk without needing to change whatever pace he would've already had and walked with him towards the exit of cemetery. Thanking whoever answered your prayers that you were going to be able to get some sleep tonight after all. Even if Allister did this often in game or in this world often, you would feel better knowing that the young boy was safe inside his home and not out running around in the dark unsupervised and got home safely. So you slowly walked with him out of the cemetery and along the dirt path all the way to the big stadium doors where he eventually let go of your hand and you let him with Gloria and the spooky trio following.

"I-I can go on from here,'' he told you.

"Are you sure?" He nodded. "Alright. You be careful now. Ok?"

"I-I will." You smiled and waved a moment before turning and starting to walk away. Gloria turning too the moment you got to her.

"G-Gloria.." She stopped and turned to Allister who was still hugging the mask to himself. "U-Um....If...I-I k-know you said y-y-you didn't want to have a battle w-w-with me...b-b-but i-if you want too..y-you can stop by b-before you l-leave t-t-tomorrow a-a-and have a quick match."

She blinked at him for a moment before smiling and nodding. "I wouldn't miss it!" And then turned to catch up with you.

As you passed by the ghosts pokemon you gave them a smile. "You three continue looking after him ok? You've all done such a great job so far."

They all smiled and made happy noises so you took that as a yes. The both of you heard the door to the stadium open and close as you were walking signaling Allisters entrance and you sighed in relief knowing he'd be safe inside at least. You both returned the same way you got out. By sneaking inside through the creaking doors cringing all the way and being as quiet as you can to not wake anyone up. By the grace of some unseen force you managed to somehow not wake anyone up and successfully make your ways back into your room safe and soundly. And finding your Drzzilie had curled himself in your bag and had fallen asleep. Heh. Guess old habits died hard. You were sure exhausted though and practically fell dead asleep as soon as you hit the pillow. Sighing and closing your heavy eyelids as the peaceful darkness took over. Infact..... you didn't wake up. Not until much later the next day. Also not surprisingly in the slightest you ended up dead asleep again, not waking up until it was almost eleven in the after noon and when you eventually pulled your heavy feeling body out of bed you discovered Gloria folding some white clothing to stuff back into her bag with a plate of untouched waffles sitting next to her on the bed, and your Drizzilie boredly staring unmoving at the food.

At the sounds of you groaning and sitting up she flashed you a smile and waved. "Mornin' Sleepin' Beauty! I hope you're hungry cuz I already went through the trouble of not lettin' this tyrant 'ere take your breakfast." You pokemon sent an annoyed look her way.

With a long yawn and quick rub of your eyes you waved back. "Mmmmmmm. Morning. *yaaaaawwwwnnn*".....Your tired eyes blinked more at the uniform she was stuffing back into her pack and you pointed. "Hey. How come you have your challenger uniform out?"

"Well it's required ta wear it when you challenge a gym leader. I swear both his and Bea's gym challenge was me spinnin' more than Kabu's arcanine's flame wheel attack."

.........You blinked, taking a moment for your tired brain to process what she had just said. "Wait. You challenged Allister?" She nodded. "When did that happen?"

"Early this mornin'. He said if I wanted ta challenge him I should do it before we left for Bellonlea this mornin'. I was thinkin' of heading there next anyways since it would be the closest Gym I haven't battled yet." She finished stuffing the uniform into the pack before slinging it over her shoulders before you noticed the camera slung back over her neck. "And I got the badge...Even if I didn't win exactly."

"....What do you mean by that?"

"There was four rounds with 'em. I won two and lost two. So it ended with a tie between us both. I didn't want to accept the badge if I didn't really win, but he said since we were even I should take it anyways since I technically won it in a way. I think he was really happen to just have a battle with someone who didn't pressure him into it and without a big crows ta watch, tho he said as an official battle it'd still is gonna be broadcasted online for everyone to see," she explained picking up the food and turning to you," He's a really strong trainer for a lil kid. I think he's gonna be a great gym leader. And I saved ya some food that the land lady brought."

"Thanks! ...But where is he now?"

"Asleep. He was pretty tuckered out from last night n' the battle." She handed the plate over to you. "But that's to be expected."

You nodded. "Yeah. So that means you got the Ghost gym badge right?" She nodded again. "...Oh. By the way, how far away is Bellonlea anyways?"

"Eh. It'd take a REAL long time if we walk, n' there's no train 'round here for a good distance too. Which is why I already told the taxi guy out front we would use the corviknight taxi as soon as you were all ready."

You paused. Food on your fork lowered as you looked at her wide eyed. A silence coming over you two as you stared long enough to not notice your Drizzilie take one of the waffles from your plate.

".....WHAT!?"

[dear-friends-12]

Part 4.

You were about to finish studying. More like sleeping in front of the computer. When you heard a knock on your window. You woke up and looked out the window. It was the green ninja. You didn’t know why he was here. In fact you didn’t know much about him. Not even his name.

(Y/n): H-Huh? What are you doing here? It’s nine o clock at night.

Lloyd: You look like you need some fresh air. Do you want to go for a ride?

(Y/n): *sees a motorcycle parked outside.* I-I don’t know. I haven’t ridden on one before. *is getting nervous.*

Lloyd: Seriously? Not even once.

(Y/n): *nods.*

Lloyd: Are you a scary cat?

(Y/n): No. Just nervous.

Lloyd: There’s no need to be. Besides you’re going to be with me the whole time. (What did I just say? Am I letting down my guard?)

(Y/n): Maybe this isn’t a good idea. I have a test coming up.

Lloyd: Please.

He had a bad day today and it was his birthday. He had an argument with his dad. Sure his mom tried to cheer him up. But,for some reason he wanted to see you. It was ever since he kissed you. He couldn’t stop thinking about it. In fact he had trouble training because of it.

(Y/n): *sighs* Okay. I’ll meet you downstairs.

You quickly got ready and went outside.

(Y/n): *is a little nervous still. But,gets on.*

Lloyd: *starts the motorcycle.* Hold on.

(Y/n): *blushes and shyly holds onto to him.*

Lloyd: I want to show you something cool.

(Y/n): O-Okay. (I don’t know why. But,I feel so happy being with him. I don’t know how this is possible. I still don’t know much about him.) I haven’t been in this part of town before. *is looking at all the buildings.*

Lloyd: I found it while on patrol. I think you’ll like where we’re going.

(Y/n): How can you tell? We don’t know much about each other.

Lloyd: Ha. I know plenty about you.

(Y/n): Huh?

Lloyd: I-I’m a ninja after all. (That was close.)

(Y/n): Right. So you’ve seen me around before? That’s incredible. Not that many people pay attention to me.

Sure your friends did. But,that was it. It’s not like you got the attention of guy who likes you.

Lloyd: Really? We’re here. *he stopped at a boardwalk.*

(Y/n): Wow! There’s so many lanterns. *smiles*

Lloyd: *smiles* (She’s so cute. Stop it! I can’t think about her that way.)

(Y/n): *walks along the dock* Can we hold hands?

Lloyd: *blushes* N-No! W-What are you a little kid or something? *stops*

(Y/n): No. I just…*sighs*

Lloyd: Sorry. I’m not used to that is all.

(Y/n): *sits on the docks.* It okay. I understand. I’m just confused. I trust you and I see us as friends. But,after the kiss I feel like we’re something else.

Lloyd: We promised to forget about that. Remember?

(Y/n): I know. But,I can’t. I tried. I tried so hard.

He couldn’t stop thinking about it either. But,if the two of you become a couple it would be hard. Lloyd didn’t want to tell you the truth. He didn’t want to put you in danger. If you found out that he’s the green ninja. You might get upset and not want to be around him anymore.

Lloyd: *sighs*

(Y/n): *looks down.* I won’t tell anyone about us. I promise. I’ll keep it a secret and take it to my grave! Please! I really like you!

Lloyd: *blushes* Let’s just enjoy tonight and we’ll talk about it later.

(Y/n): *sighs* Okay.

Lloyd: *sits next to you*

(Y/n): *looks at the stars*

You understood that he has to deal with villains every few days. But,you still want to be close to him. You yawned and put your head on his shoulder.

(Y/n): *falls asleep*

Lloyd: What am I going to do?