#we have a better time in the city when we plan our routes >_>

[lovetogether]

Gonna be commuting to the city this year for our classes and dad is already telling us of like five different stations we can go to to get to our school from the main city and we have no clue how to tell him we literally went over yesterday and got down a good route with our social worker and adding more to the whole thing is very overwhelming.

[clockwayswrites]

Like Betta Fish Do Part 19

Chapter 15 when on Ao3, Masterpost WC: 2870 CW: WARNING THESE ARE SPOILERY Canon Typical Violence, Blood, Injury,

Danny knew he was smiling like a love sick fool when he pulled back from the kiss, but he really didn’t care. It was still far to nice to be able to kiss Jason whenever he wanted: like when Jason was picking him up for their date.

“So, where are we going and what’s with the backpack?” Jason asked as he handed over the spare helmet.

“Nope.”

“Nope?”

“Nope, you don’t get to know where we’re going,” Danny said.

The flat stare he got in response was pretty impressive on Jason’s part. “Fish, I’m the one driving.”

“That you are,” Danny agreed. While Danny didn’t exactly inherit his dad’s driving habits, it was still better that Jason was the one behind the wheel (or the handle bars in this case).

Jason waited a long beat before giving an exasperated sigh. “Then I need to know where we’re going.”

“Your helmet bluetooths to your phone, right? I’ll pull up the directions and press go. You just have to follow them.”

“The directions it gives for the city are shit.”

Danny rolled his eyes. “Then I’ll tell you the road we need to be on outside of the city and you can ignore it until then.”

“We’re leaving the city?” That seemed to get Jason’s interest at least.

“Yeah, so have a little sense of adventure and trust me, okay? I think you’ll like it.” Danny hoped Jason would like it. He couldn’t top the museum date, but he hoped this at least would still be a good one.

“Course I trust you, koi,” Jason said and followed up his words with a light kiss.

“Koi?”

“They’re good luck fish.”

“Oh, Ancients do you have the wrong person for that,” Danny said, laughing as he put on his helmet. “Now hand over your phone so I can get us going.”

“Bossy.”

“You like it,” Danny said as he pulled up the route to the small town.

“Damn right.”

-

The whole drive was a little magical, which Danny hoped boded well fro the rest of the date. The trees were in full fall color, the wind on the road wasn’t too cold yet, and, best of all, Danny got to spend it pressed up against Jason’s back.

There was no doubt that they were in the right place as soon as the passed the cheerfully painted wooden sign on the edge of town and the large banner next to it declaring it was the Fall Harvest Festival that weekend. The sign spanning the first set of streetlights in the old fashion downtown didn’t hurt either. Or all the stalls and people milling about. Or the smell of food.

“A harvest festival?” Jason asked, the words slightly distorted by the helmet.

“They have a market place set up and live music and food,” Danny explained quickly. Please, please like it. “But it’s really just good timing to make the trip worth it. Really we’re here for somewhere specific.”

“I don’t suppose I get to know what that is either?”

“Nope! I thought we’d grab lunch and something to drink first before we make our way there.” Please think the plan was okay.

“Something smells delicious, so I’m more than down for that,” Jason agreed easily, and Danny breathed a quiet sigh of relief. So far, so good.

Jason’s nose ended up leading them to cider, pulled pork sandwiches, and tornado potatoes- which were a spiraled monstrosity on a stick (as was only right for fair food). They were a little after lunch, which meant that they were able to find a place to eat at one of the many picnic tables set out across the town square.

Danny had to hand it to the town— it was nice. Sure, it was campy and the number of gourds used as decoration was little extreme, but it was all fit together in a way that was just the right level of quaint. Jason started them on an absurd game ‘tourist or resident’ as they ate. If they both agreed resident, they had to come up with what the person’s job or archetype in the town was.

It ended in a ten minute debate if one lady with truly impressive hair worked at the nail salon or florist.

“Receptionist at the law office,” the grey haired lady who had ended up sharing their table cut in.

Danny went beat red at having been caught out in their game.

“Guess or fact?” Jason asked, unbothered.

“Fact, sonny. I’ve been in this town for fifty-three years now, there ain’t nothing I don’t know,” she said with a proud sniff. “Good guess on the baker though, spot on where that one. Make sure you stop by that booth.”

“Will do, ma’am,” Jason said, balling up their trash to throw away.

Danny happily escaped the table with Jason.

“Ancients that was embarrassing.”

Jason had the audacity to just laugh. “Nah. She didn’t mind.”

“She’s going to tell everyone our guesses,” Danny said.

“So what? We didn’t say anything rude about anyone— well, other than that one set of clearly tourists who were being jerks so they deserved it. We’re just adding to the local flavor for this year.”

“If we go down in infamy and get blocked at the boarder next year, I’m blaming you.”

Jason just smiled softly at him. “Already planning for a next year?”

Danny floundered for a moment, opening and closing his mouth before he just shrugged. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Good, I like that. Now where’s next on our list?”

-

Next on their list turned out to be a bookstore. Not just a bookstore- one of those bookstores that had been in the same building for a century. Books were stacked on top of books, shelves formed a maze, organization was a myth: in short, it was a fire hazard and it was amazing.

Jason might have been a little in love.

“Wow.”

“Yeah?” Danny asked, shifting on his feet a little as he looked up at Jason from out under his bangs.

“Yeah, fish, this is great.”

Danny’s shoulders relaxed. “Good, then go look around and pick something out to take home, my treat.”

“I could be here for hours,” Jason warned, already starting down one of the narrow corridors.

“Then take hours,” Danny said, smiling indulgently as he followed him. “We just ate, the day is young. If I get done looking I’ll check out with anything I’ve found and just go read on a bench at the festival.”

“Text me if you do that?” Jason asked, tilting a book to see the title better.

“I will, promise, but right now I’ll stick with you.”

Jason reached out and squeezed Danny’s hand, taking them deeper into the shop. Danny followed along for about half an hour, Jason commenting to Danny on some of the things he was finding. He lost Danny what seemed to be the science section, of course, and continued to explore for almost another hour.

He really only stopped his exploring because he stumbled upon Danny in the back corner, curled up under a rosy light in an ancient armchair. Danny was completely engrossed in a book. Leaning against the bookcase, Jason took in the sight. There was a little, warmed part of him that almost ached at it. It was the sort of thing that he wanted to come home to.

After only a minute, Danny looked up, clearly feeling the eyes on him. Jason watched the smile bloom across Danny’s face.

“Hey,” Danny said quietly. “You look like you found quite a pile.”

“This?” Jason said, hefting the stack of books. “This is me being restrained.”

Danny laughed, uncurling and sliding off his seat before he grabbed another book from the end table beside him.

“You found some things also?” Jason asked as they walked towards the register.

“Yeah, a book on local ghost stories—” Jason couldn’t help the amused snort at that “—I know, I’m a walking cliché. And a journal of an inventor that I thought looked cool.”

“Ah, I see you’ve found your young man,” the elderly shopkeep said, putting down his own book. “Have you thought more about the astronomy book?”

“Oh, um, not today, I don’t have that much to spend,” Danny said, nearly mumbling the words.

Jason frowned a little. “I can get it for you, fish.”

“What, no! I’ve planned this date, I get to treat you,” Danny said.

“Alright,” Jason relented. “But only one of my books; you shouldn’t suffer because I’m a bibliophile.”

Danny narrowed his eyes at Jason for a moment before nodding. “Hum, fine, but not the cheapest ones.”

“I can settle on that,” Jason said with a little shrug.

While Danny was fishing his wallet out of his backpack, Jason caught the shopkeep’s eyes and mouthed at ‘Do you ship?’.

‘For your boy, I’ll make an exception’, the man wrote on the back of a business card that he tactfully slid over. Pleased, Jason subtly wrote out his address while the shop keep wrung them up, putting the astronomy book secretly on Jason’s bill. It did look like a lovely old book with the navy leather cover and gold foil. It could easily be a present for the holidays.

By the time they were back out out the street and walking through the market, Danny’s backpack hung heavy with the weight of the books, but he refused to let Jason carry it. Chivalry wasn’t dead, he insisted, which was ridiculous reason but Jason let him have it. The backpack filled up even more as they both bought a few things at the market to be presents (Jason thought Alfred would love the local tea blends especially).

More ciders and then hot chocolates were the drink of choice with dinner— potpie for Danny and fish cakes for Jason. As they ate a band set up in the pavilion in the middle of the square, playing with the setting sun. The light had just dipped below the horizon when Jason stood and offered Danny his hand.

“I will so step on your toes,” Danny warned, but he was smiling as he took Jason’s hand.

“That’s alright, I’ve got sturdy boots.”

They found a spot on the corner of the dance floor and Jason twirled Danny into his arms, earning a breathless little laugh for his efforts. It really was the perfect evening and a much needed break. Tomorrow he could get back to the city and being its protector and to the cases that were nagging at his mind, tonight was just about him and Danny and this odd little town.

-

Red Hood stumbled through the window of his safe house and hit the ground hard. The scream of pain choked off in the back of his throat as his body seized. Bloody fingers scrambled against the worn linoleum.

He needed to call someone. He wouldn’t make it if he didn’t call someone.

His comms were shorted out.

Something had had happened in the fight.

It had been the normal sort of trouble— a new shithead trying to bring new drug onto his streets. It should have been an easy bust. It had been an easy bust.

But then the feeling of burning had burst in Jason’s chest— a molten heat that he had felt so sure would consume him.

He had stumbled. It left an opening. Just enough space for a knife to catch him just wrong under the armpit. A bullet solved his immediate issues, but when Jason had tried his comms, there had only been static.

The staggering trip back to his closest safe house had been agonizing, but he needed to get to a working comm. He needed to get up and get to a working comm.

He got his arms under him. A scream of pain ripped from him as the twisting motion wrenched at the wound. Legs next. Push himself up.

Only a few feet to stagger.

Blood slicked fingers fumbled the comm. No no no— he couldn’t— Jason followed it to the ground as it dropped. He struggled to pick it up and activate it.

“Help.”

He couldn’t hear if anyone heard him. He didn’t even know what channel this comm was tuned to. Desperately, Jason ripped off his helmet and shoved the comm into his ear.

“Help.”

“Hood?”

Oh, it was Dick.

“Hood!?”

He sounded desperate.

Was he hurt? Someone was hurt. Jason had to…

“…help.”

-

Dick all but smashed through the window of the safe house. The only reason he didn’t break the glass was that if Jason was as hurt as Dick feared he was, Dick would need to be able to secure the safe house to treat Jason.

He was lucky that that the security was down.

He was terrified that the security was down.

Now worried of an ambush, Dick crept silently through the window. That was… that was a lot of blood.

“Jason, come on, please.” That was Fish’s voice.

Fish knew? Surely if Jason had told his boyfriend about the nightlife, he would have told Dick he had? What was…

Fish was cradling Jason to his chest, half propping him up. Blood pooled under them. Jason’s helmet was discarded to the side and his boyfriend had a tube of glowing green liquid lifted to Jason’s lips.

“Just drink up.”

Glowing green liquid.

“You’ll— you’ll be fine. Just drink up.”

Lazarus water.

“What the fuck are you doing to him?!?” Dick’s escrima sticks buzzed to life in his hands.

Fish’s head whipped towards him, color draining from his face. “It’s not— you have to let me—”

“Get the fuck away from him,” Dick growled, enunciating each word carefully.

The man slide his finger over the top of the tube, effectively capping it so not to spill. “Nightwing, he’s bleeding badly this can—”

Dick slid his foot forward just an inch, starting to shift his weight. “It can nothing. He would never want to use the Pit again!”

“It’s not— no, it’s not the Pit—”

He lunged.

The right stick hit, buzzing loudly on contact. The guy screamed at the impact, but held onto the vial of Lazarus water.

The guy’s other hand shot forward, Dick blocked with with his arm and twisted. His foot slipped— like stepping on wet sand. Dick contorted to compensate with his free hand.

His hand sunk into the floor.

Holy fuck—

Dick’s other hand was slammed down too, trapping it. No, no, no— Dick struggled against the floor that he was part sunk into, the cracking linoleum shifted slightly, but Dick was stuck.

“Oracle!”

Static answered him.

“What did you do to my comms,” Dick growled, watching as the guy pulled Jason back into his arms. Was this all a trap? Was Jason’s boyfriend sent by Talia or Ra’s and had just been binding his time? Was it all an act? Did the cheeky, laughing, bumbling man that Dick met last week not exist? Was the way that Danny looked at Jason a lie? “What did you do to Jason!?”

“I didn’t! I didn’t do anything, I found him like this,” he said. He used his thumb to part Jason’s lips.

“Stop it!”

He didn’t. He poured in that toxic, glowing green sludge down Jason’s throat, speaking softly in Jason’s ear the whole time.

Dick screamed and struggled against the floor. No, please no—

“…you can hate me. You can hate me and scream at me and hell, once Jason is stabilized I won’t try to stop you doing whatever you need to. But Jason is still bleeding out. The ectoshot will help, but it won’t fix it completely. I need you. I need you to help me sew up wherever he’s bleeding from and, I don’t know, get a transfusion going. I don’t know where things are in this place.” He looked up at Dick from under his bangs and Dick could see in the now glowing green eyes some of the same guy— the same fish that he had met last week. “Please, feel however you want about me, but help me save him. He needs both of us right now, okay?”

Dick didn’t know what to say; didn’t know if he was about to make a deal with the devil.

“Please. If I free you, will you help? Just— punch me after if you need to, just help me save him first.”

That devil was the only thing keeping Jason alive.

Why did it always end up like this for his brother?

“Let me up.” Fuck everything. “I promise, I won’t try anything until after Jason is safe.”

The guy studied him for a moment before nodding. He laid Jason down carefully and reached out to Dick. The buzzing tingled through Dick’s skin again and he was able to pull his hands and feet free of the floor, one at a time.

Dick really wanted punch the guy right then and there.

Jason was more important.

“Get Jason’s jacket off, I think it’s a torso wound— maybe his left arm,” he ordered instead as he moved to the fridge to get a blood bag to start it thawing. “Find it and put pressure on it.”

He could punch someone after Jason was saved.

-----

AN: You should never trust me when I have a character goes 'ah yes, I'll worry about that tomorrow'. But remember, if you pitchfork me, I can't write the rest of this~ I'll try to spare you all and have the next part next week if I can! It will go into how Danny was there too.

Special shout out to @mokulule for making it worse! Trapping Dick in the floor was her idea. As she pointed out- he'll have nightmares about this now. (So sorry Dick.)

But look how cute the first part of the chapter was! That's good, right? Stay delightful darlings, don't stab me!

Due to being shadow banned (likely from tagging) and the new post editor, I'm not longer tagging! Follow the link and subscribe to be notified instead!

[evenmoreofadisaster]

Click here for the link to the chapter :)

Edit: I’d hold off on reading this chapter until the issue with ao3 is resolved (´∀｀)

Edit 2: I've posted a copy of the fic under the cut, for those who still want to read it :)

The Fast and the Furriest

Running errands with Splinter was definitely not what One had planned for the day. Yet, somehow, the rat had managed to abduct One to a dirty place called ‘Walmart’ across the city, which had to be the farthest possible route to a grocery store EVER. As if the surprise journey wasn’t horrifying enough, One was practically forced to witness Splinter squeeze into skin-tight jeans and an ugly tie-dye shirt too snug for the fat around his tummy. The only way One could avoid the displeasing sight was to turn around and put on a disguise of his own. 

Unlike Splinter’s bold choice of wardrobe, the rat had brought a loose hoodie for One to wear, blue and way too bright to be an effective disguise. 

The long and unpleasant trip took half of the day, at least. One was stealthy enough to smuggle every item on Splinter’s prolonged list without getting caught by security, but the rodent didn’t seem to care. If One didn’t know any better, he’d think the unwarranted detour was Splinter’s annoying way of genuinely trying to spend time with him. But the slider is far too clever to be fooled by the rat’s fake pleasantries. 

By the time One returns to the lair, both of his arms are burdened from wrist to shoulder with the majority of his and Splinter’s ��purchases”. The rat himself carries a single bag into the kitchen. 

“Boys!” the rodent calls as he places the items carefully onto the counter. One follows Splinter into the room and drops the remaining plastic bags next to the essentials. 

“What’s this?” Two’s voice pierces through the near-silent air. When he looks up, One catches his brother’s scrutinizing eye from the entryway, where the living room blends into the kitchen. One matches his twin’s glare with a steady look that reflects the slider’s incredible tolerance for his brother’s temper. 

The stare-off is promptly disrupted when the orange one walks in between them on his way to the counter. “Oh, sweet!” The younger turtle exclaims as he begins taking the grocery items out of the ripped bags. “You got stuff for dinner.” 

Splinter helps with putting the items in their proper place. “Yes, Blue is a natural at… acquiring our necessities.”

One breaks eye contact with Two and forces a prideful smirk towards the rat and his “son”, ignoring the small portion of his ego that triumphs over the compliment. “Yeah, did you know you can get onions for free if you just take them without paying?”

“Aw, that’s great,” Orange coos. 

Two scoffs from the other end of the kitchen as he trots inside. “Spirits, I wonder why that could be,” he declares, then grabs One tightly by the arm, “— and sidebar,” the softshell mutters and pulls One aside.  

“Hey— what?” One protests. 

“What are you doing?” Two hisses. “We have a mission.”

“Hey, Raph. Catch!” Mikey shouts. One looks up, watching the orange-clad turtle toss a jar towards his older brother as Red joins him in the kitchen. 

“Woah!” The snapping turtle just barely catches the jar as it’s thrown. Just past him, the rat faces away from the boys to put some cereal away, one ear swiveled in One and Two’s direction.

One’s brows pull together tightly as he looks back at his brother, yanking his arm free to snatch Two roughly by the collar and drag him further out of earshot. If this conversation is going where One thinks it’s going, it would be much better to talk about it in the tunnels. 

“Yeah, I know,” One retorts. “What do you think I’ve been doing?”

Two squirms. “Frankly? Slacking,” he bites back. One drops his brother when he feels they’re far enough to not be overheard. 

Two whirls around. “Aren't you supposed to be a leader?”

“We’ve been over this,” One groans in mild annoyance. “I'm just buttering them up,” he explains. Honestly, it feels like he’s done so a hundred times. “Everything's under control.”

“It’s been weeks,” Two argues, “and we have made no discernible progress.”

“Trust me, it's all part of the plan.”

One notices the way Two’s jaw tightens in response to his excuse. One knows his brother well enough to know when he’s about to blow. “What plan?” Two snarls. “There is no plan, I don't see a plan!” Two throws his arm out, voice rising with his large gesture. “What is that over there I wonder?! NOT A PLAN!”

“Keep your voice down,” One hisses. 

“I’m not going back empty handed.”

One pauses and regards his brother for a moment, noticing his clenched fists, bared teeth, and the sharp glint in his eye. The slider counters Two’s posture, leaning back and crossing his arms coolly.

“Why are you upset?” he asks flatly. 

Two bites his cheek. “I’m not upset,” he counters. “You’re not taking this seriously.”

“Not taking this seriously?” One scoffs, rolling his eyes.  “Okay, you’re not in charge. I am.”

“I am simply thinking about the mission,” Two argues. “To be successful, we need–”

One cuts him off. “That’s not your job. Your job is to follow orders,” he reminds his brother blatantly, flicking him in the forehead. Two flinches back with a hiss, but One doesn’t quit there. He steps forward and jabs a finger into Two’s plastron. “When you question me, you question Dad,” he continues without missing a beat, locking his brother in a firm gaze to make sure that he receives the final part of the message, loud and clear. 

“Remember your place.”

Two’s shoulders stiffen, eyes flashing furiously but he doesn't argue. 

One backs off with a stiff sigh. Really, what does Two have to worry about? All his brother needs to do is relax and let him do his thing! But One could see that Two is having a hard time accepting that. Again. His brother is smart, but sometimes he thinks too much. 

The slider plants a hand on his hip and leans his weight on the same foot as he looks out of the tunnel, watching the Hamato family with disdain. If he could move this along faster, he would. But he needs to be careful. ‘Cause one wrong move could blow his cover and then what would he do? Start over? The likelihood of ever getting close to the Hamatos again is second to none. Especially since two of them are already suspicious of him. 

He needs to change that.

One’s keen eye zeroes in on the rat, who is the more obvious threat to his plan. These past few days, the slider has noticed Splinter’s “subtle” ways of diverting One’s attention whenever he’s about to make a move. Which makes it almost impossible for him to do anything without getting caught— which is frustrating. And the lingering mass of questions surrounding the rat is just one more reason why he needs to be dealt with. And quickly. Before he ruins everything. 

“We’ll get them,” One tells his brother, though his eyes don’t drift from Splinter. “Just play along until then.”

He can’t see Two’s face from where he’s standing, focused on the rat, but One can practically feel the tension emanating from his twin’s scales. He’s not as reassured as One would like him to be, but he knows that his brother won’t step too far out of line. And that’s good enough for now. 

The rest of the evening was smooth-sailing. In other words, boring. One had taken his difficult brother back to the group, where they were preparing for dinner. As One observed them, he decided that the best time to take care of the rat is when everyone is asleep. But first, he’d need to know what he’s getting into— or rather who he’s trying to take down. Always know your enemy.

The slider winds skillfully through the dark tunnels as he hunts for the rat’s dwelling several hours later. He had made sure to note everyone’s whereabouts beforehand so he could snoop around. He discovered Raph and Mikey to be asleep in their rooms. Splinter was on the sofa. 

It takes longer than expected, but One finally makes it to the two sliding doors. The shadows peek through a narrow slit between the doors, inviting the slider into the cryptic rat’s bedroom. 

A sour expression twists One’s face when his enhanced lenses adjust to the darkness. The slider looks around the absolute mess of a room in exasperation. 

How the hell am I supposed to find anything with all this junk?!

One’s claws twitch impatiently at his side as he debates moving forward. But with a lot of mental effort, he proceeds.

 “Eugh,” One groans in disgust when stepping by a rotting pizza box. 

As he explores the dump, One finds a modest cabinet flush against the wall to his left. There’s a sign, sloppily made, taped to one of the shelves, reading: DO NOT TOUCH. Which can only mean there’s something in there that Splinter doesn’t want anybody to see. In other words, I am going to touch everything on that shelf.  

One leaps silently over to the cabinet and rustles through the shelves, looking for something— anything that will give him a sliver of information about who Splinter could be. But after digging through the collection of items… he finds nothing. 

A terse growl erupts from the back of One’s throat. There’s nothing. Nothing. Just more junk. 

One’s hands jump to the next shelf just when something clatters to the floor, snapping his attention to the ground. He tilts his head in interest as his lenses focus on the artifact. One bends down and picks up the round object, too big to be a coin. A medal, maybe? One’s thumb brushes the surface of the object before turning it over. 

Engraved in the center of the stone is the Hidden City’s symbol. One raises an eyebrow. This is a gateway into the city. A key, they call it. The people who carry these are typically active or retired criminals. Usually thieves and smugglers, who like to pass freely in and between the Yokai and Human realms. People who have challenged the law before and aren’t afraid to risk crossing the line again. Or, even worse, the people who are paid to do it— like bounty hunters or agents of the council, who like to zap in wherever they like and snatch their victims. The slider’s brows pull together tight. If there’s one thing One detests, it's the thick-skulled thugs the government throws money at to get its self-righteous shady shit done. 

So why would the rat have a key?

One’s fist tightens around the stone. This isn’t enough. This isn’t an answer, this is just another question. He’s just going around in circles that keep spiraling deeper and darker. Who is this rat? Who does he work for? What does he want? What does he want with them? One’s claws cut into his gloves and through his skin, drawing a thin layer of blood. I don’t need more questions, I need answers. 

A dull scrape cuts One’s ears and he’s blinded by light suddenly pouring into his peripheral vision. One jumps and knocks his elbow into the shelf, then spins around quickly. The contacts quickly adjust to the brightened lighting but his nictitating membrane stays closed protectively over his eyes. The curtains open, revealing a stout shadow in the doorway. 

 “Blue.”

Splinter stands where the light bleeds into the dark of the room. One’s eyes narrow in the rat’s direction as he silently puts the key back on the shelf. 

There’s a pause. “Come with me,” Splinter says. The muscles in One’s shoulders tighten. He releases his claws from their curled fists, eyeing the rat cautiously, searching for tells. But regardless of whether or not the rat has caught onto his snooping, One steps forward and lets the old man take him wherever he wants to go.

They both stay silent as they walk. One eyes the rat, mind lingering on the key. The very same kind he saw frequently as a child, when he and his family were on the run.

There are too many unknown variables. No innocent bystander would have a key like that. But at this rate, digging up the doubtless piles of dirt on the rat will take longer than One can afford. He needs to get rid of the rat before he stops his friendly charade and becomes a threat. Besides, they can’t have any loose ends scurrying around the sewers when One finally puts this game to an end. 

One follows Splinter willingly into the garage, and checks over his shoulder to make sure that the door closes behind them. The slider keeps about three paces behind his target, watching his every move and waiting for the right moment to strike. The garage is isolated and sound proof. Two had transformed the neglected but generous space into the perfect place to work without grating One’s eardrums or burning his scales while he slept. It’s also the perfect place to exterminate a victim. He should thank his brother for his convenient engineering later.

One watches Splinter whip out Two’s keys to the tank. One remembers his brother telling him how he had just finished working on it, but needed a chance to test it out before they could use it. Personally, the whole tank idea seemed pretty useless, since One can just open up mystic portals to go wherever whenever he feels like it. Well, almost. Frustratingly enough, his weapon’s magic can only carry him so far before his heart either falters or gives out.

Before One can close in on his target, Splinter jumps up on the vehicle, using the side mirror as a foothold to reach the roof of the tank. The corner of One’s lip twitches upward in annoyance. He needs to be quicker. 

One joins Splinter on the roof of the car just as the rat finishes opening the top hatch. Splinter drops inside by the time One has the opportunity to make another move. The slider huffs, but jumps in after him. 

Okay, there’s literally nowhere to run, One thinks as he rises to his full height in the tank’s central control bay. The slider doesn’t waste another second after he stands before he leaps forward and swipes his sharp claws at the back of Splinter’s head. 

But Splinter jumps into the driver's seat impossibly quick, dodging One’s attack effortlessly. The hard-hitting miss makes One stumble forward. “Shit,” he curses under his breath, but quickly regains his footing and swipes at Splinter again, who ducks just in time to put the keys in the ignition. 

One misses— again— but he catches himself against the wall of the tank. His jaw is tight as he glares down at Splinter, who’s preoccupied with starting the vehicle. As the rat sits up, One leans off the wall and waits impatiently for Splinter to settle before going in for another attack. 

As he moves, Splinter punches him in the stomach with his tail and sends One crashing into the passenger's seat. “Ugh!” One grunts, then stubbornly climbs out of the seat as Splinter slams his foot on the gas pedal and speeds out of the garage. One flies into the rounded and sealed back hatch. 

Now in a heap on the floor, the slider gruffly and unhelpfully recalls the lecture he gave Two about how they absolutely don’t need a tank, but Two was still riding the high of his looting expedition and insisted it would come in handy. One’s current ordeal would be a great counterpoint to his brother’s outlandish claim. 

As if this assassination couldn’t have gone worse, the rat decides to butcher One’s eardrums by blaring ‘80s music on max volume. While the rodent speeds the two of them onto the streets of New York City, One scrambles to the front of the tank, but slides and crashes into the wall when Splinter makes a sharp turn. 

“What the hell?!” One cries over the ear-grating music. 

“Buckle up!” Splinter shouts, though One has a hard time hearing his orders. 

“What?!” he yells. 

The tank comes to a quick stop at a red light and Splinter grabs him roughly by the belt and forces him into a seat, buckling him up tightly in one fluid motion. As the stoplight flashes green and the traffic clears, One watches in horror as the old rat flips neon orange, ‘80’s style shades over his beady eyes and floors it. One swallows a scream as the sudden acceleration crushes him into the seat.

“Woohoo! Isn’t this fun?!” Splinter exclaims, then sends the tank flying into a 360° spin on the surprisingly open road.  

One grips the edge of his seat tight, claws tearing through the leather as if it were paper. When they continue on a straight path, the slider quickly unbuckles himself and slams his fist into the radio. The music cuts off sharply with a dying warble and soon the only thing filling the tense silence is One’s heavy breathing. 

“What is wrong with you?” One snarls. 

“Wh— rude. Didn't your alchemist teach you a good music taste?” Splinter retorts, making One pause and stare at the rat. 

“What?”

One doesn’t recall ever mentioning Draxum in the rat’s presence. He’s made every conscious effort not to, in case Splinter turned out to be one of those bounty hunters or some shit, always after his dad’s ass. Which One thinks he could be, despite his unassuming… everything.  

“Sit down!” Splinter orders before hitting the curb. 

The tank bounces, knocking One back into his seat, though the slider doesn’t take his prying eyes off the rat. “How do you know about Draxum?”

Splinter’s ear twitches, muscles going stiff. “Uh—! Who doesn't know about Draxum, really.”

In any other circumstance, One might’ve brushed right past Splinter’s awkward defense. Because, really, it’s true. Draxum’s wanted posters used to be plastered all across the Hidden City. He and Two even gifted their father a framed copy for his birthday after they noticed their dwindling numbers. But literally everything else about that statement— the way Splinter said it, the way he avoids glancing in One’s general direction— makes One call bullshit. He’s hiding something. 

One leans over the armchair, and narrows his eyes. “Who are you?”

Tell me, you old rat. I need to know. I need to know if you’re a threat to my mission. I need to know that my brother is safe.  

From where he’s sitting, One thinks he can see sweat glistening under the rodent’s fur, but Splinter doesn’t give him a good chance to wonder if that’s because he’s nervous or because of his reckless driving. 

“I am about to take a right,” is One’s only warning before Splinter suddenly swerves in that direction. 

One is thrown to the left, but catches himself on the other armrest with a grunt.

Splinter erupts into a fit of laughter and One feels his jaw tighten. “Oh, Blue! You are a riot, aren’t you?” 

The slider whips his head around and snaps fiercely, totally unamused. “Okay, what’s the point of this?! Just tell me what I want to know!”

Splinter doesn’t seem to have noticed his little outburst as his laughter still echoes obnoxiously   off of the tank’s walls. “Oh, uh. Yes. What do you want to know?” 

“Who are you?” One presses again. “What do you want with us?”

“Want with you?”

“You have two genetically mutated experiments living in that dump you call a home and you have a key to the hidden city. Why?” He demands. 

“Oh, that old thing?” Splinter pauses as he breaks at another stoplight. “Uh… I think it’s broken. What do you want with that?”

One scoffs, but he forces his voice to relax into an even tone. “Broken?” he asks flatly. Yeah, right. 

The light turns green and Splinter continues down the road in a more calm manner. 

“Yes. I am not surprised,” Splinter smiles to himself. “I learnt very quickly that my boys are very rambunctious. I had my hands full with just the two of them.” He falters, “Although… sometimes I wonder if it may have been easier if I had all of you.”

One could never guess, for the life of him, why Splinter would think that. The very thought of growing up in the sewers with this weird family makes One sick to the stomach, so he doesn’t dwell on it too much. “Probably not.”

“You remind me of Orange,” Splinter says, catching One off-guard and making him cringe. The rat’s tired eyes soften on the road. “He would ask so many questions when he was much smaller. Still does.”

The accusation leaves a bitter taste in his mouth, but as much as One hates being compared to someone so small and inferior, he brushes off the jab for the sake of his mission. “Yeah? I guess it runs in the family.”

“Yes,” Splinter agrees after a moment. “I am glad you are back with our family.”

One falters. Our family. One’s stomach twists. Our family. Really, he should be thrilled that his plan is working so well, but the heavy sincerity in Splinter’s voice makes him worry that his plan is working a little too well. 

One scoffs and eyes the rat awkwardly. “Really?”

“Yes,” Splinter says simply. “You asked me before who I am. I am a father and you are my son. Even if you do not trust me, what I truly want is for you and your brother to know that you have a home with us. You are safe here.”

And One is so glad that the rat’s old eyes are fixed on the road, because he is having a very difficult time processing Splinter’s response. 

You have a home. You’re safe. 

There’s a very clear and obvious difference in the rat’s voice. There’s no more deflecting, no awkward shuffling around the truth. He’s being genuine. The thought churns the slider’s stomach.

Still, One’s suspicions aren’t so easily discarded. 

One watches Splinter for a long time before he asks, “Why am I here?”

“Oof…” Splinter winces and rubs the back of his neck. “That is… a loaded question.”

“I mean in the truck. Why did you bring me out here?” Why, if he poses no threat, did Splinter decide to drag him away from his temporary “home”, from his brother? If he’s supposed to feel safe, why isolate him?

Splinter raises an eyebrow. “Oh, can I not have a pleasant casual outing with my son?”

Oh. Well, that’s stupid. 

“That’s it?” One says flatly. He thinks back to the grocery trip earlier that day. “You wanted to ‘spend time’ with me?”

Just behind the shades, the rat’s expression turns depressing after the question, which makes One very uncomfortable for some reason. “Is that so hard to believe?”

Before One can answer, the tank comes to an abrupt stop, sending both One and Splinter forwards. 

“What? What happened?!” Splinter cries in distress, shifting the clutch around. 

One groans and pushes himself upright. “I have a pretty good idea,” he mumbles. Right as he says it, a robotic voice filters in through the speakers. 

“Shopping cart protocol activated,” the voice says. 

“Ugh, I don’t suppose you know how to fix this thing?” Splinter asks.

As One leans back, he watches Splinter rifle through the glove compartment. “No,” he replies blatantly. “Not really my domain.” 

Splinter pulls out a wrench. “Ah, then we will figure it out together.”

One doesn’t respond, but watches Splinter as he leaves the vehicle and walks around to the front, opening the hood to mess around with the engine underneath it. 

The slider thinks about his next move carefully. After some very clever detective work, One’s concluded that whatever sob story motivated the rat to adopt a couple stray turtles really doesn’t pose any kind of threat to his plan. In fact, a devoted father could become useful. 

It takes Splinter about ten seconds to realize One is still in the tank. “What are you still doing in there!?”

As lame as it may be, Splinter’s expecting him to help. Though he’d rather get his head shoved through a beehive, the slider decides to hop out and join the rat. For the sake of the mission. 

When he makes it to the front of the vehicle, One finds Splinter sticking his nose right into the engine. The slider raises a brow and peers into the interior of the hood, where Splinter is working and bashing the wrench into the tank’s engine. 

“I thought you were trying to fix this thing, not break it more,” One chimes in after a moment. 

“Yes,” Splinter says, smacking the engine again and rearing his hand back for another strike. “That is what I am doing!” 

One watches unhelpfully as Splinter continues to beat the tank’s engine into complacency. With unsurprisingly no luck, the tank remains immobile. 

“Well, well, well!” a low voice rumbles behind them. One spins around, eyes shooting up to greet their ugly guest. 

“Yeesh, that face isn’t hard to forget,” One mumbles as he immediately recognizes Experiment 00E1-Alpha 9, or as One remembers Raph referring to the sweaty pig as ‘Meat Sweats’, which he hates to admit is a much better name. 

“Oh, good! Could we catch a ride with you?” Splinter asks the large mutant. “This baby's done all she can for us,” he says mournfully as he pats the closed hood. 

Meat Sweats’s mouth twists into a smile. “But of course. I was just whipping up a meal, too. Perhaps you could join me.”

Splinter looks past him, at the food truck. “Oh, good! I was getting hungry,” he chuckles and willingly walks over to the food truck. One figures he’s probably unaware of the pig’s cannibalistic habits and the slider has no intention of warning him. 

His straying blue eyes drift up to Meat Sweats, whose crooked smile gives One goosebumps. One considers bailing… but a distant… familiar… angry voice rings down the street. Everyone looks up. 

“HEY!” 

One whips his head around, instantly spotting Two perched on the roof of a nearby building. He leaps down with Raph and Mikey beside him and advances with a burning gaze directed right at One.

One winces. Screw that. 

His brother’s wrath is a force to be reckoned with, and One has just spent much more energy than he was willing to expend handling the rat. Number Two is the very last thing he wants to deal with right now, and his brother’s furious march right towards him makes hopping into Meat Sweats’ murder van seem a lot more bearable. 

Apparently, Splinter has the same idea. “Uh-oh. That is our cue to get out of here!” he says quickly before jumping into the food truck. One turns without a word and follows Splinter inside, where he is already leaping into the front seat. 

“Blue, take the wheel!”

“Wait, what?!” Meat Sweats cries in protest after joining the pair inside. 

At the same time, One’s head swivels around. “What?”

“Go!” Splinter shouts, crouching to the floor and hitting the gas pedal with his front paws. Meat Sweats is thrown backwards as the truck launches forward. 

One grabs the back of the driver’s seat for balance, but as Splinter speeds up, the vehicle starts to swerve uncontrollably. One catches the wheel as he falls into the seat. The second he has a grip on the truck, and its direction in his firm control, his eyes light up like a kid with a new toy. He realizes now that he’s never driven a car before and it is thrilling. 

And, he’s pretty good at it. His turns are rough, but considering the speed they’re going and the fact that they haven’t crashed yet, One is pretty confident that he’s uncovered a hidden talent.

That is, until something rams into the truck's rear. 

One grunts as his upper body jerks forward. He steals a glance at the rearview mirror, and sees that his brother and his tank are right on his tail. Through the windshield, One catches Raphael yelling something to Two, who ignores him and slams another button on his console. A second after, three loud clangs reverberate in Meat Sweats’s truck, and One whips around to see three round dents hammered into the truck’s hull.

“Ohoho, so that’s how you wanna play it?” He taunts his brother in spirit right before he yanks the emergency brake and stops the truck completely. The two vehicles collide instantly, with the tank rear-ending the food truck. One faintly hears more shouting from the tank, which swerves but doesn’t stop. Though they’ve crashed, the tank’s strength and speed keeps both vehicles racing across Brooklyn Bridge. 

“My truck!” Meat Sweats wails.

“What are you doing?!” Splinter shouts over the sound of screeching rubber as One jumps out of his seat. 

The slider unsheathes his ōdachi weapon and draws a wide circle in the air, making a portal that he can step into and onto the roof of the truck so that Two can see him. 

“Is that the best you can do?!” One goads his brother, flashing his sharp canines in a toothy grin, which earns a muffled shriek of outrage from his brother.

“You pretentious, self-obsessed, WRITHING LITTLE MAGGOT!” Two barks loudly enough for One to hear. His brother’s next course of action is to pull a lever, which releases metal appendages that reach up and shoot at One.  

The slider veers out of the way and cuts effortlessly through the appendages. When the path is clear for him to cross, One leaps onto the hood of the tank and flourishes his ōdachi. He gives Two an obnoxious grin before stabbing his weapon through the metal, killing the engine. He tugs the sword free and swings it back in an arc to rest on his shoulder. As soon as he does, the portal he cut into the back of the truck blinks to life. 

As the tank sputters and dies, One steps back coolly into the portal that takes him into the truck so he can rejoin Splinter at the front. The slider smirks as he leans against the emergency break to unlock it. “Floor it,” he commands. 

Splinter cackles and pushes into the gas pedal. The food truck surges forwards as it regains its own speed. 

“Wait— argh!” Meat Sweats cries as he flies back through One’s portal and out on the road. Oops.

One and Splinter only get a few leagues further down the bridge before something suddenly thuds against the truck and pulls, sending it into a spin back towards the tank. 

“Hey!” Splinter shouts and One grunts, holding on tight.

When the truck finally stops, One has a clear view of the scene at the tank through the truck’s windshield.

Two stands on the smoking hood with a massive cannon aiming over his shoulder and into Meat Sweat’s face. The tank’s final appendage holds the larger mutant tightly in place as he cowers from the giant weapon. 

“Bring them to me.”

Meat Sweats raises his hands and One barely has the time to make an escape before two tentacles shoot at the truck and punch through its sides. They snatch up One and Splinter and pull them out, dropping them unceremoniously just outside of the tank. 

“Ow!” One hisses.

“Take the rotten lot,” the mutant sneers, although One catches beads of sweat rolling down his jaw. “I’ve had it with them.”

“Two!” Mikey cries behind the softshell. He flicks his kusari-fundo and One follows the trail of its cord behind him as the end unlatches from around the truck. He narrows his eyes.  

As he faces forwards, One sees his brother hold his position a moment longer before his shoulder twitches and he powers down his weapon.

“Get out of my sight,” he hisses and Meat Sweats scrambles back. He glares at Two then the rest of the group.

“Blasted turtles.” The mutant chef snorts and turns, retreating to his vehicle. “I’ll just get takeaway!”

They all listen to the sound of his tires screeching off into the city. After a brief pause, Two turns around.

“I wasn’t going to kill him,” Two huffs. 

“Oh, really?” Mikey replies, unconvinced. 

“It was set to stun.” Two grumbles. “It would be idiotic to murder my own experiment.” 

“What?” Raph says. 

Two ignores the last statement and swivels his head around. His brother’s sharpened gaze falls on One and the fire in his eyes blazes. He snarls and steps down from the tank.

“YOU.”

One sighs and stands, but doesn’t have long before Two reaches him. 

“You’re DEAD!” Two lunges at his brother. One grunts as his shell hits the asphalt roughly. He fights Two off with a hiss, swatting at him and kicking. Two fights back with just as much fire, managing to grab One’s right arm and press his knee into his plastron. 

For the most part, One lets his brother push him down, generously allowing the softshell to beat him up a bit, since he’s down an arm. One waits patiently for the moment when Two’s grip lets up. As soon as that opportunity presents itself, One takes advantage and flips them around, swinging Two towards him and shifting out of the way just in time to shove him into the asphalt with a knee pressed into his back, careful to steer clear of the sharp spikes raised along the spine of Two’s shell. Two grunts.

One holds his brother down with one arm as he squirms. “Okay, you need to relax!”  

Two yelps and flails his arm. “You took my tech!” He barks. “It’s still in beta and you ruined it! How could you do that!?”

“It’s fine! It’ll survive a scratch or two.”

“It’ll take weeks to find a replacement!”

“You’ll find it.”

Two throws his elbow back and One has to dodge the sharp point of its armor. “What if you got your stupid arm blown off, idiot!” Two seethes.

One pushes back and Two gets a gentle face full of dirt. “Oho, you’re lecturing me about losing a limb?”

Two growls. “Don’t start–”

“Which one of us is the one who nearly died in that accident? Oh right, it was you.” One pokes at the folded fabric covering Two’s stub. “So don’t you dare scold me about my lack of self-preservation.”

Two shoves against One with a warning hiss. One hisses back. 

While the boys are busy with their squabble, Splinter walks by and takes a good look at the tank, which has stopped smoking. “Excellent job, Purple. This is a sweet ride.”

Both boys freeze. For a second One and Two stare incredulously at Splinter. When he looks at his brother, One sees Two’s eyes blown open wide, completely speechless. It’s an expression One hasn’t seen since Draxum last applauded Two’s skillset forever ago. One’s eyes jump back to Splinter, who is gazing approvingly at the tank.

What? That thing?  

One scoffs, muttering, “It’s not that great…” as he pushes off his brother, who’s still too stunned to comment.

“What was that? Is everyone okay?” Raph asks, joining them on the bridge.

Splinter faces his son. “Yes, we are okay,” he assures. 

Red glances uneasily at One before he looks at Splinter. “Okay… good.”

Mikey jumps up next to him, crouched low enough to rub his cheek on Splinter’s. “I’m glad you're okay, Dad,” he churs. Splinter smiles softly and pats his head. “Now, let’s go home!”

As everyone piles into the tank, One falls behind to watch what Splinter considers to be their family. He watches stiffly as Two opens the hood and excitedly shows Splinter what appears to be a backup engine. Something cold and greedy writhes restlessly under his scales. 

His thoughts are interrupted before he can dwell on them too much.

“One!” Raph calls. One shifts his gaze to the snapping turtle as he finishes ushering Mikey into the tank. “You comin’ brother?”

One adjusts his sword and climbs into the tank.

[miss-tc-nova]

Hunted - Leona Kingscholar & "Yuu"

My piece for the Twst Horror Zine. I had a lot of fun thinking of the possible terror and re-watching one of my favorite horror movies.

Premise: Backpacking around Twisted Wonderland goes bad

Words: 2,962

Trigger Warnings: implied death, stalking, isolation

Art done by the incredibly gifted HoKeki on Twitter!

~~~~~

October 23, 20XX

I’m not sure how to start this, so here goes.

Welcome to my journal! Over the next several months, my friends and I will be backpacking across Twisted Wonderland, taking in the sights and cultures across the world. This is going to be my first excursion and I thought it would be fun to document it.

As anyone who knows me might guess, I’m bringing Ace and Deuce along, though I’m not sure how they came to agree on it when they never seem to agree on anything. Even right now, Ace is badgering Deuce about all the stuff he’s bringing. I agree Deuce might’ve overpacked a bit, but I don’t know how Ace thinks he’s going to be fine with just two sets of clothes and his pajamas. At least I don’t have to wear them. So I’ll be spending a lot more time with these dummies, but I’m excited it’s my best friends I get to share this adventure with.

Our first stop is going to be Sunrise City in the Sunset Savanna. From there, we’ll probably go east to the Shaftlands and then maybe up into the Kingdom of Heroes. The great thing is that we get to decide as we go. I was pretty adamant about starting in Sunrise City though. I’ve always wanted to visit since I learned about its culture and how intermingled it is with the wildlife. Also, being directly south of the Queendom of Roses made it an easy choice to start with.

Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. It’ll be a struggle to keep my excitement in check enough to get even an hour of sleep. Though I should probably finish packing first. Thank goodness Riddle isn’t here or I’d never hear the end of my unpreparedness. But that’s part of the fun, right? The spontaneity and not knowing what adventure the next day will bring. It’s the surprises on the horizon that I want to experience. Even the mishaps—because you know that’s gonna happen with the three of us.

I better cut it here. Ace is about to get punched in the face and I still gotta pack.

Peace!

~~~~~

October 24, 20XX

We finally made it! It took so long the sun is already starting to sink in the sky, but we’re here! Our plane was surprisingly small. In fact, the port here is more rural than I was expecting. It feels a lot more wild—like a safari.

Still, it’s absolutely breathtaking. Clear skies shine bright and the plains ripple like liquid gold in the breeze. Only the captivating local culture could stop me from staring at it for hours. The people are really kind. Most were obviously trying to make money off us, but even they were nice. And it all looked so amazing we had to drag Ace away from a shop selling “Bone Cookies.” This is literally our first day and the temptation to spend money is strong.

Right now, we’re in a cozy guest cabin. Some government officials questioned us about the purpose of our visit, where we’re going, all that stuff. When we told them we planned on taking the scenic route to the capital, the radio chatter started. They insisted we find another route, but the golden plains are one of the “Must See” views of the Sunset Savanna. Plus, we don’t have the money for fancy transportation. I’m sure we’ll be fine with a three-day walk, especially when there are rest stops that have some of the best hospitality.

In the end, our names, details, and contact information were taken. They even took pictures of us from different angles. It’s as if they’re expecting something to happen.

Some of the locals acted odd too, after we told them we were heading through the plains. Some gave us extra food, one gave us a discount, and one strangely gave us a compass—all with the same weird look. Still, I wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Anyway, it was an exciting start but I can’t wait to get trekking. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

~~~~~

October 25, 20XX

Waking up to Ace and Deuce arguing is going to get old real fast, but I should probably get used to it. They are “best friends” after all.

After the commotion, we prepared to head out. The locals again reminded us not to get distracted. Explicit instructions told us that there were to be no detours and no delays. Honestly, it started to kill the excitement. However, it’s going to take three days to reach the capital—one day to get to the first camp, one to get to the second, and one to get to the city—so it’s probably just proper precaution.

A single step into the gold plains was all it took for the grass to dwarf us. Elephant grass is notoriously tall, but I couldn’t have prepared for just how small we were. It felt like being thrown into a maze; yellow grass, the dirt under our feet, and the blue sky above were all that could be seen. It became intimidating along with its wonder and beauty. Fortunately, there’s only one path.

Not long after we began, Ace started talking tales of some banished prince. He heard the story from a shop owner he bought cookies from after being kicked from the cabin earlier. The reason I hadn’t heard anything was because of how recent it had been. Supposedly, just days ago, he tried to overthrow the king and murder the heir. People called for his execution, but the king didn’t have the heart to kill his own brother. Instead, he was exiled. But while being transported out of the country, he was set free by his followers—his jailers’ bodies were found maimed beyond recognition. Now the rumors say he’s hiding out to the east in the Shadowlands.

I didn’t want to hear any more, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell Ace to stop. Instead, he just kept talking, probably trying to scare us. And yet I think he also scared himself. It didn’t help that we could hear things rustling in the grass. I thought I saw something once, but couldn’t say for sure. Even though the locals said most wildlife would ignore us, it’s unnerving not to see what we can hear.

Despite the spooky stories, we made good time. The rest stop was within reach well before the sun started to set. Camp guards ushered us inside the fence, demanding our names, birthdays, reasons for travel—the same information we provided at the outpost. It must’ve been to check that we were on the list of expected visitors, which is a little strange considering I noticed ours were the only names on it.

It’s a small campsite. There are a few cabins around the clearing. A massive ring circles the whole place, dotted with devices that appear newly installed. Deuce says they’re for magic defense. Nobody can use magic in the camp and magic can’t get in. For all the security, that’s probably why we were instructed to arrive before sundown.

Well, I better get some sleep. Another long day of walking awaits tomorrow.

~~~~~

October 26, 20XX

A member of the camp staff woke us early this morning—the sun hadn’t even broken the horizon. All color had forsaken his face as he rushed us to dress and pack. No answers were offered to our question, only echoes that we leave immediately.

And again, as we stepped foot into the wilderness, we were warned to stay on the path and stop for nothing.

On our way out, the ruckus could be heard. They found something unusual at one of the barrier projectors. It would make sense to get us out of the way so they could focus on repairs. Yet I can’t help wondering if the hole being dug on the outskirts of the campsite had something to do with it. What was it for? What happened last night while we were all asleep? Did something get in? Where was it now?

That must be my imagination talking. It was early so it would be easy to misunderstand the whole thing. Besides, we needed to leave earlier since today’s trek was longer than yesterday. The sun would be long gone before we reached the next camp otherwise.

If only the boys could’ve kept their mouths shut. They argued the whole way. Ace sulked about not getting to sleep in and Deuce’s phone was missing. He demanded that Ace give it back, but Ace denied having it. The accusations probably come from last night’s teasing over Deuce messaging his mom, but I think he misplaced it in a different pocket. Hopefully he finds it soon or he’ll have to spend some of that souvenir money on a replacement.

Their fighting slowed us down, delaying our arrival at the second camp until just after sundown. Our reception by the staff was rough. After being jerked inside and held under duress, the interrogation went on until they could confirm we were the names on the list of travelers. So much for the hospitality.

There were no apologies as they put us in a cabin for the night. That’s where everything in Ace’s pack got dumped out and it still wasn’t enough to convince Deuce about his phone. So the arguing continued, even as I left to get a break from it all.

This second rest stop is much like the first. Cabins and staff equipment are scattered around. Though people are quiet at night, I could hear animals beyond the barrier. I think I even saw one. It was big, maybe the size of an antelope. It’s crazy how comfortable the wildlife is so close to settlements like this.

Well, I’m tucked in now and Deuce and Ace are pouting in their own beds. We’ll set out again in the morning and, by sunset tomorrow, we’ll be in Sunrise City.

~~~~~

October 27, 20XX

We messed up.

Ace really didn’t have Deuce’s phone. But neither did Deuce.

Like the day before, we were woken up early and sent on our way. Camp staff barely gave us time to pack before shoving us out. There was no time to question the hasty behavior and it left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth. Still, we went on our way as planned.

After noon, Deuce made us stop, yelling at us to be quiet. I thought he was crazy, but then I heard it too.

It was his mom’s ringtone.

Coming from the elephant grass.

We couldn’t stop him. He just took off. It was a blind run as Ace and I tried to keep up. We never would’ve caught up if he hadn’t stopped. In his hand was his phone, still ringing yet entirely useless. The screen was shattered and the frame bent. It was a miracle it could still even ring. How it got there and how it got destroyed is a mystery—one made worse by the fact that we couldn’t find the path again.

No one could say for sure which way we ran and the grass gave us nothing to find our bearings. Our phones were just handy clocks with no service in the middle of nowhere. Only the compass gave us any consolation. Surely heading south will get us out of here.

To make matters worse, night fell sooner than we anticipated. Making camp was the only sensible solution, no matter how badly we want to get out of here.

Now here I sit, in our little tent, listening to things creeping all around us. I have this nagging feeling that, whatever they are, they’ve been following us and I don’t know if it makes me feel better or worse that I can’t see them.

It’s probably just my paranoia. If we keep going south, we’ll make it out of here tomorrow. By now the savanna guides must realize we’re missing and be looking for us. We’ll be laughing about this whole thing in Sunrise City by lunch, except Deuce who will have to buy a new phone. Because of course this is the kind of trouble we would get ourselves into.

Everything will be fine.  

~~~~~

October 28, 20XX

Maybe my paranoia last night wasn’t just paranoia.

None of us got any sleep at all. Whatever was sneaking through the grass lingered all night, getting louder and louder with their cackling and snarling. When we finally ventured out of the tent this morning, we were greeted with the destruction of our supplies. Everything was scattered, either destroyed or altogether missing. Here and there were pieces of the map, unsalvageable, and the compass was gone. Our bags were placed right outside the tent because keeping food inside is frowned upon for this reason, but now we have no food, no directions, and maybe half our belongings.

There was nothing to do but pick up what we could and continue walking.

Ace’s pessimism didn’t help. He’s convinced it was the banished prince at our camp, but all we could tell from the flattened grass was that they were large creatures. Still, the constant talk of our doom began to bother me and Deuce. I just hope whatever they are, they realize we don’t have anything else and leave us alone.

I don’t know how, but we must’ve gotten turned around somewhere. We tried to follow the sun, but each step was just more and more grass, hiding the unknown, letting us hope that the end is just one more step. Now the sky is black and we’re still here. We’re exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally. So we set up camp to spend another night in this place.

~~~~~

~~~~~

October 29, 20XX

I’m getting really scared now.

Our tent was shaken by a fight just outside last night, but we were all too scared to make a sound. In the morning, not a word was said as we walked. Only this time, we knew the noises in the grass were them. They are following us. No, stalking is more accurate. I can hear them snicker and growl. I’m sure if I reached into the grass, I would touch one.

But they have nothing on the banished prince.

I’m not sure how, but I always knew it wasn’t him stalking us but his hyena henchmen. They’re destructive and menacing, but he’s a monster hiding in the shadows. He’s behind this.

I don’t remember when I spotted him, but I could feel his gaze on me, different from the other beasts. His growl shot through my heart and it felt like I had his claws at my throat. Barely veiled by grass, he wanted me to see him. Fangs eager to tear gleamed in that grin. Behind his gaze was nothing but malice, highlighted by the ink dripping across his skin. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t scream. I couldn’t even breathe. I was so certain that those bloodthirsty green eyes would be the last thing I ever saw.

And then he was gone. He wasn’t really gone, only gone from sight. There’s no doubt that he and his pack are watching us even now. We’ve been sentenced to death and they’re just toying with us.

We’re never getting out of here. Even if it weren’t for the monsters hunting us, we have no food and no more water. I don’t know if we can survive another night out here. I regret everything. I never should’ve suggested this trip. Because of me, we’re going to die out here. I’m sorry. I’m sorry to Ace and Deuce. I’m sorry to Deuce’s mom and Ace’s family. I’m so sorry I got your boys into this mess. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

I wish this nightmare would just end.

~~~~~

October 30, 20XX

We lost Ace today.

Tension was high. We’re being hunted. We know we’re going to die. The fear of what’s in store for us is sickening. Unlike yesterday, Ace and Deuce couldn’t stop arguing. A fight was inevitable. When Ace knocked Deuce to the ground, he took off. We tried to find him—spent hours calling his name. But we never found him.

Long after the sun had gone, the grass finally parted. At first, we were excited. I think I cried. Then I realized where we were.

Rocky, barren land laid before us. Towers of stone loomed above, colder and less forgiving than the grass we escaped. An eerie fog hovered, concealing both new and old monsters. It was bad. We found the Shadowlands. Sunrise City was meant to be south of the port we started at. Those beasts managed to manipulate our path away from our destination and far to the east. He led us here to be slaughtered.

This is where we found Ace’s magic pen.

Nothing else.

We considered our options. The grass gave us no visibility and muddled our sense of direction. On the other hand, the Shadowlands were the prince’s territory. Both were bad choices, but we chose not to go back. At least in the Shadowlands, we had a chance. We knew where we were and how to get to where we needed to. Maybe Deuce and I could still find our way to Sunrise City. Maybe we could send a search party back for Ace.

Maybe this terrible journey will be over soon.

~~~~~

October 31, 20XX

We were wrong! We should’ve gone back!

If anyone finds this, stay out of the Shadowlands!

They took Deuce! They dragged him out of the tent! I can’t hear him scream anymore!

If you see this RUN!

GET OUT OF HERE!

GET OUT BEFORE LEONA KINGSCHOLAR FIN

~~~~~

~~~~~

Nova’s Twisted Wonderland Masterlist

[punsmaster69]

8/DEC/20XX

a deep breath, and i feel a sense of nostalgia.

weird nostalgia. wouldn't go back, but i still think fondly of what happened.

the crispness of the cold air in snowdin takes me back- and i'm already reminiscing about random memories.

point to almost any rock formation along the walls of this place, and papyrus can probably tell you exactly how he's climbed it.

kicking the snow with my slippers a little bit, i remember how he used to warn me about wearing 'em outside.

—-

"YOU'LL SLIP AND FALL IN THOSE!!"

"naahh. i'll be fine."

"......"

"SEE? EVEN GRILLBY AGREES IT'S A BAD IDEA!!"

—-

for the most part, i always was fine; just had to be careful around the ice.

fortunately, it's not an issue using shortcuts; really only ever slipping a few times.

—-

"I SAID THIS WOULD HAPPEN."

"you've slipped even in your boots."

"THAT WAS A ONE-OFF ACCIDENT!"

"so was this."

sliding me across the ice until we were close enough to the snow to stand again, papyrus lifted me onto my feet once more.

"I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A TERRIBLE IDEA."

"you've gotta admit that over two weeks without slipping in these is pretty good."

"THERE'D HARDLY BE SLIPPING AT ALL IF YOU WOULD JUST PUT ON BETTER FOOTWEAR."

"these are way better."

"OBVIOUSLY NOT?! YOU 𝘑𝘜𝘚𝘛 SLIPPED!"

"but with snow boots, you have to tie 'em and whatnot."

"YOU DO THAT WITH MOST SHOES, SANS."

"not with slippers."

"YOU'RE GOING TO WEAR SLIPPERS ALL THE TIME.."

"JUST SO THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO TIE THEM?"

"yep."

"that's the plan."

"YOUR ABILITY TO CONSISTENTLY FIND THE LAZIEST ROUTE IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE CONFOUNDS ME, BROTHER."

"IT'S ALMOST IMPRESSIVE."

"thanks. that's the one thing i do put effort into."

"...BEING LAZY."

"it's hard work, doing this little."

—-

ahh.

back when new bad habits of mine still surprised him.

...speakin' of bad habits.

grillby's looks like it hasn't been touched since the day we took all the important stuff up.

the most one'll find in there now is a fine layer of dust only disturbed by me brushing against some stuff.

not that the jukebox ever worked before, but i'm pretty sure it wouldn't turn on if you tried at this point.

——

already knew the librarby was empty; they gave away all the books before leaving to the surface.

took the sciencey ones, myself.

wanted the joke book too, but a certain old lady got to it first.

officially, it is hers.

unofficially, the book keeps bouncing between being in either of our possession for months at a time.

it's gained a few pages over the years, a lined-paper section at the end with a lotta skeleton and snail puns.

think paps split the cookbooks with someone, and hoarded the puzzle books.

(not like anyone else was readin' those, anyway.)

there were a couple on monster history i'm almost certain i've seen frisk with a few times, so they must've gotten those.

as charming as this little place was, the new library's got way more selection.

sorry, not library.

still librarby.

they kept the name. too iconic to change it.

even if it had been changed, we'd all continue to call it the librarby anyway.

——

many of the folks who had shops down here have taken up that same role on the surface.

the two bunnies running the inn and shop moved somewhere closer to new home city for better business.

——

in the snow, i did what i'd done a million times in the past.

i parked myself at the foot of the door which separated snowdin from the ruins.

—-

"knock, knock."

"Who's there?"

she'd say.

"cash."

"Cash who?"

"no thanks, i'm more of a walnut guy."

and i'd heard her burst out into laughter from the other side.

"Knock, knock."

"who's there?"

"Hatch."

"hatch who?"

"Oh, bless you."

then she'd laughed at her own joke hard enough to be contagious.

"knock, knock."

"Who's there?"

"canoe."

"Canoe who?"

"canoe come out here? i'm gettin' bonely."

she got a good kick out of that one, but her laughter had a tinge of sadness to it.

"...But, I am afraid not."

didn't expect any different of an answer.

always thinking it better not to ask quite why, i shrugged.

"one day, maybe."

"or not."

"you could just be mysterious door lady forever if you want."

"....."

"Knock, knock."

"who's there?"

"Peas."

"peas who?"

"Peas excuse my secretiveness. I know it can be a bit off-putting."

"everyone's got their secrets, 𝘴𝘯𝘰𝘸 problem to me if you keep a few."

"Ha! I am glad that you are so 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭 with it."

"It is a joy to hear your 𝘤𝘰𝘰𝘭 jokes every day!"

"nice to have someone with an a-𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳-able laugh to tell 'em to."

my slight regret about that pun immediately washed away upon hearing the laugh in question follow after it.

—-

....welp.

as fun as reminiscing has been, i've definitely left papyrus alone for far too long.

gotta spend at least a little time in the snow with him.

that's what we came back here for in the first place.

——

"WHEN DO YOU THINK IT'LL SNOW ON THE SURFACE?"

"it's supposed to get pretty cold soon, so probably not too long now."

"besides."

"if your desire for snow gets too awful bad, we'll just come down here again."

"WE SHOULD BRING FRIENDS WITH US NEXT TIME!"

"would be cool to re-visit the whole underground with everyone after all this time."

"OH!"

he sat straight up in the snow, scattering the powder around as he did so.

"YOU KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD DO?"

"what's that?"

"COME, COME! QUICKLY!!"

——

from that very same spot we all first looked in awe at our new future, me and him watched the sun set.

golden light poured over everything; sun beams warm in contrast to the town we've left once again.

"WHEN WE FIRST MOVED OUT FOR GOOD, I REALLY THOUGHT I'D MISS IT MORE."

"THOUGH, I DIDN'T EXACTLY HAVE THAT FEELING OF TRAPPED-NESS ON THE SAME LEVEL EVERYONE ELSE SEEMED TO."

"IT'S HARD TO GET BORED WHEN YOU'RE THE MOST ENTERTAINING SKELETON AROUND!"

"WITH THE COOLEST BROTHER AROUND."

"aww."

"...MAYBE I DID FEEL TRAPPED A LITTLE.. BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYMORE."

"WE'RE ALL ON THE SURFACE TOGETHER, AND THAT 𝗜𝗦 WHAT MATTERS!"

when he turned to look at me, i couldn't tell whether his face was lit up more by the sun or the smile he had.

"I'M REALLY HAPPY HERE."

"me too."

[jpitha]

The Mercenary

Another old one I edited and updated.

When I signed on with the human mercenary group Whitetail, I wasn't sure what to expect.

They were just as surprised to see a K'laxi standing outside their offices asking to sign up as I was surprised that I actually did it. They asked me about qualifications and I pointed out that K'laxi have excellent hearing, can do a standing leap up to 2 meters in the air and I had served on human ships before. I was fluent in the humans colonial language as well as a few K'laxi dialects. Out of what I think was more a sense of amusement, they signed me on for a one year trial.

The truce with the Xenni meant that there was no more "war", but there was plenty of work for a group of former human soldiers (and K'laxi trained by former human soldiers) to go and as they said, "solve problems."

The training was grueling. They taught me how to shoot - I couldn't handle the kick of human pistols or rifles, but I could handle a submachine gun well and my smaller frame meant it fit me better and - they grudgingly admitted - I was more accurate with it. I could leap from the ground into the gunner position on the vehicles and my hearing helped me pinpoint targets faster than they could. They even taught me how to drive! They set up their ground vehicles to have seats and pedals that could adjust to my smaller frame, and I could run the vehicle easily. It was scary fun to be in control of such a large, powerful vehicle.

My first real mission came a few months after I signed on. We were hired to rescue some K'laxi who were being held on an outer Xenni colony world. The Xenni denied holding them against their will, but conveniently nobody could land to go and pick them up either. I never knew who hired us, but the rumor was it was someone in the upper echelons of the K'laxi diplomatic corps who fronted the money. Later, I learned that our commander - Kirk - offered the job for nearly free because he felt bad about their situation.

We loaded up our ship, the Theory of Everything with our vehicles and weapons and it started to print a dropship. I guess we didn't do a lot of surface missions that require a drop from orbit, but the Theory had plans in their archive and could make one en route.

We used the gates until we were one jump away from the planet, known to the Xenni as Ixar. At that point, Kirk briefed us on what was going to happen. We were going to open a wormhole into the atmosphere of Ixar, jump in, drop to a park close by, rescue the K'laxi and then boost out and into a safe orbit and be picked up by the Theory. Since it was a world out on the far border from either K'laxi or Human space, it had minimal planetary defenses and what they called a "shock" attack would work.

Easy, he said.

Since it was all going to happen very fast, me, Bets, Jen, and Kirk buckled into the dropship, sitting in the hold of the Theory. That way, the Theory could spend the least amount of time possible in the atmosphere of Ixar.

I was lucky. I was not one of the 1 in 100 sapients that "dies" when you go through a wormhole. Jen is, and she throws up nearly every time she comes back. I asked her once what she saw, and she gave me a look such that I never asked her again. When we're on a mission though, she doesn't seem to have to throw up. I wonder why?

We appeared with a titanic thunderclap in the atmosphere of Ixar and the Theory shot us out of the hold. We screamed through the atmosphere at nearly fifteen times the speed of sound, belly first, drop ship getting uncomfortably warm as it smashed into the atmosphere of the world.

We landed in a park in the middle of a city with heavy rocket fire to slow us down, not caring a bit about the vegetation we destroyed with our landing. The back opened and it was my turn to shine! I had memorized our route hours earlier and expertly maneuvered the huge armored vehicle through the narrow city streets.

We encountered no resistance other than Xenni civilians running away in fear from our huge, black, human vehicle until we reached the compound where the K'laxi were being held. There was a large armored gate at the front, which was closed tightly. Guards flanking it were attacking with small arms. The noise of their rounds on the hull sounded like hail.

I didn't even bother with weapons. I just accelerated towards the gate and bashed it down. Kirk said they were being held on the south side, so I drove around to there until I found the door the maps had said would be there. I opened the rear door, set the brake, and yelled "GO GO GO!"

Over the radio, I heard the attack. While our fall through the atmosphere was enough to surprise and overwhelm the planetary defenses, the local garrison stationed at the compound gave the team heavy resistance. They found the K'laxi, and dragged them out. So far so good. Through my cameras, I saw them running - the K'laxi hunched over, nearly running on all fours, and the humans standing tall above them. Kirk was facing backwards firing indiscriminately to keep the Xenni away.

As soon as everyone was aboard, I yelled for them to be secured and closed the door. The hail of the small arms was drowned out by the thunderous shouts of the engine. Spinning my wheels and skidding thorugh the grass, I wheeled the vehicle back towards the drop ship. While I was driving, I set the turret on the top to auto target, and it attacked the pursuers. It wasn't precise, but I wasn't looking for precise. I just needed people to stop shooting at me so much. Jen was hanging out the back, belted to a bar on the ceiling using a machine gun to make noise while Bets and Kirk made sure the K'laxi were safe.

One of the civilians, in the midst of all the action and noise and smoke noticed I was K'laxi. In accented K'venti (which meant she was from the far south of our planet) she said "What...what are you doing here?"

I glanced back at the voice and locked eyes with her. Even though it was dirty and torn, I recognized her clothing. She was a senior priestess of the Temple of the High Builder. Not many people followed those ways anymore, worshiping some kind of long past people which most people didn't think existed. They were sure though. "I'm rescuing you, honored one" I replied while turning back to concentrate on the road.

"I see that, and thank you; I meant more what are you, a K'laxi doing here, among these beings of war."

I stammered, half concentrating on driving, half embarrassed at what she was implying. "I...I'm doing what I needs to be done*.*"

"Hmm" was all she said, and settled back into her seat and Jen pulled her belts, securing her tighter.

We made it to the drop ship and drove aboard and told it to take off while we stayed inside the vehicle. It wasn't much more than a box with rockets and a head shield anyway. I don't even think it was pressurized. It wasn't an AI like Theory, but it was smart enough to take off and get us to orbit.

We met up with Theory just as the Planetary defense came online. Theory had to duck and juke missiles that were being thrown at her while we rushed out of the vehicle and got to safety. Eventually, she fired her old Stardrive at a few gee to get some distance from the planet. It didn't hurt that the exhaust from the Stardrive was also able to cook any missiles still in pursuit. We slowed down about half a day later, and then linked away.

During the trip back to K'laxi space, the people we rescued spoke to me respectfully, but they talked to me not like I was a fellow K'laxi, but almost like I was a human solider. Most of them would speak to me in the human colonial language first! I had to reply in K'venti for them to reply in kind. I was someone to be respected and feared, but not a friend.

It was odd. I was - at the same time - proud and sad about that.

When we got back, Kirk caught up with me at the firing range and said that I had passed with "flying colors" and that I could stay on as long as I wanted.

I grunted a thank you, and reloaded.

My groupings were still too wide.

[p-artsypants]

I Do...I Guess? (14) Bevelle

Ao3 | FF.net

“That is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard,” Wakka stated callously. 

Yuna and Tidus both deflated, but knew if Yuna had been the one to reveal her plan, Wakka might not have been so harsh. 

“What are ya thinkin’ brudda?” He poked Tidus in the chest. “You two going at it alone?” 

“It’s incredibly risky,” Lulu added. “What if something were to happen to you?” 

“That’s why you guys would stay behind,” Tidus argued. “If Yuna and I go alone, and get thrown in prison, you can come bail us out, instead of all of us getting stuck!” 

“And how would you suggest we get to you?” Auron asked, his tone possessing a sense of calm, suggesting he wasn't as outraged by their plan as Lulu and Wakka. 

“What about the airships?” Yuna suggested, her gaze shifting to Rikku, “the ships under Home, do they work? Would your father help you all come and rescue us?” 

Rikku tapped her chin in thought, but hesitated when answering. “That certainly is an idea…”

Cid, who was nearby, and not invited to weigh-in on that particular part of the plan, chimed in, "Of course we'd come and rescue you!" 

“I think it would be more practical if you could get us all into Bevelle, so we don’t have to fight our way in and out. Escaping might be easier,” Lulu suggested. 

“So, you think we should storm the city?” asked Wakka. “Make Mika listen to us?” 

“I don’t know about that…” Rikku squeaked. “I think it would make us look really bad.” 

“Would you prefer us to all surrender?” Lulu spat. “If we can get Yuna to the Chamber of the Fayth, we won’t even have to speak to Mika.” 

“Ohhh,” Wakka nodded. “Now I see what you’re getting at.” 

Lulu turned to Auron, “what do you think, Sir Auron? Do you think we can get to the temple with the airships?” 

Auron was quiet for a long time, arms crossed and head bowed. Finally, he answered, “If we try to make a break for the temple, Yevon will shoot and kill us without a second thought. No. I think Tidus and Yuna’s plan is the better route.” 

“But—” Wakka protested. 

“We should all go then. I don’t like the idea of Yuna going alone.” 

“She won’t be going alone,” Tidus argued. 

“My statement stands.” 

Auron spoke up, commanding attention, “Have any of you ever talked to Mika? Ever had to go to trial with him?” 

By the silence and awkward shifting of feet no one had. 

“I can’t say their plan is a great one, but it offers the most amount of success. If we all go together, we’ll all be thrown into the dungeon. If Yuna goes, there may be a sliver of leniency since she is a Summoner. I find it likely that Mika will demand she stops her pilgrimage, but he may designate her as a church sanctioned Sender.” 

“So like…making her perform Sendings all over the place?” Tidus guessed. 

“Exactly.” 

Yuna shuddered. 

“Well, I’m not going to let that happen,” he declared, fists on his hips. 

“You have more to worry about. If you go, I can’t guarantee what will happen to you. Out of the guardians, you and I have the best chances of mercy. I have my connection to Lord Braska, though I suspect Yevon knows I’m an Unsent by now. They may just have me Sent. Since you are her husband, they may bestow Yuna’s punishment on you, too. By example, escorting her to the Sendings she is to perform.” 

“Which we’ll agree to,” Tidus offered, “but then actually make a break for Zanarkand?”

“Ideally, yes.” 

Tidus scoffed. “Sounds pretty simple to me.” 

“None of this is guaranteed. That’s just what I presume will happen,” Auron reiterated. 

“What’s the worst case scenario?” Tidus persisted to ask. 

“Execution.” 

“Well, damn.” 

“But we’ve got to try,” Yuna tried to reason. “The Fayth in Bevelle is simply too important to not attain. And the Ronso! I hadn’t even thought about it, but if we’re guilty in the eyes of Yevon, the Ronso won’t let us pass Gagazet!” 

“Kimahri can take care of them, right big guy?” Tidus elbowed the Ronso. 

“Kimahri runt of Ronso litter. Disgraced without horn. No respect from tribe.” 

“Oh…” 

“We’ll worry about that later,” Auron interjected. “Bevelle first. We’ll take the airships to the Calm Lands and wait outside the road to Bevelle. Tidus and Yuna will go alone, unarmed into the capital. After 48 hours, if they have not returned on their own, we will go rescue them. Agreed?” 

“Agreed,” said Rikku. 

Kimahri nodded. 

Wakka and Lulu hemmed and hawed, but eventually consented. 

“Alright!” Cid joined the group again. “We’ll get the ship all ready to go here in just a minute. Now, I’ll need a lock of hair from both of you.” He pointed at Yuna and Tidus. 

Tidus subconsciously touched his scalp. “Hair? What for?” 

“The ships are equipped with an ancient machina called a Sphere Oscillo-finder. How it works is a bit of a mystery, but if you tell it what to look for, it’ll find it. With a bit of hair, I should be able to track your whereabouts, makin’ the rescue a hell of a lot easier.” 

“Well that’s convenient,” Wakka muttered. 

“Alright! Let’s do this thing!” 

—-

Just as Auron said, the airship landed in the Calm Lands, and allowed Tidus and Yuna to disembark. 

“Your forty-eight hours starts now,” Lulu warned. “I won’t give you a minute more.” 

“Thank you.” Yuna bowed her head. “We’ll be alright.” 

Unarmed, Tidus and Yuna set off down the road, and within a half an hour, they encountered Bevelle guards. 

“Halt!” The guards brandished rifles at them. “Summoner Yuna, you are wanted by Yevon for the attempted murder of a Maester! Surrender now!”  

“Attempted…?” Tidus wondered under his breath. 

Yuna raised her hands timidly. “We come in peace. There is more to this story than meets the eye, and I would like to throw myself at Mika’s mercy.” 

“Where are your other guardians?” 

“In the wake of recent events, they have decided it best to distance themselves from me.” 

“Then hand over your weapons.” 

Tidus answered, “we come unarmed.” 

The guards frisked them, and found that yes, they were seemingly harmless. 

“Very well, we will escort you to the high court. May Yevon have mercy on your souls.” 

Tidus had a sarcastic answer at the tip on his tongue, but opted to hold it for now. 

They were ushered into the city, one guard at the rear, and one leading. As they approached, more guards joined until they were surrounded by six in total. 

Yuna took Tidus’ hand and held it tight. 

As they passed through town, folks started to take notice of them. Children were ushered away to safety as adults started hurling insults at them. 

People even threw garbage at them. 

Yuna held her head high, but she did sniffle a bit. 

“It’s going to be okay,” Tidus assured. “They’ll all owe you an apology when we’re done here.” 

“It’s so different than when I left,” she choked. “Back then, everyone was celebrating. And when Kimahri led me out of town, people were wishing me well. Some even gave me flowers.” After some consideration, she added. “I didn’t deserve that behavior either.” 

When they arrived at the High Court, covered in more rotten fruit than desired, they were escorted into a waiting room, still guarded by at least six warrior priests with guns. 

Thankfully, none of them were pointing the weapons directly at them, but they sure didn’t seem friendly. 

Before long, a new priest arrived. “Lord Mika will judge you now.” 

“Here we go,” Tidus gave her an encouraging nudge. 

The High Court was full of men of Yevon, all standing at attention. The room was vast, and had an eerie fog settled throughout. A balcony emblazoned with the symbol of Yevon looked over the room, and a large dark pit took up the center of the floor. 

Yuna was led up to a podium that floated over the pit, while Tidus was placed in a balcony at the side. 

A Ronso Maester addressed the room. “The High Court of Yevon is now in session. The sacred offices of this court seek nothing but absolute truth, in Yevon’s name. To those on trial: Believe in Yevon, and speak only the truth. Do you swear?” 

“I swear.” 

“Summoner Yuna, daughter of High Summoner Braska. You are accused of the murder of Maester Seymour Guado and the destruction of Macalania Temple. How do you plead?” 

“Not guilty, Your Grace.” 

Mika stood at the railing, gazing at her with old, suspicious eyes. “I have a witness that would say otherwise.” 

Seymour, in all his unholy terror, came forward and stood at Mika’s side. 

“S-S-Seymour!?” Yuna recoiled, backing up to the edge of the podium. 

“Surprised to see me again?” 

“You were crushed!” Tidus shouted. “We saw the Fayth kill you!” 

A nearby priest elbowed him in the gut, hard. “You are not on trial. You are to be silent.” 

Yuna composed herself, and raised her head. “This is all the more reason for me to plead my case. Lord Mika, things are not as they seem.” 

“Then, by all means, let me hear what you think happened.” 

Yuna took a deep breath and began, “Lord Jyscal appeared to me while I was visiting my parents in the Farplane. He looked unwell, even for someone who is dead. He instructed me to locate this sphere.” She removed it from her bag. “It’s evidence that Seymour killed his father.” 

“Yes, I am aware,” Mika said, far too calm. 

“What?!” Maester Kelk Ronso barked in indignation.

“What? You hadn’t heard?” Seymour smiled at him. 

Yuna began to tremble. “L-Lord Jyscal, he…he asked me to stop Seymour.” 

“And so you killed him,” Mika accused.

“Not even!” Tidus exclaimed again, only to get hit again. 

“We did nothing,” Yuna elaborated. “I simply sought Seymour out to talk, and to learn his side of the story. He summoned his Aeon against us in the temple of Macalania. Shiva saw this and became enraged. She destroyed her own temple, killing Seymour in the process. She protected us with a dome of ice, or else we would have perished as well.” She stood even taller, her resolve harding into steel. “Lord Mika, Seymour is dead. He is Unsent. He should not stand here beside you! Please, send him now!” 

“Send the dead to where they belong? Hmm…then you would have to send me as well.” 

“Lord Mika…?” 

A plume of Pyreflies emerged from Mika, revealing the horrible truth. 

“Oh no…” Tidus whispered in shock. 

“How…how can this be?” Yuna breathed. 

“Grand Maester Mika is a wise leader. Even in death, he is invaluable to Spira.” 

“This is…wrong. It’s so very wrong!” 

“Who are you to determine that?” Mika snipped. “You are merely a child. You had your role as summoner, and you have stepped out of it.” 

“I did what I thought was right, what anyone else would have done! Lord Jyscal—!” 

“Is not here. And he did not understand the wisdom in my continued reign after death. He was a traitor to Yevon, and his request to you was selfish.” 

Yuna lowered her head, shocked and dismayed.

“Where are your other guardians?” 

“They…they abandoned me.” 

“As they should. While I believe they are guilty as well, I will spare them from my punishment.” 

“This is bullshit!” Tidus growled. 

“Summoner Yuna, the glory in death for being a summoner to defeat Sin was not enough for you. You sought glory in life as well. You took justice into your own hands for selfish reasons and for your treachery, you must be punished.” 

Yuna covered her face with her hands.

“Lord Seymour, because you were the one that Yuna has committed atrocities against, I leave her punishment in your hands.” 

“Thank you, Your Eminence.” Seymour bowed his head. “Yuna, I will show you mercy, because you are a summoner. I will give you a choice.” 

“This can’t be good,” Tidus muttered. 

“I will allow you to continue on your Pilgrimage. It’s clear to me that your guardian, this son of Jecht, is the reason for your shortcomings.” 

“What?!” Tidus barked. 

“Therefore, you must decide. Either you will marry me, and he will simply be exiled. Or, you will continue your journey alone, and he will be executed.” 

“Again with this crap?!” Tidus yelled. “She’s already married to me, you slimeball!” 

“That is not a problem.” Mika smirked. “I can tell, you haven’t even consummated this marriage, have you?”

Tidus felt his face flush red in embarrassment and anger. “That’s none of your business!” 

“A true enough answer for me. By right as Grand Maester, I declare this marriage annulled.” 

“No!” Yuna protested. 

“You have your options, Summoner Yuna. And they are much more generous than I would be. Make your decision now.” 

Tidus gripped the railing and yelled, “don’t you dare marry him, Yuna! Don’t worry about me! Don’t try to save me! He’ll make you miserable!” 

Yuna didn’t respond, but seemed deep in thought. 

This only alarmed Tidus further. “He’s dead for Yevon’s sake! Don’t do it! I’m begging you!” 

She looked at him, eyes set in determination, but lip quivering with sadness. 

“Yuna!” 

“I’m sorry.” 

“Yuna!” 

“I’ve made up my mind. I will marry Seymour, to save Tidus.” 

“No!” 

“A wise choice,” said Mika. “The wedding will be two days from now. As for you, Tidus, you will be exiled…via Purifico.” 

“What?!” Yuna cried. “That’s not—that is not what we agreed on!” 

“You should have asked for more details, my dear.” 

Tidus seemed panicked at Yuna’s protest. Two guards grabbed his arms. “What’s going on? What did he say? What’s via Purifio?” 

“Tidus!” Yuna shouted over to him. “I’m sorry! I’m so so sorry!” 

Mika, calm as ever, stated, “May Yevon have mercy on your soul.” 

“Yuna? Yuna!” He wriggled and fought as the guards started to drag him away. 

“I’m sorry!” Yuna cried again, bracing against the podium as he was dragged away. “This is all my fault! I’m sorry! I love you!” 

That was the last he heard from her before losing sight of her. 

He wanted to shout back, to reassure her that he loved her too, but he was in shock. Shock from her declaration, and terrified by whatever was happening to him. 

Whatever it was certainly wasn’t good. 

“What’s via Purifio? I deserve to know!” He snapped at a guard.

“You don’t deserve to know anything, scum.” Then he gave a small chuckle. “But I’ll tell you, because I want to see the look on your face. Via Purifico is a labyrinth under Bevelle. It’s full of fiends and traps. If you find your way out, you can leave…but that’s highly unlikely.” 

“You’re all a bunch of psychos,” Tidus spat. 

“Says the guy that murdered a Maester.” 

“I didn’t do anything!” 

“Keep telling yourself that. It might get you to the Farplane.” 

Tidus fought, kicking and twisting to get free. But every time he’d get an arm free, he’d just get punched, stunned, and grappled again. 

Eventually, he was too bruised and tired to continue to fight. 

They dragged him away to the darkest, dankest park of the temple, where the air was thick with acrid settled incense. 

They stopped in front of a large, heavy door with an intricate machina lock on it. 

A guard standing at the side cranked a lever and the door groaned open. 

Inside was completely black. 

“Here!” A guard holding Tidus’ arm shoved a tiny knife into his hand. It was basically a pocket knife. “It’s only fair to give you a sporting chance.” 

Tidus looked at the pathetic blade and scoffed. “Gee, thanks.” 

“Go on.” They shoved him forward. 

He stumbled into the doorway, the floor illuminating dimly as he entered. 

“By the way,” the guard said, “if you can survive this, you’ll be free to go.” 

“Then you guys must not think I’ll survive.” 

“Well, let’s just say…” The door started to close. “No one has before.” 

The door shut with a clank and a hiss. There was no handle on the inside. 

“Bastards.” Tidus kicked the wall in front of him. 

Well, standing here and fuming wasn’t going to do any good. He turned and looked around. The path ahead glowed every ten feet or so with a teal light near the floor. The whole hall was made of metal. The path ahead went on for maybe fifty feet before splitting off. 

With the tiny knife in hand, Tidus started off, determined to be the first to beat this prison. 

As he approached the split, a projection lit up the wall. A Yevon priest, smiling with pride. 

“Congratulations! You’ve been Martyred for Yevon! An honor offered to very few! Your name will go down in history and your family will be well compensated.” 

“What the hell…?” 

“If you’re seeing this message, it means you still have your signet ring, and that means we’re not down with you yet.” 

Understanding dawned on him then, and he scrambled to find the ring left behind in Jyscal’s portrait. It was still in his pocket, and he put it on. 

“We apologize for the inconvenience of leaving this wretched place, but your exit can be found following the path to the left. The door will open as you approach. It will lead you to the emergency hallway to the offices, and your office will unlock as you approach. There, you will have your new name and instructions waiting for you. We’ll see you soon!” And the message ended. 

Tidus looked at the ring. “What a lucky break.” 

So he went to the left, noting that there were more lights this way. He also didn’t run into any fiends, which he was grateful for, as he didn’t know if he would survive the encounter with just that dinky little knife. 

As he went, a thought occurred to him and he mulled it over. What if Jyscal knew this would happen, and that’s why he left his ring? What if he knew that Mika would take Seymour’s side? 

So then what? Was their part in this over? Tidus would find a way to the temple to meet up with Yuna, and they’d escape to Zanarkand. That was a given. But what about Seymour and Mika? Would Yevon just be ruled by Unsents? 

There had to be more they could do, but it might all have to wait after Sin was defeated. After all, then Yuna would be High Summoner and immune to everything they could throw at her. 

Now if only he could figure out how to keep her from dying from the Final Summon. 

There had to be a loophole. Something that they were missing. Maybe the answer was in Zanarkand. 

…or maybe in Jyscal’s office. 

A panel on the wall glowed briefly, then disappeared to reveal a long hallway. After he stepped through, the panel glowed again and sealed the exit. 

Not that he wanted to stay in the labyrinth, of course. 

The hall was just as dimly-lit as the rest of the maze, but it only went straight. He followed it to the end, where a steep ramp with a weird machina keyboard awaited him. 

Confused, he stepped up to the keyboard, only for the floor beneath him to flash the same symbol as his ring. Then the new platform started rapidly moving up the slope. 

It climbed and climbed, going in a very wide spiral. There was a wall on both sides, so he wondered if the inside column had something else on the other side. 

The platform took him all the way to the very top, where there was a landing that split in two directions. Like a hotel, there were two arrows giving directions to where the rooms were, but instead of numbers, there were symbols, just like the one on the Sigil ring. 

Tidus followed the markers, turning down and down again, following the signs as less and less Sigils were shown. 

Finally, he came to the last hallway. The door on the very end was Jyscal’s office, and the door clicked as he approached. 

Carefully, he pushed it open, half-expecting Seymour to be in there. But it was empty. The desk had a thin layer of dust on the surface, evidence that no one had been here since Jyscal died. 

And if that was the case, it was unlikely anyone would come in today, so he had time to investigate. 

But where even to start? 

The bookshelves were packed, but as he went over them, he found little that was useful. Most were commentary books written by priests of Yevon, talking about an aspect of the religion in one form or another. Some were autobiographies of great figures. Some were historical accounts of Sin attacks. 

There was one old book, written by a guardian that had survived the run in with Sin. It was an account of their travels and everything up to the aftermath. It was rather thick, so he’d have to take it with him and read it on the road. 

He turned his attention to Jyscal’s desk, where a drawer of files were kept. 

Incident reports from the Farplane. Reports of spirits looking unwell or leaving. Who witnessed these events, and what steps were taken to cover it up. 

It seemed like Jyscal’s appearance was not uncommon at all. 

But these weren’t really helpful for saving Yuna. 

Tidus leaned back in the chair, swiveling side to side as he wondered what to do next. He had no idea how to get to the temple from here. 

Not to mention how hungry he was. 

He idly played with the ring on his finger, then came back to the thought that Jyscal had prepared for this. So if Jyscal had thought they would go to the Via Purifico, what was the likelihood he left something for them to escape—and where? 

Tidus felt around under the desk, only to find a letter stuck to the bottom. 

“Bingo!” He cheered. 

The letter was addressed to ‘My Friend’ and actually only contained a map. But the map was enough. It showed a secluded route to the Temple, which happened to pass by the kitchens! 

“Jyscal, you crazy old bastard.” Tidus gleefully chuckled. 

He folded the map up and put it in his pocket, and tucked the book into his overalls. 

Then he departed into the secret corridor he had just come out of. Ironically, the door to it was concealed behind a giant portrait of Mika. 

Using the faint floor light, he made his way sort of back the way he came, but changed directions before the lift. The map was easy to follow, luckily, as the twists and turns it had him take would have been confusing otherwise. 

He smelled the Kitchens before he arrived. He pressed his ear to the door marked with a steaming pot. There was no sound from inside. 

Carefully, he pulled the latch and pushed the secret door open. 

Thankfully, no one was inside. He stepped into the room, getting a whiff of the soup lightly boiling on the stove. 

It seemed that it was past lunch, but dinner prep hadn’t started yet. That gave him time to pillage for food without being detected. 

There was an empty canvas sack laying on some crates. He took it, and started filling it with bread, cheese, and whatever fruit and vegetables he could eat raw. A quick glance in the ice box revealed half a ham, presumably leftover from the dinner before. 

Stealing that would cause some disruption with the staff. People would point fingers, distrust sown and jobs at risk. 

He wrapped it up in cheese cloth and put it into his bag. 

That would be plenty, and hopefully some left over to share with the other guardians. 

He left the same way he came. This door was much more obvious than the one in Jyscal’s office. It was a cut out panel in the wall, with a large sign in red that read ‘Emergency Use Only.’ 

He stole away back into the shadowy corridor, latching the door behind him. Then, he was off to the Chamber of the Fayth. 

The path kept going. The map was several pages of directions, marking turns and symbols to look for. 

A few times, he worried he was going to be caught. As he passed secret doors to halls and other occupied rooms, he could hear people talking on the other side. The doors were thin, and didn’t dampen the sound. He tried to keep his steps light, and hopefully that would be enough. 

The last bit of the journey came with a warning. He had to leave the corridor and sneak his way to the Cloister of Trials. That could prove to be difficult, especially with his bag of snacks. 

He reached the end of the corridor, nearly parallel to where Jyscal’s office was. However, instead of a door to go through, there was a ladder. He put the edge of the sack between his teeth and climbed, going higher than first glance. 

The trap door at the top led him outside to a catwalk. To his left, the path led up to a staircase and then a rooftop plaza. The plaza was being patrolled by guards as other staff decorated with garland and flowers. 

This had to be where the wedding would happen. 

But hopefully, not before the other guardians came to the rescue! 

Was a marriage to an Unsent legally binding anyway?

Tidus carefully closed the trap door and crept the other way down the catwalk. 

This led to a tower, what looked like the center tower. Everything he was looking for had to be here! 

Inside was a spiral staircase, like the first one he encountered, but with no center column this time. The keypad on the wall illuminated as he neared and gave him the option for transportation to the Cloister of Trials. The platform lurched as he made his selection, and then began to hurry quickly down the stairs to the bottom. 

Tidus took out the map again as he rode the lift. Jyscal had even included the solution to the Trials, a boon in his race to not get discovered. He had really thought of everything. 

Well, almost. 

As Tidus turned the last page over, he frowned in concern. Jyscal hadn’t provided an escape. He had been so thorough in his directions, but no exit? 

Was there a second letter he missed? 

It was too late to go back now. The lift arrived at the Cloister of Trials. That was the only thing that stood between him and true sanctuary. 

With Jyscal’s notes in hand, the trials were conquered quickly, but they were just as tedious as ever. Then he stood before the Chamber of Fayth, and contemplated going in. Surely this room was just as safe, right? 

But to hell with Yevon and their rules. All of this was arbitrary! He approached the door, and it opened to him. 

The inside was not what he was expecting. A path to a dias with a glass dome surrounding it. Inside was the preserved body of a man, laying face down.

Suddenly, this didn’t seem like such a good idea anymore. The Fayth were technically still alive, right? 

The ghost of a child appeared suddenly, hovering over the body. He greeted Tidus with a pleasant yet mischievous smile. “You’re not a summoner.” 

“I—uh, well, no…” He rubbed the back of his head. “I’m waiting for a summoner. My summoner—er, my wife.” 

“Lady Yuna, right?” 

“Uh, yes! H-how did you know that?” 

“I’ve been watching you for a while, Tidus.” 

Tidus furrowed his brows, perplexed by this statement. But now that he mentioned it… “I thought you looked familiar. You’re from Zanarkand!” 

“In a way,” the Fayth offered. “What have you brought with you?” 

“Huh? Oh, I found some snacks.” 

The boy smiled. “Then sit and eat. You look weary.” 

He did, in fact, feel weary. A lot of walking, high anxiety, and emotional turmoil. It was all a lot. Tidus sat in front of the glass dome and took out a loaf of bread, tearing it with his hands. 

“So,” began the Fayth, “why are you here without Yuna? How did a summoner become separated from her guardian?” 

Tidus sighed. “It’s all Seymour’s fault.” 

The boy nodded. “Shiva told us what happened at her temple. We no longer recognize him as a summoner.” 

“It gets worse,” Tidus added. “We came to tell Mika all about it, but…he didn’t care. Seymour is up in the temple right now, as an Unsent, and Mika too. I don’t know how long he’s been dead for, but apparently he’s too ‘wise of a leader’ to retire. Messed up.” 

“Hmm. This does not bode well for Yevon.”

“Ya think?”

“But once Yuna defeats Sin, you can tell everyone the truth.” 

“Eh…maybe.” He then explained the trial, and how Yuna had been forced to decide between two awful punishments. 

“So she chose to marry Seymour while I was sent into exile, though it was Via Purifico or whatever. I mean, I’ve had enough time to think it over, and I think she did it so that I would have a chance to be rescued by the other guardians. But there’s a chance she won’t be saved in time. She might actually have to go through the wedding with Seymour.” 

“And Mika annulled yours?” 

“Yeah…” Tidus sneered. “Bastard.” 

The boy was quiet for a bit then, thinking. Then he said, “I understand your grief. But I cannot help but think this is all rather pointless in the grand scheme of things.” 

Tidus couldn’t help but roll his eyes. “Why? Because Yuna’s gonna die in the fight with Sin? That’s a reason for everyone to be cool with all this spouse switching bullshit? No way! Yuna deserves her happiness, and she shouldn’t have to suffer all the way to her death. Besides, I’m going to be the one that solves the Sin problem. We’re going to defeat it, and we’ll make sure he never comes back and save Yuna in the process. What do you say to that, Ghost Boy?” 

The Fayth smiled, patiently. “Such confidence. I hope you hold onto that. But I don’t think you will, when you know the truth.” 

Tidus furrowed his brow. “The truth? What truth? I thought I was on the same page as everyone else…” 

“You are. But this is your truth. Where you come from. The truth to your Zanarkand.” 

“My…Zanarkand?” he croaked. The more this kid spoke, the more dread he felt crawling up his spine. 

“Yes. You see, Tidus, the truth is…you don’t really exist.”

[jokertrap-ran]

[Gakuen K] Kusanagi Izumo Route: White Day’s return gift Translation

*Translator’s note : MC’s name shall remain as my normal (水嶋ラン) *Gakuen K Masterlist / Gakuen K Mobile Masterlist *Spoiler FREE : Translations under cut !

Izumo: Are you really sure this is enough for your white day gift?

Ran: Yup. This plushie’s really cute!

Ran: Its eyes look just like yours!

Izumo: Really? Aw, now I’m flustered,

Izumo: I was actually plannin’ on gettin’ accessories for you or somethin’ like that…

Ran: Would that be better?

Izumo: No, I think it’s cute, and gettin’ a plushie really fits your character…

Izumo: I guess that marks the end of our shoppin’ session. How ‘bout we go for a drive?

Ran: A drive?

Izumo: Yeah. It’s cold out, but the weather’s nice, so let’s go somewhere further away.

»» ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♔◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ««

Izumo: —We’re here. A reward for sitting through the short drive.

Ran: Whoa…

Izumo: There are some things out there that are hard to see, even if they’re just right under your nose. We’re just a lil’ way out from the city, but you can see such a wide expanse of the starry sky. Amazin’ don’t you think?

Izumo: I came here a couple of years ago with Mikoto, cyclin’ ‘round the island on a bike. We chanced upon this place after decidin’ to do somethin’ stupid or another.

Izumo: You can get here quickly by car, but it’s a tad difficult to walk or cycle here. I often come here whenever I need to think.

Izumo: Lookin’ at the vast starry sky up there, my own worries feel like a speck of dust in comparison.

Izumo: And the sound of the waves are also very soothin’…

»» ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♔◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ««

Ran: Kusanagi-san…

Izumo: But, well, now I have you. And you are like the soothin’ balm in my life, so I don’t have much use for the starry skies now, do I?

Izumo: You’ll get cold if you stay that far away. C’mere.

Ran: Okay.

Izumo: …Closer. Are you tryin’ to make space?

Ran: I’m not… It’s just embarrassing.

Izumo: What’s there to be embarrassed about? We’re the only ones here.

Izumo: No one will see… even if I kiss you here.

Ran: Kusanagi-san…

Izumo: What is it?

Ran: It’s… nothing.

Izumo: Haha, what’s with that? If you can’t find the right words, then shh.

Izumo: If you can’t speak… Well, there are other ways to communicate, no?

»» ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♔◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ««

Izumo: I drove here as quickly as I could, but it looks like we've failed to make it in time. Can you open it..?

Ran: No… I can't open it since it's past curfew.

Izumo: I see. Looks like it's time to pull out my trump card.

Ran: What trump card?

Izumo: Take my hand and hold on tight.

Izumo: And here we are. You're welcome, princess.

Ran: That's gotta be my first time entering through the balcony…

Izumo: Really? I used to get into my dorm through the balcony more often than not when I was in high school, puttin’ the door to shame.

Izumo: Oh, right. Do remember to lock your balcony door. Else, what are you gonna do if an intruder comes in?

Ran: Like you?

Izumo: Yup, like m— wait, no!

Izumo: So this is your room. It looked totally different back in my day.

Ran: Oh, oops. Wait here, I’ll go turn on the lights. Would you like something to drink?

Izumo: Nah, I don’t plan on stayin’ long. Plus… It’d be bad if someone caught me here.

Ran: Aw, that’s a pity. I wanted to stay with you a little longer…

Izumo: Do you really want that?

»» ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♔◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ««

Ran: Kusanagi-san…?

Izumo: What a coincidence, I am of the same mind as well. I… would stay with you till the sun rises if I could.

Izumo: While hearin’ your voice, and stayin’ awake till the sun rises.

Izumo: What will you do if I plead for you to allow me to do so?

Ran: I…

»» ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♔◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ««

Izumo: Haha… 0 points. When that happens, you’ve gotta turn them down at once without hesitation.

Izumo: I’m gonna leave before someone else, or heaven forbid, the dormitory supervisor finds out I’m here. Sorry, but this is goodbye for today.

Ran: Kusanagi-san…

»» ━━━━━━━ ∘◦♔◦∘ ━━━━━━━ ««

Next Scene: Question

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC Season 2 Chapter 54 Translation (Lucien's Route - Part 4 [Contact Lucien])

⚠️  SPOILER ALERT  ⚠️

This post contains a VERY HEAVY SPOILER for the chapter that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

"Where do you plan to move it to?"

"Somewhere farther from the city, the sea should suffice. But afterward, I'll need your help."

"My help?"

"Thanks to this temporarily appearing rift, the "stage" I've been preparing can finally unfold."

"Therefore, I need you to "ignite" it."

Translation under the cut!

Previous part-> [Here]

-

After a moment of contemplation, I take out my phone from the bag.

Lucien once told me in the dream that the world is attempting to eliminate variables during the process of ascending.

Any impulsive action on my part now could invite impending death.

Since the situation hasn't reached a critical point requiring immediate action, it's better not to take risks. Most importantly, I don't want to worry Lucien.

Thinking this, I restrain my impulse and step back to a safer place.

Just then, a black car enters the field of vision from a distance.

Several individuals in research uniforms get out of the car and walk straight to the rift.

After a brief conversation, they cautiously take something from their backpack and raise it carefully towards the rift.

My gaze follows, and I can't help but pause when I see what's in their hands.

...When moving the rift from the alley to the research facility, I've seen Lucien use an identical spatial transfer device.

Are they researchers from the Bioscience Research Institute?

I curiously observe their actions, and sure enough, the ominous shadow quickly disappears from view.

The tricky situation is resolved in an instant, and the uneasy feeling in my heart finally settles.

I exhale in relief, taking out my phone to dial a video call to Lucien, intending to share this "coincidence" with him.

After a few beeps, the video connects quickly, and Lucien's calm face appears on the screen.

MC: Lucien, it was really a coincidence. While I was out exploring, I came across a crack and was wondering how to deal with it.

MC: Unexpectedly, right after that, researchers from the Bioscience Research Institute used a spatial transfer device to move it away!

I speak while turning the camera around, capturing from a distance and showing him the researchers pulling out notebooks to record.

Lucien nods, speaking understandingly.

Lucien: It does seem like a coincidence. Actually, today isn't the scheduled day for this group's collection activity.

Lucien: Probably during lunch outside, they heard system reports of fluctuations nearby and decided to head to the scene on the spur of the moment.

I let out a long "Oh" and turned the camera back, unexpectedly saying.

MC: What about Professor Lucien? Did you have a good lunch today?

Lucien: (chuckles) Of course, I ordered a sandwich, which can be considered a balanced nutritional choice.

Lucien: After all, if I don't take care of myself, a certain Miss Producer will get angry again when she finds out.

I nod in satisfaction but then notice Lucien propping his chin on one hand, his gaze now carrying a hint of slyness.

Lucien: As for you, it seems like you've been working around the clock lately. Several times I've gone to the institute early in the morning, the lights next door were still on.

MC: …

I part my lips, unable to hold back a smile and proceed to "complain" to him, playfully gesturing with my fingers.

MC: Um, there's indeed been a lot of work these days.

MC: Handling submissions, following up on company artists' affairs, and there are so many documents to provide feedback on... Maybe after the concert is over, I'll have a bit more free time.

I sigh coquettishly as I speak, and on the other end of the screen, I hear Lucien emit a soft chuckle.

Lucien: How about after today's work, we take a look at the travel destinations in our collection and then plan a short vacation

Lucien: (chuckles) Perhaps it can add a bit of motivation for the Great Producer.

MC: More than just a bit... It can practically sustain me until the end of the month.

MC: The first thing we'll do is turn off our phones. No one can find us then~

As I say this, my voice lightens a bit, and I glance at the documents in Lucien's hands, unable to resist asking curiously.

MC: Speaking of which, with you being so busy lately, has the Bioscience Research Institute started some new research?

Lucien flips through a page of the documents and shakes his head.

Lucien: Not only that but there are also demands from NW.

With the mention of this word, the atmosphere seems to have grown a bit serious. I subconciously sit up straight, and Silas's face flashes through my mind.

I bite my lip and speak with a hint of unease.

MC: How far have they progressed with their research? Have they…

Though not explicitly stated, Lucien understands my implication and nods gently.

Lucien: CORE is indeed one of their suspected subjects.

A chill runs down my spine, and I listen as Lucien begins to speak.

Lucien: I submitted several other experimental proposals that might have an impact on the rift, so CORE is not the top priority.

Lucien: However, if your act of closing the rift is observed…

MC: I won't take that risk. Even if I don't get "erased" by the world, getting caught by NW would be bad enough…

I mutter to myself, then exhale heavily.

MC: Seriously, why are these people like clingy plasters that won't come off…

Not sure if it's because of mentioning NW or due to staying up late, but I feel a bit dizzy for a moment.

The scene in front of me suddenly distorted. I blink hard, only to find the park's view vanish, and I'm standing in a broad square.

MC: ...Central Square? How did I suddenly…

Before I could react, cheerful music suddenly played, and it seemed like a gathering of people not far away as if there was some event.

As I consider going to take a look, sunlight abruptly disappears, as if dark clouds are passing. I raise my head, and the moment of see the sky clearly, my eyes widen.

A sky-splitting wave, like something out of an apocalyptic movie, rolls and swallows up a large portion of the sky.

The next second, it crashes down with a roar.

-

[Chapter 54-13]

I snap back to reality, and on my retina, there seems to be a lingering shadow of the overwhelming seawater.

What was that scene I just witnessed? Could it be a premonition…

Lucien: MC? What's wrong? Your face turned pale all of a sudden.

MC: Lucien, I—

Lucien: Did something happen?

He closes the notebook in his hand and leans slightly towards the phone screen.

Without much hesitation, I instinctively tell the person in front of me about the unsettling thing that happened just now.

MC: I just witnessed a scene... A massive rift appeared in the sky above the central square.

MC: The rift projected a vast tsunami higher than the buildings, and suddenly, those waters cascaded down…

My voice trembles slightly, and I take deep breaths, trying to clear my thoughts. Yet, Lucien roughly understands from my few words.

Lucien: Apart from these, did you see anything else? Like, are there people around, or did anything else happen in the vicinity?

His steady voice carries a hint of comfort, calming me down subconsciously as I follow his guidance to recall the events.

MC: There's music everywhere, and a lot of people gathering. The environment looks like—

MC: —It seems to be the central square near the venue where our company is hosting a concert today!

MC: Lucien, I suspect this is a premonition dream…

Lucien: Your suspicion is likely correct. Don't be afraid. Find a warm place and wait for me, okay?

As if to reassure me, he gently adds another sentence in a soothing tone.

Lucien: I'll make some arrangements and call you back soon, be good.

Our communication briefly disconnects, but my heart remains suspended in midair—

In the scene from my dream, many people will gather today. Anna, Minor, and many of my colleagues will be there.

Restless, I pick up my phone intending to call Anna, but I'm afraid Lucien might call.

While I'm hesitating, Lucien happens to call back with a video, and I immediately answer.

Lucien: MC, I just confirmed it. There is indeed an unstable energy field above the central square that could erupt at any moment. Relevant authorities are already taking action.

Lucien: Moreover, there's a market event scheduled at the central square this afternoon at 2 o'clock, featuring music—coincidentally aligning with your dream.

I instinctively glance at the screen, only to find that the time displayed has jumped to 13:48, causing my heart rate to accelerate uncontrollably.

If the events from the dream are indeed true, there's only a little over ten minutes until the tsunami occurs!

MC: The most urgent task now is to contact the rescue team, and then, and then... inform Anna and the others to cancel the concert...

Lucien: MC.

His gentle voice interrupts my confusion, and I suddenly meet those deep eyes.

Lucien: Time is tight, but it doesn't mean we're in a dire situation. We still have time, and there will be a solution.

MC: .......What solution?

Lucien: I believe the spatial transfer device can be useful.

Lucien: If we move the rift to a location farther from the city, the speed of the rising seawater can be reduced.

Lucien: This way, we can buy more time.

MC: Is it the device those researchers had just now?

MC: But it looks quite small; can it really cover such a vast area in the sky?

Lucien: Ordinary devices indeed can't achieve that.

Lucien: However, there's a central unit in the Bioscience Research Institute. If we equip it on a helicopter and approach the rift, it should solve the problem.

MC: Can such a large rift really be moved?

Lucien: There hasn't been a similar experience before, but as long as the calculations are accurate and the coordinates are determined correctly, it shouldn't be difficult. I'll personally handle the operation.

MC: ....What about you? Will you be in danger?

A chuckle reaches my ears.

Lucien: I will resolve it before it becomes a danger.

His confident tone provides reassurance, and I slightly exhale, following along with my thoughts.

MC: Where do you plan to move it to?

Lucien chuckles softly, shifts his gaze away, and taps the keyboard beside him a few times.

Lucien: Somewhere farther from the city, the sea should suffice. But afterward, I'll need your help.

MC: My help?

Lucien: Thanks to this temporarily appearing rift, the "stage" I've been preparing can finally unfold.

Lucien: Therefore, I need you to "ignite" it.

—--------------------------------------------------------

In the laboratory of the Bioscience Research Institute, Lucien moves away from the hung-up video call and retrieves a report from the bottom of a drawer.

The title of the paper boldly states,《About the Feasibility of Four-Dimensional Rift Stabilization Using CORE 》

[T/N: It's different from NW's plan in the last chapter. Should be Lucien's optimized plan on dealing with the rifts.]

After flipping through several pages, he dials a number.

Lucien: The instrument is ready to be activated.

Lucien: We need to adjust the priority of the experiment.

—-------------------------------------------------------

Lucien has the researchers nearby to pick me up. Sitting in the car, I call Anna and coordinate the on-site situation.

MC: ...Yes, actively cooperate with the relevant authorities. If the concert needs to be canceled, reassure the audience.

MC: The company will reorganize later and provide compensation. The top priority is to ensure everyone's safety.

After hanging up the phone, I look towards the distant sky—

Lucien tells me over the phone that the instrument is already in position at the central square. Before the rift interferes with reality, he will teleport it to the sea.

I clench my phone, feeling nervous but not overly panicked. Perhaps, it's because the person who promised success has seldom failed.

At 14:00 as scheduled, the outline of a massive tsunami vaguely appears in the sky. I instinctively hold my breath.

But unlike the dream's premonition of water falling from the sky, that enormous scene cast by the rift flickers for a moment and then vanishes into thin air.

Lucien has succeeded!

As if in response to my thoughts, my phone rings twice, displaying a message from Lucien on the screen.

Lucien's message: See you at sea soon.

My heart which was suspended in midair finally settled back in its place. Soon, we arrived at the coast.

Researcher A: Miss MC, please put on protective gear. Next, we'll be taking a motorboat to the sea platform.

I put on the life jacket handed to me and, guided by the instructions, board the motorboat. In the distance, I see the scene of seawater pouring from the rift.

Compared to the dream, its location is noticeably far from the city, and the rate of seawater rising has consequently slowed.

As we move forward, a tower-like structure in the sea gradually becomes clearer in the field of view.

Various-sized rifts swirl around the pouring seawater, creating a surreal and bizarre sight. My eyes widened in a bit of shock.

MC: ....What is that?

Researcher A: Professor Lucien created a testing ground for the rift.

Researcher A: All the rifts we've collected recently are gathered here.

The young person beside me speaks in a calm tone as if this were an ordinary project. I gaze at the scene before me, and my heartbeat quickens involuntarily.

As we approach the platform, Lucien's slender figure comes into view. Under the somber sky, the hem of his cold white attire flutters in the sea breeze.

I walk onto the platform, holding his warm hand. Lucien pauses and glances at me.

Lucien: (frowning) Why are your hands so cold?

He envelops my hand in his palm and tucks it into the pocket of his lab coat. The familiar warmth comforts my slightly frozen fingers caused by the sea breeze.

I exhale a sigh of relief and offer a resigned smile.

MC: The sea wind is strong and a bit chilly. But now that I have you holding my hand, it's much better.

I speak and lightly squeeze his hand, receiving a slight tightening in response. I then follow his footsteps towards the platform.

MC: Is this the "stage" you mentioned on the phone earlier?

Lucien nods, following my gaze toward the direction where the seawater pours down with a roar.

Lucien: You said you wanted to see the world explore the unknown.

Lucien: So, these rifts are gathered for that purpose.

-

[Chapter 54-15]

The platform's ascending lift operates slowly, lifting us to the top level. The rustling sound of the pulley system makes the relatively small space even quieter.

Lucien's continuous warmth flows steadily through our entwined hands, gradually soothing the unease in my heart.

Lucien: Your hands are a bit warmer than before.

His warm voice falls into my ears, and his usual reassuring tone calms my emotions more than anything else.

MC: To be honest, I'm still a bit nervous.

MC: So, Professor Lucien, could you tell me more about these rifts to help dispel the unknown?

Lucien looks at me with a faint glint in his eyes, and the curve at the corner of his lips widens slightly.

Lucien: Do you remember our previous experiment?

Lucien: CORE can perform addition on the rifts, prompting them to expand.

I recall the rift that suddenly expanded during our previous experiment with him and nod in acknowledgment.

Lucien: That's why I collect the rifts.

Lucien: Based on their inherent characteristics, multiple rifts continuously overlap and stack, eventually giving rise to a small but highly energetic "condensed rift."

His tone is gentle as if discussing the ideas for a new episode with me, and at the same time, it's like explaining how to take care of the plants at home.

I ponder his words to me, attempting to draw conclusions.

MC: I remember you mentioned before that when the energy of a rift exceeds a certain critical point, it seeks its own "outlet."

MC: Is it the same principle for this "condensed rift"?

MC: If I use CORE to expand its energy, it won't pose a threat anymore, right?

Lucien nods, his eyes and brows curve charmingly.

Lucien: Yes, all current rifts will close with it.

Lucien: Although it may not truly solve all problems, at least we can buy more time.

The ascending lift comes to a steady halt, and as the lift door opens, the biting sea breeze rushes in.

Accompanied by the increasingly turbulent roar of the seawater, a massive rift appears prominently before us.

Lucien doesn't look towards the technologically restrained "monster" not far away; he simply gazes straight at me.

Lucien: When you're ready, I will superimpose the final rift, and this way, the "condensed rift" will appear.

MC: So all I need to do next is use the power of CORE?

MC: Open the fridge, stuff the elephant in, and then close the fridge~

I playfully make a corny joke, as if that would help me forget the inevitable tension.

He nods but still doesn't let go of my hand.

Lucien: The power of CORE is indeed formidable, but there is a limit to the burden you can bear.

Lucien: No matter what, don't force yourself, okay?

I nod, and he then fastens a body-monitoring wristband around my wrist and starts a massive device.

With Lucien's manipulation, a small rift suddenly unfolds upon the heavy shadow.

As if the last snowflake falls onto the already precarious snow.

The next moment, that tiny rift is abruptly covered by a pitch-black color, slowly expanding outward, seemingly devouring the surrounding light and shadows.

... It's the "condensed rift" Lucien mentioned.

My heart subconsciously speeds up; I raise my palm high, trying to summon the power of the CORE.

Familiar energy begins to surge within my body; a white glow emanates from my palm, confronting that black shadow.

At the moment when the two lights and shadows collide, it's as if there's an invisible ripple spreading through the air.

A heavy sense of oppression descends, causing my heart to throb even more intensely.

The instrument strapped to my wrist gently assists me; the white light in my palm becomes increasingly bright, filling my entire field of vision.

The roaring of the sea faintly subsides.

I struggle to open my eyes, only to find that everything around me has turned into a vast expanse of white light, with a white door standing tall in the distance.

…I am no stranger to this door.

At the moment when the apocalypse was about to descend, I entered this place.

Then, I inserted a golden dagger into what the little boy called the "heart of the world", causing all the gears to stop turning…

….Gears?

I suddenly realize something and open my mouth.

... I've seen this scene before when I used the CORE to close the rift.

Could it be that everything started from that moment?

As if responding to my thoughts, the sound of gears grinding slowly emanates from behind the door.

[Step forward with all my power]

[Halt my steps, take a moment to reconsider]

[hartshorn-and-isinglass]

USGS out here reminding us that we're getting old. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure Sibling has already filled this out for our location at the time so I don't have to.

(click through for Old Man Rambles About Historic Event)

The first thing I distinctly remember about that afternoon, being an elementary schooler at the time, was that I had *just* gotten all my homework done and I was sitting on the floor of the family room about to pull out some toys when I felt the floor shake. I assumed Sibling was jumping on the couch and turned around to yell at them to knock it off--only to find them standing stock still, staring at me with a look of growing apprehension on their face.

We were already familiar with earthquakes by that point and there's that moment in the first second or two where you kinda try to assess whether it's gonna peter out or whether you really have to go crawl under the table after all--and much to our horror, the shaking wasn't going away, it was actually getting worse. Much worse.

We both knew we could fit under the thick wood coffee table and that's where we were headed but our mom was panicking and screaming for us to come upstairs to her in the kitchen. I was like, well, maybe she thinks we'll all fit better under the kitchen table, fine. But the up-and down shaking was so violent it was actually hard to climb the stairs. And then, instead of directing us under the kitchen table my mom had us run out the front door and stand in the yard. At this point I'm no longer terrified, I'm actually getting annoyed at her for putting us through unnecessary risk--first, by making us run past all the windows in the kitchen, which could have exposed us to shattered glass if roof tiles from the neighbors' house had slid off and crashed into the window panes; next, by making us run out the front door, where we could have been hit by falling tiles from our own roof. And yes, I did lecture her about that once the shaking stopped. There's a reason I wasn't her favorite.

I remember several aftershocks as the neighbors gathered in their front yards and people brought out their radios to listen to the news. I could see new cracks in the plaster of our neighbor's house, but fortunately no one's roof tiles came off in our vicinity. We were very luckily situated at the base of several hills, so there was bedrock beneath our neighborhood; most of the houses were standing and structurally sound. The radio was letting us all know it was a lot worse for large parts of the city to the north.

It is probably fortunate that the earthquake struck only just as people were getting off work, before the freeways and bridges could fill up with traffic (people were also off the roads because they were either attending or watching the Battle of The Bay, and that has been credited with saving lives). But it meant that the folks who were planning on commuting home via public transit that day were SOL. My dad's office was right nearby the Civic Center Muni station and he usually took the LRV through the tunnel to get home, so we weren't sure where along his route he might have been caught in the quake. This led to a tense couple of hours of wondering what had happened to him. My mom eventually left us kids with the neighbors and drove out to find him. I don't remember if he had managed to find a working pay phone to call my mom at some point or not; he might have. Either way, he had still been up on the surface when the quake struck and was walking in the direction of home, following more or less the route he would have taken had he been in a car, so finding him wouldn't have been impossible, though traffic was a nightmare in the aftermath.

I'm a bit fuzzy on exactly what happened with that search, because my memory jumps from swapping stories about the quake with the neighbors' kid in their living room to me running to hug my dad by our own front yard gate. It was sunset when he came back, and once he was there my parents went through the house to assess the damage. Our tallest shelves had tipped over, some things had broken, but as far as disaster level quakes go we were doing just fine. We had bologna sandwiches for dinner by the light of our camp lanterns in the family room, huddled around the radio listening to the reports on the collapsed freeways, the Bridge, and the Marina. I remember that the soundscape of the city was distinctly different that evening. It was... quieter, I guess, since we were removed from where the bulk of the emergency service vehicles were concentrated. Quiet in an eerie way. And it was darker, since the power was out for pretty much everyone until well into the night. I think I remember getting ready for bed by lantern and then having the power come back on either right as I was getting to bed or sometime after I was in bed and trying to fall asleep.

The next day at school we all got official class time to swap stories about the quake. Some of the kids had actually been at the Battle of The Bay and I cannot imagine how surreal that must have been. Also, the big drama of the week was that one of our classmate's birthday parties was coming up in a week and a half and that was supposed to be a sleepover and a bunch of the parents were Not Okay with letting their kids go for a night so soon off the heels of a huge disaster. Elementary schooler priorities, you know. I don't even remember what the fuck we did for my birthday right after the quake. I think we must have had the party planned for that weekend and not the one before. It would have been enough time for my parents to clean up and for some bakeries to be back up and running, so I think it probably happened. Memory is weird.

My dad bought us all shitty T-shirts that said "I SURVIVED THE GREAT QUAKE OF '89" in neon orange letters from some street vendor like two weeks after this all happened and I think I only *just* tossed that a few months ago when I was trying to make room for my new round of questionable sartorial choices. Sorry fam, no ugly vintage 80s T-shirt pics for you. I think that one actually said "7.1" on it since at the time that was the magnitude they had reported on the news--it has since been revised to a 6.9, which in log scale is kind of a big difference but do you really even notice once the shaking is that hard? Probably not.

[the-fiction-witch]

15th Slabs

Media The Queens Gambit

Character Benny Watts

Couple Benny X Reader

Rating Spooky

Halloween day 15

I fixed my lipstick in the little mirror over the sink's reflection. Even if I do so in the unpredictable orange flicker of the light beside the shower. Once finished I adjusted my dress as I scampered across the apartment to slip my shoes on from the front door and swept my coat from the hook onto my body doing the button-up tightly.

"You sure you have to go?" Benny spoke up from his brown leather chair, barefoot as expected, his dark jeans, his black t-shirt, and green button down over him as the chill was getting to him, even if he had sleeves at his elbows and the chest almost utterly undone, his chains against his black shirt, the glint of silver at his wrists and fingers. He was somewhat pouting given our plans for the evening had to be utterly abandoned on such short notice when Jacob called just half an hour ago.

"You know I don't like having to drop everything, but sometimes that's just the way the cookie crumbles," I told him collecting my handbag and checking it over for all my things

"What am I supposed to do while you're gone?" he asked getting to his feet and coming closer "We had a whole evening planned and that's all just abandoned"

"I'm sure you can find a chess book or a nice game to occupy your time Benny" I laughed

"But... we were gonna sit and watch Psycho together when it comes on channel nine" he complained

"I know we were, but such is the issue with being on call. We can watch it tomorrow"

"It's not on tomorrow"

"I am sorry Benny"

"I know, I just... don't like when our plans get scattered to the fourth winds just because Jacob calls" He explained "Plus it's Halloween, and it's late the subway will have all the creepers out, You know I don't l;ike you rushing off to work this late on a normal day"

"Humm you're not normally one for superstition"

"Nothing to do with superstition, kids are harped up on candy, people are drunk, it's late the freaks always come out the woodwork this time of night"

"That's very sweet Benny" I smiled kissing his cheek "I'll see you when I get home"

"At least let me drive you to work, so you don't have to take the subway"

"You sure? You don't have to do that"

"Well I want to, if we can't spend the evening together I at least want to make sure you're safe"

"Thank you Benny" I smiled

I finished up with my handbag as he got his shoes, jacket and of course hat. Once everything was done we headed up to the car locking the apartment up as usual and up to the surface street seeing the streets fairly empty in the darkness the last few trick-or-treaters finishing up their routes the candles in jack-o-lantern dying down a few of them out completely. He opened the door for me letting me climb into the little blue beetle, Once he shut the door he climbed into the driver's seat and started up the car quickly heading through the city. It wasn't long until we arrived at the Mourge.

"Alright, give me a call when you're done and I'll come get you so you don't have to take the subway home"

"You know, I'll be on my own in there, we have a TV. You could come in with me and we could watch Pyscho while I work. we could even order a pizza?"

"Are you allowed to do that?"

"Jacob brings girls in on his shift all the time" I shrugged "Come on"

"Alright sure, why not? at least we spend the time together. Where should I park?"

"Use Jacobs space," I told him

So we parked up and he came around and opened the door for me letting me climb out. I used my keys to get us inside flicking the harsh lights on and making sure to lock the doors behind us, I slipped my coat off putting it on the rack and Benny did the same leaving his jacket and hat there, I grabbed my scrub coat from the office and headed inside

"Ooohh it's cold in here" Benny complained

"The whole place is a big fridge" I laughed "Better for everyone that way"

"Now I see why your hands and feet are always so cold when you get home from work"

"Make yourself comfortable Benny"

"I'm not sure I want to, I feel like everything in here has touched a corpse"

"slabs"

"What?"

"Slabs. Helps you not to think about it" I told him as I finished washing my hands and got my gloves on

"Is it really good to be that desensitized?"

"Benny, they're dead, Me crying over the loss of life doesn't get my work done," I explained checking my notes and grabbing the body that I needed from the draw laying it out on my usual table "What?" I asked as I saw his face his skin almost white as he saw me

"That... that is a body"

"Well yeah? You know what I do Benny"

"I know but, it's something else when you're faced with a ...slab, who was he?"

"No idea, police just want it looked over that's all I know, look for evidence. Likely some kind of murder, what?" I asked getting my tools from the sanitizer where Jacob left them for me.

"Just kinda weird hearing you talk like this"

"At the end of the day, we're all just organs, bones and blood. And someone has to be in charge of cleaning us up" I said "So? you thinking pizza or Chinese food?" I asked starting my work on the slab making my first incision

"...uuuhhh I think I lost my appetite"

"Alright Benny" I laughed "Pop the radio on, it fills the air or you wanna put pyscho on?"

"I don't think I wanna watch a horror movie... something might wake up and come at me"

"Benny I have worked here for six years, nothing has ever jumped out at me. Except that one guy, he wasn't dead so?"

"Ahhhh I don't wanna know." He says

"You can go home if you want Benny"

"No no I want to be here with you I'm sure I'll get... used to it"

"Alright," I laughed "BOO!" I yelled making him jump

"Don't!"

"Ohh be fun" I laughed grabbing the slab's arm "Hi Benny" I waved "Don't be scared of me I'm all stiff!"

"That's not funny y/n," He says "You want a coffee from the office machine?"

"Because there's no slab's in the office?"

"Kinda"

"Okay but I'd save it till we get a little further through the process" I laughed 

[sylvienerevarine]

A delightful new tag game from @dirty-bosmer!!! You know I can't resist the urge to share quotes from A Respectable Lady's Guide to Skyrim.

I shall tag: @kookaburra1701, @blossom-adventures, @druidx, and @hannahcbrown

The rules are to share:

A line from your fic that makes you laugh

I have come up with so many terrible, terrible puns. Here's my favorite.

"We’re off to Labyrinthian to find the Staff of Magnus, as per the Synod fellow’s instructions.” “That ought to be pretty hard,” said Sophrine. “I mean, you know what they say.” Olaf sighed, clearly aware a joke was on its way. “What’s that?” “You just can’t get the staff these days.”

A line from your fic that makes you sad

She felt a large, warm hand cup her chin, tilting her face up. Roggi lowered his head to kiss her briefly, almost reverently, for what she knew was the last time. “Hail, Dragonborn,” he said softly.

Sometimes you just have to dump your boyfriend in order to save his life. Maybe.

A line from your fic you're proud of

“I’m a dragon!” Sophrine cried. “You called me a miracle and vowed to serve me, even when you knew all along I have a dragon’s soul!"

Delphine, please get your act together and be cool about dragons for once.

A line from your fic you think could have been better

Any of the ones where I'm trying to get the characters to a second location. Why is it so hard to write about the squad heading from the kitchen to the living room.

A line from your fic that makes you want to punch a character

“You know nothing about me, or the reasons for my actions,” Ulfric said icily. “I am a trueborn son of Skyrim who has dedicated my life to our independence. You are a self-righteous mongrel foreigner.”

Am I character-assassinating Ulfric? That's a matter for the courts.

A line from your fic that makes you go 'aww'

The Volkihar family had never deserved Serana. Maybe the Aulettes could.

Serana is my sister and my babygirl and Sophrine has adopted her.

A line from your fic that's full of symbolism

But hearing Esbern say it out loud was like listening to her own death sentence being pronounced. Again.

One theme that surfaces occasionally in ARLGS is that Sophrine feels like she never really escaped her death sentence at Helgen; it just keeps popping back up in the form of Fate and Destiny.

A line from your fic that contains an Easter egg

"We’ve even got an arena in New Sheoth these days. Ben set it up–you remember your cousin Benethir?”

Adoring Fan from Oblivion shoutouts? In my Skyrim fic? It's more likely than you think!

A line from your fic that's shocking

By the time they reached the outskirts of the city, Sophrine had realized two things: one, that she desperately needed to gather ingredients for the family-planning potion her mother had taught her, and two, that a girl could really get used to being taken up against a tree several times a day.

Sophrine, you are such a ho sometimes and we love you for it.

A line from your fic you want to talk about more

“Too bad!” she boomed, her voice filling the cavern. “Do you think I wanted Saint Nerevar’s memories instead of my own? Do you think your aunt planned to be in the same prison cell as the emperor’s escape route? People like us don’t choose what makes us different. We simply do what has to be done.”

Nana Sylvie's appearance in ARLGS was one of my all-time favorite things to write and I think we should all be talking about it more, frankly.

[peace-coast-island]

Diary of a Junebug

Scattering colorful petals around the Wild Flora Express for good luck

In Cotton Poppy Loch, it’s a custom to scatter a bouquet of petals around the Wild Flora train station to bring good luck. There’s always a gentle breeze blowing to the east towards the lake where the scattered petals eventually land. Watching the colorful petals fluttering in the sky before coming to a gentle landing in the water, there’s just something so peaceful about it. I don’t know, it’s kinda like telling me that the world may be chaotic and life may be giving you a hard time, but rest assured, like many moments in life, it will pass. And eventually, the dust will settle, and life will go on, just as it always does. Even though it’s obvious, sometimes we just really need to hear that just to be sure.

Unlike its neighboring city, Cotton Poppy Loach is relatively peaceful for the most part. The lake is right between two big cities, which are connected to other areas, and the only way to get across is through the Wild Flora Express, and so it is a major travel route. If something big happens around the area, there’s no doubt you’d hear about it here because word travels fast. Not only that, but if you know who and what to ask, you can even get some valuable intel on information that’s not even out to the public and only known to a select few. I know a couple people who could definitely pull something like that off - not me, obviously!

We came here just for a short vacation - the usual travels outside the camp to broaden our horizons and just appreciate the world and how vast it is - when we ran into the Epiphany crew. They’ve been dealing with an ongoing crisis in a planet called Gradient Ivory, which is about 50% resolved according to Landry, but right now there really isn’t anything they can do because they’re waiting on someone who seems to be taking their sweet time despite the situation. Well, it’s out of everyone’s hands, so the commander told the Epiphany that there’s no use in them sitting around and waiting, insisting that they take a break and that she’ll notify them the second that something comes up. Yang doesn’t have a solid confirmation on the identity of who that other person they’re waiting on, but if his speculations are spot on, then it’ll be a bit of a long wait.

As for whether or not that’s a good thing, no one knows. Sometimes all you can do is play it by ear and hope that everything somehow works out. Something about a broken clock being right twice a day. Or a man who sleeps with a machete is a fool every night but one. Kinda concerning that they’re putting everything on this one person who may or may not be able to help, but I trust their process. Sometimes you just have to see how things play out before making your next move. Otherwise, a wild card pops up and changes the whole board, so if you’re in the middle of something, too bad, you just wasted your time, better have another plan ready because things are quickly going south.

In the meantime, the Epiphany’s just gonna hang out here, mainly just to chill. Of course, they have their reasons for choosing Cotton Poppy Loach, which has to do with an acquaintance of Yang’s who is seeking refuge over there. That person is actually a noble, but to the general public he’s some eccentric mage known as Des. His family hails from the Kingdom of Cevilia, which is located to the north of Cotton Poppy - a two and a half hour ride on the Gold Route of the Wild Flora. He wasn’t personally involved in the incident that took place not too long ago, but his siblings and niece were.

The incident at the Cevilia Castle is one of those classified things that has been swept under the rug by authorities - or, at least that’s what they hoped would happen. Cotton Poppy is basically a hub for stuff like this as it’s considered a neutral zone for those trying to flee, as well as the best place to find out what really happened - that is, if you know how to seek out the right information without putting yourself and others in danger. Even though it looks relatively peaceful for the most part - which it is - there’s a lot going on behind the scenes.

In a way, the people here kinda serve to bring the truth to light and maintain stability, which makes sense because it’s kinda in the center of everything, especially the Wild Flora. If something happens, like political instability, then everyone’s basically fucked since a lot of places can only be accessible through the Wild Flora. There’s actually a contract that states that Cotton Poppy Loach will always be a neutral zone that’s accessible for all and that those who violate any of those terms will be severely punished because, like I said, the consequences would be disastrous.

As far as we know, no one has ever gone against that contract - I mean, you’d have to be really stupid enough to want to do something that actively ruins everyone’s lives and potentially lead to political strife. Then again, there’s (hopefully) very few people who actively want to see the world burn just so they can profit off it. Cotton Poppy Loch has its share of those kinds of people throughout history, and their attempts fail because they underestimated the relationships between Cotton Poppy and its neighboring cities. Their secret weapon? Effective and open communication.

Only a select few know Des’s true identity, including Yang and Hongxia. Des also happens to be a distant relative of Hongxia’s sister-in-law Liangli, whose family is from Cevilia. He actually met Hongxia over 20 years ago when he was passing by Qiangshou, long before Liangli was sent to the Senlin Pavilion to accompany her father and later marry the Tianlin. Obviously Hongxia didn’t recognize Des, though he noticed a bit of a resemblance between him and Liangli, who is said to look more Cevilian than Qiangshouian.

On a similar note, Des noted that Hongxia looks a lot like his brother, minus the Tianlin’s most distinguishing feature, which really is unusual. Hongxia says a lot of people claim to have met the Tianlin, so he has a quick way of verifying that by asking what he looks like. Basically, it’s not something you can miss because it will catch your eye the moment you look at the Tianlin. It’s the fact that he has a qilin horn on the left - a defining feature of his family that Hongxia also has. Yes, that’s right, one qilin horn, unlike Hongxia, who has two like most qilin would. On the right is a xieshi horn - a chipped one. Yeah, that’s not something you see every day.

So basically, the Tianlin family are qilin, like most of the noble families from the pavilion. Then came Lady Qiangwei, their mother, who is part xiezhi, so she and the Tianlin have that horn. Apparently, the current Tianlin’s appearance caused quite a stir in the pavilion as some saw it as a blessing, while others saw it as an abomination. The reason why his xiezhi is chipped is because his grandfather, his predecessor, tried to cut it off. Now the Tianlin shows off his chipped horn as a source of pride.

I’ve heard a lot of not so good things about the former Tianlin, mainly that he was a decent politician but a cold and arrogant person. His son, who never inherited the title, was another story - as in, he was and always will be remembered as a pedophile who hid behind his father. Lady Qiangwei was his second victim, the first being the daughter of a physician who gave birth to a daughter the family never fully acknowledged - something that Hongxia and his brother only found out a couple years ago. The first time, they brushed it under the rug, which was pointless because everyone already knew what really happened. They tried to cover it up again with Lady Qiangwei, except her family was of a higher ranking, and then she happened to give birth to a son, so the former Tianlin married his son off to her now that he had a successor.

I was aware that Hongxia had a dysfunctional family, but now after learning about how fucked up the previous generations were, it’s a damn miracle that he and his brother turned out to be decent people. Meiying and Yang credit Lady Qiangwei for protecting her sons from them. By the time Hongxia was born, his father had become a hermit while his grandfather was showing signs of senility. They both died within months of each other when he was around 13, and not too long after, a rebellion took place within the pavilion that his mother and brother played a big role in. More on that later as it’s kinda connected to why Des called for Yang.

So, an incident took place in Cevilia Castle, which is why Des is laying low at Cotton Poppy Loch. Although the officials don’t want to admit it, there has been growing dissent between the aristocrats and the common folk that’s been brewing for the past 20 years or so. The current regime had become arrogant and greedy, which is why Des and his siblings chose to distance themselves from the aristocrats to the point that most people are unaware of their true identities. But now, with the current state of things being a fucking mess, he might have to reveal his true self and retire his Des persona for good, something he prefers to avoid as it’ll bring on more trouble for him later on. Politics really is troublesome.

A protest took place at the castle that was led by Des’s adoptive niece Eliandra over a decree the aristocrats put out the week before that would result in an entire village being kicked out of their homes because one of the aristocrats claimed that his family owned the land and so he could do whatever he wanted with it. Seriously, the nerve of some people! Who does that guy think he is, barging into people’s homes and telling them to leave so he could build a mansion over it? And if anyone protested, he’d be like, “Shut up, I have money. I can do whatever the fuck I want.” Ugh, yeah, I can see why this would cause an uproar because it’s fucking wrong.

Although Eliandra is officially Des’s niece by blood, she was actually born to a commoner family in a nearby village. She was born with an incurable disease and wasn’t expected to live past the age of 8. However, medical science broke through when she was 7, buying her time she never thought she would have, and she became part of an experimental treatment regime conducted by a bunch of scientists, including Des’s brother Felicio. Their sister Graciele, who was a baby at the time, was also a patient. The treatments later proved to be effective in suppressing the illness, allowing Eliandra and Graciele to grow up and experience less debilitating symptoms. However, there’s no telling what will change in the long term as it’s been only about a decade, but for Graciele, who started treatments at a very young age, she has been doing well for the most part. It’s not a cure, but at least it’s likely she’ll live into adulthood without being completely incapacitated.

Around the same time Eliandra started her treatment regime, she was training to be a priestess at the castle, so she became a regular over there. Des said she was a feisty young thing, a precocious girl full of wisdom beyond her years, yet she was no pushover. She was the kind of person who wouldn’t hesitate to call out on anyone’s bullshit, which was why she immediately butted heads with Des’s uncle, a former priest who saw the common folk as livestock, being he can control like he was playing God or something.

He initially took an interest in Eliandra at first because of her unusual composition, a side effect of her condition, which meant she had an unusual amount of mana that made her a valuable tool - the biggest concern being whether or not her body could handle it. Of course, he was only interested in using her. Then he found out she was a commoner, the daughter of a guard and an accountant, and he took that an an insult, calling her a fraud and insulting her parents. She lost her temper, which meant losing control of her powers, and he used that as an excuse as to why she would make an incompetent priestess. Then for some reason Eliandra was forced to apologize to him or else her parents could be executed, which is just fucked up.

Des said it could’ve been worse if Felicio hadn’t stepped in, who also clashed with the uncle often. Still, despite Felicio’s efforts, his uncle tried to sabotage Eliandra, only to be outsmarted by her. Eventually, he took things too far by endangering Eliandra and her family by selling her out to some shady organization that planned to use her as a weapon. Des is sure that Eliandra would’ve killed him if he and Felicio hadn’t intervened in time, which would have gotten her executed, even if it was justified.

That whole thing resulted in a huge mess that forced Des to show himself, as well as make a proposition that will save Eliandra from severe punishment, but with a price. She would have to live under a new identity as Des’s niece and grow up as an aristocrat’s daughter. Yang added that it’s not unusual for a noble to adopt someone with a unusual composition like Eliandra and pass them off as their own, often for their own gain and to keep them close. Since those like her typically die young, it’s also not unusual for them to be kept out of the public eye until they reach a certain age, which is sad. At least he allowed her parents to keep an eye on her from a distance and allowed her to talk to them if they ran into each other as long as they don’t act overly familiar.

Years passed and Eliandra adjusted to her new life. Although the uncle was out of the picture, he had a few loyal followers known as Purists who wanted to avenge his execution, including Des’s stepmother, his uncle’s half-sister. That small group was the one behind that decree Eliandra and her friends protested against. And that wasn’t the only problem with them. Eliandra and Felicio also uncovered that they were also planning to seize control of the Wild Flora as well as take over Cotton Poppy Loch, which is a big no-no.

Des blames himself for what happened afterwards. Had he known about his stepmother’s ties to a major weapons manufacturing company, he would’ve stopped told Eliandra to call off the sit-in and come up with another plan. The Purists knew where they’d be protesting and rigged the area with well hidden bombs. They went off, injuring and killing protesters and civilians. Eliandra was unfortunately one of the casualties along with a couple of her closest friends. Felicio managed to save countless lives, but was severely injured in the process and is currently in a coma. Graciele was there too and escaped with minor injuries.

And now here we are. Des is laying low for now while he tries to come up with a plan to retaliate. The Purists are already in hot water, but he suspects that will be the least of their problems. There already has been a divide within the aristocrats, and this incident will likely bring more conflicts to light. Ugh, I feel bad for him. While a part of him wants to take his siblings and make a run for it, he knows that Eliandra will likely kick his ass and call him a stupid coward - because she’s right. After all, he’s part of it too whether he likes it or not, and if he’s serious about setting himself apart from the other aristocrats by showing solidarity with the common folk, he needs to mean it. Words can only take you so far, and unless you don’t get your hands dirty and take action, all you’re offering is empty gestures. Good to know that he’s serious and not just all talk in order to please the masses.

Although the situation in Qiangshou was nowhere as drastic, the divide in the pavilion caused a lot of conflict and upheaval. The former Tianlin wanted to seize control of the pavilion despite the fact that he was clearly unfit to maintain a political position, especially one as powerful as Tianlin. He and his successor, the current Tianlin clashed constantly, and he was becoming threatened by his grandson once he realized that his successor would surpass him. Also, the current Tianlin is a compassionate yet strict leader who actually cares about the common folk, so it’s no wonder why everyone was so eager for him to step up.

Eventually, that led to a confrontation between the Tianlins and a couple of the former’s loyal retainers. The meeting turned out to be an assassination attempt, a feeble last-ditch attempt by the former Tianlin in keeping a hold on the pavilion that was one of his many poorly thought out plans throughout his final months. What exactly happened during that meeting continues to be debated, but one thing was certain, only the current Tianlin, Lady Qiangwei, and his guard walked out of that room.

What happened afterwards was like a domino effect thing with other families rebelling against their predecessors, mainly those who were loyal to the former Tianlin. Hongxia recalled that it was an uncertain time where everything was unstable as people were either leaving or getting kicked out. The scariest thing for him and his family was the fact that they were targets for assassinations for almost an entire year afterwards. He remembers at least 5 attempts against his life being averted, mainly through poisoning. And he doesn’t even want to think about how many near misses his mother and brother had. Like, damn, that’s horrifying, and he was just a kid at the time.

It’s too early to tell as everything’s still a mess, but it’s likely that Cevilia would experience something similar in the aftermath. At least Felicio and Graciele are safe - that was Des’s main priority. He already has a couple plans in mind, but they’ve all reached snags at different points, so he’s reaching out for help, specifically towards those who have some experience in that sort of thing. Yang’s gotten involved in political messes, so he has a lot to say on that. While Hongxia wasn’t personally involved in the Qiangshou affairs, Des said his insight is just as valuable since he lived through it, which gives him some much needed perspective as whatever happens next will have an effect on those who aren’t involved, namely the common folk, so if possible, he hopes to avoid causing too much disruption for them.

Well, that was a lot to take in, but that’s kind of the nature of a place like Cotton Poppy Loch. There’s often a lot going on in the background that may or may not impact your life in some way. The people here worked hard to maintain the peace, and it really shows. Des said the Wild Flora is the heart of the lake, like the circulatory system. Without the heart, the body would cease to function, which is why he can’t let the Purists achieve their final goal of getting their hands on the Wild Flora.

After learning about all that, I see why scattering petals for good luck is a big deal. It’s because of what the Wild Flora stands for - hope, peace, and stability. Things that can often be too easily taken for granted.

Read on AO3

[slifarianhawk]

Chapter 40: Gifts

It had been just under a month since I had bonded with Uroboros. The undying Hadean-level heat finally died down about a week ago and Albert's touch stopped feeling like in inside walls of a walk-in freezer.

He had taken to the Angelis virus perfectly hardly any changes except his skin tone was just a tad paler and his hair was slightly brighter as well. He stood on the balcony of our apartment. With a book in his hand, he stood out looking at the horizon. 

I sighed, I looked over at the calendar noticing the date. It was the twenty-fifth, back before we had taken our separate routes we had spent this day in the past with William and his family. My after my mother passed Chris and Claire busied themselves with either volunteer work or staying on their military base around the holidays.

Albert walked in and saw my cloudy eyes. He places his book on the left-hand side table and walks to the closet.

"I have something for you dearheart." He said walking over to the wall away from the bathroom door. He removed his glove and pressed his wedding ring on the black pad attached to the wall. A secret panel was unlatched and opened up.

"These are some relics from our past I couldn't just let go of. I was planning on giving you this sooner but your body was so hot from binding with Uroboros that I decided it was a better idea to wait. There is also something I couldn't risk Sergei taking after you told me how much it meant to you." He said pulling out a small old fruit-patterned suitcase that we had bought for our honeymoon tour of the Mediterranean.

"Wow! Now that old thing brings back some memories!" I chuckle my eyes brightening a bit at the sight of that.

He set it on the bed and unzipped the old case. The zipper broke off from the track likely due to the lack of use from over the years. Rust is prevalent on the zipper. He pulls out a box wrapped in a plastic bag. He removed the broken suitcase from my sight more than likely in the kitchen. When he walked back in he smiled and removed his sunglasses setting them on top of his book.

"Go ahead open up the package, my lotus." He said sitting next to me on the bed.

With a smile and a sigh, I ripped open the vacuum-sealed bag. Upon pulling out the box I noticed it had a familiar scent to it. It reminded me of our bedroom back in Raccoon City.

I opened the top and nearly cried when I pulled it away. It was our old sky blue and gold cotton comforter. William and Anette had bought it for us for our wedding. It was in just as good shape as the last day Albert and I had slept under it. I stuck my hands into the soft slightly scratchy only to find an even more scratchy material.

"What's this?" I ask slowly pulling out a neatly folded light yellow knitted square. At the moment I saw it, my heart nearly stopped. Yet another item I had thought Sergei destroyed. It was the baby blanket my great-aunt on my mother's side had knitted for me as a baby. I kept it with me even when I went to the Umbrella management training facility. Anette found the fact I kept a hold of it weird but Wesk never did.

"I still remember the day you told me about it, dearheart." He said removing the box and bag from the bed while pulling me and the blankets up to his chest, "The day that one girl tripped you down the stairs and you ended up breaking Marcus's favorite vase. He gave you the worst verbal lashing anyone there had seen. We were just friends at the time but I knew I had to do something."

Tears dripped down my eyes, "Yeah, I heard you told Marcus what had happened.  While I was let go from being sent on dish duty I still remember that bitch being there until she snuck into the leech lab." I said with a sigh bringing up the small knitted blanket to my face.

"I meant when I came to your dorm that night. You were sobbing and holding that blanket up to your lovely face much like you are doing right now. Do you remember what I said to you when you told me it was your baby blanket?" He asked stroking my hair and placing it behind my ear.

I had to think for a moment but slowly the memory haze cleared away and that moment became recognizable again, "How could I not? We shared our first kiss just after you had told me. You said 'Tabitha, it is okay to hold on to the past. We need the past to make a stronger better future. I don't think having a cherished item holds you back but rather it helps move you forward.'"

I looked up at Albert to see a nostalgic smile gracing his lips, "And that is when you planted a small kiss on my lips. It stunned me that you would be so bold as you were very much sheltered by your family."

"Yeah well, I have you still even after all the time apart, we fit together like gears in a clock," I whispered kissing the shell of his ear.

"Given the date, I do have something else for you my precious lotus," Albert said but I pressed my right index finger to his lips.

"And I have something for you as well my treasure but this is not the place. If you would please follow me." I said as my comms choker vibrated.

"Pheonix here," I answered.

"What is taking you so long? I had everything set up like thirty minutes ago and you know I don't like waiting," Gale said in a grumpy voice.

"I was just heading down with him now," I answered clicking off my comm, "Grab what you got me, and let's go."

Albert just shook his head and walked over to the secret panel closet. He grabbed a black large attache case that had two fairly durable locks on it. I smile walking over to my closet. I put on a flowy blue and white dress that covers my feet along with white flats.  I pulled out a snowflake necklace that I had stashed in my pack when I first got captured by Albert.

"Who's necklace is that my lotus?" He asked looking at me in the mirror.

"It was Alistar's. I sent her family this pendant in ninety- two when I was on the run from Umbrella with our second child. She was wearing it the day she died." I said hugging Wesk as he held the white sapphire snowflake in his hand.

"She would have reminded you of a snow-white lily, she was so pure and innocent. Even stained in blood she was as innocent as a turtle dove." I whisper as I head towards our private elevator.

"Wasn't that the name you had chosen for her if you had kept her?" He asked as he grabbed his trench coat from the coat rack in our kitchen.

I smiled and gently brushed the falling strands of hair out of his face, "I'm surprised you remember that."

"Of course, I would dearheart. She was our first after all." He called the elevator and we got on soon after. Albert brushed his hand against my own. He wasn't wearing his gloves for once. His face while stoic radiated an air of serene peace.

"Something caught your eye dearheart?" He smirked turning towards me.

I smiled, "Just you, my god."

He laughed as he pulled me close and kissed my neck, "You are so precious to me, my lotus. I never wish to lose you."

"Merry Christmas Albert," I whispered.

"Merry Christmas Tabitha." He said into my neck.

The elevator door opened and Jill was waiting for us. She was wearing a red sweater with a green overcoat and white leggings. She greeted us with a smile on her face. She wasn't acting I noticed.

"Come on you two. We were waiting for you." She giggled and took the weapon case from Wesker. She started to walk towards the library as Albert had a confused look on his face.

"We? Who did you gather? Excella is not here and most of the staff are B.O.Ws." Albert asked.

"Just some people that matter to us, well more me but you need to expand your horizons my treasure. Some social interaction would be good for you." I said as we arrived at the massive library.

Jill scanned my keycard and the sliding steel door opened revealing a small festive gathering. Gale sitting on a leather sofa next to an ornately decorated Christmas tree. Arjuna standing at the gift table. Steve and Nighthawk are drinking cider next to the fireplace. Irving was drunk and talking to a column.

Jill dropped the black attache case off at the table and then sat down next to Gale, kissing him on the cheek. A light blush grew on his face as he sipped at his vodka cranberry. Jill just chuckled taking a glass of French champagne.

I smiled up at Albert who looked stunned at the small gathering. He shook his head slightly and then looked down at me with the smallest smile I'd seen from him. Clearly trying to hide some emotion.

"However did you plan this without my knowledge dearheart? I'm awake nearly twenty-four-seven save for the times I rest next to you for a few hours. Even then you are normally by my side so how?" He purred in my ear.

"Simple, I did it the same way I'm planning our vow renewal. Alistar programmed White Queen to manage Pheonix Corps. in my absence. That included charity balls and galas as well as small parties for the facility. To do it without you noticing all I had to do was keep an eye on you, my love, and turn up the charm a bit.

Albert chuckled, "You would be an amazing field operative if I were to ever need one but I will tell you this I had planned on at least bringing out Archer for the holidays."

I burst out laughing happily, "That explains why he said that this co aligns with his plans. But at minimum, I'm twice the agent than Ms. Wong is."

"Indeed you are." He said pulling me close.

Albert and I kissed. He walked over to the black leather armchair and grabbed a bottle of Johnnie's blue label. He poured himself a glass on the rocks and relaxed on the chair.

Arjuna walked up and hugged me. He was in his Phoenix Corps. management attire. I was happy he was able to come normally I had the lodge running over Christmas but this year I wanted to give my employees time with their families.

"It's good to see you, Tabitha" Arjuna said with a smile his hair back to being a solid black.

"And it is great to see you, my dear. How are things at home?" I asked floofing his silky hair.

"Things are running smoothly. Billy has taken up more of a managerial role and is the one in charge while I am away. I also brought a batch of viral stabilizing pills and activators just in case you ran out of stock." He smiled and walked toward the grand piano in the center of the room.

I watched as Albert stood up as well and joined him.

"Do you know how to play Arjuna?" Albert asked as he sat down on the bench, his glass of high-quality scotch in hand.

"Yes, it just has been a while, sir," Arjuna said with a slight bow.

"No need for such formality with me, your mother is my wife, and while we haven't bonded in the little time we have had. I do care for you." Wesker said motioning for him to sit next to him.

"Thank you, but still I will address you as sir till I feel comfortable around you," Arjuna said sitting next to him.

"Understandable, now do you know how to play any Christmas music?" Albert asked and Arjuna reluctantly shook his head no.

"I only know a partial of Carol of the Bells. The only song I really know is Moonlight Sonata I learned it for Tabitha."  Juna said earning a chuckle from Wesker.

"Her favorite classical piece. Then take the lead," Wesker said taking a sip of his scotch.

Arjuna started to play and then Albert followed suit. The music of the grand piano danced through the air. The sound sends shivers down my spine. Two of my favorite men playing one of my favorite classical pieces. I couldn't help but smile not letting the negative thoughts of Umbrella ruin this lovely moment.

Jill and Gale kind of cringed at the memories this song brought up. Yet the memories of the mansion incident seemed so far away to me.

"Even after everything that's happened, I can't help but feel nostalgic when I hear this song." I sigh walking up behind my two lovely men.

When they finished playing I pulled them into a warm embrace, "You both were amazing."

"Thanks, ma I enjoyed myself." Arjuna smiled standing up from the piano.

"Tabitha dearheart, I do believe people are ready to exchange gifts," Albert said taking a sip of his scotch. I knew this was difficult for him. He had so many unresolved traumas from the holidays. I was working through them the last few years before the mansion incident. Namely in S.T.A.R.S. but those are memories for another time.

"I'll help pass out the presents then," I said as Jill and Steve walked up to help me.

"Let me do the heavy lifting! Steve said quickly taking the heavy boxes.

"Whoa! OK! Seesh! CALM down, Steve." Me and Jill laughed as I grabbed Albert's presents from the table where they were stashed.

The sorting went swiftly and easily. Not to my surprise Jill and I had the most gifts. She had about two more than me, I would say.

"Alrighty, ladies first," Irving laughed and I rolled my eyes smiling as Jill opened a blue and silver box.

"I wonder who this is from... T." She jeered with a smirk.

I simply stuck out my tongue and Albert rolled his eyes sipping his drink. I doubted he'd get drunk but it was nice for there to be similarities to the past.

Jill smiled as she pulled out a lockpick set that had blue grips and a star on the end of the handle.

"These are nice T. Thank you." Jill smiled setting the case down.

"Now it's your turn boss lady," Gale said his hair slicked back, "the black and red box is from me open it."

"Alright, thanks, Gale." I smiled opening the box, and a gentle smile graced my lips, "These are nice, Gale. Are they corrective?"

"Same prescription and same color just stronger and less likely to fall off your face when in combat," Gale said kissing Jill on the cheek.

I pulled out the black pair of shades with purple lenses. There was an etching of a silver phoenix on the arms. I slide them on and the bright lights dim. The subtle headache that was growing quickly faded.

Quickly we went through the gifts. There was a wide variety of objects were given. From Wesker receiving a watch from Nighthawk and Arjuna. Arjuna finally told us that they were together and had just celebrated their six-month anniversary. I felt proud they had the confidence to tell us.

Irving got a couple of nice dress shirts and a decent-sized leather briefcase. Steve was hard to shop for but was still a kid so I got him a new deck of cards and a guitar similar to Chris's old acoustic one. Gale and Jill exchanged the most gifts with each other. They were mostly small bits and bobs but they had one gift each that they had put work into. Jill got Gale a necklace that matched hers.

"Something is written on it," Gale asked looking at the back of the pendant, "My sniper."

"Something to remind you of me when we are apart," Jill said smiling.

"We had the same idea then, " Gale said as Jill opened her black and red box.

Jill pulled out a leather bracelet that had a gold plate on the front with a lock pick etched into it, "I'm giving you the key to my heart Jill, like I should have when we were in S.T.A.R.S."  Gale smiled.

They hugged and gently kissed each other. When they did, I snuggled into Wesker's chest on the leather couch. I handed Albert a manilla envelope. He looked confused as he sat up and opened it. He pulled out pictures of a young man who was sixteen at this time. He had red-brown hair similar to Claire's and Albert's stormy blue eyes.

"I don't understand dearheart. Who is this young man?" Albert asked stroking my hair gently.

"One of my old contacts, the man who trained me. Hunk was his codename. I had him do some searching as a favor. The name of the lady who I left our son with was Reina Mueller. She was a dear friend of mine. That young man is her only child, the one she adopted in ninety-two. That young man is currently being trained as a Merc. He is being trained by the Grim Reaper himself. That young man's name is Jake Mueller." I said taking a glass of sparkling pear cider from a nearby table, "That's our son, Albert. I know we have that mission in Europe coming up. After we had completed it, I found some lodging. I booked it with Pheonix Corps. Resources and we are attending his mother's funeral. She died of a rare form of lymphoma. We are going to meet Jake."

"You have been quite busy dear lotus. I'm afraid my gift pales in comparison." Albert said unlocking the weapon case in front of me.

"I doubt that my love.  You know I'd cherish anything you'd give me. " I kiss Albert's cheek in a gentle manner

"I know dearheart. I just like making you say that." Albert smirked pulling out a fifty-cal-looking rifle decorated in black snake scale. The scope could switch between thermal, night vision, and regular sights, "I call this rifle scorpion. It can be charged by your electrical prowess. It is semi-automatic and fully modded for maximum damage. It's also lightweight and compact with minimum recoil. It's an anti-B.O.W. gun."

"I love it Wesk. I was always a lock-on kind of gal, not a spread-spray-and-pray kind." I joked around but it was a seriously nice sniper rifle, "Looks like I may be retiring my bow here soon."

"Alright I do believe that is all the presents let's start to pack it in and..." Arjuna started to say when Steve walked up and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Not quite arjuna I still have one gift left and it's for Wesker and Tabitha." He smiled.

"Well, what is it, Steve?" I asked curiously very much confused.

There were no more boxes or envelopes.  So what gift did he have for us? I glanced up at Albert. He wore his usual stoic expression but there was curiosity in his eyes.

Steve pulled out his laptop and went into the medical records portion of the U.M.F.014. White Queen appeared on his screen and smiled.

"Greetings Dr. Burnside, would you like to continue where we were last viewing?" She asked.

"Yes, I would White Queen and blow the image to full-screen," Steve said handing me and Albert the laptop as an image of an ultrasound was pulled up.

"I ran your blood work when you came in to see if you and Uroboros were properly bonded. while that came out with resounding positivity another thing came up. By the time I returned to my office, you were asleep pretty heavily on the medical bed. So I had to check the results and this is what I found." Steve said as tears started to well up in my eyes.

There were three small shapes hugging the walls of my womb. How far along was I? Albert held me close I felt his smile in my hair. We were pregnant and we were going to have triplets. This explained the bouts of nausea I had been having and the extreme exhaustion.

"From my knowledge based on the blood tests and the ultrasound, you are about six to seven weeks along. It seems you have succeeded in your side project." Steve smiled closing the laptop.

"Well, I'll be damned! Congratulations you two. Looks like I get to be a cool uncle after all." Gale laughed kissing Jill.

I started laughing as well pressing my cheek into Albert's chest. Parents, we would be parents.  Tears streamed down my face.

"Tabitha my dear lotus, this is the best Christmas I have had, and something tells me the next ones will just be even better," Albert said kissing me.

"Merry Christmas everyone!" I shouted out and smiled brightly.

This has been one hell of a year.

Hey everyone slifarianhawk here and Merry Christmas to all. Spend time with your loved ones and enjoy them. I'll be on a brief holiday till the new year so I can spend some much-needed time with my partners (I'm in a trouple ^^) and I love all of ya'll. My name is Silfarianhawk and I'm not so far away.

[kyogre-blue]

Staring the Kingdom half of CF!

The standout point is obviously the interplay regarding Arianrhod. Taking it is part of a strategy to attack Fhirdiad in a pincer maneuver, but a side goal is killing Cornelia, who Edelgard and Hubert know is an Agarthan. The whole thing is cloaked in plausible deniability and doubletalk, but Arundel pretty much immediately retaliates by dropping javelins of light onto Arianrhod as a warning. Of course, Edie then proceeds to lie and claim the church did it. Woof.

As a side note, there was a lot of supports this chapter because I went to the monastery a few times and ate a bunch of meals. I don't care too much for the Black Eagles, so I didn't have too many impressions (though some pairings seem to work better than others imo), but one interesting thing is that Edelgard is... hm, more patient that I would necessarily give her credit for?

I know people say they admire her drive and determination, but given her nonsense and unfounded goals, I never really saw those as positives. However, I have to say her self-control is quite impressive. She really can keep a straight face through anything (only giving actual emotional reactions to Byleth once she's very comfortable with them) - compare to Claude quite easily losing his cool and getting defensive if something hits too close to home. But she also keeps a very even keel when dealing with the Black Eagles' "quirks." In particular, she's quite calm in regard to Bernadetta's nonsense in a way that is quite humanizing.

It's not anything deep, but I did find it interesting.

Live blogging:

Hum... the way they go "we're marching to Fhirdiad!... except we're not! we're going to Arianrhod!" really feels like they realized they needed to squeeze in at least one more chapter to pad out the route. Edelgard's promotion to Emperor class also feels very random.

In-universe, we're sending most of the army toward the capital, while our little group goes to assault a famous fortress. Somehow. How are we even reaching it...

Hubert and Edie know about Cornelia having a "weapon" (Titanus, as we see later).

Lysithea is touched at being trusted with this secret plan (as part of the strike force) and says she's now fully into Edie's cool aid. Petra likes surprise tactics. Leonie... does not. She slips up and calls it cowardly lol.

Felix insists he's totally cool with betraying his homeland and his family, he'll kill his king, his father and the goddess, you just watch... but his sword feels heavy u.u

Ingrid says she's... not cool with being a traitor everyone who ever loved her, but you see, she must because uh Byleth said so and she trust Byleth (and their C rank in lances or whatever it was).

Sylvain is thinking about Dimitri and wants to train. He's mentioned before that he's afraid he'll get killed in battle, as well as the rest of us.

Dimitri is called the Tempest King because there's nothing left in his wake, like after a storm.

Edelgard has locked herself in her room. She also painted a portrait of Byleth. Sure, ok.

120 years ago, the Southern Church in the empire "had a massive insurrection" and the bishop who participated was exiled by the emperor. Boy, the Empire sure has a lot of insurrections, huh?

Bernie has decided she wants to travel and draw pictures of (cute carnivorous) plants she sees.

Caspar's supports with Petra and Shamir both bring up his feelings of guilt about his father's and the empire's war and the human toll of that. It's... kind of something that both of them seem to mostly sidestep the issue in the end.

I think the quest to get the dark merchant to appear on this route only gives you... Brigid and bandit battalions, so the Morfis battalion being linked to it on SS was just a coincidence, I guess.

Arianrhod is a fortress city that was built about 400 years ago. It was built by the Empire (using their "money and technology") against the Kingdom, I guess during their independence war. However, the head of House Rowe betrayed the empire and sided with the kingdom, making it change hands right before its completion. It has not fallen since. It's called the Silver Maiden due to its beautiful white walls.

Cornelia brought some Titanus with her, along with dark mages and... Gwendal. She tells the Titanus(es?) to go ahead and kill Kingdom troops too.

Doesn't seem to be any special dialogue for Cornelia vs Edelgard.

Immediately after we beat up Cornelia, Arundel comes over lol. Lots of double talk between him and Edelgard but the main point is that, per the paralogue, Edelgard is beginning to act more impudently toward the Agarthans, since she is gaining more and more power and getting closer to her goal (after which, they're next on the chopping block). This includes intentionally targeting Cornelia while still maintaining deniability about how she totes didn't know Cornelia was an Agarthan mole.

btw, the fact that I know we do not have a section for fighting the Agarthans on this route is high-key ridiculous, given the buildup.

The Agarthans nuke Arianrhod as a warning, though that's uh... quite pointless, honestly. Based on Hubert's panicked reaction and Edelgard's obvious surprise, they did not know this was a thing.

However, they had previously investigated Aillel and thought it was the goddess's doing. They know better now... but that won't stop them from blaming it on the church anyway!

The scene of Edelgard calmly lying to the crew is amazing as a contrast. I haven't seen whatever equivalent there is on AM, but iirc VW had a pretty direct parallel where Claude explains stuff to the team. It had the usual Church Bad issues, but that's at least his honest perspective and not... flat lying. This route is really just lies all the way down.

[packers-movers-in-hyd]

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