#when no one's got my back i know the traveling merchant does can i get an amen

[waitineedaname]

the whole time i was playing dredge, i was imagining the fisherman in something like this

[burningcheese-merchant]

PLEASE FEED US MORE JUST AS DOWN BAD GOLDEN CHEESE. PLEASE MORE YANDERE CHEESE

Did you send two asks in a row screaming for more Accidental Yandere Golden Cheese lol. Calm down brotato, Merchant is here. Merchant sees you (and everyone else in my inbox I swear to God Almighty I will address you all eventually). Let me see what I've got in my noodle for you

Under the cut because this is fucked and gets a little extra graphic at one particular point lol

Golden Cheese actually has tried to gather the identities of those Burning Spice has murdered. What she wasn't able to glean on her own, from her own personal knowledge of other lands and peoples (i.e. noticing certain traits she knows to be endemic to certain cultures, like a hair accessory or something), she found in books and scrolls in her kingdom's library that gave her a better idea. Whatever she couldn't find in those, she found via sending cheesebirds to travel far and wide in search of any kingdoms, cities, villages, families and friend groups with confirmed missing persons. They would report back to her and, with all the knowledge she's gathered, she's able to find a name, which she then wrote onto a label and placed under the person it belonged to. She's managed to eventually give all the heads their identities/personhood back, at least to some degree. And now, knowing who these people are/were, she can get them back to their loved ones easier. Right? ...Right? (She tries not to progress beyond being proud of herself for going that extra mile, because it just leads back to "ok so why are the heads still here, why haven't you returned them". In trying to do the right thing, she ultimately just does the WRONG thing again and reinforces her preexisting guilt and shame, because... she knows exactly why she hasn't returned them...)

Golden has started... experimenting with Spice, for lack of a better term. After she was proven correct about him paying attention when she mentions someone she doesn't like and later killing that specific person for her, she starts testing him in other ways. She makes subtle suggestions about how he ought to kill people, to see how he responds in the moment and if he actually ends up doing it later. She tries to coax him into going into detail about how the killing went, just to see if and how he does so (turns out he really does like to brag about his crimes, especially to her). She tries to hint at him giving her other things besides body parts, like certain trinkets (it... sort of works. If she asks for a watch, he... brings her a severed arm with a watch attached to it still, for example). She's observing how far he'll go and in which direction he's willing to travel in at her suggestion. (...And she revels in how much power it turns out she has over him. She really does have him at her beck and call. It's lovely.)

When her friends ask her how she's been managing her Beast (they are aware that hers is still actively targeting her, but that's it), she acts as nonchalant as possible. Burning Spice is nothing. He's just a fly buzzing around her head. She handles him just fine. When they ask her how they can help, she tells them she doesn't need it, because she doesn't want them anywhere near him she really is fine. It's fine. She's fine. When they suggest going after him themselves... thank goodness she's a good actress and a quick thinker, because her very first REAL reaction was seething fury that she had to keep under control until she was alone again - but then, when she finally is, she just has another crisis of conscience, because now she has to confront the fact that she can no longer tolerate the notion of him being harmed by anyone besides herself. She used to want him dead or imprisoned by any means necessary, but now... now, she lies about his whereabouts to everyone who asks (and she always knows where he is, she snuck a tracking device onto him), because she doesn't want anyone coming near him for any reason anymore, least of all to harm him. Because only SHE can harm him now. He still comes to fight her, not just to give her things. And she obliges him, albeit begrudgingly (never mind the sick satisfaction she feels when she hurts him or takes him down. She wonders if this feeling is what he's referring to in those letters about him reveling in their battles and how he enjoys her suffering). She... she won't let that end. She won't let anyone get in the way. In his way. In THEIR way. She can handle him by herself. Everyone else can stay home. They won't take him away from her. She cannot guarantee their safety if they try.

She once idly wondered about his past. About the people he likely once had in his life. About... if he'd ever been fond of any other women. She could hardly fathom the hatred that utterly overwhelmed her senses when the thought entered her mind. So angry was she that she broke the glass of water in her hand in said anger and injured herself. So haunted by this notion did she end up, that she tried to ask him about it the next time they met (as subtly as possible; she understands the implications of asking such a thing). He just shrugged and said he didn't recall; the only woman that mattered to him was her. She hated how relieved she felt when he told her that...

...but after that day, and for a good while, he only targeted women. He kept killing adult women and bringing their heads to her, and no one else's. She quickly surmised that he might have noticed her jealousy (or at least imagined she was jealous) and immediately set out to prove his devotion to her further than before by destroying those she feels threatened by - even if the threat does not exist, for she is all he ever wanted. He never told her directly, but she figured that's what it was. And she allowed herself to believe it. Because it made her happy.

(When the women-only killing spree eventually ended, she was struck with morbid curiosity and asked him about the men he killed. Was there anything behind the ones he chose? He revealed to her that, though his targets were mostly random, he would go out of his way to kill any man that he thought she might find attractive. He was capable of feeling threatened, just like she was. It was quite the surprise... a surprise she welcomed, a surprise she found deeply amusing. Because really, what was left for her to find attractive in anyone anymore, when no one went as far as he did to earn her favor?)

She actually does find him handsome. She always has, from the beginning. It was something she considered to be a great shame; such good looks squandered on such a horrible man. But now... with her greed slowly spiraling out of control thanks to him constantly overfeeding it the way he does with his violent extremism... she's starting to dare to find that extremism handsome, too. She's slowly but surely ceasing to find any shame in the circumstance. She's starting to think he's handsome... and that's it, that's the end of the thought. He's handsome, with all of that blood coating his face and body. He's handsome, puffing his chest out and beaming with such sick pride at the handiwork he performed for her. He's handsome, in his maddened, unwavering dedication to her. He's handsome... no asterisk, no addendum, no ifs ands or buts. He's handsome. Burning Spice is handsome. It weighs on her like a stone. And it only gets heavier each time he sees him and his handsome face again.

Sometimes... just sometimes... she'll reread those letters that are particularly... steamy. There's something rather fascinating about them, in a different way than the others. They're so... uniquely visceral. She believes him when he tells her he's starving; his hunger practically lunges at her from the page, claws at her, sinks its teeth into her, sets her body alight. Pure, unashamed, blistering hot lust and sexuality, with some of that same addiction to violence mixed in (he's a sadomasochist, go figure). People have flirted with Golden before... but not like this. No one on earth has ever dared to speak to her so brazenly, not even after several pints of liquid courage. He talks about wanting to break her bed as well as she herself. He tells her how often he touches himself to the thought of her. He details exactly where he wants to put his hands. Where he wants to put his mouth. What he intends to say straight into her ears as they go, and what he wants her to say back to him. How he doesn't want to stop until they both collapse with exhaustion. Just neverending feverish rants about he wishes to destroy her in more ways than one, and how he expects her to scream and beg either way. She won't admit it, not even to herself, the thought tried to make itself known inside of her head once and she shoved it down and tried to bury it under concrete instantly, but... she's almost... intrigued. She's flattered, of course. She relishes this aspect of his insatiable appetite for her alongside all the others. (She likes being told she's pretty. He does that and then some.) But... some small part of her is... curious. Curious about... if he really would follow through on what he says he wants to do, if he really had the chance. How it would feel. How HE would feel. What the difference would really be between him overpowering her to win a fight and him overpowering her to... to...

...there are nights where she lays awake, drilling holes into the ceiling with her bloodshot eyes, wondering where it all went wrong. There are nights where all that succeeds in putting her to sleep are the warm, bitter tears that stream down her face when the guilt and shame grow too powerful. There are nights where she just gets up and leaves, throws herself out of her own window and flies off somewhere, anywhere, it doesn't matter - it just had to be somewhere she couldn't feel dozens of empty, lifeless eyes watching her through the walls. Judging her. Condemning her. Damning her to Hell, where she and the monster who ended their lives belonged.

...and then, there are nights where she feels... strange. Where she notices how... big her bed really is, and how small she feels laying in it. She wonders how it would feel if he was there. If she could nest in his thick, strong arms instead of thin bedsheets. How much more comfortable his chest would feel, compared to her pillow. If his hair was as soft as it looked. How he'd react if she started tracing his tattoos with her fingertips. If sharing a tender moment like that would awaken something in him. If it would somehow help him realize how wrong all of this is.

...Or maybe it would just make it worse.

Maybe she doesn't care anymore.

[weirdsht]

Disillusioned 14 . Insecurity, My Old Friend (2)

a/n: the typhoon is so bad but only one of my profs switched to online class... but during online class I wrote this instead of listening so ig its understandable why they don't want to switch...

anw, after this chapter this thing officially has more words and pages than all of my lotcf oneshots combined

tags: slavery and human trafficking, mentioned wounds, tears

English isn’t my first language so there will be grammatical errors

Pls don't repost my work anywhere without my permission

Constructive criticisms and any kind of interaction are more than welcome

Requests are currently closed but my ask are still open (read pinned)

Buy Me Dessert

Navigation Masterlist prev . next

It felt like it had been a long time since _____ and Cale saw each other. In reality, it was merely a few days. It probably just felt like an eternity because they were both busy.

Sure, let’s go with that…

The two exchanged short pleasantries before the conversation switched to how one of the Gyerre Duchy’s vassals was committing human trafficking.

At first, the healer silently listened to the assassin and the young master talked. But then a familiar name was mentioned.

The Chryshi

_____ who has naturally and unknowingly switched their positions from in front of Ron to Cale's side perked up at the mention of a merchant guild and the Chryshi household.

A puppy-like young master and a bunny-like healer young master that naturally gravitated towards each other every chance they got…

No one knew how much this fact entertained a certain benign old man. 

The so-called bunny-like healer started tugging Cale's sleeves as an indication they had something to say, too uncomfortable to speak first because there were a lot of people.

"Hmm? What is it _____, do you know something?"

Ignoring how Cale's voice softened a bit when addressing the healer, they all tuned in as to what the healer had to say.

"Back when I was with my adoptive family, I heard them bring up the Chryshi and some merchant guild in the same sentence. Whenever the conversation was about that they would also bring up about how it brings in so much income.”

_____ could see the intrigued reaction forming on Ron’s face.

“Also, there were nights when I would hear them have secret meanings with that Baron household... I wasn't allowed to take part in important conversations when I was back there so I can only tell you about things I overheard."

Cale once again feels like a headache coming.

However, it checks out if the Perduellios are part of this human trafficking scheme. How else would they get information about an ‘orphanage’ that sells blessed and gifted children?

It just makes sense.

And everyone could see that Cale hates that it makes sense.

Because if the Perduellios are part of this scheme then it would mean the orphanage _____ came from is a slave house with an orphanage front.

As if _____ hasn’t had enough in Cale’s opinion.

They already suffered from those bastards called Perduellios. If the place they came from was a slave house… how much more abuse did they experience?

“Ron, Freesia, include the Perduellios in your investigation.”

“As you wish young master-nim”

Everyone finalized the plan before moving on to another topic.

“Are you sure you’ll be fine staying alone at an inn? I can send one of them with you.”

What’s this? A certain redhead young master is acting out of character?

“I’ll be fine. I know the Gyerre territory like the back of my hand. I have done so many projects here since the Perduellios are aligned with them.”

Just as Cale mentioned, the plan is for _____ to stay in an inn. They would dye their hair and eyes as disguises too. This was because the chances of them being discovered here were higher. Not only does everyone know them, but Perduellio’s people also frequent this place.

So they had an idea to make _____ stay at an inn and pretend to be a traveller. It’s a great plan, only if Cale and Raon weren’t so hesitant.

Despite those hesitations, everything proceeded as planned.

The next day _____ went to a teahouse they used to frequent before. It was a few blocks from where Cale was drinking and should have windows so they could look at the houses from across the bridge.

Walking inside the establishment made the healer feel nostalgic. Going inside this teahouse was the only time they could semi-relax before. They were only allowed in there so rumours of the Perduellios not letting _____ have any downtime do not spread. Still, they were grateful for all those times.

_____ went to sit at an empty table with a window view. They would sit where they used to but for some reason, that table was filled with all sorts of flowers and gifts.

“Are you a traveller?”

A childish voice asked the healer. When _____ turned around to see who was talking, they saw the child of the owner of the teahouse.

“Yes I am, how did you know?”

Thankfully _____ had asked Raon to change their voice last minute.

“It’s because I saw you looking at that special table! Everyone here knows why that table is so special! You look like you don't know, so you must not be from here!”

Seems like _____ hasn’t been around here for a long time. 

“That table belongs to Roan’s Medicus! Well, not belong but when uhm, when they were still around they would go here and sit over there and admire the view so my parents decided to decicate that table to them… I’ve always wanted to play with them… they were so pretty that I felt shy… I wish I had asked though…”

Guilt stabbed _____’s heart at the child’s words. They have seen this child look at them back then. However, they just thought the child was curious.

“But I'm not sad! Mom said that they are resting peacefully now! She told me that maybe they had to go because the Sun God missed them already! I'm sad that Sun God didn't ask me first if I won't miss Medicus-nim, but I understand their feelings because I'm a big girl now!”

Despite saying she's not sad, the child's eyes look teary as she talks about the healer.

“Oh, I was talking about the table! After hearing what Mom and Dad did, everyone started bringing gifts and flowers! Everyone said that it's so that if ever Medicus-nim’s spirit visits here they'd know just how much we love them! See that flower over there? I picked it myself to give it to them!”

_____ had no idea that people admired them to the point of doing something like this. It made their heart swell. Maybe they have done more than they thought they did. 

“Really you did? I'm sure Medicus-nim will be happy when they see it…”

A woman came out from the kitchen, making the healer unable to finish their sentence. _____ knew this woman well, it's the shop's owner.

“Oh my! Mirari what did I tell you about bothering our customers!”

“Oh no, don’t worry it’s fine miss. We had a good conversation.”

The woman who seemed to be in her mid-thirties looked at _____ apologetically.

“I’m glad if that’s the case, but I’m still very sorry. She has suddenly started acting like this after hearing the news about the Medicus.”

Oh…

_____ doesn’t quite know how to feel about that.

So instead they just reassured Mirari’s mother that no harm was done. Nonetheless, the owner was insistent that they’d been disturbed and said that they could have something on the house.

“Traveller-nim choose tiramisu! It’s really good! Medicus-nim always ordered it!”

_____ doesn’t know if they can take any more of this.

They don’t know what they’ve done to make someone this fond of them.

“If Mirari-nim insists then I’ll get a tiramisu cake.”

The healer smiled as they waved goodbye to the child that’s being escorted back to the kitchen. As they did they wonder how such a small child could leave such big lingering feelings.

Nothing else happened after that encounter. _____ just sipped their tea and ate sweets as they watched the windows.

Then it finally happened.

Cale had gone outside acting all trashy.

As they did _____ couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle. It’s funny to see the young master acting drunk when he's clearly not. Plus that red flush on his face looks cute.

…wait what?

Uhm anyways…

Soon _____ saw the signal for them to make a move. The signal that they talked about yesterday was Cale’s shield. As soon as the redhead summoned the famous silver shield, the healer went out to be on standby.

Everything became chaotic. _____ could see the citizens not knowing what to do as the famous young master Silver Shield caused havoc.

_____ used that chaos to their advantage and went underneath the houses Cale had been eyeing since this morning. 

Once they got to where the victims were _____ started healing all the severely injured people. As much as it pains the healer to pick and choose who to heal they still do. This was because the Gyerres had to see for themselves just how much these people had suffered.

So as much as they want to heal everyone, _____ only attended to those close to dying.

“Kind _____ the people our human is waiting for are here!”

Raon’s voice echoed in _____’s mind midway through finishing all the houses. That was their sign to get out before Antonio Gyerre or his knights saw the healer.

That night two cute kittens infiltrated _____’s room.

“Cale said you might use all the potions he gave to you on other people nya!”

“We are here to heal the healer nya!”

On and Hong greeted the injured healer on the bed as they welcomed themselves in through the window. _____ could only send a small smile in return, too hurt to form a response.

“Our youngest and Cale wanted to come here themselves but they still have something to do nya.”

Hong stated as he switched to his human form to properly use the healing potion he and On had brought. Meanwhile, his older sister is inspecting the healer’s body. She’s assessing every wound she can find, no doubt to tattle to Cale later.

With the help of the two siblings, _____ started feeling better in no time. They would try to do it midway themself but the healer has learned not to disturb the two kittens when they set their mind to do something.

After they were done they shifted back into their kitten forms to curl up and cuddle with _____.

Safe to say _____ slept soundly that night.

A few days later _____can finally regroup with Cale. They agreed to meet up outside the Gyerre territory, just before they had to meet up with Mary and Tasha.

_____ entered the carriage and greeted Billos. They were about to sit beside him when they felt Cale tug on their clothes. It confused the healer because why is Cale stopping them from sitting beside the merchant when they usually sit across the redhead? So _____ looked at the young master only to see him patting the space beside him.

“I assume you’ve been well?”

“Yes, thanks to you and the kids. I’m glad that you seem to be in good spirits too.”

Cale quickly assessed the healer's body to confirm if they were feeling better. After seeing that they were, the redhead grabbed a pillow from somewhere and placed it on the healer's lap. He then laid down on that pillow and started sleeping as if Billos wasn’t even there.

In turn, Billos just acted as if the young master wasn’t doing anything out of the ordinary.

Time passed and they soon arrived at the entrance of Vegas CIty where the merchant got off. As soon as he did Cale got up from _____’s lap to talk to them.

“Ron and Freesia had investigated the Perduellio Family. It turns out that the assumptions were correct. The Perduellios have been working with the Chryshis and have been smuggling people.”

Oh…

Was it too late to put their hood back on now?

Because _____ feels like they’re about to cry…

Oh no

_____ can feel the waterworks start. They tried to suppress it, but the news was just too much to bear. Especially after the conversation they had with that child named Mirari.

Tears fell as _____ absorbed the news Cale told them. 

In the back of their mind, someone was telling them that they seemed to be crying a lot these days but they currently can't care.

"I didn't... I genuinely didn't know anything..."

The sorrow _____ felt at the involvement of their family felt foreign to them. Their heart feels as though it was being crushed by how heavy it was while their head feels light. They also started questioning their role and achievements. Although they didn't take a direct part in that terrible sin, they feel as though they still have a great responsibility as they were part of that family. 

"I know they weren't the greatest... But I never thought they would stoop so low. What they did to me was fine but this…”

They may have not taken part in the act, but they unknowingly helped fund it.

And that made _____ feel so so guilty.

“While I was healing people, feeling like I was righteous, they were doing such a sin behind my back. Using the money I have accumulated from the sick for such a task.."

Cale can't take this anymore. He can't take _____’s tears anymore. But he doesn't know how to handle a crying person.

So he did the first thing that popped into his mind.

Cale offered his shoulder.

Well, he first wiped _____’s tears before semi-hugging them to place them on his shoulder.

The point still stands, Cale is doing something unusual.

Raon, Hong, and On watched this predicament with their jaws practically on the ground. They had seen the redhead act in all kinds of ways to get what he wanted. But never like this.

Plus, he wasn't acting. That makes it more shocking to the children.

And maybe _____ would be the same if they weren’t engrossed in their feelings. 

But they are, so they just accepted the comfort the redhead silently offered and cried to their heart's content.

Later on, when Ron checked the carriage, he could see the bunny healer's head on his puppy master's lap. Both of them slept while the children were quietly chatting amongst themselves.

a/n: just a small fun fact, I wasn't gonna assign a name at first because I was too lazy but then I learned that Perduellio was the capital offense of high treason back in Ancient Rome

[randomlyblues]

Yandere!Zane X Librarian!Reader

Part 1

CW:Mention of kidnapping not beta read 1.3k word count

You were on a cloud, melted into the soft fabrics, you didn't want to leave. After stirring a bit in your bed, the memories from the day before made you realize that you weren't home and this isn't your bed. The fabrics were made of the finest, it reeked of luxury. You quickly snapped up from the bed you were once relaxed in. "Good you're awake, you would have been useless to me dead," the mask man responsible for the position you are in at the moment spoke, calmly flipping a page from the book he purchased from you. The High Priest stayed by your side as you slept for the day, watching as you slept soundly while he wished the pillow you held was him. He made sure to put the guard that knocked you hard in the dungeon, he asked for them to knock you unconscious, not harm you.

 Zane didn't bother looking up at you as you slowly began to get off of the soft bed. “Hey, I’m sorry we must have gotten off on the wrong foot, I didn’t mean to offend you especially with that jok-” Zane raised his hand as a way to silence you. Your voice was laced with fear, a nice way to boost this powerful man’s already huge ego. “ Please, I am not easily wounded with jokes about myself, I am aware of the rumor said about me,” he spoke nonchalantly but also with power, still not looking up from his book. “Besides, my goal is to have you alive, you have knowledge.” 

“Believe me High Priest, I have nothing of use to you, I have never left Phoenix drop–”

“It's no use lying to me,” the masked man finally looked at you, his ice cold gaze can drive anyone to the deep end, “ You are originally from Pikoro village, traveled with your father who was a traveling merchant. Your mother dying from a mysterious illness leaving your father having to take care of you when you were the age of ten; soon he succumbed to the same illness as your mother. Later you found Phoenix Drop and have been there for about five years.”

After knocking you out, Zane took it upon himself to ask about you before his departure from the village. He was lucky that Phoenix Drop was pathetically trusting, and also lucky that farmer Brandon didn’t know how to shut up. If he wasn’t looking for information he would have had that man killed. Zane stood up from the comfort of the chair and towered over you, he stood as if he was proud about all the information he memorized about you. His eye looked back and forth to yours, trying to decipher your reaction. He was trying to see if you were proud of him, he was actually looking for your approval.

Your mouth hanged open in shock, soon your face distorted into disgust. “ Oh…wow… that’s actually very disturbing.”

Zane’s confidence was immediately crushed. Him? Disturbing? The guard must have hit you harder than he thought. He kept a mental note for that guard to get lashes as he is finished talking with you. “It’s called being informed,” the High Priest shut his book, causing you to jump at the sudden noise. “Now I will not tolerate any lying, I’ll let this one slide because you are slow as well as me having a certain…liking towards you.” He hesitated on the last of his words but non the less stayed standing and settled his book down on the desk next to the bed.  

Before you even got the chance to say anything about his confession Zane continued on, “That being said, don’t even think about using that knowledge against me, even if it would hurt me, I would have to punish you.” Zane held his hand out, causing you to walk back, your wide eyed expression caused him to stop. His hand turned into a fist and he walked out of the room with a slam of the door.

So many questions ran through your mind, especially the main one. Why me? You knew that Zane was serious about what he said, even if he does have some…romantic feelings towards you, you are not immune to his cruelty. “First, to find a way out, if it has been a day or a few that means we aren't far away. We can’t possibly be in O’khasis.”

Opening the door with a creak, the hallways were strangely empty with multiple doors. “An inn? “I’ve never been in an inn with fancy bedding,” continuing down the hall you notice fancy works of art on the walls, most with Lady Irene. Going down the staircase, the front desk was vacant, if there wasn’t a fancy room, you would have thought that this was abandoned. 

This was too easy. You looked through the curtained windows and saw O’khasis guards standing post in front of the building. Moving to the back, more guards. At every exit it seemed there were guards. “Great, this means I must take things into my own hands…Perfect just great,” you started patting yourself to see if they took your knife and they did even the one in your boot, “My Irene he thought of everything.” Sighing, you started to see if there was anything heavy you can at least knock them unconscious or start some ruckus. The nearest thing was a chair, it looked ancient, calling for you to take it out of its misery. “Worth a shot, as long as I can get as far as I can to know where I’m at.” 

With the backdoor being locked, you broke it off and pushed your way out and didn’t think twice and swang without looking. The guard fell to the ground with a thud.

 “Wow.. That easy? I feel insulted,” making sure the guard was unconscious, you started to loot him to see if he would have at least any money on him. “Score! This would last me for a damn good while!”

“IT CAME FROM OVER HERE!”

Crap. Running as fast as you could, you took notice of the village and realized that this was Meteli. Thank Irene I’m not that far from Phoenix Dop! 

Hearing the guards gaining speed, you decided to hide in the woods and waited for them to pass you. After a while, you continued to run towards the docks, hoping you remembered the way. Thanking yourself for staying in Meteli for a year or else you would’ve gotten lost. It was a nice town, besides the crazy chicken Shaman that was near. The trees guided the path as if nature was cheering you on. Seeing the glistening water, you laughed. Your breath was already getting ragged, legs yelling at you to stop, the side of your ribs felt like knives were poking at you. That couldn’t  stop you, it was there right there.

A boat was already there, wasn’t this such a lucky day. The grin that had just started to take place soon faded as you made eye contact with a certain piercing blue eye. Stopping where you were, you took deep breaths and glared at him. 

Zane knew blood was on his hands that he'd never be able to wash off. He glared at his darling, if you wanted to play cat and mouse. He would. There was nowhere for you to run and you knew that. He looked as you started to get surrounded. Zane nodded at his guards to obtain you. He ignored your cries and how you started thrashing at his guards as he got closer to you, face to face. 

“ I warned you–” Silence. Wet saliva slid down his face. He couldn’t believe it, you actually spat on his face. He started laughing while wiping away the spit. Your eyes were filled with fiery, face with a sly smirk. Zane couldn’t help but love that expression, that is for him, only for him. The hatred you have for him, the passion. 

“Guards, throw her into the dungeon on the ship, I think my pet got too comfortable.”

[shenanigans-and-imagines]

Assorted Astarion x Evie (Ace!Tav) Soft Headcanons

Astarion x Evie (Ace!Tav) Masterlist

A/N: I warned y'all I was in a mood. Thanks to @leighsartworks216 for letting me yell at them about this stuff. This is me at my full self indulgent, so, be warned. (If you want a part two with more thoughts, let me know! Or let me know which one of these you'd like to see a full fic for)

Astarion makes a game out of slipping food into Evie's bag and pockets

Like they’re in a market and when they get back she finds an extra apple in her pack. Or she searches her pockets and suddenly there’s a handful of roasted nuts that weren’t there before. She's asked him about it once they’re traveling, but Astarion just shrugs telling her his little snack deserves some of her own.

At first it was about the number of items, but when he realized he could cheat by counting individual roasted walnuts it lost some of the fun, then it became a matter of size

His triumph was a full loaf of bread (his goal is one day a whole melon)

He doesn't mention how he's notice her sneak her fair share of apples off some unexpecting merchant's cart, or how she slips extra food into a napkin before stuffing it in her pocket

And he certainly doesn't mention how he can't stand to see her hungry, even for a moment

Astarion just being cat coded, especially when it comes to cuddling

There are days he doesn't want to be touched; even after he and Evie get together he's got 200 years of abuse to sort through

There are times he feels guilty feeling this way, he knows for a fact Evie would never hurt him, but the idea of touching anyone just burns his skin

But then there are the opposite times, when all he wants to do is surround herself in her warmth and scent, listening to her heart and feeling her touch

Evie only partially chides him for it. She can't be expected to lay in bed all day to which Astarion only scoffs. She can't possibly expect him to just give up on his limited time alone with her (limited being a two hour gig at the local tavern). No, she's going to stay right there, with him and take his attentions until he good and ready to let her up again. Evie only laughs accepting her fate as she runs her fingers through his hair letting herself sink into the plush mattress and the comforting weight of his body on top of hers

Evie insisting Astarion would make a wonderful musician; he's got the hands for it and has never been silent about his opinions abut music

Astarion, however, really isn't the best student, at least with Evie's way of teaching

He has he potential to be technically proficient, but Evie learned by ear and that's how she teaches it

All the same, he does try and actually finds himself enjoying it a quite bit

There's something in the back of his mind, a half remembered feeling that he's done this before

The smell of the wood under his nose, the feel of the string under his fingers; muscles memory from a life stolen away

It's...comforting

He makes Evie swear not to tell anyone about his new hobby and she keeps her mouth shut

Astarion helping Evie find a good proper winter coat.

Astarion is actually really sensitive to cold so once the seasons change he’s like, “wait I’ve got gold, I can buy as many coats and gloves as I want!” Evie encourages him, but when he brings up something to get her, she keeps insisting she’s fine. Astarion knows that’s bullshit. This is the same person who wraps themselves up like a cocoon (hogging all the blankets at the same time) every night no matter the weather. 

Astarion is having none of it and starts pressuring her to try on some coats, just to see how they feel. He watches until finally she slips on one and her eyes light up with that “this is it” spark. She looks good in it, but more importantly she’s warm. He can also see her start to mentally talk herself out of it. But before she can Astarion is already paying the shop owner. And he’s picked out a scarf and gloves to match. It wouldn’t do to have his love lose her nose and fingers would it?

Evie protesting saying that he doesn’t have to do all this for her. She’d been looking after herself just fine long before they met. Astarion just shrugs wrapping the new scarf around her neck as he tells her, “arguable, but that’s beside the point. I am here now, and I swore to myself some time ago that you would never be cold again. You wouldn’t want to make me a liar.” Evie touched, but needing to deflect says, “You are a liar.” Astarion looks her in the eye then, his expression taking on a severity that he only gets when he’s being completely serious, “Not on the important things. Not with you.”

Evie has learned how best to wake Astarion up without startling him too much so he hurts himself or her. Not grabbing him, but brushing a hand through his hair and whispering to him, or making sure he gets a good inhale of her scent or something else that relaxes him. It helps ease him out.

After that it's up to him whether he wants her close or needs to take a walk. It's part of the reason why he doesn't necessarily like sleeping by himself. Left alone with his own thoughts makes it easily to slip into that dark hole. Being near the warmth of his love and surrounded in their smell helps him know he's safe.

Astarion watching Evie as she takes her bows, stopping at a few tables to pick up some extra coin and chat up the crowd. She's lively with a bright smile, cracking a few jokes before moving on to the next table. It would be near impossible to spot, but he can as she briefly meets his eye across the room. She's getting tired and is ready to go home. Finally she makes her way to him, the mask of the performer sliding off as she sinks into his arms. He still doesn't quite know how she does it. One second the room couldn't take their eyes off her and the next she's just another face. He can't bring himself to complain though, it's easier to keep her all to himself and to make a clean exit. Still he offers for them to stay a little longer; far be it for him to deny her joy. She just shakes her head, giving him a smile, not bright but achingly warm, the one he knows is just for him, before asking him to take her home. Now that he is more than happy to do.

[voidandabyssal]

Aw, that last one was so good! May I request another?

I don't remember if you've written anything about the Dreamtale twins. Do you have any personal headcanons about them? No, I'm not asking because Nightmare is my favourite and has been on mind a tone lately...

I’ve written a teeny tiny bit about the dreamtale twins. Not all that much tho so I’m glad I get the opportunity to ramble about them!

Nightmare is 100% the elder twin, if only by a few seconds. He totally lords this fact over Dreams head whenever is most convenient, and also means he felt solely responsible for himself and Dream when they were children

Nightmare hid all of the abuse and mistreatment the villagers threw at him. Dream genuinely had no clue anything was wrong.

Dream has a hero complex. He doesn’t know it yet, and doesn’t want to admit it, but it’s something he picked up when he was a kid that never quite went away.

Nightmare is capable of positive emotions, just as Dream is capable of negative emotions. Though either twin isn’t the best at expressing positive/negative emotions

Dream really likes spicy foods, Nightmare loves sweets.

Dream picked up archery at first when he was young, a travelling merchant had gifted him a bow as a gift and he got into archery.

Dream is illiterate, or at least is for his childhood and then likely a few years after he’s released from stone. Neither twin grew up with a formal education, so they both had to teach themselves.

Going on from this, Dream has dyslexia. He hated reading for years and would only sit down to listen to his brother narrate one of his books.

Nightmare has a gigantic library in his castle, stocked with books from all different au’s. He likes seeing how the same author can write such different stories across multiple au’s.

Nightmares castle works like the Other mother’s home from Coraline. Theres only so much to the world, walk far enough and eventually you end up right back where you started.

Dreams version of Nightmares castle is a little cottage on the outskirts of a Monster town. It’s not in its own separate dimension like Nightmares is, Dreams home is settled in a highly positive au.

It’s probably Blue who teaches Dream to read. Ink is…not the best teacher, and Blue is the only other person Dream would feel comfortable telling about his illiteracy.

Ink and Blue both crash at Dreams home. Even though neither live there full time Dream likes to keep their rooms just as they left them. (He has a room dedicated for Nightmare… if his brother ever wanted to stay of course)

Nightmare does get along with the bad Sans’s. To varying degrees on certain days (….Killer I’m looking at you)

Nightmare and Dreams relationship never fully repairs. Ever.

Sure they’re not actively trying to kill each other anymore. But by this point there is such a wide gap between the two.

Dream doesn’t like this, and for the longest time tries to force Nightmare to be around him, to spend time together, etc.

And it doesn’t go well, Nightmare is really the twin who feels too different from his past self to ever go back.

As much as it hurts Dream to think about. Nightmare has new interests, thoughts, personality, friends, even family.

Dream can only hope that one day, they will be able to spend time together like they did as children.

[melonthesprigatito]

Recently started a new playthrough of Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom so I'm back on my Rito hyperfixation again 👍

I dug up an old OC I drew back when Echoes of Wisdom was announced (because I just assumed they'd be in the game so I wanted to predict what they would look like in the Link's Awakening/Echoes of Wisdom art style) and spent the last two days redrawing her and rethinking her lore to fit in the Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom version of Hyrule instead.

THE LORE:

She lost her parents at a young age due to a disease that spread in the village, so she grew up without a family.

She idolised the Rito Champion Revali since she was a fledgling and spent years dreaming that she would become a master archer like him. She often got in trouble when she was younger because she'd skip singing practice to watch the warriors train at the Flight Range and copy their techniques.

Unfortunately, because of Rito cultural values only Rito men were allowed to train as warriors, while Rito women were railroaded into more domestic roles like learning their traditional songs, making clothing and arrows or working as merchants etc. She absolutely refused to settle down and rejected any attempt by the Rito Elder (Kaneli) to set her up with a suitor.

She spent her entire life secretly teaching herself archery out of spite while shirking her responsibilities and was basically the village outcast for a while She faced mockery at best and ostracism at worst for refusing to take part in their traditions. She pretends not to care, reasoning that Revali was also a lone wolf. If he could become a legendary warrior by himself, so can she.

Eventually, she ran away from home to become a travelling merchant. Or at least, that's what she wants Kaneli to believe. While she does OCCASIONALLY do actual merchant stuff, most of her time is taken up by moonlighting as a monster slayer.

By hiding her identity, she's free to use her archery skills in combat by raiding monster camps and stealing their supplies, which she then sells in her merchant job. Her favourite monster is the Frost Talus, because she can defeat them by raining fiery arrow hell and swipe the gems and ores left behind to sell for profit.

She's also somewhat of a minor annoyance to the Yiga Clan because she's very good at noticing when somebody is pretending to be an unassuming traveller. Because she's also a skilled fighter pretending to be an unassuming traveller. Which then results in her ambushing their ambush and kicking their asses because it's very easy to win a fight when you can fly and your opponent can't.

She has some minor wind control abilities, and while she's not nearly as proficient at it as Tulin or Revali, she can just about manage a weaker version of Revali's Gale and some tiny tornadoes.

She's maybe just a liiiiittle teeny tiny bit jealous of Tulin becoming the Sage of Wind and owning the Great Eagle Bow, but she also knows that beefing with a literal child is a bit silly.

She has an intense rivalry with another travelling merchant: Beedle. She thinks he's annoying, he thinks she's sketchy.

She likes hanging around in Gerudo Town because unlike Rito Village, they're totally cool with women warriors and they like sparring with her. She had a heart attack when she stumbled across Frita (that one Rito who was looking for poultry in the market) because she thought she'd snitch on her, but Frita was surprisingly fine with it and promised not to say a word, because whatever happens in Gerudo Town, stays in Gerudo Town.

When she found out that Link and Princess Zelda were alive at the time of the Calamity and knew Revali in person, she had a complete fangirl attack and booked it straight to Hateno Village to ask them all about him. She didn't get anything from Link, because you know, amnesia. And he doesn't talk much. But Zelda was happy to share what little she knew about him. They talked for hours and it was the best day of Rubee's life.

She's definitely bumped into Kass a couple of times and lowkey considers him to be her opposite. He abandoned his warrior training to become a bard. She abandoned her singing lessons to take up archery.

On the flip side, she's TERRIFIED of bumping into Penn and avoids the Lucky Clover Gazette like the plague. She's paranoid that he'll discover what she's doing and blab all about it in the latest issue of the papers and spread them all over Hyrule.

During the Upheaval's blizzard, she begrudgingly returned to Rito Village to help out with scavenging for food and supplies. She may have disliked all those stuffy traditionalists, but she didn't want anyone to starve to death either, especially because she also lost her parents to a lack of lifesaving medicine that couldn't be delivered in time. She had to fight the urge to hunt with her bow because it would blow her cover, so she resorted to searching for firewood instead.

While the previous Rito Elder thought she had finally given up on that silly warrior dream and got a respectable job as a merchant, unfortunately Teba isn't stupid. He was fully aware that Rubee frequently snuck into the Flight Range to practice at night and is now going out and about firing arrows everywhere but he doesn't really know what to do about it. He's a little more open minded and has decided to look the other way for now because plot twist; his beloved wife Saki also practiced archery (enough that he gives her BOMB ARROWS to defend their home with! Actually canon!) but gave up on it years aho to take care of their newly hatched son.

[cursedthing]

I would like you to answer every single question about Ferry please. (I tried copy pasting all the questions here and it's just. It's so long. Sorry.)

.ON IT BOSS o7 .this goes under the cut since it will get long most likely! (hi. future us. it's long but not as long as it could have been <3)

.[1.] What's your name? Does it have any special meaning? Ferry. It's a type of boat. I think? It's my name.

.[2.] Everyone assumes you're human, but are you really? ...

.[3.] What weapon do you use? Do you wish it was something else? Dagger, mainly. Honestly anything will do, merchants only give me "assasin choices" however. Not much room to experiment with. When the tool completes it's use we repurpose it, keep a little of it with me.

.[4.] How does your magic work? Did anybody teach you, or did you come up with it yourself? Not really sure. 'know what was.. "advertised" to me (plus we did go to a school for that momentarily, with the kid not wanting to go). I did notice that other magic users, or whatever you call them don't have little... tablets? At the back of their necks. We fiddle with it sometimes and different spells are easier then.

.[5.] What do you wear when you're not wearing armour, if there's ever such a time for you? The usual getup. The clothes that were given to me for wear under the armour. Not much else. Olon and Maxie did try to introduce us to different clothes, on separate occasions.

.[6.] What do you know about your time before becoming a Wynn soldier, if anything? Nothing.

.[7.] You've been around many places, do you have a favourite food from any of them? We can't? Really eat most of the food. We do like the warm broths from Nesak.

.[8.] Do you prefer warmer climates to colder ones? Anything goes, in the case of the right equipment.

.[9.] In your opinion, where has the best view out of all the places you've been? Outer void.

.[10.] What's your favourite memory of your travels? Don't have favorites. Olon tripping on a slippery stone and falling into the river was pretty funny. Especially as he turned out okay afterwards.

.[11.] Which is your favourite province? Wynn, Gavel, or Corkus? Don't ask me that.

.[12.] When did you realise that there's no going back to how things were? There's never going back, only forwards, one step at a time.

.[13.] Who would you consider your best friend? All of our friends are the best.

.[14.] If you had the ability to change one minor thing about yourself or your journey, what would it be? No point in thinking about this.

.[15.] Which loss hurt the most? Nice question you have.

.[16.] What or who are you most scared to lose next? What's your next move.

.[17.] Who do you blame for everything? Used to blame the elven council or whatever the hell they're calling themselves. There's no single point of origin for everything that's wrong.

.[18.] The most common religion in Wynn is Bovemism, do you believe in a god? If I got this right I'm sort of an extension of a light god at this point. Would be funny if I didn't.

.[19.] How do you feel know that everyone's hopes are riding on you? Tired.

.[20.] What's your biggest regret that you can never hope to fix? I don't think about that.

.[21.] Why do you keep going? Why don't you?

.[22.] How do you think this will end? No one can tell. We'll die at some point, Death will greet us. We'll play games for eternity I think. That sounds nice.

.[23.] If you could say one last thing to the person you miss most, what would it be? Why did you go?

.[24.] Do you remember what happiness feels like? Why are all of the questions so bleak, of course we know what that feels like. Go look at a kantyr.

.[25.] The gates of Fruma will be opening to you by the end of the year, do you think you're ready for what comes next? We have to be.

[kozykricket]

permanent upgrades in random places - why?

absolutely cannot make this a bluesky post i have too much to say

okay so like. i love terraria. i will defend it a lot. and yknow what else i love in terraria? shimmer! i think shimmer is cool as heck because its another element of like, game knowledge giving a bit of an upper hand... using the knowledge of it spawning on the same side as the jungle, and even its existence. its. well. its cool! its like a playground rumor, lol. this magic liquid that decrafts items and does other weird stuff? cool!! i think its a great way to hide certain bits of reasonable QoL in the game. its not dumb QoL like adding a recipe for the blindfold with silk at a loom! instead, it asks you "okay, you want a blindfold? go grind out another, similar item. you still have to grind for an item. just a different one"

but ... i have critiques on it. i genuinely question why theres permanent upgrades attached to it. transmutation and decrafting is *plenty* already! lets me turn my platinum into gold, my ranger emblem into a summoner emblem, my furniture back into blocks... but at the same time, the permanent upgrades are so *mild* bonuses that they're. quite inoffensive but i ask, were these upgrades we even needed? who was asking for ... more base health regeneration? what? but yet its still a *blatant upgrade* because... its not like its a special accessory. its a per-player upgrade. so theres no choice like there is with accessories. theres no impermanence like with potions. its just... they're all flat buffs. theres no reason not to take them. and yknow, id be fine with that if it was something you didnt go off the beaten path for, but i think its kinda disrespectful to players who dont know about this playground rumour of a liquid, to just say "oh. you didnt kill the traveling merchant and throw his hat into a pond in some random corner of your world?" to a player who just wants to get a better chance at the item they want from the traveling merchant it just... theres something about permanent upgrades that are weirdly hidden, that rubs me wrong!! even if they arent *that* hidden, when they're just blatant upgrades it feels weird to me sometimes

and this is where i say about a third of stardew valley 1.6's Book Powers are just... confusing inclusions to me as well. no reason to not read them, and they're just blatant upgrades. but they're not like, something we were dying for. some of the books make sense and add to the gameplay, though. i respect perma upgrades more in stardew. i like that for helping out a lot of people, you get the power to befriend people faster - thats fitting. but then theres like "yeap so heres more walking speed. $15k."

like what.

or the secret golden trash can that gives you a BOOK that lets you-

i why is it a BOOK why is EVERY power in 1.6 a *book* its not just "you learned how to dig through the trash better" its a ... book that teaches you how to. like, okay. at that point why not replace the Spring Onion Mastery skill with... vincent and jas mailing you a book for befriending them. what. why is every piece of knowledge you learn just a book, when characters *can* teach you things in stardew. linus taught me how to make wild bait!! in a weird cutscene!! but yet ive gotta rely on knowing theres a hidden trash can that lets me get a better chance at finding items when digging in the trash? and that artifact troves can have an artifact book inside that lets me sell artifacts for more? instead of like, gunther teaching me after i donate a lot?

sorry if i got a little rude toned near the end there - these things do not bother my actual playing experience. they just bother me when i think about the . coherence of the game. of its updates feeling very blatant in being updates.

[epicmilly]

SHE'S SO CUTE! inspiration struck and she poofed into existence i love her sm <3 i think i'm naming her renna! stormlight sona kinda?? at least her features are based off of me :D (wish i had cool eyebrows) backstory + id under the cut!

renna is half thaylen and half herdazian! her dad is a traveling merchant and while he was traveling he met this girl in thaylenah. they fell deeply in love and wanted to get married, but her parents wouldn't let her marry some rando merchant, so they got married in secret and they had her!

him being a traveling merchant and all, he only got to see his wife for a few months, not able to meet his baby daughter until awhile later. he went on, continuing his trade route, and after a year he was finally was able to come back to thaylenah to meet renna, who was about seven months old at the time. he found his wife living with her closest friend, as when her parents learned she was pregnant and had eloped with him, they pretty much disowned her and kicked her out.

he lived with her and her friend till renna was about two, both the proud parents of the adorable kiddo, till his saved up money was about gone. he got all packed up and ready to continue his job as a traveling merchant, but claiming she had to stay in thaylenah his wife stayed, giving him their daughter to raise.

he raised her on the sea, traveling from place to place and only staying for a few months in each area. renna does know her mother from when they stay in thaylenah, but they aren't super close. they do both love each other though, and she can tell that her parents love each other as well.

now about renna! she's super fun and quirky, with an upbeat personality. she's sixteen and loooves reading and sailing, though she dreams to settle down one day and have a family of her own, but she wishes her kids to have parents always present in their lives. she secretly dreams to be a scholar as well, though her father doesn't make enough money for her to be able to go to a good school. in her free time she paints, gardens, or has her nose stuck in a new book of fairy tales. she's also super outgoing and loves making new friends! she has at least five in every place she's ever visited, and is always excited when they go somewhere new or somewhere she hasn't been in awhile so she can catch up with her friends and make more of them!

oh and she's also an edgedancer but i haven't thought much about how that relates to her story yet.

now onto her outfit inspo!! i used the stormlight rpg character creator to look through all the details on the different races before deciding that i'd be either thaylen or herdazian due to my physical features, and her physical features are literally me, while her outfit is a mixmash of thaylen and herdazian fashion. the details and the sleeves on her dress are based off of the thaylen fashion folio in words of radiance (i believe?) and the dress+corset are based on like those cute medieval western dresses that girls wear in taverns and stuff idk i just googled it lol. it's supposed to be ranch vibes because that's what the herdazians wear.

[hurremsultanns]

Other than the fact that she was handed so much things way too fast and way too easily, do you think Kosem becoming more corrupted by power than Hurrem is also linked to the fact that she grew up very rich and privileged, while Hurrem came from a modest background?

Honestly I think the question is less why Kösem got corrupted than it is why Hürrem didn't. Before you brought it up, I don't think I'd have considered Kösem to have had a privileged upbringing before her kidnapping. Although as a successful merchant's daughter she probably was fairly well off in comparison to other people on Kefalonia. However since we know her father often travelled for work, her home life probably also didn't have the stability that allowed it to be the foundation that kept Hürrem's connection to her past as strong as it was.

That said, as you say the fact that Kösem had so much handed to her early on and was in a position where it was fairly easy to tell herself for the majority of the show that she was in the right or justified in whatever it was that she did also played a role. Especially in contrast to Hürrem who had to work harder to get less far and was consistently scapegoated by almost everyone around her. Because you absorb what other people tell you about yourself. So it's a lot easier for Hürrem to tell herself that she's to blame when everyone else is telling her that and it's easier for Kösem to justify her actions when she's being backed up by others. And even when they start to blame her, that mental framework is still there even when it comes to planning her own grandson's death. So it's easier for her to think 'Well if I'm already a filicide anyway, I've already crossed that moral event horizon and can never go back so killing my grandson in order to put another one on the throne isn't as big a deal. And if I see it in terms of protecting my other grandkids, I can even justify it.'

You can compare it to Hürrem's attitude just to murder. Because Hürrem only kills after she believes she already has blood on her hands (i.e. after Leo's death). So she thinks she has already crossed that line and therefore is still a murderer anyway regardless. This differs from Kösem not only in the distinction between murder and filicide, but in how much it takes either of them even to kill in the first place. Because Hürrem already has been in the palace for longer than Kösem when she makes her first kill. As well as having the trauma of Leo. Whereas Kösem gets Fahriye killed when she's likely still a teenager due to threats to her family. And while Kösem does at that point have trauma, it's not the kind of trauma that leaves her blaming herself for someone else's death. Even when her father died, she never had to either cover it up or said anything to Safiye along the lines of Hürrem asking Ibrahim 'how she should wash off the blood that he smeared on her hands' (so while she does blame Ibrahim, this does definitely imply to me that Hürrem still feels like she herself carries some of the blame). Not to mention the fact that Hürrem reacts with genuine horror when she's falsely accused of murder in season 1. So even though she burned her friend's face, season 1 Hürrem would never kill of her own volition. It was Leo's death that changed that. So given that it takes her less to actually kill, I think Kösem already was more comfortable with death than Hürrem was. Hürrem does treat human life like it's disposable to an extent as well after season 1, but it is notable that she includes her own life in that category (my personal theory is still that she spends most of the show at the very least passively suicidal) and that even when she does kill it's never something that she's comfortable with as such (note her reaction to Nadia's death for example, even though she did it she's clearly deeply uncomfortable with having done it). Whereas whatever she does, Kösem is comfortable justifying her actions due to the perceived threat that her target represents.

So since murder itself is more taboo for Hürrem than for Kösem, it does hold that filicide will be the same. And this plays out when Hürrem is offered towards the end of her life the same choice that Kösem ultimately is: to choose between her children's lives. But where Kösem does, Hürrem refuses to do so. Even though she favours Bayezid's claim, she refuses to 'choose between her right and left eye' and abandon either Bayezid or Selim. To do so would go against everything that she has fought for and holds dear. She views even doing so as a betrayal of herself. By contrast, Kösem is put in a position in which she only realises that she has gone too far and betrayed herself and her own values when it's too late.

[inkymers007]

Meet my Zelda BOTW/TORK oc! Sorry that the pic is kind blurry I'll try to draw him more down the line. I made him for an rp server and I decided to share him on here.

BASIC INFORMATION

Name: Kalvet

Nicknames: Kal or Vet

Age: 26

Gender/Sex: Male

Sexuality: Pan

Species: Hylian/Shekiah 

Occupation: Traveling Merchant/ Thief

APPEARANCE :

Body type: Skinny, but muscular

Height: 5’7

Weight: 159 lbs.

Skin: White

Hair color/style: Blackish blue. His hair is long and messy.

Eye color: Red

Scars: His right eye is scarred.

Accessories: N/A

PERSONALITY:

Basic Personality: Kalvet appears to be a kind and smooth talking gentleman. Which is true, somewhat. He appears that way to get clients to purchase his wares. As well as to throw people off his scent of being a thief. On the job as a thief he’s silent and ruthless. Almost as if Kalvet’s a monster rather than a human. Yet despite this he isn’t heartless and will give support in some way or fashion. How much support he’ll give depends on how close he is with the person who needs it . If they’re a stranger or an acquaintance he'll give them the bare minimum. If they're friends then he’ll do whatever he can to help them. However, having someone that close to him is rarity since Kalvet has the belief that most people will just like him to get what they want. So he tends to be cordial with people at best. If he does find someone who he wants to get closer to then he will be more friendly with them, but he will still keep his wits about him. With those who he considers as friends he will playfully tease them and will open up to them a bit more. Once he recognizes them as a friend he will be loyal to them. More than willing to go through hell and back for them. This is especially the case if someone gives him a scale from one of the great dragons. Since he always looked up to them because of the stories that his family told him. Speaking of, Kalvet is a great story teller, and will tell stories that his parents told him or stories about his travels. 

Likes: Dragons, dragon scales, exploring, finding new places, hot springs, voltfruit, sweet foods, telling stories, campfires, the desert, sand seals, riding sand seals, zora’s domain, swords, Faron, myths and tales

Dislikes: The Yiga Clan, the Yiga Clan hideout, spicy foods, people asking about his eye, bows, the cold, Hebra, lairs, getting into Gerudo Town, getting up early, and being a burden to people

Strengths: Kalvet is a very skilled swordsman and even knows how to use two of them at the same time. In fact his main weapon is two hook swords. Kalvet is also very perspective and remembers little details about anyone he meets. 

Weaknesses: Isn’t trusting of people and will bottle up his emotions.

RELATIONSHIPS:

 Parents:

Mother and Father= Deceased

Gerudo Woman (haven't thought of her name yet)= Adoptive Mother

 Siblings: N/A

 Friends/Acquaintances: Link, Impa, Purah, Paya, Robbie, Jerrin, Granté, Beedle, Kass, Riju, Pritana, and Nali

BACKSTORY:

Kalvet lived an average life in a small village. The village was small enough where everyone knew and got along with each other. He had parents who loved him as well as friends that cared for him. Despite being an only child, Kalvet had many children around his age that he could play with. He played with them so much that he considered them all as siblings. Every night before he went to bed his parents would tell him the stories of the great dragons. Kalvet was so fascinated by the dragons that he always dreamed of seeing one, or at least getting something from them like a scale. Kalvet swore that when got older he would take his parents to see the dragons. However when the boy was 12 his life changed for the worst. 

During the return of Calamity Kalvet's village was attacked. Not only by the Calamity itself, but by some Yiga Clan members. The once peaceful and beautiful village was now nothing more than ash and ruin. The fire roared throughout the village as he tried to save his parents, but unfortunately he couldn’t save them. Kalvet tried to find some of his other villagers. While doing so he found out that one of the older children joined the Yiga Clan. Feeling enraged and betrayed he went to attack him, but Kalvet couldn’t even come close to him as he was slashed in the eye, making him blind. Despite that he still tried to fight, it wasn’t until he was knocked out that he stopped.

When he woke up he saw that the Yiga Clan had been long gone, but his eye was patched up by some of the knights that had come over to check things out. Kalvet had explained everything that had happened, The knights swore that they would find and kill the Yiga who burned and killed everyone in his village. Well, almost everyone, that person who joined the Yiga might as well have been dead to Kalvet. As he residented him and resented everyone. Stealing from any and everyone for survival. It wasn’t until his teenage years where he started to trust people again. That was through his adoptive mother, a gerudo. It took him a while to trust her, but once he did the woman had taught her how to use swords. Particularly the hook swords. Still angry at the Yiga he vowed to steal any and everything from them just like they did to him. He would even make money off of them by selling their equipment to anyone who would buy it.

[the12thnightproject]

Chapter 40: Alternate View: When it comes to time travel, it’s good to have a moderately awesome ninja in your corner.

Mitsuhide x OC; Hideyoshi x MC (Mai)

All Chapters Archived on Ao3 

Logline - With Mai, Hideyoshi, and Aki missing, Mitsuhide and Katsuko reluctantly team up. Disguised as a merchant and his concubine, can they outsmart the man known as the God of Deceit?

As it turns out, it is not possible to grow penicillin in the kitchens of a feudal Japanese castle. Granted… I had no idea what I was doing, and as easily as things had molded over in my fridge in modern Japan, it is not as simple as leaving food in a warm place and hoping for the best.

“What are you trying to do, Kats… er, Kaya?” Yuki peered at the bowl of yuzu peel that … hadn’t developed any mold in the three days it had been sitting out.

“Ummm, hopefully something medicinal.” At Yuki’s expression of complete skepticism, I added, “It’s better than doing nothing.” By this point, Aki had been delirious for over a day, and prior to that had had little energy for much talking. The evening he and I had arrived, Katsuko had managed to claim his attention for one, long private meeting. As much as I knew she deserved her time to be with him, to rebuild whatever it was that made things awkward between them, I didn’t miss out on what might be his final days. I was the one who pulled him off that battlefield. I was his daughter too.

“I don’t know. When Shingen was still sick, some of the medicines he tried made him sicker.” He poked at the hardened peels. “Seems like a waste.”

“It’s not like anyone eats this part of them anyway.” Probably they just would have been tossed into the baths to make them smell pretty. “And don’t touch them. I’m trying to grow penicillin, not boy germs.”

“Peni… um, boy what?” He made a face. “You’re weird. You look like Katsu, but you don’t really act much like her.”

Well, we hadn’t been the same person for seven years. Or eleven, depending on which date we were using, and… “This whole situation is weird.”

He scraped his hands through his hair. “I’ll say. But you’re still weird.”

“Did you come in here just to poke at me, or was there an actual reason?” Although at least he was willing to talk to me, even if he was kind of rude. The way most people here at Tsutsujigasaki castle avoided me, I was beginning to feel like the Yokoi that my sort-of nephew had accused me of being. Even the servants, who thought I was Katsuko’s younger sister, did their best not to look at me.

“Oh. Yeah. I was right. Sasuke got here already.” And then, because I was already halfway across the kitchen, he yelled after me, “Does this mean I can throw these out?”

By the time I caught up with Sasuke, he was just about to enter Aki’s room. “Greetings and salutations, Alternate-Katsuko.” His face was as impassive as the Sasuke from my timeline, but I was just happy to connect with someone who didn’t treat me like I was a demi-demon. “Katsuko-prime and Shingen have filled me in on the situation.”

“Um, hi, Alternate-Sasuke… um… do you have any idea how to make penicillin?” If anyone could, it would be Sasuke. Well, or Toshiie, but he wasn’t due back from China apparently for several weeks. Aki could not wait that long.

“Er… no, it’s not something I’ve thought to attempt. I have considered making a battery out of a potato, but it’s going to be another fifteen years before potatoes are cultivated here… so… hashtag time travel goals.” He glanced through the doorway where Aki was fitfully sleeping. “On a more serious note, I am happy to meet another Katsuko, even though it’s not under the greatest of circumstances. Has there been any improvement?”

I shook my head. Two days before, Shingen had fetched another healer – one who hadn’t fainted at the sight of Aki’s shoulder. She had packed the wound with some sort of poultice, which stabilized him somewhat, and the other-me had proven skilled at getting him to swallow willow bark tea, explaining that she had had a great deal of practice with that.

But now, even the effects of the poultice were gone, and no matter how much tea we forced down his throat, Aki’s fever still raged. “It feels like we’re running out of options… here.”

“I can hear you.” Apparently having one of his moments of lucidity, Aki signaled us to enter. “Hello Mister Mikumo.”

Sasuke greeted Aki formally, which was all the conversation that my father had energy for. Immediately he dropped off into sleep again.

“Ah. I see the need for antibiotics.” The smell of Aki’s wound permeated the room. "Although I am a theoretical physicist, not a doctor." The joke was stated with just a slight quirk at the side of his mouth to indicate the humor. "Have I made that joke to you before – your timeline’s alternate version of me?"

"No." I was not in the mood for humor. "What about modern medicine? I mean, I’m not a doctor either, but doctors in our time can cure infections, right? You can help me get him home, can’t you?”

After all that had happened, I refused to let Aki die.

"I've already checked." Sasuke pulled out what looked like a hand sewn notebook and flipped through it. It was full of numbers and calculations. "Honno-ji won’t open until the winter solstice – Togakushi a month later." He didn’t mention that Aki couldn’t wait that long, but the unspoken words hung in the air.

"So Shingen and Katsu didn’t tell you about the device?" A device, that during Aki’s lucid moments, he explained was a prototype. Maybe they’d forgotten (unlikely) or decided to leave that story up to me. “It… I’m not sure how, but it opened the wormhole that dumped me onto that battlefield.”

"Device?” He slapped his forehead. “I didn’t even think to question how you ended up here. But of course, if there had been wormhole activity, I would have known.”

“There was a wormhole, but before that, it wasn’t.” Once again I explained how I had ended up in 1586, this time to an audience who had scientific questions that were far beyond my patchwork high school attendance. After my third ‘I don’t know,’ I gave up and turned the device over to him.

“Fascinating.” Sasuke pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose. He cautiously flipped the thing over in his hands, but it still just looked like a somewhat advanced version of a cell phone. He glanced at Aki. “He said it’s a prototype? That suggests that it’s still a beta. Do you have any objections to me studying it?”

“As long as you don’t zap us all into prehistoric Japan. I don’t think my heart could take the Jurassic period.” I paused, waiting for Aki to interject whether or not he had problem with Sasuke taking control of the device, but if he did, he wasn't saying. “This” I waved my hand to indicate my alternate’s home, “is already unsettling enough.”

"You mean the rare experience of meeting another version of yourself?" Sasuke seemed almost envious. "Have you noticed any unusual physical phenomena? Do you find yourself fading, or do you feel like you are losing parts of your memory?"

"No. In fact it feels like I'm instead gaining memories I've never had." I wasn't sure how to explain it further, although it had been a relief to confirm my theory that those odd moments of deja-vu-esque images were not my memories, but some kind of multiverse effect.

"Yes." Katsuko entered the room carrying another pot of tea. "Me too. Like the memory of a spider crawling down the front of a pink kimono - and I don’t even own one."

"I've not had that one, and I do have a pink kimono." Well, I did have one. I'd left it behind with Mitsuhide. "But a spider never crawled down the front of it." Just a kitsune. "Aki yelling at me for jumping out of a tree."

That one had been pretty vivid. Katsuko tapped her chest. "Actually happened. And then he abandoned me there." She sent Aki a look that was half anger, half exasperation. "It turned out to have been a con, but of course he didn’t warn me first."

"How very Mitsuhide of him." That dang kitsune. We’d been apart for over a week (not counting that one hour at Genba), but he was still hacking my brain.

The ninth thing I hate about Mitsuhide, even when I’m four years and an unknown number of timelines away, I can’t stop thinking about him.

She looked at me. "I have questions about that but-" She sighed. "It feels so surreal to talk to you."

Ah. That's why it had been so easy to avoid her. She'd been avoiding me, too. "I know. We're not twins, or clones. I've been trying to think of you as an older sister." Since this Katsu would have to be four years older than I am. Or maybe just three? Yuki had told me she'd been stuck in the wormhole (or a wormhole) and missed a year.

"Could you guys not talk over me?" Aki muttered, in another moment of lucidity. "I haven't departed this Earth yet." His eyes flicked over to Sasuke and greeted him as if he had not done so just twenty minutes before. "Hello Mister Mikumo. Still climbing things?"

Ok, not as lucid as all that then.

Sasuke bowed to him again, as if he had not done so before. "Professor."

“Katsu. I told you. Don’t bother me unless the world is ending. Don’t bother me then either.” He closed his eyes again.

"Not yet old man," Katsuko set the teapot down with a clonk, and poured a cup of willow bark tea. "Time for your medication." With Sasuke's help, she propped him into a sitting position and got him to swallow the tea, before he slumped back on the bed with a moan.

Again, I swallowed that feeling of envy that she, my other-self, had managed to get Aki to obey her. It wasn’t important. The important thing that was he had drunk it. That everyone was doing whatever we could to keep him alive until Sasuke could figure out how to get the device to open the wormhole.

Stand back! He’s trying science.

“I wondered where you were hiding.” I looked up from my failed experiment (Yuki had not thrown out the yuzu peel as threatened), to see my other self, my older self, who had returned to the kitchen with the empty teapot.

“Well, I figured it would just be easier if I stayed out of everyone’s way.” I sat back and watched her bustling about with some kind of wooden contraption, before I realized that it was a pulley system that retrieved fresh snow from outside without anyone needing to trek out into the weather to get it themselves. “That’s pretty cool.” I’d never seen anything like it before.

She smiled. “Shingen built it. He’s really good with his hands. Er… in an engineering kind of way.” The blush on her face suggested he was good with his hands in all kinds of ways.

“Of course he is.” Oh shit. I said that out loud. My sarcasm turned our moment into something seriously awkward.

“I’m jealous of you too,” Katsuko eventually said.

“Me? Why?” This version of myself seemed to have it all figured out.

“Because Aki told you he was our father. He didn’t leave you on the side of the road, feeling like everyone had abandoned her.” She slammed the now full of snow kettle on the brazier. “I mean, I know he did it to fool Shingen into taking me. I learned pretty soon after that he didn’t mean it. But it was cruel, and … he’s said a lot of hurtful things to me that he apparently never said to you.”

“Oh.” I reached in my kimono and pulled out Aki’s letter. It was the one thing I had on me when Iekane pulled us into the wormhole. “He didn’t tell me. He disappeared, left me holed up in an Inn for weeks and when I finally went in search of him, I found this letter at Francisco’s. I imagine, that if you were to go to Sakai, you might have this same letter waiting.”

I sat back on my heels, and watched her read the letter, noticing when she smiled – she must have hit the ‘cloud city moment’ line. Finally she folded it up and gave it back to me. “Thanks. I don’t know why it helps… but it does.”

“Well, good. I’d hate it if I hated me. Er, well… you know.” Yup. Still surreal.

“Yeah. I do.” She paused…. Then. “Um I sort of don’t want to know, but I also do want to know. What is up with Mitsuhide and you?”

Ugh, I can’t even pass the Bechdel test with myself! “It’s a long story that probably doesn’t even matter, because he’s in love with Mai. Unrequitedly, but it’s still not something I want to hang around to watch.”

She nodded. “Yeah. I kind of thought he was in this timeline too. But, I only met him for like two hours, during which he threatened to kill me, beat me at shogi, then turned around and gave me some really good advice.”

Well…. That’s on brand at least.

It was another day before Sasuke emerged from the room where he was mad-sciencing it all.

Once again, we were gathered in Shingen’s private office, and again drinking tea that Yukimura had prepared and Katsuko had helped to distribute. Shingen also produced another basket of pastry that he claimed was from his private stash. Given that he always seemed to be able to produce a basket of pastry from somewhere, I suspected his ‘private stash’ was actually a sweatshop full of bakers kept prisoner somewhere on the castle grounds.

“First of all, some background on our wormholes. It isn't merely that the atmospheric conditions need to be correct, for the wormhole to actually form, there needs to be enough charged ions to, in layman's terms, shock it open." Sasuke took a moment to to gulp down some tea, and rubbed the corner of his eyes. "That’s what Iekane's device does, it concentrates a jolt that opens up a corridor to the closest wormhole."

It kind of sounded like something out of Back to the Future…

"A mini flux capacitor?" There went Katsuko, voicing aloud what was in my own brain. Aki aside, I needed to get out of this timeline for my sanity.

"Flock's capacity? You want to bring birds into this?" Yuki bypassed the pastry and glared a bit at the double serving on Shingen's tray. "What will that do?"

The others ignored him beyond giving him a fond smile.

Katsuko nodded to Sasuke. "Makes sense. Thunder-snow. Yuki, do you remember there was thunder and snow when we encountered Iekane at Togakushi? But our timeline’s Iekane didn’t have a device – or I suppose he didn’t need it. We were already expecting that wormhole to manifest."

"And unfortunately, we don’t have time to wait for the solstice. Therefore, I believe our best course of action would be to try to use the device to send Kaya and Aki to the future. Her timeline." Sasuke pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Theoretically, this timeline’s Iekane does not have the prototype, or one would think he would be using it often.”

Shingen looked at Sasuke and nodded. “I trust your best guess. That said, we don’t know where ended up after he and Katsu went into the wormhole, so my spies will keep searching for Iekane."

"As will mine." Katsuko grabbed a scroll and brush and jotted down a note.

“You have your own spies?" Not only does this timeline's Katsu have what appears to be a perfect partner, she gets her OWN spies?

"Birthday present," she murmured. Ok. That might blow Mitsuhide's gift of a lock pick set out of the water.

He also got you that pretty robe, and he played the flute for you when you were unconscious…

My inner voice was apparently feeling especially snarky today.

Sasuke brought out the device. "I've managed, theoretically, to override the device’s initial coding." Sasuke proceeded to go in to a technical explanation that was at its basis, a pretty sophisticated form of hacking. "So, Kaya, all that I need is your thumbprint and you can use it to take Aki into the future."

That’s all?

I was a bit nervous to have control over the device. "You don't want that honor for yourself?" After hearing about Katsuko’s terrifying experience, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be the pilot on this adventure.

"While I would, in fact be otherwise thrilled to do so," Sasuke exchanged glances with Katsu and Shingen. "I’m afraid I could set it off course."

Oh right. If Sasuke had control over it, we'd just end up going to his future - which would be fine for Aki, but would keep me in the wrong timeline. Although at least if that happened I would never have to run into the version of Mitsuhide who was in love with Mai (although apparently he loves her here too, so… I was kind of SOL no matter where I went).

The thought was brief, and somewhat selfish. Who knew what kind of chaos would come about if I continued to stay in the wrong timeline? And, I still needed to return to my timeline’s Sakai and follow up Aki's information on Toshiie.

“For a similar reason, I have come to the conclusion that I will be unable to accompany you on a journey to your own timeline.” With a slight attitude of reluctance, he set the device down on Shingen’s desk. "I would relish the opportunity to have a long discussion with another version of myself."

Was I imagining that everyone else seemed a bit scared of that idea?

He looked down at his paperwork. "However such a conversation could present a danger to the balance of the multiverse, and with no guarantee of returning to this particular timeline-" He gave a sideeye to Shingen, "although I am relatively certain between myself and I, I could figure it out- I have decided not to make the attempt."

Subtext: he had been planning to go anyway, and Shingen talked him out of it.

With Aki’s condition worsening by the hour, we decided not to waste any more time waiting. Shingen and Yuki helped carry Aki to a deserted area behind Tsutsujigasaki Castle. In the distance were some archery targets, so I figured that was what it was normally used for. Good plan to leave from here – the castle inhabitants would avoid this area when Katsuko was out here, to avoid getting hit by stray arrows.

Although, since she was me, there wouldn’t be any stray arrows. We’d both learned accuracy one stable wall repair at a time.

Sasuke handed me a packet containing his contact information and a letter I was to give to his other self. "I hope, that at some point, he will be able to figure out how to communicate with me – or however many versions of me there are."

Unlike me, Sasuke seemed not at all weirded out by the prospect of a multiplicity of selves.

While Katsuko took a private moment to say whatever she needed to say to our father, I gave my goodbyes and thanks to Lord Shingen and Yukimura. "It must have been strange for you two, thank you for putting up with me."

"Surrounded by another vision of my devil? Not strange at all." By now, I knew Shingen well enough to know that the flirting was second nature, as was a dry sense of humor, so I simply bowed to him again.

Yuki just grinned at me and punched me in the arm. "You’re not so bad, dummy." High praise from that one.

Katsuko left Aki’s side and I found myself in a long hug with my alternate… no this isn't weird at all. "Good luck. With everything." That was all she said. But maybe she figured I would know what she meant by 'everything,’ since she was me.

Then, per Sasuke's instructions, I put my arms around Aki, activated the device, and once again, hoped there wouldn’t be any dinosaurs.

There was that sharp buzzing noise, and the world dissolved into grey once again.

All sounds muffled, then faded out.

@selenacosmic

@lorei-writes @bestbryn @lyds323 @tele86 @akitsuneswife

[changelingsandothernonsense]

1, 4, 25 for both Josh x Erra and Josh x Jiub!

Hello! I have answers... though it is rambling again. I'm just in the middle of writing a chapter introducing both ships so...

1. How did they meet?

Josh x Erra

Technically the two passed each other in Suran but didn't interact outside of Josh watching him walk away whilst astounded that he let a merchant overcharge him for dried kreshweed. Their first official meeting was a few months later.

Josh, after spending the past two months gathering information for Caius Cosades on the Nerevarine Cult, was finally instructed to go meet with its spiritual leaders. Of course, in order to do that, he needed to actually find where they are camped. Josh might look Ashlander but he knows next to nothing about them. He wouldn't even know where to begin looking.

Cosades, naturally had no clue either. Which is why he had Teldryn meet with Hassour Zainsubani in the first place, so that he could get this information. Zainsubani offered to get in contact with a Velothi guide who is from the tribe he was looking for and see if he could gain an audience with their Wise Woman. The contact agreed for 200 drakes.

The meeting is set up at the Andus Tradehouse in Maar Gan, just to the north. All Josh had to do was get there on time.

You have 0 chance of getting him out of bed before noon and that day was no exception. He ends up being eleven hours late, arriving well past nightfall. Much to the chagrin of his would be guide.

Erra is fuming and admittedly a little tipsy. He is about to turn down the contract when his client finally stumbles through the door. He's charged his mind around the time he takes his helmet off.

He's glad he did.

Josh x Jiub

These two shared a cell together for about six hours on the prison ship they were being transferred on. Josh saw Jiub as a threat and Jiub just wanted someone to talk to. It resulted in Jiub trying to awkwardly get Joshi to engage in conversation and Josh trying to ignore him.

Josh falls asleep for the rest of the trip. He's starting to suffer from a severe infection after his nose was broken during an escape attempt when he was being transferred from the Imperial City to the Anvil Docks. Some bright spark put unenchanted shackles on him and he exploded as soon as his magic came back. Got knocked out after receiving a sword pommel to the face that had a sharp edge to it. His nose got broken in the process and he wasn't given any medical attention. The gash along his face got infected pretty quickly. By the time he's thrown in the holding cell with Jiub he's too weak to fight back if he needs to, and the starvation isn't helping. He basically tells the guy to fuck off before falling asleep.

The two share a more pleasant conversation after Jiub wakes Josh from a nightmare. He watches Josh being dragged out of the cell a few moments later. Seemingly inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. It would be a few months before they run into each other again and six years until they actually get together.

4. How would they describe each other if asked? Physically? In personality?

Josh on Erra:

See that guy over there? The Velothi with the copper hair that refuses to grow longer than his shoulders. Best fucking archer I've ever seen. An like I know fuck all about that stuff, I know, but you tell me you aren't impressed when he skewers a cliff racer through the neck mid death spiral?

Like it's amazing, I have no idea how he does it.

His favourite animal is a sheep but he's never actually seen one. He just adores the texture of the fabric you can make from their wool. I um, I forget that he's never left Vvardenfell sometimes. He's never had the opportunity to see one since they aren't on the island.

I drew him one when we first started travelling together. He still has it. He keeps a lot of my scribblings. I'm embarrassed to say I draw him a lot. It's his eyes. I know he's got your typical Ashland colouring, grey ring around the outer edge of the eye but you don't see it outside the tribes unless you count the odd Telvanni with a smidgen of Ashland ancestry. It's how the nomads can tell I'm not fully Ashlander, I don’t have it.

Erra’s remind me a lot of sunsets over the wastes. Brilliant vermilion against grey.

I'm lucky.

Erra on Josh:

I am constantly worried that he is going to hurt himself doing something stupid. If I am not there to stop him from acting on his whims then he is going to act on them out of boredom. It is why I love him but ancestors I do worry.

I worry about the burden put upon him with this prophecy. He is sensitive deep down and I know this weighs in him. It is why he does silly things. I have had to stop him from antagonising that Daedra in the settled people's temple yesterday and I am very tired. I know he is tired too, but this is because he struggles to sleep.

I have noticed that Teldryn fairs better if I wrap him in my arms when we sleep. He is far taller than I. It is a trait common in his father's tribe. I picked him for an Erabenimsun the moment he took his helmet off.

Still he does have nightmares quite frequently, though he sleepwalks far less since my aunt gave him a few enchanted rings to wear on his fingers. He still wakes up disorientated, his long, beautiful dark hair a mess from all the thrashing.

I let him rest his head on my chest on those nights and hum to him. He calms down most of the time.

He is beautiful when he sleeps. I know he is...unhappy? I think? About how he looks, the scars from Corprus changed him yes, but nothing about it changes how I feel. It does not bother me like he thinks. I wish I could make him understand that.

He puts up a front that is designed to drive people away. This is all it is, a front. Teldryn is not unfeeling despite how much he says he is. I've read his journal. I know that is him.

Josh on Jiub:

You know, I'm surprised he wants anything to do with me after the way I've acted in the past. I kinda have a habit of reading the situation wrong an fuck me sideways did I read the situation wrong!

He's got unlimited patience when it comes to my shit. Like who let's some drunk, suicidal loser like me in their apartment. I've tried to pull a blade on him twice! Three times if you count me forgetting that I'd lost my shiv on the boat.

I don't actually remember what happened that night. I tried cutting my finger off and then some, I don’t remember throwing that bottle at him though. Guy got whacked in the head pretty bad. Though he insists it's because he's blind on that side... it's still my fault and he let me stay with him anyway.

I have to admit, I always seem to be at my worst whenever we run into each other. There's a comfort in the familiar. I'm thankful a familiar face scooped me out of the gutter that night.

I mean I was an asshole about it. I know, but I think my heart calmed down somewhat when I recognised his big, bald head!

Jiub isn't usually the kind of guy I go for usually. I have a thing for redheads after though I adore the shape of his nose. I always have. Even when I was terrified of him back on the prison ship. He's physically bigger than me. We're the same height, but he puts muscle on by winking an I just can't seem to do that. I mean he doesn't forget food exists so that probably half of it.

I still can't believe he puts up with me.

Jiub on Josh:

I didn't think he liked me at first. He is a combative one but I can't blame him for it. Anyone would be if they'd seen and done what he's done.

I was surprised when he turned up in the alleyway behind my apartment. See I am slightly embarrassed to admit to having followed his progress in the papers back home. The Nerevarine was the topic after all and if im honest, I was a little jealous. Not of him but of his husband. I had feelings for him not long after meeting him the second time and knowing I never had a chance killed me a little inside, I think. I still followed him anyway. I even have one of the paintings made in his image. Does not look like him at all.

I mean if you just described the Nerevarine in the loosest terms possible, sure it could pass but it just wasn't him. It missed his imperfections. The things that made him well...him.

Teldryn's scars had been left out, and his nose was straight. The portrait had the tattoos and his colouring was fairly accurate but he was missing his more pronounced Velothi features. He hates that part time most. By now, the Dissident Priests had erased much of the Ashlander involvement in his story. He described it as "any dumb fuck with dark hair and a stupid face tattoo." I'd laughed at the time but it inspired me to include his story in my memoirs as a gift to him.

He deserves that, at the very least. The gods have done enough.

25. If a stranger saw them together, how would they describe their relationship?

Josh and Erra

A Dunmeri commoner in Maar Gan sees two Velothi wandering about the market place arm in arm. The shorter, red haired one seemed to be steering things as he led the taller mer about the place. He'd place items in the basket the tall one was holding and the Dunmer herd him complaining in a strange mixed Redoran and Cyrodiilic accent. The shorter one would just sigh and shake his head at the other before dragging him to the next stall.

It seemed that the taller, louder one preferred being led. Though he was apparently the one who had requested to go shopping according to the conversation the Dunmer overheard. He doesn't quite know what to make of it.

Josh and Jiub

An Imperial legionare is watching a celebration take place from his vantage point in the guard tower. His eyes focus on a pair of Dunmer watching the fireworks.

The thinner one lights up a cigarette and slumps against the other's chest. The larger elf, who seemed to be the older of the two makes a comment that sends the other into a huff, putting out the cigarette and pouting like a child. The older elf sighs and kisses him as the sky lights up.

The leigonare isn't surprised to see public affections going down but he's also meant to be breaking them up so he leaves his post to confront the couple. He just hoped that they would be civil about it.

[2baddiesfanfics]

What a Relief

Pairing: Ningguang x Beidou

Tags: Stress Relief, Oral Sex, Cunnilingus, Vaginal Fingering, Grinding, Improper Use of Visions (Genshin Impact), Double Penetration

Summary:

It’s not often Ningguang gets overwhelmed by the stress of the day, but when she does, she knows there’s only one place she can go to get some relief - and Beidou is always happy to be of service.

Read on Ao3

Beidou sat at her desk in the captain’s quarters putting the finishing touches on her latest travel log. Her memories had slowly shifted from the pulse-pounding fight alongside the Watatsumi Army to the different kind of excitement that came with holding Ningguang in her arms.

“Come on, Beidou, focus! You have to finish this before anything else. As a record of an important historical event, it deserves your full attention,” she thought as she shook her head to rid herself of impure thoughts.

She looked around, taking in all she’d accomplished in but a few years of travels. Coming from nothing and not belonging anywhere, she now had so much more to show for herself. Again, she reflected on how lovely it would be to have Ningguang come aboard, away from a world of reputation and responsibility.

Completing her final sentence, her ears perked up as she heard the familiar sound of one of the smaller boats they used to get to and from the main island approaching her ship.

Must be Mora-Grubber and Sea Drake returning from port. They were gathering supplies for the ship, after all.

She grabbed her journal and added it to the collection of others on the shelf. As she tidied up, she heard an unfamiliar sound - the clicking of unsteady heels walking toward her quarters.

The door swung open and Ningguang stumbled in. Swaying with the rocking of the boat, Beidou quickly made her way over and grabbed her by the hips to help her steady herself.

“It seems I don’t quite have my sea legs,” Ningguang joked as the ship jolted again. Beidou brought her chest-to-chest to keep her level.

“Ha! Do you even have sea legs?” Beidou mocked.

“Captain, our apologies. We didn’t get to announce Lady Ningguang’s arrival. She demanded we bring her here when she saw us readying to depart,” Sea Drake hastily explained.

“It’s fine. She doesn’t need to be announced. She’s always welcome. My home is her home,” Beidou reassured them. She thanked them and then closed the door.

“You can let me go now, Beidou. I promise not to topple over,” Ningguang said as she pushed her away and walked around the quarters.

“Just makin’ sure. We don’t want you to get hurt now, do we? Not that I’m not happy to see you, but…what brings you here?” Beidou asked. As she was about to make another joke about her unsteady legs, she noticed Ningguang’s brows were furrowed and her eyes narrowed.

“Babe…what’s wrong?” she asked cautiously.

“Oh, nothing. It’s just been a day, is all, and…I wanted to see you,” Ningguang replied as she looked around the room. This wasn’t a place she got to be very often, and she tried to remember every detail she could on the few occasions she did.

It wasn’t small, but it was no Jade Chamber, either. Beidou’s desk sat next to the doors that led to the deck where the rest of the crew was taking care of the ship. To her right was a bay window with curtains drawn open. There was a bookshelf full of tomes on ship care, leadership, various maps, and past logs underneath. On the other side of the desk was another door that led to the captain’s private chambers with a bathroom connected. It wasn’t as fancy as the Tianquan’s abode, but it was Beidou’s and she was proud of it.

Ningguang looked away from the room and back at Beidou, tears forming at the corner of her eyes. Beidou immediately went to her.

“Love, talk to me! What’s wrong?” Beidou softly caressed her cheek, concerned she had taken the jokes too far.

“It’s been such a stressful day, dear. Some merchants were blaming me for a bout of misfortune they encountered. Then we thought we lost Yelan in The Chasm…it was just one thing after another,” Ningguang explained.

Beidou lifted her onto the desk and pulled her to her chest. She rubbed her back to reassure her as she continued.

“Everything got resolved, thankfully, and Yelan’s fine, of course, but it was just…a lot for one day.” Ningguang wrapped her arms around Beidou’s neck and pulled her down until their mouths met. Testing the waters, Beidou slid her tongue in at the invitation of Ningguang’s slightly parted lips.

Pulling away only when the need to breathe made their chests hurt, Ningguang whispered, “Please…help me forget today.”

“Anything your heart desires,” Beidou replied.

Hopping off the desk, Ningguang took Beidou by the hand and led her to the bedroom. She shut the door behind them and pushed Beidou against it, her mouth immediately latching onto her neck. Beidou’s hands roamed Ningguang’s body, only stopping to grab her ass.

Pulling away once again, she looked up into Beidou’s uncovered scarlet eye. “Undress,” she commanded as she started unzipping her dress.

“Yes, ma’am!” Beidou excitedly responded as she tore her clothes off her as quickly as possible and threw them to the corner of the room. She hopped on the bed and waited for Ningguang to join her. Unlike Beidou, she preferred her dress unwrinkled and therefore folded it neatly before placing it atop the dresser.

Climbing onto the bed, she moved to straddle Beidou’s lap. She leaned in to meet her mouth, tracing the outline of her lips with her tongue before gently entering. Beidou moaned in approval as Ningguang ran her hand up and down her chest, between her cleavage, and around her breast sending chills down her spine.

Beidou placed her hand on the back of Ningguang’s head and pushed her forward to deepen the kiss. With her free hand, she trailed past Ningguang’s hips and lightly massaged her clit with two fingers causing her to groan from the sudden stimulation.

Adding pressure to the sensitive bud, Ningguang pulled her lips away as she closed her eyes and gasped Beidou’s name. She leaned back again to find Beidou had propped her leg up slightly at just the right angle for her. She positioned herself on Beidou’s thigh and began to grind against her.

“That’s it, do what you need to,” Beidou encouraged her, observing the way her breathing sped up and her body trembled at her touch.

“Ahhhh! Beidou, just like that!” Ningguang instructed breathlessly. She placed both of her hands on Beidou’s toned stomach for better balance and increased her pace. As Beidou continued to swirl and add pressure to her clit, Ningguang closed her eyes and threw her head back as her orgasm hit her.

She watched in awe at how beautiful Ningguang looked when she came. With her bangs stuck to her forehead and her cheeks flushed, being the only one who got to see this vulnerable side of her made Beidou’s heart full.

When Ningguang’s breathing steadied, she opened her eyes to see her lover looking back at her with admiration. Ningguang smiled as she leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek.

“So…that good huh?” Beidou asked with a cocky smirk.

“Mmm, yes, very much so. But just a moment…we’re not done yet,” Ningguang hummed as she leaned over and opened the side drawer, producing a double-sided dildo.

Beidou’s eyes grew wide with anticipation. Ningguang repositioned herself between her legs, taking two fingers and sliding them up and down her folds. Beidou looked up at the ceiling taking in the sensation when she heard Ningguang snap her fingers. She looked to see she had produced one of her ores and was lubricating it with her own wetness. With another snap, the ore slowly entered Beidou’s ass. Beidou grabbed the pillow above her with a strangled gasp, and choked out, “N-ning…”

Ningguang slowly thrust the ore in and out of Beidou’s hole. Once she relaxed, she then prepared the double-sided dildo, inserting it into herself before doing the same to Beidou.

“Fuckkkk,” Beidou let out.

“Are you alright?” Ningguang asked concerned.

“Yes…so tight…don’t stop,” Beidou rocked slightly to urge her to move.

Ningguang plunged both the ore and the dildo in rhythm with one another. Taking Beidou’s nipple in her mouth, she grazed it between her teeth. Beidou threw a hand over her mouth to stifle her moans.

Ningguang moved to the side of her breast and bit the flesh there, leaving teeth marks in her wake. She then kissed up her chest and settled her lips on her neck where she bit and kissed the area. Her thrusts came faster.

“Ning…so close,” Beidou struggled to say, the immense pleasure starting to cloud her thoughts. With each snap of her hips, Ningguang could feel the stress of the day dissipate. Within a few more strokes, both trembled as their orgasms tore through them. Ningguang removed the dildo and snapped the ore away before collapsing on top of Beidou.

Beidou rubbed her back as she lay atop her, resting her chin on her chest. After they came back to reality, Beidou jokingly asked, “So I assume that helped with your stress?”

With a soft chuckle, Ningguang responded, “As a matter of fact, it did.”

“Shit, maybe I should ask Yelan to get lost more often then!” Beidou’s boisterous laugh echoed through her quarters.

[pacifymebby]

t r o u b l e / chapter thirteen

Chapter list

Sonya

I started regretting my decision to go with Bonnie almost immediately, my stomach twisting with a growing discomfort as I followed him through the meadow towards the very edge of my brothers land.

I could see a small collection of caravans parked at the edge of the field next to a dirty track country lane. One of those thin winding lanes which snaked through the midlands and sewed all the little towns and villages together, made us look like a patchwork quilt from above.

"Why are you so close to the road?" I asked, my voice betraying my nerves, my uncertainty. My conviction that perhaps this had all been a mistake, that I'd been naive again, too trusting. That my brother had made a mistake in trusting the Golds...

"Cause," he shrugged, "it's good if the Italians know the house is watched, might make em think twice about any..." he trailed off, a look of uncertainty flickering in his own eyes as he shoved his hands back in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders.

"Any what?" I asked but he just flashed me a smile and shrugged his shoulders again.

"Cmon lass get a shift on eh I can smell me dads cookin," he said reaching for my arm, his hand resting on my lower back as he fell into step beside me.

But there were more men that just his dad hanging around that field and the closer we got the more uncomfortable I began to feel. It wasn't just that I looked like I'd been bawling my eyes out that had me feeling self concious, it was that I knew I would stick out like a sore thumb amid the gang of travellers Bonnie was walking me towards.

"Ah," said a man, his voice husky and melodic, all wind through the willows sort of hush. When he stood he smiled, at me and then, only when his gaze had held mine with a knowing kind of glow, did he look to Bonnie. "So this is the little lass my Bonnie's risking his life to keep safe eh?"

"Da!" groaned Bonnie then, his cheeks flushing a pale shade of pink, "ignore him lass am glad to do it... Really..." he said looking back at me trying to smile through his embarrassment, but his dad only laughed.

"Come on Bonnie boy, it was just a joke, I'm sure they still have those in London... Don't you lass, still have time for a wee laugh down south eh?" he asked me, my own humiliation catching me off guard as my cheeks warmed through and my mouth opened with nothing to say.

There was a second of silence before he carried on as if I had said something, smile relentless just like his son's.

"See," he grinned pushing his long whispy hair from his face, taking a hairband to scrunch it into a little bun at the nape of his neck. "Now, which ones this? The wannabe drug dealer or..."

"Da!" hissed Bonnie but it was me who really cut him off.

"You know about Sylvie?" I asked without thinking, giving my twin away in my sudden panic, but Bonnie's dad saw my concern and shook his head.

"I know about that miss, your brother Thomas does not..." he said, winking at me in a way that did little sooth my nerves. "Sylvia's secrets are safe with me... Though you might tell her to be a little more careful if she intends to carry on shifting gear on Solomons streets eh?"

"Gonna leave her be now da?" cut in Bonnie, his teeth gritted though he was trying his best to keep his soft smile for me. He hadn't forgotten the tears I'd been crying only fifteen minutes earlier and he wasn't sure how fragile I still was. He kept glancing at me, checking me over, like he thought this polite smile was an act, like he thought that any second now I would crumble all over again. That one wrong word from his wind up merchant father would see me inconsolable once again.

"A little joke," smiled his dad raising his hands in innocence, "the little Shelby knows I don't mean any harm by it..."

"Aye well," grumbled Bonnie, "she's only away here because she needed a little bit of peace... Hows she gonna get that with you teasin her all the time eh?"

"Alright," chuckled his dad, "Alright, no more teasin, alright... Its lovely to meet you young lady, the names Aberama... You make sure you don't go putting yourself in harms way eh? My boys got a big fight comin up the week, wouldn't want to see him battered and bruised before he's set foot in the... "

"Da!" groaned Bonnie again, pinching the bridge of his nose, eyes closed as he muttered something blasphemous under his breath.

Still, his fathers smile didnt falter and neither did Bonnie's, his still lingering when he'd nodded for me to follow him and he'd hidden his face in his hands, rubbed his palms over his red cheeks and turned to me with another apology.

"Am sorry lass he doesn't mean any harm by it..." he said shaking his head, "just doesn't know when to stop..."

"Its fine," I said softly, hugging my arms around myself as I walked in step with him towards the vardo I presumed belonged to him and his father. "You're a boxer?" I asked a little awkwardly, turning back over my shoulder to watch Aberama crouched over the open campfire. He was cooking something and Bonnie had been right about the smell. It did smell lovely.

"Oh yeah..." he said, his smile growing then, any kind of self consciousness from before dissipating as he made two fists and boxed the air in front of me with a cheeky little grin, "but don't worry about what me da said," he added, "I could go into that ring battered and blue an still knock out a horse," he said before adding quickly, smile a little sheepish, "not that I'd want to knock out a horse..."

I couldn't help but smile at that, at the sweet way he winced at his own thoughtless remark.

"That why my brothers got you lookin after me?" I asked my own smile self concious because I knew I must have looked a sorry state. There were still tears in my eyes and my voice still carried that sad thickness to it having been wasted crying for so long.

He sucked in his cheek for a moment looking up at the trees the other side of the dirt track road, and then he shrugged.

"Maybe aye," he said brushing the comment off too easily. As if for a moment he'd considered where he could or should tell me something else.

I had heard a little about the Golds over the years. And from what I'd heard I certainly hadn't been able to match the rumours up to the cheeky but seemingly harmless lad stood in front of me. So it was the rumours which made me wary.

"So.." he said distracting himself from the trees by turning back to me, "you wanna come in? It's not as big as your brothers place mind... I hope you're not claustrophobic," he said jumping up onto the step and reaching his hand down to me. He waited for me to take it and though for a second I hesitated, when I felt his fingers close around mine I settled a little. One final glance back over my shoulder at his father before I let him help me step up onto the 'porch' and inside.

"Oh," I breathed when I stopped just behind him, just over the threshold of the little caravan, "its gorgeous..." it wasn't that I hadn't expected such a pretty wagon to be beautiful outside and in, if was that I'd not set foot in a romani vardo as quaint or traditional as this one since I was a very small girl.

My mam and dad had given up on tradition when they'd found themselves with more wains than they could count on one hand and nowhere to put us all.

No, the first three years of my life had been spent crammed into a four berth bessacarr cameo that was only really big enough for mam, dad, finn, Sylvie and me, and only because the three of us bairns were so tiny. Once we'd started to grow a little mam had been forced to accept the reality of our situation. With no money for anymore beds, we had had to settle in Birmingham where dad and our older brothers could find work.

The only time I'd seen a vardo as pretty as this one was when we'd joined other travelling families or stopped for the fairs.

"Its small," he said taking two cups from hooks above a little sink, "sit down though lass, wherever you like, make yourself at home petal," he said only realising the affection in his words when it was already too late, saying nothing just glaring at his hands fumbling with two china cups as I stood just behind him blushing.

So Bonnie's little home took my breath away.

"Thanks," I said settling on the edge of a cushioned pew which ran along the opposite wall and was draped with green blankets.

"You want tea?" he asked flicking a kettle on, the buzz as it began to boil surprising me.

"Uh, um... Yes... Please," I managed though I couldn't hide my shock and he couldn't help but grin and shake his head.

"We're not living in the dark ages sweetheart, just think theres some traditions pretty enough to hold onto eh..."

"It is really pretty," I admitted flinching again when the door opened and someone poked there head in to say hello.

"Bon your da's askin if you're eatin with us or if you're... Oh," the girl who'd poked her head around the corner like a little sprite met my curious eyes with curious sparkling eyes of her own. "You're the ballerina! The famous girl our Bonnie..."

"Ahh geez peace Floss," Bonnie groaned turning on her with a broad smile, stopping her in the doorway before she could come in and get a closer look as if I was some museum exhibit, some curiosity on display.

She was watching me with one of those clever smiles and I was sure she was making her judgements of me as her eyes trailed over my strange little outfit and my red rimmed eyes, but she didn't say a word, giggling at Bonnie's rosy cheeks.

"When did you get here anyway thought you were meant to be stayin with our Esme?" said Bonnie leaning against the door one hand above his head, the sleeve of his tshirt falling up to his shoulder to reveal those lean but muscular arms. I wasn't sure why I hadn't worked it out before, but of course he was a boxer. With a light but toned frame like that he couldn't possibly have been anything else.

"Da said I could stay here 's'long as I stay outa trouble like..."

"Aye well titch, stay outa it then," he grinned ruffling her hair and closing the door on her, returning his attention to the two cups of tea he'd been making before she'd arrived.

"Me cousin," he said, "have to watch out for her, shes a wee rotter... Thinks she's one of the lads all the trouble she causes," he said shaking his head though his smile remained fond as he sat down at the opposite end of the pew and pulled his knees up to his chest.

I didn't know what to say to him. The longer I'd been sitting there, knowing that the girl had tried to get in to steal a peak at me, the more aware of my differences I was becoming. The more aware that despite my roots, I didn't really belong on that little vardo, or at their camp at all.

"Sorry though," he said holding his mug in both hands, leaning over so that the steam from his drink tickled his nose and made it scrunch like a rabbits, "brought you here so as y'could do your cryin in peace but all I've given yous an audience..."

"No really," I said with a small smile, blushing because it wasn't his fault his day was being disturbed like this, it was mine, "thanks for havin me, its cosy in here, I like it..."

"Aye," he said with a small smile, his eyes a little distant then as he blew on the steam from his tea, "its pretty for a little while ain't it.."

"What's that sposed to mean?" I asked looking around at the confined but homely space, it had such a natural feel to it, the wy the bed and the seats were all built into the frame, that it felt like the vardo was holding you. You weren't just sitting inside it, it had been built just for you. It felt like more of a sanctuary than anywhere I'd ever been before. It was hard to believe you could ever get fed up with it.

"Nothin lass," he said with a half hearted chuckle that didnt meet his eyes and told me he really was tiring of the place, "i just mean its hardly what you're used to is it..."

"No," I said, looking up at him from under my lashes, "do you think thats why I like it so much?"

"Actually I reckon you're just bein polite, hardly your brothers country estate is it, an a reckon that flat in London you've gots pretty posh too eh?"

"Yeah," I said, a whistful glimmer of a smile on my lips as my heart fell at the mention of london and all that I'd left behind, "but I'm not just being polite," I added quickly, "this really is lovely..."

"Well," he said, "I know which I'd choose every time..." he said and from the distantce in his eyes I realised he meant my brothers estate. It didn't sit right with me, dissapointed me a little though I shouldn't have been surprised.

If Bonnie was a blinder then of course he had to share the same driving force that all my brother's lads shared. That desire to have more, to be more. To be something bigger and better than everyone else. Of course I couldn't criticise them, I shared it too.

"If you're really as close to Tommy as I assume you must be for him to trust you with his 'baby' sister..." i said rolling my eyes at the words, "then you know as well as I do that house isn't worth any of it..."

"You think?" he asked shooting me a cheeky little smile so that I couldn't tell whether I was being teased or not.

"I know." I said a little more certainly than before, a flash of anger in my eyes which must have taken him by surprise because when he caught it his grin faltered and his eyes darted away so as to avoid wounding.

He looked down into his tea, fingers tapping the sides of the mug as he raised it to his lips. I had the feeling he was drinking to bide his time, to let him think of something clever to say. But when he swallowed and looked at me again he was earnest and his brown eyes had an essence of muddy water, all rain soaked into soil. So i knew when he spoke that he was being honest. That he wasn't teasing me at all, that he hadn't meant to upset me either.

"Nah," he shook his head, "ain't gonna make my money like that," he said, "gonna earn it aren't I, in the ring like..."

"Yeah?" I asked my smile widening at his apparent sweetness, something almost naive about his belief that you could earn my brother's life honestly, "that why you're working for Tommy eh? Or is this just a hobbie for you? Like killin people in your free time?" he saw the teasing flash of light in my eyes and though he smiled too, a little caught out, scratching the back of his neck as he chuckled and then shook his head slowly, I could tell I'd wounded him and I felt guilty. I wasn't sure I'd really meant to do that. I hadn't wanted to wipe the smile off his lips the way that I had.

"Aye, well..." he said shrugging his shoulders, taking another sip of his tea, "you know what they say... If you want somethin enough..."

"You'll slit some poor lads throat for it?"

I'd shocked myself, my cheeks flushing scarlet the second I heard the words leaving my lips. Now I knew for certain I hadn't meant to say that. Hadn't meant to be so cutting and unforgiving when actually I knew better than most exactly how Bonnie felt. I'd have done anything to put myself on that opera house stage and it was the only reason I'd almost made it.

But Bonnie didn't look hurt this time, he didn't look annoyed either. Instead he laughed, a louder laugh than before, one which came from the chest and really lingered. His grin remained even after he'd stopped shaking with amusement. I almost felt proud of myself for amusing him so much.

"You make me sound like some psycho," he chuckled standing up and returning his mug to the sink.

"Think thats my brother."

I looked down into my own cup, I'd barely taken a sip and suddenly I felt a little self concious. He turned around leaning with his palms on the counter, his soft eyes watching me. He looked like he was waiting for something but I wasn't sure what.

"So," he said, the smile on his lips still tugging at his dimple making me question whether he was really about to ask something serious of me or not. "You think you might like to apologise to me now eh Miss Gray?"

His use of my aunt Pollys name startled me and when he saw my eyes widen he grinned a little wider.

"Us 'pikeys' do have phones y'know lass, I'm not completely disconnected from the rest of the world..." he said mocking me, making me blush, making me stutter when I opened my mouth to speak so that my lips remained parted on the edge of saying absolutely nothing at all. And the sight of me looking up at him like that almost made him forget the joke he was playing on me.

He faltered, licking his lips, eyes fixed on mine but only for a second. In the next he was grinning again.

"Nah am only teasin you lass," he said with a small smile, leaning back against the counter, crossing one leg over the other.

"I wouldn't call you that," I said sucking my cheek in, "not even to piss Tommy off," now I was being earnest and Bonnie was smirking softly, his dimple still a ripple in his taciturn expression.

"Like I said," he said locking his hands together only to release them, scratch one through his dark curls, "only teasin ye," he said his eyes lingering on me for a moment before he got sidetracked again, turning back to the sink. He leant there for a moment and I got the sense that he was restless, either just that afternoon or perhaps all the time. The way he drummed his fingers on the wood worktop in a slow wave. The way his eyes seemed to wander the room almost in a daydream before he turned back around and looked to me once again.

"Whyd you do that?" he asked then, "go by gray?"

"Because nobody wants to hire a girl whose brothers are known for turning perfectly polite parties into bloodbaths and pub brawls.." I said, "and," I said swallowing my tea slowly, concentrating on not embarassing myself with more tears, "me own mam died when I was so little, Pols the mam I really remember... Which is evil to say I know..."

"Nah," Bonnie shook his head, "Don't reckon you've an evil bone in your body lass..." he said pushing away from the counter and returning to sit just opposite me on the little length of sofa cushion. He sat close enough that when he hugged his knees up to his chest and mirrored the way I sat, my toes were touching his toes and I felt as if we were both just children sitting together. Like the first day of school when you're young and just trying to make one friend.

"Only asked cause I can see the Gray in you..." he said, his voice so much quieter then, his eyes flickering over my features before locking with mine. I didn't know what to say, if I had known what to say I'm not sure I'd have had the voice to say a word.

And he didn't elaborate, in fact he almost appeared to change his mind. Rubbing one eye with the ball of his palm, looking away and then back to me, tone changed again, "I didn't mean to upset you either lass, not doin very good at this cheerin you up business eh?" he looked like he was waiting for my permission to laugh, a faint blush of genuine shame on his cheeks as if he really believed what he was saying.

"Well I'm not crying anymore am I so I'd say you're better at it than you think," I admitted quietly, remembering the frantic despair I'd felt when I'd fled from my brother earlier that day. Comparing it to how I felt now in the quiet of Bonnie's little home, it was difficult to believe it was still the same day. Difficult to believe I was the same girl. Even if I was still tinged with sorrow, I didn't feel so scared, so tragic. I didn't feel like my life was burning all around me and all I could do was watch.

Bonnie bit his lip, sucking his cheek in as he drummed his fingers on the cushion beside him, he spider walked them over the dip in the fabric towards me, up the wall and to the window where he began to fiddle with the latch. He seemed as if he were trying to think of something to say, a way of making conversation he hadn't already tried. He wasn't looking at me now, he was concentrating on the window latch, but every now and then he'd glance back at me, almost as if checking I was still there, almost as if checking whether or not I was looking at him.

And every time he caught my gaze I tore mine away from him, not even really sure why I was so shy to meet his eyes. I could feel the blush on my cheeks, soft and warm. I couldn't understand why it persisted.

And when he finally said something else I found myself feeling a little dissapointed by him. When he pushed himself up and left our nook.

"I'll get you a cloth for those eyes eh," and he did, disapearing and returning with a rag soaked in cold water, handing it to me. Fingers not even skimming mine.

He sat himself down angled away from me, his eyes firmly fixed on the opposite wall, watching the shadows of a tree bowing and shimmering on the wood.

"Thanks," I said pressing the cloth to my face, feeling the cool on my skin, hoping it would be enough to take the stain from my cheeks and my eyes. Deep down I knew that it wouldn't be. That I was the kind of girl who wore her emotions on her sleeve no matter how hard she tried not to. That the remnants of my sorrow could linger for days in my lashes. That if I was really feeling sorry enough for myself I'd remain heartbroken and forlorn for a week or more.

But when I stood to put the rag down by the sink saying thank you again, Bonnie looked back at me and cracked a contagious kind of grin that left me feeling brighter before he'd even said a word.

"Thats better," he smiled, catching himself out again, a little blush tinging his pale skin pink, "not that there was anythin to improve really..." he said a little quieter only meeting my gaze for a second before he'd sprung up again and headed for the door, "dya fancy a wee walk?" he didn't really give me the chance to say yes.