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lilymakesgames · 2 years ago

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Racing Game Development + Insights

Main Objectives

Design Goal

Design an exhilarating escape the police in a getaway car game with a simple speed changing mechanic that relies on dexterity + utilize feedback loops to regulate the game’s pace & challenge so everyone can experience the thrill regardless of their skill level.

Implementation Goals

PX Goals

Key Ideas + Learnings

My favourite learning from the textbook that I explored in this cycle was feedback loops!

I’ll be referring to them as reinforcing and balancing feedback loops rather than positive and negative feedback loops in this post. In reinforcing loops, as the name might suggest, a change to one element directly causes a change in another element in the same direction which may force the system toward an extreme (Fullerton, 2018). Conversely, balancing loops may force the system toward equilibrium to counteract the changes (Fullerton, 2018).

I was interested in how I could use feedback loops to regulate challenge and the pace of my game, specifically to make it a challenging and thrilling experience regardless of the player’s skill level. Moreover, GCx2 is a “racing” game but there isn’t actually any racing involved. Nevertheless, I wanted to create the impression of thrill and momentum in the game so I looked to reinforcing feedback loops which can “promote divergence” (Fullerton, 2018). In this case, it would be rewarding players who are successfully changing gears by giving them an advantage, contributing to a sense of momentum from the player’s enhanced progress. But of course, balance is also required “to keep the game from resolving too quickly” (Fullerton, 2018). Maintaining player engagement involves regulating challenge and as fun as speedruns can be, GCx2 wouldn’t be very fun if it was too easy and fast to enjoy.

The three feedback loops in GCx2.

Below I’ll be further detailing my exploration of these concepts and how they influenced the design of PX goals, M2M gameplay, as well as the overall game.

PX Goals and M2M Gameplay

I’ll just quickly talk about the PX goals and how they influenced the design of the mechanics, specifically the M2M gameplay.

For GCx2, players will spend the majority of their time moving and changing speeds to avoid obstacles and escape the police. This gameplay should be exhilarating, thrilling, and allow for some level of momentum to be built but not to the point where the game is no longer challenging. That being said, the game should be challenging for everyone in the sense that it accommodates for different skill levels. The mechanics and gameplay described below should facilitate this (hopefully).

Speeds and Gear Changing

GCx2 has three gears and respective speeds that the player can switch between. First gear is slow, second gear is medium, and third gear is fast. Changing gears is the player’s prerogative; players can be punished or rewarded depending on their success with gear changing. This “success” is based on the obstacles encountered by the player as they drive—players must drive over the obstacle at 1st gear for a successful gear change. Driving over at 2nd gear minimally allows police to catch up faster driving at 3rd gear will significantly allow the police to catch up. These details will be further explained below but the general gist here is that players should be alert and ready to switch gears at any time if they want to win effectively.

Some possible scenarios…

Players thus cannot safely drive at any speed for the whole time as they will fail to escape the police.

Obstacles

The obstacles in GCx2 are mainly inspired by typical road hazards or things you shouldn’t drive over. Speedbumps, oil spills, traffic cones, etc. They all currently have the same effect though as the consequence of driving over them is inflicted by and dependent on the player’s gear upon collision.

I’ve thought about other potential “events” that could happen like traffic lights or animals crossing the road but I’ve decided to focus on the current ideas which should facilitate the PX goals quite nicely already :D

Moreover, obstacles should appear frequently so the player is forced to change gears frequently. This could lead to close calls for the player which could be scary if the police were hot on their tail.

These are some ideal placements that I kept in mind while developing the spawning system for the obstacles. I had the oil spills spawn as waves, similar to how you might use a wave spawner for an arcade shooter game. The player's goal would be to travel in 3rd gear as much possible so they should move left and right, avoiding the obstacles or changing gears to avoid allowing the police to make progress.

Progress Bar and Police

The progress bar is a visual representation of the player’s escape progress. It also shows the progress of the police as well. Progress increases by different increments depending on the player’s current gear/speed (1%, 5%, 7.5%). Failing gear changes will increase the police progression by 2.5% for semi-fails and 10% by complete fails. At the moment these numbers are all arbitrary guesses in respect to the game’s pace. They’ll have to be tested and iterated thoroughly until the ideal pace is found. When the player progression = 100%, the player has successfully escaped. IF the police progression is equal to or greater than player progression though…then it’s off to prison you go!

Now I'll be highlighting some key ideas in GCx2...

Contextualizing the Formal Elements

In a racing game, the player’s main objective is to cross the finish line. There’s usually a secondary goal to this like “be the first to cross the finish line” or “cross the finish line as fast as possible”. Then there’s also the context of the race. Who’s racing? Where are they racing? Why are they racing, to win something? But that’s enough rambling for now, I just wanted to highlight the initial thoughts and guiding questions I had while brainstorming ideas. That actually brings us to my most important point—the challenge of designing a racing (objective) game with a single-player versus game player interaction pattern.

So, why was this a challenge? It comes back to the context of races and the feelings that should be aroused. Let’s talk about the two arguably most important aspects of the race: who is racing and why. First let’s consider the significance of the two aspects: together, they invite a very powerful feeling of competitiveness that’s truly characteristic of racing games. You’re racing against other people to cross that finish line first, to beat them. That’s why all good racing games either have a multiplayer mode or have sophisticated AI to tap into players’ competitiveness that gives racing games their thrill. The human intelligence and general unpredictability factor (or the supplementary sophisticated AI) make the outcome unpredictable. If the player knows that they’re going to win every time, then it’s not very fun or interesting at all which reiterates the importance of considering predictability in games (Fullerton, 2018). So yes, it’s difficult to evoke those competitive feelings so strongly associated with the racing genre. I can’t develop a multiplayer game and I can’t develop a sophisticated enough AI for CPU racers either. That’s when the other context elements come in, namely the “why”. If I can’t evoke competitiveness then maybe I can try inciting the thrill of an escape. Under this, I can design different conflicts that make the outcome unpredictable while also exploiting two very powerful elements of narrative and premise to make the experience more engaging.

In summary, the overall design goal here is to contextualize the formal elements of a race game to compensate for the lack of adequate competition. Inspire the thrill of a racing game outside the conventional race.

So how did I set out to accomplish this with my design? First I considered the objective of the game (and subsequent tone) as the main contextualizing formal element. Fullerton (2018) defines objectives as a means of giving “players something to strive for. They define what players are trying to accomplish within the rules of the game” and also highlights how objectives can set the game’s tone (Fullerton, 2018). With this in mind, I thought about escapes and their connotations, the common feelings surrounding escape games (and the general notion itself).

Emotions and words I associate with "escape".

…and many more. I believed there was significant overlap between a racing game and an escape game so why not utilize an escape objective that’s facilitated by a racing mechanic?

Considering the tone was also great for setting the PX goals as well. Additionally, it also prompted me to consider how “escaping” is the premise for my race game and my main method of contextualizing the race. I can’t effectively evoke competitiveness to engage my players so I’ll exploit the premise instead.

The general idea behind a premise in games is to create engagement by providing context to the formal elements and subsequently, the players’ actions (Fullerton, 2018). Moreover, this has a secondary benefit of allowing us to emotionally involve players “in the interaction of the formal elements” (Fullerton, 2018). This is incredibly important for the formal elements of GCx2. The “escape” premise heightens the consequential feelings behind the gear changes and the progress bar which would otherwise be quite insignificant and arbitrary.

The knowledge that you, the player, are on the run and escaping the police contextualises the progress bar and the gear changing mechanic; it manipulates the player to feel thrill and exhilaration. There is an intent behind the actions: you’re successfully getting away, you’re increasing the distance between you and the police…or maybe you’re doing the opposite, fear is blending with thrill as you fail to change gears and allow the police to catch up.

This also speaks again to the importance of obstacles in single-player versus game interaction patterns (Fullerton, 2018). These obstacles contextualise the gear change too! I need to complicate the escape for the thrill and exhilaration that will be missed from the lack of competition in this single player versus game.

2. Feedback Loops: Regulating Challenge and Pace

Note: These feedback loops weren’t implemented but the designs were very important to the game. They’re also interesting explorations of the theory so I really wanted to share them here.

The second key idea that I explored was the concept of feedback loops to regulate challenge and pace of progression. Feedback loops had mystified me prior to this unit. I knew they existed but without an in-depth exploration, I still struggled to understand the terms and effects of “positive and negative feedback loops”. Here I’ll be discussing the three feedback loops I designed for GCx2 and why I thought they were necessary.

Also, please note that most of these numbers (duration of effect, conditions to trigger, etc.) are all arbitrary at the moment and would require much playtesting and iteration for sensible, effective choices.

Positive (Reinforcing) Feedback Loop

I was first inspired by the textbook’s example of a positive feedback loop. Fullerton (2018) gives the example of a player scoring a point and subsequently receiving a free turn; “this reinforces the positive effects of the scored point, creating an advantage for that player.”

I was really interested in this, particularly in how I might use it to build momentum for the player. Creating a larger gap between yourself and the other racers (or in this case, you and the police) is always satisfying in a thrilling way. To capitalise on that success and those feelings, building momentum and speeding up the pace a little could heighten that thrill.

If the player successfully changes gears 5 times in a row, it triggers Jesus take the Wheel Mode. The player is rewarded and can further the momentum of their progress with a 3 second shield + speed boost. This should also increase the pace and motivate players to successfully gear change since it feels good to be invincible.

Negative (Balancing) Feedback Loop

I added a balancing loop that should help players who are having more difficulty since the controls of the game require a level of dexterity that isn’t necessarily natural for inexperienced gamers. Fullerton (2018) asserts that negative feedback loops can have balancing effects and bring the game towards an equilibrium to negate changes that might give players advantages over others. GCx2 has a single player versus game interaction pattern, so in this case the game is “balanced” so the player isn’t constantly disadvantaged for their poorer skills.

Players who are having trouble can activate Cruise Control mode in which they’ll have to navigate left and right but will travel in 3rd gear and automatically change gears upon collision with obstacles for 5 seconds.

These feedback loops exist to account for the predicted skill gaps (due to required dexterity to play the game) Hence why they’ve been designed as feedback loops to regulate the pace and challenge of the game. I don’t think they’ll nullify each other, even if they have opposite conditions to be triggered (5 successful gear changes for positive loop, 3 unsuccessful gear changes for balancing loop) because I’m assuming that most players will fall into 3 categories:

In other words, I don’t think they’ll cancel each other out because the good players probably won’t trigger the balancing loop and the bad players probably won’t trigger the reinforcing loop.

Second Negative (Balancing) Feedback Loop

Now, I have made a very bold and significant assumption there that could severely compromise the “balanced” level of challenge presented by GCx2. In that respect, I think a second balancing loop could also be introduced to make things harder for those adept players. If they keep triggering the reinforcing loop then the pace of the game could be too fast and overall gameplay could be too easy to be enjoyable (Fullerton, 2018). If the player triggers Jesus Take the Wheel thrice consecutively, then the game will enter Hell on Wheels mode.

10 seconds Stuck in 3rd, must now narrowly avoid driving into all obstacles because you can’t safely drive over them anymore AND (just in case some players were already doing this) the police are now faster as well to add to the pressure so if you do crash into an obstacle, it’ll be more devastating since the police can catch up to you that much more easily.

Interesting strategies could be used by players who make note of the feedback loops, maybe players will start missing gear changes on purpose sometimes to avoid activating Hell on Wheels. Reminder that driving at 2nd gear isn’t advisable because even though it’s less severe than 3rd gear consequences, it’ll allow the police to catch up much more easily.

Playtesting

It was difficult to observe anything particularly interesting or receive feedback beyond "it was fun and it has potential" or "I'd love to see the feedback loops in the game" with how minimal the prototype was. Since this post was quite long, I'll refer back to the implementation goals:

For the sake of testing the M2M, the GCs would either increase or decrease the progress bar. The "police" were not implemented; the player simply had to keep playing until their progress hit 100%.

I was able to identify a potential issue in respect to the PX goal of the game being challenging for all players, regardless of skill. It seemed that experienced gamers, especially those who play games that require the player to use numbers to switch characters or weapons (same mechanic as changing gears essentially) found it quite easy to play. I'll speak more on this and discuss a solution to this problem (other than implementing the feedback loops) in the postmortem post.

That's all for now, thanks so much for reading!

References

Fullerton, T. (2018). Game Design Workshop : A Playcentric Approach to Creating Innovative Games, Forth Edition (4th ed.). CRC Press LLC.

End of post.

#racing game #development #racing game development #Final Checkpoint

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fadebolt · 11 months ago

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In this matchup, we're getting two that are also sort of mildly similar, as one's a shelter, while the other is a usually peaceful entry room to a shelter. They're both relatively simple, and… uhh… I don't really have anything else to add into this beginning section, so let's just get into it, and pretend I said something clever here.

So to start, there's MIDSHELTER from Outer Expanse, and I suppose here's where my comments about the region having a bunch of great shelters comes in.

Because while I did talk about how SEXTRA is not that great, but this one, by contrast, is one that absolutely deserves to be here.

And I'd attribute that to its visuals and design, more so than its placement within the region, as that part is honestly sort of just fine. There aren't any shelters in the near vicinity, so it can extremely useful, but it also placed into a part of RUIN14, where it could easily be missed, unless your exploration is thorough, or you've been checking the map.

And while I do genuinely like RUIN14, I'm not sure if it works as a room that a shelter immediately leads the player to (I would have liked to see a smaller, and more calm/peaceful room, that could be placed between RUIN14 and MIDSHELTER, as a way to connect them).

But was this place looks more than makes up for all of that, cus oh boy, this thing has some wonderful vibes!

The main thing I like about it is how the background is sort of intertwined with the actual shelter. Because when you look at another shelter with a background, like S06 or EXSHELTER, what you'll see is that the shelter and the background are very clearly separated, and can be perceived as two different entities, essentially. Meaning that you could easily remove the background, replace it with the usual metal wall, and nothing would realistically change.

You cannot do that here, however. The layout of this shelter simply would not work without the presence of the background elements. And that really is special, because it's not something that this game has ever done in any of its other shelters. This is the only one that's designed like that, and I think that's awesome.

Though one issue I have is that it does this annoying thing, where it puts down extremely tight tunnels with absolutely 0 visual clarity, which is something that was unfortunately done in a few more Outer Expanse and Subterranean rooms as well. But since this is a shelter, I can mostly forgive it for that.

But what about its competitor? Does the city get to beat the jungle?

Well, splitpath is one I've already rambled about a bunch, and my opinions on it haven't changed one bit - I still love the heck out of it!

Every detail just clicks so well here. The Popcorn Plants, the windows, the shelter placement, the pipe placements… it's all relatively simple, yet it's still so effective!

Of course, it would be nowhere near as great if the three rooms around it wouldn't hit so well.

Shelter_above is a masterpiece in its own right, Lost City starting up as you enter entrancezone for the very first time is unforgettable, and B04 is… sort of tedious, but that just serves to make the rewards feel even greater, and it can absolutely save you if Scavengers decide to throw a surprise party in splitpath.

That very last part is my only gripe with this place, as the kill squads can very much show up here, even though the place is not particularly well suited for Scav combat. Still, you can probably avoid them by just sticking near the top, or cheesing them through B04, so this isn't really a huge deal.

Overall, this is a very difficult choice, as I don't have a particular bias towards either of these. However, I did find splitpath to be slightly more important, and at one point, I've also managed to bump into it during night time in Expedition as Monk, and I do appreciate how the shelter is still very much reachable for someone with Survivor's mobility, and how this place is even prettier when it gets dark. (And fun fact - the game actually plays Train Tunnels when you get here during night. If that track name sounds familiar, it's because that's the one that plays by default in the Expedition menu screen. This is such a cool detail, I just had to mention it) So I'm thinking I'll stick with splitpath, even though this is a very close one for me.

Pick Your Favorite Rain World Room, Day 291.2 R5

There is a hidden slugcat in one of the rooms (they can be in any color). If u can see it comment or reblog with where they are and if u are first, u get a cookie!

Credit for game screenshots goes to: Rain World Interactive Map, Rain World Wiki and me

Congratulations for day 290 winners!

#rain world room polls #rain world opinions

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yichens · 4 years ago

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some heihua for the soul

so the update for Binding isn’t happening today bc my brain is complete mush after trying to aggressively finish my thesis yesterday and i decided to give my brain two days off bc of that. also, i promised @ashenwren some time to beta read the ending part (which they already did but! now i need some time with it myself) so i am leaving everybody to wait until saturday.

meanwhile, i am offering yall a sneak peek/first look at my heihua fic which is very loosely tied to my pingxie. basically, this is just me playing around with hei xiazi as a character and his and xiao hua’s dynamic’s more... tender side.

i know that @jockvillagersonly and ashen have already read this which has been amazing so thank you for your love ♥ but take this again ^^ also thanks to @cross-d-a for listening to me ramble about heihua and sharing this idea with me. and thank you to @i-am-just-a-kiddo who i’m doing all of this for ♥ you are the best parent-in-law for these two and this fandom!

It’s a bad week for him.

First, it’s the girl he finds while raiding a warehouse full of smuggled weapons and possibly, most likely, drugs. She’s maybe twelve, eyes wide and hair messy, bones poking her skin where Hei Xiazi can see her elbows flashing under her short sleeves. There are bruises around her wrists and burn marks on the inside of her arms. She doesn’t speak but she doesn’t have to, all of her screaming of experiences worthy of a hundred years instead of a dozen.

She presses her face into her hands when Hei Xiazi fires his gun, and he feels something come loose inside of him at the broken, aborted noise she makes that rings louder than the shot itself.

Hei Xiazi carries her kicking and screaming out of the warehouse, leaving behind the slowly ending gun fight and the smell of gasoline. She only goes silent once Hei Xiazi puts her down, flinching bodily away from him but not going far. She hovers, fingers slowly curling around the hem of his long jacket while they wait, shoulders hunching against the cold. Hei Xiazi offers her his jacket with a smile, buys her a sandwich which she then throws up, and helps her into a hospital once they’re safe to leave.

No one else stays behind with her. All the other people they found from that warehouse scattered as soon as the fight began and only she remained, lost in the thought of having to leave the premises that had become her world. She has no family, no house, no money. Hei Xiazi watches her leave with the social workers, bones of her wrists like twigs threatening to snap even after some proper meals and eyes so big they seem to swallow the light around her. She still hasn’t said a word. Hei Xiazi doubts she ever will.

Her pale face looks like a ghost as she turns to give Hei Xiazi one last glance over her shoulder, and that’s what she becomes to him once he goes home and puts that warehouse out of his mind. It’s hard and he feels himself haunted, and whatever it was that got loose in his chest rattles like the tail of a snake.

Then, he hears about Su Wan. Hears about the mission that went south with the three youngsters. Hears about Su Wan getting hurt.

It isn’t anything new in their line of business to get hurt, to even die. When he first met the boy in the desert, he predicted he would find him six feet under after only a day. There was too much softness in Su Wan, too much trust, too much naivete. He had a big brain and clever ideas but his core was gooey, leaking out in way too telling bursts, leaving nothing hidden.

Su Wan had reminded Hei Xiazi of young Wu Xie. Even his floundering with his knife had reminded him of Wu Xie. Even his adaptability had been annoyingly similar to Wu Xie’s, and Hei Xiazi had questioned his taste in students. At least the boy had paid better. At least the boy hadn’t been wishing to die.

He had not expected, after knowing all of that, to experience such fear when he first heard that Su Wan had gotten himself stabbed and had almost bled out in a cave, with only Li Cu and Yang Hao to look after himself and a saving bed of a hospital hours away. His hands had shook, making it impossible to hold anything while trying to breathe, and he had quickly been reminded of the little girl, torn open and going a bit feral just because she didn’t know what to do.

It was a surprisingly new thing to care. As surprising as the fact that he still knew of such things.

“I thought I had taught you better, kid,” he says as he goes to the hospital, in the middle of the night of all things, having to cover Su Wan’s mouth so that he doesn’t scream and wake up the better half of the city. The boy’s eyes are wide and heartbeat rapid under his fingers where he can feel it pulsing against Su Wan’s jaw. Then the boy is scrambling at his fingers to speak from between them. He pulls his hand away.

“Hei-ye!” the boy whispers fervently, like an anchor casted in water. “I thought you were out of the country!”

“I was until yesterday when I heard that you got stabbed,” he explains, voice leaning more towards mockery than any actual care. Su Wan knows what that means. The boy knows more than anyone else has ever known about a person like Hei Xiazi. It’s a strange thing but Hei Xiazi has come to almost like it.

“I’m fine!” the boy chirps, lighting up like a lightbulb. Hei Xiazi helps him sit in his bed, snatching a chair for himself from the corner, and then evaluates the damage. Su Wan is smiling while a thick roll of bandages circle his stomach. There are at least thirty stitches there, curving along his side. Some more adorn his bicep where he tried to evade another blade. A darkening bruise is making his cheek swell, casting an extra shadow under his chin.

Hei Xiazi sighs and closes his eyes when Su Wan starts to tell the story, his voice a soft whisper made even softer with lingering sleep. The beep of the machines tell Hei Xiazi the boy is alive. The painful thrum of his own heart tells him he’s alive too.

Su Wan falls asleep holding onto Hei Xiazi’s sleeve. He cannot remember how the boy got the leather between his fingers but prying his hold away is like bending steel. It feels impossible and burns equal amounts.

Finally, he slips back into the cold night.

He doesn’t go to his apartment, the one he’s currently occupying, his few belongings strewn across the floor and nothing making the place feel like his. Even after years and years and years, some part of him still feels sick at the thought of emptiness. He’s tried his hardest to carve his bones empty and chest clean but after each year spent alone or with someone or wanting, he realizes it’s a battle he cannot win. There’s something terribly strong under his ribs. It refuses to die even before his curse of immortality and the knowledge that goes beyond his comprehension. It refuses to die even when facing the cold, cruel world.

The walls surrounding the Xie Manor are high but not high enough to keep him at bay. If they were, he would’ve never come here. He would’ve never returned, not after he once left.

Climbing up the wall of the manor to the third floor makes his lungs burn, but then he’s pushing the window open already, stepping silently onto the polished floor.

“Xiazi,” a familiar voice says, not even pretending to sound sleepy. “It’s three in the morning. Is it really a suitable time to be visiting the head of Xie family?”

Hei Xiazi smiles, shrugging off his leather jacket and placing it onto the back of a chair beside him. The air in the room feels chilly with the window open but he likes to hear the noises from outside and he likes the line of silver painted onto the floor and across the luxurious double bed. He likes that he can pretend his vision is so clear just because of the moon.

“Hua’er-ye,” he says back, voice like honey because he loves to tease this man and loves how the tone makes his perfect eyebrows pinch. “Are you sure this isn’t a dream?”

“I would dream you naked at least, not dripping mud all over my floors.”

“As you wish,” he says and reaches for his own belt before moving closer to the bed, toeing his shoes off on the first two steps.

Xie Yuchen is warm but firm when Hei Xiazi meets his body, crashing into his lips and then slipping hands down his silk covered spine. He hums, hiding his laugh. He’s always loved the absolute brilliance and practicality and strength of this man but under all that, Xie Yuchen is a little spoiled. A rich family head. A powerful man with more money than Hei Xiazi could possibly imagine. He’s never tried, not really caring. For all his acting, he’s never gone for Xie Yuchen for his money.

He takes care of helping Xie Yuchen out of his expensive pajamas, kissing him wet and shivering after each uncovered piece of skin. There is something beautiful about Xie Yuchen in the stark light of the moon, eyes burning bright and the line of his throat like an invitation. Hei Xiazi wishes he could tell him that, sometimes, but he’s preferred to seal his lips. His poetry would not suit the ears of Xie Yuchen.

He’s never been one for pretty words, crude and almost barbaric instead, tongue made out of barbwire and mind of a strategic plan. Between them, all those edges exist in harmony, and so he’s never felt the need for anything more, enjoying the simplicity of just being.

Ironically, as the sun is already rising, coloring the horizon with its colorless light, he still descends into words. It’s like something is pulling them out of his chest, and when there’s a force outside of his control beneath his ribs, he cannot do anything but unravel upon Xie Yuchen’s white satin sheets.

“There was this girl,” he says, looking into the still remaining dark – or as dark as anything can be for his eyes, that comfort taken from him ages ago. “I saved her from a warehouse a couple of days ago. She didn’t speak, couldn’t eat because she’d been kept hungry for so long. There were burn marks on her arms, probably from cigarettes or a lighter. They told me she was thirteen. She didn’t look like she was thirteen.”

Xie Yuchen’s hands are on his back, brushing lightly against his shoulder blades, drawing something there. His heartbeat is steady under Hei Xiazi’s cheek and his skin burns, burns, burns. He remembers how he had looked at that girl in the eyes and seen himself there.

“I remember,” he says quietly, closing his eyes, “feeling the same burn on my skin. I have no memories of when or why but I know there were cigarettes. I know her pain. I know the scars.”

“Were you a child back then?” Xie Yuchen asks, his body a strong, sturdy thing against him. A rock. A mountain. He never thought he would feel lost in this world but there is something about himself in every child he’s ever saved, in all of their wide, fearful eyes, in all of their screams, their desperate fight, their bared teeth and messy heads of hair. There’s something about him in all of their thrumming, wild panic, like a bird under their skin; in their desperation to get away, to find a place to belong, to find safety and food and trust. To heal a body that has not been their own or has felt like an enemy or a liability or a curse.

He cannot remember the time he was a child, cannot remember the time before he went blind and began to see too much, cannot remember being anything but this eternal man on the outskirts of the world. He cannot remember ever having a family or feeling the absence of it.

But then, there’s this echo in his mind. It rings back from the eyes of every child he’s ever tried to help. He thinks, maybe, he still knows how he lost.

“I only remember being burned,” he says. “I only remember the pain and being afraid. And isn’t that a stupid thing to remember when it could be so many things?” He laughs, as much as it can be a laugh when something twists inside of his chest, bringing tightly together that something that was let loose. He chokes on it, feeling his voice die down. Xie Yuchen turns beside him so that they both lie on their sides, looking at each other. The line of the moon falls over Xie Yuchen’s hips and almost lands on Hei Xiazi’s waiting hand.

“Bad things linger,” Xie Yuchen says with a certainty of a man who knows this to be true. During the years, Hei Xiazi has learned a couple of the bad things that happened to this proud man. “But you are turning them into something good.”

“And how much does it change to save a couple of children?” he huffs, tired of the heart that cannot leave him at peace.

“For them, everything.”

#dmbj #the lost tomb #heihua #hei xiazi #xiao hua #all feedback is appreciated i suppose #just wanted to share this here #expect binding on saturday!#enjoy your weekend everybody!!#also yes i will die #for hxz adopting random kids #cross your brain was so lovely #for providing me with this #my fic

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miyomiikonran · 5 years ago

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Burn the Witch Personal Review

I know how this sounds, especially I never did smth like that, so just pls treat it more like bunch of thoughts and opinions on this new title from long-term fan of Bleach rather than some professionally done review. I watched all three episodes and for now I didn't have much time to read the manga (I have a lot of stuff to read for my studies so ;;") so I just went through stuff written on fan wiki. So beware! Spoilers ahead!

So anyway, new title from Tite Kubo. I could not know who's the author and I still would've guessed who it is. It has such a familiar vibe for me, it's a lot like Bleach for me in terms of humor, dialogues, character interactions and so on. Backgrounds also have this kind of similar vibe but I can't tell what's exactly causing it cus I'm no artist. Kubo in his glory days always had great backgrounds so that's all I'm able to say. I think he catched some breath after Bleach's ending and came back with new energy, so his skills are back too.

About characters. I'm glad he did two main female characters this time, even though both Noel and Ninny annoyed me through most of these ~60 minutes. I'm gonna say that's how it usually is before you get to know these characters better. Balgo annoyed me the most because he's typical perverted guy (which I'm really tired of) but with sweet dumny appearance (I'm here for it) so we'll see where will this character go further. Ninny's idol type, so I wasn't really excited at first, but I really liked her interactions with Macy, so I see chances for future development. Kinda the same with Noel and Balgo, they have some chances to get better through their influence on each other. Noel is kinda boring on her own most of the time, but her drive for money is sooo relatable for me right now.

My absolute favourite for now is Osushi, which kinda amused me, cus it's complete opposite compared with how I reacted to Kon at first, who also was sort of mascot in Bleach. I think Kubo has a thing for "seems cute but can kill you" type of mascot...

Let's adress the elefant in the room now. It's the same damn universe as Bleach. It blew my mind completely since I read about this series. It's the same universe (12 years after the war) and it has witches and dragons! Don't get me wrong, tbh I think it could work, it makes sense in it's own twisted kind of way. I just wish we were given any clues about existence of other "reverse worlds"/Soul Societies before this title came out. Cus it makes sense when you think about it. For me it looks like each country/culture (cus idk if each country wouldn't be too much) could have it's own kind of reverse world coexisting with human world, with it's magic, creatures and rules rooted in it's history, culture and beliefs. That's why suddenly we have these european-looking dragons and completely different approach to them- rather than kill them, humans are using them for their own gain, which for me makes sense for country that started industrial age and was first capitalistic-kind of system in the world. Obviously they would be like "ey, it's kinda a waste to kill them, maybe we could use them to make our life easier?". In Bleach it was all more about restoring and keeping balance between worlds, moral duty, honor and strict rules which makes sense (at least for me) in japanese society. Same with Shinigami and their powers. Other stuff like Quincy and Arrancars kinda throw off this kind of logic but well, I'm just trying to find some sense in this madness.

How's the plot then going, in such weird curricumstances? For me it could easily defend itself as independent idea and separate universe. If someone didn't knew Bleach and watched this I'm pretty sure it would be viewed almost the same for now. Will it have more connections to stuff we know from Bleach? Idk, I hope so, cus if not then it's just kinda using the nostalgia left by previous series. This world is surely builded the same, we have two coexisting worlds, one with common humans and the other with people being able to see and fight supernatural beings that endanger both of these worlds. We have the same kind of structure of power as well, at least for me. Wind Bind is new Gotei 13, this time with symbolism based on zodiak signs. Cool, it would probably suggest 12 divisions, but for now we know about only 8 but once again, we'll see.

Each division has it's own field of work, responsibilities and leader. They all look just as weird and eccentric as Gotei 13 when we first met them, so hello darkness my old friend, especially one lady looks like nazi-wannabe again (Quincy I'm looking at you!). For now we only saw Bruno in action who's division is a fighting type, tasked with extermination of dangerous dragons. He's got very cool design and I adore style of magic he uses because I never saw anyone use spray paint for drawing magical symbols before. Very modern-looking guy and I'm here for it, especially he looks like Grimmjow's younger bro. In general this universe is on our typical technology level with smartphones and stuff everywhere, which is suprising to see having in mind whole traditionally japanese looking enviroment from original Soul Society. About the rest we barely know anything so well. We'll see, once again.

Do I see any clear villain in sight? Nah, not for now. For now we only know about 8 dangerous legendary dragons based on common fairy tales. Interesting concept, but I would like to see some classic villian too. However, we already got the same kind of lesson that Bleach served us- authorities cannot be easily trusted either, as their judgement also can be too strict, cruel and subcjetive without many possibilities to oppose them by avarage person. I smell more future drama in this topic. Especially we once again got elderly boss who looks similar to Yamamoto from Bleach.

One thing that kinda dissapointed me was music. Bleach made me used to very climatic, often dramatic soundtracks, kinda dark-sounding most of the time. Openings were mostly very good too, while here I barely noticed any music at all. Animation didn't really leave me in awe either, only fights seemed interesting and magic was nicely animated. But it's kinda boring compared to very dynamic animation in Bleach. First two episodes made me think of first two arcs of Bleach but it's been over 15 years! ;-;"

In the end, will I watch more? Yeah, for sure. I got very excited to see something new from Kubo, I'm rooting for him and his new series to be less damaging for his health and mental state so this time he'll have means to develop and finish it properly, ideally without more conflicts with Shounen Jump. If he'll play it right with connections to Bleach it might get every good and bring back old fanbase, maybe even make people forgive him completely for Bleach's rushed ending. I see he already got some lessons from that experience, as now he decided to publish chapters in small batches rather than weekly. For me it's good solution that may help him keep his sanity intact. I'm willing to wait if it means he'll get back to his fomer skills and glory because I loved Bleach with my whole heart. If only anime production will be okay with such work dynamic then sure, great. I hope music and animation will get better overtime, maybe with more people getting interested they'll be able to spend more time and effort on it. I'm waiting for more characters to appear for more screentime as well, despite what I said about weird looking leaders of Wind Bind. Kubo proved he can make interesting and unique looking characters before, as well as create engaging villians and fights that fans are waiting for for months or years even. Maybe he even learnt a thing or two from plot holes that happend before. We'll see, I'm hopefull and willing to see where this series will be going c:

#burn the witch #bleach #tite kubo #noel niihashi #ninny spangcole #balgo parks #bruno bangnyfe #wind bind

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dcdvscv · 4 years ago

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There were lamprey pies

C. Sold me to Madame C., who keeps a large flower-garden. Another may remark inconveniences, and, indeed, real evils, in it, of which we

ropa golf junior

may be said to have lugosis carhartt been all our lives scarcely conscious. So, also, evils which, upon first acquaintance, revolted our whole nature, and appeared intolerable, custom almost makes us forget even to see. P. S.—It might have been stated above that on this estate there are about one hundred and sixty blacks. Stout new gates had gone up first, to replace those that had been burned. Then the collapsed roof of the Great Hall had been cleared away and a new one raised hurriedly in its stead. As the Lord of the Dreadfort slipped out, attended by the three maesters, other lords and captains rose to follow. Hother Umber, the gaunt old man called Whoresbane, went grim-faced and scowling. The soup was made with eggs and lemons, the long green peppers stuffed with cheese and onions. There were lamprey pies, capons glazed with honey, a whiskerfish from the bottom of the Greenblood that was so big it took four serving men to carry it to table. Axell Florent was making a toast as Jon took his place upon the dais. “To King Stannis and his wife, Queen Selyse, Light of the North!” Ser Axell bellowed. There is no remedy. This discipline belongs to the state of slavery. In two minutes she came to herself. The cab in which Alyosha had come was standing not far off; he called it. It’s like that rule in the Latin grammar, do you remember: the significance takes precedence of the ending. But I believe I’m still drunk from this morning. She began to be feverish and delirious. I looked at her white little face, at her colourless lips, at her black hair, which had been done up carefully and pomaded, though it had come down on one side, at her whole get-up, at the pink bows which still remained here and there on her dress — and I had no doubt at all about the revolting facts. Of course they shall be trained at arms. They shall also churn butter, hew firewood, muck stables, empty chamber pots, and run messages … and in between they pantofi sport cu scai barbati will be drilled with spear and sword and longbow.”. “No. I know nothing special. He hoped the two new garrisons would make a difference. The Watch can make the free folk bleed, but in the end we cannot hope to stop them. She was fond of my polo raflorene late son and suspects cizme din denim you of having some part in his demise. Lady Barbrey is a woman who knows how to nurse a grievance. Outside the pyramid, it began to rain. Ser Barristan sat along in the dark, listening. I’ll tell you about it afterwards. How many times I began hinting to him to forgive her; I daren’t say it right out, so I begin to hint at it, in a tactful way. Pennytree proved to be a much larger village than he had anticipated. The war had been here too; blackened orchards ghete galbene piele and the scorched shells of broken houses testified to that. The defendant appealed to a higher court, and the decision was reversed, on the ground that the hirer has for the time being all the rights of the master. The remarks of Judge Ruffin are so characteristic, and so strongly express the conflict between the feelings of the humane judge and the logical necessity of a strict interpreter of slave-law, that we shall quote largely from it. In one of the three windows on the ground floor there was a miniature red coffin — as a sign that a working coffin-maker lived there. The windows of the upper storey were extremely small and perfectly square with dingy-green broken bocanci grisport 480 panes, kimono long femme grande taille through which I caught a glimpse of pink cotton curtains. The larger, heavier, slower ships made for Lys, to sell the captives taken on the Shields, the women and children of Lord Hewett’s Town and other islands, along with such men who decided they would sooner yield than die. Victarion had only contempt for such weaklings. The warg stopped beneath a tree and sniffed, his grey-brown fur dappled by shadow. A sigh of piney wind brought the man-scent to him, over fainter smells that spoke of fox and hare, seal and stag, even wolf. Two years after, the General Assembly, by a sudden and very unexpected movement, passed a vote exscinding, without trial, from the communion of the church, four synods, comprising the most active and decided anti-slavery portions chanel ágynemű of the church. The reasons alleged were, doctrinal differences and ecclesiastical cizme vara cu toc practices inconsistent with Presbyterianism. Underneath her furs the female was just skin and bones, but her dugs were full of milk. The sweetest meat was on the pup. Ole folks die. O, dat’s be my boderation, Missis,—when ole people be dead, den we be scattered all ‘bout. “Will you give me your name?” he asked, as he took a cup of wine from her. “No?” The wine was strong and sour and required no translation. In the meek and submissive haste of the poor decrepit old man there was so much to provoke compassion, so much to wring the heart, that the whole company, from Adam Ivanitch downward, took a different view of the position at once. It was evident that the old man, far from being capable of insulting anyone, realized that he might be turned out from anywhere like a beggar.. “0-oh! I ask you because I think I know the house. So much the better. Jaime, I need Jaime. But if her twin was in the city, why had he not come to her? It might be wiser to wait on Jaime until she had a better notion of what was happening beyond the walls of the Great Sept of Baelor.

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drangues · 5 years ago

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Ooohhh that’s a good one! But now I’m torn between this, soft, just woke up Dazatsu (possibly Dazatsuya because I love all three? Depends on my mood???), and Dazai deciding that it’s time to harass Atsushi with Tickles. So many choicesss. And!!! I could definitely see Chuuya hoarding suncatchers, I bet the most valuable ones (to him) are the ones that others make for him because Obviously they’re one of a kind, like! (Nyanon, 1/7)

Atsushi and Kyouka work together to make him one out of some gems or pretty glass and metal they’ve found and No One can touch it. Of course Dazai would bet Years of his life, he’s just Like That. It never works how he wants it to, of course, and he probably has thousands of years ADDED instead of taken away because of those bets, but still. Atsushi just wants him to Stop because being the Ambassador to the fair folk AND the spirit realm while being an intern is. Tiring. (Nyanon, 2/7)

Dazai please he just wants to sleep. Though, to be fair, since the fae like him, his payments are all things like “a memory someone who hurt you has of you” or “a scar on your body” or “an hour’s worth of exhaustion,” so really, it’s just annoying because the fair folk go to him to complain about Dazai (and also Ranpo). Anyways, listen, you canNOT look me in the eyes and say that Oda wouldn’t love him. (Nyanon, 3/7)

You can’t say that Odasaku’s immediately reaction to Atsushi (and also Kyouka) wouldn’t be “I must adopt them. I feel it in my blood.” The three of them deserve each otherrr. AND ITS SUCH A GOOD BLOG FOR STUFF LIKE THIS I love it so muchhh. Anyways, yeah that sounds like them!!! Though I will say that, because I think Ango still cares about Dazai, the only way I can imagine Dazai going all secret agent is if he insists on it because he thinks he Deserves it. (Nyanon, 4/7)

Alternatively, maybe he and Ango and Oda are actually some secret task force who do infiltrations together? I don’t know, EITHER WAY Dazai would definitely test Atsushi’s story methods with Extreme Prejudice, and his coworkers wanna know where the fuck his techniques come from. Poor Atsushi has no idea, he just thinks Dazai does Very Intense research for him and he loves the man for it. Anyways, here! Have another AU Concept: Detective Pikachu AU! (Nyanon, 5/7)

I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but basically, someone seems to have died, only for the other to come across the “dead” person’s talking Pokémon, who only they can understand (because as it turns out, the Pokémon is the seemingly dead person, and they have a Bond). Cue intense bonding, frantic mystery solving, and the uncovering of experiments. Now, whether or not it’s Dazai or Atsushi who gets turned, I’m not sure... Or maybe neither of them? (Nyanon, 6/7)

Maybe a father figure gets turned and the other is the reporter/columnist they meet along the way, as in canon. Thoughts? (Nyanon, 7/7)

AAAAAAAAAA DAZAI ATTACKING ATSUSHI WITH TICKLES DEFINITELY UWUWUWUWU

atsushi being lovd by the fair folk would be like how an annoying older sibling loves their sibling; constant teasing, complaining and pranking which is why atsushi probably is shocked that dazai and ranpo ARENT fae’s

fairy: i hate dazai and ranpo

atsushi: You Guys Are Two Sides Of One Coin

anyways i wasnt saying that oda wouldnt love him because he WOULD, and after oda learns about about what happened at the orphanage-

ango & oda: dazai we knew you were smart but,,,,damn these plans be a bit Too Good dont u think-

dazai, staring at a picture of atsushi he has in his pocket, phone and wallet: *sighs lovingly* my baby is the best

ango & oda: ????

dazai would definitely look at atsushi’s draft and try and make the plan even better cus in the end atsushi DOESNT know how things work perfectly so dazai just scribbles on his actual plan to atsushi and atsushi just thinks that dazai is very obsessed with true crime and has read way too much which is why he knows (thats exactly what dazai told him oSGHDJKS)

OHHH DETECTIVE PIKACHU IT’S DEFINITELY BEEN ON MY WATCH LIST THAT I FORGOT ABOUT THANK U FOR REMINDING ME it seems like such a good show and pikachu having such a deep voice OEGEHJKSLDSHJK maybe dazai and atsushi stumble across each other owo?? or dazai is atsushi’s Love Interest and pikachu immediately catches on like “you shy ass motherfucker i fucking see you cONFESS DO IT CONFESS HE WANTS TO ASK YOU OUT S O BAD THAT WAS FLIRTING OH MY GO-” while all dazai hears is “pika uwu pika pika uwuwuwuwuwu pikAA!!!” (or wait they dont see the pokemon right ??? man it was a long time ago i watched the trailer)

#anon #ask #ask anon #anon ask #bsd #nyanon #nyatsushi anon

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lo-55 · 4 years ago

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Shattered Chains of Fate Ch. 10

Encroaching Shadows

Everything goes haywire, as Ichigo's plans usually go. No plan survives the first blows of battle, but the best warriors are those who adapt.

Still, he didn’t expect Renji to recognize him off the bat and sound the alarm.

The first person to respond is a captain.

Or maybe some kind of wannabe porcupine. Ichigo hasn’t decided yet.

They don’t tag team (lucky for Ichigo, stupid for them), and the end result it Ichigo takes down a lieutenant and a captain in quick succession, with brutal blows and quick footwork.

(Mordred had taught him a thing or two, about fighting against almost-berserkers and countering raw power.

How proud Mo would be, to see Ichigo has his own steadily-increasing abilities now)

Ichigo gets away with a long gash going down his arm and not much else.

It’s really Kenpachi’s fault. He offered Ichigo a free first shot and Zangetsu had rent his flesh and bone beneath Ichigo’s unyielding will.

After that the rest of the cronies showed up, lead by another lieutenant, and Ichigo ends that fight just as fast. The lieutenant, a blond man with a solemn face, hits the ground before he even gets to unleash his sword. Ichigo is starting to think it’s best to blitz high ranked shinigami before they can use their zanpakuto. It’s the same strategy he’d used in wars. Hit opposing servants before they could use their noble phantasm. They all took at least a few minutes to charge and recover between strikes.

If he can stop them from even using them, it’ll be easier than trying to figure out what each ability is and how to counter them.

Ichigo sits off to the side while Hanataro, a little medic who had been at the back of the group of enemies, tends to the two bleeding figures on the ground.

They’re more pressing than he is, and Ichigo is perfectly capable of stitching his own arm up.

He’s aware of Ganju staring at him, while he chats ideally with fretting little girl with bright pink hair.

She feels like Kenpachi does. Exactly like him, actually, a playful animal with the most lethal of teeth. A predator that sits at his side, shadowed and dangerous and grinning.

Ichigo tries not to think of the chaos that would unfold if Yachiru had been in Chaldeas when the other kids started pouring in. Jack, Alice, and the Lily’s.

Finally, Ganju speaks.

“Ichigo… just who are you?”

Ichigo glances up from his work. “Huh?”

“I don’t get it. You say you’re not a shinigami, but you’ve taken down three of their highest ranked officers with barely a scratch. I could barely stand in the presence of that man, but you didn’t even blink! You switch plans on the fly. I watched you fight and it was like you changed who you were between one and the other. And now you’re stitching yourself without even flinching. Just who are you?!”

Ichigo paused, eying Ganju speculatively. Yoruichi, too, looks interested.

“Ichigo,” she intones, “You called me a ‘familiar’. Were you referring to the animals that partner with human magicians?”

It’s possible that he’s gotten too used to playing it close to the chest, if he’s still hesitating to explain himself. They’re in the land of the dead. They’ve fallen from the sky. What judgement can they render him?

“... yeah,” he says at last. “I’m not very good at it, but I’m a mage. I’m a combat mage for the Chaldea Security Organization.”

Ichigo grimaces.

“Or, I was.”

“Was?” Yoruichi steps lightly towards him.

“Yeah. There was an accident at Chaldea. Sabotage, actually. It blew up. A lot of people died.”

He’d been helpless, helpless, helpless .

“I started training. I learned how to fight better than before. Chaldea has a magic that makes time pass differently,” he doesn’t say it lets them yeet their soul thousands of years in the past. That’s a little far even for shinigami. “I left when I was fifteen. I was gone for a few weeks. I came back three years later, for me at least. I’m eighteen now.”

Eighteen and the survivor of nearly a dozen wars.

Eighteen and the last of his team.

Final Master of Humanity, Light in the Darkness, Master of FATE, Archduke of the Roman Empire, Savior, Guardian of the Future.

He is all of these things.

He is Ichigo Kurosaki, he is eighteen years old and he has seen four thousand years. He will save Rukia. No matter what.

He goes back to stitching up his arm.

Ichigo wishes it was not Yoruichi and Ganju that he’s confessed to. He wishes it was Kyo. His promise(s) sit heavy in his chest.

He cannot die yet. He had promises to keep.

He must find Kyo. He had promises to keep.

Once more, he tastes the bile of indecision and helplessness.

For all his power that he now has, he is so limited by where he is and what he’s doing. He want to rush in. He has the power to cut down those in his way. But his friends have come with him and for their sake he must be a leader, he must be a Master without command seals in his hand. He cannot be reckless with their lives in his hands. They are weaker than he, they are his responsibility. He can’t expect them to keep up and adapt to his crazy plans the way his servants did.

As soon as Rukia is rescued, he tells himself, he will find Kyo. He will find a way to convince him of his crazy story and make him understand everything that’s happened. He’ll tell him everything they didn’t have time to discuss in america, and apologize for the damage he’s surely done to his home with this rescue mission. If Ichigo had managed to get him alone, maybe he would have been able to get Kyo to help him even. He knows he has little love for this place.

(So why is he a captain?)

Hanataro comes to check his stitches, even though he looks dead on his feet. Yachiru takes Kenpachi away, carrying him like he weighs nothing at all.

Ichigo is starting to see an annoying trend. One where he wakes up feeling like he’s been hit by a bus, rolled over on his face, and trampled by a freight train on steroids.

Ichigo stares at what remains of the ceiling of the whitehouse. His chest aches and his head hurts, and there’s someone holding his hand so tightly he thinks it might break.

Ichigo turns his head enough to see Kyo at his side. His brown hair is blown back, limp strands falling across his sharp cheeks. Behind him, back facing Ichigo, was Medusa. Her clothes were torn and her hair lashed out and spit venom with a vengeance.

“What?” his voice warped and reverberated. Ichigo’s brows furrowed and he cleared his throat until he spat out a glob of white and red. Kyo pulls him until he’s sitting up and he shakes his head. Something white falls from his hair and disappears around his shoulders.

“What the fuck happened?” He asks, looking around. There’s a demon god pillar, white and red, with a gaping hole blown straight through one side of it. It leans sideways like a tree ready to topple. Who had done that? Which of his servants was so capable?

“You were stabbed through,” Kyo says, his voice strained and his skin pale. “Your magic went haywire and-”

“Scathach returned,” Cu Chulainn cuts in sharply. He gives Kyo a hard look that Ichigo has never seen on his laid back servant's face while he kneels at his other side. “She didn’t die, she only retreated to the Shadow Lands to recover her strength. When the other me used Gae Bolg on you, she managed some type of magic to stop the damage.” Cu taps his chest and Ichigo looks down. His shirt hangs around his hips and arms in shreds of white. In the center of his chest is a perfect red circle, right above his heart.

He actually touches his throat to double check that his heart was beating. He should be dead. Gae Bolg is all but a one shot kill attack. What had Scathach done to keep him from dying?

“She came back? Where is she? Was she the one that damaged the god pillar?.., wait, where’s the berserker?!” Ichigo’s head swings around, but the other Cu Chulainn is nowhere to be seen.

“We were winning,” his Caster says, “So he offered himself to the grail for Medb’s wish and became a demon god pillar.”

“Oh,” Ichigo stands with a grunt. “Fuck.”

Another look at the God Pillar reveals that the gaping hole has done plenty of damage. He’s almost eighty percent dead by now. It’ll only take a couple more attacks before it falls and they win. He can see the glimmer of the holy grail deep inside its body.

“She said something before she left again,” Kyo adds hastily. Ichigo doesn’t know what’s shaken him so badly, but there’s a gleam of curiosity that borders on manic in his eyes. Ichigo would be worried, if he trusted Kyo less.

“What did she say?” Ichigo asks. The demon rumbles, preparing for attack. Medusa, who is bleeding badly from one shoulder, stands firm with Mash at her side. Rama lay’s on his side several feet away, breathing but bloody, and Nightingale is unconscious but not dead nearer by. Ichigo realizes that Cu’s right arm is pressed close to his chest, clearly broken. What the hell had happened?

“In regards to your heart,” he taps Ichigo’s chest, raising a hiss from him. It’s sensitive, like new flesh beneath peeled skin. “If the day comes that it gives you issue, she said this;

Sand and towers, glass and stone. The lady waits for him alone. Ebon glass in emerald frame, cracked white lily speak her name. Blood red bane in dragon's stone. The bone crown waits for him alone.”

Ichigo looks between Kyo and Cu.

“What, and I cannot emphisize this enough, the fuck does that mean?!”

“It’s a way to find her,” Cu says shortly. Once more, he gives Kyo a sharp look. There’s something more going on, but Ichigo can’t focus on that right now. There’s a secret they don’t have time to unravel. Cu wouldn’t endanger him willingly. So he stands, throwing an arm around Kyo’s shoulders for support, and turns hard eyes to the pillar of power, all white and red crystalline destruction.

“Medusa!” he calls, “Are you okay?” With Nightingale down they don’t have a healer, and Ichigo’s mystic code has been shredded. He can’t heal either.

“I’m fine,” she says shortly, her voice the rattle of chains. “This is just the price I pay for failing my duty.”

“Your duty?” Ichigo frowns.

“I was supposed to protect you. I failed, and now we’re here. I paid for it.”

Ichigo’s frown grows into a scowl. “Don’t you start that shit!”

“Can we argue later?” Mash calls, gripping her shield tightly. “We’re in the middle of a fight.”

Ichigo can’t argue with that. He nods grimly. This is it. “Let’s go.”

* *

Ichigo eyes the door to the senzaikyu curiously. Hanataro has come with them, and he has the key. They haven’t had time to really work it all out, why he wants so badly to help them save her, but Ichigo is not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Very rarely have Ichigo’s instincts lead him wrong, and they tell him Hanataro is help that they will need.

More than that, though, is the feeling of cool petals brushing at the back of his mind. Ichigo breathes in the scent of blossoms and ink, and tastes a trace of banked fire beneath it.

“Ganju. Hanataro. We’re about to have company. You guys go ahead inside. Get Rukia for me.”

He doesn’t know how this is going to go, exactly, but he tastes someone new on the air.

They taste like a tempest on the horizon, like the storms at sea just before they crashed, when the water was still clear at blue and the Golden Hind cut surely through the waves.

Ichigo pulls his wig off and stuffs it into his bag. It would be bad for it to fly off in the middle of a fight, and he’s loathe to let go of his disguise. Even if it doesn’t work that well.

It’s Byakuya who makes the top of the stairs first. Of course it is.

Ichigo grips his Zanpakuto tighter. Zangetsu hums a deep note in his hands, sure and steady. Ichigo is smart enough to be weary. Byakuya beat him once before. He can’t afford to lose to him again. Especially now that he hasn’t got Rukia’s ice to freeze the bladed petals in place.

She was coldness and ice and fierce, stinging power. He was brute force, soaring power, and stubborn, unbending will.

Ichigo readies his sword. He can hear shouting from inside the senzaikyu. He has no clue what Hanataro and Ganju are doing, he hopes Hanataro hasn’t betrayed them, but he must focus on the task at hand now.

“Byakuya.” There’s nothing but venom in his voice. Ichigo doesn’t hate easily, but Rukia is this mans sister and that he would just let her die makes him sick to his stomach. He rages inside his soul, power cutting along the blade of Zangetsu.

“Ichigo Kurosaki,” Byakuya looks at him with nothing short of the most mild contempt. It drives Ichigo up a wall.

He darts in and swings, hard, aiming to cut Byakuya in two if he has to. Zangetsu sings when he clashes with Byakuya’s sword. The contact sharpens every sense Ichigo has about him. Their power were to different for him to notice before, but now he can hear the hiss of a fiery inclination, tempered behind steel bars.

Byakuya it forced to skid back several steps.

Ichigo grins when he catches sight of the slightest widening of his slate grey eyes.

“Ichigo!”

He barely dares glance behind him.

There’s Rukia, in all her glory. Dressed no longer in her shihakusho, but a plain white kimono. Ichigo can barely feel the soft brush of snow on his skin. It seems to evaporate as soon as it touches his cheeks.

Rukia meets his eyes and her knees give out.

“Rukia!” Ichigo shouts, horrified.

He barely cares that Byakuya uses his distraction to throw him back. He takes the inertia and uses it to skid back, to Hanataro and Ganju’s side. Ganju feels more tumultuous than usual, and Hanataro is still and small, a shadow to the side.

It’s not them he cares about.

“Rukia?!” He repeats, kneeling at her side. What-?

“I was-” her voice is rough and breathless, “I was in the sekiseki stone for too long. My powers are too weak.”

Too weak? She’s being crushed beneath just their aura?

Like Ganju and Kenpachi.

Fuck.

Ichigo looks at her, helpless. This is not the same strong, stubborn girl he’d grown used to. This is not the girl who lent him her sword, pale white and shining with it’s graceful ribbon.

Wait…

“They’re the essence or the soul of my staff. They work a bit like command seals.”

Merlin’s voice echoes in his head.

Ichigo reaches out and grasps the thick wrapping that hangs from Zangetu’s hilt. Like command seals, a manifestation of miracles that bind master and servant. Ichigo poured his energy into the ribbon until it bled a dark red. He bit the edge and tore the red section off. It stung, like ripping off a slice of his own skin.

Ichigo wrapped it around her wrist, and let the age old, familiar feeling of having his power drawn from his body take over. He pushed it into her, using the ribbon as a medium.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Byakuya, faster than Ichigo can blink, is upon them. Sword drawn, Ichigo barely blocks the deadly slice in the air. Even as he holds Byakuya at bay he can feel the draining of his Reiryoku. Admittedly, he barely feels it even while he pushes it into Rukia’s body. It’s nothing like the weight of a goddess’ Noble Phantasm. He’d nearly died in Babylon, not because of laymu or giant axes being thrown through the sky, but because he’d helped a goddess drag stars from the sky to shoot down their enemies.

Rukia gasps, loudly. There’s a flash of light and the blow of red and white energy pops with smoke. It brushes gently, cold against Ichigo’s skin.

Byakuya’s eyes widen in shock. Ichigo uses his distraction to thrust their blades and hit him with a roundhouse kick.

Byakuya is forced backwards. He keeps going, until he’s a fair distance away, and raises his sword. The scent of sakura blossoms and steel grows stronger.

“What’s he gonna do from way back there?” Ganju mutters, but Ichigo already knows. From her expression, so does Rukia. Her white Kimono is gone, but the black shihakusho hasn’t reformed. Instead she’s in a different kimono, still white but this one with a high collar and wide sleeves. There’s a pale green obi around her (far too skinny) middle, and frost has settled across the crown of her dark hair. In her hands, her sword shakes.

“Rukia,” Ichigo says slowly. “I know you didn’t ask me to save you. I know you told me not to. But I’m here. And I can’t save you, and I can’t beat him, unless you help me. I’ll give you all the power you need, but you’re the only one who can stop his zanpakuto. Okay?”

He expects a fight. He expects her to smack him in the head and shout.

Instead she regards him with something between terror and awe and nods, minutely.

Truthfully, Ichigo is certain he can beat Byakuya as he is now. It might be arrogance, but to him it’s the truth. He can see his strength, and they’re on even footing now. The biggest problem is the number of blades he can command. Ichigo doesn’t know how find of control he has over them, but he’s not willing to risk Rukia’s life finding out.

On top of that, Rukia looks so helpless, so downtrodden and resigned. Even if Ichigo saves her here, it will do her no good if she isn’t willing to pick up a sword and fight for her life.

Yoruichi is gone again, he notes with a frown.

“Get ready,” he says grimly.

Byakuya only looks at Ichigo. He refuses to so much as glance at his sister.

“Scatter. Senbonsakura.”

Byakuya raises his hand, Rukia raises her sword, and the world turns white.

***

“Do you know where you are?”

The voice is soft and playful. It would be comforting, in any other circumstances. It comes with the overpowering smell of flowers and the spice of life energy that sends him into a sneezing fit.

It takes a few minutes for him to recover long enough to actually peel his eyes open and have a look around. Flowers as far at the eye can see, an ocean of blossoms that meet a pale blue horizon.

“Eh!?” He looks around frantically. “Where am I? What’s going on?”

His gaze freezes on a man with a white hood over his head and weird stick in one hand. “Who are you?!”

“Me?” He the man smiles and tilts his head. His eyes are mostly hidden. “I’m no one important. Or, someone very important but unable to matter until the dream of existence has ended. You understand?”

“...Not even remotely. Where are we?”

“We’re in a dream.” The man sits among the flowers, which ripple like water around him and flow back to cling to his clothes. “It must be because you’ve borrowed ‘That Vessel’ for the time being.”

“Vessel… You mean this body?” he touched his chest, but when he looks down it’s not a hand that he sees. There’a limb, but it’s most incorperal. Nearly transparent. His whole body is, actually. “What the hell?!”

“You should calm down. If you panic too much, the threads of your being might unravel. We don’t want that, now do we?”

“Just who the hell are you?!” He finally points at the stranger. As much as he can point with barely a hand.

“Me? Why, I am Merlin. And who are you?”

Merlin? Had Ichigo ever mentioned someone like that?

“...I’m Kon,” he says finally. “What kind of dream is this? And why are you in it?”

“Oh well. I was trying to get ahold of someone else, but you popped in instead. Maybe you can help me to help him. You’re Ichigo’s friend aren’t you, the artificial soul?”

“How did you know that?” Kon gaped at him.

“Ichigo’s told me all about his adventures. I sent him something to help him along a while ago, but I believe he forgot it in all the excitement of rescuing the Rukia girl. You want to help Ichigo don’t you? Make him less prone to melancholy?”

Merlin was right. Ichigo was kind of a downer some times. Still, how could a dream fix that? And how could this guy send things from a dream into the real world?

“I guess… What did you have in mind?

The smile returned to the strangers mouth.

“I decided. A reunion with a friend would suite him well. Won’t you help me, Kon?”

How is he supposed to say no to that?

“Alright. Why not. What’s the worst that could happen?”

****

Ichigo eyes the massive waves of ice that covers not only Byakuya’s tide of cherry blossomed steel, but also the man himself, the entire bridge, the building behind it, and a good fifty feet of the sky beyond even that.

He blinks. Once. Twice. Thrice.

“I think we overdid it,” he muses, running his fingers through his hair.

“Holy shit,” Ganju says eloquently.

“I-I had no idea Miss Rukia was so powerful…” Hanataro breathes in utter awe.

“I’m not,” Rukia tells him, even as she herself stares at the new glacier with no small amount of fly-catching. “Ichigo, what did you do?!”

“Huh?” he rolls his shoulder to peer down at her. “I lent you my energy, duh. You’re the one that took it and ran with it. This is your full capability right now. Don’t celebrate yet. There’s a storm coming.”

“A storm…?”

Ichigo can feel it better now. Lightning along his skin, water in his hair, the wind pulling at his soul. There’s a shadow not far behind it. A laugh on the wind and too-sweet sake.

He turns, the others follow him a second later, just in time to a blur of white come to a halt. Slung over one shoulder is Byakuya Kuchiki, who is less frozen than Ichigo had hoped. Damn.

The man who holds him looks rather frail. His cheeks are thin, and there’s a hollowness under his eyes. It’s hair is stark white, and his eyes are deep sea-green.

Ichigo isn’t fooled by the gentle smile. It’s not false, really, but it hides something dangerous. Ichigo thinks once more of the ocean. Thinks of Francis. Bright and laidback but more dangerous than any hurricane. A woman who punched the sea god himself in the face and stole his holy grail.

This man is no francis drake, no pirate, but the feeling of a current about to sweep him away is there all the same. This is not a man to take lightly.

“C-Captain Ukitake!”

Rukia’s captain. Ichigo can see a gentleness in the way he smiles at her, even if he is puzzled.

“Rukia! How are you? You look thinner. Just what happened?” He asks one quick succession.

Ichigo nearly growls at him, a beast of protectiveness stirring. His instincts tell him to be weary, this man is strong, but the need to protect Rukia rings truer.

Like a dragon set to guard a castle, Ichigo wants to wrap his arm around her middle and launch himself into the air and away.

He can’t.

He didn’t even see this captain move . There is no way they can escape. And, Ichigo isn’t so sure he can beat this storm in human skin.

He grips his sword tighter anyhow. Now the storm, Ukitake, stands between them and Ganju and Hanataro. They’re weaker. All he need do is turn around and-

“Rukia,” Ukitake’s eyes are on him now, wide, his mouth stretched and his throat suddenly tense. “Who is this?”

Ichigo narrows his eyes minutely.

“I’m Ichigo Kurosaki,” he says shortly, honestly. Why bother lying? Rukia’s time with him has proven that shinigami suck at navigating the living world. And once he dies, no one will ever find him.

Ichigo hears the hiss first. He doesn’t dare take his eyes off Ukitake even when Rukia twists around and gasps. It takes him a second to realize that the petals of senbonzakura are coalescing back into its original shape, fluttering past the pair of them without doing any damage at all.

Does Byakuya even want to hurt Rukia? Or is he just too cowardly to stand up for his sister?

Ichigo doesn’t care.

Byakuya struggles as dignified as he can until Ukitake sets him down on the ground again. One of his legs is covered in ice, and the skin revealed from a shattered pant leg is red and ugly. So Rukia had caught his leg.

Too bad Byakuya is a long range fighter.

He brings his sword up and drops it into the ground. Ichigo’s mouth opens when it sinks with a ripple into the earth.

“Kuchiki,” Ukitake frowns. “Surely you’re going overboard with this.”

“This does not concern you,” Byakuya says firmly. His gunmetal grey eyes are locked on Ichigo. “Rukia is my sister. I will execute her myself if I must. Bankai . “

“Ban-huh?” Ichigo’s brows furrow. All around them, massive swords rise from rippling air. One by one that shatter and twist into those pink blossoms. It would be beautiful and poetic, if Byakuya wasn’t trying to kill him.

Joy.

Idly, while the flowers swirl around them in a deadly dance, Ichigo says,

“ Cherry blossoms scatter

Snap, the buck’s antlers

Come off

Without regret

They fall and scatter

Cherry blossoms.”

“That’s a very nice poem,” Rukia says dryly, “But it doesn’t stop us about to die!”

Ichigo may have spent too much time with Murasaki Shikibu. “Why are you yelling at me?! Stop them again!”

“I can’t stop my brother’s Bankai!” she shouted, looking at him like he was insane. Ichigo rolled his eyes at her.

“Have you tried?”

“No but-”

“No buts!” Ichigo smacks his fist down on top of her head. “Hurry up!”

“Fuck you!”

At least she sounds more like herself now. Nevertheless she settles her sword in front of her again. Ichigo pours his power into her, until the ribbon on her wrists glows faintly red. Her eyes gleam the palest blue and she puts herself between Ichigo and her own brother.

“Tsugi no mai,” bells ring and she dips the tip of her sword in the ground, “ Hakuren .”

There’s so many waves of blossoms she’s forced to repeat the move four times. Each time Ichigo swings his sword, sending out wave after wave of his own attack. He doesn’t know it’s name, still, but that’s less important now than just not dying. A few petals slip through, slicing through Ichigo’s body. He only bleeds sluggishly.

Ichigo darts through the cloud of cherry blossoms, towards a Byakuya that looks halfway to actually upset. His mouth is curved downwards.

Ichigo brings his sword down hard, slicing through the air and the bridge. Pale energy roars forth. Even with Rukia consuming his Reiryoka he doesn’t falter when Byakuya shoots balls of light at him. He dodges between them, ducks down, and swings upwards. His sword is stopped by a glowing pink one that forms in Byakuya’s hand.

Ichigo let’s go of Zangetsu. The ribbon at the end it wrapped firmly around his wrist and swings wildly at Byakuya’s legs, when it’s blocked against.

Ichigo plants both of his hands on the glowing sword, letting the blades bits into his skin while he hoists himself above it and slams his head into Byakuya’s nose.

It gives way with a crunch. The sword dissolves and Ichigo kicks him hard in the stomach and drives his elbow on the mans back when he’s forced to double over.

Ichigo punches the back of his head with a bleeding fist.

Byakuya hits the ground, still, and the flower petals slowly float back to his side.

Ichigo turns to the other captain while he wraps his hands up like a boxer with Zangetsu’s white ribbons.

Rukia is panting, surrounded by glittering ice and snow, but with Ichigo’s power coursing through her she doesn’t fall to her knees. Even when another stupidly strong man comes out of nowhere to stand beside Ukitake. The one Ichigo had felt before.

The shadow. The laugh on the wind. A man with a straw hat and a pink kimono across his shoulders. His brown hair is tied back, save a single strand that falls across his face.

He looks a bit like Kyo. Older, more easy going, but he doesn’t feel the same.

This is the man that feels like a stretched shadow and a laugh, and smells like too-sweet sake. There is a poem somewhere under his skin.

Ichigo narrows his eyes at the pair of them. They move with the ease of long practice, a duo that knows how the other so much as breathes.

“Oh wow. I didn’t expect you to be surrounded by such interesting people, Juushiro. They one is rather brutal,” the new comer cocked his head, his eyes on Ichigo.

He’s strong. He and Ukitake are both strong enough that even without releasing their zanpakuto he’d been willing to bet that they were born around the time of the round table. They don’t have the raw destructive power of Mordred or Artoria, but they’re at least on par with Agravain.

Agravain, the Man Who Knew No Wounds.

Ichigo holds his ground.

“I wasn’t expecting it either,” Ukitake confessed. He tilted his head, and called out two smaller Shinigami. When he sent them off to fetch someone from the fourth, Ichigo made no move to stop them.

“Are you going to try to stop us?” Ichigo asks lowly.

“Stop you from what, exactly?” the man with the hat asks, “You Ryoka are so tricky, this is the first time we’ve been able to corner one of you. To think you disguised yourself,” he casts a glance at Ganju over his shoulder. Ganju, who stays perfectly still. Like a rabbit caught in a snare.

Rukia, too, looks much more hesitant to fight these two men than she was to raise a sword to even her own brother.

Ichigo doesn’t blame them.

“Right,” Ichigo runs his thumb across the back edge of Zangetsu. “Rukia. You should go now.”

“What?” her head snaps to him. “I’m not just going to run-!”

“Rukia,” his voice sharpens. Commanding, firm, it’s nothing like the laidback boy who she had taught the shinigami ways to, all those months ago. It feels like half a lifetime. “Go. The other’s are waiting for you. Bad Luck should lead your path. Take Ganju and Hanataro with you. We kidnapped him along the way,” he adds for good measure. If he can make sure at least one of them won’t get in trouble for this, he will.

“That’s very noble of you,” says the hatman. “But you can’t really believe that we’ll just let you go, no can you?”

“Honestly, I don’t know how you people think at all,” Ichigo nearly spits his disdain at them. “You’re going to execute Rukia for saving people’s lives and protecting humans. You’re all willing to just follow orders, even if it means murdering your own sister, or someone you’re supposed to take care of!” he turns his burning eye on Ukitake, who actually leans back from his vitriol. “So no. I don’t think you’ll let us go. That’s why I’m not going to give you a choice!”

He throws himself at them, wrapping his power around him in a glowing cloak of defense easy to switch to devastating offense. He does not have his Shielder here, and the only one he knows is strong enough to have his back now is Rukia, who cannot stand against the pair of titans before him.

The hatman draws the shorter of his blade to block Ichigo. The impact jars his hands enough that they start to bleed through their wrappings.

“You should just surrender,” he says piteously. “You’re already injured. You’ve taken down two captains and three lieutenants. You should really be proud. You’ve proven you’re a force to be reckoned with. That’s why, I cannot let you leave here so easily.”

Ichigo notes, in the part of his mind that has learned to puzzle over and pick apart people's intentions, that he had not said leave at all.

“Fine then,” Ichigo pours his power through his sword and pushes the man back until he’s forced to draw his second. “I have no problem fighting you if I have to. And whatever the outcome is,” whether Ichigo finds himself dead on the ground, or whether this man falls to his blade, “Let it be on my head. And the Devil take the hindmost.”

*****

As the weight of the Ryoka’s power settles across the Seireitei, far off in a mansion of white walls and dark shadows, an old man bereft of a future lifts his head. From the shadows his eyes glow with the faint blue of hellfire.

He has waited centuries for this. His wait is coming to a close.

All around him his children scramble, while one run away stretches out near the epicenter of change.

******

#Ichigo Kurosaki #bleach fanfiction #BAMF!Ichigo Kurosaki #Ichigo Kurosaki is Ritsuka Fujimaru #gin ichimaru #kyo (SCoF)#rukia kuchiki #sosuke aizen #Merlin Fate/Grand Order

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fuwafuwamedb · 6 years ago

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Singularity Subspecies V: The Holy Land: Jerusalem: Jerusalem of Holy Sin - Chapter 5: Investigating Angels and the Self

Chapters: Prologue - Chapter One - Chapter Two - Chapter Three - Chapter Four

> ”Investigation”

“We investigate around the palace.”

“Sure, and while we’re at it, why don’t we just knock on the front door and yell to Moses that he’s being an idiot and should stop turning the sky black.”

Ozymandias looked like he was mulling it over as Gudako sighed.

This wasn’t how they should be starting an investigation. Their attention needed to be on searching the area. They needed to dress in part with the people here, wander out, and investigate. Talk to people. Help people. They could search freely in peace.

Ozymandias was best with her. Alone, he’d be wandering the city, demanding others to locate his family members and mauling any barrier in his way.

“We could,” the pharaoh decided after a moment.

“Geez, listen to him!” Cu Chulainn leaned over the pharaoh, crossing his arms. He already had changed, as had her and David. They’d just needed Ozymandias to change and work alongside them.

“Our master suggested that we go to my brother. I agree that we should.”

“Except for the fact that he tried to kick our collective ass and we then got our asses handed to us by the golden asshole afterwards, but yeah. Sure. Let’s do that.”

Ozymandias looked to David.

“Don’t make me voice my opposition, pharaoh.” The man shook his head and headed for the door. “I’m heading to the east side of the city. When you are all ready, feel-“

“We go together. We’re gonna head off in pairs, a little ways away from one another.” Gudako glanced over at the man. “Cu will work with you, David. Ozy’s with me.”

“Good luck with that, Gudako.”

She threw the Celt a look for that.

It really wasn’t helping to hear him say things like that.

“Well, if he’s with you, then we’re going to need to head out.”

It took time though.

The pharaoh simply would not be moved. If he had been one of her servants in all ways, she’d have been able to demand compliance with a command spell. Instead, she was stuck begging. She was stuck waiting.

The more she begged, the longer things took.

Cu Chulainn nudged her out with David after a moment.

“Give me a moment,” the Celt told them.

The pharaoh was out, walking next to her and eyeing the Celt when they walked a minute or so behind the Celt and the old king.

“What did he say?”

“He’s the son of a sun god…” Ozymandias glanced over at her. “He informed me that his father was the very sun himself… To think that one of mine would become so horribly riddled with misfortune.”

She could almost see the groan that would have come from that comment.

Still, it meant he was working with them.

Well played.

“Drunks.”

“Hmm?”

Ozymandias wrinkled his nose, glancing around as he adjusted his clothing. “They’re all drunk, Gudako. They have been for the entire street.”

Glancing around, she could see people here and there. Their bodies were leaning against chairs, walls, fencing; they all were resting. A few swayed from where they were. A few prayed, their words a slur of sounds.

Gudako stopped, watching one.

“Sir!”

She pulled Ozymandias with her, catching the attention of their friends ahead.

“Sir!”

One of the praying men stopped, looking over at her.

“Maiden, hark the angels that tread upon the holy lands.”

She frowned. “Sir?”

“Angels. Like sisters, walking through the streets. Their judgement makes the heart light. Their touch heals. Their smiles…” The man began praying harder.

“They’ve seen Nefertari,” Ozymandias told her. “These angels, where did they go?”

“They headed towards the direction of the palace. They’ll cure our guardian.”

“Guardian?”

“The one who brought our people and saved them from slavery. The one who will protect us from the evil one coming.”

Evil?

“This guardian,” Ozymandias was kneeling down. “White hair? A head or so smaller than me? Dresses as you do?”

“Moses,” the civilian smiled. “Our guardian.”

“Ah, you are like his child.” The pharaoh pat the man’s shoulder. “And you are well loved.”

The man began praying again.

“You’re proud.”

“Immensely.”

She grinned, but still. “Who’s the evil?” She asked the civilian.

“The great giant. The one capable of the destruction of us all.”

An ultimate evil.

“Thank you.” Gudako told him.

The man nodded.

They inquired with a few others. Same story. Same praise.

The guardian was protecting the city. The evil, a great giant, a destroyer of all humanity, was out there. Angels walked the streets at night.

“Gudako.” David glanced over at her as they stepped away from the latest drunk. “I need to look into something.”

“Something?”

“It’s a feeling.”

That didn’t sound like a good plan. Keeping together was a smarter plan. It was a most sensible-

“Please.”

“No fighting.” Gudako pointed a finger at him. “Meet us at base by sunrise.”

The sun was already sinking passed the horizon, leaving them in the dark.

“I will be back.”

The man was already running. He was already heading off.

“The great evil’s henchman!”

The sound was bad. Glancing that way, Gudako groaned.

“Cu. Ozymandias.”

It was the screams that brought them to the last part of the city. Guards were running. Portals were opening every which way.

“The great evil’s henchman! Call the angels! Call Moses! Call Solomon!”

More running.

“Call all your guardians and angels. Bring me that which belongs to me.”

“You may assist me in stopping this useless king of heroes,” Ozymandias told her. His staff was raised a bit higher, his power parting the skies. “Son! King of My Brother’s Kingdom! Assist me!”

>>”Troubled Minds”

“There’s a battle happening.”

Nefertari glanced over at Ninkasi, shivering a bit.

They had gone to the palace. In fact, they were up in a tower of the palace, looking out at the world. Ninkasi had simply glanced out once before laying down on her cot. She, meanwhile, could sense the mana. She could sense that trouble was afoot.

“Nefertari. We are in my domain. Can you please relax? We should be enjoying some rest and preparing for our next move.”

“What would you like to do?”

The woman hummed, leaning back as the mana worsened outside. “The man that brought me here was familiar. I think if we investigate the man, we could probably learn more about him. We could probably find a way to learn more about who I… Or rather, who this person is.”

She was so bothered by that.

Nefertari sighed, glancing back outside.

She could see light in the distance. It was so much like her pharaoh. It felt so much like him.

But that would be impossible. The pharaoh was not here. Her husband was not here.

There was only her brother by marriage.

Right now though, she needed to help her sister. This poor woman, with divine power in her veins and a memory horribly lacking, was in need of a mother’s love. She needed a sister to stand by her side. She needed a friend.

“Come here,” she told her, holding her arms open and moving a bit closer.

“Again?”

“Hugs help.” Nefertari moved a bit closer. “I always held my children when they were hurt. I always soothed the company that we had with fine drink and fine entertainment if they could not handle my love. You have that fulfilled with me here and your power being the way it is.”

They’d made half the city intoxicated, heading away from where that nice lady who’d saved her had been. They’d healed so many together. Both of them capable of similar talents. Both of them deriving from almost the same strength.

She had charm though.

Ninkasi, on the other hand, she had an ailments resist.

“Fine,” the woman sighed, moving forward and wrapping her arms around her. “Fine.”

“You’re a great goddess, a pharaoh-worthy leader.”

“I don’t want to be a goddess,” Ninkasi groaned. “I want to know who I am.”

“Well, for now, you’re my Ninkasi and you’re my great sister.”

“We’ll do the other half of the city and the guards tomorrow,” Ninkasi told her. “When they’re all down, the guardian of this city will come out. I will help you with him and then you can help me learn who I am.”

She hugged the woman closer. “Let’s take a couple days. We can go slow. Maybe time will help with the memories.”

“It hasn’t worked so far.”

“You’ve been here fore one night?”

Ninkasi nodded.

“Give yourself a little more time. A pharaoh is intuitive about these things and my knowledge surpasses even the greatest of kings.”

“Oh?”

“It’s a great blessing and curse to be a great pharaoh. I birthed legacies. I brought forth peace between tense brothers. I kept peace when the world threatened to bother and ruin the kindness in my husband’s heart. There is nothing that I cannot do. This, with your mind being hurt, is no different.”

“I see.”

“Alright.” Ninkasi grinned. “Close the shutters and let’s rest. The guardian could sense us if we’re not careful.”

“Of course, my sister.”

She’d tamed one troubled heart. Moses would be even easier.

#drabble #drabbles #singularity drabble

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slytherin-puffskein · 6 years ago

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Cinderella

« Au douzième coup de minuit, le charme sera rompu, et tout redeviendra comme avant. »

[ At the stroke of midnight, the spell will be broken, and everything will be as before. ]

In this twisted version of the popular fairy tale, a very special mission is given to young peasant Laurent King, by an even more special individual. A smile on her blood coloured lips, the Fairy Godmother orders him to go and kill the Prince.

Inspired from this song

Though I’m dancing in a dream, nothing is quite as it seems Everything will disappear at midnight’s chime Fingers calling me away, there’s no room to be afraid Down the winding staircase I take three steps at a time...

Everything feels hazy and blurry around Laurent, and he can barely make out his surroundings. The dagger stuffed deep inside his inner pocket, he bites on his lip, unsure of what to do once he arrives

( easy mission ? Yeah, didn’t think so. That Fairy surely sugarcoated a lot of things )

But no matter how crude she could have made it sound instead, he would have accepted anyway. Royalty is society’s flea, and if he had the opportunity to get rid of it, then so be it.

As he nears the castle in his beautiful, silvery carriage, he can’t help but shiver, and when the guards gesture him to follow them, he does, doing his best to ignore his heart slamming against his chest.

( why would I feel conflicted about this ? )

Beyond the carriage door, I saw you trembling Won’t you please set aside the burdens of life and come with me to the dance ?

Barnaby Lee is observing as guests make their way inside, and he easily spots the silver carriage pulled by beautiful white horses.

( so beautiful, they almost feel like straight out of the most creative child’s dreams )

Inside, he spots a shaky figure, and doesn’t think much of it. After all, this is a ball. Obviously a lot of people feel anxious.

“Search and find the one who has wronged us.” Your whispered words are still echoing I grip even tighter the weapon held in my hands as I plot to bring your ending Slowly all the orphans are gathering under my watch behind my smiling mask And I, as the seraph, welcome them in my wings, as I play the role of saviour

Laurent King can still think of the ( w i t c h ) Godmother’s words. ‘Look for him, think of all the things his family did, and finish him at last’

The Lee Royal family couldn’t be considered as the best. Not with the current King, who could only be described as a bloodthirsty tyrant who would do everything in his power to reach his goals.

Rumour is, he got people executed for not sharing his ideologies.

Luckily, Laurent had learned how to lay low, and how to go unnoticed. Like that, no way he would get hanged for hating the monarchy.

Nervously, he feels through his pocket the weapon sheathed inside, and finds himself letting out a sigh of relief. With that, he almost considers himself as invincible. He just needs to get the prince away from everyone, and quietly do his business. Quietly, Laurent steps into the ballroom at last, and stares at all of the guests and their false expressions of happiness. In all honesty, they probably all hate the King as much as Lau, but simply want to enjoy a good time as well as some dancing, so they pretend to like him.

And in the middle of all these guests, stands the Prince, bowing gently at people and seemingly complimenting them, a charming smile on his face.

( Pft. You probably only see them as rats that need to disappear. How hypocritical )

Melting down to flakes of ash, Within a crimson glow Your slipper made of glass

Shoes with bits of glass. The Fairy said it was charming. Lau would rather say they looked terrible... but if it was going to please the Prince and ultimately make him trust him, then he can endure wearing an ugly pair of shoes.

Like a snake, he circles around his prey, thinking of the best way to speak to him, to lure him. An elaborate red mask on his face, it will be quite easy for the Prince to notice him. A few guests decided to wear masks as well for show, but none of them stand out as much as Laurent’s.

Eventually, it works. He is noticed. Barnaby sees the weak glint of his shoes, and smiles at him before bowing and taking his hand to kiss it.

( Ew )

“You look good, sir !”

“You said that to everyone”

He couldn’t help that snarky reply. Barnaby blushes briefly, and attempts to gather himself.

“Yeah, but... you deserve that compliment. I’ve never seen such a beautiful outfit, wow !”

A blood red vest, an ivory white shirt, he almost looks like a white rose. A white rose, somehow covered in blood.

( Prelude to what might soon happen, perhaps ? )

“Well, thank you, I supp-”

“May I have this dance ?”

Barnaby himself hadn’t planned to ask this, and once he says those words, he immediately turns paper white as he thinks of what his father might think of this.

( ‘You ? Dancing with a mere commoner ? Ri-di-cu-lous !’ )

However, Lau sees in this the perfect opportunity to carry out his plan, and nods while forcing a smile.

“Gladly, your Royal Highness”

A blush creeps across Barnaby’s face as he nervously wraps an arm around Lau’s waist, dragging him into a waltz.

“Oh p-please, just call me Barnaby. All those titles give me a headache...”

“Shouldn’t you be used to them by now ?”

Despite the mission he has, he can’t help but feel curious, and Barnaby only shrugs.

“I suppose... but... I never really asked to be a Prince, you know ?”

Sometimes, the Castle just doesn’t feels right for him... and Lau raises an eyebrow as Barnaby makes him twirl.

( Whoever taught him how to dance is an extremely good teacher )

“Still, with the privileges you have, I wouldn’t be whining if I were at your place”

The fortune Barnaby owns must be unimaginable, and Lau couldn’t even dare consider owning that much money. Swiftly, he finds himself against Barnaby’s chest once again.

“Yeah, but... it’s like there’s a wall between me and the rest of the kingdom, you know ?”

( Why am I confiding to a stranger !? Why am I telling all of this ? Father will sooo kill me )

And yet... talking to his guy with fiery hair is so thrilling, it feels as if magnets were embedded into their chests, and they had to be near each other at this moment.

( Destiny, perhaps ? )

“Hm... I’ve never considered it that way” Laurent admits.

“Yeah ! And the kingdom hates me for things my father did... I swear, I’m going to reform the government as soon as I take the throne ! You have my word - !”

He suddenly stops, and Lau can’t help but stare at the prince with wide eyes.

( Maybe my judgement was false ? )

“Forgive me, I’m not sure I got your name... ?” Barnaby asks at last.

Laurent bites on his lip, softly...

“Call me Dorian”

I must take my leave right now. I am shaking up and down Though I catch you glancing over at the clock... Shoes no longer on my feet - the slope is much too slippery But my fingers reach around your neck ‘fore I can stop

( I can’t do this )

( I cannot )

( It’s impossible )

( STOP IT ! )

After dancing, and talking, and dancing again, and talking again, they manage to sneak out of the ballroom, and eventually successfully arrive in Barnaby’s chambers. As they stand on the balcony, chatting and stargazing, Lau’s conflicted heart slams against his chest as he tries to figure out what to do.

He can feel the dagger press against his sides.

His mouth feels parched, his throat seems to be lined with blood.

By talking to the Prince, he discovered a whole different person from the one he had pictured himself. He wasn’t an exact copy of his ruthless father, not at all. He found a kind, understanding young man who only wanted the best for his people.

( And I have to kill him )

Why ? Why would the

w i t c h

Fairy Godmother want this ? What happened between her and the Royal Family ? Lau clears his throat before speaking.

“I should leave, Barnaby. It’s getting late...”

Close to midnight, in fact.

( ‘By midnight, my boy, the spell will no longer be under effect. Be home by midnight, and wash the blood off your clothes ! )

Barnaby reaches for Laurent, but the latter slides away, hugging himself for warmth... and comfort.

“I really have to go, Barnaby...”

But before he can order himself to leave at once, he throws his arms around Barnaby’s neck, pulling him into a deep embrace as tears trickle down his reddened face.

I kiss the falling tears that slip from your eyes And at that very moment I felt a shiver running through deep inside

Gently, Barnaby hugs him back, and musters up enough courage to kiss his tears away.

Immediately, a shiver runs down his spine, as a small voice whispers into his mind:

Run.

He doesn’t follow that piece of advice. Instead, he looks at the man pressed against him, and reaches for the mask’s strings.

Slowly unties them.

And lets the mask fall to the floor, revealing the most beautiful man Barnaby had ever seen, with freckles easily comparable to stars during a night’s sky.

“Beautiful...” he whispers faintly.

Neither of them knows who kisses the other first.

Please don’t let the bells sound for midnight, I find myself bowing down to you Although I am screaming “Don’t do it !” my right hand slips, bidding you goodbye forever You, who bears the air of such a princess, wearing the smoke of gunshots on your eyes My frozen facade was no match against your fire, and I felt it piercing through the ice

Soon midnight.

Please don’t let it be midnight.

( please )

Lau slowly pulls away from the kiss, no matter how bad he wants to keep going, and gently bows down to the prince, grabbing his mask and sliding it back on his face, tying the strings.

“I really have to go, Barnaby”

( Maybe if I just don’t do it, everything will be alright. The Fairy will find someone else to do her dirty work... or she’ll do it herself. Either way, I wouldn’t be dragged back into this story. Not anymore )

The Prince pouts, but nods anyway, as understanding as usual.

“Alright... but I’ll see you again, right ? Right ? We can meet up somewhere, I’ll try to not get recognized by other people, maybe wear a cloak or something, and we’ll spend some time together !”

And a smile curls up Lau’s lips as he nods.

“That... sounds very nice, actually”

( No it’s NOT. GO. GO, RIGHT NOW )

Barnaby smiles. The most loveliest smile, from the most handsome guy Laurent had seen.

“Alright then... but at least let me walk you back to your ca-”

( DO NOT DISOBEY ME )

The witch’s words suddenly ring inside of Lau’s ears, almost piercing his brain. Before he can realize what is happening, his right hand suddenly reaches for the dagger inside of his pocket, clutching it and

( NO !!!! )

plunging the blade through Barnaby Lee’s chest.

And at last, realization of what he just did dawns on him.

Even right now I can hear your breathing ring in my ears Pulling my heartstrings like a distant dream Down through the stained glass windows panes, the light from the moon Drapes on your shoulders like a veil

Everything in Barnaby’s mind stops.

His sole focus is the man standing in front of him.

He can barely care about the dagger digging through his chest.

He can only see Dorian Lau’s eyes. Beautiful brown.

Brown, a colour which can look like dried off blood.

Blood, trickling down Barnaby’s chest and darkening his clothes. Heavily, he falls on his knees, and Lau is quick to do the same, his fingers still wrapped around the golden hilt.

And despite what he just did, with the moonlight shedding on him, he looks as beautiful as ever.

Tear away the dress that I’m wearing - this tiara was not meant for me All that I can feel now as your eyes stare into mine is the fire in me burning Our two souls, alike in seclusion, and now they’ve found each other’s company But if I am not the one who will stop your tears, then it’s all a one-sided story

Barnaby’s lidded eyes stare at Lau’s. He’s still breathing. Not for long, however. Soon enough, he will release his last breath, and leave this oh so cruel world.

Lau finally manages to let go of the dagger, letting it stick out of Barnaby’s chest.

Silence reigns between the two. But strangely enough, Barnaby has enough strength to reach for Lau’s mask... and the redhead immediately understands. He unties it, and discards it before cupping Barnaby’s face, making him look at him.

Green eyes.

Like the leaves of a flower that will soon wilt.

“I’m sorry...” he whispers.

A heavy lump forms itself in his throat, and he is dangerously close to sob.

“I-I had to... I had to...”

“I understand”

And the Prince smiles faintly at him, before letting himself fall to the floor.

Stop the time at this very instant, I am completely drawn into you If God will have mercy then let me please stay right there, as I count your every heartbeat Overwhelmed by rushing emotions, I’m left to drown within this spreading warmth From this moment on my body will move no more... it is all just like a fairytale

#barnalau #lau king #barnaby lee #hphm #hphm mc #hogwarts mystery jacob's sibling #hogwarts mystery mc #hphm jacob's sibling #barnaby lee x mc #barnaby lee x jacob's sibling #my writing

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mrneighbourlove · 7 years ago

Text

Queen of the Red Sea: Beyond the Sea and Oceans

Gulper Bay was one of the biggest hotspots for pirate activity. A true wonderland for pirates, with trade able to be achieved in safety. Well, for the most part.

A bar fight broke out in good fun, a man flying across the floor. Landing at a Gerudo’s feet, he only saw a foot smack him in the face. The young woman laughed, and the bar gained a hardy laugh with her.

Captain Adda was the chieftain of the greatest band of Gerudo Pirates, hailing from the Great Bay of Termina. She was here today to let her crew enjoy a fun night after finding a huge cache of ancient jewels by fluke. Her real objective was a much greater treasure found in this sea. “Drinks for the man who can kick THAT guy’s ass!”

The poor large man got tackled by a bunch of other drunk men. Adda loved causing chaos here and there. Gerudo Pirates were getting drunk, trying to find suitable mates for the night. Wasn’t hard, as Gerudo were known to be exotic and rare, and the hormones of a man could easily be swayed. Adda kept away from any drink, at least for the moment. She wanted to be sober when she found her Voe.

Her first mate, a woman in big iron knuckle armour groaned in annoyance. “I hate this place. It stinks like piss.”

“Could be your attitude towards having fun. I’m ordering you to relax.”

“It’s my job to keep you safe Captain.”

“No Scarlet. Your job is one of three things. Find a guy to put a baby into you, find a buyer for all the loot we acquired, or three, get out of that heavy suit and get wasted on all the liquor here. Now go. You’re a buzzkill around me.”

Her bodyguard sighed and left her Captain to her own devices.

Captain Corsaire was in Gulper Bay to sell most of the loot he robbed from one of Danjur's cargo ships. After selling what he could, the pirate captain would then take the money and give it to his crew's family members and others in the kingdom who needed it more than he did. True, he did keep some for ship repairs and ammo, basic necessities as well, but most of the time, he kept very little for himself. His crew all knew his mission and were perfectly fine with being on the giving end instead of the receiving. After all, he had pulled all of them out of horrible situations and saw Corsaire as family. Tonight, he was treating his men to delicious tavern food, a game of darts, and a pint or two of the best beer of the seas.

"Cap'n," Rat approached Corsaire with some money earned by gambling on darts. Mojo and Juju never lost a game at darts, and to this day, still held their record. "You think we could use this to buy Seer some new boots? The ones he has are looking a little worn."

"Anyone else need anything?" Corsaire asked his quartermaster. "I think we've already stocked the kitchen."

"Acrobat's crutches have seen better days."

"All right, get him some new ones."

"We still have plenty leftover. Could buy your sisters something nice?"

"Nah, save it for the orphanage down the road." Corsaire took a sip of his drink. "Annie and Bonnie would rather have new seeds for their garden, I know how they are."

Adda noticed the freak with four arms first. That got her attention of the crew, lead by a scruffy looking rogue. Perhaps she’d test him out. Walking over she sat beside them with a devilish smile. “Hello boys. I don’t think I’ve seen you around here.”

"I don't reckon I've a-seen you either, miss." Rat was the utmost gentleman to women, even if that particular woman was a pirate. "Enjoying the bar?"

Pockets caught Adda staring and promptly blushed, turning his attention to Acrobat and insisting on a game of pool. The rigger saw his friend's problem, and entertained the notion of playing pool. Acrobat was painfully shy with women, considering he had four arms instead of the usual two. That, and he was a giant of a man, not many were bigger than him.

Corsaire, however, was not interested in Adda's playful nature and continued to write down the divisions of the loot in his small notebook.

“Thank you.” Adda didn’t like that Corsaire ignored her, so she decided to be a little playful. Turning her attention to Rat she tipped her hat. “You the Captain here? Look like a Captain. Tall, muscular, getting the deck scrubber to write out your notes.”

"No, Corsaire is the captain, I's the quartermaster."

"I don't need any of my brothers to write for me, especially considering that Seer cannot see." Corsaire did not even look up from his notebook. He nibbled at the end of his pen, thinking for a moment. If half the proceeds went to the orphanage, then he could take the other half and divide it between his men and their families with enough leftover for everything needed on the ship.

"The captain is a-little busy right now." Rat tried to turn Adda's attention somewhere else, knowing he hated to be bothered while running the numbers.

“What was your latest score?” Adda said, her gaze back on Corsaire.

"None of your business." Corsaire still ignored her. "Please leave, you're annoying me."

"Ah! Cap'n just wants to finish his a-work," Rat knew when his captain was starting to get in a bad mood. "You can talk to him a-later, hear the story of the kraken, and have drinks all a-round."

"Pretty lady no bother de captain when doing the numbers," Mojo told Adda as he tossed another dart into the bullseye. "He needs to think."

"And cal-cu-late." Juju had a thick accent just like his brother.

Adda raised an eyebrow at the brothers. Their accents were annoying. She looked back at Corsaire, her amusement starting to waver.

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t have come to a bar if you wanted to behave like a nerd and get your homework done. You have problems with doing numbers? Need the other kids to settle down so you can be a good boy? And a Kraken? You think killing some calamari is impressive to a lady?”

"I have problems doing numbers when a bitch with a mouth won't leave me alone when I'm clearly not interested in the booty she's so desperately trying to get me to fuck." Corsaire had lost his cool and shoved his notebook in his pocket. Standing from the table, he headed for the exit. "I'll be on the ship when you boys are done having a good time. Make sure you help Seer back to the docks."

"Oh sweet goddess of the seas," Rat took in a deep inhale. "Miss, I'll show you a-good time in the captain's absence, let me take you to the bar and buy you-a drink."

Adda glared at Corsaire now, more aware of the pistols at her side. She didn’t often let people insult her to her face sober. “I see you have a black spot on you. You lose any of your brothers in taking down a Kraken? Hear any of their bones crack and give a nice loud pop? That why you in a bad mood? Or you just a naturally born pussy with a splintered peg up your ugly ass.” She gave a chuckle, but it lacked any real humor in it. “And is sex the only thing you can naturally conclude? You’d be honoured to have sex with me, bitch. I suppose I’d have to find someone else to assist me in securing a legendary treasure.” Adda looked at Acrobat, giving a teasing smirk. “I think Mr. Goro here has a bigger brain than you on how to be smart around a lady who can carve and staple your face to a mast.”

The rest of the crew heard her mouth and instantly frowned. No one liked it when Corsaire was mocked about the kraken incident. Mojo and Juju stopped their game of darts as Acrobat and Pockets halted the shooting of pool. Seer, who was being seen to by Bomba, both looked up from their food. Rat, who had tried to be a gentleman before, was now angry. It was clearly seen on his face.

"Cap'n is a good man."

"More than you will evah be."

"Saved us, we his brothers!"

"And I-I-I'm not a G-G-Goro."

"Yeah, lady, don't call him names, it's bad enough you're staring."

"Cap'n only fucks a proper lady," Bomba zipped by Adda with a look up and down, and then turned his nose up. "Not one that smells of ass."

"Can we get out of here before someone gets killed?" Seer was dragged along beside Bomba, the blind man able to get around on his own, but it was difficult in small spaces with people.

Adda was surprised, a rarity for her. She looked over the crew that boldly spoke up to her. Akin to a shark, her eyes were still, like a doll’s eyes, the devil’s eyes. Her mind contemplated if this was an insult she would punish, or a joke that she could find enjoyable.

Looking these misfits over, and hearing Mojo’s accent again, she laughed. Her laugh echoed a young cockiness found only in Gerudo, and a dash of dark insanity, not unlike Ganondorf. Like a joke only she found was funny. “You are all an interesting bunch. Here.” She put a sack of extra jewels on the table and started to walk away. “Sorry for intruding on you and your merry men. Enjoy the entertainment around here. You’ve peeked my interest. I’ll be keeping a close eye on you. Or maybe I’ll just kill you.”

"Damn, Cap'n, she's a crazy bitch." Bomba whispered to Corsaire. "Why didn't ya just knock her lights out with dat arm of yours?"

"Because a whore like that isn't worth it." Corsaire gestured for his men to follow him out of the bar, leaving a generous tip for the barmaid. "She wanted to start something and I wasn't going to let her get the best of me."

"What should we a-do with the jewels?" Rat asked.

"Give them to the barmaid. She has three mouths to feed and her husband ran out on her." Corsaire instructed his quartermaster. "She could use it."

"Shall we get the sails ready, cap'n?" Acrobat inquired as he hobbled along with his crutches. "Go tonight?"

"No, we still have business tomorrow. Let's get some rest and I'll take first watch."

"As you say, cap'n."

Adda sat down, getting her first drink of the night. “What a mother fucker...”

Scarlet walked towards her, eyeing the crew as they left. “You want me to take care of them?”

“What? No, no.”

“But they insulted you!”

“People insult me all the time. I’m the Queen bitch of the seven seas....” She took a solemn drink at that.

Scarlet felt enraged. “I’m gonna knock his fucking teeth out.”

Adda shook her head. “Don’t. A crew of misfits isn’t worth the trouble. I think I’ll just forget about them. Need to focus on finding a dummy crew to help us with our main objective. We didn’t travel across the world to pick random fights with some losers.”

Scarlet ignored her, stomping over in her huge armour right up to Corsaire’s face. “Hey, you!”

"Cap'n doesn't want to be bothered right a-now, thank you." Rat stood in the armored woman's way. "Leave him alone, and go back to your leader, miss."

"She sounds really heavy." Seer noticed the clanking of metal. "What in the seven seas is she wearing?"

"It's a b-b-big suit of ar-armor." Pockets told the man. "Like someth-thing you'd see at a c-castle."

"She gave you her time you assholes. She's the Chieftain of the last great Gerudo tribe left. Show some respect to her. She deserved her spot at the top, fought for it fairly. AND she smells wonderful, unlike you, you tiny bandana wearing, ugly tanned grease ball." Stabbing her words carefully, she turned and gave a low growl like a panther towards Bomba on that last comment. Adda rolled her eyes and continued her drink. Scarlet liked to be her hype-woman, whether she wanted it or not. "So, when my Captain gives you a proposition for business, sex, or whatever the hell else she wants, you can at least give her your time to listen."

Adda touched her own Bandana under her hat. Scarlet wasn't the most observant, or smartest. She turned her attention to the bar fight she instigated, still raging on.

"Cap'n Corsaire doesn't have to give anyone his time." Bomba huffed, puffing up his chest like a turkey. The teenager wasn't the brightest of the bunch and was pulled back by Rat. "I'll have you know, you metal lunk, that no one gets respect just because of some damn title and a nice pair of titties!"

"She does have big boobies." Mojo muttered to his brother.

"Aye, dat she does." Juju nodded.

Rat tossed Bomba over his shoulder before the kid got his head knocked off his shoulders.

"Listen, lassie, we don't want any trouble." Rat was trying to be the peacemaker, but it was proving to be a difficult task. "Kindly go back to ye boss, and leave us be. I'm saying this politely, because you a-know nothing of the cap'n."

Using his crutches, Acrobat nudged at her leg and pushed aside.

"Come on guys, the women have ruined the buzz at this bar." He hobbled down the steps with Pockets following after him. "Some ruin it for the rest of us, I swear."

"You were doing... doing g-g-g-ood at pool this t-time!" Pockets agreed as he helped his friend with the stairs. "Some p-p-people like her and the other... other lady are just... m-mean!"

"If your boss wants a man, there's a brothel that way." Seer pointed down the wrong street.

"Other way, Seer."

"That direction, excuse me."

All the while, Corsaire was groaning internally, just wanting to be left alone.

If Scarlet wasn’t pissed before, the blind man did it for her now. No one, no one, made a comment about their crew and a brothel under any circumstance. The Iron Knuckle gave the blind man a sucker punch to the face. “You calling us prostitutes?! You’re fucking dead!”

Adda looked over, watching her first mate grab Bomba up high over her head to throw at Rat. “Oh fucking hell…”

"WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU, HE'S BLIND!!!" Corsaire jumped into action as Rat caught Bomba and set the teenager on his feet. Seer was out cold from the punch, his nose spurting blood. Pockets grabbed the downed cook and kept Acrobat behind him. Mojo and Juju drew their pistols and were ready to shoot. Before Scarlet could throw a punch at Rat for being distracted with Bomba, Corsaire caught one of the Iron Knuckles' fists with his metal arm, the clang echoing through the bar. "I don't know what your problem is, or your damn boss', but you do not hit Seer!!! You can hit me as much as you like, but you don't attack my brother who cannot see!" With that, he swung with his free hand, catching her in the jaw. "I'll fucking kill you if you touch him again. You won't hurt him, no one will ever hurt him again, he's suffered enough!"

"He wasn't insinuating anything, you stupid bitch!" Bomba hollered. "He was just giving directions, all women go to find male prostitutes around here!"

"Cap'n, calm down!" Seer exclaimed as he groaned, holding his nose. Pockets managed to shake him awake. "I'm okay!"

"We're leaving. Now." Corsaire ordered his men. "Let's find Seer a doctor."

"Cap'n, I'm okay---"

"Doctor. No bickering."

"... fine."

With that, the crew headed into town in search of a healer.

Scarlet grabbed Rat by the shirt, throwing him to the side. With a growl she put her helmet on. “I gave you a handicap. My mistake. You insulted my sister again and again. I’m going to collect a cup of blood from you for every insult you threw.” She measured a litre with her hands. The ironed giant threw a heavy swing at the old gladiator.

"Damn it, woman, what is your problem?!" Rat caught the swing and stopped Scarlet's movements. "Leave us alone!"

Mojo and Juju had had enough of this ignorance. While Rat caught the swing, Mojo let off one bullet, nicking Scarlet's head to get her attention, the helmet ringing like crazy, while Juju scraped her hand with a bullet. "Look, they miss... on purpose, lady. The next one will be in your head."

"I'll ask only once more or I'll give my men permission to take you down." Corsaire glared at Scarlet as he held Seer around the shoulders. "Leave us alone."

“Go to fucking-“ A shot rang out from Adda’s gun, ricocheting off Scarlets armour, the bullet going past Corsaire’s nose. Adda clicked the second shot ready to go in a instant. “Scarlet! What did I say!”

“But, Captain, they-“ A second shot ran off, into the one exposed part of her armour around her thigh. Scarlet cried out as she dropped down. “I don’t want to hear another goddamn ‘but’ out of you. I told you to leave them alone. You disobeyed an order and got into a fight, where you most likely would have gotten killed. But worse, you damaged my authority by disobeying me. You showed others that you don’t respect my leadership.”

Scarlet was crying now from all the pain, as well as disappointing Adda. “N-no Captain. I’m sorry. I just wanted to make them understand.”

“Understand what? That our crew goes around beating the shit out of cute blind men? What’s next, deaf elderly?”

“T-they insulted you.”

Adda shakes her head. “And it’s my call if I want to tear all four arms off the stuttering man or make a skin carpet out of the albino. You do not act out of term. Now I have to deal with the ‘code’, on why a gun fight broke out on ‘neutral ground’. Maybe even get exiled from this particular port. And that’s on you.”

“A-are you going to kill me?”

Adda tapped her gun. It was just her, Scarlet, and Corsaire’s crew watching. “No. Not today. But don’t you ever disobey me again. Now pick yourself up, apologize, stop sobbing, go find yourself a medic, and go back to the ship.”

Scarlet nodded, saying sorry over and over to each crew member. As she hobbled off, Adda twirled her gun back into her holster. “Apologies for your blind Voe’s injury. We can talk about his medical bill in the morning. See you around....”

As the two woman left, Adda sighed. “What the hell were you thinking girl?”

“I’m sorry Captain…”

“It’s ok. Let’s get you patched up…”

The crew felt their adrenaline drop as the Gerudo walked off. Bomba expressed the feeling in the air perfectly.

“What the HELL just happened here?”

It was an eventful night to say the least. After taking Seer to the doctor, where it was confirmed that he had a broken nose, the crew returned to the ship. After seeing Seer to bed to rest and recover, the rest of the men agreed to get some sleep while the captain took first watch. It was the first night in port in weeks, and the crew were more than ready to rest. As the men retired to their beds, Corsaire sat on the ledge while playing his harmonica. It was a quiet night and the stars were absolutely stunning. He blew a note or two and then leaned back against the rigging. Sighing, the captain traced the constellations with his fingers as he hummed.

"Dark and dangerous, deep and low,

Whispers of a treasure trove,

The sea witch and her serpent show,

To drag you to hell below.

Krakens, maelstroms, the witch's sea,

Hear my cry, hear my plea,

Water spirit of my dreams,

Take me home, on the blue wave's gleam."

Adda felt an odd sense of guilt. She should of approached finding help more directly. But pirates, let alone her, don’t ask for help outright. They need to be smart, manipulative. But in doing so she might have caused more trouble than she wanted. After calming Scarlet down from her wounds and knowing the rest of her crew were settled for the night, she asked around and took some bottles with her as she walked down the docks. The stars were indeed beautiful, and she needed some fresh air. Hearing the harmonica as she approached, she chuckled. Of course, the gruff rogue was a musician. She started to swagger up to the draw bridge to Corsaire’s deck.

"Oh fucking hell, no." Corsaire saw Adda trying to walk up the draw bridge and promptly jumped off the rigging onto the wobbly plank. The board bounced from his added weight and he had his hand on his pistol. He was ready for a fight if there was going to be one. "There ain't no way in the water spirit's good name that I'm letting the likes of you on me ship!" He glared at Adda. "Seer already has a broken nose, I ain't letting anyone else of me mates get hurt because someone doesn't like to be ignored." The captain always had his crew's interest at heart. "What do you want? I have half a mind to give you a broken nose, but I don't start fights with ladies unless I have to."

Adda steadied herself on the board, a little wobbly from a head start of drinking. She was a heavy weight, but if she wasn’t careful, she could fall into the water. “I came here to offer you a drink. I asked around and was told you’re a man of fine rum. Until I was told you’d rather enjoy whisky. So I brought both. As my way of saying sorry for the unnecessary trouble I brought. Think of this as wanting to restart a first impression.” She took out two thick bottles, a rum and whisky in each hand.

"...?" Corsaire was a little taken aback. He was not expecting this brash woman to come with drinks, much less offer an apology of sorts. Maybe someone knocked her silly or she was drunk. He was not sure what to think. "While I appreciate the offer of alcohol, I won't drink when I'm on watch. My brothers count on me." The captain declined the drink and then said, "However, that doesn't mean I cannot enjoy it later. If it doesn't offend your senses, I'll keep my whisky for a more appropriate time."

“Is the password ‘please’ for me to come aboard?” She said as she wiggled both bottles.

"Me ship's a jealous mistress, lass." Corsaire then gestured to the docks. "She's not called the Sea Witch for nothing. You think I want to risk her wrath?"

“Awwww, she can’t fit in another woman? Never know, she might like it~” Adda toned it down a little. “I’m not gonna hurt any of your brothers. Both them and my girls should be able to rest easy tonight. Now can I come aboard?”

"No." Corsaire was not buying into her attempt at flirting. When she asked again to come aboard, this time more serious, he crossed his arms, debating for a moment. Finally, he relented, begrudgingly, simply because she brought a peace offering. Snatching the whisky, he said, "On deck only."

“Got it. Want to pull up the bridge? Can help you relax more.” Adda walked up around the deck, feeling the wood below her. “Any story behind this Sea Witch? It see a dreaded battle? Acquired from a deal with an actual sea witch?”

"Nay, I leave it in case we need to exit in a hurry. Can't jump overboard with Seer, he cannot see where to swim, and Acrobat can't swim due to his legs." Corsaire did not have any chairs on deck so he simply pulled up a barrel for Adda to sit upon for the time being. "I built this ship with my quartermaster after my run-in with“...I’m sorry about making that crack at you. I was pissed that I hadn’t gained your attention. I know my own grievances about sea monsters....” Adda sat down and popped open the rum for the two of them. the kraken. Named her after the dreaded sea witch that took down me mentors."

“I’m sorry about making that crack at you. I was pissed that I hadn’t gained your attention. I know my own grievances about sea monsters.” Adda sat down and popped open the rum for the two of them.

"Some believe the story and others don't. It's not up to me whether the landlubbers think the Kraken is real or not." Corsaire took a spot on the opposite barrel. "I know it's real and I know better now than to ever mess with one of its kind again."

“I’d believe your tale if you’d believe mine. Why’d you fight a Kraken anyways? Was there a woman, a treasure, glory...or just in the wrong place at the wrong time?”

"Treasure and greed, lassie." Corsaire was honest, he saw no reason to lie. "Took me first crew to its lair, thought the story was a bunch of hogwash. Rat was the only sensible one to stay away. Took one of the lifeboats off the ship and stayed outside the cave." He chuckled halfheartedly. "That's the only time he ever disobeyed me. I lost me crew, lost me arm, but I blew that son of a bitch to kingdom come."

“So you actually killed your monster. Admirable. You feed the squidy some firepower?” Adda had a laugh, pouring them two drinks.

"Nah, it actually was devouring the first ship I stole." Corsaire shook his head at the drink, knowing he was on duty. "Several boxes of gunpowder fell into its mouth. I shot the box before it could eat me."

“Good thinking. Shame about your crew. They die quickly though?”

"Some drowned, some were crushed, and others were eaten." Corsaire shuddered to think about it. "Didn't really know the men, just said they could have whatever they could carry if we succeeded in finding the treasure. Rat rowed me back to land before I died and bargained for me this arm." He pulled off his glove, showing his metal fingers and wriggled them. "Some islander magic”, he said. “Lor-Lee-Li something... found it in a market and bought it for me."

“That’s the arm you threatened to punch me with hon?” Adda examined it, trailing her fingers down his mechanical bicep. “Nice craftsmanship.”

"It's not for sale, if that's what you're going to ask next." Corsaire snorted as she touched the metal, not able to sense her touch with the fake limb. "All I know is Rat said it was elemental magic from some island. Won't melt, won't break, just needs a good cleaning here and there." He put his glove back on his hand. "Banthorarium I think it was called."

“Don’t want to buy it. Now, my brave little Captain, it’s my turn to tell a story.” Adda stood up, taking another drink. “You ever hear of the infamous narrow trench?”

"Aye, I have. Sirens be there." Corsaire nodded.

“To us Gerudo, the charms of a siren are lost on us. But that is not the danger that concerned me was there. In this trench, in order to pass through, you must negotiate a narrow strait. Let me ask you a question Captain. Given the option, would you take a route that would chance either complete survival or complete destruction of you, your ship and crew, or take a choice to willingly sacrifice a member of your crew, but guarantee the rest of you and the surviving crew safe passage?”

"My crew, me mates, are my brothers." Corsaire told Adda as he crossed his arms and leaned back against the other barrels. "They'd lay down their lives for me and I'd do the same for them. I'd never willingly sacrifice one. We'd take the risk; all together alive or die together."

“HA! So you’d take the choice I didn’t make.” Adda looked back at the stars. “When I first became Captain, I took my crew on a large expedition, stealing from some rich snobs. They sent a navy after us, so I decided to take a quick shortcut to avoid capture. I was previously told of the story of Scylla and Charybdis. Scylla was a six headed sea monster who would eat members of ships that passed by. Charybdis was an even fiercer entity, who used hurricanes and whirlpools to swallow whole ships. On the left side of the ship we saw the storms. On the right, calmer waters. I took the crew through the right path. Like hell was I going to take us through the storm. Yes, I had a chance for all of us to survive, but we might have all died as well. Besides...” Adda took her sword out and made fancy sword play. “We were badass Gerudo warriors! The deadliest female crew of pirates to ever live! We could take down a monster of the physical flesh.” She stabbed her sword into her sheath, shrugging her shoulders. “Oh how wrong I was. Scylla shot forth from the water’s depths. It had this terrifying appearance. I could make out what was once human, I think. It was so uncanny. It shot forward, eating two crew members immediately. It just kept chewing them, slowly. The screams....god those screams.” Adda took another swig of her rum. “We fired enough cannon fire at the other heads and used our might to stay alive, but they just wouldn’t die. That was when the monster started attacking my ship, pushing it towards the left part of the straight towards Charybdis. It wouldn’t be denied it’s meal. So.... I made a choice. I shot four of my members in the feet and back. Scylla accepted the offering and ate them. With all six of her heads fed, she let us through. I had to make a sacrifice, right on the spot at such a young age.” Adda relaxed onto the barrel again. “Now, whenever I have to go through there again, I make sure I have the right sacrifices. I don’t want to sacrifice my sisters ever again.”

"Captains make mistakes and we pay for it then or later. It will always haunt us." Corsaire knew that at the time, Adda did what she felt she had to do to ensure the survival of the majority of her crew. "Once, I might have made the choice you did if I ended up like my mentors. They started out on a good path... but by the end were lying, kidnapping, murdering rapists." He recalled the faces of the captain brothers, Azir and Hizir. "My own brother fell under their impression and he, too, lost his life by the sea witch along with our mentors. Perhaps if I had simply dragged my brother off their ship, he'd still be with me... or not. I'll never know for sure." He shrugged slightly, and then added, "But what I do know is no captain is perfect. I've made plenty of mistakes, mistakes that cost me and my crew. Yet, through the maelstroms of it all, they've stuck with me. I couldn't ask for a better band of brothers."

“You think you’re a good man? Above your mentors? Me? Or any other pirate?” Adda asked in a good tongue and cheek, philosophical way.

"No." Corsaire answered honestly as he fixed his tilted hat. "But I try to be the good man my crew thinks I am."

“That’s cute. You’re cute.” Adda sat her drink down. “I saw that you gave the jewels I presented to you to that single barmaid. That’s very....charitable. Why do you do it? And please don’t tell me it was out of the good of your heart. Everyone has an ulterior motive....you like her?”

"Dahlia has three kids, young ones with mouths to feed." Corsaire told Adda, having seen the little ones in the bar before when the babysitter dropped them off for the barmaid. "I know what it is like to be hungry, and no, Dahlia doesn't interest me in that way. Her focus is her children, the way it should be." He explained to Adda. "True, I could have used the jewels for my ship's necessities, or I could have spent it for Seer's nose. Yet, the money had needs elsewhere and I have the ability to pickpocket, raid, or steal whenever I please. Miss Dahlia does not."

“Ha. Never said if you like her you devil.” Adda took her hat off, followed by taking Corsaire’s off with a quick snag. Her long beautiful red hair flowed in the wind. Taking a breath of the sea she smiled at the Voe. “The sea is calming, isn’t it. I got another peace offering for your crew, if you’re interested.”

"I admire her, but romantic interest? No." Corsaire knew the woman would not shut up until he answered. "If it's more alcohol, I'm sure they'll oblige."

“I’m not flirting myself when I say this, but when’s the last time you or your men have had sex?”

"That... is something I actually do not keep track of with my men." Corsaire snorted, trying to hold back a laugh. "As for myself, it's usually the last time we're in port."

“This would be to make up for the fighting and have you not make any report against me. But I could persuade my crew to mingle with your crew. Nice environment, safety, few drinks here and there. Some of my own crew has been blue balled, even tonight.” She gave a chuckle. “Go really easy on the shy guys in your crew. Give them a night they wouldn’t forget. Hell, they could even pick out who they’d like. Just don’t make any comments about whores, prostitution or brothels, and it could be a fun time for all. How’s that sound?”

"Pfffffttt..." Corsaire had to hold back a laugh at her phrasing, knowing it was rough to have a declination of intercourse. "Pockets and Seer are the two most shy men on ship, but Pockets is the shiest man on the planet, I swear, he turns red if a lady holds his hand!"

“How much you bet he’d faint in one of my girls’ arms as they carried him off to bed~” Adda stifled a loud laugh she wanted to get out of her system.

"Oh, there's no need to bet, he fainted when a lady kissed his cheek for carrying her groceries!" Corsaire tried to keep his snickers to a minimum. "He's got a pure heart, that's for sure."

“Then you won’t object to the offer.” Adda put on his hat. Turned out to be a very good fit.

"Object to..." Corsaire paused his words as the lady adjusted his hat. Why did the women always go for his hat? Was it a secret kink among the girls or something? He cleared his throat, deciding to play dumb. "What offer?"

Adda walked around him, trailing a finger under his chin. “The type where after we undress you of your clothing and have our fun, we get to keep a trinket or cloth to remember you by.” She gave a hardy grin, feeling the rim of his hat and ready to move if he grabbed for it. “Think I’d keep your hat. Add a peacock feather to it!”

"You have a very descriptive definition of fun." Corsaire chuckled as she tried to tempt him and then stood. "And I'd sooner let you keep me treasure," He placed his hands on her hips, one running up her back, getting closer, lips almost touching. "then keep me hat." With a quick tip of his fingers, he flipped the hat off her head onto his.

Adda allowed him to lay his hands on her. They were firm. "I could settle for that too. I like this look...." One hand held him by the belt, the other firmly holding his back.

"Though... my crew, they get a touch lonely too, you know." Corsaire nearly jolted when she squeezed his ass. "We could always arrange for somewhere more so... suited for nightly activities."

"I know a proper quiet hotel on this island. I can get us all some nice quarters. Or just settle for staying on my ship~" She grinned as his face crumbled for a moment at her squeeze. She reached down and squeezed the front of his pants too. "You know, usually I challenge men to a sword fight, cut their pants down and make them submit. All I had to do was walk onto your ship and you were mine!"

Corsaire was not exactly a fan of submitting to a woman he did not know. For all he knew, this could be a trick to slit his throat after the deed was done. He had heard of some women seducing men, then killing the poor sap, and taking off with all the money. He was about to nicely decline the offer of meeting on a turf she knew when he heard footsteps coming up from the cabins.

"Captain?" It was Seer. What was he doing up this late? "I sense someone else on the boat."

Adda was like a cat when it came to having sex with men. When she was hungry, she'd consume as many as she could. If they were especially tasty looking they were hers. The Captain liked to play with them before digging in as well. People were consumables to her. Be it for money, sex, or just an able body to use. And seeing the blind man come up, she gave a smile, wrapping an arm around Corsiare's shoulder, standing side by side with him. "Hello there dear. Seer was it? Glad to see you up and about after that little scuffle earlier evening."

"...? Wait... you're the lady from earlier this evening. The one that smells like brimstone and metal." Seer wondered why Corsaire allowed her on the ship. “What was going on? ... I'd prefer not to be punched again."

"No, no, the lady is just here for an apology." Corsaire quickly told Seer, taking this chance to turn from Adda and check on his crew member. "You should be resting."

"I was... until I sensed her."

"I'm here for your whole crew my man. By next week I won't even be in this particular ocean. Felt wrong not to give you and the rest of your brothers a.... proper apology." She slowly trailed a finger down his open upper chest. "Corsaire, why don't you wake the crew. It's not even midnight yet."

"Um... whole crew?" Seer repeated her words, not understanding what she meant until that finger traced down his chest. His white skin turned bright red in the cheeks. Usually women were not so forward with him unless she had a kink of some kind. "M'am, you know, that's mighty kind of you, but I'm sure a nice lady like yourself has a more suitable bed... partner..."

"Seer, are you seriously being shy when the lady is interested in you?" Corsaire knew the man was a touch shy, but then again, he always was very tipsy when he ended up in bed with another lady. "Just say hello before you go straight for the boobs, okay?"

"I did not---!!!"

"You were tipsy that one time and told a lady she had a fantastic pair of tits. I thought you were going to get slapped but she actually liked that."

"Depends on the woman." Adda trailed a finger down the side of Seer's cheek. "You were right Corsaire, he is a shy one. Give me a moment with him while you get the rest of your boys?"

"I think they'll definitely take you up on your offer." Corsaire laughed the way Seer kept turning so red. "Now, be nice to Seer. He's not normally one to flirt with ladies until he's had a few."

"Captain!!!" Seer protested. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm helping you get laid, I'll be back in a second... or minutes..."

Watching Corsaire go below deck, Adda gave a chuckle. "You seem like a nice kid. How old are you?" The poor man felt himself be pulled waist to waist with the tall Gerudo Captain. She wasn't a massive giant like some of her tribe, but at just over six feet, she was peak to most average men. Luckily, Seer matched her in height.

"Um... I really don't know?" Seer answered honestly with a sheepish grin as she pulled him close. "I think I'm around maybe twenty-two... or twenty-three. Maybe older, maybe younger, I'm not sure."

"Twenty-Five myself. I think you're cute. Sorry my best friend punched you in the face. I heard the blind have the rest of their senses heightened." Her hands held his sides for support as she leaned in to give him a deep kiss. Her lips were like strawberries, her breathe fresh and savoury.

Seer was nearly at full attention from that deep kiss. Other senses being heightened, Adda was definitely right about that. Perhaps he was a little too eager when turned on, simply picking Adda up underneath her ass and feeling that glorious backside.

Adda had the booty and the rack to bring heaven to any man. She lathered her tongue with him, pulling away for the tease. "So tell me, how did THAT feel~"

"I'm not sure I have the proper words for it, but I think I'm going to settle with amazing for right now." Seer said breathlessly. "I'd like for it to happen again."

"Alright. You want to wait for your brothers to wake up or do you want to get out of here now~?" Adda tugged at his belt, a Cheshire grin on her face.

"You know I can't see, right?" Seer liked to use a little jest here and there. "You'll definitely have to 'lead' the way."

"Then let's go~" Adda held his hand down to the docks and whistled for her ride. A gerudo on a mechanical skid boat steered in. It was made of Termina technology. Simple for quick on the shore transport, and easily attachable to the main ship. "Easy steps honey."

Once in the boat Adda sat him down, taking her own seat beside him. "Hold onto me tight, ok~"

"Oh sweet Water Spirit..." Seer nearly cursed under his breath as the boat moved so suddenly. The noise was rattling in his ears and he felt a little uneasy by all the metal. He was used to Corsaire's ship. The cook gripped Adda a little tightly.

Adda saw Corsaire getting up onto the deck again, waving him goodbye. “Too slow~ Meet you at my ship! You can’t miss it!”

Giving a laugh she held the nervous cook back.

Once the boat slowed, Seer felt like he could breathe much easier. His senses were not being rattled. Corsaire and the rest of the crew would be along soon enough. Though he was not exactly sure what this captain saw in him.

The small speedboat pulled up to its destination. Her ship was unlike many in this ocean. It was large, made of metal, yet floated with grace. It was painted to look like black charcoal wood, and the sails had a magical shimmer to them. Her flag was an old Gerudo symbol, forgotten to even her. To Adda, it looked cool and held significance that marked it as her own. As the small speed boat was pulled up to the side of the ship, Adda stepped onto the large open deck, and her crew cheered.

“Captain! You did it!”

“Others coming?”

“Ooooo, he looks cute~”

“That the guy Scarlet punched? Poor lad.”

“Can we share him?”

Adda waved both her hands downwards to silence them. “Ey! The other boys should be on their way. This handsome fellow is mine though. So is their Captain if he has the balls to challenge me. Come on Mr. Cook. I’ll walk you up to my quarters.”

There were so many women, too many women. Seer gulped down his nervousness as the women pawed at him, feeling their touchy feely hands. He nearly jumped out of his skin as one groped his backside. What fresh hell had Adda brought him into now? Thankfully, the captain told the rest of the women to back off as she led him to her quarters.

“You don’t get off on drugs do you?”

"No! No drugs!" Seer reacted negatively to the mention of any substance. He shook his head insistently. "No drugs, or I go."

Adda squeezed his hand. “Good. Means that I don’t have to worry about some junkie not wanting to focus on me or trying anything stupid.” Adda opened the door to her quarters for Seer. First room was an office, with trophies all over the walls. Second room was her bedroom. The bed was a King Sized mattress with the softest sheets and blankets Seer had ever felt when she sat him down. “You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

"8 steps... from the door to this room and... 10 steps to the bed." Seer counted as a habit. He knew every inch of Corsaire's ship, and this was foreign territory. Once Seer felt the sheets, his hands carefully smoothed the material before sitting on the mattress. "You know, I'm not usually the pick of the litter, if you know what I mean." His head turned in her direction.

“You mentioned that. You got self-esteem issues?”

"Not really, I don't mind being blind." Seer admitted. "I'm just curious as to why."

“I can tell when a man doesn’t want it. Your Captain was chivalrous, but it seemed he wasn’t into me. His loss....and your gain.”

"All the men have their particular tastes." Seer told Adda. "You, however, I think will be all right because... you smell nice."

A knock came at her door, Scarlet’s nervous voice calling out. “Captain. The rest of the men arrived.”

“Ey! Seer. Wait right here. Just want to settle your brothers in.”

Adda walked to the quarter deck, a lot of the Gerudo woman eyeing Corsaire and his men. “Hello boys. Welcome aboard!”

Once the men were on the ship, Corsaire had to admit it was a nice setup.

Hard drinks, fine wines, and other fruity beverages had been set up. Adda shook Corsaire’s hand. “Your lad’s waiting on me, so let’s make this quick. No one does anything stupid, like kleptomania. Besides, you don’t want to steal from a band of thieves. Two, play nice, and we’ll treat you nice~”

"Pirates stealing from other pirates sounds like a bad story." Corsaire told Adda with a small smirk. "We'll keep this civil."

“Good.” She gave his side a tap, and spun around to address the crews of both crew. “Alright ladies! You wanna have fun!?”

“YEAH!!!” The cry echoed the night. Adda dramatically spun to the men, snapping her fingers with a pose. She had a flare for the dramatic. “What about you Gentlemen!?”

They gave a hell yes right back. This was certainly going to be an interesting night. All the men seemed eager to get to know and romance the ladies before finding a potential bedmate.

Adda pointed to Rat, giving Scarlet a big smack on the ass. Her first mate yelped, blushing red in the face. “What about you two? Maybe take some time making up for earlier tonight?”

“C-captain? You don’t need to-“

“Phhhhhh I insist. It will be good for you Scarlet.”

Scarlet was dumbstruck, slowly turning to Rat. “H-hi....sorry for picking a fight.”

"...? Me?" Rat pointed to himself when Adda suggested he hook up with Scarlet. "I'm very a-flattered, but tis the ladies' job to chose her partner."

"Pfffttt," Corsaire tried to keep from laughing at Rat's surprised face. "Just go with it for once, Rat."

Adda pushed Scarlet towards Rat, and the two of them started to slowly talk. Adda winked to Corsaire. “I’d offer a room, but I get the feeling you’re not into Queens when you see one~”

"All men have certain preferences, Adda, you can't fault me for that." Corsaire chuckled half-heartedly. "I think your girls and my crew will have a good time."

“Well, one day you’re gonna kick yourself in the ass for not being with a beautiful Gerudo when you find one. And with how the population is, you might never get the chance again. Have fun regardless. There’s an empty room you can stay in. That is unless you change your mind~”

Adda pulled him close for a quick teasing peck on the lips, walking back to her bedroom.

Her crew was having the time of their lives with Corsaire’s crew. The men were so charming, some even funny. With poor timid Pockets, a group took their time coaxing him into a good time. But now it was Adda’s turn to enjoy her chosen prey. Taking off her clothes, she smiled down at Seer. It was a damn shame he couldn’t see anything. Took the fun out of an exotic and slow strip tease, but she supposed it couldn’t be helped. “I hope I didn’t tease you too long with the wait.”

"No," Seer was feeling the embroidery on the sheets. He had never learned to read or write, but could recognize certain letters from his years with Corsaire. Brail books were rare, and the few that he had on the ship were the courtesy of his captain trying to teach him how to read. This language, however, he did not know. "What does it say?"

“It means Power. For the Gerudo, Power became synonymous with the Gerudo King of Hyrule, Ganondorf. The tribes of Termina have luckily never met him, because I imagine if we did, we’d be challenged, and either wiped out, or forced to obey him. Being Captain means I am the Chieftain of the Terminia Gerudo Pirate Clan. So as far as I am concerned, I am the Queen to my people just as he was King. I am Power itself.”

She gripped his shirt, and with a solid pull, tore it in two with a loud rip of the fabric. Men usually loved this move or were terrified by it. Regardless, it got Adda off. What held Adda’s interest, was that she was intrigued by Seer being invested in her culture, as little as he could be though.

"Whoa!" Seer was certainly surprised by her simply ripping open his shirt. That was not a move he expected. Though she was a pushy woman and got what she wanted from the sound of it. He was not as buff as some of the other men like Rat or Pockets, but still possessed a good amount of lean muscle.

“Scarlet’s punches are like kitten swipes compared to me. It’s all about how you apply yourself. Now, let’s get the rest so you can match me~” With a purr, Adda took down his pants. Eyeing him over now, he was a very pretty sight. His white skin, coupled with a slimmer body and beautiful dark hair made him an ideal candidate for the pirate. “You want me to describe myself to you? I promise it’s all truth~”

"I'll take your word for it, but I wouldn't want to test it to find out." Seer jested in good humor at Adda's statement. He had been punched once today and that was plenty enough in his book. "Why describe when I can just feel?" His hands carefully found her warm skin. Though his fingers did not go down to her backside, rather up to her face. His calloused fingers gently traced over her jawbone and around her features, feeling the area around her nose and her soft lips. One finger twirled around a lock of her hair, feeling the silky texture. "Warm... and soft."

Adda was expecting him to get touchy as she leaned closer, but she was taken aback by him slowly exploring her face and hair. “Why are you feeling up there?”

"I want to 'see' how you look." Seer explained to the captain. "A female's anatomy is pretty much the same with just a variance in size... but the face, that's the true treasure." The blind man's fingers then slowly left her face. "I can picture what you look like in my mind with my hands. I can sense what you're like by how you smell, the sound of your walk, how words flow from your mouth, the grin with your laugh... it's not too hard to know you're beautiful despite not being able to see."

Adda’s bravado and spunk was gone for a moment in time. In her place was a young woman completely moved by Seer’s words. Her faced softened, and her eyes grew with wonder. How long had it been since someone had spoken to her that way? Too long, too long indeed. Coming back to reality, she held him close. “Trust me when I say this. I think I really like you Seer.” With a deep kiss, the Gerudo woman straddled him, followed by the most passionate night of the man’s life.

The night had been glorious for all the men onboard. Gerudo woman came in a variety of charms, and excelled at their beauty. Sleeping with Rat, Scarlet was happy being cozy in the giant mans arms, having never been with someone so big before, and in more ways than one.

The man who had the most fulfilling night though was undeniably Seer. He experienced sober love making like never before. Adda was fiery, tight, and gave him everything a man could want in a passionate night. They had to have kept going even as everyone else went to bed. Filthy with sweat and other nightly coatings, Adda was the first to wake.

Seer had proven quite capable in bed and, in the privacy of her own quarters, she allowed herself to stew on his kindness. It was rare, and something she forgot existed. In this kill or be killed world, it would no doubt get him killed, but she thought it was sweet nonetheless. Her naked body felt so sensitive, even now as she brushed against him. “You beautiful Voe... maybe I can talk to your Captain about you staying on my ship....”

Adda was shocked by herself at muttering such words. He was good, in so many ways, but she wasn’t going to so easily give up her heart for any Voe.

"I appreciate your thoughtfulness," Seer was laying there with his eyes closed, still not wanting to move from the bed. He was comfortable, warm, and these sheets were a slice of heaven. Not to mention, he was not quite ready to leave the company of the beautiful captain. "Though I cannot leave Captain Corsaire, not after all he's done for me. I think you are very lovely, Adda, yet I am not ready to leave just yet. I hope you understand."

Adda was glad he couldn’t see her flare up in embarrassment. “You... weren’t supposed to hear that.”

"I'm blind, Adda, not deaf. Or have you forgotten from having your mind blown last night?" Seer grinned, only teasing in good humor. "... I think I can even hear your face turning red from all the blood rushing to your cheeks."

“Oh shut up.” She crawled on top, giving him a deep kiss. For an extra tease she rubbed her body against him. “I was the best damn experience you ever had~”

His white skin was stained red from multiple love bites, and his hips bruised from the more physical aspects of the night. Adda was incredibly proud of the canvas she painted.

"Love making, yes. Wrestling? I think Rat might have you beat on that." Seer snickered as Adda's warm body pressed against his own. "There is something to be said about all those nips you gave me. I think you definitely hold the record for that, my lady."

“Good.” Her hand trailed his shaft when she heard a knock at her door. With a grin, she held his hand to get one more touch of her perfect breasts. “Mmmm, stay here.”

Getting up, she quickly put on the bare clothing she needed with some baggy pants, a bra, and her hat. Opening the door, she smiled at Corsaire. She hoped he would be jealous. “Ey Cap. Here to check in on your lad?”

"I'm alive, Captain." Seer said from the bed with a chuckle. "She didn't kill me."

"Well, I'm glad you're all fine and dandy, my boy, but we need to head out." Corsaire leaned against the door frame. "We have a Danjuran cargo ship heading along our route."

"I understand, Captain."

Adda quirked an eyebrow. Maybe now she could get what she wanted when they first met. “What if I can offer something better?”

"I'm not into a threesome with another man if that's what you're suggesting." Corsaire teased lightly.

The Gerudo captain chuckled, a more serious tone flexing from her voice. Games were over now for her. “How’d you like treasure more valuable than gold or jewels.”

"I'm listening."

Adda went to get fully changed, teasing Covarog with her naked body as she got herself into fresh clothing. “You see my sails there Corsaire?”

"I see the carpet matches the drapes."

"Captain, please!" Seer was feeling around trying to find his own clothes and accidently picked up one of Adda's bras. Clearing his throat, he folded the underwear neatly before placing it on her bed and continuing to search. "Be serious for once."

“You can keep it if you’d like~”

Adda gave him one of her shirts as well and patted Seer, fuelling his shy embarrassment.

Now clothed, the Captain walked onto the main deck. “Up above you are one of fives magical sets known as the Swift Sail. You can’t burn or tear it, and it will sail perfectly in any direction, no matter the air resistance. In my travels I’ve discovered two other sets. Both of which I’ve promptly locked up and dropped into the sea. Rather not have anyone else have the advantage I have.” She turned to Corsaire with another dramatic spin. “However, a ship I’ve been tracking for a while has the fourth set. You help me raid this ship, and along with splitting the rest of the jewels in half, I will allow you to keep the Swift Sail for yourself.”

"Hrm... sounds a little too good to be true.” Corsaire crossed his arms. "How do I know you'll not betray me? I'm not known to work with other pirates because I've been double crossed before."

“Because on this ship that we’ll attack, there’s a much bigger prize that I desire. I can’t achieve my goal without another crew to help me pincer in my target.”

Adda took her gun, firing a bullet to not only wake her crew, but demonstrate that the sail could not be torn. “It’s like the saying goes. There’s honour amongst thieves. I can guarantee they hold the full set. I can guarantee the rest of the treasure they hold can make your crew very happy men. So trust me.”

"Hrm... what do you think, Seer?"

"Me, Captain?"

"You're the one that spent the night with her, what do you think?" Corsaire asked the cook. He knew about Seer's ability to 'read' people, to sense their thoughts, whether it was honest intentions or not. "Should I trust her?"

"Well... she was kind to me, Captain. Her words are sincere, from what I sense." Seer spoke as he finished putting on his clothes, but was having trouble with the shirt. Button up shirts were his worst enemy. He was off by one button. "If she was going to betray you, I would detect more malice. I do not sense any."

"... very well." Corsaire trusted his crewmate. "If Seer thinks you're good... then I suppose you are."

“Good. Very good.”

Adda was so close to achieving her dominance of the sea.

It took a day’s travel, both crews working with each other in sequence. Their target was an imperial ship of some rich nation. The ship was small, but very fast. Adda was right when she said her ship couldn’t catch it on its own, but with Corsaire’s help, the two ships trapped their quarry at the mouth of a river. That was when the bloodbath commenced. Adda was ruthless, her cannon fire crippling the lower decks of the ship, forcing it to beach itself. She used mortar fire to take care of any who dared flee onto the land. Her boarding party swept aboard and Adda showed off her terrifying power with a blade. With great laughter and snark, she duelled her way forward. Corsaire witnessed her exchange blows with the enemy captain, the man cursing the pirates to his dying breath. It was obvious that Adda was toying with him. When she was finally bored, she pulled out her revolver in the middle of the sword duel and shot her opponent in the knee cap. As the man screamed she took his suffering in with a deep breath, and silenced him with another shot to the head. Soon enough a number of men had surrendered, being round up on the main deck. Adda took extreme satisfaction from her work as a pirate. After finishing her afterglow of the victory, she signalled Corsaire to come aboard.

Adda was ruthless, that was for sure. If at all possible, he tried to avoid killing, but it seemed Adda and her crew rather enjoyed it. Once on board, Corsaire made sure that he took only a few men, leaving the rest on his ship. Rat and Pockets were beside of him, while the rest stayed on board the Sea Witch. Once Adda had her treasure, then he would go his separate way.

"You find it?"

“Give me a moment.” Adda eyed the men that were still alive. “Hmm. You’re cute. Ladies take him, and five others. You know what to do with the rest.”

They gave their Captain a nod, and put six men onto the Gerudo ship. The other were dragged over to the edge of their ship, having their necks slit and thrown into the river. Crocodiles tore into the corpses as they fell in.

Kicking down the treasury door, Adda pointed out the treasure she wanted Scarlet to divide. The first mate started counting the treasure boxes, finding a large massive rolled up sail. With a smile, she handed it to Rat. To tell the truth, she was forming a crush. “Here you go Mousa.”

"Thank you, lassie." Rat took the sail as Pockets started to load the divided treasure onto the Sea Witch. "And I's a ratty... not a mousa." He winked at her. "Not meek like a mousa either. Then again, you know that."

"Is it necessary to kill everyone?" Corsaire felt his hairs stand up on his neck when the women so casually killed the men and fed them to crocodiles. "Or is this not to leave any loose ends?"

“Lack of loose ends. Those six will make a good distraction for Scylla when we return to home waters. You aren’t worried, are you?” Adda cracked a smile, sneaking malice in it to purposely make Corsaire feel a little fear to her. Discovering a silver box, it held the engraving of ancient text, and three golden triangles. Creaking it open, Adda took hold of a very light silver baton. With a single light swing, the wind blew softly. “It actually exists....”

"You know, you could always sail around Scylla." Corsaire mentioned and tried to keep a straight face. He was not malicious at heart unless the situation called for it. What Adda did was her business. "I have no reason to worry as long as you uphold your end of the bargain. You have what you want, and I have one of the sails. Give me the rest and we'll be even."

"Captain!" Seer called from the Sea Witch. "You and Lady Adda better hurry. We have a Danjuran navy ship on our tails!"

“You only need the current sail for its magic to work. God knows what power could happen if you got all five. And by the sound of it, we don’t have the time.” Adda power walked to her ship. “Scarlet, do we have the inscription for whirlpools?”

“Yes Captain!”

“Excellent. I can buy us some time for goodbyes and an escape Corsaire.”

"The legend says I need all of them." Corsaire knew how pirates were, so he had to be sneaky. As Seer called about the Danjuran ship, he knew the navy would be close soon enough. After all, he used to be an officer for the royal Danjuran navy. He knew all the ins and outs of their routes, how the ships worked, and the weaponry. Hopping back on his ship, the captain signaled for the men to ready the sails. Grinning, the captain removed the board connecting the Sea Witch to the one he and Adda chased. With the wind in their favor, the sails unfurled and lurched it forward. "Though it won't be too hard to find where you've hid them."

“You can have my sails when you find the fifth set!” Adda ran to her ship, her crew setting out. Taking the scroll Scarlet unrolled for her, Adda followed the directions carefully. It was time to see if this Wind Waker worked. She made a flurry of flics left to right, once up, twice down, finishing by pointing at the navy ship. Storm clouds poured over the target, and the sea itself swirled. A massive whirlpool started to rock the boat, anchoring it in a circle as it spun around. Adda gave out a triumphant laugh. “It worked? IT WORKED!!! I have the greatest weapon a pirate could ever dream of!!! HahaHAHAHA!!! YES!!!”

The two ships momentarily sailed together as they left the navy behind. Adda walked to the edge of her ship with a swagger. “Well, boys, I suppose this is goodbye!”

"Just wait until I come for your sail." Corsaire said in good humor as he signaled for his men to head in the direction of Gulper Bay. "See you soon, captain of the Gerudos!"

Seer was at the end of the ship and although he could not see Adda, he waved goodbye with a soft smile.

“I guess you’ll have to visit. Give a year or two after I’ve finished making myself Queen of the Sea. Gerudo woman are the best damn pirates you’ll ever meet!”

Scarlet took her helmet off and waved to Rat. “I’ll think of baby names just in case!”

Adda turned to her with a look of confusion. “What?”

Scarlet whispered to herself in embarrassment. “I didn’t buy any pills or condoms. Something might happen...”

“Christ girl....”

Shaking her head at her first mate, Adda turned her attention and winked at Corsaire. “Normally I’d consider you a ‘loose end’.... but that cook of yours is too damn adorable to disappoint~ Don’t tell any Gerudo men about us, and you can visit anytime!”

Seer normally did not think about ever having contact with a woman with such bravado as Adda, but perhaps, one day soon... he'd see her again.

With that, both ships sailed in different directions, new adventures and danger awaiting them. (Christmas gift to the beautiful Lorraine of @figmentforms. Captain Adda is technically a creation of Lor that we made together in our spare time. I’m proud to play and bring Adda to life in this crossover with @ridersoftheapocalypse in her first introduction to the extended universe. Art is done by the fabulous @s-kinnaly. Reblogs and comments appreciated! Happy Christmas Eve! See you tomorrow for one more gift!)

#Crossover #Christmas Gift #ridersoftheapocalypse #s-kinnaly #figmentforms #Captain Adda #Corsaire #Seer #Rat

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awakandangoddess · 7 years ago

Text

Vacation in Vegas Aftermath (Part 4)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Imagine (17)

Warnings: this will contain two men in a relationship, I try I try, and there might be cussing not that you all will care

Enjoy!

The day after Erik and T'Challa's engagement and a night of passion, everyone packed their things, checked out of the hotel, and boarded their ship to head back to Wakanda and share the news.

When they touched down, everyone was greeted by Ramonda and Shuri at the palace. Hugs were exchanged between T'Challa, Erik, Okoye, Ramonda, and Shuri as the rest of Dora Milaje loaded the luggage into T'Challa and Erik's room.

"How was your vacation?" Ramonda asks.

"It was great, mother," replies T'Challa as he wraps his arm around Erik's waist. "I had an excellent time. What about you?" he asks Erik.

"Yeah, I had a great time, Auntie," says Erik. "Aye T'Challa you think we should tell them now?"

"Tell us what?" asks Shuri.

"I think we should wait until dinner," T'Challa says smirking.

"No, no. You already started it, now finish. What do you have to tell us?" Ramonda questions.

T'Challa and Erik both stare at each other with love before they share their announcement.

"Well mother, sister, while we were in Vegas, I decided I want to spend the rest of my life with Erik. So I proposed..." T'Challa trails off cueing Erik to finish.

"And now we're getting married." Ramonda gasps as a smile appears on Shuri's face.

"Oh congratulations, you two," Ramonda cheers hugging the two again. She reaches for Erik's hand to see the ring, admiring how beautiful it is. "This ring is exquisite."

"I agree," Erik says.

"I can't believe my brother's getting married," states Shuri.

"Yes, Shuri," says T'Challa. "Aren't you happy for us?"

"Why wouldn't I be happy for my brother?Especially since you're not marrying an idiot."

Erik and T'Challa snicker while Ramonda doesn't look too pleased by the comment.

"Shuri," she scowls.

"Sorry, mother."

"It's cool, Auntie. As long as I'm still cool with Shuri I'm good," Erik comments as he pulls Shuri close to him.

The day goes on as T'Challa and Erik get settled back in. T'Challa won't officially return to business until tomorrow, thanks to the convincing of Erik. As of now the couple are sitting on the couch, watching a movie before dinner time arrives.

"Babe?" calls Erik.

"Yes, Erik?"

"I'm like what Shuri said earlier, I can't believe we're really getting married."

"Well really she said she can't believe I'm getting married," T'Challa starts causing the couple to chuckle. "but you can't?"

"I mean like I told you before, I never thought I see myself here. I almost killed you and you could've killed me but instead you, Auntie, Shuri, and every one who lives here have accepted like I didn't do shit and-" T'Challa cuts Erik off from his babbling by kissing him on the lips.

They separate after a few seconds and it's T'Challa's time to speak. "I told you, Erik, I love you very much. There's no one else in my heart that can replace you. I don't care anymore about what we've been through. I wouldn't have asked you to be my husband if I wasn't sure. Are you sure ready for this, Erik?"

Erik grins. "I love you, T'Challa. I wouldn't have said yes if I wasn't." T'Challa smiles as he kisses Erik on his temple before they return to watch the movie, with Erik feeling a lot better about taking their relationship to the next level.

Almost a year after that night, their wedding day was finally here.

In Wakandan tradition, the royal wedding is not held at the palace. Instead, it is held at any church of the king's choosing. Because of this T'Challa chose the church where his father T'Chaka and Ramonda were married at long ago.

Similar to Western customs, the groom cannot see their spouse before the wedding, otherwise Bast will not bless the matrimony.

Since the theme colors are always chosen by the couple, Erik and T'Challa have decided to go with white and gold.

Lastly, as far as dress, Erik has to be dressed in all white and wear a white and gold kente cloth over his head to signify he is T'Challa's consort, while T'Challa wears a gold and white kurti with matching pants.

The wedding starts in less than an hour. Erik is looking in the mirror as one of the servants wrap the kente on his head.

"You look wonderful, Prince Erik," says the servant, Zoya, once she finishes wrapping the kente.

"Thank you." There's a knock on the door. Zoya walks over and opens it to reveal Ramonda.

"Queen Mother," she announces and bows.

"Hello there. I would like to speak with Prince Erik in private please."

"Of course." She moves to the side to let Ramonda in. "I will give you both your alone time." Zoya leaves out the room closing the door behind her.

Ramonda walks over to her nephew/soon-to-be son-in-law and takes a seat on the couch placed next to the vanity Erik was sitting in front of.

"Hey Auntie," greets Erik as he hugs her.

"Hello Erik," she responds before they pull away. "You look wonderful."

"Thank you. So do you." She says a thank you as well before she starts explaining to Erik why she visited him.

"I wanted to tell you this, N'Jadaka, even though we started off on the wrong foot, I'm glad to have you in our family. As my nephew and now my son-in-law. You and T'Challa make a great couple and Bast willing your marriage lasts a long time."

"You really mean that, Auntie?" Erik asks.

"Yes. I wouldn't be sitting here talking to you if I didn't." They both chuckle and Ramonda continues with her words. "I will tell you marriage is difficult, and you and T'Challa will have some bumps in the road. But you two put your faith in Bast to work it out, and everything will be okay."

The tears Erik were trying to hold back are released, letting them fall freely only for him to quickly wipe them away.

"Aw, I didn't mean to make you cry," Ramonda says as she gets up to comfort Erik.

"Nah, it's okay. I guess I just needed to hear that."

"It's going to be okay, Erik. You have a good thing with T'Challa and so does he with you. I see you two love each other very much so make the best of this."

Erik nods his head in agreement. "Thank you, Auntie."

"You're welcome. I guess I will be on my way out. Do you need Zoya to redo your make up?" Erik responded with a yes as Ramonda left out the room, but not before reaching out to Zoya to do Erik’s face again.

After retouches and calming themselves down, Erik was ready to walk down the aisle and T’Challa was ready to see his future husband.

T’Challa was already standing at the alter while Erik was behind the gold curtains ready to walk. Everyone of importance is in attendance of the royal wedding, of course including Ramonda and Shuri who are seated in the front row.

“Are you ready to walk now Prince Erik?” another one of the servants, Ode, asks him. Erik gives his approval as the music starts playing and he hears the audience singing in Xhosa. He makes out the lyrics. He translates the song saying that everyone is happy the king has found his love and they’re happy to see the bride, or in this case the other groom.

The curtains are opened for Erik and he begins to walk in slowly. His bare feet touch the white cloth lined with gold that’s laid down the aisle. The first thing he notices is T’Challa smiling at him and how handsome he looks in his white and gold.

Next, he notices while everyone is singing there are dancers on both sides of the room in rhythm with the music. Erik also looks down to see everyone throwing white rose petals at his feet, also part of tradition. Despite Erik’s heavy knowledge of Wakanda and its history, he didn’t think once to look into the traditions of marriage in Wakanda. And he’s glad he didn’t because it was all a big surprise to him and he liked it.

He reaches the altar and with the help of T’Challa, he grabs Erik's hand to help him up the three steps and soon has him by his side.

“You look beautiful, N’Jadaka,” T’Challa whispers in his ear.

“Thank you. You look classy yourself,” he whispers back.

The music stops, the singing is silenced, and the dancers are now at a standstill. The crowd is cued to sit down so that the wedding may officially start.

The shaman starts with his words of wisdom for the couple and the audience before he hands off the wedding to Erik and T’Challa to exchange their vows.

“You first, King T’Challa.” The pair look each other in they eyes. T’Challa clears his throat before starting.

“I, T’Challa, love you, N’Jadaka, very much. I want to tell you that every single day and every moment we are together. If I could say it to you a thousand times in one setting I would. I vow to you to be the best husband I can be, to you be the best king I can be. I promise to cherish you, honor you every single moment we have, and continue to love you for who you are. You are my one and only love, Erik, and for better or for worse, I vow to make you feel like that every day of our lives.”

T’Challa wipes a few tears from his and Erik’s faces. Even Shuri and Ramonda are wiping tears from their eyes before it’s time for Erik’s vows.

“Your turn, Prince Erik,” announces the shaman.

“I, N’Jadaka, do love you too, T’Challa. From where we started until now you have made me a better person, and I hope to continue to be that way for you. I vow to support you during our reign, be by your side if you need me, and always be one person you can count on. I vow to you to be the best husband I can be, and be the best king I can be. I vow to love you, make you laugh when I get the chance, and continue to be faithful to you through thick and thin.”

At this point, a few audience members are in full blown tears, and even the shaman has a tear running down his face before wiping it away. Erik and T’Challa smile, both knowing that they mean the words they both spoke to each other.

The shaman gathers himself and now it was time for the moment of truth.

“Do you King T’Challa Udaku take Prince N’Jadaka Erik Stevens to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” he says and slips the ring onto Erik’s finger.

“Do you, Prince N'Jadaka Erik Stevens, take King T’Challa Udaku to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

“I do,” he responds as he does the same to T’Challa.

“By the spirit of Bast and the country of Wakanda, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mr. Udaku, King T’Challa and now King N’Jadaka. T’Challa, you may now kiss your husband.” T’Challa grabs Erik by his waist and leans in to connect their lips while Erik places his hands on T'Challa's cheeks. The sounds of cheering, applause, and the feeling of excitement can be heard and felt throughout the room as the kiss still continues.

“Hey! Save the rest for the honeymoon!” yells out Shuri as Ramonda turns to pinch her while the rest of the rooms laughs.

T’Challa and Erik pull away, grand smiles still on their faces.

“I love you,” T’Challa tells him.

“I love you, too.”

“The reception will be held in the building next door,” announces the shaman. “As soon as the royal couple exit, everyone may start making their way out.” On cue, the music starts up again, the dancers are dancing, the singing happens, and as another part of tradition, T’Challa grabs Erik’s hand and they both dance their way down the aisle.

Once they exit the room, the newly wedded couple begin to head straight to their dressing rooms to change, but not before a quick conversation.

“I can’t believe you’re really my husband,” Erik comments.

“And I can believe you are not only my husband, but a king as well,” responds T’Challa as he takes Erik’s left hand and kisses it.

“True, but really, I’m your king, babe.”

Erik and T’Challa share one last kiss before heading to their dressing rooms to prepare for an evening of eating, drinking, partying, and having fun to celebrate the start of a new life together.

Credits/Notes:

Gifs are not mine (credit to those people who made them). Pictures are not mine (credit to the photographers), and they are just an idea of what the ceremony and the reception look like.

Erik did not have a full face of make up, only a little water proof foundation did the trick. 😉

I hope y’all like the wedding vows because I made them up. 😀

I actually did some research on how some traditional African weddings are conducted. You all probably know that different countries and regions in Africa have diverse ways of traditional weddings, and as a result, I got some ideas from the Shona people in Zimbabwe and an article I read about a Nigerian royal wedding. Also there is use of some traditional Western customs.

I hope y'all enjoyed it!!!

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