#// alaire i am still working on

[starsdeath]

Roster has been officially updated! (both the list on the blog and in the google doc on the pinned post)

[littlewitty]

Alairie Persu

Chapter 5

A useful fact in life is that you never leave a candle burning at night. Especially if you’re in a cell. I woke up to wax melted everywhere. Including the books which Sariel had given me. Oh well. He was anything but happy. It was almost time for my etiquette lesson and I had just finished the test on mannerisms. I knew I had failed. I didn’t even read the material. I was too embarrassed to confess I couldn’t read.

“Incredible. I’ve never seen worse test results in my life…” Sariel sounded genuinely impressed. He slammed the test onto the table, “You didn’t even lift your pen!” I couldn’t read and I couldn’t write. Literally, none of that is my fault. Call this a… massive loophole in his teachings. Clavis was howling with laughter and Yves looked baffled. They stood at the door to Sariel’s office waiting to escort me to the dining room. Today, I had another test. I would be dining with people, one of the royal ‘factions’. I believe it was the one Yves was part of. And Clavis? Well he was joining to take the piss out of me. I was going to meet more of the posh brigade. When I was younger I saw two well-off people having a fight and I remembered it perfectly. It still sent me into fits over what they said. ‘Oh my goodness, Albert! He’s dishonoured you!’No matter how hard they tried, they didn’t sound intimidating.

It was then that I realised a key fact in life. Posh accents have limits.

“Is this some kind of game for you?” Blondie finally managed to splutter out. “Just grow up already and do the damn work you’re given. It’s not a choice! You will do what we tell you or you can go and rot in prison.” Oh, the classism. You cannot just assume in a time like this that someone can read. If you didn’t come from the right type of area and class then you had no chance. I was never schooled. The only way I am educated is by being trilingual. That was due to a few non-academic reasons. A Rhodilitian man lived in my village. He was rather fond of me and since a young child he taught me to speak Rhodilian in payment for me helping him with whatever (usually gardening to which he would ‘accidentally’ drop fresh vegetables in my bag). I was raised in Jade, therefore I spoke fluent Jadian. Finally, my grandmother and father from my father’s side had come from Tanzanite which was a territory just under Jade on the map. I spoke conversational Tanzanitian but it was enough to get around by.

“Your way of ‘teaching’ is insulting.” Sariel only threw daggers at me with his eyes. I had a punishment coming my way I guess. Detention maybe? I knew that happened at school. Although, I would consider being in prison a type of detention. I was dismissed rather harshly and led to the dinning room where everyone sat. Something laid thick in the air. It was either tension or testosterone. I hadn’t yet deciphered which one. As I sat down, the others started making idle chat with each other. Sitting directly next to me was Clavis and Yves and then on the opposite side of the table facing me was Licht and two others.

“Alright, let’s start with names. I’m the fourth prince, Leon Dompteur, but just call me Leon and I’ll call you Alairie, does that sound good?” He seemed weirdly friendly. He wasn’t at all what I imagined. Especially for royalty. The next person had an air around him too, but more scandalous.

“I’m Jin Grandet, the first prince of Rhodolite,” he grinned. Slowly eyeing me up and down, analysing everyone of my features. He had a mask of sensuality. The way he sat excluded sex. It was daring to watch but like sugar to the eyes after being stuck in prison with Blondie and the buffoon. An awkward silence passed as I realised they were all looking at me. I guess they wanted me to introduce myself? I straightened up and spoke in my learnt accent with the refined words I had been told to use.

“Hello. M-My name is Alaire Persu… It’s nice to meet you?” Silence. I had definitely failed that one. An ever growing snicker soon broke the silence. Clavis was basically in hysterics.

“It’s so weird seeing you act nice. But that? That was a disaster. Why did you ask if it was nice to meet them?” He was enjoying this too much. However, I had to play the noble, sensible woman. His laughing continued and soon Jin joined in every so slightly. Yves finally commented.

“What in th-... What even was that?!” He was pissed. Who the hell was I kidding, I couldn’t be the ‘refined noble’, I was the ‘outspoken criminal’ for a reason.

“Alright, all of you can shut the fuck up!” That silenced them. Swearing in front of royalty? Taboo. “I tried my hardest, okay?! If I am so bad then blame it on my teacher over here!” I gestured to Yves. They were all still in shock about my swearing apparently.

“...Are you trying to pick a fight with me? Number one, you cannot shout at royalty and, number two, royalty never swear!” Yves confirmed sternly.

“I literally don’t fucking care,” I challenged. Leon was looking concerned, Jin and Licht were in shock and Clavis was wheezing in a fit. After more back and forth glares between me and Blondie, Clavis took a breath and stopped the situation.

“Alairie, calm down or Sariel will intervene. You just need more ti-a lot more time, uh-oh look who’s here,” he was grinning like mad. Like clockwork Sariel appeared out of nowhere. He marched up to me, with a terrifying smile.

“You failed at everything then have the nerve to act out in front of them.” His smile reached his ears too much. Those words took me back.‘You failed at everything’. I literally rob and deal out of desperation… I wasn’t educated otherwise this wasn’t a life I would choose for myself. It lit embers in my heart I never realised were still there. Igniting instantly.

“I failed at everything?! I was set up, don’t you even fucking realise that?! With a background like mine, which you have information about, do you really think I was educated? I never went to school. I cannot read or write! You just assumed I did. Not everyone has it that bloody nice!” Yet again, silence. This time everyone was shocked at my outburst. Hot tears ran down my cheeks. Fucking embarassing. I didn’t want to cry but when I got that worked up, I couldn't help it. I was a sensitive person. No one dared to say anything.

“... I want to go back to the cell. Either you take me or I’m going myself.” It’s not like I had any authority, but this was one choice I would push for. I felt a stabbing pain in my stomach, out of nowhere, and this only sealed my decision. I quickly brushed it off. Sariel didn’t move. He had a semi-frown on, calculating things in his eyes. “Fine then.” I pushed past him to the door before a hand grabbed my wrist. Deja-vu? Clavis was the one who reached out to me. His eyes said everything. ‘Don’t you dare try to leave’,’I went too far’,’I will stop you.’ I shook off his hand and left in the corridor. I heard all their shouts in the distance, booming orders at guards. I kicked off the ridiculous stilettos and ran. I didn’t know my way around the palace but there was only one place a dungeon would be. Below. Whilst running away with all five of them hastily following, I began to rip off the bodice of my dress, it was too tight. I tore my skirt over my head, it slowed me down. I stripped down entirely into my underwear. I hit someone on the way. Full on ran into him, a man in a white and black coat, blond hair and the coldest blue eyes covered in blood. Thankfully, managing to keep all the blood off me, I continued until I ran down the stairs into the cellar. I thanked the lord that it was a familiar entrance. They still pursued me but I could hear their footsteps slow down when I reached my cell. I darted in and closed the door best I could even without it being locked. It was in the perfect position to be shut. Wandering over to the corner I just faced the wall.

‘Stop crying’. I kept repeating that in my head. The ching on keys and the familiar clock of the lock told me I was officially penned in again. The comfort of a cell. My favourite. Finally a voice broke the awkward silence. I knew all of them were just there staring at me.

“... Yo-you… didn’t need to strip and… sho-” Yves tried to say. What was he going on about? Was he really that much of a virgin that me in my underwear flustered him? It was quite pathetic. “You know… it was ru-rude and disgus-... It was unreasonable to do tha-”

“I don’t think she knows yet, so don’t lecture her.” Seriously, Clavis too? Are they trying to parannoy me to make me look around? Clavis, gracefully, carried on, “Alairie… I think,” but even he seemed hesitant and embarrassed,” I think you have a … ‘female issue’... you should deal with.” ‘Female Issue’? I looked over my shoulder and saw all of them blushing, not meeting my eye. Licht was holding my underskirt by a corner of it. I went pale, I was sure of it. The white skirt.The skirt should have been white. The patch of red suddenly explained the stabbing pain I had. Even in Jade, periods were taboo. And I got mine in front of royalty. Now, a new phrase ricocheted in my head. ‘Don’t cry again’. I was mortified. I swiftly turned back around. Looking down, my underwear was stained too. What was I supposed to do? I felt a pulsing in my head. Oh yes, I loved this - being reminded how much life had it out for me.

[bubba4576]

The wedding

Lindley married Josh Seals on July 8, 2023! It’s still hard to wrap my brain around - she is married! She’s a wife! The process was fun, stressful, emotional… allllll the things. I wrestled because I couldn’t be as involved as I would’ve liked because it was in Indy. She seemed to struggle planning this huge thing, and trying to keep her mom and MIL happy.���� It was a journey for all of us! I’d like to think that we all came out closer and more appreciative of each other tho. Erica kept reminding me that this is what we prayed for- that she would find a guy who loves Jesus and loves her. Period. Nothing else REALLY matters. Other things do matter but not nearly as much.

I cried more tears over this than ever before. But once it was done, my tears have also been done. And for that I am grateful. I was beginning to feel unstable. I’d just melt at the smallest thing. It’s a crazy thing when your child is doing these adult things apart from you. Certainly she has done adult things before this but now her primary support and the primary voice she’ll listen to will be Josh. As it should be. But it’s hard. Hard to reign in my opinions and thoughts and be careful what I share. Hard not to feel displaced by his family who lives close by and they see all the time. Hard to have her not be a Neebes anymore. That was one thing that took me by surprise. I don’t like it at all! 😂Makes me think of my parents and how sensitive or insensitive I was 28 years ago. Likely my mom had similar feelings. Because moms do. It’s seems to be a little bit universal. And human.

But the wedding- it was beautiful! It rained early and then the skies cleared and it wasn’t even terribly hot- how we worried about the heat and the rain. The back up plans- all the options. So much of what worries me- how it would all work in the barn was handled beautifully by Destiny Friesen the wedding coordinator. We talked through every detail, but I still worried. She just did it all- while we got our hair and makeup done and got dressed, she handled ALL the things at the barn. Carrie, Cari and Laurie came down Thursday morning to help with a DIY flower session (I.e. we did all the flowers ourselves with guidance from the florist!), then the Fosses and Lawson’s picked up the food from Bluffton and Caleb Mitchell ran all over Indy getting water and ice. Alair helped set up the barn on Saturday- Kristin and Tim were so helpful by coming early and helping with everything. It was great! It really took a village- and this isn’t every mentioning the Seals village- who set, up, helped with hair and makeup, made breakfast and lunch on the wedding day, worked by serving food, bartending, parking cars, passing out programs, moving benches, and the list goes on! There were so many moving parts that it made my brain spin. But the Lord was so gracious and it was AMAZING! Lindley and Josh just looked so dreamy and giddy. And they looked like they were having so much FUN!! 🕺 💃

Kevin did an amazing welcome, speech and blessing. Mal did an amazing toast, and Kevin and lindley did a hilarious dance. I was THRILLED that I didn’t have anything to do once the ceremony got started. We connected with friends old and new and enjoyed ourselves. We’re so so grateful to the Lord for his kindness.

💕💕Mr and Mrs Seals

[heniareth]

also to mix games for the banter asks: ilanlas and merrill? during the origin or an AU or however it works best

Heck yeah, this very much tickles my fancy XD XD XD I should do an Awakening run with Ilanlas to nail down his canon (and finish DA2) but here are Merrill and Ilanlas on a chance encounter in the Deep Roads during DA2 (Nathaniel is there as well).

Banter ask game can be found here.

Ilanlas: It is good to see you, lethallan.

Merrill: It's good to see you too. How have you been? What have you been doing all this time?

Ilanlas: Travelling with the Hero of Ferelden. Later, leading the Grey Wardens in Ferelden. You?

Merrill: (hesitantly) Well... I have been... doing research. In the Kirkwall Alienage.

Ilanlas: So that is how you got to know these people.

Merrill: They are good people.

Ilanlas: (scoffs) They are foolish. There is nothing in the Deep Roads worth finding. Only darkness, darkspawn and death.

Merrill: It's for a good cause. I think.

---

Merrill: Were you Anders' Commander?

Ilanlas: (if Anders is not present) You know Anders? Is he in Kirkwall? (If Anders is present, very deliberately not directing his words at him) Yes. I was surprised not to find him at the Vigil when I returned from Weisshaupt, after killing all of those templars that were hunting him.

Anders: (if present, mumbling into his coat) I'm right here, you know?

Merrill: He said you put a Templar on duty to shadow him. Is that true? Did you do that?

Ilanlas: What!? I did not do that. (If Anders is present, now directed at Anders) Is that true? Who gave that order?

Anders: (If present, angry) Oh, now you're talking to me?

Nathaniel: That might've been that anxious soldier from the West Hills who volunteered. You did put her in charge when we left. Remember how she wanted to tell you something about Anders when we came back and you wanted to hear no word of it?

Ilanlas: Fenhedis lhasa!

Merrill: That was my reaction as well. Never do that, lethallin! I have been to their mage prison in Kirkwall. It is horrible.

Ilanlas: Even if I wanted to do that, Velanna would burn my head off before I could. But the responsible ones will be punished. (Sighs. If Anders is not present) I will have to apologize to him once we get out of here. (Sighs. If Anders is present) I owe you an apology.

Anders: (Half angry, half pleasantly surprised) An apology? From you? I might even consider forgiving you just for the rarity of it.

Nathaniel: (If Anders is present) Ser Pounce-A-Lot is still around as well. Might want to come by and check up on him. (If Anders is not present) We should tell him Ser Pounce-A-Lot is still at the Vigil and well-cared for. That might help.

---

Ilanlas: How is the clan?

Merrill: We- They are alright. Last I saw them they had taken in a shem-blooded boy with a talent for magic. Marethari will have somebody to train as her second now.

Ilanlas: What happened to Alaire?

Merrill: She became First after I left.

Ilanlas: And why are you no longer First?

Merrill: I settled in the Alienage.

Ilanlas: That does not merit being cast out in such a way.

Merrill: (Silence)

Ilanlas: ... What did you do?

Merrill: Please, lethallin, let it be. You would not- I do not want to talk about it.

---

Merrill: I left the clan to study the mirror.

Ilanlas: ... What?

Merrill: I left the clan to-

Ilanlas: (agitated) I heard you the first time. You went back? You- you touched the mirror!?

Merrill: See, this is why I did not want to tell you. I knew you would shout.

Ilanlas: That thing killed Tamlen and you- what, you took it!?

Merrill: Only a shard.

Ilanlas: "Only". "Only" a shard!? Mythal am'bey, Merrill, one touch was enough to-

Merrill: I know! Believe me, I know! And look: I am not sick, and neither is anybody of our clan. I took every precaution. I know what I am doing, Ilanlas.

Ilanlas: You exposed everybody to grave danger!

Merrill: No more danger than lies in the dealing with demons or shems.

Ilanlas: (harshly) What does that mean?

Merrill: Lethallin, I know that Tamlen's death was a hard blow for you. But he was my friend too. I have had this exact conversation far too often and I am tired. I only wish you would believe in me, but since that is not the case... let us speak no more of this. What is done is done.

---

Ilanlas: What have you found regarding the mirror?

Merrill: What I have found? I thought you disapproved of this.

Ilanlas: I do. But you are right, it is done. And I am a Grey Warden.

Merrill: You know, it is terribly unfair to berate me for my research and then ask for its result.

Ilanlas: So you will keep it all to yourself? You will hoard your knowledge?

Merrill: No. I want you to apologize and to admit that you have judged the situation far too rashly. And then we may talk.

Ilanlas: Rashly? I think my reaction was more than warranted.

Merrill: And you have to mean your apology. Until then, this conversation is over.

---

Ilanlas: You were right.

Merrill: Right about what?

Ilanlas: It was not right of me to shout at you and then ask for your research.

Merrill: (Still offended) I am glad you see that now.

(Silence)

Ilanlas: And I am... sorry for not trusting you? Is that what offended you?

Merrill: (Sarcastic) You have such a way with words...

Ilanlas: I am trying.

(Beat)

Ilanlas: You were offended because I did not trust you. Or your capabilities.

Merrill: Correct.

Ilanlas: I still think it was a foolish and dangerous idea-

Merrill: You are not making it better.

Ilanlas: -but I should have known that you would see that as well and work hard to keep everybody safe. I apologize for not recognizing the feat. And I apologize for letting my temper get the better of me.

Merrill: ... Well, that is at least a step in the right direction. Replace 'temper' with 'fear' or 'grief' and we might even get to the point.

(Silence)

Ilanlas: I am glad you are alive and unblighted.

Merrill: (softly) Thank you for your concern. (Silence) The shard of the mirror can be cleansed.

Ilanlas: (Shocked) Cleansed from the Blight?

Merrill: Yes. I can show you once we get back.

Ilanlas: I would be honored. Lethallan, that is- I have a friend who is looking for a cure for the Blight. May I tell her of your research?

Merrill: (audibly excited) Of course! Oh why did I not think of that sooner? It might work on people!

Ilanlas: And it might save a lot of lives once the next Blight comes around.

Those two had a looooooooooot to say to each other. I hope you don't mind the length of this, but the little story was practically writing itself. Thank you so much for this ask! Have a lovely day ^^

[screamingatanemptyroom]

Please Fix the Story pt 26 - The Higher Realm

The Higher realm continues. So close to the end!

Master post linked here

Enjoy!

______________________________

Time passed, but it was difficult to tell how much. Time worked so differently in the different realms. How long did we really spend trying to save one lower realm? Minutes? Decades? It felt like no time and forever. Adonis and I traveled to lower realm after lower realm, fixing the stories, stabilizing the world before heading back to the higher realm.

Some lower realms were easy, if a bit annoying, such as the high school dramas. In those I would often play the “average” new girl at a school. I would meet new people, and was supposed to go on to have romance, betrayals and coming of age realizations. I quickly realized that befriending all my supposed romantic leads instead of dating them, reconciling with my rivals instead of humiliating them, and pushing towards success all together was a much more satisfying strategy. Fortunately, graduating valedictorian with a happy and psychologically healthy group of teenagers often stabilized worlds that had been torn apart by half-baked character design or infighting between rivals.

I took calculus so many times that I could recite lessons in my sleep, but at least the worlds were saved. Despite our success, however, Adonis was often frustrated. He had his own vision of how we were to save these realms. His plans almost always involved us dating, making the high school romance “successful”.

I refused.

He had been a lot more likable since our first meeting, and I was able to consider him a close friend and ally… but I felt uncomfortable at the idea of even pretending to have a romantic relationship. It was definitely a more difficult route to stabilize the world without a romance, but I chose it every time. Adonis pouted and complained, but couldn’t argue with success, and I was successful.

Some lower realms were more difficult. In particular, zombie apocalypse stories were my least favorites. The worlds often couldn’t be stabilized until a cure was found or humanity’s survival was assured. This meant that Adonis and I sometimes spent decades within these realms, working to build armies, or teams of scientists. There was hardly ever any running water, which meant showering was few and far between.

My unwashed self was made even filthier by my absolute failure at using anything with range. Bow and arrow, guns… anything that would keep me out of the gore, I couldn’t hit even the largest of monsters. Fortunately I picked up a sword with relative ease, which allowed me to fight… but this also meant I got covered in rotten blood and guts.

I hated zombie worlds the most.

Realm after realm. We worked constantly, spending very little time in between in the higher realms. Adonis would often try to use those moments to push his ideas regarding fate and the higher realm’s story, but as soon as I rejected him, which I did every time, he would simply scowl and pull us into the next lower realm to save.

It was getting old.

“How many lower realms are there?” I asked one evening as we recovered from our latest mission, rubbing my sore shoulder where I had taken a blow in the last sci-fi alien battle. The wounds disappeared with the realm traveling, but my mind still could feel the wound, projecting the pain long after I had left that form behind.

Adonis leaned back in his chair, his grin a little too bitter to be a natural expression. “How many unfinished stories are there? Infinite, Bel. There are infinite lower realms. We will never be able to save them all. Not like this.”

“It’s not like there’s a lot of options.”

“There are options. You just don’t want to hear them.”

“What, this fate you keep talking about?” I sighed, closing my eyes, tired. “ It sounds like a terrible idea.”

“It’s not.” His voice was quiet, but the intensity shown through all the same. “It’s our duty. Everyone’s survival depends on it.”

“But what you’re saying is: we follow along some sort of script…”

“Fate.”

“…fate… here, in the higher realm. And that is somehow supposed to fix the lower realms?”

He chuckled. “You’re oversimplifying it, but pretty much. We follow our fate, and the heroes of the lower realms will find their happiness tied to ours.”

“What if they don’t want that ending? What if they don’t want that happiness?”

“Of course they do! Everyone wants a happily ever after with their destined one.” He snapped. My eyes flickered open to study his enraged expression.

“I don’t.”

“You’re selfish!”

I shrugged. “Am I? If you’re right, we submit to fate here, everyone in the lower realms gets an automatic happy ending… but most of those worlds aren’t breaking because they don’t have a happy ending. They need a wider world, different ideas… and what about the side characters, even the villains… what about their happiness?”

“They don’t matter.”

“Why not?” I raised an eyebrow. “Just because they’re the villains?”

“They’re evil.” He stood up, trying to tower over me. An intimidation tactic, one that might have worked before we’d spent countless years fighting in life-or-death battles together.

“Have you met the heroes and heroines of some of these realms?” I laughed. “They’re not much better. I don’t think these roles are as clear as you would like them to be. And I don’t think you and I having a happy ending together, and forcing a simplistic ‘and they lived happily ever after’ on all the lower realms will actually fix them. In fact…” I stood up, and he stepped back slightly at the danger in my tone. “I bet we would break them all the more. Are you really so foolish as to think that saving a universe of worlds would be so simple?”

“…” Adonis was gritting his teeth, his hands clenched so tightly the knuckles were white. But I didn’t back down. Didn’t step back. I knew he wouldn’t hit me. He wouldn’t dare step out of the role he imagined himself to be in. Wouldn’t dare cross a line that might ruin his chances at the happy ending he seemed to crave so desperately.

“…” The silence stretched on between us. We were at an impasse. He wanted to follow fate. He wanted clearly defined roles and rules to follow. And I?

I wanted freedom.

*** Soul transfer 11% complete. ***

It’s been forever since I last saw those words… I thought it had disappeared. For some reason, I felt a deep sense of relief at the glowing blue sentence. Something within me had frozen during these many trips to the lower realms, but finally it was growing again.

“The next world is waiting.” Adonis spoke up, his tone flat. I noticed an odd shifting of his gaze, a reluctance to meet my own, and felt a sense of unease.

I won’t like this next world. I cracked my knuckles and gave him a thumbs up. Well, no sense running from a challenge.

We left.

______________________________

I woke up in a luxurious canopy bed. Staring up at the fabric , I raised my arms and have a cheer.

“YES! NOT A ZOMBIE WORLD!”

On the downside, the setting appeared to be a more primitive era, medieval at best, which meant no running water, but at least I appeared to be noble or wealthy.

At least if I suffer, I’ll be clean while I do it!

“Princess?” A young woman dressed as a servant entered the room, seeming very confused. “Are you all right? I heard you yelling.”

I smiled brightly at her. “No worries. It was just a nightmare.”

She visibly relaxed. “Even so, you seem in a much better mood, if I may say so.”

“Really?”

“Yes, you haven’t broken a single thing this morning.” She, unfortunately did not seem to be kidding. “I’m so glad you’ve accepted your father’s decision.

I didn’t have my character’s memories yet. I needed to accept the mission first. In the meantime, acting too out of character could destabilize an already poorly functional world.

“I’m still… thinking it over.” I spoke up cautiously.

“It’s not so bad, your highness.” She smiled at me. “Most young girls feel a little uneasy when their father arranges their husband. But you’ll be happy. I just know it.”

Arranged marriage?

“After all, Prince Harold is reported to be a true gentleman, a might warrior, and a handsome young man!” She sighed dreamily. “Any woman would be thrilled for a chance to be his bride.”

“I’m. Sure.” I spoke through gritted teeth, the satin sheets crumpling in my grip. Adonis, when I find you, I’m going to make you regret every life decision you’ve ever made… and the ones you’ve only considered making. What kind of lower realm did you land us in? As I plotted my revenge, the mission screen popped up.

**** NEW WORLD: A Divided Kingdom****

This is a romance fantasy story featuring a prince and a princess from different kingdoms, putting aside their differences to save the world.

“I already don’t like this.” I muttered.

The Princess Alaire of the Yenlar Kingdom was a clever, independent woman, horrified at the idea of an arranged marriage. Prince Harold of the Bestion Kingdom felt differently. He fell in love at first sight and vowed to woo the young maiden. The couple was different in almost every way, and seemed destined to bicker and fight.

“Then how about we don’t get married?”

But fate had other plans…

“Of course it did!”

A terrifying beast threatened to destroy both their kingdoms, and to survive, the political marriage had to go forward. Uniting the kingdoms, and therefore their armed forces, was the only way to save their people.

However, despite the happy ending, the first book was not well received by readers and the trilogy was abandoned due to poor sales. The reason given was that the romance was “forced” and unbelievable.

Your mission is to bring a satisfying end to the story, while making ensuring the survival of both kingdoms.

**** DO YOU ACCEPT THIS MISSION? ****

YES? NO?

“Quick question.” I spoke quietly to the glowing words in front of me. “Do I have to marry the prince to ensure an ending?”

The kingdoms will not unite without the political marriage.

“That wasn’t what I asked. I asked if I HAVE to marry the prince. What if I can save both kingdoms without a political marriage?”

The stability of the world is all that matters.

“No lecture on the necessity of fate?”

**** DO YOU ACCEPT THIS MISSION? ****

YES? NO?

I grinned. “Sure. Let’s do it.”

As the words faded away, I jumped out of bed. My head spun slightly as I accepted the memories from the poor princess of the original story.

She had not been happy.

She had dreams, ambitions. The Kingdom of Yenlar allowed for women to inherit the throne, and as the firstborn she was ready to take over from her father, to rule her nation. She had spent her entire life preparing. Studying law, economics, warfare…

And all of it had meant nothing in the end.

She had begged for a political treaty. One that did not involve marriage. The Kingdom of Bestion had refused to even discuss it. They stated that there was too much distrust between the kingdoms to move forward without some sort of permanent assurance. Even the threat of annihilation from the ancient beast of legend wasn’t enough to have them reconsider. That wasn’t the full story, though.

Later she discovered that Prince Harold had seen her at a party. He had supposedly fallen in love with her at first sight, and became determined to marry her. He had learned of her plans to marry a minor noble, one who would support her position on the throne without causing an imbalance of power within the nobility. He had no chance, as far as she was concerned. The threatened destruction of their people was just the perfect opportunity to force the matter.

She had lost all power. Becoming a figurehead, a beautiful statue beside the true king, Harold. He ruled over both nations with an iron fist, treating her own people more harshly, much to the approval of his staff. She slowly became bitter and deranged, watching the destruction of the people and the nation she loved so dearly.

Beyond the end of the first book, when the realm’s story ended, she had attempted to poison him and failed. Harold had been disappointed, but felt that she still had use as a figurehead. They faked a stroke, and kept her mute and weak with poisons. A lovely doll. A perfect figurehead.

…is this a fantasy or a horror? Sheesh, no wonder the trilogy wasn’t going to sell. I shuddered, still standing awkwardly next to the beautiful bed that had belonged to a lovely young woman.

I will change this story. I spoke silently to the memories, feeling a sense of relief that didn’t belong to me as I did so.

First, let’s try to reason with Adonis. He and I had worked together in multiple realms, side by side. We were friends. We may not see eye to eye when it came to our approach towards fate and the lower realms, but he had never forced me to do something I didn’t want. He had always respected me and backed off when I said no, even if it made him unhappy.

Hopefully this time will be the same. I thought uneasily. Hopefully he will listen.

______________________________

“No.” His tone was gleeful, but his face was calm, towing with a silver goblet rather than meeting my gaze.

“Are you joking?” I leaned forward, keeping a gentle smile on my face to fool the guards and our fathers who sat on the other end of the enormous dining table.

“I’m perfectly serious, Princess Alaire. Our kingdoms face certain doom at the hands of the ancient beast. The only way to survive is to work together. We can only work together if we trust each other. The only way the Kingdom of Bestion will trust the Kingdom of Yenlar is with a marriage alliance. It’s out of my hands.”

I reached forward and took the cup from his hands, forcing him to look at me. “Why are you forcing this, Adonis? You know it didn’t work out so well for the originals.”

“Careful Princess.” His eyes glanced over at the nearby guards. “You don’t want anything to destabilize the situation further, now do you? Better to act as a proper princess should.”

“Answer the question. This plan already failed. Why do you think it will work?”

“Simple.” He leaned forward and plucked the goblet back from my hands. “We’re different. You may not want to admit it, but we have spent lifetimes at each other’s side. Growing up, going to school, facing enemies, fighting together… we could make this work. It would be a wonderful ending.”

“You know what happened to Alaire after the first book.”

“I would never do that to you.”

“But you are.” I growled, wishing I could punch him. “You are trying to make me a beautiful figurehead, just like Harold did to Alaira.”

“We would rule side by side.”

“What use is that promise, if you are already ignoring my wishes and forcing me to do this in the first place?”

He shook his head. “You have to trust me. This is the only way we can defeat the monster, and stabilize this realm. We’ll save this world. Together.” He smiled. “It’s our fate.”

I threw a plate at him, forcing him to fling himself on the floor to avoid injury. Walking out, I ignored my father’s shouts of rage. Picking up a bag I had packed ahead of time, just in case, I changed into some light armor, grabbed a sword, and headed out into the forest.

If I couldn’t win by a political alliance, I was going to find another way to save the world.

I was going monster hunting.

I searched Princess Alaira’s memories of the legends and stories, going out in a northern direction towards the area known as Death Valley.

As I marched onward, my thoughts wandered over the time I had spent since I had woken up in the Higher Realm. I couldn’t help but feel disappointed with Adonis. He might truly think that he was saving the world by insisting on going through with the marriage, but his lack of willingness to even consider other options was frustrating. He was the only person consistently by my side through every one of these worlds, someone I considered a friend, and being unable to rely on him served to make me feel all the lonelier.

My mind briefly touched on the assassin of the first realm, Liam. I had thought with his comments and actions that he had known about my mission… that he might be from the higher realm too. But no matter how much I looked for him, no matter how much I hoped to see him again, I never did.

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe he was someone from the lower realm, and I’ll never have the chance to see him, to thank him.

I felt a sense of despair. How long can I keep doing this? Is this why Adonis preaches following our fate so much? Is he as tired of traveling, tired of the missions and the different lives? Is he just hoping to end all this?

I sighed, keeping moving. I’m not that tired, not tired enough to sacrifice my freedom. Not yet, anyways.

It took several days of traveling. Fortunately from my years of experience in zombie worlds, I was well prepared to survival in the wilderness. At least here the rivers were clean, allowing me to bathe occasionally. Finally I was at the entrance of the valley, staring up at the pillars on either side.

There were ominous words carved deeply into the stone.

Only death lies ahead.

I stared at the words silently for a few moments, and then shrugged.

“Still better than marrying Adonis.”

I moved forward.

______________________________

The valley was dark, a deep fog settled in permanently, apparently unaffected by the weather beyond its borders. Dark twisted purple trees rose all around me, their roots tearing through the earth desperate searching for nutrients. The valley was quiet, suffocating in an unsettling silence. My presence there felt like an intrusion, my instincts screaming at me to run away, to escape.

I kept moving.

There were no other signs of life. But I knew at least one other being lived here, the reason why nothing else dared to.

The Ancient beast.

There were no descriptions of it in the legends. Just that it was deadly, enough to take on entire armies. And that it was terrifying.

I feel like I should have seen something by now, if it was so large. I sighed, sitting on one of the trees, staring up at the mountain ahead of me. Shouldn’t it be easier to find an enormous beast that terrified an entire world?

…

Wait.

I looked up, struggling to see the top of the mountain in front of me.

I’m in a valley…

The mountain moved up and down, with regular motions.

There shouldn’t be a mountain here.

It was breathing.

I drew my sword, inwardly despairing. I had underestimated the sheer scale of the monster. I had thought it would be the size of a house, an elephant. Instead it towered stories above me, unimaginably large.

I was doomed.

There was a rumble as the beast in front of me shifted. I couldn’t tell the shape, just an impression of scales and spikes. Slowly, something lowered down in front of me, stretching forward in all directions, filling my vision. I saw teeth larger than my own body, the white of them contrasting with the dark fog around us. As I prepared myself for my death, an eye opened to stare at me.

It was a beautiful dark blue.

“…”

Suddenly, I felt relief. It was incomprehensible. I was standing in front of an ancient beast, enormous and terrifying, and instead of fear and dread… I felt safe.

I raised a hand, almost despite myself. “Hello there.”

The eye blinked. I comforted myself that it hadn’t eaten me yet.

“I think you look awesome. I’m Princess Alaira from the nearby kingdom of Yenlar. I actually came here to kill you, to protect my people… but now I realize that you could crush me like an ant, and that was a bad plan.”

The eye blinked twice. It seemed more confused than anything.

“I have a much better plan, if you would be willing to listen to me.” I let out a laugh, slightly startled at how… villainous it sounded.

*** Soul transfer 20% complete. ***

The creature let out a sound like thunder. I felt that it was laughing too.

______________________________

The wedding was this morning.

I was surprised as I drew near to see the party going. You would think that after I disappeared, they might have canceled or delayed it. I assumed that Adonis had felt sure that I would agree with him in the end. That I wouldn’t be able to let the world end just because I didn’t want to marry him.

Well too bad, buddy. This princess has a different plan in mind!

I could see him, standing on the elevated stage before two thrones, waiting. I couldn’t see his expression from this distance, but I imagine he was barely hiding his worry. Alaire’s father and Harold’s father were also waiting on the platform, their postures betraying their impatience.

“Let’s get this party started!” I yelled.

ROOOOOOOAAAAAAR!

The ancient beast let out a triumphant roar as he flew closer and lowered his head, letting me jump down onto the platform before landing behind me, a large, threatening mountain of a creature.

“Alaire?” The king called out, confused. “What are you doing?”

“Hello, Father.” I also nodded to Adonis, who stared back.

“What is this?”

“Your daughter is a witch!” The King of Bestion shouted, drawing his ceremonial sword. “She betrayed us!”

“Hold on, father.” Adonis held out his hand, stopping his attack. “I’m sure it’s not what it looks like.”

I grinned.

“Nope. It’s exactly what it looks like. I’ve teamed up with the Ancient being. We’re friends now.” I gestured at the monster high above us, who let out a grim chuckle, shaking the ground. “So now I make the rules, got it?”

“…”

“I’ll take everyone’s stunned silence as happy agreement! Now, first rule: Wedding canceled.”

“What?”

“What?”

“You can’t do this!”

The three other royals on stage shouted simultaneously. I simply pointed again at the enormous creature.

“I can do whatever I want. The big scary monster behind me says so. Next, the kingdom of Bestion will surrender to me, as will the kingdom of Yenlar.”

“You want to rule the world?” Adonis’s gaze was… disappointed. I grinned shamelessly. “Nope. But here’s the thing: Our kingdoms face certain doom at the hands of the ancient beast. The only way to survive is to convince the monster not to kill us. The monster only trusts me. So I have to rule both kingdoms.” I shrugged. “It’s out of my hands.”

I threw his words from earlier back at him, and felt satisfied as he winced in recognition.

“We… surrender.” His words were quiet, defeated.

“You unruly child!” My father tried to shout, but a roar from the monster above us silenced him. He quickly surrendered too. I accepted both surrenders, quickly organizing the meetings to bring our governments together under one rule. Fortunately, the princess’s years of study served me well, guiding me smoothly through the process.

______________________________

I had one more confrontation with Adonis, the night before the coronation. He was escorted to my rooms by guards, saying he had a request. I hesitated briefly, but allowed him in, waving the guards behind the door so we could speak freely.

“What was that?” He shouted as soon as they had left.

I stayed sitting, forcing myself to be calm. “I fixed the story.”

“You ruined everything! Even if it stabilizes this world, it will ruin it in the long run.”

“Says you.”

“Trust me.” He threw up his hands as he paced back and forth. “Everything will go a lot smoother if you STOP CHANGING THE STORY.”

“I thought that was why we were here, though?” I sighed, leaning back in my chair and cleaning my nails with a blade. “To fix the lower realms, to save these worlds? That requires change, right?”

He paused in his movements, glaring at me. “Stop acting stupid. These worlds are broken because they didn’t follow the rules. We have to follow them perfectly.”

“I don’t want to though.” I shuddered. “No offense, but if the story is going to require us to have a romantic relationship, I’m finding an alternate solution.”

“That’s what the story requires, you have your role to play. You know the consequences of not playing the right part.”

I sighed. “No, there’s always different paths to take. You’re a good friend, and I’m glad to have you by my side, but that’s different than love.”

“…”

“You clearly don’t love me either, so why are you making such a fuss about this? As long as we complete what we came here to do, that’s all that matters, right?”

“…”

“Right?”

Adonis stepped closer to me, his atmosphere slightly threatening. “Why are you so different from what you are supposed to be?”

“What are you…?”

“Why can’t you just accept.”

His hand grabbed my wrist, the grip painful.

“your.”

He pulled me closer until our faces were inches apart. His bright blue eyes were blazing with anger as they stared into my own.

“fate.”

Letting me go, he walked away, putting some distance between us, before turning back to face me.

“This lower realm is stabilized. We should return.” His smile was cold. “The next mission is a little different from our previous ones. We’ll talk about it later.”

“…”

“And next time…?” He laughed, a bitter sound. “You’ll play your part whether you want to or not.”

THUD.

The blade in my hand threw through the air, stabbing into the wall inches from his face. I smiled cheerfully as he looked back at me, shocked.

“Try touching me again, and I’ll cut off something you’ll miss. We’ll discuss missions and roles again in the higher realm, but for now?” I rang a bell and guards came in, escorting him out. “I have a coronation to plan.”

______________________________

My coronation was held outside so that the Ancient beast could stand behind me. It seemed cheerful, letting out victorious roars and swaying from side to side. The people cheered as well, seeming a lot happier than I expected them to be. I guess they’re relieved that they won’t be eaten by the giant monster? I wondered idly how I was going to incorporate the creature into the day to day life of a monarch. For an odd reason I had very little doubt that the monster would stick around.

However, all my plans came to nothing. As the crown was placed on my head, bright blue words formed in the air in front of me:

100% complete.

**** You have finished the mission! ****

It was time to go.

At little sad, I looked up at the ancient monster above me. “Thank you, friend for your help. I wish I could stay with you longer.”

A mournful cry echoed through the world. It seemed to understand that I was leaving. Before I could say anything more to reassure it, the world around me shimmered and disappeared.

Only to reveal a furious Adonis standing in front of me.

“Happy now, Your Majesty?” He sneered.

“Oof, someone’s still a little angry that I used an ancient monster conquer the world. Believe it or not, I’m sorry that I’ve hurt you. But you know why I did what I did. Let’s talk about it in the morning.”

I walked away, feeling his glare on my back long after I was out of sight.

______________________________

When I woke up, I realized that I couldn't move.

I panicked, struggling to move my arms and legs, only managing to turn my head slightly. Enough to see Adonis’s smug expression as he sat by my bed.

“It’s time for our story to progress, Bel.” His smile was strange, twisted. I couldn’t talk back, I shook my head slightly side to side.

“I’m the hero, you are the heroine. If the relationship between us can’t be advanced by working together, than it must be forged in adversity." He reached down and picked me up, carrying me out of the small cottage I had arranged for myself and into the castle courtyard. Whatever drug he had injected me with was slowly wearing off, and I struggled in his arms, finally able to shout.

“Put me down!”

To my surprise he did, and although I struggled to stay upright, I kept my balance and glared at him.

“What are you planning?”

He sighed quietly. “I’m tired of always being the one to compromise. It’s time for you to make a sacrifice, Bel. I’ve avoided this so far, worried that progressing our story this way would kill you, but it seems that it is our fate that we take this risk. It’s… unfortunate. I do very much hope you don’t die.” He paused, trying to smile at me. “Don’t worry. It’s only temporary. I’ll come and rescue you soon.”

“A sacrifice?” I felt cold, even as I stood in the warm afternoon sun. My thoughts were slow to form, possibly a side effect of the medication. “Why?”

He shrugged. “There’s an order to everything. Rules. Law. They are all that stand between us and pure chaos. No one can ignore them. Not you. Not even me.”

“Then sacrifice yourself, asshole! Why send me?”

He shrugged. “It’s your role to play, not mine. Your fate.”

“Screw fate! I don’t care if you say it’s temporary or not! Friends don’t sacrifice friends!” I was furious, still weak and feeling helpless.

His hand reached out and brushed my cheek, the touch freezing my skin. I wanted to move away but I could still barely move, only managing to glare at him. “Don’t look at me with those eyes. It’s not my fault. If you want to blame anyone, blame the story.”

“Ad…”

“Sorry, you must accept your fate.” I felt a pinch in my arm, the stick of a needle as he injected something into the muscle. Immediately darkness overwhelmed me.

“We all do.”

Everything faded into darkness.

______________________________

When I woke up, I was in a strange world, surrounded by forest. I lay on my back, still feeling weak, fury coursing through my veins.

Adonis and I had worked well together, despite arguing multiple times in the past. But now… any goodwill I had towards him was gone. He had betrayed me. Knocked me out and sent me to somewhere dangerous, somewhere I could be killed, just to follow his precious fate. To get the story he wanted.

“Are you lost?

I looked over at the source of the voice. It was a tall young man with dark hair, wearing grey, non-descript clothing. He kneeled down next to me, and I found myself staring into dark blue eyes.

“Seems a good description for my current situation.” I smiled despite the dizziness. “Nice to meet you, Stranger.”

He grinned, reaching out a hand to help me up. “Call me Liam.”

Liam? Could he be…?

“…Nice to meet you, Liam.” I laughed. “Or should I say: nice to see you again?”

*** Soul transfer 25% complete. ***

[visceryl]

Forget Me Not

@hogwartsmystory and I co-wrote a short story involving Jaxson (Ethren’s brother) and Konnor a few years after the Order. Hal Greywind belongs to @one-very-angry-hufflepunk and Idmon Malin belongs to @zuulosdovah ------

The pitter of rain bounced off the roof of the colonial farmhouse and dripped down every window. It had rained from first daylight to evening, turning the grounds outside to muddy puddles, while animals sought shelter in barns and enclosures sparsely populated throughout the owned land. 

Inside, the dim glow of a single living room lamp and the hearth of a fire lit up the room where Konnor lounged tiredly in a reclining armchair. His feet propped up atop a fluffy mass of white fur as a large dog chewed idly at a cow ankle bone that crunched beneath its jaws. A book’s spine was broken across the arm of his seat, untouched for hours unlike the glass of red wine he turned in his grasp.

Somehow the day off work had been longer and more exhausting than if he’d gone. With no papers to keep up with or assignments to see to, Konnor was left to his thoughts alone in the empty house he called home. Hal and Charlie had invited him over to stave away the blues of the day, but as he denied every year, he’d insisted anniversaries shouldn’t be skipped.

Even the bad ones.

The glass lifted to the edge of his lips as he took down a long sip and set it on the nearby side table. In his other hand, he gripped tightly to the crumpled and dirted remains of a photograph. Taken several years back in shoddy quality and with minimal color, a light leak consumed the entire lower half of it. But the importance of it remained. Grouped all together, Konnor could still make out the faces of those he’d joined the Order with. Talbott, Chiara, himself, Hal, Tonks, Ben, Eileen, Ethren. 

He sucked up a breath and his gaze tore from the photograph. His head knocked to the cushioned back of his chair. Like flashes of moments from harder times, they lingered in his mind. The day of the final battle nearly broke him. He ended it with several broken ribs and a scar that ran from his hip down to his thigh, but the worst injury had been the heartbreak after, when bodies were fished from where they laid. 

A crack of lightning flashed outside the window, followed by the rolling boom of thunder that shook the shudders. Konnor parted from his thoughts to rub a hand over his face, massaging tiredly at a temple. Beneath him, the Great Pyreneese stirred and gathered to her feet before making off for the kitchen.

“Yeah, I get it. Bit too miserable in here, huh?” he called after the dog. The picture was set aside his wine glass with another fleeting glance before he drew the book in hand again. It was some shitty mystery novel to pass the time. 

Konnor read for another half hour until he came to a stop at the end of a page, hardly remembering a single word from the entire chapter. Too distracted. Another gulp of wine disappeared behind his lips. Mourning the dead was like getting your soul devoured by dementors. 

He lost himself to thought again, droning out to the crackle of the fire as the rain relentlessly poured outside. Then a knock came. Several harsh repetitive raps that sent Iris into a loud barking frenzy from the other room. “Quiet, quiet!” Konnor yelled out, pushing up onto his feet. He crosses the room, quietly muttering to himself about how Hal couldn’t leave well enough alone. But that wasn’t who he found.

As the door swung open, Konn straightened in surprise, half shielded from the gust of wind and rain. 

A cold, unforgiving rain poured down from the angry grey clouds above. It pelted the tattered, brown leather duster of the man who stood beneath its rage, auburn hair plastered against his face. 

Konnor's eyes widened. "Jax?" 

"Konnor." Tired bags hung under his eyes and rain dripped off the end of his nose. "Mind if I come in?" 

Konnor shielded himself half behind the door from the blustering wind. "It's late. Why are you all the way out here?" 

"Maybe I just needed to drink with someone other than a little kid." Jaxson caught on to the look of disapproval on the man's face in seconds. "Don't worry," he mumbered, long fingers fishing through his hair. "I didn't just leave him alone. Summer has him for the night."

Konnor sighed. "Come on in," he murmured as Jax stomped into the house, shaking his hair out like a wet dog. "You really need to stop bouncing him around so much. It's probably confusing. And uh... pick your poison." He motioned to a liquor cabinet near where the TV rested. 

"It's better than being stuck with me. Believe me." 

“Maybe when you get like this, yeah.”

Jaxson made a beeline for the whiskey. He swiped up a bottle and heaved down into one of the chairs. The neon glow of the screen reflected in dull eyes, and wordlessly the man tipped the bottle back. 

Konnor eased down next to him, eyes searching the man. "If you're going to drink me dry, you can at least tell me what's going on." 

"What. Can't just come over and visit my brother's best friend?" 

"Then you should know better. I'm practically a professional at dealing with you emotionally constipated Whitecross boys. And you don't make a habit of visiting. I'm always hunting you." 

"The kid keeps me busy. Sorry." Jaxson took another long gulp. Red had flushed onto his cheeks. 

His eyes caught the photograph that Konnor had left on the table. The Order always made sure to photograph its members... to remember those gone, or killed during the war effort. That particular one... had been the recruits of 1995.

Ethren. 

Jaxson dragged his gaze away, heart twisting into painful knots. “...Ethren and Tonks?”

Konnor grimaced. “...I always pull that dusty old thing out on the battle’s anniversary.” He retrieved his own wine glass, polishing the dwindling remainds and held out the glass. "Don't leave me out. How is Alaire doing? Feels like time has flown." 

Jaxson sighed. "Perfect," he murmured as he poured the man a glass. "Somehow, he's managed to dodge a bullet. He doesn't have his dad's cynicism, or his mother's cruelty. He's... growing up to be a very kind and thoughtful boy."

"..he's three now, right? Think you'll consider preschool for him? He'll just end up going to Hogwarts or Ilvermorny, but muggle schools before then aren't so bad." 

Jaxson's jaw tightened. "I... I was thinking of just schooling him myself. At first." 

Konnor arched a brow. "Yourself? No offense, Jax, but what do you know about current day curriculum? You're already here looking like death just getting by as is." 

Jaxson's teal gaze flashed with a sudden rush of anger. "I'll manage!" He shouted, cracks tearing down the cup. A deep breath followed, as fingers massaged his face. "...it'll be fine." 

He sounded more like he was trying to convince himself. 

"You're not alone, you know," Konnor said, his voice gentle. "In any of it." He stared down into his own glass. "I know you think you have to do it all yourself... but it's not healthy for you. Or the kid. Ethren wouldn't want this for you."

"Ethren's dead. Doesn't matter what he wants." 

"That's horseshit. Don't make him come haunt your ass." "Horseshit?" 

The edge of Jaxson's lip lifted. “...he's gone. Enjoying whatever paradise he's found, or maybe just...nothing. It's us, the ones who survived who are fucked over." 

"Well, I'm sure as hell am not going to sit here and wallow because he made a dumb decision." Konnor's eyes searched Jaxson's face. "There's still stuff we can do. We can live our lives now. I put everything I had on the line to make sure of it just like he did, and now his kid can have a good life and a family if you'd just let him have that. You can't push all your shit onto that little boy."

Jaxson's eyes were tinted with red as he stared down at his hands. Calloused, and decorated with the scars of nails digging into his palms. With a breath, they curled into fists. "I know. Alaire... he doesn't deserve that. I need to get over it. That's why I'm here. I need your help.”

Konnor grabbed Jaxson's shoulder. "Ethren was my best friend. Anything, Jax." 

"It's come to my attention that you're proficient in a rare caliber of magic." Jaxson glanced over. "You know how to obliviate."  

Konnor's hand lifted up from his shoulder and hovered. "...I learned it in the order." His eyes narrowed. What does that have to do with you?" 

"Take him away." Jaxson's voice unraveled into a whispered beg, and he snatched Konnor's hand in a desperate grasp. "Ethren. Please. I... I can't do it anymore."

Silence lifted from Konn as a wave of sadness twisted his features into something soft and knowing. He sighed, letting his shoulders fall. “You can’t seriously be asking me that, Jax. I can’t do that… It’s not right. I know it hurts but that pain is something you have to push through.”

“What’s the point!?” Jaxson snapped. “It’ll never go away! It… it fucking hurts. And it's hurting the kid too. I can’t be this broken husk taking care of Alaire, he deserves better!”

“Obliviating those memories won’t help you any. It's dangerous. It creates holes. Empty spaces... If you completely cut ties with everything that could remind you of him, maybe it could work but that's not the case. Which is why I'm saying you can lean on all of us. We can help you get back on your feet and manage that pain. To give the kid a good life.”

“It’s not enough.”

“It has to be, Jaxson. It’s all we’ve got.”

Jaxson tore up to his feet, knocking the bottle of whiskey aside and it teetered on the end table. Konnor quickly leaned to catch it from spilling as the older man tangled his fingers up through his hair. “You know…” he finally growled. Jax locked his gaze on Konnor. “I thought you of all people would understand.”

Shock rippled over and Konnor pushed up after him. “I do understand. I know where this is coming from, but it’s not the answer.”

“You took Allston’s memories!” His eyes clouded with a lingering wetness. “He was your own brother. How dare you deny me what you did for yourself!”

“Don’t,” Konnor snapped sharply. In a few short steps he got right up into Jaxson’s face, the roots of his hair beginning to bleed from pink to a darker red. The two were level with another, tension crawling between them. “I have to live with what I did every damn day! I have to miss him like he's as good as dead! I took his memories so he would live, Jaxson. You know how easily I could have forgotten him too?! But that's not the point. The point is we have to remember for them. To protect what is left."

“And what about what I want?! Allston didn’t even ask for you to take his memories, you forced it on him. This is… This is something I want! If you were able to take the coward’s way out then I have every right to do the same.”

Crack.

It happened in a flash. A cold anger burned and strangled in Konnor’s throat as the rest of his hair bled with crimson rage and his fist snapped against Jaxson’s jaw. Then he shoved him. With fingers wrenched up in his jacket, Konnor sent Jaxson to the ground. “Don’t you dare call me a coward! What I did saved my brother’s life, I’m not running from what I did. You… you don’t get to come here and do this to me, Jaxson!” He grasped at his throbbing knuckles, turning away as the sting of tears met his eyes. “Especially not today. I lost my best friends. My brother. And you want to call me the coward?”

Jaxson caught himself on an arm as he hit the ground. Stunned. Fingers drifted to the dull ache of his jaw before his teeth ground together, ignoring the slightest twinge of metal on his tastebuds. For a long while he didn’t meet Konnor’s gaze and when he did, a faint sheen of wetness marred his cheeks. “I can’t make it like this,” he whispered. “I’m trying to save my life. I…” His voice cut off in a choke and he bowed over to hide his face. “Everything I did. Everything I was, it was to keep him safe. Now...now.. What am I supposed to do!?”

The hurt strangled in Konnor’s chest. “Find something,” he hissed bitterly. His hands shook and he fell back onto the couch, collapsing to sink his face into his palms. “Find even the tiniest shred of happiness and live. We don't get fairytale endings, Jax, we just have to make the most of what's left and you've got a whole lot waiting for you with Alaire." He dared glance up, wiping a sleeve across his own face. “I’ll be damned if I lose another one of you because you couldn’t stop dwelling on one single thing.”

“An arrow killed Ethren.”

“An arrow didn’t god damn kill him, Jax!” Konnor lashed. He retrieved the bottle up from the table and knocked it back for a long swig to ease the matching ache of his fist and heart. “He couldn’t move on. He couldn’t let go of the poison that is Merula fucking Snyde. She was never going to be good for him.”

Jaxson hadn’t moved from his place on the floor, staring down absently at his own hands. “You mean his obsession.”

“What else?! You’re all selfish bastards. Chasing after your obsessions like starving dogs with little regard for who it ends up hurting.”

“Is that why you did it, then? Allston couldn’t move on?”

Konnor let a sad chuckle rattle from his chest. Angry locks of fiery red had returned to their soft, white shade. "Towards the end.. my cover got blown with some death eaters. I hadn't seen Allston in a while and it seemed like I never would. I was hunted and somehow.. somehow the second I was cornered he was there. He got himself captured and tortured and I know the only reason he knew was because he was doing things illegally. When I found him I got him out, Jax. Before he could kill himself."

“...Sounds like your brother and I have a lot in common then.” Jaxson drew a sharp breath as a tear dripped down from the tip of his nose. “I’m afraid. I’m afraid of falling into the same things he did. Falling until it… I just want to stop feeling like this. How am I supposed to move on?”

"...do what Ethren couldn't. What Allston couldn't. Let go. Be what they couldn't be. Be someone who cares for who they have left, even on bad days." 

"That feels impossible," Jaxson muttered. Still on his hands and knees, his fingers gripped his soaking wet shirt, like he was trying to grab at his heart. "I feel like my soul died with him. I wouldn't have made it this far if I didn't have Alaire."

"Maybe you two should go on a vacation. Go somewhere new for a couple weeks... find your soul again, being his guardian the right way. You cut away from your family wealth, right? Look, I'd cover it for you." 

"..yeah. Sounds great." Jaxson's voice was numb. Cold. Slowly, he pushed to his feet. "Thanks, Kon. Sorry for... this." 

Jaxson went for the door. Konnor chewed on his lip and exhaled in an exasperated breath. "Stop." He motioned to the cushion beside him. "Stay the night, Jax. I think... we can afford a night of booze and talking about him. A night to break." 

Jaxson didn't turn. "I thought the point was to not break." 

"The point is to not let it consume you." Konnor's let his gaze travel to the picture on the mantle. His smile was sad. "We're just people,” he murmured as he pushed up to take it in hand. His thumb drew over Ethren’s face, and he ignored the sharp twist of his heart. “We hurt. We ache. Sometimes, things feel like it's too much. So a night of drinking and accepting that is good, every once in a while. Otherwise, we just burn out."

Jaxson's head turned. Rather than anger... appreciation glittered in his eyes and he sighed. "Guess that's true," Jaxson said. "Won't do Alaire any good to pick him up and still be wallowing," he muttered as he eased down into the seat. 

Konnor followed close after, tipping the bottle his way. "Did Ethren ever tell you about our trip to Paris?" 

"You two went to Paris?" 

"Oooh yeah. He put me on his damn death trap of a bike." Konnor shook his head with a snort. "Your dad was screwing my mom, so we decided to pay a visit and have a luxury dinner on them after." 

Jaxson stared at Konnor for a long while before laughter bubbled from him. The first semblance of a real smile. "That... really doesn't surprise me. Our dad... he was always with other women until..." Jaxson's eyes darkened. His jaw tightened and he downed another gulp. 

"...I know. My dad's dead and my mom is basically dead to me. Aren't we just pathetic?" 

"Ethren wasn't," Jaxson muttered. "When mom was in danger... he dropped everything to find her. Even used all the unforgivable curses. He would have torn down the world to get to her." He leaned back. His wet hair flattened against the back of the sofa, and the neon light of the television reflected in his eyes. "That was just the kind of person he was. Friend, family... lover. When he bonded with someone, he would never give up on them." 

"You really idolized him, didn't you...?" 

"Idolize him?" Jaxson considered that. "Guess it's only natural to talk about... the good things when someone isn't here anymore. But no... I didn't idolize him." Jaxson snorted and leaned forward, auburn bangs falling with him. "Ethren was selfish. Selfish and obsessive and downright cowardly , at times. He didn't want to live for himself, so he lived on the whims and needs of others. And when he did want to live for himself, he threw it away, for a war he should have never been a part of and a girl that never deserved him."

"Good. I'd have to hit you again." Konnor stared at his knuckles, already beginning to bruise. Likewise, Jax's jaw was swelling in a rush of blue and black. "We had a no bullshit policy. Sometimes, while we were in the Order, I'd make a phone call to him or he'd make one to me. Like we weren't at war, and no time had passed... we'd laugh or talk or cry or curse until we lost our voices. Something like that would completely undo the stress of having to get up the next day and go right back into a room full of enemies." He grimaced. His hair had dulled to a bluish grey tint. "We had a deal that after everything was over, a few of us would high tail it to some remote island and piss away a few weeks." 

"Yeah?" Jaxson said quietly. "Probably Tredyffrin Island... the one  our family owns... no one ever goes there anymore. It would have been perfect." The elder brother sighed and poured himself another glass. He stared at the downpour of red pooling at the bottom of the crystal goblet while thunder roared outside the glass window. "He made me a lot of promises, too. Like when he was an uncle, he was going to spoil the shit out of whatever kid Idmon and I adopted. He insisted he'd never have a kid of his own." Jaxson dragged a sharp breath. "...fuck."

"Everything changed... you ever still think about giving Alaire someone to grow up with?" 

"...no. Between Idmon and I... we probably only have enough sanity between us for one brat. And that's with the girls' help. Aisling and Summer... they’re absolute life savers."

 "Well, I can't blame you for that," Konnor said with a tired smile. "Shit, I always imagined a family and kids one day, but... I think after everything, I've only got it left in me to help all of you guys manage your own rascals. Hal and Charlie have two right next door. And ever since Barnaby found out I've got my own little menagerie, he drags Aisling and their kids over all the time. And Alaire is always welcome." 

"He's been so excited to come back and see Uncle Kon." Jaxson's smile was short-lived. "...how do you manage it all?" 

"Depends on what you mean by 'all.'" 

"Losing Allston. You'll never be able to talk to him again. Losing Ethren... Tonks... Your dad...everything." 

"Well, if you haven't noticed, I have a healthy supply of alcohol. But I don't make a habit out of that, my position requires me sober, obviously." He swished his drink thoughtfully. "What really drives me is knowing what all I've still got. Lots of people still want and need me around." 

"I don't actually want to forget him," Jaxson whispered. "Remembering the good times...it's part of what pushes me forward. And Alaire deserves to know those stories. It just seems so much... harder this way." 

"I know." Konnor leaned over, and his fragile fist punched Jaxson's shoulder lightly. "Don't ever ask me to take away your memories again. That magic can go right to hell." 

Jaxson smirked. "...Ethren always hated that spell. He said to be obliviated... it was the deepest violation a person could endure. Those memories are precious." He gave a deep breath and lifted his goblet. "...to remembering the fallen. And living in their honor." 

Konnor lifted his glass in turn. "Help me finish this bottle, and the guest room will have your name written all over it."

-------

Morning came with the promise of clear skies. As the sun painted the sky a beautiful array of pinks and purples that began to open up to the blue of day, Konnor rolled to the other side of the bed with a tangle of sheets around his legs. At the end of his bed, Iris snoozed with soft snores. 

From downstairs he could hear the rustle of footsteps cascading against the hardwood floors and with a tired rub of his head, Konnor swung himself to stand from the bed. His hair poked out in all directions as his hands raised up in the air and a series of pops crawled up his spine. “Jax?” he called out through the house.

No answer.

Konnor sighed and crossed the room with last feeble attempts to pat his platinum hair down into something presentable. The stairs winding down from the hallway just outside his room creaked with each step. He passed several pictures of Hal, Charlie, and the twins on the way down until his feet stalled on the bottom step. 

Jaxson stood at the doorway in the living room, dragging his jacket over his shoulders.

“You’re leaving?”

Jax’s gaze darted up. He looked rough. From the clear as day hangover to the black and blue bruise in the size of a small fist surrounding the right side of his jaw. “...Yeah. I figured I’d leave you to your day.”

“You could always stay for breakfast, you know. Bet you could use it.”

“Nah, I should probably go pick Alaire up. But uh… Konnor?”

Konnor finally touched down into the living room, flicking on the light to join the flecks of light illuminating from the window. “What’s up?”

“Sorry for last night, and thanks. I needed that.”

“Yeah I’ll bet you needed that knuckle sandwich. Just don’t be so much of a stranger. You better haul yourself and Alaire back over here soon or I’m going to lob you another one.”

Jaxson hid the beginnings of a smirk. “Do that and I’ll have to get you back. Don’t worry, we’ll visit soon. I think I just need some time to clear my head first.”

“Then do that. You can always call too, and tell Alaire I say hi.”

Fingers curled around the doorknob, opening it ever so slightly. “I will.” He opened the door, and all but fell backwards as a small toddler came barreling into the house to cling to his legs. 

“Found you!” Alaire giggled as he buried his face into his Uncle’s leg and Jaxson blinked. 

“Alaire?! How did you-”

“Summer mentioned that you’d gone for the night... and that you might need me.” That voice. He’d know that voice even in a symphony of voices. Idmon Malin came from around the corner, blue eyes soft, his smile kind as he lifted Alaire up into his arms. Blonde hair fell down his back. “I thought I might drop- Merlin’s beard, Jaxson, are you all right?” 

Jaxson, still stunned at his boyfriend having shown up out of the blue, blinked. “W-wha?”

“Your face. Bloody- did you get hit with a bludger last night?”

“A...oh.” Red bled onto his cheeks as Idmon’s long, delicate fingers gently brushed his bruise. “No, there was an uh... accident last night involving an erumpent and a... uh-”

“I slugged him,” Konnor purred as he leaned against the doorframe.

Idmon snorted. “Well, I imagine he deserved it,” he said. As Alaire began to fuss, he put the child down and he rushed over to jump into Uncle Konnor’s arms and his gaze searched his lover. “...are you alright. You look... like a mess.”

Two short steps brought Jaxson to his boyfriend. His arms hooked tight around his shoulders and he rested his head against Idmon’s, a ragged breath drawing from his lungs. “...it was a long night.”

“..the anniversary,” Idmon whispered. His palm found Jaxson’s cheek. “You should have stayed with me..”

“Shouldn’t have run,” Jaxson agreed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize... did you find what you were looking for..?”

“Uncle Konnor!” Alaire tugged on Konnor’s shirt. “Aunt Summer gave me a toy snitch!” 

“Did she?” Konnor lifted the boy up into his arms. “That was very sweet of her. And speaking of sweet... I think I have some biscuits in the cabinet. Want some?” 

Alaire giggled. “They’re cookies, biscuits are... biscuits!”

“Oh, no,” Konnor grinned as he tickled the squealing boy.  “Do not start that, your dad and I got into so many fights about cookies and biscuits!”

Jaxson’s eyes softened as he watched Alaire smile and hug Konnor around the neck. His hand found Idmon’s, squeezed, and gave a breath. “Yeah,” he whispered. “I think I did... let’s stay for a bit, then go home.”

[unchartedtrivia]

All Nathan Drake’s girls

ALL NATHAN DRAKE’S GIRLS

(Note: I am basing ONLY on Nate’s journal, games, comics and book. I don’t mention the jobs Nate or Sully mentioned. It’s not an official timeline, just my try to write about Nate’s girls). WARNING: SPOILERS. ALAIRE Q As we know, Nate precisely records all his trophies in his diary; on this basis, it could be assumed that his first partner was Alaire Q. (or Alaine Q). Judging by the date of the affair that had lasted in 1996, she was Nate’s first girlfriend. Nate was born in 1976, which means that he started dating quite early, at the age of about 20. Perhaps he was influenced by Sully, who – as we know – was an incorrigible womanizer and possibly instilled in him such a model of upbringing. GEORGINA S. & RIKA RAJA Nate’s affair, as we see after the next date, did not last long – he’s met Georgina S. from Ipswich in February 1997, and after this he met Rika Raja, Eddy Rajas’ sister, in 2001. Importantly: Rika officially appears in the interactive comic “Eye of Indra” where we get to know more details of their acquaintance. It’s also a prequel to Uncharted 1: Drake’s Fortune.

The circumstances seem quite typical for Nate – Rika saves him from shootout in her own bar (Campin bar), pulls Eddy into Nate’s plan, helps him get the treasure, and later – in the end – she deceives both Nate and her brother.

Interestingly, Rika is also the only one villain in the Uncharted series who has achieved her goal and did not suffer any consequences because of it. This has never happened to any of the villains. Almost all of them – Roman, Navarro, Flynn, Lazarevic, Marlowe, Talbott, Rafe, Orca and Asav suffered consequences.

Let us leave this digression, however; Rika’s character clearly shows what kind of women Nate is interested in: proud, ready to take action, brave and resolute. He is not interested in typical “girl next door”, but rather women who can surprise him, not necessarily positively. Nate is vulnerable to such girls. What is equally interesting is the fact that he is most likely also looking for an “adventure companion” – a woman who would be willing to support him in solving mysteries and seeking treasures. As we know, he is not a person who could give up expeditions to focus on a peaceful family life – and Rika, dangerous and charming, perfectly matched his standards. On this basis, it could be assumed that Alaire Q. and Georgina S. might also have had some connections with the search for treasures.

Returning to the comic: “Eye of Indra” ends with Elena’s show in TV, in which she talks about her discoveries, presenting them to the viewers. Nate tells Sully that he has already contacted this journalist and he will meet with her the next day. However, which is very important, the game says that romance with Elena began in 2006 around June, judging by the dates in Nate’s journal. So what about the date 2000 written in the diary? Based on what we know, I have three theories: 1. A meeting with Rika took place in 2006 (not very reliable theory) 2. Date was the mistake of the creators (not very reliable too) 3. Nate’s meeting and suggestion about cooperation with Elena was postponed by the TV station for several years or required long preparations. I believe that this is the most likely option. Why?

Because large TV stations need several years to prepare a budget, write the whole script and shoot episodes in the meantime. It should also be noted that Nate also needed a long time to find Francis Drake’s coffin (because he had not found it yet). So, just preparing the topic, writing the script, and planning the budget could take several years from 2000.

An equally possible explanation may be the fact that the station proposed a presentation of several other archaeological topics to start with to minimize the risk of working with someone unknown and untested like Nate. So Nate and Elena could show some other discoveries first, and then discover the Francis Drake’s coffin. Given the fact that in Uncharted 1: Drake’s Fortune, Nate and Elena behave as if they’ve known each other for a long time, the last theory would not seem strange, and the date with Rika would then fit the whole. So I personally assume that the romance with Rika Raja took place in 2000 in Jakarta, after which Nate met Elena, and they began to work together to finally discover the secret of Sir Francis Drake in 2006. CHLOE Another Nate’s affair that was noted in the journal is Chloe – and it dates back to 2002. You would think that this is about Chloe Frazer, but this isn’t any way possible. Why? Well, Nate, in addition to the date of the girls affair and name, sometimes notes their phone numbers, e–mails or addresses. Chloe from 2002 has an American address and lives in Tulsa. Chloe Frazer in Lost Legacy said she had never been to America, but would like to visit this country someday. In addition, the dates do not indicate that it could be one and the same person. Nate probably had an affair with two girls named Chloe, especially when he knew Chloe Frazer earlier. SHAMFUFU & CASSANDRA S. Later Nate met Shamfufu – the affair most likely took place at Christmas in 2003. It is hard to say anything more about it – her name, like the names of Georgina and Alaire, had never appeared again in the series. What is interesting, however, is the fact that Shamfufu’s address is from South Africa. The girl lived in Cape Town or he met her in this city. Shamfufu was most likely of South African descent, which would suggest her name. Perhaps she was a partner of Drake’s next adventure, like Cassandra S. from Pasadena, whom Nate met in June 2004. ELENA FISHER According to the journal, it is assumed that after 2004 Nate did not engage in any affairs until June 2006, when the plot of the first game begins – Uncharted 1: Drake’s Fortune. Then Sir Francis Drake’s coffin was finally discovered, as well as the secret of Borneo. Importantly, as I mentioned in the theory above, Nate and Elena act as if they’ve known each other for a long time. Perhaps they have known each other since Rika Raja’s story, given my theory presented above.

Given the Nate’s nature and his taste regarding the choice of partners, it would not be surprising if he wasn’t interested in Elena at the very beginning. Judging by her overall character, Elena was not initially in Nate’s type, especially when compared to Rika Raja or Chloe Frazer. Returning to Nate’s diary, we can see that his affair with Elena didn’t last long, only three months. Importantly, Elena is the most distinguished among all his partners – just like Chloe (not Frazer) in his journals. KARIS & MAGGIE H. In September 2006, Nate met Karis in Istanbul – perhaps she was his next partner during his adventures, just like previous girls. It would not be surprising, but Elena in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves speaks about herself “Elena Fisher. Last year’s model.”

Importantly, affair with Maggie H. from Montreal is dated to December 2008. This suggests three theories:

1. Either the Nate and Elena romance lasted from 2006 to 2008–2009

2. Elena was not aware of the Nate and Karis romance. In that case, she probably didn’t know about Maggie either.

3. Alternatively, Nate and Elena returned to each other for a short time in 2008, before breaking up again soon by Maggie or Karis. Given Nate’s character, his approach to women and adventures, as well as Elena’s pursuit of a peaceful, stable relationship without dangerous adventures, their breakup would not be strange. Interestingly, both Nate and Sully mention Montreal in the game Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, where Nate met Maggie. Although they didn’t say anything more, it would suggest that it could be one of their last jobs between 2006 and 2008–2009. THAT’S ALL? WELL. LET’S TALK ABOUT FRAZER. CHLOE FRAZER. This ends Nate’s diary – but, importantly, two more of his partners appear in the series. The first is Chloe Frazer, who appears in the game in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, while the second is Marisa Chase from the game Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Interestingly, in Nate’s attic in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End there is a box with the name Marisa. Perhaps Nate was supposed to send her something back (especially since boxes with objects etc. from his trips were usually signed by the name of the place, e.g. Borneo, Nepal, etc.). Let’s go back to Chloe Frazer: like Elena, Chloe seems to be the second most important girl in Drake’s life. In addition to Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, she also appears in Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, in the DLC Uncharted: Lost Legacy, in which she is the main character. She also became his partner in the 2011 comic of Uncharted, where she worked for Gabriel Roman. This suggests some inaccuracy – after all, as we know, Roman dies in 2006 during his trip to El Dorado. If Roman dies in 2006 and the story of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves happens in 2008–2009, in what timeline the Uncharted comic takes action? Let’s get back to the events of Among Thieves. Chloe Frazer appears during the meeting of Harry Flynn and Nathan Drake; Flynn introduces her as “the best driver in the industry”. Chloe then gives Nate a hand and introduces himself as “Chloe Frazer.” “Drake. Nathan. Nathan Drake.”. Given the fact that they had known each other before in the Uncharted comic, it suggests deliberate action on the part of Chloe – namely, reassuring Flynn that both she and Nate had not known each other before. This would mean that Chloe was planning to leave Flynn from the very beginning and find Cintamani’s stone with Nate’s help. Equally interesting is the fact that in the comic we see the same or very similar model of the plane that Sully uses in the game Uncharted 1: Drake’s Fortune. This would suggest that after the events of the comic, Sully renewed the plane. This would mean that events even happened before Uncharted 1: Drake’s Fortune, and Chloe and Nate have known each other for a very long time. It would also explain why Roman is still alive, while logic would point to something completely different. All this suggests that the comic’s action takes place before Uncharted 1: Drake’s Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. But why didn’t Nate write about her in the journal? Perhaps he had never placed much hope on Chloe for any relationship or anything more permanent; in that case, not writing down this date would be perfectly understandable. All right, but Chloe from 2002 was mentioned. Assuming Chloe and Nate had known each other for a long time, he might have noticed Chloe in his journal – and it would have been the Chloe of Tulsa. At the same time, it would also suggest that the creators have not completely thought through her character, because in Lost Legacy Chloe claims that she has never been to America. What could other explanations be? 1. Chloe gave the address of her own mother (and, importantly, the mother and her daughter emigrated to Australia while Chloe was very young and they probably didn’t move)?

2. Did she give a somebody else’s  address, not her own? Personally, I think that Nate did not write about her because of the reasons mentioned above – his acquaintance with Chloe was on clearly defined principles. In addition, as the events of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves and Uncharted comic show, Chloe’s attitude clearly indicates her lack of desire to establish a more lasting relationship. From the overall history of Nate’s personal relationships, we can see that all Nate’s affairs were rather short and fleeting, except for the affair with Elena: he most likely has been returning to her every few years; you can also see that he had been choosing resolute, firm partners that were also able to help him on his temporary adventures. Some agreed with it, just like Chloe, and considered it a short–lived affair – but we know that Elena was opposed to some of his adventures, probably wishing for a “normal” life and “ordinary” relationship. It was their source of conflicts, especially in Uncharted 2: Among thieves and in Uncharted 3 and Uncharted 4.

MARISA CHASE

Interestingly, Marisa Chase seems to be similar to Elena – although she was not afraid of danger, Marisa has been refusing to use weapons and violence if she was not forced to do so (importantly, Elena was able to defend herself, but both similarly fit the “girl next door” model). In other words, Marisa was a character who could captivate Drake – he ultimately tried to protect his companions at all costs. However, Drake did not note her in the notebook – perhaps because the romance between the two of them was not fulfilled despite the suggestive ending, or they both have had a similar approach to Chloe’s attitude. JADA HZUJAK Another character that appears in the series – however, only in the book "Uncharted: The fourth labyrinth" is Jada Hzujak, the daughter of a well–known archaeologist. Jada is Sully’s goddaughter; we get to know her strong personality – she’s non–compromisable, determined and ready to help others. In the series, the tension between them is easy to spot, but Nate had decided not  to have an affair with Jada, because he was aware of Sully’s reaction. In addition, as it turns out at the end of the series, he began to treat her more like family. However, this is probably one of the few romances that Nate voluntarily rejected in favour of something else. This has not happened in any other part of the series so far. CHRONOLOGY SUMMARY 1.       From the overall chronology of the series, it appears that the comic appeared first. Chloe Frazer appears in the comic for the first time, and it is clearly stated that she had already met with Nate or it was their first meeting. Personally, I suppose Drake had known Chloe even before, judging by the language sphere they use and the situations that affect them – they both act as if they knew each other well. A similar situation happens in Uncharted 1: Drake’s Fortune.

2.       Next is Fourth Labyrinth, where Nate decides to not contribute to the affair with Jada Hzujak. Interestingly, at the end of the book, Sully mentions  a “job” in Peru. Perhaps that’s where he’s met the bartender he mentions in Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. Equally interesting is the mention of Margaret Xin, who has probably been Sullivan’s former partner and appeared in the book on several dialogues.

3.       Later we have Uncharted: Golden Abyss; Drake’s main partner is Marisa Chase this time. At the end of the game, we see clear inclinations of the characters being interested with each other, but the whole thing is spoiled by Sully, interrupting their attempt to kiss. Interestingly, Consuela is mentioned in the game as one of Sully’s partners.

4.       Later there is the interactive comic “Uncharted: The eye of Indra” – there Drake meets Eddy’s sister, Rika Raja. Why do I suppose the comic is first? Because, as I mentioned in the theory above, Nate noted Rika in his diary. Both info about places and the women are accurate. This is followed by Uncharted 1: Drake’s Fortune, where Nate is working with Elena Fisher. Affair with Elena is short–lived.

5.       Later, in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves we discover that the romance between Elena and Nate ended some time ago. At the end of the series, they get back with each other. Chloe Frazer officially appears in the game for the first time, having an affair with both Nate and Harry Flynn (although the affair with Flynn must have been going on before action of the game starts, since Chloe has treated him in a special way since the beginning of the game).

6.       After that, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception appears. No new character appears but Chloe and Elena, who is known to had once again broken up with Drake to return to him at the end of the game. The exact date of their wedding is unknown –  though it is known that in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End Nate is already married. This is where Drake’s Angels end. BONUS: SULLY’S GIRLS In the whole series we meet only a few of Sully’s partners. We know about them mainly from mentions in the game. They do not appear in comics, but one of them appears in the book – Margaret Xin from Oxford University. Nate calls her Maggie. She was probably Sully’s ex girlfriend. As far as we know, they both did probably break up after a big argument, perhaps because Maggie could not accept Sully’s lifestyle and way of being. It results from the dialogue presented in the book: - Sully is in trouble. I know you two ended kind of messy, but I need your help. - It ended messy between Victor and me. In fact, messy probably doesn’t begin to cover it. I wish he was a different sort of man, but I can’t blame him for that. - So do I – Maggie replied. – When you catch up to Victor – - Yeah? - Give him my love. Sully’s other partner was a Peruvian bartender. Victor was completely crazy about her and often mentioned her. Nothing more is known about this affair, unfortunately. A little more is known about the Consuela, which is mentioned in the dialogues between Nat and Sully in the game Uncharted: Golden Abyss. SUMMARY: First Official Girlfriend: Alaire Q. Longest known girl: Chloe Frazer Longest romance: Chloe Frazer Rejected romances : Jada Hzujak Nice interludes : Shamfufu, Maggie H Big Win in the lottery of life : Rika Raja The biggest affair disappointment : Rika Raja Nate’s Chosen : Elena Fisher

[stray-snake]

Seeking Connectsions & LFRP  Alaire Daerev

Chaotic Neutral Ishgardian Heretic, Rare-Goods Dealer & Money Lender with a penchant for pretty things & violence. A great many rumors linger about a man who steeps himself in a great many things not altogether legal. 

Alaire is a social creature, craving and seeking out the company of others even if it might simply be in some rank hole of a tavern or speaking with less than reputable folks on the street. While at first glance the well spoken man might come across and level headed and well put together, he is a deep tangle of emotions with a temper to match.

The Basics ––– –

Age: late 30′s - early 40′s. He’s rather tight with specific numbers.

Race: Duskwight Elezen 

Gender: Male

Sexuality: Pansexual

Relationship Status: It’s complicated...

Alignment: Chaotic Neutral/Lawful Neutral 

Physical Appearance ––– –

Hair: Mahogany and kept longer

Eyes: Vibrant Amber-Pink

Height: Edging past 7 fulms

Build: Very large, broad shoulders, with a great deal of upper-body strength and muscle to match. A good head above many elezen.

Distinguishing Features: An old scar across his right eye has been reopened and gashed to something horribly gnarled, flesh burnt and twisted - running from forehead to neck. A few marks now mar his left cheek as well, though those are near faded compared to this. Right eye socket is ruined and empty. These aren’t old injuries.

Common Accessories: Gilded metals are often found as buttons or other additions to the clothing, as are motifs of scales. Nails are well-kept, manicured even despite the fact the he seems to put very little effort into almost any other feature of his person.

Personal ––– –

Profession: Smuggler, Rare-Goods Dealer, Money Lender

Hobbies: Gambling & Betting, Magitek & Engineering, Most anything to do with firearms of all kinds, The Theatre and Musical entertainment

Residence: Limsa Lominsa. Owns an estate in an isolated settlement in Coerthas. Travels between the two often.

Nationality: Ishgardian -- will say Coerthan

Most Frequently Found: .Thanalan, Coerthas, Ishgard, Limsa

Traits ––– -

Extroverted / In Between / Introverted

Disorganized / In Between / Organized

Close Minded / In Between / Open Minded

Calm / In Between / Anxious

Disagreeable / In Between / Agreeable

Cautious / In Between / Reckless

Patient / In Between /  Impatient

Outspoken / In Between / Reserved

Leader / In Between / Follower

Empathetic / In Between / Apathetic

Optimistic / In Between / Pessimistic

Traditional / In Between / Modern

Hard-working / In Between / Lazy

Cultured / In Between / Uncultured

Loyal / In Between / Disloyal

Faithful / In Between / Unfaithful

Additional information ––– –

Smoking Habit: Frequently. Drugs: Occasional for recreational purposes or to test product.  Alcohol: Heavy Drinker.

RP Hooks –––

The Criminal Element: While operating his business under a pretense of legality, Alaire is almost eager to step out of lines of the law - hiring and dealing in less reputable practices.

Expensive Taste: All but drawn to things costly and shiny, Alaire is incredibly materialistic on all fronts. Costly clothes, jewelry, performances and people. Upper-class establishments (even if he doesn’t exactly suit the place himself). He adores gambling & betting on others -- especially shows of strength, fighting or tournaments. 

An Interest in Engineering: While he doesn't have expert knowledge with magitek, he has a passion for it. Often inquiring about repair services and frequently seeks rare items or parts of all type and make. (Weapons & Airship in particular)

Trader & Money Lender: If you're looking for longterm or shorter employment, Alaire is almost always hiring. If simply hocking your wares, he has gil to spend! If you find yourself in dire need of coin yourself he will eagerly offer....with hefty interest attached. 

Heretic & Dragonblood: Often overly aggressive to other Ishgardians, the man has a bad temper and strong opinions. Recent peace agreements mean little to a man still bitter about loss

A (somewhat) Silent Investor: A patron of the arts and advancements in engineering, Alaire is quite interested in acting as a financial investor when it’s something he deems important...just be aware he does expect to be involved and relies on contracts. The man has a soft spot for those with ambition...but if you’re looking to simply try and con someone out of coin then it might get interesting for everyone.

Create Your Own.

The above is only a short list to spark some ideas, and I’m more than happy to hear anything and everything else you might have in mind! I am quite open to pre-established relationships as well as always alright with playing the antagonist. 

Rumours ––– (Please inquire if using any of these as hooks)

Murderer: There are are a good handful of deaths with his name attached, though trial shoved aside...usually after a exchange of coin and thanks to the familiar relations with a number of low ranking Flames. 

Aether Sick/Strange Aether: With wan aether that feels stretched and thin, to anyone who can sense it it's as though his very stuff is filtering away. He radiates an unpleasant sort of tang like someone on edge of aether-sickness.

Mother Killed: Sift through the records enough & you'll find a woman killed a dozen or so years back -- hastily tried and executed for heresy. This is a very...sore topic of conversation for him, to say the least.

Missing Records: Alaire's name doesn't find it's way into the public record until just over half a dozen years ago.

Contact & RP Information  ––– –

Please contact me ingame or via Discord -->  (Milesian#9468)

My general RP information is over here: https://toyhou.se/~bulletins/19450.roleplay-stuff 

Contacts, run-ins and general interactions are always welcome! Longer plots/stories or arcs are as well. I prefer ingame RP to Discord, though can do either most oft he time. I'm able to set aside time if we work it out in advance regardless of timezone. I am based on Balmung but feel to contact if you’re from any Crystal server! 

I am not usually looking for for Romance-ONLY RP with this character, but am open to pretty much anything else from Slice of Life to one-shot Run-ins to Darker Themes. 

@mooglemeetI’ve

[onwesterlywinds]

Ashelia Riot: Strange to see a familiar face here. Alaire Daerev: Oh very strange, I would think. Crimson Bull returning with a cup of tea and nudges Ashelia Riot. Crimson Bull: It's hot, be careful. Ashelia Riot accepts the tea with a grateful nod. Ashelia Riot: Ser Daerev - Crimson Bull. A Riskbreaker. Alaire Daerev gives a little nod up to the man, shoulders still hunched forward, bent in a way that looks altogether uncomfortable. Alaire Daerev: Kindly met. Crimson Bull nods back in affirmation. Crimson Bull: Nice to meet you too. Alaire Daerev: Here with a mutual friend of yours - or... is he a friend still, I wonder? Ashelia Riot: I may have lost track. But I'd be happy to abide by whatever he believes. Alaire Daerev: Lost track then? Strange to not know where you stand with the boy - might work it out quickly, I suppose. Not certain what "he believes" either. Ashelia Riot: We're Ala Mhigans. We'll settle it one way or another. Alaire Daerev shrugs at that, still bent forward. Alaire Daerev: And I'm certain that means things coming to heavy blows with blood drawn. Knowing Abeodan I am surprised it hasn't already. Abeodan Silverbrand turns back from the bar with a bowl of pudding, and a second bowl of artichoke hearts; combined with his grip on the cane and the hot chocolate he'd had, it's getting a bit hard to hold it all. Abeodan Silverbrand stops dead of course when he notices the two Riskbreakers talking to Alaire Daerev, and despite the occupation of stuff in his hands, manages to shove an artichoke in his mouth before he'd be expected to say anything. Ashelia Riot: You've changed your hair. Abeodan Silverbrand: Yeah. You know. Run a business, now. Can't run a business shit hair, tangles and. Abeodan Silverbrand's hair, of course, is still tangled, the dye run out - but at the very least, the split ends have been chopped clean. Abeodan Silverbrand looks the woman up and down, most pointedly at her own, shorter hair, grinning for the first time tonight. Abeodan Silverbrand: Kettle black, right? Ashelia Riot actually blushes a little at that, and she realizes just how long it's been since she's seen him; then again, it's a sign of her relationship with him - tumultuous though it is - that she responds point-blank. Ashelia Riot: That would have been the Garleans. Abeodan Silverbrand nods, another long pause of another artichoke in his mouth. Abeodan Silverbrand: Heard you did that. Heard still doing stuff. Part of, uhh... Work... statework. Government? Abeodan Silverbrand nods again. Abeodan Silverbrand: Yeah so far as "come to blows," don't know, you too official and busy now get beat up on? Crimson Bull frowns at that statement, tensing his fists. Ashelia Riot beams - or, rather, simpers - in a wholly terrifying expression. Ashelia Riot: Perhaps so. Alaire Daerev gives a heavy breath of laughter. Alaire Daerev: Quickly to it then, would seem like. Might wish to finish your food first before punching things out in the city centre. Crimson Bull drinks his tea, almost finishing it in one long sip. Abeodan Silverbrand grins back with a mouth full of sharpened teeth. Abeodan Silverbrand: Not in here, fuckin'... Ishgard fight. But you know, Ashe, silence more a "I'm sort of scared to say I only got arms for working papers, now," ain't a "yes," "no." Ashelia Riot: Well, it's been lovely. And I hope we'll have the means to reconnect again soon. In Ala Mhigo... or under it. Ashelia Riot: A pleasure, Alaire. As always. Abeodan Silverbrand calls after her as she and Crimson Bull depart. Abeodan Silverbrand: Keep some metal on your skin! Don't really remember stabbing running well for you first time over. Yeah!

[starsdeath]

“Being your own higher power, how's that working out for you?” / for alaire!

Mismatched eyes stare at him unblinking for far longer that most would expect from one who was so often aware of their appearance and mannerisms, always attempting to be sure they were at least being polite, if not friendly. Silence stretched as they mulled over his words, the weight of them different from what he likely intended (though they couldn't be sure), a tangle of emotions suddenly weighing on their chest as if to crush them slowly.

"Well...it seems to be working out fairly decently so far." How did Lumera handle the weight of it all? If only they could have had more time with her, could have asked her more about what it was like to be the Divine Dragon, a being that seemed more and more to exist for the world. It's only because of the occasional conversation with Vander, Clanne, and Framme that they knew Lumera existed as a person outside of her role. And here they were, struggling with both the role they were thrust into without any real sort of preparation, and with learning how to exist as a person in the world around them.

"It just means I have to ensure that the power needed is what I can provide, either by myself, or by gathering strong allies." Tilting their head to the left, they have to force themself to breathe a far more normal rhythm instead of one that would show how deep asleep they had once been. "Are you particularly religious, Griss? You don't strike me as the type, but I am aware that I am still catching up on many things I missed while asleep, so i would rather it from you to be certain than assume."

[harmoniouspixels]

Long Tag Meme

Tagged by @questforsims!

1) Rules: tag 9 people you want to know better. *Do at your leisure if you wish*

Relationship Status: Single Last Song I Listened To: Hypocrates - Marina and The Diamonds Last Book Read/Listened To: Lol I haven’t read a book for fun since I’ve started college, and since I’m assuming that’s what this question is asking, then I haven’t/ Favorite Color: Blue (but Purple is also close) Top Three Shows: Miraculous Ladybug... and that’s about it (I don’t watch TV too much anymore lol) Top Three Characters: Nathanaël (Miraculous), Adrien (Miraculous), and Link (Legend of Zelda) Top Three Ships: Adrien x Marinette (Miraculous), Nathanaël and Alaire (Miraculous w/ OC), and idk something else gay as hell to round this out

I’m a Miraculous stan, aren’t I? Anyways, moving on

2) Rules: BOLD the statements that are true for you! APPEARANCE: I am 5'7" or taller I wear glasses I have at least one tattoo I have at least one piercing I have blonde hair I have brown eyes I have short hair My abs are at least somewhat defined I have or have had braces PERSONALITY: I love meeting new people People tell me that I’m funny Helping others with their problems is a big priority for me I enjoy physical challenges I enjoy mental challenges I’m playfully rude with people I know well I started saying something ironically and now I can’t stop saying it There is something I would change about my personality ABILITY: I can sing well I can play an instrument I can do over 30 pushups without stopping I’m a fast runner I can draw well I have a good memory I’m good at doing math in my head (most of the time) I can hold my breath underwater for over a minute I have beaten at least 2 people in arm wrestling I know how to cook at least 3 meals from scratch I know how to throw a proper punch HOBBIES: I enjoy playing sports I’m on a sports team at my school or somewhere else I’m in an orchestra or choir at my school or somewhere else I have learned a new song in the past week I work out at least once a week I’ve gone for runs at least once a week in the warmer months I have drawn something in the past month I enjoy writing FANDOMS ARE MY #1 PASSION I do or have done martial arts EXPERIENCES: I have had my first kiss I have had alcohol I have scored the winning goal in a sports game I have watched an entire season of a TV show in one sitting I have been at an overnight event I have been in a taxi I have been in the hospital or ER in the past year I have beaten a video game in one day I have visited another country I have been to one of my favorite band’s concerts RELATIONSHIPS: I’m in a relationship I have a crush on a celebrity I have a crush on someone I know I have been in at least 3 relationships I have never been in a relationship I have asked someone out or admitted my feelings to them I get crushes easily I have had a crush on someone for over a year I have been in a relationship for at least a year I have had feelings for a friend MY LIFE: I have at least one person I consider a “best friend” I live close to my school My parents are still together (lol by a thread tho) I have at least one sibling I live in the united states There is snow right now where I live I have hung out with a friend in the past month I have a smartphone I have at least 15 CD’s I share my room with someone RANDOM SHIT: I have break-danced I know a person named Jamie I have had a teacher with a last name that’s hard to pronounce I have dyed my hair I’m listening to one song on repeat right now I have punched someone in the past week I know someone who has gone to jail I have broken a bone I have eaten a waffle today I know what I want to do with my life I speak at least 2 languages I have made a new friend in the past year

[the-fae-icarus]

@mr-henry-lascelles

July 1781

Kennedy takes the pitcher and grins, disappearing towards the dormitory. Henry (he is Henry now, never George, not inside his own head) is the last boy in the washing room. The floor is wet with spilled water. A single lantern left behind illuminates the long, narrow space. There are no windows here.

His feet are bare upon the stone floor. The tails of his long sleeping-shirt barely cover his knees since his last growth spurt. Henry has gained height but no mass, and it has done him no good; Kennedy and the others only seem to take it as another provocation. Thinks he's tough now he is tall. We'll show him everyone is equal at Harrow.

He knows that Kennedy has poured the contents of that pitcher out on his bed. He knows that because that's what Kennedy does every night. His eyes swivel to the pile of used and discarded towels, and he reaches out to pick some out to tuck under himself, when something goes... wrong in his head, like a bee-sting of madness. He goes for his breeches instead and pulls them on over his night-shirt and takes up the lantern, turning down all the sides to hide the light.

He tiptoes out into the corridor, past the door to his dormitory, his heart beating faster. His feet are swift; no other dormitory's boys come trundling towards him, no maid turns a corner for him to run into. The hall is dark, and in another moment he is half-way down the stairs.

The master's rooms are down the stairs, the door right at the foot. Henry hugs the banister to avoiding the pool of golden light at the foot of the stairs, as if brushing it would call the master down in all his fury. He rounds the banister and pads down the hall, towards the library, his toes curling on the floor. How can stone be so cold even in high summer?

The library is not locked, neither is it lit. He feels his way in. Moonlight is scarce and bumping into a chair now could mean expulsion and dishonour. He climbs up on to the second floor then behind three rows of book-cases, away from the windows, where no-one will see his light. There, he slides up one of the lantern's sides and looks around. Books, only books and silence.

Henry sits by the solitary desk wedged between two bookshelves, breathes out, then rests his head on his hands.

He did not even bring his pencil. What is he going to do? How does this change anything? He will have to go back to the wet bed and everyone will know he is a coward and an idiot. In the morning lessons, the Cockerel will deride him for his dark circles and have him recite until he is blue in the face. Treacherous tears rise up, and for a moment he indulges them, gulping his breaths, hand over his mouth to keep mum. At least in here no-one will hear him sniveling. 

@the-fae-icarus

Alair has been dead for a hundred and fifty-three years, and frankly they like it much better than being alive. There's no secrets, no spying, no more worrying, and all the freedom eternity can offer. Lately, what they've done with this freedom is haunt libraries---Alair figures they'd start with the ones in the British Isles and work from there---the Summerlands have nothing on a moonlit midnight and a good book. Harrow's is the latest in a series; they have never been fond of schools like it, thinks the type hasn't the slightest idea how to properly teach children and more traumatizes them besides, but this particular one has a decent Greek section. In fact, they are heading towards it when they see the light.

It's a lantern, that much they can tell. A couple more steps and a peek around the bookcase reveals one of the students. He can't be very much older than early teens---gawky in a way only those who've had their growth spurts much too quick can be, brown-haired and very thin and trying to muffle sobs behind his hand.

Alair's heart, if they'd still had one, would have wrenched. Poor dear.  They kneel down next to him, reach a hand out to a shaking shoulder, frown fiercely when their fingers pass right through him. "What's wrong, little one?”

@mr-henry-lascelles

Henry jumps, gasping aloud. There was a voice, and words--unmistakable, and right by his ear. He scrambles backwards out of his chair, and wipes the back of his hand across his eyes.

Hellfire! Did his chair make a sound? Was he caught? He backs up away from the desk carefully, slowly sliding the plate back in place over his light.

There is a silver outline near where he just sat, like luminescent spider-web, or a trail of dust that has caught the dew. It moves with the unmistakable roll of a human shoulder, and there is the shape of a head, and the shift of something large behind it, like feathers--

Henry puts his hand over his mouth again and bites his index finger; this time it is to keep from crying out. A part of his head is telling him to stop, that he is imagining things, that he must stay calm; it helps. He forces his breath to slow down and stares harder. The moon comes out from behind the clouds and the high window casts its light upon their nook of the library.

@the-fae-icarus

They don't know quite why moonlight has the effect on them that it does---perhaps something to do with its magical properties; Alair hasn't quite figured all the various intricacies that come with being a ghost, after all. But the why doesn't matter right now. All they know is that it lends them a bit more power, a bit more detail and solidity.  The boy would be able to make out their face, their ragged clothing, the individual feathers of their wings. They stand, hands raised in the most calming gesture they can muster, hunching, drawing their wings together----in short, making themself look as nonthreatening as possible.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I just saw the light, and then you were crying, and I just...I just wanted to help, that's all. That's what I used to do."

@mr-henry-lascelles "Holy God," Henry whispers. The tears well up again. He had cursed in his head. Does the angel know? "Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy--I am sorry--I will confess--" He is lying. The fact that he still whispers betrays it. "Please don't make me go to the master. I know I shouldn't be out of bed."

@the-fae-icarus

"Wha---wait, what?" Alair crouches down to eye level again, pulls out a handkerchief---not that it can do much. "Oh, poor little one. You're not in trouble at all. No need for praying. Shhh, it's alright."

@mr-henry-lascelles

Henry reaches out for the handkerchief instinctively, only to have his fingers pass through it. There is a sensation of cold, and a slight tingle. He breathes a laugh; a part of him wonder why. He wipes his face on his sleeve instead. "I apologize for my dress," he whispers, serious once again. "I did not think I would meet an angel here. You are very beautiful, sir."

@the-fae-icarus

Alair smiles. "I thank you for the compliment, young sir, but I am no angel. Simply the ghost of a winged man who was very fond of libraries. And even if I were one, I would think that dress would hardly matter to a real messenger of the Lord. After all, wasn't Jesus himself swaddled in rags as an infant?"

They glance down at themself, tucking the useless handkerchief into a pocket. "Besides, I'm in a pretty sorry state myself."

@mr-henry-lascelles

"The ghost of a good man is a saint," whispered Henry with unfounded confidence in theology, "and the rags of saints can only serve to elevate them."

Henry had known God and His saints and angels were real, of course, but he had never for a moment thought they would be so easy to talk to. "Have you come to help me, truly?"

@the-fae-icarus

Alair wonders if ghosts can blush. Then they wonder if it would be visible. "I would make a very odd saint, then, being the man I was. But I will help you, if I can. I only need to know what I would be helping with. Why were you crying, little one?"

@mr-henry-lascelles

"I'm not that little," Henry murmurs. He hugs his arms to himself. "It was silly to be snivelling. The other boys don't like me. They don't let me sleep and they take my food and call me horrible names. I tried fighting them but they beat me, and then the master beat me for fighting. I don't care if they don't like me, they can all rot. I wish they did." He grits his teeth in the dark. "I put salt in the prefect's soup. I bet I could put arsenic, if I had some."

@the-fae-icarus

There is a moment in which Alair only looks at the boy, filling with a profound kind of regret, the kind that only comes with the realization that they are looking down the years into a mirror. They remember that age, that desperation, that hurt, that hatred.

"Come," Alair says. "Would you sit by me again, please? There's something I would like to tell you about revenge. And it's not all that poppycock about never taking it. The people like the other boys, like the master, they need to know there's consequences to actions like theirs. They deserve to be stood up against. But there is still something I need to say."

@mr-henry-lascelles 

Henry hangs his head. "I wasn't really going to. I just like thinking about it." He shuffles closer, then remembers himself, corrects his stance and stops dragging his feet. He sits and watches the almost-there ghost with wonder, but no fear.

@the-fae-icarus

"I know," they say. "I know. It's not about that, either. Not exactly."

Alair turns away, towards the window, towards the moon. They cannot bring themself to look at him during this part. They think this will be the first time they've told someone this story, and the thought seems fall through them, blurs their outline a little. "I was younger than you when it started; maybe six, seven years old. I...I didn't look quite as human as I do now. And that was why they choose me, I know. There were three of them; I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did. I took the bloody noses, the winded lungs, the broken leg, because I knew that if I did both me and my mother would be run out of the village. I kept trying to make friends with them, and kept failing. Gods, I was naive."

A deep, shuddery, unnecessary breath. "One day, they invited me to play with them at the base of the cliff our village was built on. I think I knew it was a trap, on some level, but I wanted to try  to make peace, if only for Mam's sake. So I went. Two of them came up behind me, tied my wings shut, caught my arms. The other one started dragging me towards the ocean. The next thing I remember is a hand on the back of my neck, forcing my head under the water. So many people talk about drowning being a cold death, but it's not. It's like your lungs are raw and burning. Like something is scratching to get out. That was the first time I died."

It is obvious that their story isn't over yet, but Alair pauses and risks a glance at the boy again, shame in every inch of their expression.

@mr-henry-lascelles

Henry smiles at the thought of trying to make friends with one's tormentors. The ghost, when young, was both braver and more optimistic than he. The smile twists at the description of following the children when invited to play. That is how Henry got tripped into a mud puddle right before History.

It is so easy for them to gain your trust, even after they have done things that should revoke it forever. One friendly conversation and you follow them like an idiot. It is perhaps the hope that the torment might finally be over.

He swallows. He has not really considered the prospect of being killed. "But you look like a man, not a boy. And you said it was the first time. You survived?"

@the-fae-icarus 

"Yes. A...a man named Kee was passing by, hunting for clams. He saw me floating in the shallows and dragged me out. I had been dead for two minutes. But somehow, he knew to expel the water from my lungs. Kee took me home to my mother; and then he asked if I could become his apprentice."

A smile, small and shining, makes a sudden appearance. "The days I spend with him were some of the happiest of my live. We traveled, we traded, we repaired. It was an entirely new world, a world full of woodsmoke and colors I never knew the name of---and the music. Always the music. I never wanted to leave. But eventually I had to come home. And when I did, I was furious. The elders had left my mother on the outskirts of town, to rot, and my tormentors were now powerful. Happy."

"So I watched. Observed from a distance, used what skills Kee had taught me. And then I cornered the ringleader in his home and tore his heart out."

Here now was the real shame.   Alair curled up in the other chair, wings, hands, arms wrapping around themself to hide. 

@mr-henry-lascelles

Henry leans forward to listen, his body almost keeling off the chair. He wants that! For someone to come and take him away! His life has been laid out before him his whole life, with only a moment's consideration for the sea to vary the straight line. He reaches out to touch the apparition's wing, but his hand encounters only cool air.

"Sir, did you really? His actual heart? You must be a very old ghost. It sounds like the kind of thing people could do a long time ago, when there was magic in England. Did you save your mother? Did the others run away?"

[hellsbovnd]

two of a kind.

wc: 1890 focus: leonnaux altoix

[ PDF MIRROR ]

Day three of Leonnaux’s stay at the Scholasticate and it was already starting to wear on him. The classes were easy enough—the Duskwight had never studied in a classroom setting before, but his time as an information broker digging for secrets to sell and as a journalist for the Mythril Eye made it simple to filter out the bullshit from the lectures. He was used to dividing his attention, so the persona he adopted as the man supposedly known as Paschale de Vimaroix was one of an aloof foreign-raised heir—bright enough to make it into the Scholasticate on his own merits, but easily bored by the material. There was a test in a week and Leonnaux had already memorized half of the material. By comparison to the intricacies of aether theory and alchemy, Ishgardian history, politics, and (ugh) scripture were child’s play.

No, he had no trouble with the classes… But adjusting to life at the Scholasticate was another matter entirely. He lived among the other students in a communal affair that Leonnaux hated more than he anticipated. There was a room for a single student provided in the suite he was assigned, but he hadn’t been lucky enough to get it. Instead, he had been assigned one roommate in a room that was set up in such a way that it gave the impression that it was intended to be a storage closet—at least in comparison to the loft he called home in Ul’dah.

If it had only been him in the room he might have been able to stomach it—or hells, if his roommate had been a Hyur then maybe it would be tolerable because at least Leonnaux wouldn’t have to be self-conscious about hogging leg room.

Even another Elezen around his height or shorter would have been tolerable, but instead he was assigned one Rochevert de Laurent as a roommate, who had done a much better job of (as Leonnaux mother had always put it) growing into his ears than Leonnaux himself had. He had a good half-fulm on Leonnaux himself even though he was a year his junior. Rochevert’s one saving grace was that he wasn’t half the diva that Leonnaux could be: whereas Leonnaux at home spent about a bell peacocking in the mirror, Rochevert could be ready and heading to class within a quarter bell of waking up. He often tied his long, strawberry-blond hair up in a high ponytail rather than letting it hang loose as seemed to be fashionable of Ishgard’s noble men, spent no time on ‘powdering his nose’ at all, and didn’t even bother to have his uniform pressed in the wash. While he assumed that they were natural, the man’s manner meant that Leonnaux also couldn’t rule out the fact that he’d put the red highlights in his hair as an act of adolescent rebellion.

If Leonnaux didn’t know him any better, he might have taken him to be a lowborn attending the Scholasticate in an effort to move up in life, but if Rochevert was to be believed then his blood was thoroughly blue. First son of a vassal house (which Leonnaux was only beginning to wrap his head around the concept) to House Haillenarte, Rochevert had about as much interest in playing heir to his house as he did in his studies at the Scholasticate—which was to say, none at all. But heirs had little say in their fate it seemed, and he had been sent off to the Scholasticate anyway to be straightened out—or find the Fury, or something.

And unfortunately for Leonnaux, it seemed that Rochevert considered the man supposedly known as Paschale de Vimaroix something of a kindred spirit. Perhaps it was his developing penchant of dozing off while the scripture teacher droned on and on about the holy texts or maybe Rochevert sensed something about the supposed-heir that drew him to Paschale. Whatever the case was, Leonnaux hadn’t been able to get him to stop talking since the night they settled into their room. He was getting good at tuning him out, though, similarly to how he was getting good at tuning out droning teachers and the priests he had to suffer through when the students were led down to morning service.

He was talking even then, Leonnaux distantly realized as he twisted himself over the book that Alaire had given him before his departure—some text on Ishgardian decorum, though given the man’s apparent distaste for the Holy See, Leonnaux had no idea why he’d keep such a thing on hand or why he’d want it back when Leonnaux was done with it. (Not that Leonnaux wanted to keep it—it was in too poor condition to justify stealing and Leonnaux had no desire to provoke his client’s ire.)

No, correction: he had started talking when Leonnaux had gotten back from class and simply never stopped talking.

Leonnaux had returned from class a bell ago.

The book closed with a dull clap and was tucked once more beneath Leonnaux’s pillow. He could feel his blood pressure rising, but eventually worked up the nerve to look over to Rochevert, who was seated on a cushioned bench across from their bunked beds—directly across from Leonnaux himself, unfortunately, since he’s been unlucky enough to arrive late when it was time to move in, and Rochevert had already called ‘dibs’ on the top bunk. Normally, Leonnaux wouldn’t care. But the privacy that a top bunk would have afforded him as opposed to the bottom one would have been nice…

“… Anyway that’s how I decided I wanted to be a marksman, but Father said no, the Foundation is dirty and gross and beneath us. But the lowborn, you know? They aren’t so bad, once you get to know them; they’re certainly a lot more fun to hang around than the folks around here. Anyway…”

“Rochevert…”

“The point is! They’ll call you whatever you ask them to—but—Oh, have you met Amalie from Pre-Church History yet? Anyway, when I asked her to call me Revolver Ocelot she just looked at me and laughed! What’s so funny about that, huh? It’s a perfectly good name, I think—I mean, they call the leader of the Hounds Mongrel. And I mean, I think that’s a little degrading but it doesn’t sound like she minds so I guess I can’t judge…”

TRADERS. “Rochevert,” Leonnaux starts, a little more forcefully. He pinches the bridge of his nose briefly before his hand trails up to brush his bangs out of his face, eyebrows going up with his hand as Rochevert keeps fucking going.

“But some folks still call the Lord Commander the Blue Bastard, so why can’t I be Revolver Ocelot? I guess it’s back to the—” Rochevert abruptly cuts himself off, as if he suddenly realized that he wasn’t just talking at a brick wall anymore. “Hn? What’s it, Pasch?”

“… Don’t. Don’t call me that. And please. Be quiet. Isn’t your throat sore?”

Rochevert briefly looked at Leonnaux as if he’d grown a second head, but then he looked away, pulling his ankle into his lap. “… Oh—I mean—sorry. I just thought, you know—we were friends?”

“I’ve known you for three days.”

“Yeah, yeah, right, right… Sorry; I guess I got carried away again.”

Leonnaux let out a sigh, letting himself flop down on the bed and just stare up at the bottom of the top bunk for a moment, which he’d already taken the liberty of affixing a well-worn poster depicting some Gridanian minstrels who were well-known in lower Eorzea to in order to lend his persona some credibility. It was the little details that mattered, and while Leonnaux only knew of them in passing, Paschale loved them. This particular illustration also depicted them putting on a show at the height of the Moonfire Faire—a performance that Leonnaux had a poster of because he had managed to personally attend said performance and pre-order the illustration from the artists in charge of making them. It just so happened that he hoped that on the colder nights when even the thick blankets couldn’t keep the frigid draft at bay, maybe memories of the Moonfire Faire might keep his toes from freezing off.

When he looked back over to Rochevert, the young man was still unfortunately dejected. Leonnaux’s heart sank, and his breath left him in a sigh. “… I didn’t mean it like that. Sorry. I guess I’m just not used to people being… Chatty.”

“What, didn’t your maids ever regale you with tales of their youth?”

“You don’t have to run your mouth to keep yourself warm on the La Noscean coast.”

“Oh…”

“But if you would slow down, I think I could bring myself to pay attention, Revolver Ocelot.”

Rochavert perked up, then.

“The key, you see,” Leonnaux began, pushing himself up onto his elbows, “To telling a good story is that you have to hook your listener. If you just ramble on and on then they’re going to tune you out. Which is what you’ve been doing for the past bell. It is very hard to hook a listener if you don’t pause to, say, breathe.”

“Oh… Well, I guess I never thought about it that way. Our kitchen-maid never complained.”

“I am sorry to inform you that she never complained because she wasn’t listening. It’s kind of late for storytelling now, but if you manage to catch me after… Uh…” He paused a moment to crack open his thin, leather-bound notebook that he kept his class schedule, daily activity logs, and notes on his peers and teachers—among other things—in. “… I have two bells of free time after Philosophy and Morals lets out. If you meet me at the Hoplon, I’d be willing to take a walk and… Coach you on the art of storytelling.”

Rochevert’s mismatched eyes practically lit up, then, and he nodded emphatically. “The Skywatcher said that a blizzard’s due in the morning, but it should let up enough by the afternoon that we can meet up. If we head down to the Crozier, I can pick you up some of that tea you’re always drinking. Nice choice, by the way; Mother always told me that that’s the best brand there is.”

Leonnaux blinked. He hadn’t realized that Rochevert paid that much attention to his habits. At least, though, Leonnaux pretty much just picked whatever tea was being offered in the dining hall at first—and it just so happened that he liked it enough that he decided that it would be the replacement for the Ul’dahn tea that he usually brewed. That might be… Inconvenient.

“Yes, that sounds wonderful,” he replied instead, pushing himself to his feet. “Well, I’m going to draw a bath before bed if it’s no trouble. Don’t let me keep you up.”

“Right! Well, enjoy, then; I think Chancel might be in there right now, so if you cross paths would you tell him that I need the syllabus for that Speech and Etiquette course we were in on the first day…? If I flunk this semester, Father’s going to be pissed.”

“Fury forfend; do it yourself! I’m not going to strike up a conversation with someone while I’m in the process of undressing.”

[eschapters]

Chapter 30: Midst of Heat

It was late at night. Alair had rushed to a room in the clinic. He was filled with relief and astonishment at the sight of the white haired girl covered in scratches, bruises, bandages, and maybe even burns. The thing he noticed first was the patch on her head. She was sitting up and writing in a small book, but she sure as heck didn't seem too pleased to see Alair at all. Logan, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. In the room, there was only a few shelves, a bed, and a desk accompanied by a chair. On the chair hung Etalt's grass green sleeveless jacket. Right next to the bed was a nightstand and a lamp. The lamp's light was unusually bright for some reason. Alair opened his mouth to speak, but then Etalt had interrupted him. "You wanna tell me I'm weak, huh?" Etalt muttered. "What? No, no!" Alair had shaken his head, "Why would I? What happened to you, anyway?" "Let me just sum all of that up in a few words," Etalt had closed the book and placed the pen on the nightstand, "I tried to leave this stupid place with my own little trick because I'm gonna die here if I don't get out soon, but Dunn caught me. Not being able to work well with the heat, I wasn't able to focus too well and eventually... He nearly stabbed and crushed me completely to death until Logan came along and eventually ended up having to literally drag me by the arm here." It was more than Alair had expected, but he asked that one question anyway, "You're okay, though... Right?" "Mhm. I would've been more than okay and probably would've set the old man in his place if that stupid rat didn't slam me into the wall and cause me possible internal bleeding," Etalt shrugged, "But I'm fine, now." "Wait, what?" Alair's eyes widened a little, "Why didn't you tell me about that?" "I could've taken care of it myself. I have my ways. Otherwise, I'd be dead by now." "At least you're alive... But are you sure you're okay?" "Yes, I told you. I'll be perfectly fine," Etalt raised her hand with the bloodstained sleeve and scratched the back of her head, "Just go finish your challenge or something. I'll be fine. I'm not dying, am I?" "You looked like you were..." Alair had leaned himself at the side of the wall, "Even Ryllis thought you were gonna die, which is why I rushed here when she explained more." "Well... Calm down, I ain't going anywhere," Etalt had grabbed the pen from the nightstand and opened her book again, "I mean if I'm not exposed to too much heat or anything, then I'm fine." "Then what about that thing on your head?" Etalt reached up to feel for whatever Alair was talking about, "Geez, you worry too much. Cut it out, nerd! It's not like I'll bleed to death from this!" "I wouldn't be worried if I didn't know who you went up against," Alair sighed. He pursed his lips again upon realizing what he said, "Shoot, sorry. Okay, I'll try to stop worrying." "Good. Leave it that way," Etalt started move her hand over the book with her pen, "Now go back to the mansion. I can take care of myself." "If you insist..." Alair was about to turn to leave, but stopped, "Where's Logan, by the way?" "Oh, the hooligan?" Etalt scribbled a little more before closing the book once again, "He went back to the mansion before you came." "Hm..." Alair had went to the chair and sat down on it, "I just thought of this, but I don't really think you mean it when you say you hate him." Etalt had slipped the pen into her pocket, "Why?" "The way you guys talk is like you two have known each other for years!" Alair rested his head on his hand, "Don't lie. 'Liars go to hell,' you said." Etalt rolled her eyes, "Freakin' fine. I'll just say he's like family," A scoff had slapped her right in the face right as she said that, "A big brother, probably. Probably the one I've never had or was never given... But he's just... Egh... He seems to be hung up about his 'lost friend' or something." Alair had reached into the pocket of his jacket. He pulled a small pink book out of it. "Where did you... Get that?" Etalt was now giving him a long and hard stare. "I snagged it from Dunn's room! Where else?" Alair sneered. He opened the cover of the book. "HEY! OPEN THAT AND I'M GONNA BLAST YOUR HEAD OFF OVER THE FREAKIN' SEVEN SEAS AND INTO THE DEAD ONE!" Etalt didn't even give any regards about the volume of her voice. Alair flipped the page, and on to the first entry of the diary. He read it out loud, "Dear Diary, I get to keep you since big sis gave you to me! I'll be good to you, o- OW!" A burning sensation on his hand had caused Alair to let go of the diary and hold his own hand. Etalt glared, her finger positioned as if it were a gun itself. She reached down for the book herself to pick it up. "I'll be keeping this, thank you very much," Etalt had slipped the diary into a pocket in her jacket, "Now go back to the mansion before I get Raika to freeze off your whole hand!" Through the pain of his hand, Alair groaned, "Okay, okay! I'm going!" And so, Alair went back to the mansion. He slept, but kept his hands completely covered. Tonight's dream was surprisingly pleasant. Alair was walking through a desert area with a person that was shorter than him by an average amount. The two laughed, and even tried to pester Dunn into trying to do something with them. When Alair looked at the person, all he was able to see were dark clothes or so. He couldn't quite tell whether the eyes were blue or brown. It was confusing to him. But then, that dream had came to an end due to something trying to shove at him. "Hey, Alair... Wake up..." Alair looked up to see Fabian holding the yellow orb. It was dark, so only Fabian's eyes and the orb's follow could be made out. "Hm... What is it...?" Alair's voice was sluggish. He looked up at the clock on the wall. It was only 5:23 in the morning. "Dunn wants to talk to you," Fabian had whispered. Alair got up, throwing off the blanket. He tried to look around. It seemed that he had forgotten the events of last night for a bit, "...Why so early?" "I'm not sure, either. It's Dunn, remember?" Alair got off the bed, getting up to throw his jacket over his white shirt, "I didn't think he'd get up to actually do something around five in the morning..." "This is urgent... Please come." "What level of urgency are we talking about here?" Alair had asked. "Very," Fabian responded, "It might have something to do with you being able to be released from this place. The two boys had headed over to a small shack around the training grounds. Within the shack, Dunn was slamming a hammer on a piece of metal in front of him. The sounds of footsteps had pulled his attention from the piece of metal. Fabian had walked up to Dunn before pulling a part of the yellow orb off and placing it in his hands. Dunn had cleared his throat, "So you came, even after what I did to your little friend?" Alair slowly nodded, still worried about setting off the temper of the man. He uneasily shuffled his feet, looking around, "That orb still works, right?" "Still does," Dunn looked down at Alair's feet, then let out a small puff of smoke through his nose, "Are ya afraid of me pummeling ya into a pulp because of yesterday? Nothing to worry about, kid. Take a seat. I have the Amnesis Pearl of Empath." Dunn motioned his head towards three metal chairs and a single metal table. Alair and Fabian had sat down on the table and watched as Dunn had continued to hammer at the object. "I knew a kid like you. Age of fourteen. His name was Niko," Dunn spoke, "Persistent... optimistic... had some level of caring for others... The only difference is that he was smarter and less annoying than you were or ever could be." "Hey! I'm not that stupid or annoying, am I?" Alair sat up in his seat, seeming bitter about the statement. "Calm down, kid. I'm telling you a story. Take the time to enjoy it," Dunn had grabbed on to the metallic object and threw it into the water-filled basin, "There were also two other kids I knew. Their names were Airis and Alya. I'm pretty darn sure ya went to that fine looking woman near Fond Town, you should have at least seen a picture that included those two." "I think he means Eucharis," Fabian had stated. Alair tapped his fingers on the table as he took a moment to think, "...You mean the girl that wore a grey coat and the one that wore a black jacket in the picture?" "Yeah, the runt that stands next to the tall one. That's them," Dunn grabbed another piece of metal, "While they were around, I treated them as my own kids before I became this damn thing that the creator of this world made me." "Guess he still curses even when he isn't mad..." Alair muttered. "When I did become this creature I rather wouldn't be, they ran away. I don't know what happened to them next... But I don't think it's my problem anymore," Dunn swung at the new piece of metal, "Anyways, on to what I wanted to say. I heard that your friend can't handle the heat of this village." "Super sensitive skin, I'm guessing?" "She comes from a region that's frequently blocked by hailstorms. Whaddya expect?" "She never told me that." "She's a secretive little kid. She always refuses to say anything," Dunn had swung once again at the piece of metal, "So, since your little friend can't survive out here... and I also don't want this village to be flooded... I'll let you do one last challenge." Alair knew he was screwed, even if it was the 'last challenge,' "Let me guess... I have to defeat you in some kind of duel, huh?" "Mhm." "Thought so. They told me about it." "Not quite surprised," Dunn tossed the hammered piece of metal into the basin, "So, whaddya say to that?" Alair shifted his feet uneasily again. He glanced at Fabian for a little, then faced Dunn, "Can I... have some training, maybe?" Dunn tapped his foot, then sighed, "Fine. You should be at the center of the village at one p.m., sharp! No holds barred." "That's fine by me, probably." And so, Alair ended up training with Fabian. Holly had volunteered to help as the one who made obstacles for him. However, for the most part, Alair utterly sucked at fighting. Even just landing a strike on Fabian took almost an hour to do. He was pretty much hopeless. Even by the time it hit 12:50, he still sucked at fighting. It was almost as if Alair was just not fit for fighting. He was just decent, if he didn't suck. "Eh... Sorry, I'm just really unexperienced..." Alair had slunked down,!" After a little bit, they headed over to the center of the village. The center had happened to be a stadium, for what Alair would've assumed was for fighting in general. The arena was a huge flat field that had a beige coloring to it. There were stones with various sizes that jutted out from the smooth floor. Around the arena, the top half of the walls were made out of glass while the bottom half were seemingly made out of cement. Dunn had paced right in, being the colossal Komodo dragon again. Alair stared at the entrance to the battlegrounds. "You guys have any advice?" Alair stepped back rather than stepping forward, "Or any last words for me?" "Uh..." Holly put her finger to her chin, appearing to impersonate an intelligent person,"Good luck!" "Thanks." Alair stepped up, allowing for the staff to pop right up. He took in a deep breath, "Heyyy... Dunn... Buddy..." Dunn stepped forward. There was no warning, but there was a blast of fire. Alair moved out of the way on time, "Hey! Why don't we call this fight off, you know?" he called before laughing nervously. All that came were more flames. Alair quickly stepped to the side before attempting to swing at Dunn's face. Dunn only had head butted the staff away before his scaly throat had illuminated. The staff, conveniently, had landed some distance away. Alair was as good as dead. When he looked back at the sidelines, he saw Fabian covering his face with his beanie and Holly watching in mild confusion. Logan, Amaryllis, and Alis had seemed to join the two. Alair waved, forgetting that Dunn was right behind him. Once he heard the flames building up, Alair screeched and ran as if he were trying to pass the pacer test. The flames followed close behind, allowing him to barely escape them. He made a mad dash for the staff and picked it up. Dunn had surrounded Alair with flames, leaving him with no way out. However, the only way out was right in front of Dunn's mouth. "YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!" Alair groaned, pulling at his hair. He looked up, panic and insecurity starting to pile up. At this point, he was only able to hear his thoughts, aside from the flames that licked at its surroundings, "Think... Think... Think... Where? What?" Alair jumped up, attempting to launch himself into the air by anchoring the staff into the ground and pushing himself up. It worked, but only for a short time. He landed where he wanted to be the least, probably - right on Dunn's head. Dunn spouted more flames around the arena, pacing around kickly. The lizard rammed its head into the wall, in attempts to get Alair off of his head. It worked, because Alair sucked at fighting. Alair had been sent tumbling down. He pushed himself right up, trying to make it seem as if the fall damage was nothing. However, it felt as if he had been hit by a truck. Dunn had roared, charging at Alair with his mouth set alight. He was right above the lost foreigner, who had no clue as to how to save his own life... Or that was at least what Alair was before Dunn had came close. "...Wait, haven't I seen this before?" Alair had thought, grabbing on to the staff, "...Oh! Right!" Without thinking, Alair had shoved the staff right into Dunn's mouth. Dunn had bellowed, causing Alair to pull out the staff before an enormous line of flames had emerged onto the wall. Alair, now shaking, had decided to distance himself from his opponent for now. He ran, hiding behind one of the towering stones. He shut his eyes, trying to slow down his breathing. "Oh lord, that was close..." Alair thought in between breaths, "That was just pure luck... Man, I'm gonna die here and it'll suck harder than a vacuum cleaner... Wait, who used that sentence? No time to think about that." Everything quieted down, with the exception of the fire's occasional crackles. There was something off, that was for sure. Alair slid down the stone and allowed himself to shift into a sitting position. He curled up, feeling himself trembling. "Am I... Okay? Heck no. I can barely even think..." Alair continued his line of thought, "Oh my lord... If only someone would actually step in and help..." The young teen stopped his thoughts for a second. He heard something, but he couldn't tell what it was. He listened more closely... "You can't always be helped! Don't you know that?" It was a voice, but Alair couldn't quite tell as to whether it belonged to a male or a female. It was an androgynous voice, if that was how he really remembered it. He recognized it, but he also didn't. Alair opened his mouth to speak, but he was able to hear the sounds of a crumbling rock. He quickly crawled out from the shelter of the rock, seeing it collapse right where he was sitting. Dunn was right there with a piece of the rock in his mouth. He tossed the rock towards Alair, who dashed out of the way just on time. A few pebbles had hit Alair, which had surprisingly stung. Alair looked around himself. The rocks seemed to be lined up in some order, as if they were an unlinked staircase. Alair ran to the smallest rock before stepping onto it and jumping on the next rock. He jumped and jumped, until he had gotten to the tallest pillar. He looked down below himself. Dunn was now slamming his tail at the rock. Alair was able to feel the top half of the rock jerking and giving in to gravity. Soon, the Alair could feel the rock leaning over. He could feel the adrenaline rushing through his blood as he shut his eyes and screamed for his life. The tall pillar of stone had fallen, but the feeling had suddenly came to a stop. Alair slowly opened his eyes. Around him was a gentle outline of orange. There was something about this glow that was familiar. The feeling he had was familiar as well, which was comfort. He looked over to the side of the arena to see a woman with a neatly done ponytail that hung down with her vast white hair. Her pitch black cloak had covered her gentle orange dress. A single green gem had connected the two strings of the cloak around her neck. Just by seeing her once more, Alair felt completely safe. The woman didn't seem too pleased with what was taking place. She slowly lowered her light enveloped hand, along with the stone pillar. Alair had rolled off the pillar, finding himself unable to move. He just laid there as if he were dead. "Dunn," Eucharis had muttered. Dunn looked over at Eucharis. The scales had started to disintegrate, allowing for him to take on the form of the intimidating man again. "Eucharis." Eucharis had shaken her head, "What did I tell you about hurting people?! Especially the ones who aren't from here?!" Alair had finally rolled to his side and pushed himself up, "Eh?" "He can't be trusted, Eucharis! What if he tries to kill us all?" "To the depths of the lake of fire with that! He's only a child!" "Uh... Hey..." Alair had walked up to the quarreling couple, "I'm sixteen now, but I appreciate how you look at me... Somewhat." Dunn's fist had lit up. He raised it and swung it at Alair's face, but Eucharis had raised a hand. Dunn's fist had been stopped by an orange glow. "What did I just say?" Eucharis shot a glare, looking right into Dunn's eyes, "There's a reason why I don't want to see you anymore!" "How the hell did you know that this guy was here?!" Dunn had growled. Eucharis continued to lock her eyes on Dunn, but Alair had looked over at the area where his friends were. Everyone was watching the scene unfold, but Holly had raised her hand and waved. "A tracking device on my child," Eucharis had forced her hand down as if she were trying to tear off Dunn's arm, "I'd very much like to keep my children safe, thank you very much." Dunn looked over at the others, then at Eucharis. "Listen closely to me, lizard breath... Let go of my children," Eucharis had muttered, "Let them see Raika... Let this little boy find the creator... And I won't tell anyone about your true self..." Fabian had ran right up to the three, "U-Um... Guys... N-No need for... any agreements, really... Raika seems upset..." "Hm?" Eucharis had lowered her hand to her side, "Why so?" "Weeell... You see... D-Dunn kind of... Beat up Etalt last night... A-And-" "YOU WHAT?!" Eucharis had raised her arm again before forcing it down quickly. Dunn's face had hit the floor and kissed it. Dunn lifted his head up, "SHE TRIED TO ESCAPE!!" "THAT'S NO REASON FOR YOU TO HURT ANY OF MY CHILDREN, YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING PIG!" Eucharis screamed. Alair cleared his throat, "He also nearly killed her by allowing her to suffer in this environment." Eucharis' eyes glowed a deep amber. It was clear that she was completely livid. She swung her arm down again, "DON'T EVER HURT MY CHILDREN AGAIN!!" Holly had ran in, wrapping her arms around Eucharis, "But mamaaaa! Papa didn't kill her, right?" Eucharis had allowed for her hand to fall at her side, "M-Mama?" "Oh... Oopsie! My bad!" Eucharis had patted her head, "No, no... You are my child. You may call me that if you wish." Holly had giggled lightly, "Okay, but... Please stop hurting him." Eucharis sighed. She swung her foot at Dunn's face with full force before stepping back. "Where's the one you nearly killed?" "I can show you later!" Alair sighed. He crouched down next to Dunn, "So, does this mean we're free or...?" Dunn grunted, "...No." "Dunn!" Eucharis glared again, "Raika WILL flood your village if she doesn't see that any of us are keeping well!" "Damn it, fine! Only because I don't wanna have a flooded village!" Just like that, the force field around the village had slowly melted away into nothing. "Thank you," Eucharis had muttered. "Don't ever fucking do that again..." Dunn groaned before getting up. "I can't and won't promise." "Etalt! Can I come in?" Alair had slipped into the room again. Etalt was drawing once again. She sighed, looking up at Alair, "Oh... You survived." "Nah, Eucharis just came on time!" "Oh... Well, aren't you lucky?" Etalt shrugged before proceeding to draw, "So does this mean that we can get out now?" Alair grinned, "Yep! We're off to see Raika! Now you won't have to suffer anymore!" "Thank goodness... Glad this is over." Etalt continued to draw, not saying anything else. When she still felt Alair's presence, she looked up, "What do ya want?" "Aren't you gonna tell me a story?" Alair had rested his head on his palm, "Like... With Holly and Fabian?" "Huh? Oh... Don't tell me ya wanna know Dunn's backstory." "I do." "Okay, but you might not like it," Etalt had stated. "Come on... Holly's parents were abusive and Fabian's parents died in a fire. What could possibly be wrong with this one?" Alair sneered. "Well, first off... Dunn was better known for his criminal activity in his past life..." Etalt had began, "But every criminal has a reason, right? In Dunn's case... He and his wife had usually gotten into fights because his wife had been spending time with another man. It's reasonable, since Dunn gave her everything she wanted. One day, it got so out of control that his wife had left him with nothing. She even took his child with her." "Woah, what next?" "Dunn, fueled by rage and hatred for his wife, had sought out revenge for wasting a fraction of his life... But first, he had to acquire some tools. He started to rob houses and even banks. He even got to the point of murdering people," Etalt reached her hand up to her head to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear, "He worked by himself. He refused to work with anyone else. I guess you could say that he was DUNN with life." This had stifled a chuckle from Alair, "Wow, I didn't know you'd have the audacity to make puns." "It's rare nowadays. I used to do it a lot... but then, no one listened to me," Etalt cleared her throat, "So anyways, Dunn kind of ha da criminal record but was never caught. He wore a mask, of course. One that resembled a lizard. It was so that he couldn't be found. He slowly became insane, killing everything and anything in his path before snatching away their belongings... But it continued until he had lit a house on fire..." Etalt tilted her head slightly, "Tell me, liar... Do you still remember Fabian's story? Do you know the answer to that question I asked?" "...Who killed Fabian's parents?" "Yes, that," Etalt nodded, "Surely, you must have an answer now." Alair paused. He slowly nodded, "I have one... It's who I think it is, isn't it?" "Yes, liar. That fire wasn't a mere accident," Etalt had muttered, "The person who had caused the fire and killed Fabian's parents... was Dunn."

[eschapters]

Chapter 22: Just a Very Small Stopover

Logan had placed the cup of coffee in his hands down on the table. A haunting silence filled the room. No one spoke. Holly wasn't even playing with Venere either. The child leaned in next to Etalt's ear before whispering. "What is he doing here?" "Your aunt is crazy. Ask her," Etalt had whispered back, obviously annoyed. Those two weren't the only ones having a side conversation. Amaryllis had also whispered to Alair. "...Is it even a good idea to have him here?" Amaryllis had whispered as if she were about to strangle someone, "Let's not forget that he's associated with the guys who locked us up and kept us under poor conditions!" "I know, but I'm sure he has his reasons!" While everyone wasn't okay with Logan being here at all, Alair was split in between considering him neutral or as an enemy. The young teen was merciful, like his dad. He let out his breath before looking up at Logan, "Besides, he might have more than what we've see-" Logan's stare had finally been noticed by Alair, who had nervously chuckled. "...Did you hear all of that?" A nod was the response he had received from the older man, "From start to finish? Yeah." Eucharis had walked in with a tea cup. She sat down before taking a small sip, "It's been a long time, has it not? How has Glister City been?" "I can't really go back at the moment," Logan had smiled, "There's a snow storm going on at the path to Glister Bay... If that doesn't stop anyone, then the rainstorm within Glister Bay itself would." "Ah... Quite unfortunate if I do say so myself..." Alair looked between the two, back and forth from Logan to Eucharis and back, "...You guys know each other??" With a few movements, Logan had finally gotten comfortable within the seat, "Yeah, since I was fourteen." "That long?!" Eucharis had taken another sip, "Yes... He has grown quite a lot since then." "That makes sense..." Alair tucked both of his hands into his pockets before sitting back. He sat back up when he felt the shape of the orb, "...Hey, Logan! Aren't you a scientist?" "Actually, no. I'm just a volunteer. I'm a mechanical engineer." "Huh. Bummer. I was about to ask about how time works and all." Etalt had given Alair what seemed to be a sideway glance, "...Didn't I already explain that?" "Oh, yeah you did... Whoops..." Logan sat up in his seat, "I'll be honest. I want to find the Bounded Viabilities partially because I want to fix time." "You know you've never actually told us exactly why you've wanted to find them in the first place..." Alair had said, "Why did you wanna find them? Really." A glance from one side to the other could tell them part of what Logan wanted to say, "That's a bit personal. I prefer not to say much about it." "It's fine, then..." Alair was tried to smile. However, he couldn't find himself able to do so, "But why does Etalt hate you so much?" Like a thunder striking a lightning rod, Etalt had shot a glare at Logan, "Because he's a persistent prick who would destroy everything and anything in his way just to get what he wants." "Rude," Logan had picked up the cup of coffee again to take a sip from it. Eucharis had turned her head to Alair, "Now, Alair... When and where will you all be headed to today?" "Sequía Village, apparently," Alair stated, "We saw Dunn, but he just told us to go to Sequía Village." "Dunn...?" With the hands that had seemed a little too delicate, Eucharis had placed down the cup on the table, "Do be careful around that hot headed heap of reptile skin... He has quite a destructive manner once angered." "But auntie, what'd be different if Papa is always angry?" The child, who was once again playing with the canine, had pushed herself into the conversation. "...Child... He breaks many things..." Eucharis had stated, "Which is why I do ask to be cautious around him." "...Ughhhh... He... nearly s-snapped my bones once..." Fabian shuddered at the memory, "N-No one knows what hhhe'll do when he's a-angry..." Among the people who were from this world, chatters and conversations had risen. Alair and Amaryllis were the only ones who were clearly unaware of how bad Dunn was. "Hey, what exactly are you doing all of this for?" Amaryllis had whispered, "You never really gave me any proper explaination." "Oh, that... They're all our ticket out of here!" Alair whispered back, "All I got was, 'the Bounded Viabilities are the key out of here,' or something like that." "Makes sense... But why not just ask the one who's messing with time?" Alair stared down at the floor for a little bit before snapping his fingers, "Darn it. Why didn't I think of that?" He groaned, "But still... It's kinda impossible since we have no idea as to who they are..." "What if the manipulator is a Bounded Viability? It's possible, but just some random person wouldn't really just have the ability to do all of that, right?" "Hm... Good point... Seems possible." Alair looked at both Holly and Fabian, "...Not Holly... That's for sure... It's possible that Fabian might be it, though..." "What? No!" Amaryllis exclaimed under her breath, "If he had that power, then he'd know everything by then!" "Well, aren't you smart?" "That leaves us with Dunn and..." "Raika?" "Yeah, them." "...Hm..." Alair looked back up at everyone, "Okay, okay, gotcha all. Dunn is a ruthless monster once triggered. Noted." Everyone had directed their attention towards Alair. "I guess the sooner we go, the better!" Alair had stood up from his place, "And Logan is coming with us!" "WHAT?!" Both Etalt and Fabian had exclaimed. "I am?" Even Logan himself had joined in on exclaiming. "Yep, because we need your knowledge!" "I only agreed to come here, but not actually go with you guys!" "Well, ain't that too bad?" Etalt had did what was supposedly a smirk, "Guess we're gonna have to tie you down to Venere!" Venere looked up and gaped its mouth. The moment it saw Logan, it bared its fangs. "Geez, fine. I'll go," Logan responded as soon as he had realized that any plans of leaving would be utterly futile. "Perfect... I'm sure you'll be able to find answers for your thing, right?" Logan stopped before repeating her words, "...Answers for my thing... Yeah, I'll probably get some needed info..." "Guess it's settled!" Alair had stated, "It's off to Sequía Village we go!"

[eschapters]

Chapter 14: A Book.

Alair had been directed to an average-sized house by the two girls and the flytrap creature. It didn’t take too quite long to arrive at the place, given how it looked exactly like every other house in this town.

“This is it?” Alair looked up and down the house to inspect it.

The house was plain white with a purely black roof sitting on top of it. That’s all there was to describe it, really.

“Doesn’t seem like it, but you know the quote, ‘looks can be deceiving,’” Etalt had said.

“Okay, I see,” Stepping forward, Alair had placed his hand on the knob to open it. Before he did, he was pulled back by the hood.

“Hey, what the heck?! You don’t just go into other peoples’ houses without knocking!” Etalt had exclaimed, pulling him away from the door.

“Aaah..! Okay! Okay!” Alair had cried, pulling away, “I didn’t he’d wanna know that there’s people looking for him! Besides, aren’t you two coming?”

“Nope!” Etalt had stepped back as she gently pulled Holly along with her, “I don’t want disturbing things influencing Holly, so if she stays here then who’s gonna watch her?”

“Wait, what if I die in there??” Alair had questioned.

Etalt shrugged, “Well, that ain’t our problem. Now, in you-”

The door in front of Alair had suddenly opened. In alarm, Alair himself had stepped away from the door while carefully eyeing it. At the door was an elderly woman. She smiled softly at them, “Oh hello. Are you looking for Fabian?”

“Yes, yes we are!” Alair had said.

The elderly woman had continued to smile, until her eyes had slowly moved over to the two girls behind him. Etalt had stepped back, staring at the woman as she put her arms around Holly as if to protect the child from anything that would come for them. The woman had suddenly taken on a somewhat nervous expression upon seeing the two, “I am so sorry to inform you that he is currently not here. Please return another time.” Alair had smiled back at the elder, “Oh, I see… Well-”

“Goodbye!”

The door had slammed shut right in Alair’s face before he could finish.

“…Rude, much…” Alair turned back to the other two, “He’s not here… So what now?”

Holly had looked somewhat confused, “There wasn’t an old lady there before, right?”

Etalt released Holly, looking down at her, “I can’t say that I’ve seen that lady before… Huh,” she then looked over at Alair, “We should probably go back later.”

“…Agreed, I guess…” Alair had said.

After a slight pause, Etalt had spoken again, “Well, I’ll leave it to you to determine what you wanna do from this point on. Why don’t you go around for a bit?”

“Sounds alright. Where will we meet?”

“I can probably take Holly to get something proper for her to eat,” Etalt had stated, placing her hand on Holly’s shoulder, “Probably the Lantus Cafe. That cafe is international. You’ve seen it, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, I did,” Alair was about to say something else, until he had remembered the events of what had taken place inside the cafe, “I had to get assistance from a muscled… woman..?” He was hesitant but he continued anyway, “Whatever the heck she was… All I remember is that she had ginger hair-”

“Ginger… hair,” Etalt had repeated it more as a statement than a question, “Ginger. Hair.”

“Yes, why?” Alair had asked, “Do you kn-”

“Don’t talk about that forbidden color ever again,” Etalt had scoffed. She had lifted up Holly, helping her get on Venere’s back, “Well, we’re off. Come to Lantus Cafe if you’re done with your business.”

After Etalt had jumped on, Venere was off again.

Alair was once again left all by himself. Of course, the first thing he did was to go back to the center of the town.

There were many places for Alair to head to. One thing that had caught his ear, in particular, was that there was a information regarding the banshee rumor. He was told that if he went to the library, he would be able to find a book about it.

And so he did.

Alair had found the book and stood by the shelf to read it.

“The banshee screams; with the people’s pleas. With one single cry, away their souls fly. Every day in torment, the town can only lament. We all can live in grief, until we find relief. Oh, what can we do, to start anew?”

Alair had flipped the page.

“The banshee roams deep within the forest, instantly killing those it comes across. It is quiet merciless, using not only its screams but also its claws to kill its victims. The people of Gustswept Town must be aware of this creature and take caution at all times.”

“It is unknown where it came from or why it exists, but it seems to be looking for something… We must find a way to put it to rest.”

“Sir, would you like to take that book out of the library?”

Alair had looked up from the book to see a small boy looking up at him. He felt his body jerk a little as he had remembered something.

“Uh… No, it’s fine,” Alair had closed the book before slipping it back into the shelf, “But… I’ll probably get another book.”

Alair had decided to study the little kid. The little kid had brown hair and grape-colored eyes. His shirt was an olive green color and his pants were black.

“…Aren’t you a little too young to be working…?”

The little boy had shaken his head, “My mom is the owner of this library! She lets me help around here!”

The teen had paused to think. He spoke again once he realized what he needed the most, “Is there any books regarding any legends about how this world works?”

“Of course!” The little boy had bent down in front of the lowermost shelf. He then picked out a book which had a black casing before handing it to Alair, “Here you go! Mom doesn’t want me to let others take the book out of the library, but maybe if you hide it then you can! I’ll turn off the censors when you leave!”

Alair had chuckled, patting the kid on the head, “Thank you, kid… But don’t do this to anyone else, okay? Listen to your mom next time.”

“Oh… Uh…” the little kid looked around. It was almost as if doubt had filled his face, “I don’t know… She’s kind of… manipulative sometimes…”

Bending down, Alair had placed a hand on the child’s shoulder, “Hey, that’s probably what it seems like to you. I’m sure she really loves you and wants the best for you, okay?” A small but hesitant smile had crossed his face, “When you see her again, be sure to show her how much you love her.”

The little boy had nodded his head, “Okay…”

Alair had gotten up, slipping the book into his bag, “I’ll be on my way, then.”

“Oh… Okay! I’ll go turn off the censors!” The little boy had dashed away and up the stairs to somewhere. ======= x ========= Alair had stepped foot into the cafe. Everything was the same as the other cafe, except the colors were somewhat different. Instead of the cafe having green walls with flowers all around, this cafe had white walls with indescribable swirls all around them. If it weren’t for the green jacket and orange shirt that his companion had, as well as the giant canine, Alair would have taken more than five minutes to find the other three.

Holly was the first to notice, given that she had waved her hand in the air at Alair, “HI, BLUEBERRY!!”

Etalt, who was holding what could’ve been a sheet of paper, had looked up. She folded the piece of paper before tucking it into her pocket, “So what’d ya do?”

Alair had sat down across from the two before reaching into the bag and pulling out the book that he had received earlier, “I went to the library and got a book from there about this world.”

Etalt had eyed the book for a good ten seconds, “…How did they get that?”

“Not sure, but… It might be useful!” Alair had flipped open the book, looking inside, “Wanna read, too?”

“Well, I already-”

The girl could feel the child’s gaze piercing at her. She slowly turned her head to Holly, only to see her sparkling eyes.

“Can you read it to me?” Holly had grinned.

“…Ask Alair. He has the book.”

“Well, why not?” Alair had looked down at the book.

Alair had lifted the cover of the book, but Etalt had immediately pushed it back down.

“What?” Alair looked up from the book and at Etalt.

“Don’t you think you should go find Fabian first?”

When Alair had tried to lift the cover again, Etalt had only kept her hand on his and forced it down again.

“Listen, I got a little something to tell you. Come here.”

Alair leaned in and so did Etalt. Because of Etalt’s small size, she had to pull herself closer to him. For some reason, a feeling of uneasiness had started to course throughout Alair’s body. He couldn’t quite tell if it was because of how close they were to each other or the thought of being punched in the face this time. Etalt had inhaled.

“DON’T OPEN THAT BOOK UNLESS YA WANNA DIE!!”

Alair had let himself collapse on the table as his ears had rung from the volume and force of Etalt’s voice. It was almost as if his very soul had just parted with his body. A small groan had left his mouth, “Okay… Okayyy… Aaah… My ears…”

Etalt had sat back down on her seat, “Good. Now that you got that why don’t you get going back to Fabian’s house?”

“Fiiine… Please don’t scream into my ear again, though… That actually hurt.”

The petite girl had simply patted his head, “So sorry… Or am I?”

“You’re such a prick…”

“I know.”

“Maybe if you didn’t shout in my ear, then I’d be on my way already…”

“If it makes you feel better… We drop you off and wait somewhere nearby,” Etalt slowly took the book into her arms.

Although Alair’s ears were still ringing, he had managed to sit up, “That… actually sounds fine. Can I scream if I need help?”

Etalt clicked her tongue, leaning back on the seat and holding on to the book, “Well…” she looked over at Holly, who was simply petting Venere, “I guess you can call Holly to your assistence, as long as there’s nothing bloody or so… Otherwise, I’ll come there myself… probably.”

“That’s a relief…” Alair had then suddenly remembered the events of earlier. He shifted into a position that made him sit up, “Do you… think that woman was only an illusion…?”

Holly looked up from Venere, “Oh yeah! She might be!”

Etalt only shrugged, “It’s possible. I don’t know the answer to everything, do I?”

“Of course you don’t. That’s impossible, but I wish you did…” Alair sighed, “Alright, take me there…”