#ғʀᴏᴍ ᴘᴀsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴇsᴇɴᴛ ﹙ʟᴏᴜᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ﹚ ; ᴠᴇʀsᴇ

[gvildmastcr]

@manidottir​ | call

     “ I know a way to make a man’s colors show. ” | pretty little things - the crane wives

[mcrcer]

     “You’re going on that job, if you value your position among our ranks!”

     His voice bounces across the stone walls of the Cistern, and immediately the rest of the Guild begins to scatter. The last week has been absolute hell: jobs being botched, members being thrown in prison, newbloods getting killed on the job from stepping into a trap or being spotted by hired thugs-

     Mercer's attitude has already made itself known several times in the last few days, and it springs up again when Sophie tells him that she won’t be going out on the mark he gave her. Their profits were miserable enough as it stood, but this? Having Guild members tell him the wouldn’t be doing their assignments? He won’t stand for it.

     “In case you haven’t noticed, Sophie, we need all the gold we can get.” His voice is a low growl, a threatening tone that drips from each word like venom. “Given the circumstances, we can’t afford people to shirk their duties. Either you go out and get this done, or you’re not welcome back here.”

     His dagger sits idly in his hand, fingers wrapped ‘round the handle tightly; it’s taking every ounce of willpower he has not to stab her with it.

@thehopefulones

[gvildmastcr]

@soldottiir​ | call

     “ But trust is now something I make people earn. ” | pretty little things - the crane wives

[gvildmastcr]

@flameforged​ | from here

     “ Sh! ” He turns his head just enough to train is ear back the way he came, before grabbing her arm (as best he can) and dragging her into a crevice in the wall. Given the shadows, it would be easy to completely overlook their hiding place; chances were, once Mercer’s followers had gone deeper into the dungeon looking for him, he could make his escape.

     The breton does his best to shove her as far back in the crevice as he can. It’s not the biggest hiding space, but it could still fit the large dremora. He holds a finger up to his lips, gesturing for her to stay quiet.

[gvildmastcr]

@flameforged​ - from here.

     His gaze, when it falls upon her, is scrutinizing at best. She was certainly a fair bit larger than he was, both in size and stature, but Mercer wasn’t known to back down from much. She didn’t seem keen on trying to harm him besides; otherwise, she would have by now.

     “ What, like a bodyguard? ” He almost scoffs at the very idea, but he manages to swallow it back down. Even if she wasn’t looking for a fight, he didn’t want to press his luck. “ I can take care of myself. But, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to run into another intelligent being down here. ”

     For a few beats, he stands there, staring at her. Then, he sighs, and gestures vaguely with one hand. “ I’m looking for a particular axe. Huge thing, with some sort of enchantment on it. You happen to know where it is? ”

[gvildmastcr]

@scvagegarden​ | Hikari.

“’M small, so outta everything I like t’ think it helps the most. That, an’ m'fur helps me blend in around Riften. You got a similar thing goin’ on, small and can blend in easily. Hiding under things tends t’ help a bit too.”

She listed off each thing she knew on each digit, free paw going to her forehead. “Or, y'could always be cheap an’ drink a potion instead. I heard that helps.”

     “ Potions are for those that have no confidence in their skills, ” he replies with a shrug. “ In our line of work, we can’t afford that luxury. Confidence in what we do keeps us out of prison - or worse. ” The breton then holds a finger to his lips, signalling her to keep quiet. Approaching footsteps cause him to shrink down a little more in their hiding place; he only relaxes once he’s sure they’re safe.

     “ The only time I would ever use a potion would be if I needed the invisibility to help me get through an empty room. People notice movement if there’s not supposed to be any. I may be the best of the best, but not even I’m successful every time. ”

[gvildmastcr]

     “ Yeah, it hurts like hell. ”

@mxxnblind​ | call (for glover) | x

[gvildmastcr]

     The cistern is quiet, save for the waterfalls nearby. Early morning light filters in through the ceiling, beginning to illuminate the cobblestone and warm the chilled air. Movement follows not long after; Elona has woken, and she takes a moment to stretch before getting to her feet and shuffling about the room. Mercer lifts his head long enough to regard her before his gaze falls back to his ledger. The argonian’s muffled footsteps are the only other sound within the guild’s hideaway below Riften, and the guildmaster draws in a deep breath. In only another hour or so, other guild members would begin to stir, and the solace of silence that he revels in during the nighttime hours would be taken from him. For now, he’ll enjoy it while he can.

     Fleur’s bed is nearby, and he can see the boy’s figure from his peripherals. Sleeping peacefully, from what he could tell. Had barely stirred all night, which the breton had taken as a good sign. ‘Maybe he found his cure after all,’ he muses to himself, though he can’t help the nagging feeling at the back of his mind. A sort of anxiety clawing at his senses, making his heart race even though he was convinced nothing was out of the ordinary. Maybe he was just overworking himself.

     Elona shuffles past him on her way towards the training area - or, more specifically, the large table settled nearby it. When she wanders by him again, she’s carrying a multitude of wooden bowls. No doubt she’s making some breakfast for when the others wake. It was something she’d always done, like a mother caring for her children.

     It’s only when her shadow is cast over his desk that he glances up again, sharp gaze softening when he sees the bowl of stew and the smile on her face. Straightening from his desk, he takes a moment to work out the kinks in his back before taking the offered bowl with a murmured thanks. Her grin widens before she strides away once more, back to the cooking pot that was settled near the guild’s secret entrance. The guildmaster makes short work of his meal; setting the bowl aside, he takes a moment to stretch his legs with a quick jog around the cistern before returning to his desk. There was work to be done, after all.

     When Elona shifts away from her crouched position at the cooking pot, it’s with another bowl of stew in her hand. Fleur is the first she’ll wake with an offer of food, and he was likely to stir before long anyway. “ Fleur, ” she trills, stroking his knotted hair with one hand. “ Wake up, dear. ” She sets the bowl on the bedside table, careful not to spill any of its contents on the book seated there, before turning back to the boy. Brows furrow when she notices that he hasn’t shifted even slightly, worry beginning to settle in her stomach. “ Fleur? ” she calls again, once more moving to run a hand through his hair. Once again, he doesn’t stir at all. “ Fleur...? ” Her tone is becoming more desperate as she crouches at his bedside, reaching out to caress his cheek gently. Surprise flickers across her face when she realizes his skin is pale and he’s gone cold.

     The sudden, stifling silence doesn’t go unnoticed by Mercer, who lifts his head so quickly he nearly gives himself whiplash. His gaze, at first, shifts towards the cooking pot, where he expected Elona to be. When he realizes she isn’t there, his eyes continue to search until he sees her at Fleur’s bedside, crouched on the floor. For a moment he thinks that maybe she’s waking him, but then he sees her shoulders jerk with a sob. Suddenly that sinking feeling in his stomach from before hits him full-force. His foot catches one of the legs of his desk as he lunges forward, sending the lantern perched there crashing to the floor with the harsh clang of metal against stone and the shattering of glass.

     When he comes to a stop at Elona’s side, she’s taken one of Fleur’s hands in her own. Her sobs are choked - even from here, he couldn’t hear them over the waterfall nearby. “ Elona? ” he begins, his tone soft. When she lifts her head to acknowledge him, he can see the pain in her expression, and he already knows what she’s going to say well before the words have ever left her mouth.

     “ He’s gone. ” The way her voice cracks has his heart aching for her. “ Fleur is gone, Mercer. ”

     “ There wasn’t anything more we could have done for him. ” The guildmaster keeps his voice gentle, and he places a hand on her shoulder. “ We did what we could. ”

     “ We didn’t do enough! ” The snap to her tone takes him by surprise, and he pulls his hand away as she hastily gets to her feet. “ We could have helped him! I could have helped him! ” Mercer opens his mouth to argue with her, but she’s turned her back to him in order to grab the book from the table. When she turns back to him he’s finally able to get a good look at it. The cover is black all the way through, the pages incredibly aged with time. On both the front and the back cover is, what he can only assume, some sort of tentacled creature. Even without touching the thing himself he can feel the immense magical energy pulsing from its very core. It almost makes him sick.

     “ I have all this knowledge at my fingertips- ” Elona’s voice cuts his thoughts short- “ and I still couldn’t do anything. Nobody at the College knew, nobody in Cyrodiil knew, and the only one who could have-- ” Frustrated, and with tears streaming down her face, she throws the tome to the floor. The noise reverberates across the entire cistern, causing some of the other guild members to jolt in their sleep.

     Mercer blinks, slowly, at her as she collapses to her knees, sobbing brokenly and slamming her fist against the stone. He wishes he could feel her grief, her anger, but... he just feels numb. Like none of this is real. He and Fleur hadn’t parted on the best terms, but he still felt as though maybe there was more he could have done to help.

     His gaze eventually settles on Fleur’s face, and he realizes now that this is probably the most peaceful the young nord has ever looked. As if death was his only real solace, and everything else was just a means to an end. When his eyes travel back to Elona, she’s clawing at her temples, overtaken with sadness.

     “ Elona. ” Her name being spoken causes her to look up, and she can see in his eyes that Mercer’s trying to keep himself together. “ Wake the others. Let them know we’ll be holding a small ceremony when I get back. ”

     “ Get back? ” she questions, brow creasing. “ Is this really the best time to- ”

     “ I’m going to bury him, ” he interrupts, and she blinks at him. “ Next to his sister, like he requested. I know where it is, I won’t be long. ” He offers her a hand as she struggles to her feet, taking one last, forlorn, look at her adopted son before nodding.

     Grateful that she wouldn’t argue the point further, he presses a soft kiss to her forehead. “ I’ll take you out there tomorrow, ” he murmurs before moving past her. Heaving a sigh, Mercer shifts the furs away from Fleur and lifts the boy into his arms and heads for the flagon. Nobody would be awake yet, except for Dirge, but at the very least their bouncer wasn’t known to ask too many questions.

     He touches down in the cistern within the hour, only to see that the guild has gathered apprehensively waiting for his return. The guildmaster draws in a deep breath and presses forward to the cistern’s middle. His guildmates let him pass without hesitation, turning their attention his way as he pauses at Elona’s side.

     The ceremony they hold in Fleur’s memory is brief, but it’s easy to tell that the others aren’t taking the news too well. Emotions run high among all of them, even if most never got the chance to know Fleur the way Mercer and Elona had.

     “ We’ll use this day to mourn his passing, ” the breton announces. “ Tomorrow we’ll return to our work. This is a sad time for all of us, but we can’t allow it to stop us. I don’t think he’d want us all sulking around; he’d want us out in the field, giving it all we’ve got. ” His gaze scans the familiar faces of his family, and for a moment he feels like he’s about to collapse. “ Dismissed. ”

[gvildmastcr]

@daedrichaggler​ | cont.

     The look that crosses the breton’s face is nothing short of amusement. “ Not always, ” he corrects airily, waving a hand. “ You Princes are fickle creatures, so I’m sure you know that first-hand. ”

[gvildmastcr]

     “ I just need somebody to die for. ”

@prophecyveined​ | call | x

[gvildmastcr]

     “ Too much courage made you foolish. ”

@bastardswxrd​ | call | x

[gvildmastcr]

@cosmosfated / Fleur.

  “And what, pray tell, was I supposed to tell you? ‘Oh hey, forgot to mention this in between the constant fighting and targets, but I have an illness that I could very easily die from that nobody thus far has found a cure for! No big deal!’”  His eyes roll in a manner that almost seems hard enough to give someone a headache from the motion.  “Logically, what would you have done if you were in my situation?”

     “ I don’t know! ” he admits rather sharply, whipping back around to grip the handle of the axe. “ But I would think, ” a hefty tug, “ it would be important enough to bring up with your parents, of all people! ” Another tug, and the axe blade comes away without much more issue. The momentum behind it almost has him spinning back around again. He manages to stop it, but his arms scream in protest as he does. “ Fine, whatever. Do what you want. Continue keeping secrets from us, like we don’t want to help you. ”

[gvildmastcr]

@enigmatii / Brynjolf.

The less than ample lighting of the Cistern had long since been a problem. He’d grown up here, eyes adjusting over the years in a way most fortunate for a thief. Candle light flickered over Mercer’s face as Brynjolf approached the man at his desk. His attention was subtly ensnared by the sound of an arrow being loosed and Brynjolf glanced across the Cistern to take note of Niruin practicing his form. The Bosmer spent roughly four hours a day in the range, it was impressive. Gaze returned around front just in time for the nord to come to a stop in front of the Guild’s leader, hand raising to set down a jewel encrusted statue with a semi-loud thud on Mercer’s desk. “Told you I’d be in ‘n out within the hour.” Stepping back, Brynjolf crossed his arms over his chest, weight on his heels. 

    The sound of the thing hitting his desk would have certainly gotten his attention, if the other’s figure approaching the other side of his desk hadn’t already. Still, he doesn’t glance up from his ledger until the statue has been set down, forest green eyes meeting with emerald for several long beats. For several more he doesn’t speak, merely glancing between his second and the loot he’d come away with.

     “ Was this the only thing of value they had? ” It was a heist, for Nocturnal’s sake! Unless their marks had gotten word beforehand that the guild was coming for them and made off with most of their valuables, there was no reason one statue should be the extent of their loot. “ Please tell me this is some sort of joke. ”

[gvildmastcr]

@bastardswxrd / Bezi.

Guilt niggled at Bezi. He had spent centuries ducking in and out of the Thieves’ Guild, coming and going, but this had been the first time in many years that he had really settled in for the long haul. Sure, he’d had his extra-worldly dalliances- only paralysis could REALLY keep him in one place- but they hadn’t been that long. Or, they wouldn’t have seemed that long to his guild mates.

      A lump formed in his throat. On top of his own emotions, Mercer’s were choking. He never would have guessed that the guild would have worried so much for him, especially their leader.

     “I’m sorry,” he mumbled lamely, receding into his cloak. He tucked it close, self conscious. His sightless eyes focused on the ground and he strained with his other senses, trying to put together a picture of what was around him. He could make out the broad strokes, but the details were fuzzy. Still, he could tell by the Breton’s body language…

     The sound of Mercer’s voice cracking made him cringe. Hesitant, he reached out to squeeze his shoulder.

     “If it makes you feel any better,” he mumbled, “I didn’t go by choice.” 

     He almost tears himself away from Bezi’s hand; shoulders jerk harshly, betraying his original intent, but he stops himself before he’s able to fully get away. ‘ He’s only trying to help me, ’ he tells himself. ‘ Bezi isn’t here to hurt me. ’

     “ By choice or not, ” he begins, his tone uncharacteristically soft, “ you still should have sent word that you’d be gone. A letter would have sufficed, unless you weren’t able to write one. I would hope that’s not the case, but... hell if I know anymore. Nothing makes sense. ” Nothing matters.

     The Breton is only just holding himself together at this point, even if Bezi can’t see it. Gods, why was he so weak? Why couldn’t he keep up his tough facade instead of weeping like a damn child? He continues to berate himself inwardly, frustrated that he would dare show even an ounce of weakness in front of anyone. He trusted the other with his life, but it didn’t make coping with emotions he wasn’t used to any easier.

     “ Just don’t make a habit of it, ” he murmurs, trying too hard to get the usual snap back to his voice. It doesn’t work, of course, and it cracks again, like a wooden structure under too much pressure.

[gvildmastcr]

@firsnotfurs / Delvin.

“Anytime  –  Be glad to mark the best route.  See if everything’s sturdy - look for dead ends … Stash some useful goods, yeah, I could do that. ”   He replied, trailing off to muse mostly to himself aloud.  One could nearly see the ink dripping within his pupils as he took mental note of the tasks at hand – Odd fool he was ; Delvin claimed both pride & pleasure from his own title.

He’d pledged his loyalty in the Thieves Guild & Gallus  – The change of power had been …   Unexpected.  It left an aching in its wake ; yet unto Mercer the same dues && respect were offered.  If not amplified.   The man was not only capable but the obvious choice – To Mercer he pledged loyalty &&& an offer of respite.  A loyal shadow & adviser he would be.  Delvin held little desire to live through the throws of another change in power && control.

“Before we know it we’ll be playin’ marbles with more baubles.”

He gave a craggy grin – focus returning to Mercer ; offering the man an airy chuckle.  Shuffling his feet ; faltering as he only half turned away.  Pausing as Delvin considered his comment before letting it spill as a reassuring hum.

“Gettin’ the hang of this, aren’t you ?  Not to imply doubt ; No, no …  Never that.” He paused again, grin softening in sharpness  – something more careful taking its place.  “Take it as a compliment – I only worry.”  He admitted vaguely,  “Titles weigh heavy ; Don’t forget it’s part of my job to help carry a bit of that, yeah?  Not only paperwork ; but any naggin’ thoughts you need sorting through.  Wanted to put that on the table for you, just as a reminder.”

    “ I was the guild’s second for many a year, Delvin, ” replies Mercer with a hint of laughter and a smile tugging at his lips. “ Leadership was inevitable. I just wish it had come under better circumstances. ” Here, his tone softens, and he sounds genuinely upset about Gallus’ death. Which he is, of course - the man had taken him off the street and shaped him into one of the best thieves in Skyrim - but it was Mercer himself that had done it, and not Karliah like he’d lead everyone to believe. Ah, but that was a matter for another day.

    “ Gallus was a good man, ” he continues absently, marking down some notes on a spare piece of parchment. “ He deserved better. But there’s no point in dwelling on it; all we can do is focus our efforts on keeping the guild in one piece. ” He’d worry about Karliah in his own time - she couldn’t stay hidden forever, try as she might. Though, truthfully, it’s not him that wants to hunt her down, but the Key.

    Blinking to clear his thoughts, he passes the blueprints back to the other. “ I appreciate your help more than you may realize, ” he muses, smile softening into something more genuine. “ I don’t think the transition would have been as smooth without you and the others here. For that, you have my gratitude. ”

    “ Anyway, I’ll start working on putting this heist together while you’re gone and finalize it once you’re back with whatever notes you’ve gathered. ”

[gvildmastcr]

@aldebxran | it’s been a long time, old friend

     He actually flinches back, at least slightly, when they come rushing over, though whether it’s because he expected them to attack him or he was simply taken aback is difficult to ascertain. Regardless, the corners of his mouth begin to curl upward as they recognize him, and for a moment it feels like he’s a kid again.

     “ I was afraid you wouldn’t recognize me! ” he muses. He looked vastly different now than he did forty years ago - soft blonde hair had darkened and began to turn grey, his features growing more grizzled as the years had gone by. But part of him is grateful that one of his childhood friends knew it was him, even after several decades of being apart. “ It’s good to see you again, Emeric. It’s been too long. ”