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damn-stark · 3 years

Text

Dreadful summer nights

Chapter 8 of Different Light

A/N- I hope you guys liked it :) I can’t wait to write more!! Let me know what y’all thought?!

Warning- SLOWBURN, fluff

Pairing- Harry Potter x Malfoy!reader, Fred Weasley x Malfoy!reader

(Let me know if you want to be tagged)

————

Summer.

Summer was and has been completely dreadful. There's been nothing to do and nowhere to go beside the corridors of your own home, the garden, and Draco’s bedroom to pester him.

With your father out all day and sometimes all night, and with Narcissa defiant not to leave home without him, you've been stuck at home. Just bored, sitting on a reading chair with your legs on the headrest and your head dangling off the edge of the chairs cushion, throwing a green apple up in the air and catching it before it hits you.

That’s how it’s been all summer long. Well that and beside the letters—

“It’s that Potter boy again, he was attacked by Dementors today.”

You gasp at the sound of your fathers voice echoing from the entrance and instantly stop what you’re doing, forgetting in that quick action about the green apple you had thrown in the air until it fell back down to hit you in the face. “Ow.”

“Did he send them?”

Very quietly you twist your body around to sit up straight—as if that was going to do anything to make you hear better. Regardless you also do it because you didn’t want to be caught sitting improperly.

“No, but perhaps someone else did. But because of the attack he had to use magic in front of a muggle and break the breach of underage sorcery. He should be expelled from Hogwarts, but that’s still to be determined.”

You're quick to your feet after the rest of the news and instantly get drowned in worry for said boy and find the need to check on him the best way you could. You hardly even think to hear more of the news, if there was more, that instant just made your mind race to Harry; and that was your motivation to race to your room, slowing down just as you passed Narcissa and your father to greet him. “Hello, father!”

His head turned to follow you up the stairs and quickly come at you with a response. “Where are you going in such a hurry? You didn’t even have time to greet me properly.”

You sigh out heavily through your nose and stop in your tracks to trail back towards your father, offering him a quick smile before giving him a peck on the cheek. “Hello papa, it’s good that you’re home.”

“Hmm, go along now, but come back for dinner.”

You show him a beaming grin and then spin on your heels to retrace your steps back to your room, double checking the hall before closing your door, so that Draco wasn’t being sneaky and trying to find any dirt on you to go tell father.

Once you’re on your desk chair, you proceed to sit quickly and clumsily get out a small piece of parchment and a quill to write to Harry.

Dear, Harry,

I’ve heard the news of what happened to you, and I couldn’t wait until we returned to school to have to check on you, so I’m sending you another letter this week.

The way I heard the news was in the matter of eavesdropping so I don’t know much, but I think I know enough. I hope you’re doing okay, I’ve never faced Dementors, but I know you have so that’s keeping me from thinking the worst. if you have the chance to write back, do so as soon as you can with news of your well-being, or else I think I won’t sleep with the worry that’ll grow.

And maybe to ease your own worry, I also do have hope you’ll return to school, they can’t expel you for something that wasn’t your fault. So remain hopeful Harry. If you want more updates on what the ministry thinks, remember that you can always ask me and I’ll get whatever information I can from what I can hear.

Lastly to not make this any longer, good job! As unfortunate as it is, today’s attack was your second time defeating them, so I think that deserves some recognition!

With love, your friend, Y/N Malfoy.

Forcing yourself to leave this letter short, you end it before you could write a whole essay, rolling it up as small as you could and walking to your open window to attach it to your eagle-owl Athena. “I know I can always count on you girl, so please take this letter to Harry as fast as you can. And remember, remain undetected.”

Athena voices a soft ‘oohu’ before leaning in so you’d pet the top of her head before she flew off to do as she was asked; disappearing into the darkening, sweet smelling evening. Leaving you to wait, and wait for what seemed hours. Having to distract yourself with going down to dinner, but hardly even being able to concentrate on what was talked about around the table as your mind only worried for that awaited reply.

And before, in days, weeks and the few months that passed this summer, after Harry sent his first letter to you and you sent one back, that cycle started, you waited for a reply after you sent a letter. Yet the anticipation was never so deeply developed as it was today. Before you could wait to hear back from him, after all you didn’t want to raise suspicion, but today was different, this letter contained important matters that couldn’t wait for some other time. You wanted answers. And yet they took forever to arrive. Not until almost midnight as you were falling asleep on your desk chair.

And once the news thankfully did arrive, you ran the fastest you had ever done to meet your owl, almost ripping the letter attached to her leg.

Y/N,

You’re always so kind, so to put you at ease, I’m alright. My cousin Dudley, not so much though.

Regardless, thank you for believing in me, it seems from the past couple letters I’ve received today that no one has.You’re the first one to even congratulate me on winning against dementors in fact, so thank you, I appreciated that.

It seems that's all I have been saying to you all summer though.

But that’s because you’re the only person I’ve really talked to.You’re the only person who ever writes me with more than just a few bleak sentences.You’ve become a true friend to me and again I appreciate it.

And regarding your offer to help inform me with the news about myself, I’d like that. But if at any time it gets too hard just leave it as it is, okay?

I’ll hopefully see you when we return to school.

Harry.

A relieved smile grows on your face and you sit back in your chair and fold the letter back up to tuck it safely with the rest of his and Fred’s letters.

Now with that worry done with, all you had to worry about was what else you could hear. Which at the end of the day wasn’t a lot. The daily prophet seemed to be for once oblivious on news regarding Harry Potter, nothing new was reported, nothing about his attack, or the aftermath of the attack. All the news you received was from your father, but that too wasn’t a lot. You tried to get more news from Harry, but that end was cut off. The three days following the events, you tried to report to him with the little things you heard, but Athena returned with your same letter untouched. You tried the next day, but that too was returned.

It was odd.

All you had to rely on now was your father.

“So, father, what's on the news on Harry Potter's trial?” You ask innocently.

“I hope he gets expelled and has time in Azkaban.” Draco interjects with a smug grin.

You shoot a discreet glare before looking back at your father who remained serious. “Harry Potter, did not get expelled, nor did he get time in Azkaban,”

At the news you express a soft relieved sigh and take a sip of your drink to hide the fact that you were smiling.

“He will continue going to school because his charges were cleared.”

Draco scoffs and grips tightly onto his fork. “But he broke the law, he should be punished.”

“Should’ve. But Dumbledore was at his side.”

Your eyes study them both before you shift your gaze down to your food and add a daring comment before taking a bite of your food. “Well, I don’t think that would be fair, he was attacked, he was simply defending himself. How would you like it if you got put in a cell because you defended yourself, Draco?”

All three pairs of eyes flew to you at the sound of your comment and silence overtook the dining table for a moment. When you looked up you simply shrugged while you swallowed the food in your mouth.

Once Draco fully understood your comment he scoffs again and doesn’t think much of the comment. “Well I think, Potter, just summoned the dementor and then attacked it because he knew everyone would talk about it. He just wanted more popularity.”

Your gaze narrows on your brother and you set your fork down to argue. “You really think that? You think he summoned those horrible monsters just to gain popularity?”

“Yes.” Draco shrugs with his smug smile glued to his face.

Just as you’re about to shoot back, you’re interrupted by your father. “And does it matter if he, or did not summon them himself, y/n? He’s below us and shouldn’t be a topic that has you arguing with your brother.”

You swallow thickly and lower your gaze as you offer him one small nod. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

“Regardless. Kids how would you both like it if next summer instead of coming home you two went out of the country on a nice vacation?” Narcissa finally gets to interject with her voice sounding a bit shaky.

Both Draco look at her and then meet each other’s gaze for a brief moment, both finding it strange that she would suggest it, Narcissa was always so eager to see you both return from school, especially during the summer since your stay at home lasted longer than two weeks. She hardly liked being apart from either of you, it was at times overbearing, but it was at times also sweet. So her suggesting for the both of you to leave without having the chance to see her was completely off putting. “But—”

“Narcissa, we’ve talked about this,” your father cuts you off, “they’re not little children anymore. They won’t escape the reality of what we’re facing, they’re not cowards.”

“But they’re children, our children. I can’t let them fight for him, Lucius. They’re just children.”

“And we’re also Malfoys, how would it look like if they just ran away? They have to make this family proud.”

Once again, just like many times this summer after the dark lord returned, you’ve found Narcissa and your father arguing more than you’ve ever heard them argue. Usually always about the same topic, Draco and you. Which always leads to the both of you walking away where you couldn’t hear them.

This time is no different, you look to Draco to meet his gaze and point your head to the hall so he’d follow as you both quietly stood from your chairs and slipped away. Walking in silence until nothing was heard but each other’s footsteps inside the corridors of your dimly lit halls.

“They can’t seem to stop arguing.” Draco says in a much less smug voice than what he used moments ago.

You look to your side to see his shoulders were low and his eyes were unfocused. “Yeah, but they’ll stop soon. Once they come to an agreement.”

Draco manages a soft scoff and feigns to be more confident than he currently looked. “Well I can decide for them, I'll work with the dark lord like father, I��m ready.”

This time you scoff and raise your brow at him. “You are?”

“Yes, just like you.”

Your eyes instantly fly to him and you frown. “I’m not ready.” Draco looks at you and his confidence falters. “I don’t want to be a death eater, I agree with our mum.”

Draco’s lips part and he stays quiet for a brief second, he balls his fists and his eyebrows furrow as he glares at the ground before stepping out into the garden. Not daring to look at you as he tried to argue. “You’re scared. Just like her. But we’re not kids anymore.”

“She’s worried.” You correct him. “It’s okay to be scared, Draco, none of it is easy.”

Draco puts his hands in his pants pockets and looks to the hedges ahead that were lit by the lamps above, he tries to hide the fact that he was scared, that the topic of the dark lord scared him, but you were no fool, you could see right through him.

“So what are you going to run?”

“Not without you.”

Draco’s eyes snap to you and his gaze narrows on you, his lips twitch, but he’s quick to hide any sort of indication of a smile by looking away and simply continuing with his stubbornness. His reaction however makes you smile and playfully hit his shoulder with yours before adding one last bit and finishing with that topic already. “If you go, I go. Simple as that. Just because we may fight doesn’t mean I won’t have your back, okay?”

“Yeah, whatever.” Draco rolls his eyes, making you smile wider.

——

It felt exciting being back on the train that went to Hogwarts, it felt exciting being away from home and finally getting to reunite with your friends and Fred; with Harry. You had been counting the hours since you had woken up until you would finally get here. That feeling was so strange since when you would go to Durmstrang you dreaded waking up to head to school.

Now you can't think of anything better. Hogwarts truly felt like a home away from home.

When you had gotten on the train albeit, since Draco had no recollection of all the torment from last year, it was hard convincing him that you were okay sitting somewhere else that wasn’t near him. As tough as he acted, he liked having you around, he liked showing you off like a proud brother. It was admirable, but you've been apart from your friends for too long and stuck inside a house with Draco for longer. Plus he loathed your friends, he didn’t know it was those friends you were saving a compartment for and he didn’t need to know. You’d deal with that headache later.

Now you counted the minutes—

Before you could finish your thought, a sudden loud crack goes off in front of you, making you jump off your seat and look to the spot where the noise originated from, to see two redheads suddenly in front of you with happy, mischievous grins on their face. “Malfoy!”

You hold onto your chest after your yelp and glare at them both, forgetting the greeting you and planned for them. “Well that just answered my question.” You say through gritted teeth.

“What no welcoming hug, or a happy smile for your best friends?” George remarks sarcastically, trying his hardest not to smile at your still frightened state.

You close your book and shake your head. “No, that was thrown out the window the moment you both chose to scare me.”

Fred chuckles and takes a seat beside you, wrapping his arm around you and continuing to tease you. “We saw you through the window while we were walking to the train,”

“And thought we’d show off the fact that we can apparate now.” George finishes as he sits at your other side.

You roll your eyes. “Show offs.”

Both brothers just grin and you continue to look at both, noticing the change in their appearance. You grin brightly and stand to get a better view. “You two got hair-cuts!”

“Yeah,” Fred says, beginning to smugly brush his fingers through his hair.

“We thought you’d never notice.” George continues.

“Well they look great, they suit you both.”

“But who pulls it off the best?” George asks, “be honest. And no pity votes for your boyfriend, now.”

Fred scoffs and shrugs. “It’s not a pity vote if she likes it better on me. Now, darling choose.”

Your eyes drift to both Fred and George for a brief moment before a smirk tugs on your lips and you simply shrug. “Like I said, I like them on the both of you. I won’t choose.”

Fred and George groan and just as they’re going to protest, three others come into the compartment. Your smirk falters and a smile threatens to show as you see Harry walk in after Ron and Hermione.

“Y/N!” Hermione greets excitedly, instantly throwing her arms around you. You return the embrace and her bright smile.

“Hello, Hermione, it’s so good seeing you again.”

“You too,” Hermione breaks away and walks back to sit beside Ron. “I was excited to see you, I hope your summer went well.”

“It went...okay,” you scoff, sitting back down in between the twins and focusing on Harry. “Hi Harry.”

Harry’s distant gaze looks away from the window and lands on you, seeming to take some time to really grasp who he was seeing until several minutes passed. “Y/N, hi.” A blush grows on his cheeks and he shifts in his seat. “I’m sorry I couldn’t write back if you sent me a letter after my last one, but I was well, busy with my trial and all.”

“Oh,” you wave off, “I understand, I imagined so. But didn’t I tell you; I knew you were going to return to school. I should’ve bet on it.” You grin, unknowingly catching everyone off guard with your conversation with Harry. “Are you okay, though?”

Harry hesitates, but he chooses to nod. Not really convincing you, but not leaving you a chance to follow up on his hesitation. “Yeah, I’m okay now. Are you? I mean, I remember you mentioned about your father and Narcissa arguing all the time.”

Your eyes widened at his comment and they briefly flicker to Fred; who you hadn’t mentioned about your father, or Narcissa arguing in your letters during the summer. You didn’t mean to leave it out and leave him in the dark when he would ask if everything was fine, but it just felt easier to talk about that with Harry.

With Fred, well it was all lighthearted and fun, while with Harry...well it could be the same, but it was also more serious. It just wasn’t the same.

“Oh,” you try to brush his comment off smoothly, “yeah, I’m fine.”

You avert your gaze and look to Hermione and then twins. Choosing to leave the letter talk for some other time and focusing instead on her and the twins the rest of the way to Hogwarts.

——

“Good evening children!” Dumbledore greets as he takes his usual spot by the podium, making you take your last bite of food before giving him your wavered attention. “Now we have two changes in staffing this year. We are pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who’ll be taking care of magical creatures while Professor Hagrid is on temporal leave. Now, we also wish to welcome our new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Dolores Umbridge. And I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing the Professor good luck.” He pauses for everyone to clap before continuing, “as usual our caretaker, Mr. Filch, has asked me—”

The sudden sound of a very squeaky clearing of the throat catches your attention, just like it had with the rest of the students. Where there had been some murmurs here and there, now there was total silence at the sound of the new professor in all bubble gum pink suddenly, and surprisingly interrupting Professor Dumbledore. It makes your curiosity heighten and your head raise so you could see her fully standing up from chair and begin to walk to the podium.

“Thank you Headmaster for those kind words of welcome.” She softly says. “And how lovely to see all your bright, happy faces smiling up at me...”

You scoff and pinch your eyebrows at her absurd and daring assumption.

“I’m sure we’re all going to be very good friends.”

Your eyebrows raise and a smirk appears on your lips as you try hard not to laugh, feeling the twins lean back towards you from their spots in their assigned table to both simultaneously add a sarcastic remark that made you snicker. “That’s likely.”

Albeit at the quiet and private comment the twins made, the pink lady looks to the three of you and shoots you a glare, whilst her smile that she carried seemed to have more hatred behind it than her actual glare. “The ministry of magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be a vital importance. Although each headmaster has brought something new to this historic school, process for the sake of process, must be discouraged. Let us preserve what must be preserved, perfect what can be perfected and prune practices that ought to be prohibited.” Professor Umbridge ends her speech with a giggle before walking back to her seat, letting you grin and lean back towards the twins to add one last comment regarding her.

“Well this year ought to be fun.”

The twins lean back and even if you couldn’t see it, they both smirked as they both simultaneously respond, “wickedly fun.”

Tagged- @peter-laufeyson , @swiftlymoniquesblog , @spideyyypeter , @gsvshsjsbs, @accio-prozac , @cherriesanwine , @kokomaesadie , @april-14-blog , @prettypinkpeachh , @pest-ill-ence , @ilovespideyyy , @m3ssytrash , @hogwarts-babe-blog , @yodaboo

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stillness-in-green · 3 years

Text

Thoughts on Chapter 314 (and surrounding events)

Being a loose summary of several things I thought about in relation to the leaks, what they say about the series as a whole, a bit of new operating headcanon on the Peerless Thief, and a dash of how fandom is responding to the revelations. Spoilers, obviously.

This chapter makes it quite clear that the HPSC absolutely would have gone in and eliminated the PLF quietly, lethally, and wholly unlawfully if Hawks hadn't reported back the numbers that he did. The only reason the raid involved non-Commission-affiliated heroes at all is because the PLF's manpower was simply too much for the Commission to deal with via their usual methods. I'm both appalled that the disregard for human rights in HeroAca Land is somehow even worse than I thought it was and smug that that tiny little piece I recently posted criticizing the PLF's treatment has turned out to be totally justified and supported by the canon.[1] (Note that this does not absolve Horikoshi of the responsibility to, himself, treat the PLF better than paper dolls tossed into the incinerator of Plot Irrelevance when they cease being convenient to his story.) The fact that the Commission was forced to involve heroes might mean Re-Destro, Mr. Compress and the others are somewhat safer than might otherwise be the case. Because of the involvement of the unsuspecting stooges law-abiding heroes, and because the botched raid became such a huge disaster, there’s far more public scrutiny on this than would otherwise be the case. Of course, "accidents" can still happen,[2] especially in a chaotic environment, but the factors above (combined with Clone!RD murdering the bejeezus out of the Lady Prez) do, I think, suggest that there probably isn't an organized push for quick solutions going on behind closed doors.

I don't think Nagant has been around for a terribly long time or that there was an uptick in vigilantism in recent years—I think the scene where she mentions vigilantes becoming accepted as heroes is just in reference to the early history of heroism. It's in keeping with what Tsukauchi Makoto described in Vigilantes, and forms the basis of the current system—the current system that Nagant was a single cog in a big machine grinding away to preserve.

Speaking of Nagant and the system, it's interesting to me that one of the groups Nagant apparently targeted at the HPSC's behest was corrupt heroes—those who colluded with villains or specifically goaded/incited civilians into using their quirks illegally, thus turning civilians into capital-V Villains in the eyes of the law. One might easily say that targeting corrupt heroes (albeit using a much broader definition of "corrupt") was Stain's whole shtick, but it actually puts me more in mind of the Peerless Thief, Harima Oji. Harima punished greedy or corrupt heroes with theft, and presumably with a measure of declaration and exposure,[3] then distributed their money back to the streets. Someone who ridicules those who abuse their power, and gets away with it for long enough to build a reputation: that right there is a recipe for a folk hero. The HPSC, in whatever form they existed at the time, obviously couldn't let that go on—such repeated humiliations would weaken peoples’ faith in (and obedience to) the system the HPSC was trying to build. At the same time, though, it would also weaken faith in the system to openly acknowledge that system's flaws, to acknowledge that some pretty awful people had found their way into the heroics business specifically for the power and ability to abuse it that the title of Hero afforded them. Public trials would make it a matter of record that some heroes—and, accordingly, heroes at large—did not deserve the public's unquestioning faith. Obviously in a system that was built from the ground up on faith, that was unacceptable. And so Harima was branded a supervillain for exposing the system's flaws, while the corrupt heroes who embodied those flaws to begin with were—and continue to be—quietly disposed of at the HPSC’s discretion.

There's a lot of talk around about how Lady Nagant is stupid, or hypocritical, or delusional, or whatever other dismissive adjective people want to use, because she expresses a preference for AFO's rule over the HPSC's. Firstly, I think it's dubious Lit Crit to fault a character for not being a Paragon of Rationality, especially when they're under the cascading stressors Nagant has been under since she was, what, 13? 14? Forced to live this dichotomy of smiling gallant hero and ruthless covert assassin, had her life threatened by the man who'd taken her in,[4] probably dumped in Tartarus until such time as her trial could be held,[5] and kept in those ghastly, dehumanizing conditions for who knows how long? How shocking, that her objectivity might be somewhat compromised! Secondly, it's not like she's saying that AFO's rule would be a sunny walk in the park. The kanji she uses doesn't even mean "better"; while it can mean serene or tranquil, her more likely meaning is clear/transparent. Her phrasing indicates that she's aware it would be pretty bad; she's simply of the opinion that at least his rule wouldn't be a sham, a pretty lie. It would be bad, but everyone would know it. No one would have these comforting illusions they could lose at any time; if you stepped out of line and got shot in the head by an assassin, well, at least you would probably know you that being defiant was running that risk, rather than never seeing it coming because you'd been told all your life that Heroes Didn't Do That To People. Again, this is a woman whose life was shattered no less than three times by the duplicity of the highest acting authority in this comic.[6] She doesn't have to be Objectively Correct By The Standards Of Ethical Utilitarianism—nor do you have to agree with her choice that because she doesn’t want to live in the Matrix, no one else should get to either—for her opinion to make sense from her own perspective! Thirdly, while I think it's fair to say that the HPSC and AFO actually use fairly similar methods to recruit followers and punish dissenters, we have no idea how much Nagant herself knows about AFO's recruitment tactics other than her own brief experience of it. And while AFO is a controlling and manipulative bastard, at least in his case it's coming from a man who openly styles himself as a Demon King, not an organization positioning itself as lawful regulators of the protectors of society at large while secretly training child soldiers to flagrantly violate every law protecting the human rights and due process of that society's people.

Overhaul's presence is delightful, and yes, he is a victim of Hero Society, if only because Hero Society could have put him in some kind of prison-based rehab facility after Shigaraki was through with him, but chose to dispose of him in Tartarus instead, for absolutely no justifiable cause. I suspect it's only due to Horikoshi not being very interested in the harsh realities of the trauma caused by enforced isolation[7] that Overhaul is the only Tartarus escapee that talks to himself and has dissociated from reality almost completely. Overhaul's maiming was not the fault of Hero Society, nor did Hero Society force him to torture Eri and repeatedly commit cold-blooded murder. But his madness? Yeah, I'm pretty comfortable laying that one at Hero Society's feet, actually. I can’t wait for Deku to have to face the victim that Chisaki Kai has become due to levels of systemic cruelty and negligence that really ought to be criminal—and which, if this were real life, would be.

--------Lately, footnotes are really popular with us!--------

[1] Lady Nagant: *talks about how the Hero Society everyone believes in is illusory, a thin fake over a brutal reality, and that returning to the false simplicity of that status quo will only cause history to repeat itself* Me, two weeks ago: Hero Society will never stop creating its own villains so long as, every time it fails people, it does nothing but shrug and write off the victims as unavoidable, inevitable sacrifices for the greater good.

[2] Yes, I'm still highly suspicious of the "Destro committed suicide in prison" claim.

[3] Compress tells us Harima “preached reformation,” but regardless, you don’t dress up in a modified kabuki costume and waltz midair through nighttime cityscapes raining cash out of the sky if you’re trying to keep your activities a secret.

[4] And her family situation couldn't have been much better than Hawks', if she was targeted by the HPSC to begin with. I would guess she was an orphan in the childcare system, easy to move from whatever alternative care arrangement she was in, be it an orphanage, a group home, or simply mature enough despite her relative youth that she lived alone on government support payments—that kind of thing isn't as unbelievable in Japan as it is in the U.S.—to the HPSC's care.

[5] And given what we learned between this chapter and 297, I doubt she was even allowed to be present for it. Japanese law states that everyone by default is supposed to be present for their own trial, but as in the U.S, that right can be waived if the defendant proves themselves to be a threat to the safety of the judge, court staff and other attendees. And of course, what a threat the HPSC could have painted her as being!

[6] At least until Hori deigns to show us a damn Diet session.

[7] To say nothing of the physical consequences of spending six months stuck in a tiny room with no natural light while frequently being strapped into a straitjacket, of which there should also be several.

#bnha spoilers #bnha 314 #boku no hero academia #hero public safety commission #paranormal liberation front #harima oji #lady nagant #overhaul bnha #my writing?

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warmau · 4 years

Text

Detective!AU x NCT DREAM

renjun: *opens a powerpoint titled: why nancy drew is the best fictional detective and the hardy boys aint sh-* | other dream aus

Haechan

overzealous and flashy

refuses to take on any case that isn’t “high-profile”

no finding neighborhood lost pets or who stole your lunch money, haechan wants to be on a nationwide case - he wants the news to follow his every step

“huh? what? you want me to find your stolen watch? do you not understand that your watch is not a korean national treasure and therefore who cares if it gets stolen?”

looks well put together, but his desk is a mess of papers and candy wrappers

has an ongoing rivalry with local policeman mark lee

not that mark lee even knows about this rivalry, for the most part he’s nice to haechan but haechan is just like “im onto you markus” and mark is like ,,,,,,huh?

you’re a reporter who has (on many occasions) covered haechan’s cases

to be fair, you’re probably the only person whose on the same level of sarcastic as him

so when he makes some kind of comment or quip you either blankly stare at him unamused or shoot one right back

your conversations are actually quite fun to watch

you’ll show up at his agency, with your camera and notepad

and he’ll be like

“took you long enough”

“oh - were you counting down the seconds to see me?”

“in your dreams~”

“i don’t dream. anyway - tell us about this murder, who are your suspects?”

other reporters find haechan a bit hard to work with and mumble that his attitude really needs to be fixed

but you disagree - in this kind of work you have to be sort of dry-humored and unattached

but you could do without his bragging when he does indeed solve the case

like today, when you and a bunch of other reporters have gathered outside of a large building in downtown seoul

haechan standing proudly at the front with a disgruntled looking businessman in handcuffs

haechan snaps his fingers and exclaims

“only i was smart enough to guess that the company’s own treasurer was embezzling money! the police and citizens assumed it was the ceo, but - as always my wits have proved everyone wrong!”

a wave of groans passes through the reporters, but you take it as a chance to ask haechan some questions

“how did you know it was him?”

“the evidence was in his text messages with foreign advisers.”

“how did you get access to them?”

“well as you know you can call a cellphone pro-”

as haechan is answering you hear some muttering behind you, nasty and mean words sprouting up about how haechan should stop acting like he did all the work

how he probably got tipped off

you’re a journalist, so the juicier the story - the better the paycheck

but you’re not one to just smear people - and what makes it worse is that you can tell haechan heard it

but he’s answering your question - trying to focus on you

so you decide to take it upon yourself to shut the reports behind you up

you clear your throat, pulling the mic back a bit hastily - nearly elbowing the asshole behind you

“and i heard, you did, in fact, work this alone - as reported weeks ago - the police had the wrong lead?”

haechan’s eyes spark up when he realizes you’re setting him up to dispell all the festering rumors starting to spread behind your backs

he grins and nods, “yes - most journalists even said that it was uncanny for me and the police to be on such different paths. i guess you can say, i have my own genius.”

you want to roll your eyes - as haechan continues to lay it on thick about his victory

but with every word - the lesser reporters behind you crumble under their own words

when the press conference ends, the culprit is wheeled off in a cop car, and you’re left on the sidewalk - checking over your notes

you feel haechan hang his chin over your shoulder

“i thought you hated it when i bragged?”

you look a little to your side and see his beautiful, big smile

“not when you’re telling the truth.”

“oh c’mon, just admit it - you kinda like my confidence?”

he taps a hand on your shoulder and grins as you playfully jab at his cheek with your pen

but you think, maybe he is right

confidence really does look so good on him,,,,,,,,,,,

Jaemin

tipsy, topsy, turvy - mad scientist like detective

with an abundance of weird jokes only he understands and absolutely unexplainable solutions to headscratcher cases

if it can’t be solved, no matter how you shake it, you have to call jaemin

who enjoys not only dressing the part - i.e. ridiculous hats and oversized trench coats

as much as he enjoys getting himself in trouble while trying to solve a crime

“how did you know the criminal took this back alley detective na?!”

“well simple, i climbed on through an open window and took it myself!”

“,,,,,,,,, detective - are you admitting to trespassing?!?!”

the conundrums he finds himself far overshadow silly sherlock holmes stories

and unlike fiction, sometimes - he gets in over his head

which is where you come in

you’re a young, brand new, fresh-outta-law-school attorney

who jaemin never really hired - you just happened to be around when he needed some “legal representation”

[he had maybe, kinda, illegally ‘borrowed’ a civilians car in a chase after a notorious murderer and that ‘borrowed’ car ended up kind of ,,,,,,,,,, on fire? haha does it really matter? the murderer was caught!]

you had saved his butt from a lawsuit with a lot of buttering up and finesse

and jaemin had appointed you his “guardian angel!”

“lawyer, im your lawyer jaemin”

“same thing! now let me solve the mystery of where your halo went~”

he looooooooooves to tease you

if he can take a moment out of his day to say something flirty and fun to you - he will

regardless of the circumstances

im talking you’re in front of a judge in a courtroom and jaemin leans his lanky body over you to be like

“ooo is this a new necklace, who's giving you these gifts?~ i thought you were mine!”

the judge, the other attorneys, the guards: um do yall need a room

you, tomato red: NO

jaemin: we shall take one! :)

you end up at the scene of one of jaemin’s infamous “i caught the killer, but i had to kinda do a bad thing!” situations

you stroll in, shaking your head already

am i going to have to defend him from another angry car owner? did he forget that impersonating a police officer is against the law - again?

but instead, you find sirens of an ambulance blaring and medics

you look around, trying to find jaemin in the crowd of uniforms

he always sticks out, and sometimes he finds you first

but no one calls out your name

so you ask a nearby EMT where jaemin is, and he points you to the back of an ambulance

your blood goes cold and you rush toward it, seeing a familiar long body laid out on the white gurney

“jaemin?!”

you drop your bag - hands shaking

“a-are you - did- did you - did you get yourself kill-”

his eyes spark open and he sits up, a bandaged cut on his cheek, but otherwise nothing else as he smiles at you

“you’re here! did you see - i caught the stranger of daeg-”

“you scared me! for real this time!”

he stops, blinking and tilting his head, “for real?”

“what would i do if your antics actually got you kill-kill -”

you can’t even say it, tears welling up in your eyes just at the thought of having run into this ambulance to see him laying there

cold, unmoving

you can’t imagine it, your shoulders shaking now and jaemin leans out - hand on yours

“i would never be stupid enough to die without your permission, i promise.”

speechless, throwing your arms around him without really thinking about it

jaemin feels his heart swell, unsure of where to put his own hands

when someone knocks on the ambulance door

it opens, and you see the familiar grimace of the chief of police

“hello detective na, would you like to explain to your attorney why someone is accusing you of another act of thievery?”

you let go of jaemin and try to wipe back your tears, the police chief is about to say another word but you put your hand up

“my client will only answer questions after his hospital visit.”

jaemin nods from behind you, big pearly grin on his face

the police - used to this - back off for now and you turn to jaemin

“how am i going to get you out of this now?”

“you always find a way! that’s why i love you.”

Renjun

studious, scrutinizing, and some would even say a little scary

he’s got a reputation as a ‘mind breaker’, twisting and pressing criminals with his words until they crack

on the outside, he looks rather adorable - slim and always in his sunday best

neat notebooks for notes, color-coded folders for cases

he’s a joy to work with - if you only have to work with him briefly

if you end up on a case with him for a long time, you come to realize you cannot keep up with his level of perfection

and sometimes, it does feel like he’s looking down on others for it

but he’s not, he was just trained to always see every detail through

you find yourself at the center of a huge investigation, the cause of renjun’s obsession for the past couple of months

you aren’t even sure how you’re involved

just that the cafe you worked at had in one way or another been a meetup between famous city mobsters

renjun stops by, like clockwork, an hour before closing - waiting and hoping that the mobsters show themselves

that he can pick up another clue, nitpick from the coffee cups and the napkins

you don’t mind him, even if he does meddle, and never finishes the coffee you bring him

at some point, you aren’t really sure what he’s looking for anymore - because it’s been weeks

weeks and you’re pretty sure this case was closed

you stare down at the newspaper that gets thrown at the foot of the cafe’s doorstep

you pick it up - the headlines read how the trial of those mobsters has come to an end

so why is detective renjun still always stopping by? it isn’t for the coffee - afterall he doesn’t seem to enjoy it all that much,,,,,,,,,

one day - just as he gets up to leave after spending an hour doing whatever it is he does in the corner table by the window

you stop him before he can bound out the door

“detective renjun-”

“renjun is just fine, im not on the job.”

you pause - never noticing that up close, when he’s not always nose deep in a book - he is rather handsome

“ah - well, renjun - i was just wondering,,,,,and i don’t mean to be rude! but is there a new case you’re working in the cafe or-”

he seems to catch onto what you’re asking and he straightens up a little

“you could call it that. im just doing some observation.”

“oh! on what?”

you look around, the cafe empty now that closing time is approaching in a few minutes

the loaves of bread, the muffins and coffee presses don’t seem all that worthy of observation

“on you.”

you almost don’t catch it, with the quiet voice he uses

but when your eyes meet his again, you waiver

“on - me? am i suspect in a -”

he laughs, “not everything is about solving cases to me. i just,,,,,”

for the first time he stumbles over the right words

always careful, put together, and otherwise beyond perfect - renjun wants to make sure he says the right thing

but there’s only really one thing to say.

“i just like you.”

Jeno

newbie sleuth of the local neighborhood!

don’t get him wrong, finding lost pets and hunting down the towns vandal are just as important as stopping bank robbers and kidnappers

sorta

a lot of the “cases” he solves are brought to him by local kids, holding scribbled doodles of their missing toys or from parents who just want to know WHO is blasting that music at 3 am?

(this was fairly easy to solve, as jeno had walked down the street to the local college house and knocked - asking if there was a party last week. a tall, happy-go-lucky guy named johnny had answered - and confirmed! there was a party last week, did you hear his friend mark’s mixtape from down the block? did he dig it? did he want mark’s soundcloud link?)

really, he calls himself a detective for fun

he’s just always loved puzzles and thrillers since he was young so he thought if he ever had some free time he could,,,,,,,you know,,,,,,help figure out solutions to life’s little puzzles and thrills instead

but - low and behold - he is not ready for the puzzle that is YOU

you move into his neighborhood and on day one you get yourself into trouble

running down the block with stolen goods from the local shop, an apple between your teeth and hands full of various fruits and baked goods

the next time jeno sees you, you’re twirling three sets of keys around your fingers

for cars,,,,,,,,,,jeno is pretty sure cost way more than either you or him can even imagine

he keeps seeing you everywhere, doing this absolutely ridiculous things

and then finally - he bumps into you when crossing the street

and minutes later he can’t find his wallet

he turns - chasing you down the block, accusing you all the way of being the towns illustrious thief

but you just turn and shrug, emptying your pockets

“i dont have your wallet - did you check your back pocket?”

to his surprise, and utter embarrassment, that’s exactly where his wallet is

but there’s something sticking out of it now - a piece of paper

he opens it and scribbled on it are the words

‘i thought you were a detective?’

he looks up at your smile and furrows his eyebrows

“i-what does this mean?”

“well, i thought you were a detective - so why haven’t you solved the biggest mystery yet.”

he doesn’t seem to catch on, a cute look of confusion spreading across his face

“what biggest mystery?”

“well - that would be who stole your heart!”

he flusters, “m-my heart?”

“yeah! your heart! who stole it lee jeno, c’mon - you’re a detective!”

he looks beyond dumbfounded

and then he straightens up

you tilt your head a little, and jeno feels something in his chest flutter

“you?”

“did i?”

your voice sing songs and jeno can’t be sure, but the way your eyes spark up with delight makes a feeling he can’t explain wash over him

am i going crazy, or did they just figure out i had a crush on them before i did?!?

Chenle & Jisung

ones fearless but clumsy, the other is easily terrified and somehow,,,,,,,even more clumsy

but hey they’re just best friends who decided that instead of going to the academy

they’d just start their own private investigation business

too bad none of them really understand how to run a business, so the only way they’re kept afloat is by tireless accountant mark lee’s efforts

either way, they both bring strengths to their problem solving

chenle will take on ANY case, ANY place, ANY time

and would probably fall down a trapdoor

while jisung is slightly more reserved about stepping into old, haunted houses or listening to tall tales from random people on the street

though he would also fall down a trapdoor

and although other people wouldn't take on cases that involve the paranormal

and jisung is not a big fan

when you come to the agency with a request about a presumed ghost encounter

chenle insists you came to the right place, jisung looks a little pale

and thats how you end up beside both of them - the dead of the night - in front of your old middle school

chenle asks if you’re a teacher here now, but you shake your head - actually you were just visiting because it had been the yearly reunion in honor of a young boy who had died tragically at the school when you were a student

“creepy!” chenle says, eyes sparkling

“creepy,,,,,,,” jisung agrees, swallowing

the three of you venture inside, you’d managed to convince an old teacher for the keys, and begin down the long and dark hallway

chenle peeks into classrooms and stops to read bulletin boards

jisung just sticks shoulder to you

“so how did he die?” chenle asks and you’re about to answer

when a creaking of the floorboard takes all the attention

an outlined figure appears, face shadowed but body small - leg limping

“it’s him!” you whisper “the limp, it’s from the crash-”

you turn and look at-

chenle, who fearlessly moves toward the child

you join in behind him as jisung stays stuck in place with fear

“are you a ghost? did something about your death leave you scornful toward the school? come here, i just want to talk-”

chenle begins as you cautiously warn that being so upfront could come of rude

the child, whose face is still hidden, lifts his hand slowly and extends one finger

chenle follows the trajectory and gasps, “he’s pointing at you!”

your blood turns cold and you want to ask - why, you hardly even knew him when you were both students here so -

but then just as chenle is about to put a hand on your shoulder, something heaves below you two and the floorboards below your feet moan

“they’re going to give!”

“wh-”

chenle’s hand takes a hold of your waist now, pushing you into him as he teeters back until he himself falls through the figure that disappears in a cloud of smoke

the floorboard where you’d been standing collapses down and you cling to the front of chenle’s jacket as you watch

“i-i think that ghost has it out for you-”

he starts, but his voice softens as he sees your shoulders trembling

for the first time, and believe me he’s seen freaked out people a lot, he stops himself mid sentence and just lets you curl up into his side

jisung’s voice is the one thing that breaks you two from the moment as he yells you guys need to get out of here. NOW.

chenle agrees, but you’re wobbly on your feet up and so he takes your hand in his and smiles

“c’mon - even im not crazy enough to provoke an angry ghost. we can solve this mystery when we’re safe.”

you nod, letting him lead you back outside where your hands never leave each other and thank god jisung doesn’t care (or is scared out of his mind) to notice

jisung, whose eyes have gone large

“chenle don’t go near it!”

he shouts, turning his attention to you

“and if that really is the ghost we should-”

“it’s pointing at you!”

you whip your head back around to see that the figure has raised one, thin finger in your direction

your body feels rigid and you take a step back

chenle just ventures forward, asking the spirit question after question, but it ignores him

instead - in what seems like a second - the figure has moved halfway down the hall toward you and jisung

you scream and jisung can’t believe it but he realizes fast that he’s going to have to be the fearless one in this situation

instead of booking it himself, which is usually the way these things go, he grabs you and yanks you behind him

you guys make a dash for the front door, and when you turn around you can see the ghost is still dauntingly coming closer

jisung does the mistake of looking too, and just as you’re about to get to the door - the ghosts face comes to life a little in the moonlight tricking through the window

you and jisung both scream at the bloody mess - jisung tripping over his own feet as you fall right behind him

the door is still open so you two are a tumble of arms and legs as you roll out into the night air

but as you get up - you find your blow was cushioned by jisung

“so-sorr-”

“no time for apologies, ghost trying to kill you.”

you nod and both of you get up and continue running

chenle is behind you guys, but he’s laughing and shouting about how it was a GHOST - a REAL GHOST -

you’re frankly too terrified to think about it and thats when you feel jisung’s palm squeeze yours

‘don’t be scared, we’ll get you somewhere safe.”

you feel something in your chest warm and you agree - jisung feels it too, the bashful look of embarrassment that comes over you is almost enough to make him feel like your hero

but the truth is

he’s still very scared and protecting you is one thing, but making sure he also doesnt get caught by a vengeful ghost is also pretty high up there

and chenle’s insolent “we have to go back sometime!” is NOT helping

#this was what i wanted to finish in time for renjun day but F #nct dream scenarios #nct dream au #nct dream imagines #nct dream #haechan scenarios #renjun scenarios #jaemin scenarios #jeno scenarios #chenle scenarios #jisung scenarios #sfw #jaemin au #jeno au #renjun au #chenle au #jisung au #haechan au

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ziracona · 4 years

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hi can we pls have some uhhhh 🅱️uentin Smith headcanons, and some killers hcs if you want! I also lowkey hc Jake and Claudette to both be some degree of autistic, I imprint like a baby bird on my fav characters so I hc both Jake AND Quentin to be trans, and Quentin and Meg are ADHD infodump pals. Literally sitting around the cabin taking turns talking about something they love while the other is sitting there... no thoughts... head empty... they r supporting each other

Nice! And Claudette is canonically autistic according to her archives description as far as I can tell, and I’m so glad! You should check out @askthedreamwalker if you’re interested in Quentin art bc their Quentin is trans and they have really nice art! Also u right as hell about Quentin and Meg. He gets v excited and Meg and he can special-interest back and forth for hours One person is pitcher, pouring information into empty pitcher2, then the other takes a turn and pours back into first pitcher. Info dump support friends. Heaven.

And hells yeah, I love son boy! Idk if you mean ILM headcanons or general, so I’m just gonna go with gen.

Quentin’s got a big sense of justice. Not okay with people getting away with terrible shit, which makes the realms extra unbearable (somewhere in the distance Yui and Tapp are like ‘cheers mate’). Holds people very accountable. Boy is very fair and got upstanding character. Expects people to operate with like bare minimum decency and ain’t about to let that shit go if someone wants to be a bastard. Last person ever to let a killer get a pass for going around murdering people in-realm and would hold them extremely accountable and be v willing to kill one in a fight and view them with disgust and righteous anger, but also be one of the first people willing to forgive a killer if they genuinely reformed, or got thrown to the survivor side by the Entity and actually chose to shape up and proved they meant it. He has a huge sense of justice and righteous anger, but also believes in forgiveness and second chances. (Within reason. If any of the particularly bastard killers like GF or Nightmare or Clown showed up with a completely ooc change of heart they will never have anyway, Quentin would be like “…listen. …There are some things only God can forgive…U gotta take this one to him…and away from me. Forever…”. Boy got those high-quality standards 👌

Used to be kinda high-strung, but then his life was a living hell for so long that he ran out of energy entirely and now he has no choice but to be mostly chill. If he gets a burst of energy, the old excitement power switch flips back on and he is both way more talkative and active, and happier. Unfortunately he is usually so worn out he’s about to drop.

Got a bit of a martyr complex. The fact that literally locking himself in hell with his worst nightmare worked does not help. Feels massive guilt over the fact that the Nightmare is in the realm bc of him, but is still kind of glad bc it means he’s not out there murdering his family. Hates that he feels that way because he thinks it’s kind of wrong. Views being stuck in the realm as sort of penance for having brought Krueger unintentionally. Afraid to tell other people it’s his fault because he’s scared they would never talk to him again, and the idea of losing his friends and complete isolation here is unbearable. Feels guilt over that choice, because he feels like he’s in a way lying to them, and that if they would hate him if they knew the truth, they have a right to. Boy loves his friends hard, but does not trust them to forgive him, or to trust in him, so he’s not always completely honest about not just that but anything he’s struggling with. Very sad dumbass. Suffers alone because he’s afraid to ask for help, and/or does not think he deserves it.

Really loves the other survivors and would do anything he could to protect them. Dies in the majority of his trials because he battles endlessly trying to keep the others from being the ones who die. In a way, he’s trying to make things up to them, but he would absolutely do the same just because he loves them, and did for a long time before he ever figured out Krueger and him being taken was his fault (not that I personally think that’s a fair way for the boy to view it). Optimistic externally, struggling internally. Absolutely refuses, ever, to give up, but is always right on the threshold of having a breakdown. Pushes the others to find a way to escape and tries to give them hope. Takes a lot of shit. Will not fight back much if teased just be like -__- and moves on. Doesn’t let people boss him around though, and will always do what he thinks personally is the right thing. Extremely forgiving. (Except to himself.) Snark boy if opportunity presents itself. Can I offer you a shot of adrenaline in this trying time boy? the rest of the time.

Gives people the benefit of the doubt. Not a hoe. Would commit to a s/o very dedicatedly. Also not the kind of asshole who would cut down on time w friends when in a relationship. Boy’s love is not a zero sum game. Would die or kill for Laurie. Loves Claudette and learning botany tips from her. Thinks she is pretty and admires her kindness and skill and refusal to let the world change who she is, and wishes he was more like her. Has not told her that. Is a lot more like her in that regard than he thinks he is. Pretty damn good in a fight bc he always gets back up. Determinator. Still in love with Nancy and loyal af. Misses her a lot. Does not open up about himself as much as people think he does. Misses his dad and Nancy and his dead friends a lot, especially Jesse. Doesn’t actually talk about his problems much. Just suffers in silence because he doesn’t think he can ask for help.

Takes his faith seriously. Prays a lot, and struggles with feeling completely abandoned by God, but won’t give up on that either. Tries hard to believe he cares and things will change. Dedicated to trying to make sure that regardless of what his friends believe in, they are okay. Very sad and alone but tries to not think about that. Tries to help friends stay hopeful. Is both baby and badass sass boy in one package. Fight hard, love hard, someday will get to sleep for a whole year.

If you are nice to him once, will assume that means you are friends now. Genuinely cares deeply for every single survivor at the campfire. Wants to protect people. Constantly suffering bc that’s impossible here. Really just wants everyone to be okay someday, including himself, and simultaneously kind of feels like he no longer deserves to be okay in the end at all. Tries not to think about that. Massive guilt issues. Bottles it up. Loyal as hell. Would die for his friends so much it actively worries them and they’re like “Quentin…please. Quentin-stop—stop. You’ll die again. I swear to god Quentin! I can die this time! Quentin!!! Come back here right now!” But he never comes back. Big sibling energy. Regularly people be like “Damn u could make a pretty fine lil brother out of this” and then they do. He loves so hard. Please be nice to him. He’s always trying so hard and never thinks it’s enough. He works so hard.

Triggers include being grabbed by his hair and jerked around, losing his necklace, the cave, and the Nightmare within 15 feet of someone he loves, so homeboy has just, a lot of bad days. Is playing a fun game called ‘I will absorb trauma forever and not get help for it and then one day it will kill me’. Needs to learn to depend on his friends.

Good sense of humor, enjoys reading and music. Will talk way too much about things he likes and not notice he’s done it and then feel bad. Dumbass sweetheart, will think he’s doing a great job flirting and be proud of himself when he did not, in fact, do a suave job, but it’s cute. Tries hard. All the time. At everything. God he tries.

I would do killer hcs too but this already so long and I cut like half of what I initially wrote rip. I have too many thoughts. Head full. : ( Here’s just a few little ones:

Myers does not like working for the Entity. It tried to pull a fast one and be like, “Yes tis I, another voice in your head,” and Michael was like “Bitch it’s my head. I don’t know you!” and that did not work. While Michael very much would love to kill Laurie and get inner peace, working for the entity provides 0% daily Michael needs, and he hates it. Sometimes he just does what the fuck he wants and gets in trouble (homeslice is the only killer who can kill survivors with no mori and no perk for it. Michael cannot be controlled). Does not like being here at all. He doesn’t cause the Entity a lot of trouble like Krueger does, so it doesn’t consider him a problem killer, but they do not have a ‘Ah yes my favorite killer’ kind of thing going. Michael hates the spider-monster. He is so tired of everything at this point. Boy is suffering. Would fight the Entity if he knew how. Has been hurt by it before, and does not like that, because it takes longer to heal than he is used to.

Myers has a few times had his home area be close enough to the campfire that he could see it in the distance, and he watches them when that happens. For hours. He is lonely, but does not realize that, and probably never will. He does stand there and watch them, being sad and not realizing he’s sad at all. It’s the closest he ever gets to human interaction aside from killing people in trials.

The Entity hurts Max sometimes, not because he has done anything wrong, but because injuring him without providing even a way to prevent it keeps him peak feral and afraid, just like it wants. No time to recover or learn or grow. Just anger and pain and fear.

The Entity promises Rin a lot of things. Not because it has to, but because it enjoys the taste of her suffering. One of her addons is paper cranes, one of 1000 to make a wish, as the description says. I’ve always interpreted that to mean it likes to screw with her and offer her things like that she can do between trials, in the moments of lucidity she occasionally has when completely alone. ‘Make 1000, get your wish,’ but every time she hits 999, it blows the ones she’s made away, and she has to start over. Unclimbable hill. Just to watch her struggle. That kind of thing. Intentionally tends to send survivors her way it knows she would dislike killing the most, just to watch her have to do it against her will and bask in the horror of what she cannot make herself not do.

#dead by daylight #ask #speckeltail #dbd #quentin smith #michael myers #rin yamaoka

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vidkid20ssimblrlair · 4 years

Text

Episode 23: Keep Your Enemies Closer

"Morning," Madison beamed peeking out the door with a mug in her hand. She appeared to be in a good mood, but her expression change to one of concern with one look at me. She furrowed her brow. "Are you ok?"

"I'm... I'm fine," I grunted.

I knew I had to look like shit. I didn't sleep a wink. Didn't even nod. Gemma didn't move the whole night, but I didn't take my eyes off of her. Not once. I had to admit I was scared of her. Maybe I was prejudging her based on what happened in the junkyard, but her behavior last night didn't calm my concerns. In fact, I felt strangely threatened.

"Are you sure you ok?" she said looking even more worried as she stepped out on the porch. She looked me over. "You...you look pale."

"I'm fine."

She turned around and looked down at Gemma. She was still sleeping. Quiet as a mouse actually. She sat down beside me and handed me the mug. Her voice a whisper. "Well, how things go with her? Did she give you any trouble?"

"Well, she acted strange. Bizarre actually. The way she talks. Just everything. Frankly, she give me the creeps."

"Oh, God. What did she do?"

"Well, let's see. She talked about you being unhinged and then she said I remind her of her boyfriend. Then she caressed my face."

"What?"

"Oh, why hello," Gemma chirped catching the two of us off guard. She lifted up and smiled. "You should have woke me up, Nathan. I didn't know Madison was here."

I looked over at her feeling flushed. Just the sight of her grinning from ear to ear was intimidating. Her eyes then landed on my mug as I took a long nice sip of the piping hot joe.

"Can I have a sip?"

Madison answered for me. "No."

"Nothing like coffee in the morning though," she said nonchalantly as she rolled up her sleeping bag. She then twirled her hair on her finger and chuckled. "Were you guys talking about me?"

Madison scoffed. "You should know. You were probably listening."

"And what would give you that idea?" she asked innocently sounding all too fake.

Madison scowled at her but turned back to me. She rubbed my shoulder and smiled. "Go inside and get you some rest. You had a long night."

The idea sure sounded nice, but my pride and lack of sleep was clouding my judgment. Besides, Matthew wanted me to be more involved and step up. Slinking off back into the house while they decide would just prove Gemma right. No, I wanted to be here for whatever they decided on.

"No. You can't just leave me out," I said bitterly. "Don't I have a say in the matter?"

Madison frowned. "Of course. I just thought you might want to get some rest. I can always fill you and Matt in..."

"Oh, so Matt put you solely in charge now? You make the decisions and you just fill us in?"

Madison looked taken aback but continued. "No. That's not what I meant at all. No one put me in charge of anything. I'm just worried about you is all. You've been up all night. You need to rest."

"I don't need rest. I'm fine. I'm not leaving. I have just as much say on this matter as you do, so I'm staying."

Madison looked confused, but let it go and remained strangely quiet. Gemma, on the other hand, looked smug and that irritated me more than Madison trying to brush me off.

"You said we were keeping her out of our discussions. Why is she still here?" I snapped.

Madison seemed to take this personal too regrettably. She looked sad, but she said nothing. She turned around to the window and knocked on it loudly. She then shouted. "Luther!"

Mr. Jones then appeared at the door. He greeted us cheerfully as usual. "Hello, good people."

"She's wake," Madison murmured.

"Ah, good. Ms. Gemma, I would like to speak with you inside if that's ok. Just like to have a nice chat to see if you would be a good fit here."

"Oh, that's fine Mr. Jones. I've been looking forward to talking to you anyway," she gushed.

She stood up and took his arm. As they stepped into the house, she looked back at us smirking.

The two of them then disappeared into the home leaving the two of us alone. I felt instantly relieved. A little awkward, but relieved.

"Madison. I'm...I'm sorry. Thank you for the coffee," I said offering a verbal olive branch.

She smiled. "It's...it's fine. Aaron made the coffee. He was worried about you."

"Really? I guess that explains the bitterness of it."

"Yeah, I was worried about you too you know. I'm sorry if I seem like..."

"It's ok. I'm just a little grumpy I guess."

"Like your brother?"

"Don't insult me. He's grumpy 24/7!"

We laughed and she turned to me looking suddenly stern. "As much as I would like to know what happened last night, I want to pass an idea off on you quickly while we're alone."

"Huh? What you mean?"

"Gemma. What should we do with her? I was thinking we might need to do something drastic."

"Like what?"

"Well...um... execute her. Take her out before she becomes a danger to us."

I gasped. "You mean kill her?!

"Not so loud," she whispered. "But yes. It would solve the whole kicking her out and coming back scenario."

"You're insane! We can't just kill someone!"

"Why not? Our justice system did as much.”

"Yeah, with fair trials and humane executions!"

"I personally think we would be doing her a favor. No more running. No more walkers."

"Yeah, I'm sure she's just dying to be killed."

She frowned. "Is that sarcasm and a horrible pun?"

"We're talking about killing a living and breathing human being, Madison!"

"No we're talking about eliminating a problem and that's the only way to do it. I don't hear you offering up any ideas."

"Who else have you ran this idea by?"

"Matthew, Vince, Lin, and I sort of mentioned it to DJ last night but he got kind of upset and went to bed."

"Good God. I bet he did."

"Well, Matthew reacted a lot like you did, but he took it better than I thought he would. Then Vince was sort of onboard. Lin too. I think they want revenge for what happened and they agreed that Gemma is a threat," she said. "But I already know Mr. Jones won't go for it and I don't think I can convince him, so I'm not entirely sure what to do."

"What we do is not kill. That's what we do."

She sighed and we heard the door beside me creep open. DJ and Audrey stepped out. They looked over the porch and back at us. Both with serious expressions on their faces.

"Enough." DJ boomed glaring at both of us. “Nate’s right. What we do here is not kill, so squash it.”

“You..?”

“Yeah, we overheard you two.”

I gasped. "Oh, God."

Audrey shrugged. "I'm perfectly fine with it though if it comes to that."

"It won’t come to that,” he said sounding almost incensed. "I told her last night. It will not come to that!"

Madison scoffed. "How you figure that?”

“Because it won’t. It can’t!”

“Why can it?”

“Because I said so, so drop it!”

“I understand taking a life is difficult, but sometimes it’s necessary. Especially now. For example, this place. It’s like gold. People will kill for it. Kill you for it. One day or another you’re going have to defend yourself and people may get hurt. Someone may even die. You’re going get blood on your hand like it or not. This is a dog eat dog world now, DJ.”

“You don’t think I know that, Madison?! I’ve killed before to keep this place from danger. I’ve seen death face to face. This wouldn’t be my first rodeo, so don’t lecture me on that. What I’m saying is I will not allow another person to die needlessly on this property.”

“Needlessly?! Whoa! Wait? You’ve killed before? Here?!”

He leaned on the banister and sighed. "Yes. One night a man covered in blood came here looking for shelter. There was a slight language barrier as he spoke Spanish, but from what I gathered his wife had been bitten and that she had fallen ill. Said he had left her to find help. He had been the first stranger I had encountered when this all happened and I had heard so many horror stories. We also had just lost my grandfather’s nurse and housekeeper to a biter, so I was still pretty shaken up. I was afraid. There was no way I was letting him in, but he begged and he begged. Still not understanding him, he became loud. Finally, I had enough and told him to get off my property. He pulled out a gun. I shot first. The look on his face. I will never forget it."

"What happened to his wife?" Audrey asked looking solemnly.

"I don't know. She turned maybe? I don't know. I can’t help, but think now if I had just let him in maybe things might have turned out differently.”

“DJ..I’m..I’m sorry. I no idea,” Madison stuttered.

He continued. “Well, it doesn’t matter now. All I know is grandpa banned guns on the property that night. Told me to never spill blood on this land again and that I must repent. So the killing talk needs to stop. It’s not going happen, so enough."

As he said this, Wade appeared at the door. He shot DJ a look but stepped on to the porch. He looked from one to the other. A hint of suspicion flashing across his face.

"What the hell are you guys talking about?!"

"Nothing!" Audrey blurted out abruptly.

"What?"

"Yeah. We were just talking about Gemma and how we should follow the rules," DJ said emphasizing the last part as he cut his eye at Madison. "You know no guns or murder!"

"I heard you the first time," she mumbled. She stood up. "We were just talking about what to do with Gemma”

"Gemma? Murder? What are you guys going on about?" he drawled. Everyone went silent. He crossed his arms and his mouth went agape. "Noo. No. You...you were talking about killing Gemma weren't you? Are you nuts?!"

"Wade..."

"Talking about murdering people?!"

DJ seethed. "Shut up both of you. You're being too loud. The whole neighborhood can hear you!"

"I'm pretty sure the neighbors are dead," I joked getting nothing, but eye-rolling and dirty looks back. “Sorry.”

"Regardless, the old man is going to flip his lid if he hears us. If he even catches wind of this, we're done."

"No, we're done. Not you," Wade said. He glared at Madison. "But that's what she does. Everywhere we go, she sabotages it."

"I sabotage it? Like how? We've only been to one other place together, Wade. Where we had the displeasure of meeting."

"Yeah and you messed that up. You just had to find out the truth about what was going on there. You just had to stick your nose into that Sargent's business."

"Yeah, and if it wasn't for me finding the truth you might be cut up into little pieces for the Sargent's dead son. Oh and that's if the giant herd hadn't killed you!"

"Enough!" DJ snapped. "No one is killing anyone anyway, so let's just drop it. What we need is a real plan that plays by the rules."

The door opened and we all turned our heads to see Omar standing there. He smirked, “Arguing as usual I see. I can hear you two a mile away.”

"See!"

"Sorry. We were just waiting to hear Wade's genius plan," Madison scoffed. "So what is it? What's your idea, huh? Let her stay so she can give you more fake compliments and flirt with you."

"Actually, yes."

"What?!"

"Not for those reasons, but it's the only choice," he said earnestly. He sat down on the bench and continued. "I went over it in my head. At first, I thought we should just send her on her way with some supplies. Tell her if she ever came back we would shoot her on-site. Then it came to me. We should play the long game."

"The what?"

"We play the long game. Have you ever heard of the saying ‘keep your friends close, but enemies closer?’ Well, we let her stay and see what shit we can get out of her about these Vulture people. Follow her every move if we have to. She’s bond to slip up!”

"Oh, so you're willing to stay under the same roof as her? Wade, she can slit our throats in the night as we sleep. Not to mention she’s probably spying on us!"

"So killing her is going to solve all our problems? Ok, we kill her. Then what? You think that’s just going be it? That we're free? No. It’ll just get worse. Her group will go to contact her and she won’t answer. They'll go looking for her. Maybe they’ll find out she’s dead before they even set foot here. They’ll want revenge. People like that just don’t let things go, Madison!"

"We have people we have to protect here. Injured people!"

"And you're right, which is why my plan is safer."

"Safer?!"

"If we kill her they’ll bring their guns and their tank of our car. They’ll kill every one of us if they can! Injured and non-injured. We can protect ourselves from one measly woman. At least better than an army of them."

"It only takes one person to destroy what we've built here. She'll destroy us!"

Omar cleared his throat. "May I say something? Well, you both make valid points, but I can't condone killing her. The good book said thou shall not kill and I still believe in that. Grace would still believe in that. I know it's probably foolish to even think that way still, but I want to believe we can still believe in something. Besides, haven't we seen enough death? I know I have."

"Wise as ever my friend. Well, Madison," he said meeting her eyes. She shrugged looking defeated. He walked over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Look, I'm not saying it's going be easy, but we have to be smart. We can't protect this place if we get kicked out you know. Then they win anyway."

"If I get kicked out you mean. It would be me as I would take full responsibility."

"Well, that's mighty kind of you but I'm not getting stuck babysitting the tweedle Dum and tweedle Dee twins. You're part of this group and your home is with us, like it or not."

"Tweedle Dum and tweedle Dee? You do know I'm still here and I can hear you right?!" I injected.

"So what do we do?"

"Well, killing her is not an option!" DJ persisted. "So.."

Madison groaned. "Fine. We're going with Wade's plan and fake it till we figure out something else I guess."

Wade grinned. "Finally, you're talking some sense. Thanks to me of course."

"Don't gloat. You're already unbecoming."

We shared a good laugh as Wade looked on unamused, but a knock on the window behind me broke up the light mood. I looked back to see Tao staring at us from inside.

"Yo! Jones and Red are coming!"

"Thank ya," Wade answered waving. "I told him to warn us."

"Well, what now?" Madison mumbled.

"Act normal. Remember we want her to think she's our friend. Get her nice and comfy here. Lure here into a false sense of security. She's bound to..."

"Yeah. Yeah. She bound to slip up. Well, she better Wade Dunn or I'm going to..."

She stopped mid-sentence as she heard the unmistakable sound of Luther's voice and Gemma. Everyone seemed to scramble off as if they were finding their places in a play. All of us seemingly finding it hard to smile as our expressions were a mixture of smirks and poker faces. Madison though stood in front and placed the perfect fake smile on her face just as the two of them came out on the porch.

Luther stepped out first. He clearly seemed to enjoy his chat with Gemma. Then Gemma who had the same silly grin she usually sported.

"Why hello everyone," she beamed surveying the scene before her. Her eyes then fell solely on Madison. "And someone seems to be in a better mood."

"Oh, I am," Madison said through gritted teeth. She closed her eyes and let out an audible sigh. She then flashed an even bigger grin. "Well, we were just talking about you and we all decided it would be nice if you stayed."

Previous Episode

I made a ton of poses for this. Hope you can tell. :)

This is the ending you chose. The two people who did vote. xD The outcome of the other scenario will be explained.

#sims 3 Dead on Arrival #ts3 dead on arrival #sims 3 doa #ts3 doa #dead on arrival season 2 #doa season 2 #sims 3 #ts3 #sims 3 simblr #ts3 simblr #simblr #sims 3 story #ts3 story

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niennavalier · 4 years

Text

So I’m sure no one cares but

I’ve recently discovered genderbent Frozen covers and animatics and honestly I love these? Like, a lot?

(Rambly thoughts under the cut, because I got invested in talking about Disney movies and ways they write characters and generalizing stuff, despite writing this all on a whim and doing not much research but hey, that’s what this blog is for. Random thoughts about movies and stories and Youtube comments)

I mean, I’ll admit that I’ve never been a big fan of Frozen - nothing against the story (cause it is good and for all I will criticize Disney for not generally being particularly uh...keen on taking any risks, I do appreciate the way they do break the mold here) or the music (it sounds like a Broadway musical, hell yeah) - but tbh Let it Go far overstayed its welcome and yes, I’m glad kids enjoyed the movie, but we heard it nonstop for way longer than we should have. The song honestly never felt like it went away for, what like, 2 years? I can listen to songs on endless loops, and this was still too much for me. Granted, I never hated it (my brother did, possibly still does, so I didn’t mind listening to it for the sole purpose of tormenting him) but still. It sorta turned me off from the franchise. I didn’t need to hear it every time I walked into a store.

And I’ll also admit to never being big on genderbending. Nothing against people who enjoy it, but it’s never been my thing, and the few fics I’ve read with it never felt like it used the swap for any sort of message or to explore anything particularly interesting. Which I would’ve preferred, because otherwise, I didn’t see the reason for the swap, personally. (and to be fair, I turned off of this pretty quickly, so I’m sure there are good ones out there, but it’s really just never been something I’m big on)

But like...okay. There is this animatic for Show Yourself, but with the audio dropped into the male vocal range and I love it so much. It’s wonderful and adorable (and the song is legitimately very good, so I’ve seen that part, despite never having actually watched Frozen 2). And also a handful of actual covers, which are absolutely amazing. And now I’ve found the same sort of thing with Let it Go (which I’m now okay with - I guess it just takes 7 years for me to get over the oversaturation of that song in society) and like holy shit, friends. Big fan.

Scrolling through the comments also gets all the “can we please get a Disney Prince movie” thoughts and hey, I’m so on board with this. I know, there are movies with princes (Aladdin, Hercules, Lion King, etc), but it’s less that plain fact of having a prince, and more of the arc for the character? Basically, I wanna destroy the trend of having male-oriented movies be more action-adventure-y. Let boys be soft and have feelings, that’s all I ask. Make that the character arc, have your main character be male and need to discover himself, all of the fears and insecurities included, I am begging you.

(Sidenote because I did see some other interesting mentions: I haven’t seen Hunchback, back from what I’m aware of with that movie, that one probably fits closer to what I’m talking about. Also Treasure Planet, because honestly, that really is exactly the kind of arc that I’m talking about, and there’s a reason I love that movie with all my heart, it’s amazing, and go watch it if you haven’t. But like, it’s a coming of age story with some good ol’ found family and no romance! And while Jim is really smart and has some bad-ass moments, I love when we get insight into his emotional state. But I could gush about this movie forever, moving on. The one thing about these is not the lack of royalty (for me), but just...box office? I don’t know the circumstances for Hunchback, except that the numbers apparently aren’t great, and to my knowledge, someone over at Disney just didn’t want Treasure Planet to do great, and this goes to show what marketing does. Apparently, they did the same to Emperor’s New Groove, which isn’t entirely relevant, but my point is, whoever did this to these movies, screw you, they’re wonderful)

(Apologies for the tangent)

Anyway, I’m not saying remake Frozen, but doing the genderbend works really well here, I think? Obviously, I love that Elsa’s arc is entirely her own, and stories about opening up to family and accepting yourself have messages that everyone needs to hear, regardless of any barrier. So this isn’t a criticism, just a thought. Because (granted, I’m not doing research to write this, and I’m admittedly not 100% caught up on Disney movies) it feels to me like female characters do tend to have the more emotional arcs. Talking Disney Renaissance, this feels true in the female-lead movies, especially if you compare to the respective princes. In male-lead movies, it’s not entirely true, and I’m not calling the characters flat or emotionless, but that’s not the main thing going on in the movie. (ie, Simba has his reservations about returning and so he talks to Mufasa, and that’s a big scene and its important, but it feels more like it’s just a step to ultimately taking down Scar - tbh, compare the screentimes there). Again, the Renaissance movies are fantastic and I love them, but I just want to make some comparisons. And I don’t want to delve too deep into the more recent ones, because I haven’t seen them all, but the focus seems much more on the strong, independent female-lead (again, not a criticism because we can always do with more strong ladies who don’t need no man - I am just saying).

But anyway. Frozen. I like the idea of keeping Anna as herself, because the Hans twist and more slow-burn-y development with Kristoff is good - that accomplishes the idea of breaking down tropes. But Elsa as a male character is really interesting to me? Having an arc that centers on fear that’s born of isolation, and ends with self-acceptance and familial love, is something that I don’t recall seeing in male characters very often (not never, but not often)? But I can think of tons of male characters who appear confident and charismatic, even if that’s in their own way, and then even if we do peel back to find trauma and pain, I can think of more instances of it presenting as bitterness or anger rather than genuine fear (or at the very least, we as the audience don’t quite see that fear). I want to see a male character who was forced to repress who they are and has real fear as to who their true self is. I want this character to discover who that is and have a hard time coming to grips with it, and all that stuff because I honestly just really like writing a lot of self-deprecation. Won’t deny that. And then pairing that with magic is also just interesting IMO. I don’t know how magic tends to fall with regard to this sort of thing, but just the fact that it’s inborn and different (akin to D&D sorcery), rather than learned and understood (like D&D wizardry, or even HP wizards), is an interesting thought to me? Maybe because the “strange and different” type of magic reminds me more of the general conception of witches (or...the Salem Witch Trials) which is also more female-leaning, but I won’t stand by that super strongly, because it’s not something I’ve looked into all that much. But it means, to me, that it would be an interesting way to sorta...turn the tables in the way magic gets used.

Point being: I just think this would be a really solid message. That bravery doesn’t have to be saving the world or killing the dragon or even the self-sacrifice story that’s become more prominent in stories now. It can also come from battling your own demons and opening up to people to ask for help. Which is obviously something everyone needs to learn, but if we’re gonna fight the submissive female character trope with some badass heroines, then I say we also do the same thing in reverse for our male characters. Just a thought

#from the mind of niennavalier #long opinion post thing #ill also admit that i really like this idea cause the art is so goddamn good #pretty designs and flowy clothes are my favorite things when im coming up with dnd character designs #and combine that with non-stereotypically-masculine characters and im super down #(i have favorite character types okay? fight me)#but also instagram has been giving me all the frozen 2 stills now and like #elsa is just gorgeous and i dont think i need say more #like im very ace but that aesthetic is so good #(witness me paying attention to this fandom like 7 years late lol)#also i do just wanna clarify some stuff #cause thinking with the modern disney movies #like with moana im not saying that maui doesnt have an arc and good things that happen #i like his part dont get me wrong #but tell me who the titular character is #just sayin #and ive seen a bunch of stuff about kristoff having a song where hes confused about love #and again i think thats amazing!#i need to go find that clip but i legitimately love the fact that this exists #thats good content #im just saying that isnt quite on the same level because same as above #if i ask who the main characters in frozen are #i think you all know the answer #(and my other big ask for disney is to give us a gay character but my hopes there arent super high unfortunately)#(oh and self plug but the more i think about it im kinda doing this sorta thing with one of the characters i made for my short story class #the story itself is meant to be longer than a short story and i wont go into detail here but the idea just ended up being close #even though i started watching a bunch of the clips and having these thoughts after id come up with my character)#(maybe said character is why im having Opinions on this now tho)#(and dumb sidenote but the more i look up fanart the more i realize that the people who are saying that it basically looks like anime #are totally right it really does which is really just interesting to me cause i didnt think of that initially)

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inkedmyths · 5 years

Text

'Unlikely' is a bit of an understatement at this point

Unlikely Friends you say???

Here comes my favorite boy

And THIS time we have the rest of the LU gang

---

Time rubbed his head tiredly. It was clear the group was starting to get anxious at this point. Which was fair, since they were in completely unfamiliar surroundings. No one so far had recognized where they were. Sky had suggested that perhaps they had stumbled into another new Hyrule, and at this point Time agreed with him.

The group had set up camp under a rocky overhang. Hyrule was getting a fire started while Legend stacked extra logs off to the side. Wind was watching Sky carve what looked like a small bird, and Four and Warriors were clearing out their own respective spaces for the night. Everyone was getting settled in for the evening.

Well, almost everyone. Twilight was pacing around restlessly. His brow was furrowed in thought, and he kept shaking his head slightly.

Time sighed. "You should relax a bit, Pup. You're going to wear a hole in the ground if you keep pacing like that."

Twilight huffed in response. "I'm just on edge. Everyone is. We have no idea what to expect, no idea what could attack, or..." He growled in frustration.

Time considered this. "Would it make you feel better to scout the area?"

"...If that's alright."

"Of course. In fact, it's probably the best course of action. At the very least we'll have a concept of where we are, and a knowledge of the area should we..." his gaze darkened. "Should we get attacked by a certain group of dopplegangers."

Twilight nodded, seeming to relax slightly. "In that case, I'll be back later."

"Stay safe."

Twilight walked off, soon disappearing into the trees. Time turned back to the group. Hyrule looked up from the fire, glancing at where the tall Hylian had gone. "Where's Twi headed?"

"Scouting."

He nodded. "Probably smart. Maybe he'll get an idea of who's place we're in."

Sky's brows furrowed slightly, though he didn't look up from his carving. "Or confirm that is isn't any of ours."

"Do you guys really think there might be another hero?" Wind looked around at the group, Sky and Time in particular. The latter shrugged.

"It's entirely possible. Evidence suggests there are tales of heroes we haven't met yet, and that's ignoring the multitude of possibilities for who may come after us."

"Yeah, but isn't eight Link's already a little ridiculous?" Legend asked, an eyebrow raised.

"The more the merrier," Four said. He chuckled, as though he'd made some sort of inside joke.

"While this is all very interesting, we must move onto a more important topic." Warriors gave them all an emphatic look. "What's for dinner?"

Several groans echoed in response. A debate started up over who's turn it was to cook, while Legend took an inventory of what they had left. Time for the most part only half-listened, keeping an eye on the woods for his protege.

---

Twilight debated over whether or not to shift into wolf form. While it would offer an advantage in terms of detecting people and creatures, he opted for his Hylian form so he could talk to any locals he came across.

If he came across any. As far as he could tell, the surrounding area was completely uncivilized. It was just trees and wildlife.

He once again debated shifting into his other form. The sunlight was fading as evening settled in. With the sun no longer in the sky, the chances of the shadows attacking here much higher.

A cool evening breeze ruffled his hair. Despite the unfamiliarity of the area, he had to admit it was nice. There was a certain tranquility that came with the lack of people, a certain quietness you couldn't get in cities.

A sudden noise made him stiffen. Senses on high alert, he scanned the area carefully. All of his instincts were screaming danger, but he didn't see anything. Unless it was behind him-

An arrow whizzed by his ear. Startled, he whipped out his sword as a wooden club swung down. He squinted at the creature before him, unsure of what it was. His best guess was some variation of a bokoblin, though it was no kind he'd seen before. Looks like they really were in a new Hyrule.

There were two of the creatures, the clubbed one and one with a bow. The latter pulled out another arrow and took aim. Twilight rolled to the side swinging at the one in front of him. It lept over him, screaming wildly. Pivoting, he plunged his blade into its back. He was about to turn and dispatch the other one when it squealed in pain.

When he did turn, he saw it fall to the ground. A Hylian was standing over it, a blade drawn. Twilight was about to thank him when he looked up, and he couldn't hold back a yelp. Red eyes.

"Nice sword," said the shadow. But it wasn't any of the others they'd fought before. This one had long hair, pale as the moon and tied back in a ponytail. A dark cloak hung from his shoulders, over a black tunic with white stitching. Somewhere in the back of his mind Twilight registered that this meant there was another hero, but he was too focused on the new problem in front of him.

Except said problem didn't seem like it wanted a fight. In fact, it was currently acting so nonaggressive that it caught him off guard. Regardless of this, he kept his sword at the ready.

The shadow rolled its eyes and let out what sounded like a long suffering sigh and muttered something under its breath. It then looked back at him, and said in a well rehearsed voice, "I mean you no harm, despite the fact that my mildly unsettling appearance may say otherwise. I just happen to look somewhat terrifying, which does not reflect on my values or intentions."

Twilight was at a complete loss for words, so he only stared open mouthed at the shadow. What did that even mean? Since when did shadows do that?

After a moment of silence, in which Twilight did not let his guard fall for even a moment, the shadow groaned. "Oh for the love of- fine, whatever. I'll let Blondie deal with you." He turned around and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hey Link! Get your ass over here and help me with this random guy!"

Wait. What.

A moment later, much to Twilight's utter shock, a full-colored version of the shadow came jogging out of the trees. "What's up?" asked the Hero, looking at him curiously.

"Apparently there are people who still find me threatening."

"I mean, you are kind of a creep."

The shadow made a face. "Still, I thought everyone had at least heard..."

The Hero signed something at his shadow that Twilight didn't catch before turning to him. "Hi. I'm Link. I apologize if my brother here startled you; he has that affect on people."

"Wow, rude."

Twilight was pretty sure his brain had short-circuited. Had this Hero really just called his shadow his brother? "You... I... brother?"

"Uh..." Link, the newest Hero, looked uncomfortable. "Yes?"

Hylia help him. He didn't even know what to say. What could he say? Here was a new hero, and his shadow, whom he just called brother. Brother. Was it possible for a shadow to be friendly? None of this was adding up, and the more he thought about it, the more his head hurt. Maybe he should ask Time- oh goddesses Time. If he heard about this-

"Hey," said Link, interrupting his train of thought. "Are you doing okay?"

"No, because I'm going to get myself erased from existence because when my ancestor learns about this he's going to keel over and die." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.

"I- hang on, what?" Now it was the new Hero's turn to be absolutely baffled.

"What exactly have you been eating?" The shadow asked. "Mushrooms?"

"Feral!"

"What? It's a legitimate question! I mean, he doesn't exactly seem right in the head-"

"You're making it worse!"

"I'm just saying! He might need medical attention or something. What if he has a concussion?"

Twilight wasn't fully registering the conversation. He'd slid down to a crouching position, head in his hands. He was, however, registering the fact that there was a conversation. That the hero and his shadow were bickering with one another. Brothers. They certainly were acting like it. How had this even happened?

"Okay seriously dude, are you doing alright?" Twilight looked up, realizing he was being talked to. It was the shadow, (Feral was it?) who had spoken.

He took a shakey breath. "I've been better."

"Are you hurt?" asked Link, looking concerned. "Do you need anything."

Twilight managed a forced chuckle. "Maybe something for the headache I have coming on."

"Did you hit your head?"

"No, I-" he paused. "I'm just trying to wrap my head around this whole situation."

"Does this have anything to do with the dead ancestor thing?"

"Feral!"

"I'm just asking, I me- uh." Feral stopped, looking surprised. "Link, your sword is glowing."

"Wait, what?" Sure enough, he drew his sword - which was in fact the Master Sword, go figure - and it's light lit up the surrounding trees.

"Great, is there a Guardian or something? I thought there weren't any around here."

"There aren't, at least not last I checked."

"So wait, what's the deal-"

"Hold on, shut up!" Link waved a hand at him to be quiet, ears perked as though listening intently. Feral went silent, looking on curiously. Twilight guessed that it meant the sword was speaking.

Link's eyes went wide, and he looked up at Twilight. "Holy shit, really?"

"What? What'd she say?" Feral looked slightly frustrated at not understanding what was going on.

"She said he's-" he pointed at Twilight, "-the Hero of Twilight, a hero from the past." Feral's expression copied that of Link's, and they both looked at him.

Well then. He guessed there were perks to having the actual Master Sword with them. "That's me."

"Oh wow. That's incredible." Link seemed to be in awe.

Feral, on the other hand, looked mildly uncomfortable. "Well, that explains why I freaked you out so much."

"Huh?" Link looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"He's another Hero. He did all the same trials. Think about it."

"Huh?" Link paused, then the realization dawned on him. "Oh. Uhh..."

Feral nodded, then glanced back at Twilight. "To reiterate what I said earlier, I'm not going to stab you."

"Right. Okay." Twilight took a deep breath, then stood up. "Why don't we get proper introductions done? I'm Link, the Hero of Twilight. You can just call me Twilight, for simplicity's sake."

Link blinked, surprised that they shared names. "Okay then? Well, I'm Link, the Hero of the Wild."

"I'm Feral, and as I'm sure you can guess I'm his shadow. We usually just say we're brothers, since it's way simpler than explaining the whole shadow thing. Not that far off from the truth, anyway."

Twilight considered this. "Alright then, Feral and Wild- are you alright if I call you that?" When he nodded, Twilight continued. "I guess you're the new Hero in the group. There's several of us traveling, trying to figure out what brought us together in the first place. Since we ended up here, looks like you're included in this."

Wild and Feral exchanged a glance. "Sounds like fun." Feral said.

"I mean, if something's going wrong I should help. But wait, how am I going to explain you?"

"Just tell them the story. Not much to it."

Twilight pinched the bridge of his nose. "As much as I would really love an explanation for this right now, I need to be getting back. I've been away a while."

"Sweet. Operation meet the gang of heroes?" Feral grinned.

"Sounds like a plan."

"Do you think the sight of me is going to make any of them faint?"

"No, but they might stab you," Wild snickered.

"Not if I dodge it."

"Sure you will."

"Watch me."

Twilight groaned internally. This was going to be a long journey, even just back to camp, if these two were always like this.

#legend of zelda #loz #fanfic #feral #link #dark link #feral and wild #linkeduniverse #myth writes #wild #twilight #time #wind #hyrule #warriors #legend #sky #four

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commentaryvorg · 4 years

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Danganronpa V3 Commentary: Part 6.8

Be aware that this is not a blind playthrough! This will contain spoilers for the entire game, regardless of the part of the game I’m commenting on. A major focus of this commentary is to talk about all of the hints and foreshadowing of events that are going to happen and facts that are going to be revealed in the future of the story. It is emphatically not intended for someone experiencing the game for their first time.

Last time, as trial 6 began to get crazy, the audience reared their ugly heads but with only vague hints of their terribleness so far, Danganronpa might possibly be on its last legs already, Tsumugi and the audience spent way too long babbling about their fandom while ignoring the actual characters and story they’re supposed to be here for, Flashback Lights had to be able to create the personalities and talents of everyone here because that’s just necessary for this story’s premise, and Tsumugi started insisting this means that nobody here is real in any sense at all, which is utter bullshit that would have been immediately and comprehensively shut down by Kaito’s wonderful convictions and belief if only he were still here.

…But since Kaito’s not here, this is starting to work on Shuichi.

“Akane”: “Isn’t this what you all wanted!?”

Keebo: “…We wanted this?”

“Leon”: “Yeah, you wouldn’t remember, but you guys were all from the outside world.”

Yes, they don’t remember, which means that they never wanted this! Just like how the Gonta who was executed for murder never meaningfully wanted to kill anyone, because he didn’t remember wanting it!

Also, all technicalities aside, Keebo definitely never wanted this, since there was never a previous owner of his body at all.

Pregame Shuichi: “Number 154… My name is ****”

Pregame Shuichi’s name is redacted here, which suggests that he maybe wasn’t even called Shuichi Saihara. Since they’re creating entirely new characters, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to give them new names as well, after all.

…Except that we the players saw in the prologue that at least Kaede and Shuichi had the same names, so apparently not. But even though it’s kind of awkward that they did keep their names, that’s something else we can just put down to the fact that it had to be this way, otherwise the prologue would have been massive spoilers. As it is, the prologue is designed to reasonably make sense once we learn about how they supposedly wiped their memories of their talents when fleeing the Ultimate Hunt, even though that’s not actually what was going on there after all. If Kaede and Shuichi had had completely different names before the reset, it would have given way too many pointers towards the real truth.

Redacting the auditionees’ names in these recordings, then, rather than being a hint that their names were different, was likely just down to the producers having to protect their identities in case they didn’t get chosen.

These recordings could have been faked by Tsumugi in her lab during this chapter’s investigation, sure, because she’s a freaking shapeshifter and the stupid cospox thing should not be taken as evidence against anything. But if she did that, it would have made more sense for her to not redact the name, to further drive home the idea that this is you, Shuichi, and the person you think you are is just a lie. So the fact that the name is redacted supports the video being real.

Pregame Shuichi: “I promise, if I get selected… I will work as hard as I can!”

No, if you get selected, you will very quickly stop existing. Did nobody tell you that? It… it seems nobody told them that.

Consider that this season is the first time the fourth wall has ever been broken and the process behind creating characters revealed for everyone to see. Without knowing about that, it’s somewhat reasonable that the audience might not realise that characters are created entirely from scratch each time. They might assume instead that the existing auditionees’ personalities are kept mostly intact and just modified to give them talents. So pregame Shuichi here is expecting to still be himself, just with added super detective powers.

It’s also a little odd that the audience doesn’t wonder why the characters they’ve watched in every Danganronpa series never once mentioned that they’re in Danganronpa. Perhaps the general assumption of the audience is that everyone is always somewhat acting because they want to put on a good show, and that the personalities of the characters they see really are lies to some extent?

Of course, random auditionees can’t necessarily be trusted not to break character (especially not when people are dying), and it certainly wouldn’t make a very good killing game if it were full of people super excited to be in a killing game, since that rather defeats the whole point of them fighting to survive and not kill each other. So obviously all the characters very much do need to be written entirely from scratch.

It is admittedly a little odd that these auditionees explicitly haven’t managed to figure this out. However, the people who’d want to audition would be a very specific subset of people who, A, kind of hate their lives and don’t mind throwing them away to be on Danganronpa, and/or B, probably quite like the idea of killing someone creatively in order to get famous. Anyone who’s already a kind, decent and caring sort of person like the characters who’ve actually been in this killing game (well, most of them) would never want to audition in the first place. So maybe that’s why the auditionees don’t question it, because the kind of person who’d audition is inherently the kind of person who misses the point of what really makes an entertaining killing game?

…I am definitely overthinking this, because as we’re going to see in due time, apparently the entire fucking audience misses the point, meaning that these auditionees are actually no more unrealistic than the rest of those morons out there. Think of this as more of a hypothetical: if the audience had been written better, this is how the auditionees could then be somewhat plausible. Though to be fair it would also be easier to just rewrite these bits to have the auditionees be fully aware that they’ll stop existing if they’re chosen, and/or to still hate their own lives but want to become the kind of heroes triumphing in the face of despair or at least dying for the sake of hope that Danganronpa is supposed to be about.

Pregame Shuichi: “I will come up with the best, most gruesome murders, I promise! Everyone will love it!”

This should not be what everyone is watching for! Creative murders that make for an interesting puzzle in a class trial, sure, but gruesome murders are emphatically not the point of Danganronpa. If all the audience wanted was to see people dying horribly, there would be no reason to even make it a game and have the class trials! Nor would there be any point in the whole hope-versus-despair thing, which we’re sure going to be fervently told is totally the whole point later on.

Pregame Shuichi: “And an Ultimate Detective hasn’t been the blackened yet, so I’m sure I can do that!”

It’s honestly kind of surprising none of the writers ever thought of that throughout all fifty-three seasons. And that this didn’t make them think “huh, that would be a novel plot twist, why don’t we do that with this guy?”.

Shuichi: “… Wh-What… was that…?”

It wasn’t you, Shuichi. It was your body and your voice, but that’s all.

Shuichi: “N-No… it can’t be! I’d never say something like—”

Monokuma: “You wouldn’t say that now, but this is you before you became who you are now.”

In other words, it wasn’t him! Monokuma is straight-up agreeing with Shuichi that he wouldn’t say that, because the person in the video was a different person than him! So it doesn’t matter one bit what that creep in the video said. It’s not relevant to the person standing here.

I gather that there’s a proportion of the fandom that believes these videos were faked. Since there’s only the vague possibility of that but no explicit proof of it, I imagine that the biggest reason people believe this is simply out of not wanting to believe the videos are real, because they feel it compromises the characters they love if they were “really” these varying flavours of murdery asshole. I totally understand that feeling – god, the entire story would fall apart if Shuichi, Kaede and Kaito weren’t actually who they seemed to be – but… the videos don’t actually create that issue to begin with. Monokuma outright says here that the people they were before the Flashback Lights are not the same people that they are now. The videos don’t have to be faked for Shuichi and his friends’ characters to not be compromised by them – they never were in the first place.

It’s also relevant that Monokuma is the one to clarify this. While he and Tsumugi have kind of been interchangeable exposition machines for a while, Tsumugi is currently very pointedly trying to make Shuichi and his friends fall into despair by hammering home how fake their existences supposedly are. Since she would never say this, because it’s the complete opposite of what she’s trying to achieve, Monokuma has to be the one to point it out.

Tsumugi: “When we saw your audition tape, we had a flash of inspiration. The weakest Ultimate Detective ever… Wouldn’t it be great to see him grow?”

I’m really not sure why that audition tape gave them this idea in particular. Sure he seemed a bit awkward, but mostly just creepily murder-happy, which isn’t exactly what you want in a hero. Still, however they got the idea… it was a good call. Shuichi’s character arc has been great.

Of course, they also decided it’d be totally necessary to sacrifice a perfectly good pianist and astronaut for the sake of this storyline. Which was also a great story, but much less intentionally on their part.

Pregame Shuichi: “You mean… we were selected!?”

Pregame Kaito: “We got picked!? Really!? Alright!”

Pregame Kaede: “Wh-Whoa, really!? I’m selected for it, too!?”

We get shown this flashback to what apparently happened in the prologue as soon as they heard the words “killing game”. And yes, sure, we the out-universe audience never saw this part back then – but of course we didn’t. It would have been a gigantic spoiler. The game has not been averse to omitting certain things to prevent spoilers, like it also did with Kaede’s crime. We have precedent for the game lying to us, but only by omission. This is a somewhat bigger lie of omission than for Kaede, but it’s still much more reasonable to accept that the game hid a minute or two of conversation that did happen, rather than that it showed us an entire half-hour or so of events that didn’t happen.

Shuichi: “We really… said that?”

Shuichi’s response here also suggests he may well have just actually watched footage of this – the game used its usual flashback format to show us this, but that’s just because it’d be the easiest way to do that. If they did see footage of that, it cannot be faked. Tsumugi may be a shapeshifter, but she’s only one person.

“Fuyuhiko”: “The people you used to be are gone. You’re fictional characters now.”

Yes, they’re gone, so it doesn’t matter what kind of people they were! That video you just showed Shuichi means nothing about who he is now!

“Hiro”: “So you got nowhere to return! All that stuff’s fiction, too!”

Himiko: “Th-Then… my friends and family… My whole life before coming here…”

This is a legitimate thing for them to be upset about, though. It’s going to be so weird and difficult for them to come to terms with that as they start living normal lives once they’ve escaped: the idea that everything and everyone they expect to exist out there just doesn’t. They’re essentially going to have to treat it like all those people just died, and grieve for them, because they felt real to them until now.

(Himiko’s still not mentioning her master though and I am sad about that.)

“Mahiru”: “The only place we fictional characters can live is in this fictional world. Only in this world. Only in Danganronpa.”

Maki: “Only… in this world?”

Not for you, Maki! The outside world is better for you than the fictional world you thought you came from; there’s nobody forcing you to kill anyone out there! At least learning that her backstory is a lie shouldn’t be so bad for Maki, especially because her best friend who might have been the one person she’d be looking forward to seeing again was already dead. The orphanage doesn’t exist either, but her relationship with the rest of the kids there was probably less personal; at least this means there’s no orphanage of kids who will starve if she doesn’t keep killing people.

Tsumugi: “You’re all fictional characters created to kill each other. It’s what the world wants. That’s why… there’s nowhere to run.”

This is also a legitimate concern. However real they may actually be, all the assholes out there apparently don’t acknowledge that, so they’ll be escaping into a world that isn’t even going to see them as people.

Himiko: “E-Enough… I don’t want to know anything else! I’ve had enough!”

Tsumugi: “Ah! That reaction…!”

“Junko”: “Could it be… you fell into despair?”

Even if she did, Himiko’s still expressing her pain very openly rather than the empty, listless despair it could have been. Tenko would still be proud of her! …Though how you fall into despair is maybe not the best thing to be proud over.

“Makoto”: “It’s times like these you need to look to your friends for support.”

“Hifumi”: “However, all your friends are fictional, too.”

Clearly this isn’t enough despair for Tsumugi yet, though, because she’s about to go for where it really hurts. This is, of course, all bullshit, as their friends are exactly as fictional as they are – that is, not meaningfully fictional at all – but since they’re all dead it’s going to be harder to prove her wrong about that.

“Mikan”: “For example… even Kaito’s illness was given to him as part of his character.”

In other words: you murdered Kaito, you fucking murderer. You gave him the most slow and painful death that any Danganronpa character has ever had to go through. The fact that him having the illness was scripted does not for a second mean that his pain wasn’t very, very real. Is Tsumugi ever going to properly acknowledge this and take responsibility for his suffering and death? Of course not.

I’m kind of sad that neither Maki nor Shuichi ever properly pick up on this and get appropriately angry at her for doing that to him, now that they know that Kaito’s death wasn’t really the unfortunate but natural death it seemed to be. I suppose it’s because they’re being too shaken by the “not real” bullshit right now to be able to properly hold onto the fact that Kaito’s death still really mattered and is still very worth getting worked up about.

Tsumugi: “I was the one who came up with that plotline and gave him that virus.”

I mean, sure, you came up with the “Kaito dies from a virus” plotline. The entire delightful character arc that Kaito went through as a result of that? I highly, highly fucking doubt you had even the slightest inkling that any of that would happen.

(Also look at her still not properly admitting that she killed him.)

Tsumugi: “I was also the one who came up with the plotline where you fell for Kaito.”

Nope. I’m calling complete bullshit on this one.

See, I don’t think Kaito was even necessarily meant to make Maki into his sidekick in the first place. Making Shuichi into his sidekick – sure, that was definitely planned as part of Shuichi’s arc that Tsumugi just mentioned. But Maki seems more to me like her intended purpose in the story, in-universely, was to kill someone because of her tragic backstory as an assassin. She could very easily have been the murderer in chapter 2 if she’d seen her own motive video like they were all supposed to. And while Shuichi is very noticeably weak in the normal sense of the word and therefore someone whom it’s easy to imagine Kaito would want to take under his wing, describing Maki’s problems as “weakness” is a lot less natural. It probably didn’t even occur to the in-universe writers that Maki was weak in the way they’d expect Kaito to do something about. Yet Kaito saw her weakness and chose to help her anyway, because he was more real than they were thinking of him as when they scripted out expected interactions between their planned characters.

So the idea that they’d give Maki an artificial crush on Kaito when they never even should have expected them to interact all that much in the first place seems very unlikely.

Then there’s the part where Maki’s crush on Kaito doesn’t feel artificial and arbitrary at all. Tenko’s crush on Himiko? Now that I can buy was something planned from the start, especially since she had it from the start. She mentions in her FTEs with Kaede that she really admires performers and that’s why she likes Himiko so much, but that alone should have made her even more into Kaede, who behaved much more like a performer than Himiko did at first. So apparently Tenko also just had a particular thing for cute little magical girls, which could therefore very believably have been written into her. But there’s never any sense that Maki was written with an inexplicable thing for larger-than-life space doofuses. And as I talked about with much satisfaction when Maki confessed her feelings, the focus was on the friendship she had with Kaito – the friendship that Tsumugi likely didn’t even expect to happen in the first place. Her feelings grew from that friendship over her time with him and did not exist to begin with – she said she “fell for” him, not that she was always in love with him. So no, Maki’s feelings for Kaito were entirely something that happened on their own and were not planned.

Himiko: “Then, what about Tenko? Was she always defending me because—”

But even for feelings that were almost certainly scripted, that doesn’t really matter on the whole either. Tenko still genuinely cared about Himiko as a result of her crush, regardless of whether that’s what the writers wanted of her. She didn’t know she was following someone’s script. And Kaito supporting Shuichi may have also been scripted, but that doesn’t invalidate how much he cared either, nor make his support of Shuichi any different to his support of Maki just because one was scripted and one probably wasn’t.

“Kazuichi”: “Because that was her character. It’s the same for me, too.”

(Excuse me, there was plenty more to Kazuichi’s character than just his pathetic crush on Sonia, please and thank you.)

Maki: “Y-You’re telling us… this is all a lie? Even… my feelings…? Are you saying even *those* were lies!?”

However, this is really getting to Maki, exactly like Tsumugi wants it to. And this isn’t about Maki having put her romantic feelings on a pedestal and being upset because romantic love is totally superior to platonic love. It’s because, like I talked about back when she confessed, these feelings were supposed to finally be something that was her own. Something she’d come to feel entirely by herself, without anyone else, not even Kaito, telling her to or wanting her to, without anyone moulding her to be this way. But because she’s so used to the idea that all she ever is is a puppet for someone else’s whims, she’s much more liable to believe Tsumugi’s claim without questioning it. She doesn’t have enough confidence in her own feelings yet to be able to try and stand up for them like other people (like especially Kaito himself) would. Turns out nothing was her own after all, her feelings and desires really didn’t ever matter, and she’s only ever going to be controlled by people with far more power than her who don’t care about her at all. This is not specifically about romantic love and is really Maki being hit right in the issues that she’d finally been getting somewhere with.

(Though I kind of doubt Tsumugi realises that she’s targeting Maki’s issues so directly with this. She’s probably just saying this because to her this is all about romantic love which is obviously the most importantest bestest kind of love ever and so Maki must be sooo sad to think it’s all fake, right?)

And if Maki’s feelings towards Kaito had never turned romantic? Tsumugi wouldn’t be able to claim this at all. “Oh, hey, the fact that you see this person as your friend and care about them because of everything they’ve done for you? Yeah, those feelings are fake, they don’t mean anything, I made you feel that way, you don’t really care about them and all the things they did for you at all.” Doesn’t work, does it? Because feelings of friendship cannot come out of nowhere like romantic ones sometimes can. Which is why, in an out-universe sense, Maki’s feelings did need to be partly romantic for this to work. And it’s also why Tsumugi can’t take quite the same approach with Shuichi, even though his friendship with Kaito actually was scripted, because Shuichi’s actual platonic feelings there would have naturally arisen thanks to Kaito’s actions and were therefore very obviously not artificially induced.

Tsumugi: “Well, if you’re going to call fiction a lie… then yes.”

Fiction is technically a lie in the sense that it’s something untrue, but it’s otherwise quite different from lies in that it’s not meant to deceive anyone. Everyone consuming fiction knows that it’s untrue and just enjoys being able to suspend their disbelief and pretend that it’s true for little bit anyway.

That said, Maki’s feelings for Kaito, and her existence as Maki the Ultimate Child Caregiver/Assassin, and everyone else’s existences, are neither a lie nor fiction in the first place.

Tsumugi: “Everything in this world has a writing credit. All our words and actions…”

No, they don’t! You are not scripting every single word that has been coming out of everyone’s mouths! There were some events that the writers managed to influence, sure, and those can be considered to have a writing credit. But not even remotely all of it. And not most of the best parts, for that matter.

Tsumugi: “…are just a bunch of lies.”

They’re not lies if the person saying so doesn’t know it’s not true! Gonta was not lying when he said he didn’t kill Miu, nor was he lying when he said he was raised by a race from a decades-old videogame. Nor was anyone lying when they did or said anything that they believed was the truth from those memories they were given.

Tsumugi: “Even that thing Kaede said that moved Shuichi’s heart…”

Shuichi: “…What?”

…

Kaede: “I believe in you, so you should definitely believe in yourself!”

…

Tsumugi: “That was a lie! Cuz the real Kaede said…”

Pregame Kaede: “I’m perfect for a killing game. I don’t have any faith in humanity.”

The Kaede who said she believed in Shuichi was not lying and was no less real than the other one. Tsumugi is conveniently avoiding talking about the part where they’re completely different people (something Monokuma has already established) so that she can try and give the impression that our pianist Kaede was obviously completely insincere and knowingly lying and following a script.

Also, remember the very first post of this commentary where I made note of pregame Kaede talking about how rotten the world is? Yeah, that matches this quite well. And the thing is, Tsumugi probably doesn’t even know that pregame Kaede made that comment, and even if she does it’s not like she’d care to make an effort to match it, because Shuichi isn’t going to remember that. That match is something that’s only there for the out-universe audience to pick up on. So if Tsumugi did fake this video, it sure is an oddly specific coincidence that pregame Kaede’s words match so well. As such, it makes a lot more sense to me to assume that this video is real.

Why did pregame Kaede even think that having no faith in humanity made her perfect for this, though??? Does she not realise that obviously the kind of person who makes the killing game interesting is someone who does believe in people and has that belief battered and tested as they watch their friends kill each other? But as frustrating as this is, again, someone who did realise that wouldn’t be the kind of person who’d ever want to audition in the first place.

…And, again, the entire audience are going to turn out to be assholes who completely miss the point, so all complaints about the auditionees’ attitudes should just be lumped in with complaints about that, of which I will be having plenty soon enough. Practically everything wrong with this chapter boils down to how badly-written the audience is.

Tsumugi: “And who could forget Kaito’s inspiring line?”

…

Kaito: “Don’t forget! The impossible is possible! All you gotta do is make it so!”

…I can accept that this line of Kaito’s might have been scripted. He said it a few times, like it’s a phrase he just liked to say a lot, even in his backstory (maybe to his former sidekicks), so this was probably written into him. But that does not matter. He had no idea he was following anyone’s script and said it for his own reasons while meaning every word of it.

Uggghhhh look at this absolute asshole here. There is nothing in this world that can ever convince me that this was, in any meaningful way, the same person as our heroic Luminary of the Stars who supported his friends with everything he had and selflessly put himself through untold extra pain because he was convinced that doing otherwise would let everyone down. But I do appreciate the painful jarringness of how completely opposite pregame Kaito was to the Kaito we’ve come to know and love, at least.

And it also matches quite well with the face we saw pregame Kaito making when they arrived in the gym, again back in the very first post of this commentary. That was not a situation in which Tsumugi could have been faking it, and you can’t convince me that that was ever the same person as our Kaito, either.

Pregame Kaito: “I’m not just gonna be in Danganronpa, I’m gonna kill everybody and win!”

That’s not even how it works! Pretty soon it’s going to be made apparent that everything always ended with hope winning, so a blackened has never managed to kill everybody and win, and if they did, that wouldn’t make a very entertaining story! (Grumble grumble unrealistic asshole audience, please file these complaints with the rest that will be coming later. Such complaints about the auditionees certainly shouldn’t be taken as evidence of the videos being faked, because the rest of the asshole audience that we see very definitely exists.)

It does seem that the in-universe writers might have got the idea for Kaito’s reckless stubbornness and inability to accept the possibility of failure from this person here, who is brazenly refusing to acknowledge the extremely high chance that he’ll just end up dead.

Pregame Kaito: “Once I’ve got fame and fortune, I don’t gotta worry about what’s impossible.”

But evidently this dude was also just a selfish asshole who didn’t give a fuck about anybody else and was quite happy to slaughter a bunch of people just to get what he wanted. The absolute least Kaito he could possibly be in all the most important ways. It’s an insult to Kaito that this guy shared his name and appearance.

(If Kaito were alive and seeing this video? It’d barely shake him at all. He’d just go, “Well, that’s not me,” in the most straightforward, isn’t-it-obvious tone of voice ever, and that’d be that. His conviction in who he is would be far too strong for this to get to him like it’s getting to the others.)

Tsumugi: “Every single thing that has happened in this killing game… is a lie!”

Shuichi: (It’s all… a lie?)

Unfortunately, while Tsumugi is quite obviously lying if you think about it for even a few seconds, Shuichi can’t see that.

Shuichi: (The reason we’re all here right now is because of them… Because of them… I was able to change. That’s why I was trying to live for them, too… I was trying so hard to stay positive… But… if even that’s a lie…)

It’s no coincidence that Tsumugi chose specifically Kaede and Kaito to do this for, because they were the people Shuichi depended on the most for his strength and confidence. Even though they’re not here any more, he’s still so dependent on the memories of who they were, to the point that upon hearing that they never existed, seeing supposed “proof” of that, he loses the strength to even question it. It just breaks him.

Since Tsumugi actually wrote the gist of Shuichi’s character arc, including the part where he came to rely on both Kaede and Kaito, she might at least have a reasonably good idea of what she’s doing this time. The thought that’d hurt Shuichi the most isn’t the supposed loss of his own feelings, like with Maki, but rather the supposed loss of his friends’ feelings and support towards him.

If Kaito and Kaede were only still here, they’d both be doing everything they could to reassure Shuichi that what Tsumugi’s saying doesn’t matter. Even if their support of him was scripted and planned, it doesn’t change the fact that that feeling of wanting to help him was real to them and not a lie they’d never have done anything else even if they’d known the mastermind wanted them to do this. But… they’re not here any more. So it’s heartbreakingly easy for Shuichi to forget how real and genuine their support felt when it was happening, now that they’ve faded into memories. Especially now that he’s learned that most of his memories were entirely fake to begin with, giving him the sense that he can’t trust anything that he thought he knew and believed was real.

I really love the way the game shows a collage of illustrations of Shuichi being inspired by both Kaede and Kaito, and then just makes them twist and swirl into nothingness, reflecting exactly what’s happening with Shuichi’s perception of them. And all his strength came from them, so if he didn’t ever really have them… he had nothing, right?

(Also Heartless Journey is playing and I am rather giving myself some sads here.)

Shuichi: “… Why… am I here? Why did I even survive this long?”

Shuichi’s had his exhausted-looking sprite for a while here. It’s especially fitting in this moment, considering where his mind was at when we saw him looking like this last chapter, and the fact that he’s been driven to wondering what was even the point of him surviving. Noooo, Shuichi.

“Hajime”: “This is fiction. There is no greater meaning.”

Shuichi wasn’t chosen to be the hero and survive until the end like this just by meaningless random chance, though. It was because the story of someone weak like him overcoming his weakness and growing stronger despite all his struggles is a meaningful story that can inspire people.

However, the fact that Tsumugi seems to genuinely believe that there’s nothing meaningful to fiction is going to be her downfall. Really, it was a bad move for her to even reveal to everyone that they are fictional, because that’s going to allow Shuichi to protest against this sick practice and end not just this game but all of them. But Tsumugi probably didn’t even realise what a risk that was, because it apparently doesn’t occur to her that there could be more to them being fictional and that they could even do anything but despair over its meaninglessness.

“Junko”: “How ‘bout that? You in despair yet? It will be troublesome for us if you don’t despair under our rule.”

Yep, that’s exactly why Tsumugi has been doing all this. If she can get everyone to despair, then Keebo will come swooping in with his hope robot powers and the audience will still get a story they want, despite how very off-script things have gotten. That’s why she’s been telling such blatant lies about how fictional everyone supposedly is.

(Also, her “Junko” has been switching personalities a lot more lately. I guess that’s just to match with the switching personalities in general, or perhaps to be more of a direct callback to the first game than she was earlier now that literally everything else she’s doing is callbacks.)

“Junko”: “Viewers flock to see your despair. That’s why all those people out there look sooo happy! See!?”

“Shuichi’s reaction LOL”

“LOL the face of despair.”

“Mmm, Shuichi’s despair <3”

“despair taaaimu!”

“You’re all in despair LOL”

“S-tier despair!”

Aaaaaand right about here is where the outside world just completely stops being recognisable human beings in any shape or form. This here is a general grab bag of some of the things that are being said, none of which is remotely like how any actual person should react to seeing a fictional character’s despair.

Yes, I have also been enjoying Shuichi’s despair this whole time. But I’ve been enjoying it in the sense that it’s been making me empathise with him and feel his pain. It makes me desperately want to reach into the screen to encourage him and help him in any way I can even though I know that’s not possible because this is how the story goes. If I was reacting in this completely detached, alien, “hurr durr lol despair” way that doesn’t seem to even remotely care about the characters themselves, that’d be the story failing to do its job properly!

Where was that person from near the beginning who was cheering “You can do it, Shuichi!”? They should still be cheering him on, trying to tell him that his friends weren’t all lies and neither is he and he can still do this if he doesn’t give up! The whole point of despair in these Danganronpa narratives is supposed to be so that people can root for hope to overcome it!

…It’s worthwhile to mention that there’s a good chance these comments are deliberately cherry-picked to be the ones most gleeful over the despair, since the hope fans are soon going to start showing up in droves, but even so, geez, these people. Have some fucking empathy.

(Though next time we will also see that the rest of the audience who are rooting for hope aren’t really doing so in a way that involves empathising with and caring about Shuichi’s pain either, so, eh.)

Shuichi: “Is this what the outside world wants? Is this what they want from us?”

It makes sense that this would be what they want from a character they’re insisting on seeing as fictional, but it does not make sense that they would want it for this purpose! Almost nobody should ever want it like this!

Monokuma: “Well, yelling for help is useless for fictional characters anyway. It makes the viewers even more depraved and obsessed when they feel sorry for you.”

Yes! Feeling sorry for them, that’s the point! This is the closest anything in this narrative ever gets to talking about the actual reason why watching fictional characters suffer is enjoyable – because it makes you care about them more, it makes you want to engage with the story more in your in-universe desire to see them overcome it and feel better, it makes the story have more of an effect on you! “Depraved” is a really uncharitable word for this – although maybe that’s more specifically for this context where they’re actually watching this happen to real people, in which case, yes it very much is.

Monokuma: “They watch, knowing that they shouldn’t, just to revel in the depravity of it all.”

The “knowing that they shouldn’t” part is after all something that only applies to watching real people die. Nobody in the actual real world should feel guilty for enjoying Danganronpa games because characters die in them – that’s the point. Nor should anyone feel guilty for enjoying any fiction where bad things happen, because that’s one of the main ways to create conflict, which is one of the driving forces of a story. If the narrative presents the bad things in a way that implies they’re okay to do in the real world, that’s another matter – but bad things happening in and of themselves do not make a fiction wrong to enjoy.

Shuichi: “It’s all a lie… isn’t it? Me… Everyone here… Everyone who died…”

Their deaths were not lies, Shuichi!

Shuichi: “I can’t fight… for a lie, can I?”

You thought it was worth fighting for before you knew it was a “lie”! Why should the fact that she’s calling it that change anything? You know the killing game still happened!

Around this point, Clair de Lune – Kaede’s piano song – kicks in as BGM. It’s pretty lovely and appropriate and heartbreaking.

Tsumugi: “No matter how much you grow, Shuichi, you’re still weak after all… Now that you know it’s all lies, you’ve gone back to the weak Ultimate Detective…”

She’s not wrong here. Now that the friends he depended on so much for his strength aren’t here any more, now that she’s convinced him that they never really existed at all… he still has the potential to be as weak as he always was without them, just like he always had the potential to be strong if he did have their support.

This concept might be why this is working so much on Shuichi, Maki and Himiko in particular. All three of them started off weak, and only grew stronger thanks to the events of this killing game and the support their friends gave them. Upon hearing that all of that was supposedly fake, it wouldn’t be hard to see how that’d bring them right back to where they started.

That’s also why none of this would work nearly so well on Kaito if he were still here – because he started off strong, and still had a good amount of that strength by the end even if the killing game had weakened him in a lot of ways, such that it wouldn’t go away just because he’s being told it’s a lie.

(And all of my yelling at Shuichi isn’t trying to imply that he’s being stupid to not realise all this – I know that he’s still weak enough in some regards that he’d let this break him apart. I just wish I could help him, like an actual person would.)

Himiko: “…”

Himiko’s no longer expressing her despair in a loud, emotional way and is just being depressed and listless like she used to be. Hearing that Tenko’s concern for her was all planned and scripted probably pushed her back into that.

Tsumugi: “Well, that was surprisingly disappointing… But I guess it’s okay! We’re still on script!”

Not even being subtle. This was entirely a ploy to keep things vaguely on the generic Danganronpa hope-versus-despair script so that Keebo could do his thing.

Shuichi: “Everything’s a lie… Everything’s meaningless… Everything we’ve done, everything we’ve faced together…”

You still faced that together! Kaede and Kaito still died for you! That’s not meaningless, no matter what else around it might have been a lie!

The shutting-down sound effects used when a protagonist stops being the protagonist are really quite appropriate here. It very much feels like Shuichi.exe has encountered a problem and needs to reboot, and it’s going to take him a while to do that.

---

[Next post]

#danganronpa #danganronpa v3 #drv3 #ndrv3 #chapter 6 #class trial #commentary

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apex-academy · 4 years

Text

Chapter 3 Trial: Consequences (#40)

The screens go black, and the overhead lights strengthen again. Still pretty quiet in here. A little sniffling, but no commentary. I guess this execution wasn’t as brutal as the others. I guess it was a pretty deserved execution, anyway.

I guess I’m getting numb to it at this point.

“...”

“Hmph. What a worthless way to dispose of a sinner.”

“J-j-j-just stop talking, frick.”

“Ah, a tragic loss of beauty...!”

“...”

“Hummmmm... I guess we go back now...?”

“I’m sure done here.”

“Right. Let’s...”

Mahavir takes a few plodding steps towards the elevator but has to stop and catch himself on the wall.

“Oh... Do you need help?”

“You say as if a creature as feeble as yourself could aid him.”

“Fair point.”

I sidestep over to Yuki.

“I’ll take care of him. Can you look after Aki?”

“Hummmm...? Okay.”

“Thanks.”

I’m not sure what goes on in the rest of the room besides footfalls and muttering, but I catch up with Mahavir pretty quickly. My ears may be ringing from the gunshot, but I’m in much better condition than him.

Honestly, how did he manage standing that whole time, let alone contributing? Maybe the fire wasn’t as bad as it seemed by the time we got there?

Doesn’t matter. Just have to keep moving along now.

“Hey. I’m going to put your arm across my shoulders. Lean on me as much as you need to.”

“Mm.”

Can’t tell if that was agreement or not.

Regardless, I do what I said and start walking. Once Mahavir detaches from the wall, enough weight shifts onto me that I have to stop to keep my knees from buckling. I suppress an “oof.”

"........"

And this is why Kanagi took care of it earlier. Oh, well. She’s too tall for this gesture to be comfortable, and Mahavir’s conscious enough I don’t think he’d like being carried around like a sack of potatoes again. I’ll survive.

We still move slowly enough that the first group has already gone upstairs, leaving us to wait on the elevator. Four of us are left, not counting Monochap, who’s hanging off awkwardly to the side.

“........”

“......”

“...”

Well. This won't be an awkward ride at all.

The elevator arrives with a ding. Mahavir and I hobble in first. Yuki presses the button for the first floor once everyone's in. The doors close, and the elevator starts to rise.

“The cafeteria is probably closed by now... But I do have some mochi in my room if you want any, Aki...”

“Oh, or if either of you do...”

“.................”

“I’m fine, thank you...”

“Yeah, same. You two have all you want.”

“Okay...”

“.............”

Aki worries me, but I don’t know what to tell her. Did she really think we should let an innocent person die just because Tamiko had good intentions? There was a strain of logic in there somewhere, but most of the time it just seems like she can’t think straight.

Well, I can’t think that straight right now. Don’t know if I can sleep, but I really need to try. As long as somebody’s keeping an eye on Aki, I don't need to worry about her. For now, I just have to get Mahavir to his room without collapsing.

The elevator doors slide open, and we trudge out. The other two are around the corner before we’ve made it past Room 104. Either I’m wearing out fast, or Mahavir’s shifted more of his weight onto me.

“You hanging in there?”

“Yes... Apologies. I’ll try to pick up the pace...”

“No, it’s fine, just checking.”

We make it into the east wing in time to watch Yuki shut her door. Mahavir stares after her.

With the rumors confirmed, I’m sure he’s upset with her. I guess the only reason he didn’t chew her out already is his own health. And while he takes prudishness to extremes, he has a point. This wouldn’t have happened if Yuki hadn’t played her part. At least if I assume Arthur was, in fact, somewhat of a decent human being.

But then what? He was going stir-crazy as heck in here. He would have found someone else eventually. And then Tamiko would have found out eventually and... Then we'd be right back here. It may have taken a lot of people screwing up to make this happen, but the end result is all her.

Mahavir turns his gaze back to the hallway when I look to him.

“Don’t give Yuki too much grief, okay?”

“Mm?”

He blinks a few times before seeming to catch up mentally.

“Mm.”

Still can’t tell if that was agreement or not.

I shake my head.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she was already blaming herself for this. So if you feel the need to tell her what’s what, go easy on her.”

“Or just... don’t.”

“...”

Don’t know if he’s mulling it over or just too tired to think. I’m just about to that point myself.

We’re almost to his door before he speaks again.

“It’s too late for that.”

“Hmm?”

“Reprimanding has its place, but... I was only trying to keep people from getting hurt. And it’s too late for that now.”

We trudge up to his dorm, and he starts digging around for his key.

“..."

"Wrong as she was, she had a point. Oshio, I mean.”

“There are many, many people who’ve suffered abandonment and mistreatment they never deserved, merely because the wrong person came along. We can never be perfect judges of people, so those sorts of mistakes are bound to happen no matter how hard we try.”

He stops to cough and drops his key in the process. Muttering apologies, he shifts his weight to the wall.

“I got it.”

I duck down to grab the key and unlock the door. He thanks me and takes the key back, but he doesn’t step inside.

“Perhaps, if she were a perfect judge of people, and her methods were the only way to stop the misery, then it would be a worthwhile mission. But even then...”

“...if 'those guys' were destroyed before they had the opportunity to hurt anyone...”

“...I never would have been born.”

He slips inside his room and shuts the door before I can stop him. I don’t hear any spectacular thuds afterwards, so I think he’s doing all right in there.

I let out a breath, roll my shoulders, and head to my own room. It’s only a matter of time before I’m lying in bed staring up at an unlit ceiling.

“.................”

It’s hard to figure out, isn’t it? Who’s in the right. What lengths you can go to. What on earth you’re supposed to do if you’re not content to sit and watch injustice unfold all around you.

If you have to do something, what makes your course of action "right"? If it’s just intent, then Tamiko was justified. If it’s just results, then we’re all screwed, because no matter how smart we think we are, we can’t predict every last consequence of our actions.

So, somewhere in between? Something else entirely? How are we supposed to decide...

I...

I’m too tired to be thinking about this. Whatever makes actions right or wrong, you can’t punish people for crimes they haven’t committed and call it justice. I’ll just leave it at that.

CHAPTER 3 END

STUDENTS REMAINING: 9

[NEXT]

#apexplot #apex3 #apextrial

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crystalelemental · 5 years

Text

alphakuriboh replied to your post “It’s a great idea in theory but they don’t work like that, it’s too...”

I don’t think any +10 should be particularly easy, personally. Perhaps I’m just a bitch, but I’ve worked really hard on my merges, including a +10 GHB, a +10 Masked Marth, and as soon as I gather up the last few feathers I’ll have a +10 Picnic Leo that I gathered Grails for since he came out (I have all the copies, it’s just feathers).

It’s also not that much fun if EVERYONE +10’s the same units. Once you get to a point in the game where you have the resources to +10, odds are you should have more options than just the Grail units anyway?

I have a lot of thoughts on this, and I’ll try to stay coherent with it.

Personally, I don’t actually value the work I put into a video game. Any amount of effort and work put into a game could easily have been allocated elsewhere. If the internal sense of satisfaction isn’t there, then it was wasted effort. If it is there, the actions of others means nothing.

Like, consider this: Bridal Cordelia. She was, for a long time, the offensive standard for an archer. People would aim to +10 her because she had an intense niche, and that required intense saving or spending to acquire. Legendary Alm exists now. At +0, he’s already better than her by such a wide margin that, from a meta niche perspective, she’s useless. Is it fair that L!Alm came out and essentially invalidated all the work they had to put into Cordelia?

My answer would be of course not. Because the work you put in still exists. If that work was solely to top the meta charts, then you probably did it for the wrong reasons. If you worked hard for your favorites, then the internal satisfaction should be there regardless of what others do. Like, I adore Julia. One of my top three favorites in the series. I got her to +10 with the revival banners. She’s not particularly great, but you can get her to work well in plenty of game modes regardless of that. If she demotes, does that invalidate the work I did? I don’t think so. I’d be overjoyed if she demoted. I’d be overjoyed if other units I didn’t care about demoted and made it easier for their fans.

Basically, simplification of the game is good for everyone, especially considering resources like grails. If they become more common, not only does it not invalidate the merge projects everyone’s already had to make with the shitty system, but it makes things easier for new players to have an identified merge projects, AND makes it easier for long-time players to get invested in more projects. Again, right now, grail merge projects are, by design, rare as hell. You get so few grails that you really need to prioritize who you spend them on, and since there is no other way to get them, most of these units will languish as units which are never, ever used. Because they can’t keep up. With more grails, you can get your favorites done easier, and have excess to play around with other options. More of these resources is good for everyone, and considering they’re not even resources you pay for, the developers lose absolutely nothing from including this. Grails units are never as good as banner units. Ever. Some can come close, but it’s never to a degree that the best new unit is the free one. So why be so stingy about it? Make it easier for new players to plan out those merge projects with a unit they can identify and work directly toward, instead of relying on the random appearances of common units.

As for centralization...frankly, there’s two things there. One is...how is that different from now? Go do Arena Assault and count the number of Fallen Tiki you face. The number of L!Alm and L!Azura on a Water/Earth blessing week. If the answer is less than 6 you’re a liar. The game is already completely centralized around those units, especially at higher tiers of play. Grail units would only add variety there. You know. If any of them were on par with those monsters that rule the meta. The other aspect is that I...don’t think it would cause overcentralization. Sure, grail units that are actually good, like Naesala and Astram, would likely be the most common picks. Especially Astram, who scores incredibly well for Arena and is free. But there are enough options, and all of them can do well enough, that I think there’d be plenty of variance.

But again, the real rulers of the meta are the banner units, and with that being the case...who cares what happens with Grails? The higher-tier defense teams you’re facing are all F!Tiki dragon emblem and L!Alm/L!Azura combos anyway. Who cares if everyone decided Astram’s the best for Arena offense and +10′s him right away? That’s one unit for a core of three in Arena, they still need to summon and likely have other projects there, and if they don’t care about Arena scoring, then all that’s changed is they focus on a favorite unit like Fallen Takumi or something.

I just...can’t see any downside, at all, to an increase in grail production, or the introduction of free copies of previous Tempest Trial units. There’s effectively no loss to them, because they don’t make actual profit off grails. There’s no loss to other players or metagame variety because the titans already rule the roost and are banner units. And what players gain is the ability to actually have fun with more units, because now you have the ability to actually make them viable. Yes, the system’s fine for someone who’s starting out and wants to just get their first copy F!Robin. But once you’ve played a few months, you’re gonna realize the merges are important and you absolutely don’t have the resources to work with them anymore. Or, if you choose to invest in them anyway, that you’re completely grail bankrupt now and any fun units that show up after are going to be a long, LONG ways out from being competitive.

#alphakuriboh

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star-going-supernova · 6 years

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Okay, real talk though, can we please just have a meeting of the Henry club? Like all of your Henry's just hanging out for juice and cookies to discuss what Joey has screwed up this week and laugh about it?

This… is a month late. And it also got out of hand. But I had a lot of fun cooking this one up, so thank you so much for the idea! I hope you guys enjoy, and, as a warning: some of this might make no sense if you don’t know some of the works these guys are from.

note: this does not contain spoilers for Chapter 5. It’s mentioned, and something from it is mentioned, but nothing is spoiled. Also: I went through and counted. Not including the mess that Infinite Worlds is, I have 23 different versions of Henry. Frick.

Also also: I’d love to hear your guys’ actual opinions on the thing Star asks the Henrys about. :)

“We are gathered here today,” Star said, looking around the large circular table, “because—actually, can anyone tell if you’re all here or not? There are so many of you at this point that I can’t even keep track.”

She watched all the different Henrys—Henries?—look around and mutter to each other, asking if this or that Henry was present.

While she waited for them to figure it out, Star looked at the Henry on her right. He was her first Henry, one so full of determination and kindness that the world she’d created around him had slowly but surely bent to his will.

Star loved every last Henry she’d ever made, but this one would always hold a special place in her heart. He grinned at her when he noticed her staring, raising his cup of coffee in cheers.

A nudge on her left had her turning to a Henry quite a bit like her. With horns curling out of his head and a blindfold covering his eyes, the first demon Henry she’d woven into existence nodded out at the rest of the group.

“I think they’re done,” he told her. “Sounds like everyone’s here.”

“Excellent.” Star stood up and started over. “We are gathered here today because Chapter 5 recently came out and I’m retconning all of you.”

There were several shouts and gasps, at least two instances of spit-takes, and one of them—it looked like the Henry that she’d sent time traveling—fell out of his chair.

Before anyone could riot against her, Star held up her hands, laughing. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. You’re all wonderful and the update isn’t going to change how I write any of you.”

The sigh of relief was unanimous, a sea of Henrys—seriously which was it?—relaxing in their chairs, some going so far as to slump over the table.

“Yeah, sorry, couldn’t help it,” Star said, beaming at the Henry who’d faced off against the Bendy animatronic. He glared back.

Once everyone had settled down, Star opened her mouth to get to the true nature of their meeting, but paused. Her supernova eyes slid over the different versions of Henry that she’d thought up over the year, each and every one brought into a world of their own with so much care.

She’d been so cruel to some of them. So kind to others. Star glanced down at her first Henry, and thought of how she was about to put him through the wringer for a second time. There was another room in this not-building that existed in her mind where there was a Henry or two that hadn’t seen the world yet.

One of them was young, younger than she was now. His story still lingered in her head, but Star had to wonder if she’d ever get around to writing it. Another was old, poised at the start of Chapter 5’s plot, ready to take it on in his own way. And there were others too. So many that sometimes, she forgot about some of them.

For all her powers, even she couldn’t remember them all.

“I just…” Star cleared her throat, pretending like she wasn’t a little choked up. “I just wanted to thank all of you. I know it’s not always sunshine and rainbows in the stories I write, but… I do my best by you. All of you. I wouldn’t be here without you guys, so. Yeah.”

Star clapped her hands and ignored the way some of the Henrys looked a little teary-eyed. “Anyway, I really just wanted to get your opinion on your last name. I’ve been using Ross since the beginning—and frankly, I’m pretty attached to it at this point—but if you think I should use the name from Chapter 5, I will for future Henrys.”

Peeking at the demon Henry at her left, she told him, “I’ll have to keep using Ross for you, though, since your story is on-going. For a few others of you as well, if I’m not mistaken.”

The Henry who’d been murdered by Bendy several times before reconciling with the Ink Demon raised his hand. “Yeah,” he said, “you still need to finish the second chapter of Renewal.”

Star visibly winced. “Ah, yes. I, uh, will get right on that.”

He rolled his eyes, but his smile was kind. They understood.

“I guess there’s nothing else to say, really. If you all could sit on the last name issue for a day or two and get back to me on that, I’d appreciate it.” Star gathered up her laptop, and moved towards the exit. “Oh—one last thing.”

The cosmos stretched across her skin glittered with her excitement as they all turned to her.

Smiling, she told them, “It won’t be long until you’re joined by a new Henry. Have a good day, everyone.”

• • • • •

Once the door closed behind Star, several conversations sprung up around the table.

“I wonder if it’ll be an AU Henry,” the Henry from A Creator’s Heart said. “Or if he’ll have something to do with the new chapter.”

“Probably the new chapter,” the Henry who’d been chased by an animatronic Bendy said. “You know she’s been particularly vocal about it.”

The only Henry among them to be considered villainous chuckled. “She was thinking up new ideas before she’d even finished watching a playthrough of Chapter 5. Of course it will have something to do with it.”

“Regardless of what sort of story this Henry will come from, I’ll just be glad not to one of the newest anymore,” the wingless of the two angel Henrys said. Though the first chapter of Consequences had come out a while ago, it’d only just recently been completed.

Henry the time-traveler nodded. “I’ll drink to that.” They both raised their coffee mugs up clinked them together.

On the other side of the table, a couple Henrys were comparing their Joeys against each others.

“Look at me,” After said, gesturing at the tiny body he shared with Before. “My Joey literally sacrificed me and wiped my memory. I didn’t even have a name for years. Imagine! The only method of identifying myself was as After!”

“That’s fair,” a Henry wearing a partially untied straitjacket said, “but at least you got away from your Joey. Mine’s probably going to hold me captive for the rest of my life.” He shuddered. “I’m just glad Star ended my story where she did. Based on the direction it was going, I have no desire to see what happens next.”

The second demon Henry in the group nodded glumly. “Mine summoned me into the studio, tried to forcibly bond me to him like a slave, and now I’m stuck running from all sorts of monsters who want me dead. And I’m trying to protect my kids—I mean, the toons—while on the smallest amount of demonic reserves possible.”

As one, the three of them turned to look at the fourth Henry in their group. He smiled apologetically. “Sorry,” he said, “but I’m engaged to my Joey, and all it takes to keep him under control is threatening him with the couch for a week.”

While they were moaning and groaning about their sad, Joey-related fates, the first demon Henry, from the ever-expanding world of Inky Eyes, Gold Heart, silently eyed the eldest Henry of them all.

The Henry from The Art of Being Alive not only had the privilege of being Star’s first, but he also had one of the most extensive and complex stories out of any of them.

“So,” demon Henry quietly said, “Star’s brought you back out of her memory.”

Henry—The Henry, the first, the original, the eldest—nodded. “Chapter One is up. She posted it on the anniversary of Art too.”

Demon Henry waited, but when nothing else was forthcoming, he asked, “And how do you feel about it? I mean, you had your happy end, everything was over—and now, what? Joey’s back or something?”

“Maybe he is,” Henry said, calm and steady. “But I like to think I’ve been around Star long enough to know that she’s always got some sort of trick up her sleeve. So maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. No matter what happens, though, I’ll be ready.”

A little shiver passed through demon Henry’s spine. Oh sure, he had great powers and all, but this Henry… he was a little bit terrifying.

The moment passed, and Henry continued, “I’m excited, honestly. It’s been so long since I was active. Maybe she’ll put me through trials even worse than last time, but I trust Star to make the pain worth something.” He smiled, surveying the others. “She treats us well, even when she’s giving us a hard time of it.”

Demon Henry couldn’t help but agree.

Henry breathed deeply, leaning back in his chair, the picture of relaxation despite having some idea of what their Creator had in store for him. “Do you ever wonder,” he asked slowly, “what it would be like, to have a mind like hers?”

It took a lot of effort, but demon Henry swallowed down the joke he wanted to make about how weren’t they supposed to be Creators in their own rights? “I bet she’s never lonely in there,” he said instead.

Gratifyingly, Henry laughed. “I’m sure you’re right,” he said. “And I can’t help but think… a mind full of wondrous worlds, so many of which will never see the light of day… that perhaps, what it’s like on the inside has bled into the outside.”

Elsewhere, so close and so far, covered in stars and light and color, their Creator sat, laptop in hand. And from the stardust on her fingertips, something new was born.

#i answered a thing #anonymous #random writing! yay!#this was supposed to be a couple hundred words long #it clocks in at 1635 words #batim henry #Star as a character #look at all those Henrys!#star's story updates #kinda #Star's Stories #life and times of star

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raywritesthings · 6 years

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Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home? 11/11

My Writing Fandom: Arrow, The Flash Characters: Oliver Queen, Laurel Lance, Quentin Lance, John Diggle, Felicity Smoak, Thea Queen, Roy Harper, Moira Queen, Joanna de la Vega, Dinah Lance, Eddie Thawne Pairings: Laurel Lance/Oliver Queen, Thea Queen/Roy Harper Summary: Oliver returns to Starling City after the Undertaking only to discover that he’s not the only one who has absented it; Laurel Lance has seemingly vanished with barely a trace for the last four months. As he struggles to piece together the mystery of what caused her to flee the city they both call home, Oliver must also ask himself if he can make things right after leaving the woman he loves a second time. If he can find her at all. AO3 link

It didn’t quite feel real yet, that it was all over. Or that it was just beginning, really, with Olivia truly here.

Laurel had held her new baby daughter for as long as she’d been allowed before the doctors and nurses had whisked her away for checks and tests. She’d been so small and fragile-looking, but they’d all been surprised by the apparent strength in her lungs when she’d emerged screaming into the world. The pain of labor had lifted for a brief instant as Laurel had laughed at the sound.

Everyone was cautiously optimistic. Her daughter seemed in perfect health for being so premature, and she was happy to remain in the hospital as long as the doctors wanted to ensure that wasn’t merely a fluke. Laurel felt too tired to really go anywhere else, truthfully. All the plans she’d been tentatively forming of what she would do once the baby arrived, how she would make a life for them work, none of it was remotely ready just yet. And everything had changed now.

“Your father called. Twice now, actually,” her mother had told her shortly after the birth, probably to take Laurel’s mind off of waiting for news about Olivia.

It had worked. “What did you tell him?”

“The truth,” had been her mom’s simple answer. “He’s not angry, honey,” she’d added when Laurel had been too afraid to voice the question. “Just relieved to know you’re safe.”

“Is he- is he coming here?”

“Not right away. He was at the hospital—”

Laurel had felt her heart stop. “Is he okay?”

“Yes, it was just a checkup. He’s asked Oliver to come down in the meantime.”

“Oliver,” Laurel had echoed. What did that mean? How much did he know? Did he want to know?

But he was on his way. That had to be good, didn’t it?

She’d occupied the hours waiting between spending time with Olivia and resting fitfully whenever she was advised to. There was just too much on her mind to really settle into any kind of sleep.

Her mom had come back in and left again only a few minutes ago after telling her Oliver had arrived. She’d said she would send him along and have them move Olivia back into the room.

So this was it. After so many months of hiding, of worrying and wondering. Laurel tried to remember what she’d meant to say to him back when she’d first found out she was pregnant. Then she decided it hardly mattered; things were far past that point anyway.

Laurel closed her eyes and focused on taking deep, even breaths. She was almost as nervous as when she’d been preparing for the early labor, only this time she couldn’t hold her mother’s hand or even a well-meaning detective’s. This was something she and Oliver really did need to do together, and on their own.

There was a slight tickle at the back of her throat, and she coughed a couple times. The scratchiness seemed to come and go ever since the night she’d gone into labor, but the doctors and nurses assured her it was probably just a bit of soreness or a slight cold at worst. She supposed lying out in the rain for who knew how long was bound to leave her feeling a bit under the weather.

There came a light knock on the doorframe, and Laurel blinked her eyes open. Oliver looked almost the same as when she’d last seen him all those months ago. A little tired, a little sorrowful, a little bit peaceful. Basically, a lot of holding himself together.

Laurel didn’t even have to try to smile. “Hey.”

“Is this a bad time?”

“No, come on in,” she said with a lazy wave of her hand. “It’s past time, really.”

He crossed the room in a few steps and took the empty chair at her bedside. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. They just didn’t have much in the way of painkillers because of all the people brought in after the explosion, so I screamed myself hoarse during the birth,” she told him, gesturing to her throat.

“Oh. You know, I was wondering why you didn’t quite sound yourself.”

She could see he was striving for a lighter tone.

“Sure you didn’t just forget what I sounded like?”

Oliver shook his head. “I held onto that voice for five years. Six months wasn’t hard.”

Laurel looked down. There were times now, ever since Oliver had first come back, that he nearly overwhelmed her with the intensity he held inside.

“I should probably say I’m sorry that it was that long.”

When she glanced up briefly, he didn’t look angry. He was just watching her.

“I did try calling, but I, uh, couldn’t quite make myself talk.”

Oliver nodded. “I remember.”

“How did you know?”

“Because I have been the person on the other end of that phone call,” he said. “There was, once, I had this opportunity to get in touch with someone. On the island. It wasn’t exactly safe, but I couldn’t help myself. You were the first person I tried.”

Laurel blinked in surprise. “When?”

Oliver smiled ruefully. “It was nearly five years ago now. I couldn’t say anything just like you, even if there was so much I wanted to say.”

She tried searching for some memory, some moment that had slipped past her long ago totally unnoticed, but could come up with nothing. She supposed it didn’t matter. Oliver had found his way back regardless.

“It just starts to feel insurmountable,” Laurel agreed. “The time that’s passed. I convinced myself that the last thing you needed was to be mixed up in this. Or that you wouldn’t want to be. I thought everyone would be so disappointed. And things seemed so dangerous and complicated back home, especially with your mother’s trial and all the anger people had surrounding that.”

“That’s why you left,” he realized, brow furrowed in thought. “You thought if people found out I was the father, they might do something to you and the baby.”

“That was probably what pushed me to do it. I guess I was worried about what people would think in general.” She sighed. “I’m not ashamed of her, I just know I should’ve been more careful. It’s the first thing my father’s bound to say once he gets over the shock. And I just wasn’t ready to face that on my own, so running away…”

She trailed off as a nurse entered the room with Olivia. Her baby was still half-asleep, tired from all the crying she’d done once she was born. Laurel could sympathize.

“I was asked to bring this one back to mommy. Would you like to hold her?”

Laurel sat up a bit straighter in the bed, but as she did so her eyes slid to Oliver. He was staring at Olivia utterly enraptured, like he’d never even seen a baby before.

She didn’t even hesitate in making the call. “Actually, I think daddy wouldn’t mind a turn.”

He looked back at her, seemingly in shock that she would grant that kind of permission. Laurel gave a nod, hoping to encourage him.

“Alright then,” said the nurse. She passed Olivia over slowly, though not as slowly as Oliver was to take her. He looked as though he’d just been handed the most precious thing in the world, which in Laurel’s opinion he had been.

The nurse fussed a bit, showing him how to hold her properly. Oliver let her, even though Laurel was sure he’d have remembered how from Thea. That whole first year after the Queens had brought her home, Oliver hadn’t been able to keep from bragging about his new baby sister. She’d thought it was the sweetest thing, but the look on his face right now was threatening to top it.

There was a long silence once the nurse had left, though it wasn’t exactly an uncomfortable one. Oliver was far too preoccupied with the baby to talk. The more Laurel watched them, the more the guilt at staying silent for so long seemed to eat at her.

Laurel cleared her throat as softly as she could manage. “Oliver, I really am sorry.”

He managed to tear his gaze away from Olivia for a few moments. “Laurel, you’re not the only one who’s ever tried to hide from the people whose opinions matter most to you.”

She pursed her lips. “Well, that sums it up pretty nicely. Where’d you get that one?”

His mouth opened, then closed, and at last he shrugged. “Myself, in a way.”

She decided to let that one go without comment. “I wasn’t just hiding, though. I hid her from you, too. And that wasn’t fair.”

“No, what wasn’t fair was that I left you to deal with this alone. You tried to reach me, and I didn’t listen.”

“I didn’t try reaching out to my father or Joanna or anyone actually in the city, either,” she pointed out.

“Six months ago no one in the city would have been happy to hear about this. With mom’s trial and Queen Consolidated about to collapse, they would never have left you alone.” Oliver shook his head. “You were doing what you had to to keep her safe. How could I blame you for that?”

She imagined if she felt up to it and he wasn’t holding their daughter, she’d have jumped into his arms and kissed him. But that was how they’d got into this mess in the first place. Laurel sighed.

“Oliver...you know this doesn’t fix everything that’s happened between us.” She kept her eyes on her hands as they toyed with the edge of her blanket. “If anything, it makes things more complicated.”

“I know,” he agreed quietly. “And I know it’s always been complicated. But I swear to you, Laurel, I am ready for that this time.”

She looked up at him and was briefly stunned by the conviction in his eyes, the promise there, the way he held Olivia so securely like he could protect her from anything. But a part of her still had to ask, “How can you be so sure?”

“Because I can’t afford not to be. Being Olivia’s father, it’s not something that I could back out of or run away from. You both deserve more than that.”

Laurel wanted to believe him. She always did.

She cleared her throat yet again and asked, “Okay, so...where do we go from here?”

“Well, we both know about her now. And we both want to be her parents.”

Laurel nodded. “I think that’s about as far as we should define that relationship. At least for now.”

“You don’t want—”

“I don’t want to rush into something only for it to fall apart and cause some kind of split,” she explained. “Olivia needs us. That has to come before anything else.”

Oliver blew out a breath but didn’t argue. “I still need you in my life. The both of you.”

“And so do we,” she replied, hoping to assure him.

He smiled and relaxed in his chair a little more. “I guess the big question is whether that’s here or in Starling.”

Laurel frowned. “Oliver, you can’t just pack up and move. You’re running Queen Consolidated.”

“I could commute,” he offered stubbornly. “Whatever is best for you and the baby.”

He really was something else sometimes. “Your whole family’s in Starling,” she began slowly. “And...I miss my dad. I miss Joanna, I miss my life. It’s time for me to be a big girl about this. Time to go back.”

“If you’re sure.”

She nodded once.

“Okay.” A smile spread across his face as Olivia gurgled something only intelligible to her. He bounced his knee lightly, which their daughter seemed to like. Laurel wasn’t sure she could remember smiling this much in the longest time, but she also didn’t think she could stop.

“I guess I need to make some calls,” Oliver said, regret coloring his tone. “Your dad was the one to send me down here. And mom and Thea don’t know anything yet. Is it okay if—”

She didn’t even let him finish. “Of course. Olivia’s their family, too.”

“Thank you.” He kissed the top of Olivia’s head and stood, carefully passing the baby to her arms. She couldn’t deny being greedy to hold her again, even if she’d been the one to suggest Oliver get a chance.

“I will be right back.” Oliver paused, then slowly brushed some of her hair back to press the lightest kiss to her cheek.

Laurel couldn’t help smiling up at him as he pulled away and left the room.

“So, what do you think?” She asked her baby. “That was your daddy. He loves you. He only found out about you yesterday, and he already loves you. That’s how special you are.”

Olivia blinked and gurgled again, about the extent of her review. Laurel nodded along very seriously.

“In a little while you’re gonna meet the rest of your grandparents and your Aunt Thea. And they’re all going to love you too, of course.” She hoped, anyway. Oliver’s family she could count on. Laurel was still incredibly nervous about seeing or even speaking to her dad again.

Whatever happened, she was going to make sure Olivia was surrounded by people who did care about her. Laurel never wanted her daughter to ever question if she was wanted.

It wouldn’t be easy going home, but the fact was that it was her home. She had felt torn about leaving it in the first place, but now that most of the anger towards the Queens had died down it seemed unimaginable to even think of raising her daughter anywhere else.

After all, if the Hood could make a comeback in Starling City, why couldn’t she?

She could take her time in finding work that would both help her new family and others now that she knew Oliver was behind her on this. Laurel had no intention of taking advantage of the Queens’ money, but she wouldn’t deny the relief at knowing she wasn’t under so much pressure. Maybe it wasn’t in quite the way she’d ever pictured, but they were a team once again. Laurel tried to quash the bubble of hope that was determinedly rising inside; one thing at a time, and Olivia was first.

“I’ll get to spend more time with you than I thought I’d be able to,” she told her daughter. “Never mind that you’re here a whole two months early.”

Olivia made a sort of humming sound. Her eyes were drifting closed, and Laurel knew she probably ought to enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasted. Once Olivia was asleep, she’d put her to bed and get that water she’d been craving. She hadn’t wanted to bother Oliver for one while he was here and cause him to worry. She’d troubled the people she cared about far too much already these past few months.

“We’ll make sure you get plenty of time with your dad, too. You will love him. I know I do.” She leaned in close with a grin and whispered, “But that’s our little secret, okay?”

—-

Oliver left the room and immediately wanted to re-enter it. It felt wrong to be without Laurel and Olivia. But there were things that needed taken care of. If he wanted to have a secure plan in place for his daughter, he could put aside his own feelings for the time being.

And it was important to get ahead of the media. The minute they touched back down in Starling with a baby in tow there was bound to be talk, and that was not how Oliver wanted the rest of his friends and loved ones to find out.

Olivia was going to be in the spotlight almost from the beginning of her life. He could understand Laurel’s desire to get away from that during her pregnancy, and for a moment he wondered whether it was wise to give up that anonymity. But he didn’t want to hide either of them away like some dirty secret, a separate part of his life.

So many people he wanted to and truthfully needed to speak to. A part of him wanted to shout the news from the rooftops. Another part of him knew that would be the stupidest option possible.

With great difficulty, the more rational side of his mind won out, and he contemplated who to call first. Oliver’s first instinct was his own family, but he had come here initially on Quentin Lance’s behalf.

Decision made at last, he took out his phone and dialed.

Lance was slow to pick up, but as soon as he did he was asking, “How’s Laurel? Is the baby alright?”

“I just finished talking to Laurel. And I have seen your granddaughter. Congratulations.”

“A girl. Well, can’t have too many of those, huh?” Lance let out something of a chuckle that turned into a light cough. Oliver heard him take a sip of what he hoped was water before the question came. “What’d Laurel name her?”

Oliver paused there. It was Lance’s right to know his granddaughter’s name, but he deserved an explanation first.

“Officer Lance, there’s something I need to tell you. But I’m not sure how.”

Again, Oliver hesitated.

He heard the man give some kind of groaning exhale. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re the father.”

“...Yes.” There was no point denying it.

“And you- you didn’t know before you took off for wherever?”

“No,” Oliver said immediately. “I wouldn’t have left in the first place if I’d known.”

Lance thankfully let that drop for the moment. “Let’s see, nine months back — well, no wonder she thought I’d be upset.”

“It’s not like that. The baby is two months premature,” Oliver informed him. This was something he knew was bound to come up in the media upon their return home, and if he could spare Laurel any grief over her own father’s assumptions, he would. “I don’t know how much Laurel said, but shortly before he died Tommy broke up with her and moved out. It wasn’t until a few weeks after that we—”

“Alright, alright, spare me the details, I get it,” Lance grumbled. “But, uh, thanks. I- I should know her better than that.”

“I’m sure Laurel knows this hasn’t been easy for you.”

“Is she coming home?”

“She wants to.”

He heard Lance let out a breath over the phone. “Good. I — that’s good.” There was another pause. “And are you two…”

“We’re not making a decision on that right now.”

“Well, where’re Laurel and the baby gonna live?”

Oliver blinked. That wasn’t an issue he’d thought to address till now. “We haven’t discussed it. I’d prefer if they came to stay at the Manor, though. It’s less accessible to the press and others.” He’d have to be careful about wording that invitation; the last thing he wanted was Laurel to think he was trying to trap her into a de facto relationship.

“Yeah, well it’s got a better record for break-ins than her apartment. I’ll try and talk her round.”

“Thank you.” Oliver still wasn’t exactly used to Lance being this helpful. It was a new enough change that it caught him off guard from time to time.

“Hey, if my girls are coming back to this crazy town, they’re getting the best,” Lance said. There was the muffled sound of someone on the other end of the line; most likely a nurse or other hospital staff. “Listen, I should be out of here in the next day or so. I’m gonna try.”

“Take as long as you need. We’ll be here.”

“What did Laurel call her? The baby.”

“Oh. Olivia. Olivia Dinah.”

Lance huffed out another laugh. “See why you wanted to square things first, then. Wouldn’t have needed my old badge to figure that out.”

Oliver grimaced. “Well, you deserved the truth.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Tell Laurel that, will you?”

“I will.”

One down, and he wasn’t even sure if it was the toughest. He’d survived being on the end of Lance’s disapproval many times; he wasn’t sure if he could do the same when it came to his own family.

But he also needed his family with him on this. So he made his second call.

This time, it was picked up sooner. “Oliver?”

“Yeah, mom.”

“How is Laurel?”

“She’s good.” He thought of her back in that room holding their little girl, a tired but no less radiant look on her face, and had to resist the urge yet again to go back in. “She’s really great.”

“I’m glad to hear it. You never actually told us where you were going, sweetheart,” his mother reminded him after a pause.

Oh. “Right. I’m at Central City General. Laurel was staying with her mom. But she’s okay. It wasn’t anything with the explosion. It’s, well.”

Oliver took a breath.

“There’s something I need to tell you, and, mom, you might want to sit down.”

“Oliver, is everything alright?”

“It is. It’s not bad news. It’s, well, think of it as sort of a Christmas present I got you.”

“Well, I’m as happy as anyone that Laurel’s been found, but something tells me there’s more to it than that.”

“There is.” He took a deep breath, then said, “You are a grandmother.”

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end of the line.

“I know it’s not the best way for this to happen,” he started before she could even begin. “But it still feels right to me. God, you should see her, mom. Actually, you and Thea should come down. You won’t know what hit you.”

“I’m quite familiar with the feeling, actually,” she replied. He could hear the dryness in her tone.

“Right.” Oliver drew in a breath. “I’m not sorry this happened.”

“Oh, sweetheart, I don’t think you should be. But a baby is a far different responsibility than anything I can safely say you’ve prepared for. And there’s some choices you’ll have to make.”

Oliver said nothing.

“Does she have a name yet?”

“She does. Olivia Dinah.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“Will you and Thea come down to see her?”

“Of course,” his mother said. He released the breath he hadn’t realized he’d still been holding. “Do you want to speak to your sister or shall I?”

“Um.” He thought for a moment. Thea would have endless questions, and he was trying to make each of these calls brief so he could get back. “If you don’t mind, I’ll talk to her when she gets here.”

“I understand. You’re needed elsewhere. And congratulations, Oliver. Being a parent is the most daunting challenge you will ever face — but it’s also the most rewarding.”

He smiled. “Thanks, mom. Hope I haven’t made it too much of the former for you.”

“Oh, you keep me on my toes. Today is no exception.”

“Let me know when you get in. I can’t wait for you both to meet her.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

He ended the call, not entirely sure how he was feeling. Happy that his family would be meeting their newest member, of course, but he’d also been given a lot to think about.

His mother was right. If he wanted to keep his promise to Laurel, he needed to make her and Olivia his first priority. Not the company, not the Arrow, nothing was more important to him. There were going to need to be some changes in his life.

With that in mind, he knew he had one more call to make. Oliver was unsurprised when he only had to wait seconds for it to be picked up.

“So what happened? Thea said you went to see Laurel.”

“I did. I would have told you myself, Digg, but it was important I get here as soon as possible.”

“And she was in Central. She alright?”

Oliver glanced back at her and Olivia’s room and nodded though his friend couldn’t see it. “Yeah.”

“Are you?”

He blinked. “Yeah, of course.”

“You just sound like you’re reeling, Oliver.” Even over the phone, Digg could read him.

“If I am, it’s because I am happy,” he stated firmly. “I’m — Laurel was pregnant. That’s why she left.”

He heard a heavy exhale on the other end of the line. “Oh man, Oliver—”

“I know. I know, John, I screwed up. But we’re going to give this a try. I need to give this a try. This is...this is my family now.”

Diggle was quiet for a long moment. “What are you gonna do?”

“Laurel and I are discussing it. She wants to come back. As much as her mother has been there for her through this, Starling is her home. And I cannot picture raising a family anywhere else.”

“And what’s this mean for your night job?”

Oliver thought. He didn’t feel like getting into an argument with Digg on the phone. And a hospital corridor really wasn’t the place. “That is something I will have to discuss with you and Felicity when I get back.”

“Alright. Well, speaking of Felicity, you mind doing her a favor while you’re there? She found Barry in the hospital records.”

“Barry?” Oliver blinked, looking around as if expecting the scientist to suddenly appear in the maternity ward of all places.

“Yeah, he got checked in after the explosion. He’s in the ICU, but that’s all she can find out from here.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

He remembered Dinah mentioning Laurel’s early labor was being put down to the shock from the particle accelerator explosion; it was a miracle that nothing else had happened to her or Olivia. Apparently Barry had not been so lucky.

“Do you want me to tell her?”

He pulled himself back out of his thoughts. “Tell who what?”

“Felicity. About the baby.”

He hadn’t really put much thought into that, how more than this immediate circle would find out. Felicity was a friend and teammate, and he knew she wouldn’t appreciate learning about it with the rest of the public when they returned.

“If I’m not back within the week to talk to her myself, then yes. I would be grateful if you told her.”

“And what are you going to tell Laurel?”

Oliver didn’t bother to suppress an eye roll considering his friend couldn’t see it. “One thing at a time, John.” It was clear Digg wasn’t going to be willing to let the issue of the Arrow drop anytime soon. “Look, I’ll make sure we get back as soon as we can.”

“Alright. Well, for what it’s worth, congratulations.”

A smile was pulled from him only somewhat grudgingly. “Thank you.”

He hung up for the final time and rubbed at his temples. He had family coming in, friends pressing him for answers, and a hospitalized acquaintance to check on. Oliver wished not for the first time that he could freeze the varied moving parts of his life in place if only for a few moments of peace.

One part of his life stood out in particular: the Arrow. He knew what his teammates would want him to decide. It would hardly have changed since their trip to retrieve him from the island two months ago. But was juggling that with the company and a new baby even feasible? And that was only the least of his misgivings.

What he had told John and Felicity was still true; he did not like what he became whenever he put on that hood. And to go out there threatening or even torturing people, risking his life again and again — could he bring that back home to Laurel and their baby? He didn’t think he knew how to be the father Olivia deserved if he forced himself to go back there every single night.

The mirakuru was something from the island. That made it his responsibility. He could not in good conscience sit by and let the man in the skull mask spread that horror through his city. But once he was stopped…

Oliver let his mind drift back to a time very similar, when he’d thought Malcolm Merlyn outmaneuvered and his mission near an end. How he’d gone to Laurel to finally make things right between them, a union that had resulted in a daughter.

It was a life he could have only dreamed of on the island and a life now so very nearly in his grasp. Ever since the Undertaking, he had felt adrift when it came to his vigilante work, without purpose. Was it really so selfish to just let go? Allow the legal system due course? Wasn’t it his vigilantism that had caused so many of the problems the city now faced?

He could not be Oliver Queen, father, and the Arrow, dark vigilante. Those two identities pulled at each other, and he could not hope to maintain both. And if one had to go at the expense of the other, there was not a choice to make.

His feet, which had been slowly carrying him down the hall to the elevators, stopped and turned back towards Laurel and Olivia’s room. Barry could wait for the time being; he no doubt had family of his own who wouldn’t appreciate an interloper. And Oliver had his family along with — for the first time in so long — a future.

It was time to think about truly living in the light.

—-

Quentin hadn’t known what to say when the fancy black car had pulled up in front of the hospital once he was finally allowed out of the doors. Queen’s bodyguard had gotten out of the driver seat and opened the side door for the family’s matriarch.

“I believe we’re headed in the same direction, Officer.” Moira Queen had looked as refined as he remembered her being before all the Undertaking business. He wondered if news of the baby had even ruffled her feathers for a moment.

“Suppose so, but, uh, I’ve got to pick up some things at my place. I’m not packed.”

“Of course. There’s certainly enough time to make a detour.” She gestured with one arm for him to get in, which he had a feeling was not exactly up for debate. It beat hailing a cab, anyway.

Quentin discovered almost immediately upon sliding in that Thea Queen was also waiting in the backseat, though across from him. Her mother placed herself at her side and once the driver had gotten back in they were off.

“Have you gotten to talk to Laurel yet?” The girl asked him.

“No,” he answered shortly. Quentin wasn’t sure why he’d been holding off exactly. Maybe it’d just be easier to do it face to face. Maybe it wasn’t going to be easy at all and he was just putting it off for as long as possible. Maybe he hadn’t figured out what he was going to say in the first place.

When they arrived outside his building, he waved off any assistance in packing. Wasn’t like he was lifting anything heavy. He threw the first few shirts and pants he came across in his dresser into a bag along with various other necessities, then made his way back out front to the car.

They were soon on their way after that to the airport. Quentin had been planning to take the train seeing as it’d be cheaper, but he had a feeling his expenses were being covered.

The youngest Queen — or second-youngest, now — was practically bouncing up and down in her seat. Hard to believe around this time last year Thea Queen had been a girl spiraling into hard substance abuse, yet now she ran a business and was an aunt.

“They didn’t send you any pictures, did they?”

It took him a moment to realize it was him she was talking to. “Uh, no.”

She shrugged, not too upset by his answer. “Figures. Ollie says he wants us to see Olivia in person first.”

“Trust me, Thea, it will be worth it,” said Mrs. Queen. “There’s really no experience like it. I still remember when Oliver came to meet you like it was yesterday.”

Quentin thought he knew what she meant. Laurel hadn’t understood too well what had been happening, having been all of two, but she had been very excited to go see her mom in the hospital. He had placed her on his lap and then had taken Sara in his arms to show her how she was to hold her baby sister. Laurel had listened with a very serious expression as he’d explained that she was a big girl now and needed to be responsible and set a good example for the baby, that he and Dinah would need her help around the house more now that there was another infant to look after. She’d been a toddler without tantrums from that moment on, and Quentin had felt so proud back then.

Now he leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes. He’d always put so much on her shoulders, hadn’t he?

“Quentin.”

He blinked his eyes open. Mrs. Queen was watching him carefully.

“I hope that’s alright. It occurs to me that we’re all something of a family now.” Her smile turned slightly chagrined. “I’ve had my share of harsh words to say this past year, but I wouldn’t want that to get in the way of things. Not for your daughter or our granddaughter.”

Well, jail time certainly hadn’t dimmed her regal way of doing things, had it? Quentin inclined his head. “Your son isn’t the person he used to be. I’m ready to let things stay in the past so long as he keeps doing things right.”

“And that is more than fair of you.” She leaned forward in her seat just slightly. “While it’s not exactly the way I would have preferred it to happen, I had always hoped Laurel would officially become part of the family. She’s far better for Oliver than I think she realizes.”

“She’s better for most people, yeah.” He watched the woman — Moira, he guessed, if they really were doing this whole family thing — smile at his words.

“We’re here!” Thea Queen was unbuckling her seatbelt before they’d even pulled up to the curb and had the door open quicker than Queen’s bodyguard could get to it.

He instead unloaded both women’s luggage from the trunk and passed Quentin his bag.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come along, Mr. Diggle?”

“Thank you, ma’am, but Oliver asked me to keep an eye on things while he was gone,” the man answered. “Somebody’s got to head up the welcome wagon when they bring her back, anyway.”

Moira nodded. “Well, make sure to take some time for yourself and your family for the holidays.”

“I will, ma’am. Thank you.”

He tried to get some sleep on the plane, but his mind didn’t seem to want to quiet down. It was like all he could do was count down the remaining minutes and miles separating him from Laurel and the baby. He still couldn’t think of what to say.

They got a taxi from the Central City airport to the hospital. Quentin didn’t think he’d ever get used to this sort of VIP treatment, family or no.

None of them had Laurel’s room number. He should have thought to ask when he’d had Queen — well, Oliver — on the phone. Moira enquired at the front desk, which was just as well since she didn’t look like her nerves were all shot to hell the way his were, and was soon leading them to an elevator and down the corridor of Central City General’s maternity ward.

In the final steps his mind seemed to draw a complete blank, and anything he might have prepared flew right out of his head. Quentin cleared the doorway and stopped, Thea Queen nearly colliding with his back.

“Oliver,” Moira was saying. Her son had looked up at their entrance and moved to greet her. In a chair by the vacant bed, Dinah smiled and gave a wave with the hand that wasn’t cradling a little bundle to her chest.

But Quentin only had eyes for the room’s remaining occupant. His daughter.

She turned slowly to face them, her eyes meeting his for the briefest moment before dropping to the floor.

He managed to force out past the lump in his throat. “Laurel.”

Quentin watched as she bit her lip, then raised her head once again. “Dad.”

He swayed forward a step the same time as she took one and then in a blink his daughter was in his arms.

“I’m sorry. Dad, I really — I’m so sorry,” Laurel was gasping in his ear. She was clutching onto his jacket as if she feared any moment he might push her away. The realization started a stinging sensation behind his eyes.

“Laurel- honey, listen to me.” As gratifying as it was to know that she’d considered what she might have put him through, he knew if he didn’t get these words out now, he never would. “I’m sorry.”

Her grip slackened and she pulled back to look at him. “What?”

“You didn’t feel like you could count on me, and I — well, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know why.” He grimaced and ran a hand through his hair. “There’s a lot of how I’ve treated you the last five years that I’ve been thinking about since you left, and I’m not proud of it.”

She was shaking her head. “Dad—”

“Just- just let me finish. Now, I’m not happy you did what you did, but if I’d been better to you maybe you wouldn’t have done it. And none of that changes the fact that I am just so, so relieved to know you’re safe and you’re coming home.”

She hugged him again and he held on tight, trying his damndest not to actually cry in front of all these people. Sure, they were all family now, but he wasn’t about to let them see that.

After a long moment, Laurel pulled back and wiped at her eyes. “Would you like to meet your granddaughter?”

He felt his breath hitch and could only nod. Laurel smiled and turned away to the others. The Queens were all stood in a huddle around Dinah, who had passed the little bundle to Oliver. He left the group and stepped forward without needing to be asked.

“Olivia, this is your grandfather,” he said to the baby in his arms. Quentin found himself leaning forward without even thinking about it, desperate to get a better look.

She was small, so much smaller than either of his girls had been. He was almost afraid to take her, she looked so fragile.

“And she’s healthy, right? Even without the two months?”

“Uh-huh,” Laurel answered. “Actually, the doctors said it’d be riskier to delay things once my water broke.”

Quentin found one of her tiny fists just poking out of the blanket she was wrapped in and laid his hand over it. “But look at her! Look what you did. Oh, she’s beautiful, honey.”

He didn’t realize he was swaying slightly until someone caught his arm. That someone turned out to be Oliver.

“Officer Lance?”

“Dad, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Just a little unsteady on my feet still, I guess.”

Laurel and Oliver were on either side of him, leading him to sit in the vacated chair.

“Mom said you were in for a checkup,” Laurel said, an audible frown in her voice.

“Well, we couldn’t have you worrying while we were still waiting for news about Olivia’s health,” Dinah answered for herself.

“I’m taking things easy, and I’m on medication,” Quentin tried again to dismiss. “Got a little worked up is all. Hard not to, meeting my first grandchild and all.”

“I think she’s gonna end up with Ollie’s eyes,” Thea declared, seeming to sense the need for a distraction. “I mean I know most babies start with blue, but they’re just so pretty. And she’s definitely got your nose, Laurel.” She turned and embraced Quentin’s daughter, her eyes squeezing shut as she added, “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks, Thea,” Laurel murmured back. “I missed you guys so much.”

“It really is nice to have everyone here,” Dinah said as she watched them. Then her smile faltered. “Almost everyone.”

Quentin could only stare. Sara. Sara didn’t know. She was out there hiding from that awful League, never dreaming she was an aunt.

Those five years he’d thought Sara dead, Quentin had acted as though the world had stopped. Life couldn’t go on without one of his girls, could it? But here was the proof that it had gone on. And she was missing it!

He had to get her away from those people, for her sake as well as the rest of them. Olivia shouldn’t have to know the kind of grief they’d been feeling for a daughter who wasn’t dead. Dinah and Laurel had both suffered so much over it, and Quentin himself was only beginning to try and recover. Sara needed to be here at home, where she belonged, no matter what some cult of killers said.

No matter what, his family was going to be together again.

—-

There had been very few times in the last six years Moira had ever truly felt at peace. This was one of those times.

Things had quieted down for the most part. The Lances had gone to Dinah’s home in order to start packing their daughter’s things along with the scant baby supplies that had been bought. Laurel had gone for a walk around the hospital for a bit of exercise and to stretch her legs, which Oliver had offered to accompany her on. He’d claimed a need to check on another of the hospital’s patients before Laurel was able to do more than protest she didn’t need a babysitter.

Moira shook her head to herself. Whether or not her son’s excuse had been legitimate, she had a feeling he’d be sticking as close to Laurel as his schedule allowed from now on. Their daughter was only bound to heighten his protective instincts. He was too much like her that way, Moira was willing to admit.

Her baby boy had grown up long ago, but she wasn’t sure the truth of it had hit her until this exact moment.

Olivia had been left in her and Thea’s care for the moment, and Moira cradled the new baby in her arms the same way she’d done both her children, marveling at the innocence with which a baby saw the world. Well, Olivia wasn’t strictly seeing it at the moment, being fast asleep, but the innocence was there all the same.

There would be a lot of questions upon their return. She’d need to talk to Oliver and possibly Jean about how they wanted to handle the inevitable media storm. Their options on how to spin their story were somewhat limited.

Moira of course respected Oliver and Laurel’s decision at the moment to not be romantically involved. It was the mature thing to do for Olivia’s sake. She did also worry, particularly for Laurel, how the public might perceive the arrangement.

And she was well aware of what her son truly desired.

“I want to do things right this time,” he’d confessed to her while the others had all been occupied elsewhere. “No matter how long it takes. So I want you to know, mom, that someday — I don’t know when yet — I am going to ask you if I can have your engagement ring. And I hope you’ll say yes.”

“Well, sweetheart, nothing would make me happier than to see you with a family of your own. And I admire your commitment.” She’d pursed her lips and continued, “If you’d allow me a piece of advice — however qualified I am to give it — nothing is more important to a relationship than honesty. The more secrets you keep, the less able your partner is to rely on you or be relied upon, no matter how much they might want to. I know the lies are what cost me Walter.”

Oliver had nodded solemnly and said a quiet, “Thank you, mom.”

Only time would tell if he heeded her words. Moira wasn’t exactly doing so herself at the moment, either, but she’d resigned herself to her vices. It wasn’t too late for Oliver to break his. He’d already done so with Thea, and she knew the happiness he sought with Laurel would only come once he opened himself fully to her. Even if his fears were pushing him to do the opposite.

“I wish dad could’ve been here for this.”

Moira looked up sharply, but the meaning behind Thea’s words caught up to her just in time. She schooled her alarmed expression into one of calm and understanding.

“I know, sweetheart. I doubt Robert could have ever been prouder.”

Of course her mind was now, as it ever seemed to be, on Malcolm.

She had yet to hear from him since their last confrontation and could only hope he was far away evading the League he had abandoned. Perhaps it was too much to hope that he had gone so thoroughly to ground that news of Olivia would never reach him.

But the balance had shifted. Moira had now added far more to her family, far more vulnerable spots that could be exploited.

How might Malcolm use her granddaughter against her, this fragile newborn life? What if he tried to steal her away the way he felt she’d stolen Thea? What if he killed Oliver out there one night to deprive this baby of her father?

She could only hope this Ra’s al Ghul would be enough of a deterrent, at least until she could come up with another plan. Regardless, she would protect this child as she did all her children with whatever she had to her last breath.

Olivia slept on in her arms, blissfully innocent and unaware. Moira kissed the top of her head, vowing to shield her from Malcolm better than she had her father.

“Thea, do you mind holding her for a minute? I think I could do with some air.”

“Yeah, course mom.” Thea took Olivia eagerly, cooing at her and making faces. It was hard to remember that her daughter wasn’t just as innocent as the baby, though both were totally unknowing of the danger that hung over them all like a shadow. She almost couldn’t bear to watch, and she turned and left the little room.

The walls were closing in, and not for the first time Moira wondered if she hadn’t been better off in prison.

—-

He looked up as the door banged open, but didn’t even bother to reach for a weapon.

“That’s not the behavior I’d expect from Starling City’s mayoral candidate.”

“I’m sorry,” Sebastian Blood wheezed. He took a moment to collect his breath and straightened. “But Daily’s information is correct. Officer Lance left for Central yesterday to see his daughter. She’s just given birth.”

“Has she?” He thought for a moment. Not exactly the answer he’d been expecting, but if, if there was a chance—

“And it was just her father going to see her?”

“No.” Sebastian gave one form shake of his head. “He was seen leaving the hospital with the Queen family.”

He felt...something. Not happiness — no, he had not known happiness for some time, and doubtless he never would again. This was certainty. Certainty that he had just won.

“This is good news.” Surprising, perhaps, but undoubtedly good.

He’d had his theories as to Miss Lance’s disappearance and whether or not Oliver was aware of the reason. It seemed now that he had been, though he wondered as to the man he had once thought of as a friend’s reasoning in revealing her whereabouts along with the child’s, no less. He had seen the mirakuru in use in his own city and seemingly decided it was no serious threat.

That was his own folly.

“You really think we can use this to stop the Arrow?” Sebastian asked, drawing him back into the present.

“The Arrow cares for Miss Lance a great deal. Her child will be afforded the same care, there is no question.”

He watched as Sebastian’s lips curved into the slightest frown. “Should I prepare my men for an attack?”

He held up a hand. “No. Give the new family time with their child.” It was better that way. Let Oliver have just a taste of the happiness he had denied Slade, only for it all to be ripped away when he least expected it. Then and only then he might do his one-time brother the mercy of ending his suffering.

Sebastian seemed relieved. He’d formed a curious friendship with Oliver. It was nothing of concern as of yet, and Sebastian would follow his orders so long as Slade gave him his promised city.

“Leave me,” he said, and watched the man scurry from his sight.

Now alone, Slade Wilson allowed a smile to stretch across lips that had had no reason to smile for years. So Oliver thought he was safe? That he was allowed peace, love, a family of his own?

The arrogant fool.

#lauriver #laurel lance #oliver queen #laurel x oliver #quentin lance #moira queen #thea queen #slade wilson #john diggle #dinah lance #green arrow #black canary #arrow #my writing

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bunnybbomb · 6 years

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Trying To Tie Loose Ends (Catharsis Continuation): Chapter 6: Seeing Eye to Eyes:

Summary: With Betaal as the new First Knight and Estuu as Brivere’s Holy Knight, the three Zoras must awkwardly make amends and learn to understand each other in order to properly be able to carry out their duties to Prince Sidon. However, their tense and complicated past threatens to hold them back from something greater.

(A fic for the sidlink fic Coma Baby, a continuation of the other one I made called Catharsis!)

This is a fanfiction for a fanfiction called Coma Baby by BanishedOne on AO3 (tumblr: @banishfics / @banishedone), and a continuation of the other one I wrote called Catharsis. If you like a grumpy Link and really well developed, deep characters and an amazing take on the political structure of the Zora Domain, then definitely check out Coma Baby! It’s a long read and still going on, but the writing and descriptions are superb and it just means more great content. This fic in particular is focused on my favorite character in the series, the OC Brivere. You don’t need to read the whole series to get what’s going on in this fic though, since a lot is explained in here.

I post memes and fics for Coma Baby on my tumblr, you can chat with me any time about anything! I also post all chapters on my AO3 account BunnyBob!

Huge thank you to my amazing beta reader Alina! Her tumblr and ff.net is @ipromiseitsnotanobsession. She actually does editing shit for a living and she is the one that makes sure these things aren’t trash, so

Disclaimer: In no way does this have any true ties or canon to Coma Baby unless stated otherwise. It’s really just an indulgence AU to feed my obsession for Brivere drama.

It only occurred to Sidon as he stood there, before every citizen in the Zora Domain, holding a silver scale spear that would initiate the knighting ceremony, that this was an extremely horrible idea.

He inwardly cringed as he looked at Estuu and Betaal kneeling in front of him. It wasn’t that they weren’t worthy of their positions respectively. Betaal had almost won the first tournament he’d held years ago for the role of his personal knight, and while still very young, Estuu was extremely intelligent had and won Brivere’s trials fair and square. Both of them had fought for and earned their respective titles in an admirable show of wit and strength, making Sidon honored that such talented individuals would choose to serve and protect him.

No, the problem was the infamous tension that ran between the two, along with his now Oracle Knight, Brivere.

Years ago, Estuu had shot Betaal in the eye with an arrow for reasons unknown. Ever since then, she had had to wear an eyepatch that, luckily for her, just enhanced her already rugged face and threatening persona. Many speculated that, if the incident hadn’t occurred, she would have become Prince Sidon’s original First Knight, not Brivere. Sidon couldn’t deny the possibility, since battling with a sudden handicap would severely hinder anyone’s fighting ability. But nothing could be done in time for the tournament and Brivere had apologized profusely and insisted that he had no hand in his brother’s brash actions.

Sidon often joked to himself that he should thank Estuu for doing it, but there was no way that he could tell such a dark joke to anyone else. Of course, there was no malice towards Betaal in his humor, as he admired her raw physical strength and amazing leadership abilities. It just hurt his heart to think that he possibly never would have met Brivere if the tournament had ended differently. The prince was dating him and Link now, who had left the Domain a couple days prior to try and find help for Brivere’s strange eye condition, caused by his future-seeing abilities. For now, Brivere continued to wear a silver scale visor to hide it, since most of the crowd still didn’t know about his condition.

The prince often mused that perhaps it was for the best that Brivere had won initially. When he had opened up the position for his personal knight to all of the Zora Domain, regardless of bloodline or status, he had the best of intentions to let everyone have an equal chance at the position. But he never would have expected the intense class war that broke out as a result. Under and upper city Zora alike had all fought in his tournament, accidentally making the position of first knight into a political statement. Undercity Zora wanted to rise into the untouchable upper class, and the Uppercity Zora wanted to put the lower class back into their place.

Sidon used to be silently thankful that Brivere had won, since he technically didn’t fall into either category. Then, he had realized that the controversy and torment that used to surround his beloved knight’s family was something that no one should be grateful for.

The sound of his father starting his speech snapped Sidon out of his thoughts. King Dorephan’s naturally loud voice was absolutely booming as he made sure that every individual could hear his words. “Zora of our great Domain, it is with honor that today we bestow the title of Holy Knight to Estuu of Brivere’s bloodline and the title of First Knight to Betaal of the Undercity Zora. May the two of you use your positions to continue to protect our Domain and its citizens. Please lead us to a prosperous future.”

The old king gestured at Sidon and Brivere to step forward. “Both of you may now swear in your respective personal knights.”

Sidon walked over to Betaal with the silver scale spear tightly gripped in his hands. She held her head down until he stood directly in front of her. “Betaal of the Undercity Zora,” he began, tapping the pointed end of the spear on her brow, “You have displayed great strength during your time as a warrior.”

The spear then gently shifted onto her left shoulder. “There is no doubt that you have worked hard and deeply care for your fellow Zora.”

Moving the spear to her other shoulder, Sidon stared into her one remaining eye. “With this, I am proud to declare you as my First Knight. May we work together to bring victory to our great Domain.”

Betaal knelt lower until her brow touched the floor, then she rose to her feet. “Yes, my lord.” she said proudly. The two of them each held out their right hand and clasped them onto the other’s left shoulder, bowing their heads until they lightly touched.

Slowly, they let go, and Sidon shifted the spear until it rested horizontally in his hands. He held it out to Betaal, who took it in her left hand with a thankful nod. Sidon grabbed onto her right hand and held it high, which was a bit awkward since she was so much shorter than him, as she turned to face the cheering crowd.

“May we all welcome the new First Knight, Betaal!” he announced loudly.

The crowd roared with energy as they cheered and clapped their hands. The Undercity Zora hollered and screamed with joy, absolutely ecstatic at one of their own making it into one of the highest positions possible in the elite class of the royal government. The Uppercity Zora were noticeably less excited, politely clapping or simply mumbling words of congratulations in barely audible monotone voices. The soldiers in attendance, many of whom had actually worked under Betaal’s watchful eye before, started up the famous battle chant, shouting “ZO RA RA RA!” over and over as they pumped their weapons into the air.

The sounds of the wild crowd almost drowned out the sound of Brivere’s own speech, but Sidon was still able to barely catch a bit of it as he turned to look at the brothers. Estuu was trembling, clearly shaken by the sudden and extreme change in volume. Both of them quickly went through the same motions that he and Betaal just had, noticeably leaving out the parts where they would have to touch, and then Brivere helped Estuu to his feet and ushered him back into the palace.

Some of the Zora who were watching tilted their heads in confusion, surprised that the Holy Knight’s initiation had happened so quickly, with no one paying attention. But the majority of the crowd either didn’t notice or ignored the brothers in favor of Betaal, who was more popular and technically held a higher rank than Estuu anyways.

Sidon and King Dorephan watched with concern as the two brothers ducked through the grand entryway, but they knew that it was improper to disrupt the ceremony to check up on them. Besides, Brivere had already warned them that this would most likely happen, but apparently Estuu himself was the one who had insisted on going through with the ceremony.

The prince hoped with every scale on his body that his new trio of knights would get along. He was at least confident that they would work together professionally, but this hope quickly died when he caught the glare that Betaal wore as she watched the brothers leaving and the slight scowl that they both gave her in return.

Dear Hylia help them all.

;

The first few days after the ceremony were tense as Sidon tried to adjust to his larger entourage.

It was already bad enough that two new positions were added, leading to more paperwork and fumbling around to try and clear up any confusion. But on top of that stress, his knights were walking around on eggshells. Everyone awkwardly danced around each other, trying not to slice their feet into ribbons as they moved to an ever-changing tune.

One second, everything would at least be somewhat professional, and then the next, Betaal and Brivere would be clawing at each other's throats. The fights always started the same, just over different topics each time. Betaal would say something against either of the brothers and egg them on until Brivere would snap and argue back. Ironically, the youngest Zora, Estuu, managed to be the most mature one and never got involved. But this was probably more due to him being mute than anything else, as evidenced by the cold stare he often eyed Betaal with.

This dynamic was surprising at first because Brivere was usually so reserved and stoic in the face of adversity. But Sidon could tell that Brivere was more confident and open to sharing his feelings after his melt down in the throne room a few months back where he had called out everyone who had ever wronged him and his family. At the same time, however, Brivere often still tried to maintain his usual emotionless mask out of nothing but sheer habit.

And for the most part, he was successful, and almost everyone saw no changes in his personality. But Betaal was the one person who knew all the wrong things to say, pushing Brivere to the point that he would snap and argue back.

If anything, Sidon wanted to be happy that his lover was finally able to give in to and acknowledge his emotions, but he was definitely less thankful that it made their working environment so damn uncomfortable.

Even though he was dating Brivere, Sidon didn't want to take any sides for sake of professionality. He figured that things would get better as they all got used to their new positions, and so he decided to just let the two of them fight it out until things settled down. But as the days melted into weeks and then a month, Sidon realized that things had only gotten worse, if even possible. It got to the point that he would excuse Brivere by sending him away to practice using his future-seeing powers, in turn also getting rid of Estuu. The only good thing to come out of sending the brothers away was a closer friendship with Betaal, resulting in the two of them becoming much more casual with each other. The Undercity knight wouldn’t refer to him by his formal title and didn’t speak in a stuffy manner if they were alone. He appreciated it, since even Brivere couldn’t help but act like he always had a silverscale spear stuck up his ass.

Even then, the few rare moments that Brivere and Betaal would be in the same vicinity as each other would be as tense as ever. Practically all of the other soldiers and workers in the palace knew about their rivalry, and everyone would immediately vacate the room should one of the knights enter while the other was present.

Their constant fighting wore Sidon out, who found it harder and harder to keep up his usual upbeat front that he displayed to his people. It didn’t help that his empathetic ability was always running in the background, catching every bit of animosity that raced through Brivere and Betaal every time they were near each other. Even Estuu, who always stayed out of it, was beginning to take a toll on the prince. Sidon was worried about the younger Zora, who clearly had a lot of inner turmoil, but no way to express it. The raw, negative energy that almost always emitted off of the Holy Knight wore Prince Sidon’s sensitive abilities out.

His knights were too busy arguing to notice the change until one day Sidon snapped and shouted at them. He absolutely hated the way their faces fell and he excused himself, avoiding them for days. As much as he hated to admit it, the relationship between him and Brivere had become strained, and he found himself missing his other Hylian boyfriend every day.

The guilt and fear of losing Brivere as both a lover and a protector, as well as the two other talented knights, was what finally made Sidon take action.

He was going to fix this whether they liked it or not.

;

"I want not a single word from any of you until we reach our destination."

His knights flinched at the harsh edge in Sidon's voice. Brivere opened his mouth to ask exactly where it was that they were going, but quickly decided against it when Sidon glared at him.

They quickly fell into line behind the prince, obediently following him through the maze of hallways inside of the Zora Domain's gigantic palace. It was a well-known joke that it had to be so big because of his father's huge body, but even Sidon thought that the sheer number of useless halls and rooms was ridiculous.

The strange group continued to walk in silence, yet the tension was still thick in the air. Sidon looked over his shoulder to see Betaal and Brivere glaring at each other. Sighing, he continued to lead them down several flights of stairs until they were in the lower, older levels of the palace. This section was mostly unused other than for emergencies or for storage, but what really stood out was the use of doors. For some reason, as the centuries went on, Zora architects decided that they were too good for doors and just made extravagant, high arching entryways instead.

And this old design was exactly what Sidon intended to use to his advantage.

They continued to walk until they came to stand in front of a particularly small door that stretched just above Estuu's head. Sidon grabbed the handle and threw the door open, holding his muscled arm out to welcome them in.

"I need you guys to go inside. There's something we need to investigate."

If it had been anyone else, the three knights would have thought it was shady. If it had been anyone else, they would have decked them. If it had been anyone else, they would have accused the other Zora of trying to lure them into a dark room just to murder them miles below the surface so that no one could hear their screams or find their bodies.

But it wasn't anyone else. It was just Sidon, their trusted prince and superior.

Hesitantly, each of them entered the room. Estuu could walk in easily, but Betaal had to duck her head and Brivere had to tuck himself into a ball and scoot inside.

The room itself wasn't weird. It seemed like an abandoned Hylian guestroom, judging from the design of the carpet and the small bed inside. That certainly explained the low doorframe, since their Hylian friend Link was about the same size as Estuu.

No, what was weird was when the door suddenly slammed shut behind them.

Sidon was definitely bigger than each of them individually, but as he leaned up in front of the door and felt their pounding fists on the weak wood he quickly became unsure if he was stronger than the three of them combined. He could only hope that Estuu was staying out of it like he usually did.

"Sidon!" Betaal's rough voice shouted. "Let us out of here now!"

"Not until you all finally fix things between each other!"

He could hear Brivere's panicked tone as the Oracle Knight pushed his body against the door. "But my Lord, what if something were to happen to you and we-!"

"It is my command as your prince that you three stay in there and work things out!"

The immediate silence that followed told him that Brivere and Betaal had frozen in uncertain shock. It was a dirty move, sure, ordering them to stay in the room, but it was the only way to keep them from arguing back. He felt the weight on the door lighten, then heard soft footsteps as both of his knights quietly slinked back to the center of the room.

Sidon could barely hear their voices through the door, even as he pressed his whole face against it. But while he couldn't make out exact words, he could definitely tell that they were bickering in whispers just as harsh as if they were screaming at each other. He could only guess what the silent Estuu was doing during all of this, most likely just hiding behind his brother while scowling at Betaal, like usual.

The voices quickly grew louder and louder until Sidon could practically feel the wooden door shaking from their intense shouting. When there was sudden silence followed by the loud clanging of metal clashing against each other, he immediately realized that maybe it wasn't a good idea to lock three of the Domain's best fighters into the same room as each other.

Shit. He should have at least taken their weapons away first.

;

Betaal walked behind Prince Sidon, trying not to limp too much and show just how badly Brivere had injured her a few days before. While he was definitely still an asshole, she at least had to acknowledge how skilled he was with a longsword, especially since it wasn’t a common weapon among Zora soldiers.

She was satisfied to at least see him doing the same, as the Oracle Knight stumbled around next to her. Not one of the trio were speaking as they walked through the woods surrounding the Domain. They were overseeing several groups of soldiers who were combing the woods for monsters to make the roads safer for travelers.

Suddenly Prince Sidon stopped walking, making her and Brivere scramble to not bump into him. “I am going to rejoin the group led by Guard Captain Bazz just up ahead. Estuu is with them on my command to help them find any bokoblin bases. You two stay here on stakeout until I return or you receive word saying otherwise.”

“What, is this another ploy to get us to talk to each other and get along again?” she joked, trying to lighten the mood.

It clearly backfired when Sidon stared back at her with a hard gaze. “No. I gave up on doing that after last time. To be quite honest, I am extremely disappointed.” the prince said curtly. “I feel ashamed to bring either of you around the other soldiers because of your behavior. It makes me wonder if I should regret either of you being placed into these positions.”

His words stung, sure, but Betaal couldn’t fathom why Brivere looked absolutely devastated at Sidon’s harsh statement. Perhaps he was weaker than she had initially assumed.

With that, Prince Sidon turned and walked away. The two of them watched his large red form weave through the trees and eventually catch up to Guard Captain Bazz’s group. They were now alone with each other in a grass clearing with nothing else but the bright moon that hung above them.

They aggressively started a camp fire. Rather, they argued about the right way to position the logs, and then how to actually start a fire, then Betaal accused Brivere of trying to freeze her to death with his inability to get a spark going and he just glared back at her when the fire suddenly roared to life.

She rolled her one eye. “What, am I supposed to be impressed? I had to do this all the time when I was in charge at Fort Boko! I bet you and your brother have never had to even light a candle before.”

“First off, Estuu and I lived in poverty for nearly a century,” he said, the blazing fire behind him almost as hot as the heat rising in his chest. “We are both well aware of how to make a fire because it was the only way we could stay warm. Second off, I do not understand why you hate us so much!”

Betaal cringed. “I do not hate you two.” she lied politely.

The Oracle Knight threw his hands into the air, clearly fed up at this point. “Oh bullshit!”

She gaped back. Brivere was always so professional to the point that she was pretty sure that he always had a silver scale spear stuck up his golden ass. “I despise people who deny their hatred when it is so clear,” he spat. “I have had to put up with it for too long from everyone else and I will not tolerate it anymore by the likes of you.”

“Oh really?” she hissed back. “And what exactly makes you think that you and your brother deserve my respect? He shot my eye out! I lost the tournament because of that!”

A frustrated sigh erupted out of Brivere as he tugged on his long forefins. “I am aware of my brother’s actions. I have already apologized, and I will continue to apologize for them. But as I have already told you, I did not put him up to it. I would never cheat for something that I wanted, as satisfaction only comes from truly earning something with one’s own skill.”

His voice dropped as he looked at her through the slits of his visor, regret clear in his deformed eyes. “I thought that I had conveyed my sincerest apologies when I tried to give you the position all those years ago.”

“I don’t remember it that way.” she snapped back.

Brivere arched his brow at her, still forgetting that such gestures couldn’t be seen by others due to his visor. “Really? How do you remember it?”

She hummed and closed her eye. The last round of that cursed tournament was one of the worst days of her life, so she tended to block it out. But she dragged it out from the depths of her mind if only to show Brivere the true impact of his actions.

It took a few minutes before she let out a loud sigh and slumped back against the grass. “I remember walking into the arena with my head held high, not wanting anyone to think that I was trying to hide my eye patch. I remember you standing on the other side of the platform, clearly pitying me. I remember you not even fighting back until I had to call you out on your bullshit.” Her fists balled next to her sides, clenched in anger. “And I remember you humiliating me in front of my own people who wanted me to win for their sake, and all of the people who expected me to fail just for being from the Undercity.”

Brivere silently sat there, clearly unsure of what to say. Eventually, he spoke up in a soft voice. “I am sorry. I didn’t know that you saw it that way.”

“Sure,” she grunted. “You elites are all the same. You act without thinking about what the hell those of us under your thumbs are going through.”

The golden knight’s face pinched tighter in frustration. “I wasn’t even considered worthy of living in society until a few months ago when I became nothing but a tool for the elite that you claim I am part of.”

“And even back then, you were still considered higher than me!” she shouted, shooting into an upright position. Her one eye stared back at him, boring a hole through his visor. “Don’t you see?! Undercity Zora like me are so far below the rest of you!”

“Then maybe you should not get so hung up on useless titles and statuses!”

Her hands flew into the air in frustration. “You really don’t get it!” she laughed. There was not a trace of humor in her breath, however. “I have to work for those titles! It’s the only way I can be even be seen as worthy to live by those stuck up pompous assholes! It’s the only way I can survive!”

“Do not speak to me as if I do not understand!” he shouted in her face, baring his sharp teeth. “You know of the controversy that used to surround my family. I am well aware of how much titles matter in society, but at least I have learned that there is more to life than bending over backwards for the very people that will dispose of you the second you aren’t useful anymore!”

A strangled growl clawed its way out of her throat. “Don’t act like you’re suddenly wiser and smarter than me because of your fancy new powers! YOU DON’T GET ANYTHING!”

The two of them were now panting for breath as they glared each other down. They were absolutely daring the other Zora to make the next accusation, to stab the next painful word through the other’s heart, but nothing came of it. Eventually they lost their steam and fell back onto the grass, slowly curling up into themselves. The woods continued to be quiet, other than the occasional howl of a monster too far away to be a threat.

Betaal was the first to break the sudden silence that had washed over them. “You seriously can’t expect me to believe that you are above titles when you clearly adhere to them so well.”

He glared at her through the slits of his silver visor. “And what has misled you to that conclusion?”

“How about the fact that you made up your new position of Oracle Knight?”

“I thought I already explained this to you back in the barracks months ago,” he groaned. “First off, the Oracle Knight and First Knight hold the same status, so it is not as if I gained anything. I would dare to say that you have more power than me, since you have control of the prince’s soldiers and I do not unless he tells me otherwise.”

Betaal deflated a bit at this, realizing he was right. “Then why do it?”

“I already told you. Goddess, were you not listening back at the barracks?”

“Sorry, I’ve learned to tune you out for years now.”

A slow, deep sigh hissed out of Brivere as he held his hands together in prayer and pressed them to his face. “Dear Hylia above please give me strength.”

The First Knight rolled her eye. “Cut the theatrics and just tell me why you made such an arbitrary title for yourself.”

“Fine.” he said curtly. “As I have stated before, I simply wanted to pledge my bloodline’s loyalty to the royal family. As my father was dedicated to King Dorephan, I am to Prince Sidon, and I know that our ability to see the future will be passed down and continue through a strong line of knights who wish to do the same for their generation of the next ruler.”

Betaal sighed. “Yeah, but don’t you think that’s a little much? Everyone already thinks that it’s weird that you and Sidon are together so often.”

She flinched when Brivere suddenly shot up, his eyes clearly wild even through the narrow slits of his visor. “We do not stay together too much!” he cried out.

Propping herself onto her elbows, she arched her brow at the flustered Oracle Knight. “No, you guys totally do. You think that I don’t find it insulting every time

His mask of indifference was cracking, letting her see the panic writhing underneath. “I do no such thing!” Brivere said, unconvincingly. She stared at him in confusion, completely lost as to what suddenly made him so anxious.

Wait.

The way he was so defensive at the smallest accusations, completely flushed at the mere question of his relation to Sidon…

It reminded Betaal of herself.

Realization dawned on her. “You and Prince Sidon are dating?!” she shrieked before she could control herself.

Brivere yelped and gripped onto the grass around him. “N-no! It is not what you think! I assure you that it is much more complicated!” he exclaimed.

“Bullshit!” Betaal shouted, scooting right next to him. She absolutely enjoyed the embarrassed way he squirmed in place.

Stabbing a clawed finger at his chest, she giddily asked “How long has it been?”

He didn’t respond. Although she had a surprising soft spot for romance, that did not excuse her suddenly becoming too pushy, especially considering their tense relationship with each other. And that was putting it lightly. She pulled her finger back and awkwardly sat next to him, their scales shining from the warm fire blazing just in front of them.

A couple of minutes passed before the silence was broken by his soft voice. “Over a year.”

Her head whipped to the side to stare at Brivere, stunned. “Seriously?! For that long?!”

His golden tail shyly bobbed as he nodded. “Yes. We have kept it secret for many reasons, which I am not completely comfortable sharing without his consent.” Although she wanted to ask for more details, it was a reasonable restriction.

He still caught the conflicted look on her face and chuckled, much to her surprise. She had never seen him actually happy before. She hadn’t even known that he was capable of feeling such a thing. “I will tell you, however, that one of the many problems with our relationship is the power dynamic. He technically holds a lot of power over me as my prince, but I assure you that we see each other on equal terms.”

Hesitating, he tilted his head towards Betaal so that she could see his deformed eyes through the slits of his visor. The strong light of the fire illuminated not just the strange condition of his eyes, but also the broken man that was hiding underneath all of the extravagant jewelry and armor.

“Can you please promise me that you will not tell anyone of this?” he said in a desperate, pleading whisper that tugged at her heart. “Aside from Estuu and Link, Prince Sidon is all that I have. I cannot imagine a world where all three of them did not exist alongside me.”

Betaal hummed and slowly nodded. “I can do you one better,” she said, piquing Brivere’s interest. “In exchange for your confession, I will give you one of my own.”

As much as she didn’t want to, she had pressured Brivere into confessing something he was clearly uncomfortable with. And on top of that, it was something that was a secret, something that could possibly ruin his career. So it was only fair if she did the same.

She took in a deep breath and stared into the flickering fire in front of them. Its warmth reminded her of the special one in her heart. “I am dating another soldier named Dunma, who was recently promoted to my right hand in command.”

“…Oh.”

“Yeah.”

Both of them sat in silence. Eventually, Brivere spoke up. “Does anyone else know about this?”

“Not to my knowledge.”

“I am sorry. Obviously, I know how it feels.”

“It’s alright. I just wouldn’t dare to tell anyone for the same reasons you and Sidon haven’t.” She laughed. “Power dynamics, what a bitch, right?”

Brivere surprisingly snorted and replied, “What a bitch.”

Betaal thought about how easily they were talking now despite being at each other’s throats for the last few years, more so over just this month alone. And then she cringed, remembering the results of such hostility.

“Hey…” she said slowly. “I’m sorry.”

Brivere looked at her, his lips slightly parted in surprise. “For what?”

“You know, all of the fighting. Sidon’s clearly pissed at us. I’m sorry if I accidentally ruined whatever you guys have. I can’t imagine a world without my Dunma.”

He sighed and leaned back into the grass. “Then can we agree to stop fighting every time we see each other?”

“Sure.”

“Then I accept your apology.”

Both of them were now reclined on the ground, faces turned to each other, both out of the desire for company and to also not lay directly on their head fins and cause muscle cramps later. The warmth of the fire lapped at their feet as the cool night air washed over the rest of their bodies.

Brivere’s voice softly made its way over to her. “I apologize for the way I acted at the tournament all those years ago. I had no idea that you perceived me that way. I thought I was doing the right thing, but it is now clear that I didn’t.”

She sighed and closed her eye. “I mean- sure. Yeah, it’s cool. But I want to know what the hell you were thinking, not fighting back against me.”

“I assure you that it was not out of pity. I could never look down on such an admirable fighter.” At this she jokingly scoffed back, swatting the compliment away with one hand. “I am serious!” Brivere laughed. “There is a reason why you have become so popular within our army and eventually earned the title of First Knight. You are extremely talented in battle.”

“Are you going to get to your point or are you going to finish sucking my dick first?” Betaal teased.

Brivere gasped at her vulgarity and she laughed at how flustered he got. “Right right, sorry, forgot that you only do that to our beloved prince.”

“BETAAL!”

“Geez, you’re too sensitive. But seriously, continue.”

The golden knight would have rolled his eyes, but even that slight movement caused him pain in his current condition. He tried to convey the gesture through his exasperated words. “I didn’t fight back because I thought that it would make up for my brother’s actions. Everyone already hated me so much because of the controversy surrounding both of us, and the arrow incident seemed to push them all over the edge. I thought that I didn’t deserve the position of First Knight if I could be so easily shaken by their words, but I learned to put up a stoic front to at least take away their satisfaction from hurting me.”

His voice suddenly became low as he tried to find the right words. “I figured that if everyone wanted you to win because of their hatred of me, then I might as well give in to it. I didn’t want to bring shame to Prince Sidon. I wanted to give you the position in exchange for the loss of your eye, I suppose.”

“And you didn’t think about how I could possibly see that as you pitying me or looking down on my misfortune?”

“I never would have imagined that it could be misconstrued in that way. I am so sorry that I was too misguided to realize it.”

Betaal sighed. “Promise to never do something like that again?”

“You have my word.”

“Then I accept your apology.”

They lay there, listening to the quiet woods around them. Neither of them knew exactly what got into them after a few moments of silence. Maybe it was exhaustion. Maybe neither of them cared anymore. Maybe it was the relief that they had finally cleared up some misunderstandings, and they were hoping to clear up some more.

Whatever the reason, they slowly began talking.

Betaal relayed her struggle as an Undercity Zora, constantly trying to prove that she was worth far more than the snotty elites above her deemed her to be. She joked that her father wanted her to be a scholar, since a higher education was definitely uncommon among her people, but she couldn’t help but become the living stereotype of an Undercity brawler. The battlefield just kept calling to her too much to stay away. As harsh as it was, war was her home, the one place where she could be herself and actually feel that her life actually had some sort of inherent worth, even when everyone above her said otherwise.

In exchange, Brivere told her about the hardships he had had to endure because of his father’s hasty marriage on the battlefield over a century ago. Despite being able to see the future and knowing that he would die, Prion had still left him and his mother alone in the world with no evidence of his love for them. As a result, both were stripped of nobility status and his mother had been taken advantage of by Zambezi in her grieving state. The only good thing to come out of it was his beloved brother Estuu, who may have acted a bit differently and required more care than most kids, but had been, and still was, extremely cute and intelligent.

At least, that was his younger brother that he was describing, so Brivere was definitely biased.

Betaal cringed at that part but decided to hold her own opinions aside. After all, the kid did shoot her eye out and still presented no explanation as to why. Then again, he was mute, but still. She continued to listen anyways, feeling her heart begin to soften towards the brothers as Brivere’s story continued.

She caught the way Brivere’s breath hitched when he hesitated before speaking about how his mother had killed herself because of all of the mockery that she endured. It had happened when he had simply been asked to take Estuu out to practice archery, and they came back to find their dead mother floating in their poisoned cistern. Brivere was left alone to take care of a child, but he was just a child as well.

And then all he had was Estuu and all Estuu had was him.

He had clawed his way up to First Knight to try and regain some sense of dignity and also to support the two of them. And now here he was as Oracle Knight, nothing more than a tool for the elite to use for their own desires.

Sure, Betaal had heard his story many times before. It was definitely tragic and complicated, but the full extent of how bad it was had never hit her when it was just rumors spread around the barracks by soldiers in-between sparring sessions. As she sat there listening to the man who had actually went through it all, she could see the pain in his eyes that the others had written off as weakness or joked about right in front of him.

And in-between each of their stories they kept saying sorry to each other. The apologies became less about their own wrong doings against the other and more about the regret they felt for the other Zora experiencing such hardship.

As the night stretched on and the fire began to burn itself out, the topic of difficult pasts shifted to amazing victories on the battlefield and other fond memories. They found that they actually had more in common than they initially thought. It ranged from strong ties, like their shared hatred for the upper class that looked down on them, to smaller, more mundane things, like their shared enjoyment over The Cursed Girl series. Brivere admitted that he hadn’t really read the series but knew about most of it since his younger brother had completely memorized the books and sometimes used it as a means of communication. This impressed Betaal, and Estuu became a bit more bearable to her in that aspect.

Somehow, the conversation turned to insecurities, along with whispers of praise and encouragement to the other Zora, trying to assure the other that they shouldn’t be afraid or that they had more worth than they gave themselves credit for. They could sense each other come close to tears several times and said nothing if the other had to pause and sniffle or wipe at their face.

Both of them were terrified of failure. Of becoming useless and unworthy of simply being alive. Of losing the Zora that they loved the most in the world. Brivere even admitted to how he was sharing Prince Sidon with the Hylian Champion Link and Betaal didn’t even bat her eye. If anything, she just teased him about it, asking if he felt something for the Hylian as well and shrieking with laughter when he couldn’t answer.

The moon shone brightly above them, now the only source of light as the fire had died long ago. They were quietly gasping for breath, throats and minds completely exhausted from hours of talking about things that they had never told anyone else.

Betaal’s one eye met Brivere’s deformed ones hidden behind his visor. A silent message passed between them as their peculiar eyes became heavy, promising to still be on their guard and protect one other should anything try to attack them in their sleep.

;

“Do not rest until they are found!” Prince Sidon shouted to his men.

“Yes sir!” the soldiers shouted back in unison.

He nervously watched as they dispersed, each guard looking behind every tree and disappearing to search further into the woods. When he had left his First and Oracle Knights yesterday to join another group of soldiers, Sidon had never anticipated how long it would take. He had only intended to be gone for a few hours in order to regain his composure after accidentally lashing out with a venomous tongue. Brivere had reacted as if the prince had just run his spear through his chest, but Sidon left his lover behind anyways like a coward.

And now he worried that their relationship would be ruined over such careless words. The same thing had happened a long time ago, when Brivere had been sick with the Water Blight and had said harsh things to Sidon. He remembered how broken he himself had become over such statements. It had taken forever for them to come back from that, and it was nothing short of a miracle that they managed to be in a relationship now. But as much as Brivere hated to admit it, he was softer at heart and much more emotionally fragile than Sidon was. He was just much better at hiding it.

That wasn’t the only thing that worried Sidon. When they had finally returned from destroying a Bokoblin base, he had realized that he didn’t actually know where he had left Betaal and Brivere the night before. The woods were extremely vast and had no landmarks that made anything stand out. It was just a sea of trees with monsters lurking inside, making Sidon realize that they had wandered too far, and now he had no idea where his two knights could be.

Sidon shook off his worries and helped search the forest, trying to make himself useful. Shouts of Brivere and Betaal’s names by other soldiers were the only things he could hear over the heavy pounding of his heart. But even as he tried to occupy his mind with scanning the woods for his knights, he couldn’t help but think of every possible scenario imaginable.

What if the two of them had gotten ambushed by raiders? A member of the Yiga Clan? A whole group of Yiga Clan members? A Hinox? A hoard of monsters? What if they had gotten lost or injured? What if they were… dead?

A shudder passed through Sidon. What if they had finally had enough of each other and had drawn their weapons out? What if they were both dead from the fight? After all, both of them had proven themselves to be two of the most talented fighters in the domain. No, what if one of them had accidentally killed the other and ran away, trying to escape imprisonment?

He didn’t notice that he was practically sprinting through the woods now. The only thing that would ease his anxieties would be if he could actually find them.

A blur of scarlet suddenly crashed into him. Whatever it was, it was much smaller than him, but the surprise of the attack knocked him to the ground. He quickly positioned his spear so that it was threateningly pointed at his opponent.

Estuu stared back at him, unamused.

“Oh!” Sidon said sheepishly, lowering his weapon. “I apologize, Holy Knight. But then again, that isn’t the best way to get the attention of someone who is on edge.”

When Estuu just glared back Sidon remembered that the younger Zora couldn’t talk. For all he knew, Estuu could have actually been trying to get his attention for a while now and he had just been too distracted to notice. The prince cleared his throat in an attempt to save face. “Nevermind that. Is there something you wish to report to me?”

The younger Zora tugged onto Sidon’s silver bracelet and pointed behind him. When the prince just arched his brow in confusion, Estuu sighed and let go. He then used his only hand to cover one eye and after a pause used his flattened fingers to cover both of them, raising them up and down like a visor.

Sidon immediately perked up. “You have found Betaal and Brivere?!”

Estuu nodded and grabbed back onto Sidon’s bracelet, trying to pull the prince along. He obliged, obediently following the scarlet Zora through the woods.

The sight would have looked comical to anyone else, a child dragging around a fully-grown Prince like a beloved toy. In any other situation, Sidon would have laughed at how ridiculous this was, but his heart was tearing itself apart as feelings of relief and anxiety battled in his chest. The two of them silently weaved through the trees. But as their walk stretched on, the only thing on his mind was the state of his knights, each possible outcome getting worse and worse with each passing second.

He was so caught up in his growing panic that he didn’t even notice that Estuu had stopped and was now staring at him. Sidon only snapped out of it when a strangled growl escaped the small Zora’s throat as he waved his only arm to a grass clearing right in front of them.

The prince nearly had a heart attack on the spot. Laying in the grass were both of his knights, completely motionless.

Sidon wrestled out of Estuu’s grasp and accidentally knocked the tiny Zora aside when he ran towards his fallen friends. “BRIVERE! BETAAL!” he screamed.

To his shock, both of them shot up onto their feet and had their weapons pointed at him in the blink of an eye. As he stumbled and fell over, he couldn’t tell if he was more relieved to see that they were actually alive or scared that they might attack him any second.

Luckily, it was the former. “My lord!” Brivere shouted, lowering his weapon as he ran to Sidon’s side. “I am so sorry! You caught us by surprise in our slumber!”

Sidon was so happy that Brivere was still alive and apparently not mad at him that he pulled the golden knight into a tight embrace on top of him. He didn’t care that Betaal was still standing there, although he was confused when an amused smirk danced across her lips.

Both of them quickly pulled apart and Brivere quickly got back onto his feet, holding a hand out to help him up. Sidon grasped onto it more out of a need to physically feel his lover’s presence and to assure himself that he was truly there than because he needed help. He then turned to both of his knights, a sorrowful look on his face. “I am deeply sorry for leaving the two of you alone for so long. I did not anticipate running into a hoard of bokoblins, and I spent the night with Guard Captain Bazz and his men trying to get rid of them at their base. We have all been looking for you for hours.”

He was relieved when his knights simply nodded in response. “I apologize for the trouble, my lord.” Brivere said, bowing his head. Betaal laughed and smacked a hand onto the golden knight’s back.

Sidon tensed up, anticipating a fight. But, to his surprise, Brivere just chuckled in return as he straightened up. The First Knight then stepped forward, eyeing Sidon with an amused gaze.

“It’s alright your Highness. Everything turned out fine,” Betaal said, patting him on the arm as she passed. Then she paused and looked over her shoulder, grinning at Brivere. “I’m going to go around and get the other soldiers to stop their search. I’ll take the part of the woods west of here and you take the east?”

Brivere nodded with a slight smile. “Sounds like a plan.”

“Cool.” Betaal looked back at Sidon and blinked, but the way she did it suggested that she was actually trying to wink at him. “Don’t slack off. I know you want some alone time with your Oracle Knight, but actually try and search for any wandering soldiers. Send them all back to the barracks when you find them so that this doesn’t stretch on for too long.”

He was too stunned to argue. “Uh- um, I… Ok. Yes, sure.”

With a nod to both of them, Betaal walked through the trees and out of sight. Estuu waved and pointed in her direction, scurrying off before either of them could say otherwise.

Now that they were alone, Sidon ogled his First Knight. “What in Hylia’s name did I miss?” he asked.

A rare laugh escaped Brivere’s taut lips. “I assure you not much, my lord.” the golden knight said as he held his hand out to lightly grab onto Sidon’s. “Shall we look around and tell the other soldiers that the First Knight and I are safe?”

Numbly, Sidon nodded, and the confusion sloshing around inside of him melted into affection as he and his lover walked away hand in hand. Of course, when they came across other guards they had to quickly pull apart. But the feelings of affection still remained.

;

The first few days after the incident in the woods were awkward as Sidon tried to adjust to his knights’ sudden change in behavior.

No one could explain why the two seemed to be so much calmer now. The other soldiers and palace workers still left the room out of habit when one of the knights would enter while the other was in there, but they would peer behind the entryway and be surprised to find that the two of them would just be politely chatting with each other.

It was also strange to see two of the most powerful and strongest warriors in the Zora Domain suddenly be so casual. This was especially because Betaal tended to act tough to cover up how she struggled being the only Undercity soldier in the palace, and Brivere had always been known for his infamous resting bitch face and spear-up-his-ass attitude. So, it completely shocked everyone when the First Knight would often lean over and whisper something to the Oracle Knight and they would immediately start cackling. Genuine smiles and bouts of laughter became less rare, and Sidon was finally enjoying his role as a prince again.

Although Betaal had clearly not completely forgiven Estuu yet, it was obvious that she had at least warmed up to him a bit. Some swore that they saw her quietly sitting with the younger Zora in the royal library, both of them completely engrossed in the same book that they had read so many times before. Guard Captain Bazz even claimed that he once witnessed her follow Estuu when he ran away to have a meltdown, presumably comforting him by the way he quickly recovered and came back. But if anyone asked Betaal, she always denied it and no one was certain if she was actually joking or not.

Now that they all got along, it was an absolute joy to have the three of them be Sidon’s personal knights. To him, it was just like having old friends be your coworkers, and his dull duty as prince became much more bearable as a result.

They even often had contests during boring council meetings to see who could get away with the most outrageous and funny gestures without the other stuffy old council members noticing. No one knew who had started it, but Estuu was the reigning champion because he had somehow managed to sneak behind King Dorephan’s shoulder and stick his tongue out without anyone else batting an eye. They had to tone it down after Sidon burst out laughing while a council member was reading about the soldier fatality rates and funeral procedures.

Prince Sidon had always known that his three soldiers had had difficult pasts. Each of them had never been expected to make it to their high positions. Everyone held them down and told them that they were worthless, and complained that they must have cheated to become his personal knights for the sole purpose of mooching off of his power.

But Sidon knew better than that. His knights had fought back against society’s designated roles for each of them, taking what was rightfully theirs with the intention of protecting the very people that had tormented them for years. Brivere, Estuu, and Betaal were very admirable in his eyes, refusing to stick to an oppressive class system or listen to anyone’s harsh tongue and instead, choosing to fight for what was right.

And, as he proudly stood by his father’s throne, three of the Zora Domain’s toughest and most fearsome warriors kneeling right beside him, Prince Sidon couldn’t help but hope that he could rule his kingdom the very same way his knights acted when the time came.

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